Signature highlights
The ship is purpose-built for extreme polar exploration and is one of the few passenger vessels with a Polar Class 2 icebreaking hull. Expedition equipment includes 16 Zodiacs, kayaks, snowshoes and polar-plunge capability.
Le Commandant Charcot
Le Commandant Charcot is a 245-guest PONANT cruise ship, in service since 2021. This page lists 52 upcoming departures across 29 itineraries in Northern Europe, day by day and port by port. Its live AIS position is plotted on the map below and refreshed through the day.
✓ Polar expedition travelers seeking a ship built for high-latitude cruising
✓ Couples wanting balconies on every accommodation
✓ Guests who value observation lounges and scientific programming
Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their authors’ free licenses. Tap a photo for the credit and license.
Le Commandant Charcot at a glance
Ship size
Bigger than 56%
A small ship at 31,757 gross tons — #249 of 566 ships we track. 130 tons of ship per guest.
Best for
- Polar expedition travelers seeking a ship built for high-latitude cruising
- Couples wanting balconies on every accommodation
- Guests who value observation lounges and scientific programming
- Luxury travelers preferring intimate ships over large resort vessels
- Active travelers using Zodiacs, polar landings and onboard wellness facilities
Think twice if you want
- Travelers seeking extensive nightlife or multiple entertainment venues
- Families wanting a permanent kids club on every sailing
- Guests who prefer interior or standard oceanview cabins
- Travelers needing many accessible cabins
- Passengers wanting large-ship shopping, dining or recreation choices
Live Position ● 43 minutes ago
Heading to: SvolvaerCurrently on: Autumn Splendours: From Lofoten to the Norwegian Fjords (13 nights) — Currently at Narvik (Norway)
Coming up
- Bergen end of cruise
0.0 knots
Position via AIS — updated periodically, not real-time.
About Le Commandant Charcot
Le Commandant Charcot is PONANT’s purpose-built luxury polar icebreaker, designed for voyages deep inside the Arctic and Antarctic ice. Its PC2 hull, hybrid-electric propulsion, LNG fuel and 123 all-balcony staterooms combine serious expedition capability with an intimate yacht-like atmosphere. The ship carries up to 245 guests and 215 crew, with unusually spacious suites, indoor wellness facilities and specialized equipment for Zodiac exploration, kayaking and polar landings.
Ship at a Glance
- Operator
- Compagnie du Ponant (PONANT)
- Builder / shipyard
- VARD Tulcea, Romania (hull); VARD Søviknes, Norway (outfitting)
- Registry / flag
- France; port of registry Mata Utu, Wallis and Futuna
- Call sign
- FMNB
- IMO number
- 9846249
- MMSI
- 578001700
- Draft
- 10.0 m
Onboard Experience
For families
The ship offers expedition activities such as Zodiac exploration, kayaking, snowshoeing and dog sledding. Its small-ship polar format is oriented primarily toward adult expedition travelers rather than dedicated family entertainment.
Pools, spa & wellness
Facilities include a heated indoor seawater pool, sauna, spa, massage cabins, hair salon and fitness or relaxation areas. Several wellness spaces provide views toward the polar environment.
Accessibility
PONANT publishes accessibility information for the ship and its staterooms; guests with specific mobility or medical requirements should confirm suitability directly with the operator before booking.
Environmental features
Le Commandant Charcot uses LNG-fueled hybrid-electric propulsion with high-capacity batteries and electric propulsion motors. VARD also describes onboard waste sorting and treatment, while the ship supports scientific observation and polar research.
Deck plans
Venues Cabins only Both · Tap a deck to see what's on it
Deck 9
Fitness Indoor Swimming Pool Blue Lagoon Spa Bar Restaurant Detox Bar Snow Room Library Observatory LoungeDeck 8
Bridge Prestige Stateroom Deluxe Suite Prestige Suite Privilege Suite Owner's SuiteDeck 7
Prestige Stateroom Deluxe Suite Prestige Suite Duplex SuiteDeck 6
Conference Room Prestige Stateroom Deluxe Suite Grand Suite Privilege Suite Duplex SuiteDeck 5
Theatre Main Lounge Cigar Lounge Shop Gastronomic Restaurant Studio PONANT Reception Desk Travel Ambassador Desk Promenade Deck Aft bridge BarDeck 3
Expedition RoomView the official Le Commandant Charcot deck plans from PONANT →
Cabins & suites
Balcony 100%
| Category | Type | Cabins | Size | Balcony | Sleeps | Decks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prestige StateroomAll staterooms have private balconies. | Balcony | 28 | 215 sq ft | 53 sq ft | 2 | 6, 7, 8 |
| Deluxe SuiteAll suites have private balconies or terraces. | Balcony | 59 | 301 sq ft | 53 sq ft | 2 | 6, 7, 8 |
| Prestige SuiteNamed booking codes vary by deck. | Balcony | 17 | 430 sq ft | — | 4 | 7, 8 |
| Grand SuiteAlso listed as Grand Prestige Suite in some deck materials. | Balcony | 2 | 452 sq ft | — | 3 | 6 |
Dining, bars & venues
7 included 1 extra cost in the fare, by the line's own published policy.
Dining
Nuna
Included
The main gastronomic restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Sila
Included
A casual restaurant serving breakfast, buffet lunch and themed dinners.
Bars & lounges
Main Lounge
Varies
The principal lounge with a bar, musical entertainment and afternoon tea service.
Cigar Lounge
Varies
A designated cigar-smoking lounge with cigar and spirit service.
Inneq
Varies
An outdoor bar serving drinks and daytime sweet and savoury food.
Anori
Varies
An observation lounge with a bar, library, reading area and telescopes.
Where Le Commandant Charcot sails, month by month
| Nov 26 |
Dec 26 |
Jan 27 |
Feb 27 |
Mar 27 |
Apr 27 |
May 27 |
Jun 27 |
Jul 27 |
Aug 27 |
Sep 27 |
Oct 27 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Canada & New England | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Antarctica | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Ports it visits most
Explore This Ship
Jump from Le Commandant Charcot sailings into the broader destination network with cruise line and region hub pages.
Itineraries & Sailings
All 29 itineraries and their departure dates
- Arctic Spring: A Journey Through Ice and Inuit Culture 27 Mar 2027
- Baltic Bliss & Winter Wonders 24 Nov 2026, 12 Dec 2026
- Beyond the Antarctic Circle – In the Wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot 1 Dec 2027, 27 Dec 2027, 27 Dec 2028
- Beyond the inhabited world 16 Apr 2027
- Disko Bay: Meeting the Inuit & Discovering the Unknown 28 Apr 2027, 22 May 2028
- Encounter with the Last Guardians of the North Pole 4 Apr 2027
- From the North Sea to the Baltic 14 Nov 2026
- From the St Lawrence to Greenland, the Last Moments of Winter 13 Mar 2027
- Gautier Capuçon's Baltic Symphony at Sea 3 Dec 2026
- In the ice of the Arctic, from Greenland to Svalbard 8 Jun 2027
- In the ice of the Arctic, from Svalbard to Greenland 24 Jun 2027
- Inuit spring of Ammassalik 15 May 2027
- Jazz festival, from the Baltic to the North Sea 23 Jan 2027
- Northeast Greenland's unexplored sea ice 6 Jun 2028, 16 Jun 2028
- Northeast Greenland's unexplored sea ice 25 May 2027
- Ocean Voyage: Bergen-Montreal 2 Feb 2027
- Setting sail for the ice of the mythical Weddell Sea 26 Oct 2027, 7 Nov 2027, 19 Nov 2027, 15 Dec 2027, 5 Nov 2028, 17 Nov 2028
- The forgotten souls of the Far South 29 Nov 2028
- The Geographic North Pole 27 Jul 2027, 8 Aug 2027, 20 Aug 2027, 1 Sep 2027, 12 Jul 2028, 24 Jul 2028, 17 Aug 2028, 29 Aug 2028, 10 Sep 2028
- The Geographic North Pole and exploration of northern Greenland 22 Sep 2028
- The Geographic North Pole and the east coast of Greenland 10 Jul 2027
- The Geographic North Pole and the east coast of Greenland 13 Sep 2027
- The Geographic North Pole and the east coast of Greenland 26 Jun 2028
- The Gulf of Bothnia, at the Gateway to the Arctic 22 Dec 2026, 7 Jan 2027
- The Gulf of Bothnia, at the Gateway to the Arctic 30 Dec 2026, 15 Jan 2027
- The St. Lawrence River in the Heart of the Boreal Winter 13 Feb 2027, 27 Feb 2027
- The Weddell Sea & Larsen Ice Shelf 15 Dec 2028
- Unexplored Eastern Antarctica between Two Continents 11 Feb 2028, 11 Feb 2029
- Unexplored Western Antarctica between Two Continents 10 Jan 2028, 10 Jan 2029
All Upcoming Departures
Le Commandant Charcot FAQ
What flag does Le Commandant Charcot sail under?
Le Commandant Charcot is registered in France; port of registry Mata Utu, Wallis and Futuna.
How many passengers does Le Commandant Charcot hold?
Le Commandant Charcot carries about 245 guests with roughly 215 crew.
How old is Le Commandant Charcot?
Le Commandant Charcot entered service in 2021.
How big is Le Commandant Charcot?
At 31,757 gross tons and 150 m long, Le Commandant Charcot is a small ship — larger than 56% of the 566 cruise ships cruises.to tracks.
What is the dress code on Le Commandant Charcot?
PONANT recommends casual-elegant clothing, with cocktail attire for gala evenings and black-and-white or white attire for the Officers' evening. Shorts and bermuda shorts are not permitted in gourmet restaurants at dinner.
What dining and drinks are included?
The standard all-inclusive package includes full board and an open bar with selected mineral water, soft drinks, wines, beer, champagne, spirits, coffee and tea. Some premium alcoholic drinks and certain specialty services may cost extra.
Is Wi-Fi included on Le Commandant Charcot?
Free Wi-Fi is available in staterooms and common areas. Connection quality can vary with location and navigation conditions.
Are tips mandatory?
Tipping is discretionary. PONANT places an envelope in the stateroom near the end of the cruise for guests who wish to leave gratuities.
Is Le Commandant Charcot accessible for wheelchair users?
The ship has three wheelchair-accessible staterooms: two on deck 6 and one on deck 8. These have accessible bathrooms, balconies and small access ramps; passengers must be independently mobile or travel with an accompanying person who can assist them.
Can children travel on Le Commandant Charcot?
Children are permitted from age eight on this ship. A children's club is not a permanent onboard facility; children's programming depends on the sailing and voyage arrangements.