Le Commandant Charcot: A Polar Expedition Icebreaker, in Photos and Data
Le Commandant Charcot is a polar expedition ship operated by the French line Ponant. She is an icebreaker that is known for being able to reach the geographic North Pole. She is named after the 19th-century polar explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot.
Her purpose differs from an ordinary cruise ship: she is built for voyages into icy seas. This article sets out her features with the figures and photographs that could be confirmed.
Key facts
| Operator | Ponant (France) |
|---|---|
| Gross tonnage | 31,757 GT |
| Length / beam | approx. 150 m / 28 m |
| Speed | approx. 15 knots |
| Passenger capacity | 245 (some sources say 270) |
| Cabins | 123 (some sources say 135), all with balconies |
| Ice class | Polar Class 2 (PC2) |
| Propulsion | LNG-powered hybrid electric, 5 MWh batteries |
| In service | 2021 |
Cabins and suites
All cabins face the sea and have step-out balconies. Of these, 68 are described as suites. At the top is an Owner's Suite with its own terrace and jacuzzi.
Five decks are open to guests. Facilities include a gastronomic restaurant, a grill and a buffet, plus a wellness area with a snow room and an indoor pool.
Sample fares
These are examples of per-person "from" fares seen on third-party price listings in November 2026 (in US dollars). Fares vary greatly with date, route and cabin class, and how taxes and port charges are treated could not be confirmed where the source did not state it.
| Sep 10, 2028 / 11 days / Geographic North Pole (round trip from Longyearbyen) | 39,060 USD |
|---|---|
| Sep 22, 2028 / 17 days / Longyearbyen to Reykjavik | 53,990 USD |
* Polar voyages have limited dates and fares well above ordinary cruises. The figures above are "from" fares shown at the source.
On board
The ship has equipment made for icy seas. She is described as able to move through ice floes 2.5 m thick and to cross compression ridges of more than 10 m.
She is also a hybrid that combines LNG and electric power and can run short distances on batteries alone. Activities described include kayaking, dog sledding, ice fishing, hovercraft, hiking and snowmobiles.
In numbers
Dividing gross tonnage by passenger capacity gives a rough "ship size per guest" of about 130 GT (Japan's Asuka II is about 58 GT). The larger the figure, the more room per guest. These are simple divisions of the figures given in this article; they do not measure how busy a ship feels or the quality of service.
Who she suits
She suits travelers who want to see polar scenery that ordinary cruises cannot reach. Fares and dates are special, so it is best to research carefully rather than decide in a hurry.
Photo credits
・Le Commandant Charcot Stockholm: Skrällinge, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
・Le Commandant Charcot moored at Pier 26 in Port of Tallinn 10 December 2024: Pjotr Mahhonin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ship data: Cruisemapper, Fincantieri (Vard), Ship Technology, Adventure Life, Travel Weekly Asia. Fares: Cruisemapper (checked November 2026).