Le Commandant Charcot

All accommodation aboard Le Commandant Charcot includes a private balcony, so whether you choose a stateroom or suite, you’ll enjoy a front-row seat to the passing oceans, landscapes and wildlife. Each category includes premium bedding, climate control and an ensuite bathroom, while the ship’s top-tier suites add an extra layer of luxury with separate bedrooms and expanded living spaces.

There are two categories of Balcony Staterooms – Lower Deck and Upper Deck – with the main difference being the location on the ship. Each offers up to 215 square feet of living space, a bathroom with a shower and a panoramic sliding bay window that opens onto the private balcony.

The Deluxe Suite is larger than the entry-level staterooms, with extra space for a chaise, armchairs, and more storage. The Deluxe Suite is a great choice, particularly on longer sailings when you’re likely to spend more time in your suite during sea days or ocean crossings.

Prestige Suites are similar to the Deluxe Suites but offer up to 430 square feet of living space. Alongside signature amenities such as climate control, high-end toiletries and a minibar, the Prestige Suite features two bathrooms and a large picture window in the bedroom.

The Grand Suite and Privilege Suite categories aboard Le Commandant Charcot introduce additional benefits for your comfort and convenience. Along with a more spacious living area and an ensuite bathroom with a bathtub, you’ll enjoy priority embarkation, Champagne on arrival and butler service.

Offering space for up to four guests, the two-tier Duplex Suite’s residential-style layout goes beyond traditional cruise ship accommodation. You’ll enjoy the same amenities as the lower suite categories, plus a separate dining room, a hot tub on the upper terrace and ample natural light from five panoramic windows.

The premier level of accommodation aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the Owner’s Suite provides a remarkable level of luxury. From the open living spaces, complete with a steam fireplace and comfortable sofas, to the six-person dining room and expansive terrace, the Owner’s Suite is undoubtedly one of the most impressive accommodation categories at sea.

Le Commandant Charcot offers two distinctive main dining experiences, each featuring high-quality cuisine prepared by Ponant’s team of chefs. While French gastronomy underpins many of the menu choices, you’ll find no shortage of international favourites, each freshly prepared and often selected to reflect the region you are exploring.

Nuna is Le Commandant Charcot’s primary dining venue and the only restaurant at sea from Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can expect Chef Ducasse’s signature dishes such as redfish fillet and Iberian pork pluma, alongside an ever-changing menu of fresh fish, vegetarian and meat options.

An alternative to Nuna, Sila seats 142 guests and provides a more informal dining experience, with much of the food served buffet-style. It’s a great choice for breakfast or lunch if you’re looking for a quick bite before heading ashore or setting out by Zodiac, while themed dinners are complemented by unobstructed views across the passing landscapes.

Located near the Blue Lagoon pool on Deck 9, Inneq is Charcot’s open-air grill. Enjoy light bites and snacks beside the fire pit or on the heated benches. What could be better than sailing past mountainous icebergs while tucking into the Croque Charcot – Ponant’s signature grilled cheese and black truffle toasted sandwich?

The expedition facilities aboard Le Commandant Charcot are state-of-the-art. A fleet of 16 Zodiacs and 20 kayaks supports shore landings and sightseeing trips, while two dedicated mudrooms provide space for storing expedition equipment. The ship also offers daily briefings and lectures from its expert expedition team. Those brave enough may even be invited to take part in the polar plunge, followed by caviar and Champagne to celebrate this memorable rite of passage.

While much of your time aboard Le Commandant Charcot is geared towards discovery and exploration, downtime matters just as much. Head to the Grand Salon or Anori, the ship’s observation lounge, for comfortable seating and bar service, or take a dip in the Blue Lagoon, the ship’s heated outdoor pool.

Sailing through pack ice is a unique experience, probably unlike anything you’ll have experienced on another vessel. The days have their own rhythm, with long, quiet stretches of white broken only by a polar bear moving across the ice or cracks opening to reveal the water below. Our clients have often mentioned the sound: a deep crunch that carries throughout the ship but is most noticeable towards the bow. If you’re a light sleeper, note that a suite or stateroom amidships or toward the stern might be the better choice.

When you’re deep in the ice, nature sets the timetable rather than a fixed itinerary. As such, Le Commandant Charcot’s captain and navigation team will study charts and satellite imagery to determine the best route forward, aided by the ship’s helicopters scouting ahead. Don’t be deterred, though; these unplanned stretches are where the real moments happen and are often among the highlights of a Charcot cruise.

The spa and wellness areas aboard Le Commandant Charcot provide a serene environment, ideal for relaxing after a day exploring the polar wilderness. Choose from a menu of treatments, take a dip in the heated indoor pool, warm up in the sauna or, for something entirely different, step into the snow room straight afterwards for the ultimate contrast therapy experience.

If keeping fit – or simply burning off a few calories – is important to you, Charcot’s Fitness Centre has everything you’ll need to stay active. Best of all, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views across the passing landscapes thanks to large floor-to-ceiling windows positioned directly in front of the cardio equipment.

Le Commandant Charcot was designed to minimise its environmental impact while operating in some of the world’s most sensitive environments. Its propulsion system combines LNG with electric capabilities, while energy recovery systems are used elsewhere onboard, including to help heat the ship’s swimming pools.

In addition to its sustainability initiatives, Ponant Cruises dedicates space aboard Charcot to scientific research. Through data collection and analysis, and by supporting scientific missions in Antarctica and the Arctic, the ship gives researchers access to some of the world’s most remote and delicate ecosystems.

Your cruise on Commandant Charcot includes:

• All meals in Nuna, Sila, and Inneq, plus 24-hour room service
• An open bar with French wines, champagnes, and spirits
• A stocked in-suite/stateroom mini-bar
• WiFi
• The full expedition programme, including Zodiac excursions
• Gratuities
• Expedition parka
• Loan of waterpoof boots for landings

Ponant Cruises does not typically include travel arrangements in the fare for a Commandant Charcot cruise. However, The Cruise Line can tailor any part of your pre- or post-cruise experience and handle everything from flights from the UK, hotel stays, private transfers, and even land extensions in Ushuaia, Buenos Aires, Oslo, Longyearbyen, and more, depending on your itinerary. Just ask your Voyage Consultant when making your enquiry, and we’ll guide you through the options.