A new, shorter itinerary for visiting the North Pole is being proposed by cruise line PONANT EXPLORATIONS, which in 2022 was the first company to make a passenger sailing to the Geographic North Pole.
The firm is now offering a series of 12-night voyages aboard Le Commandant Charcot – a two-laboratory ship that it claims “serves as a platform for scientific research, environmental stewardship, and cultural exchange.”
The Polar Class 2 (PC-2) classified icebreaker ship, which is the first hybrid electric polar exploration vessel powered by liquefied natural gas, will depart on a round-trip from the world’s northernmost settlement and the capital of Svalbard, Longyearbyen, on 27 July, 8 August, 20 August, and 1 September 2027.
From there it will cross the Arctic Ocean, giving passengers the chance to witness vast glaciers and frozen fjords under the midnight sun, as well as the wildlife that inhabits this inhospitable land and seascape, such as Arctic foxes, polar bears, whales and seals.
Passengers will also have the opportunity to leave the boat on zodiacs and kayaks, land on ice, and plunge into the Arctic’s waters, not to mention a visit to the historic mining company town and explorer outpost of Ny-Ålesund.
While polar tourism is becoming more popular, its impact on the pristine environments it visits is of increasing concern. But Le Commandant Charcot presents a way for scientists and leisure travellers to reach the North Pole with 25% fewer carbon emissions, 85% fewer nitrogen oxide emissions and 95% fewer fine particle emissions. It also boasts reduced noise and vibrations – a shipping phenomenon that research has shown to disrupt whales’ echolocation ability.
Mathieu Petiteau, PONANT’s Director of New Construction, says: “We had to imagine, develop and design everything from A to Z. No ship like Le Commandant Charcot had ever been created. It was out of the question to sail in such privileged environments without minimising our impact as much as possible.”
The comfort of passengers has also been taken care of, with heated benches on observation desks, a heated indoor pool with a skylight, and an outdoor heated lagoon – all thanks to energy recovered from the ship’s propulsion.
As well as at the bar and fire pit, passengers can relax on private balconies or terraces attached to their staterooms and suites, which also feature Dyptique Paris bath products, Bose Bluetooth speakers, and Nespresso coffee makers. And in typical French style, the restaurant menu proposes cuisine by chef Alain Ducasse.
