Ponant to Launch 12-Night North Pole Expeditions in 2027
Shorter itineraries aboard Le Commandant Charcot aim to capture time-strapped luxury travelers seeking the rare experience of reaching 90° North.
Photo: Courtesy of Ponant
For advisors with clients who dream of standing at the top of the world but balk at the idea of three-week commitments, Ponant is carving out a new option. Beginning in July 2027, the line will operate a series of 12-night expeditions to the Geographic North Pole aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s only luxury icebreaker.
The itineraries, running round-trip from Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, respond to what Ponant says is growing demand from the Americas market for shorter (but still transformational) polar experiences. Departures are scheduled for July 27, August 8, August 20, and September 1, 2027. Each sailing will push through the drifting pack ice of the Arctic Ocean en route to 90° North, a feat that remains out of reach for most passenger vessels.
The shorter duration is sure to broaden the addressable client base. Ponant’s earlier North Pole programs stretched to nearly three weeks, which was difficult for time-strapped travelers balancing multiple commitments. “Over the past 15 months, we’ve worked closely with our deployment team to thoughtfully design a 12-night itinerary that will appeal to this market,” said Samuel Chamberlain, CEO of Ponant Explorations Group, Americas.
During the sailing, wildlife encounters—from polar bears to Arctic foxes—are possible, as are Zodiac outings, kayaking, and ice landings. Guests will also have the chance to visit Ny-Ålesund, one of the world’s northernmost research stations, and see the midnight sun (and potentially the Northern Lights). Each itinerary includes round-trip airfare from Paris to Longyearbyen, transfers, and Ponant’s all-inclusive positioning.
The vessel itself is also part of the pitch for advisors. Le Commandant Charcot made history in 2022 as the first passenger ship to reach the Geographic North Pole. Its Polar Class 2 designation allows it to navigate uncharted ice with reduced environmental impact, thanks to a hybrid electric–LNG propulsion system. Onboard, clients will find Alain Ducasse dining, a spa with Biologique Recherche treatments, and high-touch French service, an important differentiator in an expedition segment where luxury is often promised but not always delivered.
By setting a new middle ground between accessibility and ambition, Ponant may have created one of the more advisor-friendly polar products to come online this decade.
