Ponant's luxury icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot, is preparing to achieve a maritime milestone by completing a full circumnavigation of Antarctica between January and March 2028. This will mark the first time a cruise ship has accomplished such a feat.
The vessel will navigate approximately 11,200 miles of coastline along the Antarctic continent during the journey, which will begin and end in Ushuaia, Argentina. For perspective, this distance represents roughly one and a half times the size of the United States.
The ship's PC2 polar hull and hybrid electric engine powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) enable it to navigate polar regions while meeting high maritime safety and environmental standards. The crew is specifically trained for ice navigation.
The unprecedented itinerary, designed by captains Etienne Garcia and Patrick Marchesseau, who will jointly command the vessel during this voyage, consists of two legs. The first 30-day segment will travel westward from Ushuaia to Hobart, Tasmania. Following a two-day stopover, the ship will complete the second 34-day segment along Antarctica's eastern coast back to Ushuaia.
"Ponant Explorations' spirit is about those moments of shared awe as we witness the immense forces of nature at play," Garcia said. "As one of the originators of this project and personally involved, I am deeply committed to guiding guests in uncovering the secrets of this new maritime route."
Marchesseau added: "After sailing the Ross Sea onboard Le Commandant Charcot, I had the privilege of following in the footsteps of explorers Ross, Shackleton and Amundsen, who made history at the South Pole. I was captivated by the majesty of these polar landscapes, as well as the incredible human adventures etched into them. Today, we want to allow guests to experience the thrill of exploration during the first circumnavigation of Antarctica."
The expedition aims to connect passengers with the legacy of historical polar explorers while discovering previously unvisited regions of the continent.
Le Commandant Charcot serves as a fully autonomous base for polar expeditions with activities including Zodiac excursions, snowshoe hikes, kayaking and polar plunges. The vessel is equipped with scientific capabilities including two laboratories for collecting and analyzing samples from water, ice and air, plus a SIMS antenna that continuously measures ice thickness.
Sales for this expedition are scheduled to open in December 2025.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Ponant. It was fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
