Spitsbergen
Geographic North Pole
Longyearbyen
Spitsbergen
Overview
From Spitsbergen,...read more you will sail the northern waters, at the edges of the Earth, where the landscapes change constantly depending on the ice and the plays of light. Nature reigns supreme here, sheltering abundant wildlife: polar bears, seals or even whales will be your hosts. Your discovery of this silent world, frozen by the cold, will continue as you attempt to reach the Grail of all polar explorers: the North Pole! Swept by the winds and the currents, the ice floe is constantly drifting and the master of your ship will have to manoeuvre carefully and with great humility in an attempt to reach the northernmost point of our planet.
Find out more about the world of Le Commandant Charcot here! We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Our navigation, mainly in the fjords, will be determined by the type of ice we come across; as the fast ice must be preserved, we will take this factor into account from day to day in our itineraries.
The sailing programme, outings, activities and observation of fauna cannot be guaranteed and are subject to weather and ice conditions. The experiences are unique and vary from day to day and for each departure. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while respecting safety instructions and regulations imposed by the AECO.
Cruise Itinerary
The largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, its name meaning 'pointed mountains' in German, Spitsbergen is the last piece of land before the Arctic ice floe. Aboard your ship, you will sail along the extremely spectacular coastline of this icy land. Between millennial glaciers and rugged mountains, you will discover a jagged coastline, hollowed-out by fjords. A unique setting, the refuge of a particularly rich avifauna, offering you the possibility of taking fabulous photographs from the deck of your ship.
Enjoy the absolutely unique experience of sailing to the heart of the ice floe, this vast expanse of virgin, immaculate ice. The landscapes are constantly changing, shifting from a smooth, flat wilderness to a chaos of ice, then to channels of open water. Your ship will sail along these naturally open channels and through the areas where the frozen layer is thinnest, offering you the chance to experience magic maritime moments in the midst of drifting sea ice. It will also often be an opportunity to see a particular kind of fauna, totally dependent on the ice floe.
Defined by a 90 degree North latitude, the Geographic North Pole lies on the Earth’s rotational axis, at the intersection of all meridians.
Plunged into darkness for six months of the year and then lit by the sun for the following six months, this mythical site has fascinated generations of explorers.
Permanently covered in ice and remote from any land, only a very few people have ever reached it, an exciting exploit which is now accessible to you aboard the Commandant-Charcot.
Enjoy the absolutely unique experience of sailing to the heart of the ice floe, this vast expanse of virgin, immaculate ice. The landscapes are constantly changing, shifting from a smooth, flat wilderness to a chaos of ice, then to channels of open water. Your ship will sail along these naturally open channels and through the areas where the frozen layer is thinnest, offering you the chance to experience magic maritime moments in the midst of drifting sea ice. It will also often be an opportunity to see a particular kind of fauna, totally dependent on the ice floe.
The largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, its name meaning 'pointed mountains' in German, Spitsbergen is the last piece of land before the Arctic ice floe. Aboard your ship, you will sail along the extremely spectacular coastline of this icy land. Between millennial glaciers and rugged mountains, you will discover a jagged coastline, hollowed-out by fjords. A unique setting, the refuge of a particularly rich avifauna, offering you the possibility of taking fabulous photographs from the deck of your ship.
Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the untouched nature, make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.
Life Onboard Le Commandant-Charcot
Le Commandant Charcot offers guests small ship luxury expeditions with unique hybrid powered clean technology. Read more
Choose your home away from home from 135 elegantly appointed outward facing staterooms and suites. Read more
From the indoor heated pool to the Snow Room and Fitness Centre, relax and rejuvenate as you cruise. Read more
Combining space for events and cosy corners you will enjoy the social ambience in the luxury lounge. Read more
Built for the environment, you will leave no trace when you break the ice on a polar expedition. Read more
The French crew will welcome you aboard and ensure your comfort and wellbeing is paramount throughout your voyage. Read more
Availability Click on prices below to view cabin upgrades and details
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Ponant. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Ponant. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
