In the Wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot - Commandant Charcot
Set sail across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic, following Jean-Baptiste Charcot's path. Experience the dramatic Bellingshausen Sea and Charcot Island aboard a luxury icebreaker!
SPECIAL OFFER
9.0*
ECO SCORE
245
PASSENGERS
16
DAYS
3/5
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Antarctica: Drink It In
Welcome Aboard the
Le Commandant Charcot
After crossing the mythical Drake Passage, beaten by the winds and home to soaring cape petrels, you will glimpse the last continent on the horizon. Jean-Baptiste Charcot led his first journey to the Antarctic over a century ago, but his exploits still resonate and his traces are tangible here.
As you sail on exploring the Bellingshausen Sea, the conditions become increasingly extreme. Ice takes over your horizon, the ice floe stretches out, and icebergs drift around you. The approach to Charcot Island guarantees intense emotions and gives you the unique feeling of being among the privileged few able to contemplate it. Throughout your journey, our team of passionate experts will go over all the details of these historic exploits with you while sharing their in-depth knowledge of the wildlife and landscapes.
- • Explore Antarctica’s surreal landscapes and abundant fauna: Adelie, chinstrap and Gentoo penguins; leopard, crabeater and Weddell seals; humpbacks, Minke whales, orcas, and Ross Seals.
• Take a polar plunge in the icy, invigorating Antarctic waters, then warm up in the onboard Scandinavian sauna.
• This ship offers absolutely stunning comfort, so you’ll enjoy fine dining and deluxe amenities while floating in a vast expanse of sparkling ice and extreme cold.
Travel Curator’s Insights:
SPECIAL OFFER:
Rates:
From $27,290 per person
December to January brings milder temperatures and long daylight hours, perfect for exploring stunning ice formations and observing lively wildlife. You can expect to see penguin chicks hatching, seals basking on the ice, and whales feeding, all while enjoying breathtaking landscapes in one of the world’s most remote regions.
Inquire for specific dates.
December – January;
Hover for more information.
Departures:
Trip Sustainability Awards
Carbon
Optimizes the daily speed in order to reduce fuel consumption by 30%
Water
Ships equipped with freshwater purification systems that convert seawater into drinking water.
Waste
Has eliminated use of single-use plastic bottles and straws
Itinerary
Day 1: Ushuaia
Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible.
Days 2-3: Crossing the Drake Passage
Use your days spent in the Drake Passage to familiarize yourself with your ship and deepen your knowledge of the Antarctic. The Expedition Leader will first present the IAATO rules of conduct that must be observed during landings in the region and will explain everything you need to know about the Zodiac outings. Lectures about the history and wildlife of the Antarctic will be an opportunity for you to learn more about this magical region, where every cruise is a unique experience. You will experience exceptional sailing moments on board and join the naturalist-guides on your ship’s exterior decks to look out for albatrosses, cape petrels, and other seabirds flying over the Drake Passage.
Day 4: Crossing the Antarctic Circle / The Gullet
Weather permitting, we'll cross the mythic line of the Antarctic Polar Circle, located along 66°33’ south of the Equator. This iconic area demarcates the point from which it is possible to view the midnight sun during the December solstice. Within this circle, the sun remains above the horizon for 24 consecutive hours at least once a year. Crossing this line, an experience known to few people, is sure to be an unforgettable highlight of your cruise through the polar regions.
The sumptuous landscapes of the Gullet, a narrow channel between Adelaide Island and Graham Land, attract all visitors sailing towards Marguerite Bay. It is like an ice palace, its immaculate white walls reflected in the frozen mirror formed by the waters of the Southern Ocean, scattered with icebergs and gleaming blocks of ice. This passage was explored for the first time by the Jean-Baptiste Charcot expedition in 1909, which sketched its position. It was then surveyed in 1936 by the British expedition under John Rymill. It is here in this magical setting that some of the first subaquatic images of the Antarctic were shot during Philippe Cousteau’s four-month expedition to Antarctica between 1972 and 1973.
Days 5-6: Expedition to Charcot Island
When he discovered this island surrounded by sea ice in 1910 from aboard the Pourquoi Pas? as he mapped Alexander Island, Jean-Baptiste Charcot had not been able to get less than 40 miles away from it. Situated in a zone that experiences frequent low-pressure systems and regular cloud cover, the island remains in many ways an enigma. It is entirely covered in ice and sheer cliffs, with the exception of the rocky outcrops extending over a dozen kilometers in the far north-west. The ice in the narrowest part of Wilkins Sound has been cracking in recent times, thus officially detaching this island from its neighbor, Alexander Island, lying 50 km away. Very few people have landed on this largely untouched island, whose waters attract numerous seabirds, such as petrels, Antarctic terns and skuas.
Day 7: Bellingshausen Sea
Stretching from the west of the Antarctic Peninsula to the Amundsen Sea, the Bellingshausen Sea was named after the Russian admiral and explorer who has been attributed the first confirmed sighting of mainland Antarctica, in 1820. Among others, its waters surround two of the Antarctic’s largest islands: Alexander Island and Thurston Island. You will explore this sea amid ice floe, blocks of sea ice and majestic icebergs. The coastal areas along the Bellingshausen Sea are also renowned as the home of colonies of emperor penguins. Depending on the month of the southern summer, you will perhaps be lucky enough to observe isolated adults, adolescents seeking emancipation or recently independent new adults.
Day 8: At Sea Aboard Le Commandant Charcot
Spend exceptional moments sailing aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first luxury polar exploration vessel and the first PC2-class polar cruise ship capable of sailing into the very heart of the ice, on seas and oceans which the frozen conditions render inaccessible to ordinary ships. Le Commandant Charcot is fitted with oceanographic and scientific equipment selected by a committee of experts. Take advantage of the on-board lectures and opportunities for discussion with these specialists to learn more about the poles. Participate in furthering scientific research with the expedition staff and let us discover together what these fascinating destinations have yet to reveal to us.
Day 9: Marguerite Bay
The icebergs are each more majestic than the next and scattered around the deep and intense blue waters of Marguerite Bay, one of the most beautiful regions in the Antarctic. It is delimited in the north by the mountainous Adelaide Island, in the south by George VI Sound and Alexander Island, and in the east by the Fallières Coast. Charcot named it after his wife during his second expedition to the Antarctic between 1908 and 1910. In 1909, in the southern summer when the skies are at their clearest, he led an important scientific mission to map and study this region. The bay is home to a number of cetaceans and you may get the chance to observe leopard seals or Adelie penguins.
Day 10: Pourquoi Pas Island
Le Commandant Charcot will land on the coast of Pourquoi Pas Island, so named in the 1930s by John Riddoch Rymill in honour of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, who discovered it from aboard his ship Le Pourquoi Pas? during his second expedition to Antarctica between 1908 and 1910. This mountainous island, situated in the north of Marguerite Bay between Graham Land and Adelaide Island, is 28 km long and 14 km large. It is scattered with narrow fjords and snow-covered mountains. You will go to shore in a Zodiac dinghy with your expedition team and you could get the chance to observe Adelie penguins going about their business on the island’s rocky shores.
Days 11-12: Antarctic Peninsula
Succumb to the magic of a place unlike any other. To this day, the mythical Antarctic Peninsula still holds real fascination and promises its visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure in this icy realm, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular decor in subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife. Penguins, humpback whales, seals and giant petrels are at home here, as are elephant seals, fur seals, Antarctic minke whales, and orcas. Depending on which sites you will be lucky enough to visit, you may get the chance to observe them and share with them the beauty of these extreme parts.
Each day, based on ice conditions, the Captain and the Expedition Leader will suggest Zodiac outings or landings to discover the infinite riches of the Antarctic Peninsula. Glaciers, ice floe, tabletop icebergs, mountain peaks that plunge straight into the sea, volcanic beaches, research stations, enchanting bays, and vestiges of the whaling industry: these are the faces of the Antarctic that will likely reveal themselves to you, in a hushed and surreal atmosphere. You will sail in the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache and Sir Ernest Shackleton, great Antarctic explorers who, from the 19th century, set out to conquer these remote and uninhabited lands.
Days 13-14: Crossing the Drake Passage
If there is one place, one sea, one waterway dreaded by tourists, researchers and hardened seafarers alike, it is undoubtedly Drake Passage. Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, it is the shortest route to connect Antarctica to South America. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent! As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, Drake Passage harbours a very diverse marine fauna. Don't forget to look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels, playfully floating about in the wind around your ship.
Day 15: Ushuaia
Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible.
Le Commandant Charcot
With Le Commandant Charcot, this operator 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.
Capacity: 245 Guests
Cabins: 120
Specialists: Seasoned Expedition Leader, Highly Experienced Naturalists, Expert Crew
ACHIEVEMENTS
Cruise Critics Editors’ Picks 2022
Cruise Critics Editors’ Picks 2023
Condé Nast #1 Best Expedition Ship Line 2022
"Le Commandant Charcot is a magnificent luxury icebreaker, currently the only passenger icebreaker in the world. She can crash through thick sea ice in locations where ice-strengthened ships are forced to find alternate routes. In addition to her ice breaking capabilities, she offers exquisite dining and top-notch amenities. For those who seek a 5-star hotel experience on the water in addition to the highest level of adventure, Le Commandant Charcot is an ideal choice. Each suite includes a private glazed balcony so you can easily have a private moment with the vast polar regions around you. Add an expert expedition staff to these levels of luxury and adventure, and you’ll find Charcot is hard to beat."
Wild Nectar
Life On Board
Deck Plan
Click to enlarge
Questions?
Rates
PRIVILEGE SUITE DECK 8
Priority boarding with champagne and fruit basket upon arrival + butler service & an assortment of sweet or savoury canapés and fruit basket every day; lounge area with chaise lounge and second TV; Samsung tablet connected to Wifi; a king-size bed or two single beds; bathroom with shower and Balneo bathtub, 2 panoramic sliding doors and rectangular porthole, 12.5 m² glazed private balcony.
From in USD:
$43,970pp
DUPLEX SUITE DECK 6
Priority boarding with champagne and fruit basket upon arrival + butler service & an assortment of sweet or savoury canapés and fruit basket every day; lounge area with armchairs, sofa bed, steam fireplace and TV; Samsung tablet connected to Wifi; a king-size bed or two single beds ; bathroom with shower and Balneo bathtub, five panoramic windows, private 26 m² terrace: outdoor lounge with sofa and armchairs, jacuzzi.
From in USD:
$59,470pp
OWNER'S SUITE
Priority boarding with champagne and fruit basket upon arrival + butler service & an assortment of sweet or savoury canapés and fruit basket every day; king-size bed or two single beds; living room with armchairs, two sofa beds, steam fireplace, and second TV; a desk & bookcase, dining room, two panoramic sliding bay windows; private 186 m² terrace: outdoor lounge with deckchairs, hot tub, two sofas, and dining table.
From in USD:
$92,230pp
This trip travels down the Bellinghausen Sea side of the Antarctic Peninsula which is unusual and is more easily accomplished when you’re traveling on an icebreaker like the Commandant Charcot rather than just an ice-strengthened ship. The Charcot is the only passenger-carrying icebreaker in these waters. Get ready for landings in places no one ever sees!
Joy Martinello, Founder
Questions?
What’s Included & Cancellation Policy:
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
Includes accommodation in stateroom; the full meal plan; the Open Bar: beginning with boarding, and during the duration of the cruise, a wide selection of drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, wine, beer, Charles Heidsieck champagne, spirits, coffee, tea) is served on request and at any time of the day; free Wi-Fi internet access 24 hours a day; activities offered during expedition cruises; outings and disembarkations by Zodiac inflatable boat; all port taxes; access to all the common areas: fitness room, steam room, hair salon, swimming pool (sea water, heated), solarium, lounges, theater, boutique & leisure area.
NOT INCLUDED:
•telephone service
•certain premium alcoholic beverages on the menu are not included in the Open Bar
•spa fees
•visa applications and fees
•private fitness classes
•laundry service
•tips for staff, drivers, and local guides
•personal expenses
•any other service not mentioned in the program
