Le Commandant Charcot

Le Commandant Charcot bridges the gap between expeditionary and sophistication. She is unapologetically opulent, offering a la carte fine dining, an indoor swimming pool and a spa, yet the ship offers a full expeditionary program of activities and undertakes voyages to the geographic North Pole as well as a full traversal of the Northwest Passage.

With a maximum capacity of 245 passengers, Le Commandant Charcot is bigger than the ships we usually prefer but her commitment to minimising her environmental impact by using the newest technology is groundbreaking. The ship uses one of the greenest fuels available, liquified natural gas (LNG), and a high-capacity battery system is employed to optimise fuel consumption.

Comprising 123 suites and staterooms, each with a private balcony or terrace, all cabins have king-sized or twin bed configuration, mini bar, 24-hour room service, flat-screen satellite TV and WiFi access. Communal areas include the Promenade Deck which makes it possible to take a 360-degree walk around the ship, stopping for a rest on the benches heated by an energy recovery system, or to look through the Swarovski Optik telescopes dotted around the ship.

To balance adventure with relaxation, Le Commandant Charcot’s expedition team comprises 19-23 experts, offering a very high ratio of guest-to-staff. Exploration of the poles is done through a series of landings and zodiac cruises. Kayaking, snowshoeing and polar-plunging are all possible on Le Commandant Charcot and the ship’s onboard ‘scientific mediation team’ delivers a program of citizen science workshops.