We booked in The commandant Charcot in 2019 , for summer of 2020 to North Pole , as soon as we had heard about its Polar Class 2 Ice breaking capabilities. However the voyage to 90’N , North Pole got cancelled twice due to COVID pandemic. Finally after experiencing an exceptional Arctic trip on L’Boreal last year in 2022, we booked with Ponant on Le Commandant Charcot for November 2023 for their Emperor Penguins trip to Weddell Sea / Snow Hill island . The voyage itself was a masterpiece of organization and comfort. The vessel, equipped with cutting-edge most advance technology of any expedition cruise ship and luxurious amenities, navigated through icy waters, especially the Drake Passage , which was not at all noticed by us. The crew, with experts, not only ensured our safety but also shared their wealth of knowledge, enlightening us about the region's wildlife, geography, and history. The way this icebreaker ship sails on Sea Ice, Fast Ice , Ice Floes and the way it navigates in between gigantic icebergs is amazing and it can reach farthest corners of Antarctica ( and Arctic upto North Pole). We had the pleasure to visit Weddell Sea across frozen sea. The real magic, however, lay in the ethereal landscapes and wildlife encounters. Towering glaciers, pristine icebergs undisturbed wilderness painted an otherworldly panorama. Witnessing colonies of penguins waddling on ice shelves, and seals lounging on ice floes felt like stepping another planet . The itinerary offered a diverse experiences, from many Zodiac excursions and many hikes .Each landing presented a new facet of the Antarctica’s beauty. Captain Devorsine and his team including Aurelia, The cruise director ensured daily landings , zodiac trips, excursions . There were daily helicopter scouts to ensure highly enriched experience. Ponant's commitment to exceptional cuisine extends graciously to its offerings for vegetarian guests aboard their ship, We being vegetarians were taken into respect and considerations. The vegetarian dining experience aboard Ponant's ship is a testament to their dedication to accommodating diverse dietary preferences without compromising on taste or variety. Each meal is a delightful exploration of tastes and textures, curated with precision to ensure a memorable dining experience. The executive chefs Florentine mastery in transforming various produce into exquisite dishes that captivate the senses. The commitment to sustainability aboard the Commandant Charcot was commendable. Ponant's dedication to minimizing its environmental impact, from utilizing clean energy sources to employing eco-friendly practices, resonated with the pristine nature surrounding us, ensuring that our voyage left the smallest ecological footprint possible. In conclusion, Ponant's Commandant Charcot expedition to witness Emperor Penguins in Antarctica was a blend of luxury and exploration. This expedition stands as a testament to Ponant's dedication to an unparalleled journey to the heart of Antarctica's wildlife wonders. In conclusion, an Antarctica cruise with Ponant on the Commandant Charcot was a lifetime experience beyond expectation. We have been on over 10 cruises in past but I would rate this as by far the best in service , comfort , adventure , expedition and above all the ability to accommodate the desires of its passengers was just way beyond my expectation . Special mention to the captain for outstanding navigation , Arthur Front restaurant manager , Florent- Executive chef, Florent- Hotel manager, Aurelia, Director of the cruise ,Ella- Travel ambassador , Jean Marie- Mgr of Sila, Sarvan- physiotherapist and gym supervisor, and entire team of naturalist including , Steven, Excursion leader and Casey. We have already booked ourselves for the 26th September 2024 North Pole-Northern Lights-Greenland 17 days trip on the same ship. Once you have visited polar region in this ship, you will never want to visit polar regions in any other ship.

The only ship of this capability and what an opportunity so we had to take advantage of it. The following describes the actual experience we had. Flight from Paris We were offered the opportunity to pay to upgrade to business class and accepted it, the flight was supposed to leave at 10 a.m. but we did not leave the terminal, on a bus, to the plane until after 10:05. We had to carry luggage up the stairs and when we boarded were told it was open seating, despite having received a seat assignment on our boarding pass. This was fine as our boarding passes had us in row 22 and we were able to sit in row 8. The plane was very nice, service from the crew was mostly very good. The food was meh, but drinks were plentiful. Despite leaving late we arrived about 20 minutes earlier than the scheduled flight time and quickly boarded a bus to take us to the tender. The local people took care of retrieving our checked baggage. It was cold and windy when we got off the bus after a roughly 7-minute trip and there was no tender waiting. We stood around for over 10 minutes until one of the expedition team came and called the bridge to send over a tender with another 5 minute wait. This was a major fail on the part of Ponant, the tender should have been waiting for the bus. Embarkation Upon arriving at the ship a gentleman insisted on bringing my carry-on bags up the gangway, although no one took my wife’s bags which were heavier than mine. We went to reception, turned in the paper forms we had printed out and filled in, handed over our passports, submitted credit card info, and were given room keys. We went to our suite and unpacked the carry-on bags, and then took a brief tour of the ship and got to know two of the bartenders when we stopped for a drink. When we returned to our suite the room attendant was just delivering our checked bags. There was no welcome bottle of champagne in the room and the wine we asked for was not present. At approximately 6:10 p.m. we were told to report to the theater for the muster drill. We have sailed 25 times prior and this was the longest muster drill, with English and French being alternating and discussions about what should happen if we had to abandon the ship along with videos. As we looked around the room we noticed both French and English speakers were in the minority as there were a large number of passengers from mainland China and Tawain present. Afterwards we went for a pre-dinner cocktail and then dinner at NUNA which is a cooperation with Alain Ducasse, which has a very limited menu. During the cruise we would mostly dine at NUNA, the food was good but the first night my fish main course was just barely warm. The second day was a sea day, not yet in the ice until around 5 p.m. Attended a presentation by the Captain and the expedition leader, now given in 3 languages due to a large contingent of Chinese speaking passengers on-board. So presentations are very long due to having someone say the same thing 3 times (although the French one always seems longer so wonder if we are missing out on something). Lunch at the buffet restaurant SILA was not very good, dried out lamb although sauce was tasty, no dishes that were more than barely warm. Dinner was back at NUNA and good but other than my soup food was just warm, not hot. Monday was another sea / ice day and we woke up to crashing thru the ice. Coffee at the Observation bar and then a breakfast at the buffet which was just OK. Expected better croissants given this is a French line, eggs just warm not hot. Seeing a recurring theme here? Tuesday was another full day of travelling thru the ice, we and many others spent time out on the decks watching the ship navigate the ice, seeing the cracks that form, listening to the sounds made, and in awe of the colors of the broken-up ice. It was an amazing time. We arrived at 90.0.0 North at 6:17 p.m. on Wednesday. There was a celebration out on deck 6 which is the helicopter pad. At about 6:30 the elevator that brings the helicopter up and down opened up and accompanied by the saxophonist came several officers with glasses of champagne and caviar. The Captain posed for pictures with the pax and a sign with the coordinates of the North Pole. Afterwards we all went to dinner and the Captain repositioned the ship into a large and stable ice floe. We were then offered the chance after dinner to walk on the ice which almost everyone did. However, the time was cut short when a female polar bear appeared and we were quickly hustled back on-board. The bear hung around for 45 minutes or so with everyone taking pictures and videos of it. Thursday we were allowed to get off again and there were various options including skis, snowshoes, the survival tent had been setup, walking poles were available, a sled created by the carpenter was available for pulling someone on, etc. After lunch was the polar plunge which was well attended. (My wide did it but I did not as a recent EGK was required to participate and I did not bring a copy.) At 6 p.m. we set sail back to Svalbard with several stops and then to Greenland. The next 2 days were again spent in the ice. Food continued to be mostly good to very good, soups usually hot, mains sometime hot other times just warm. The actual itinerary turned out to look nothing like what was in the original description, which was fine just went into it with a different expectation. Expedition team were all friendly, some more than others, but all that we encountered were very knowledgeable. Lindsey, who was our zodiac driver on 2 occasions, was very well versed in multiple topics. It was said multiple times during the first couple of days that the actual itinerary would be subject to various factors, although mostly weather, which is totally understandable. However, I for one, would have appreciated if they at least conveyed where and what they hoped to do over the course of a few days just for better planning of my days. When we disembarked Joel, who we know from a different cruise line when we sailed to Antarctica, was there to assist with our luggage to the taxi. Suites The suites are very modern in design, we had a Deluxe Suite which is 301 sq feet with a very comfortable bed and a verandah with 2 chairs and a table. The layout could be better, while it has a very nice large shower, there is a only single sink. There is no walk-in closet and very limited space, IMO, given this ship is all about expeditions, for drying wet clothes. There is a typical bar fridge, although only stocked with mini-bottles of spirits. There is also a Nespresso coffee machine – which we never used. There is a couch and a table but only 1 chair which presents some issues if one wants to order room service. Pros Very impressive ship as far as the cutting-edge technology; a walking track on deck 5 the entire length of the ship; excellent crew – super attentive and not a single one you wanted to avoid; open bridge policy; the tenders are the nicest and most comfortable we have ever been on; the bread – except for the croissants – is wonderful (from someone who bakes their own bread); soups – with ironically the exception of French onion – were all very tasty and usually served hot; mains were usually very good sometimes arrived hot but more often warm. Wine glasses usually refilled at meals before they are empty. Suite attendant was mostly unseen but typically the room was refreshed within an hour of us putting on the makeup room light and every time we saw him he wanted to insure we were completely satisfied. Wonderfully large and plush bath towels. The bar on deck 9 is welcoming and offers great views. We liked that during the day various single musicians play in different venues (reminded us of Crystal). Nothing was ever a problem for the crew to do for you. Cons No self-serve guest laundry. We do not want to do laundry on a cruise but it would be nice to have the ability to throw wet clothes into a dryer after a zodiac ride. Limited choice of menu in Nuna, surprised no option for a hamburger or sandwiches at lunch in Nuna. Briefings and other presentations done in French and English (not a problem we expected this) but the Chinese translator sometimes talking so loudly in the theater that we can’t hear the main presenter. Only 2 choices of included white and red wines plus one Rose. Good cheese selection but no port wine to accompany them included. (Flight home on BA to Las Vegas had better wines and a port). Upcharges for many drinks. Some announcements are difficult to understand given the accent of the Captain when speaking in English. Told there would be an envelope in our suite for gratuities for the crew. At the price point we paid gratuities should have been included. Totally did not like the fact that no map of the itinerary nor cruise video were included, you could BUY them – sorry but this is inexcusable IMO. When we went to Antarctica, on a different line, everyone received a video of the cruise. Here you could pay from 70 to 270 or more Euros for pictures / videos. Picture meeting the captain on not so formal night: 7 Euros. Total lack of adherence to the dress code by 95% of the pax. Also there was very little recognition of people by name, only a few crew, mostly bar waiters, called us by name but only because they asked us our names. No officer addressed us by name which when only 199 pax you think they could learn a few names. Take away Would we sail on Ponant again? Lots of excellent things, from the capability of the ship to the crew and the mostly very good food. We only did this cruise due to the unique itinerary and a future Ponant would have to be totally unique and something we are interested in, right now there is only one.

Superb Antarctic navigation aboard La Commandant Charcot leaving from Ushuaia through Drakes Passage, tracking west along Antarctica from Marguerite Bay to Cape Adare and then up to Lyttelton, NZ Captain Devorsine & Expedition Leader Kuyper went out of their way to provide an exceptional Antarctic experience including navigation along the Ross Ice Shelf, navigation through ice floes, expeditions on fast ice & continental Antarctica to experience the landscape & wildlife and, to the extent conditions allowed, visits to historic sites Not all passenger bucket list items could be achieved due to weather conditions. Negative passenger comments in this regard should be discounted. Too often complaining passengers ignored the ample warnings before & during the cruise that what can be done & experienced is dependent on weather & sea conditions. Adverse conditions may mean desired experiences cannot be done without comprising passenger & crew safety. These passengers may not care for their own safety but I very much appreciated this Captain & Leaders’ respect for a harsh & unforgiving environment & their insistence on the primacy of passenger/crew safety It should also be noted this is not cruising that is recommended for passengers with mobility issues. While the crew tried to accommodate such passengers as best they could, there is a limit to what is achievable in this environment. Those prone to sea sickness should also be prepared for days when they will suffer (even with anti sea sickness medications). I am such a passenger but regard this as a small price to pay for the experience of a lifetime Also to be commended was the exceptional on board service & cuisine. The latter is very much attuned to European tastes. Americans seem to find the cuisine more challenging even though their obsession for burgers & fries is catered for by the chefs. Particularly noteworthy are the French pastries & breads produced on board. Astoundingly, at the end of 4 weeks (without being able to re-provision), the kitchen was still serving fresh lettuce (something most cruise ships can’t do after 2weeks!) Finally, a big shoutout to all the officers, ship crew, expedition crew & scientists on board. They did an exceptional job given they were ship bound for 4 weeks (albeit crew were rightly able to join in landings if shifts allowed). They maintained a high & friendly standard of service for the entire voyage even when the swell was 10m high & the wind gusting over 100km/hr (which is no mean feat) Bravo Ponant - a fantastic cruise

Launched in 2021, Le Commandant Charcot is a Polar Class 2 rated icebreaker. It is a 245-passenger, 31,300-ton cruising vessel with high quality interiors. It is French, chic, the service is smooth, and passengers are well-heeled, experienced and predominantly elder travellers. As of 2022, Le Commandant Charcot is the only PC2 rated ship in service. Note that the strongest Canadian Coastguard icebreakers to date, are PC3 rated. The vessel is capable of breaking up to 2.5m thick multi-year ice, reaching remote polar destinations. She features a 52,000hp hybrid power plant powered by LNG, and 5 MWh electric batteries. The ship carries 2 helicopters for reconnaissance and is amazingly quiet. We choose Le Commandant Charcot for its off-the-beaten-track itinerary and most of all for the North West Passage. We called at Greenland’s South coast and at different islands of North Canada Nunavut. On the Beaufort Sea we landed on multiyear sea-ice. From Reykjavik to Nome we sailed 4,400 NM equivalent to 8,134 km. On board 16 Zodiacs ferry passengers across to remote shores. We found the staff very capable and the excursion staff of young scientists, marine biologists & naturalists very knowledgeable. Surprisingly the hotel director is treating highly qualified non-French excursion staff as servants, while privileging French staff. Our cabin was nicely furnished and decorated, with a comfortable king bed, desk & couch, club-chair & table, flat screen TV, balcony with chairs & table, bathroom with washbasin & relatively spacious shower, separate toilet, wardrobe & safe, Nespresso coffee & tea facility, mini bar replenished daily and included in the open bar policy. On deck 3 there is an excursion staff briefing room and on port & starboard you find an excursion lounge and a retractable zodiac landing platform. For Arctic and Antarctic voyages Ponant provides a parka and lends you good rubber boots. The boots exchange in the excursion lounge is highly impracticable and time consuming. The hotel director considers a 5-star appearance more important than a practical expedition service. He doesn’t allowed passengers to place their boots before their cabins doors. On deck 5 you find: reception & lobby; theatre; cigar lounge; lounge & bar; shop with designer labels; and the formal restaurant. At deck 9: comfy outside pool & bar; gym; lovely spa with pool, sauna, snow-room, detox-bar & beauty parlour; and a pleasant casual restaurant. Both restaurants are open sitting and nicely appointed, the waiting staff very efficient and correct. The vessel has an open bar policy that includes drinks, apéritif, some cocktails, champagne, digestif, and wines - with the exception of the grand crus, exclusive drinks and cocktails. The wine list is impressive and top wines are on display at the right temperature and available at the restaurant on deck 5. Dress code is smart casual with a couple of extra-smart nights although no rules are laid down. Passengers often go chic and we advise ladies to pack a cocktail dress and some heels for the smarter nights. There's no requirement for men to pack jackets and ties, although most men wear blazers on the smart nights. Numerous activities, from gymnastics in the morning, lectures in the afternoon to a piano concert or a show at night in the theatre. At sea the ship has an open bridge policy. Food is French cuisine and outstanding. The formal restaurant offers cuisine designed by 3-Michelin star chef Alain Ducasse. The casual restaurant offers an excellent buffet. For suites there is a butler service. At the restaurant the French tone of course is prevalent. All officers are French, the crew a mixture of Filipino and Indonesian, and all English speaking. We had a great voyage sailing the North West Passage. Starting from Reykjavik we sailed the Denmark Strait, followed the 100km long Prince Christian Sound in South Greenland and sailed the Davis Strait. Subsequently we sailed the Hudson Strait, Fury & Hecla Strait, Bellot Strait, Byam Martin Canal, Parry Canal, M’Clure Strait, the Beaufort Sea and Bering Strait. We visited remote places like Aappilattoq, Glacier Grinnell, Pointe Enukso, Cape Dorset, Monte Oliver, Fort Ross, Beechey Island, Maxwell Bay, Radstock Bay, Prince Patrick Island, Sachs Harbor and Nome. Overall Le Commandant Charcot is a beautiful polar ship with a most impressive ice-breaking capability, no casino, no rowdy teenagers and an overload of wealthy boomers.