Video | Stirring voyages aboard Le Commandant Charcot |
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Invite your clients to step aboard Le Commandant Charcot and join the elite ranks of explorers venturing into the heart of the Antarctic and Arctic. This groundbreaking vessel is renowned for setting records; it was the first passenger ship to reach Pine Island in Antarctica, navigate the McClure Strait in the Northwest Passage, and arrive at the southernmost point of the Ross Sea.
Your clients can discover their own adventure as we push the boundaries of exploration. They may even be on board for the next record setting expedition. |
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Designed for ultimate polar adventures and led by expert captains adept at multiyear ice navigation, Le Commandant Charcot consistently ventures where few have gone before. Hear from PONANT’s captains as they reflect on their historic voyages to the ends of the earth. |
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In February 2022, Le Commandant Charcot was the first ship in the world to reach the southernmost navigable latitude in the Ross Sea. |
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“We were enclosed by fog when we discovered the furthest point south ever reached by a ship. I didn’t know that a fortnight earlier, an American icebreaker had arrived slightly further north, claiming the record. I met its captain a few months later, and he took the news really well!”
—Captain Patrick Marchesseau |
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In February 2023, Le Commandant Charcot became the first passenger ship to venture to Pine Island Bay, at the south-eastern tip of the Amundsen Sea. This groundbreaking journey was part of the inaugural half-circumnavigation of Antarctica, marking one of the lengthiest expedition voyages in terms of both distance and time. PONANT proudly holds the record for this remarkable feat, covering over 14,400 km. |
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“We’ve been to regions where nobody has ever been, except for a few scientists some 20 years ago. Every day, we had the impression that we had reached the pinnacle of what Antarctica had to offer and yet, the next day, it was a new wonder.”
—Captain Stanislas Devorsine |
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In September 2022, we made history by becoming the first cruise ship to traverse the McClure Strait at the entrance of the Beaufort Sea in the Canadian Northwest Territories. Our guests experienced the awe-inspiring sight of numerous polar bears up close, making it an unforgettable adventure. |
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“The McClure Strait is regularly impassable, with thick ice, and the weather is difficult to predict in this region. Le Commandant Charcot is designed for this kind of challenge, which is a real highlight for me as a sailor.”
—Captain Étienne Garcia |
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During its technical dry run in September 2021, Le Commandant Charcot made history as the first French vessel to reach the Geographic North Pole. In July 2022, it welcomed its first guests on board for an extraordinary journey back to 90ºN. |
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“It is with great humility, and emotion that we have reached this latitude, each of us aware of the exceptional character of this moment we have been living.”
—Captain Patrick Marchesseau |
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Le Commandant Charcot has been the first ever passenger ship to deliver 24 tons of fresh provisions to the isolated villages of Ittoqqortoormiit and Tasiilaq since May 2023. It’s a privilege to support their well-being and ensure vital resources are delivered. |
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“Being the first ship to ensure deliveries in May, which is two months earlier in the year than what has customarily been done, is something undreamed of by the population.”
—Captain Patrick Marchesseau |
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Explore the Frozen Realms of Le Commandant Charcot |
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(1) Guests booked on one of the four cruises below receive a 50% savings when they book a second voyage on one of the four cruises below. Both cruises may be booked at the same time. Cruises: CC060325, CC210325, CC050425, CC170425. Applicable when a second of the four select cruises is booked and deposited from April 05 through August 05, 2024, inclusive. Savings is on the less expensive of the cruises and will be applied at time of booking the second cruise. Subsequent bookings on one of the four select cruises will also receive a 50% savings. Savings is on cruise component only. Combinable only with contracted partner amenities. Not combinable with any other Consumer incentives. Discount Code: COMBO50. Code must be mentioned at time of booking of second cruise. If one of the cruises is cancelled by guest, pricing on remaining cruises will be adjusted accordingly. Subject to availability and may be changed or withdrawn without prior notice. |
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