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Geographic North Pole & Scoresby Sound - Commandant Charcot
Set sail on a unique polar expedition to the Geographic North Pole, exploring Greenland's fjords, Inuit culture, and maybe even getting a glimpse of the Northern Lights amidst ever-changing ice floes.
SPECIAL OFFER
9.0*
ECO SCORE
245
PASSENGERS
17
DAYS
3/5
ACTIVITY LEVEL
The Arctic: Drink It In
Welcome Aboard the
Le Commandant Charcot
Push the boundaries of navigation and set sail for 90 degrees North! During this exceptional polar exploration, you will go in search of the mythical Geographic North Pole. Head slowly up through the desert landscapes of the constantly changing ice floe. Your odyssey will continue as you travel down along Greenland, amidst the ice of the Transpolar Drift. Between majestic fjords and encounters with the Inuit culture, the region of Ittoqqortoormiit is rich in rare treasures holding inestimable value. A slow and humble journey awaits you in the heart of a silent world frozen by the extreme cold. You will sail among different states and forms of ice and will be able to admire, from the reassuring cocoon of the ship, the endless show of the light as it reflects on the opalescent landscapes.
- • With the right weather conditions, you may have the chance to catch a glimpse of the dazzling Northern lights!
• 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.
• Make the most of the expert photo ambassador on your ship, learning from their eye and expertise to snap the perfect shot and immortalize your adventure.
Travel Curator’s Insights:
SPECIAL OFFER:
Book now for 30% off June - September 2025 voyages!
Rates:
From $49,210 per person
Policies and protocols provided before you book.
Sept. 26 - Oct. 12, 2024
Ask us for 2025 dates!
July - October
Hover here for specific dates.
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: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
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.
Day 2: At Sea Along Spitsbergen
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.
Days 3-7: Navigating Through The Sea Ice
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.
Day 8: Geographic North Pole
Defined by a 90° 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, then lit by the sun for the following six months, this mythical site, permanently covered in ice and remote from any land, has fascinated generations of explorers. So far, only a very few people have ever reached it: an exploit which is now accessible to you aboard Le Commandant Charcot.
Days 9-10: Navigating Through The Sea Ice
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.
Days 11-12: 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.
Days 13-14: Exploration of Ittoqqortoormiit Region / Scoresby Sound
On the East coast of Greenland, in the Ittoqqortoormiit region that is covered with snow and ice for nine months of the year, you will have the rare opportunity of immersing yourself in the heart of an isolated territory and exploring the beauty of its infinite polar whiteness. The high alpine mountains punctuate the sky and gradually reveal their dark rock edges beneath a coat of snow. Located at the entrance to the longest system of fjords in the world, sits the village of Ittoqqortoormiit, one of the northernmost inhabited places on the East coast. Its name means ‘great house’ in Greenlandic and it is home to the last hunters of the polar region, whose ancestral way of life you will encounter. As soon as the thickness of the ice floe allows it, the hunters set out on the trail of walruses, seals, narwhals, musk oxen and polar bears, traveling by traditional dog sleds. On these expanses of immaculate snow, the silence is broken only by the sounds of the dogs, the grating of a sled coming back from a run or of footsteps on the ice. You will discover Inuit traditions through privileged and festive moments on the ice floe and in the village.
Covering an area of 13,700 km² (5,290 mi²), Scoresby Sound is the largest and deepest fjord system in the world. Named after the explorer and whale hunter William Scoresby, who mapped the region in 1822, it opens onto the Greenland Sea to the north of the Blosseville Coast. This wild and desert region offers untouched panoramas of infinite beauty, with high snow-capped peaks rising tall alongside icebergs immersed in clear, blue-tinged waters. Discovering these stunning places in the wake of great explorers like Captain Charcot, who was deeply attached to the land of the Inuit, inspires a profound reverence.
Day 15: Exploring the Blosseville Coast
Aboard your ship, follow in the footsteps of Jules Poret de Blosseville, a French explorer and sailor. In 1833, he set off to discover this isolated and unexplored part of eastern Greenland aboard La Lilloise, an adventure with a fatal outcome. The uninhabited territory that bears his name lies to the south of Scoresby Sound. Surrounded by ice, icebergs and pack ice - thin or thick, flat or pronounced - as far as the eye can see, Blosseville Coast is a wild and distant place to which very few people have access. Exploring it means a slow immersion into the heart of a frozen, almost unreal desert, where the variations in light transform one’s perception of the landscape. In the kingdom of the polar bears, Le Commandant Charcot, a silent ship open to the exterior, will offer exceptional moments observing Arctic wildlife, through a series of encounters.
Day 16: At Sea Aboard Le Commandant Charcot
During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the onboard photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
Day 17: Reykjavík
Iceland’s capital stretches along the edge of a vast bay in the west of the country. Perlan, the “Pearl of Reykjavík”, a museum located on ’Oskjuhlið hill, offers a panoramic view of the lush, green landscapes. A little further, one can easily spot the signpost showing the way to the evangelical Hallgrímskirkja church, and to the historical center where one can stroll along the Skólavördustígur and the Laugavegur, two lively streets with charming small shops. For some relaxation just outside of the city, visitors have the opportunity to visit the Reykjanes peninsula and its famous thermal lagoons of the Blue Lagoon.
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:
$82,210pp
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:
$112,860pp
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:
$157,230pp
The North Pole is a full-on bucket list adventure and only an icebreaker like the Commandant Charcot can deliver you in style to this farthest of geographical locations. Opportunities for wildlife viewing and deep contemplation abound on this once-in-a-lifetime trip. You’ll take it to say you did it, and then you’ll have your mind blown along the way!
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
