SPECIAL! SAVE UPTO 25% OFF!*
+ NO SINGLE SUPPLIMENT**
LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT with Overnight in Santiago + flight Santiago/Ushuaia + transfers
NOTE: There is also a similar 26-night cruise from Lyttleton – Ushuaia departing 14th of February 2023 & 06th of February 2024
Contact us for the full details of these epic cruises!
Highlights
- The all-new half-circumnavigation of the Antarctic, an unforgettable trip into the heart of the ice and a continent full of extremes.
- The exploratory approach to some of the most little-known islands in the world: Charcot Island, Peter I Island and the Marie Byrd Land Islands.
- A dive into the history of the conquest of the South Pole, from the Bay of Whales, a natural harbour that served as a base for Roald Amundsen’s victorious expedition in 1911.
- The crossing of three southern seas: Bellingshausen, Amundsen and Ross.
- Outings and shore visits in a zodiac dinghy with an reinforced team of naturalist-guides.
- The landscapes: ice shelves, including that of Ross, surrealist glaciers, monumental icebergs, immersion in the heart of the ice floe.
- The wildlife: crabeater seals, leopard seals, Weddell seals, humpback whales, orcas, royal penguin, king penguins and Adelie penguins.
- Many activities: kayaking, hiking or snowshoeing, polar plunge without suit, polar swim with drysuit, participative science. Discover all the activities in the “Ponant Activities” tab.
Charcot, Bellingshausen, Dean, Fisher, Ross, Amundsen… Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the names of these legendary explorers resonate throughout your expedition. Thanks to its unique capacity to sail into the very heart of the ice, Le Commandant Charcot invites you, with respect and humility, to set off in the footsteps of these great Antarctic figures during an unrivalled half-circumnavigation that will sail from the far south of the American continent to New Zealand. Charcot, Bellingshausen, Dean, Fisher, Ross, Amundsen… Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the names of these legendary explorers resonate at every moment. Thanks to its unique capacity to sail into the very heart of the ice, Le Commandant Charcot invites you, with respect and humility, to set off in the footsteps of these great Antarctic figures during an unrivalled half-circumnavigation that will sail from the far south of the American continent to New Zealand. This journey to the boundaries of the known world will take you on an exceptional adventure, where time stands still, where the horizon stretches into infinity to reveal dreamlike landscapes and abundant wildlife.
Antarctic exploration cannot be separated from the pioneers who travelled in these territories at the edges of the Earth. They left their names everywhere. Inaccessible and elusive are the adjectives that best describe these lands that are among our planet’s most remote and least-known. Like a real explorer, you will cross the legendary southern seas of Bellingshausen and Amundsen, approach Marie Byrd Land, one of the last Terra nullius of our planet, and attempt to reach the Charcot and Peter I islands, enveloped in their blankets of ice. Very significant in the history of South Pole exploration, Ross Sea is also the world’s largest marine protected area, a veritable kingdom of prodigious wildlife. Antarctic exploration cannot be separated from the pioneers who travelled in these territories at the edges of the Earth. They left their names everywhere. Inaccessible and elusive are certainly the adjectives that best describe these lands that are among our planet’s most little-known and remote. Like a real explorer, you will cross the legendary southern seas of Bellingshausen and Amundsen, approach Marie Byrd Land, one of the last Terra nullius of our planet, and attempt to reach the Charcot and Peter I Islands, enveloped in their blankets of ice. Very significant in the history of South Pole exploration, Ross Sea is also the world’s largest marine protected area, a veritable kingdom of prodigious wildlife. As a privileged witness, keep a watchful eye and take the time to observe the Antarctic petrels, whales, orcas, seals and penguins that are to be found here.
The power of the polar world will conquer you, leaving you with unforgettable memories of the impressive Drygalski glacier scattered with blue, the endless and constant Ross Ice Shelf, the majestic Witkins and Getz ice shelves, and the ice floe taking over the Amundsen Sea. Here and there, you will notice clues to the past presence of Shackleton and Scott who have forever marked this continent of extremes with their historic exploits. At the foot of Mount Erebus, the highest volcano in Antarctica, their memory becomes tangible: the former base camp has remained intact.
ITINERARY BRIEF
15 JANUARY 2023 – SANTIAGO
16 JANUARY 2023 – USHUAIA
17 JANUARY 2023 to 18 JANUARY 2023 – CROSSING THE DRAKE PASSAGE
19 JANUARY 2023 – CROSSING THE ANTARCTIC CIRCLE
20 JANUARY 2023 – EXPEDITION TO CHARCOT ISLAND
21 JANUARY 2023 – BELLINGSHAUSEN SEA
22 JANUARY 2023 – EXPEDITION TO PETER I ISLAND
23 JANUARY 2023 – AMUNDSEN SEA
24 JANUARY 2023 to 30 JANUARY 2023 – MARIE BYRD LAND EXPLORATION
31 JANUARY 2023 – THE ROSS SEA EXPLORATION
1 FEBRUARY 2023 – CROSSING THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE
2 FEBRUARY 2023 to 6 FEBRUARY 2023 – THE ROSS SEA EXPLORATION
7 FEBRUARY 2023 – AT SEA ABOARD LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
8 FEBRUARY 2023 – BALLENY ISLANDS
9 FEBRUARY 2023 to 12 FEBRUARY 2023 – AT SEA ABOARD LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
13 FEBRUARY 2023 – LYTTELTON
2024 DEPARTURE
7 JANUARY 2024 – SANTIAGO
8 JANUARY 2024 – USHUAIA
9 JANUARY 2024 to 10 JANUARY 2024 – CROSSING THE DRAKE PASSAGE
11 JANUARY 2024 – CROSSING THE ANTARCTIC CIRCLE
12 JANUARY 2024 – EXPEDITION TO CHARCOT ISLAND
15 JANUARY 2024 – AMUNDSEN SEA
23 JANUARY 2024 – THE ROSS SEA EXPLORATION
24 JANUARY 2024 – CROSSING THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE
25 JANUARY 2024 to 29 JANUARY 2024 – THE ROSS SEA EXPLORATION
30 JANUARY 2024 1 FEBRUARY 2024 – AT SEA ABOARD LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
5 FEBRUARY 2024 – LYTTELTON
SHIP DETAILS
Le Commandant Charcot
With Le Commandant Charcot, PONANT has imagined and envisaged the cruise voyage of tomorrow. The latest addition to the fleet will take you following in the footsteps of the great polar explorers in refined surroundings complete with the kind of luxury services never before offered in the farthest reaches of the southern and northern hemispheres.
The indoor swimming pool, the conservatory, the panoramic restaurant, the Blue Lagoon outdoor restaurant, the Main Lounge, the Observation Lounge, the lobby… Each of the common areas has been designed to both convey French-style discreet luxury and arouse wonder and amazement. The common thread running through all their designs is the desire to allow the light to penetrate and open everything up the extraordinary polar landscapes and scenery.
This very first hybrid-electric polar exploration ship powered by LNG has been designed with the greatest attention to detail in terms of safety and respect for the environment.
Included in your cruise
For your serenity, PONANT has organised the following included programme for you, which starts the day prior to embarkation.
The day before embarkation – Santiago
Transfer from airport to PONANT selected hotel.
In order to organise your transfer, please inform your travel agent, 60 days before departure, your flight number as well as your arrival time and day
Meet and greet at the hotel by our local representative. Check-in from late morning.
Lunch on your own and time at leisure in the afternoon.
Dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.
Embarkation Day – Santiago/Ushuaia
A light morning breakfast will be served before leaving for the airport for your Santiago/Ushuaia flight.
Transfer to the airport.
Flight Santiago/Ushuaia selected by PONANT in economy class.
Seats in business class may be available, please contact your travel agent.
Approximate flight duration: 3 hours
Meet and greet at Ushuaia airport (English-speaking assistance).
Transfer to Le Commandant-Charcot.
Embarkation.
– Cruise on board your ship –
Your programme includes:
- Transfer from airport upon flight arrival.
- 1-night accommodation at the Ritz Carlton Santiago 5* hotel the night before embarkation.
Your hotel will be confirmed few weeks before your cruise. - Early check-in available from late morning.
- Hospitality desk at the hotel in Santiago.
- Flight Santiago/Ushuaia selected by PONANT, in economy class.
Seats in business class may be available, please contact your travel agent. - Meals as mentioned in the programme and beverage package.
- Transfers as mentioned in the programme.
Your programme does not include:
- Tips for the local guide.
- Personal expenses.
- Other meals and services not mentioned in the programme.
Please note:
- The local currency is the Chilean Peso. You will be able to make most of your purchases in USD (in small denominations) or by credit card, accepted in most hotels, shopping centres and boutiques. You will also be able to retrieve Pesos from the ATM’s.
- Summer season in Santiago: temperatures may be very hot, but often between 68 °F (20 °C) and 95 °F (35 °C).
- Summer season in Ushuaia: temperatures vary between 41 °F (5 °C) and 65 °F (15 °C)
- We recommend you wear warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
- If case PONANT has not received your full flight details, services start at the hotel in time for check-in.
Programme is subject to change.
*T & Cs apply to all special offers. Contact us for full T&C’s
**The supplement for single usage of a double cabin is waived, according to availability and staterooms categories. Contacts us for full T&C’s