Ponant has opened sales on a totally new range of voyages to the ends of the earth for the Antarctic season, including two new itineraries from and to New Zealand, all aboard the first LNG-powered hybrid electric luxury polar exploration vessel, Le Commandant Charcot.
And, for its second season in the Antarctic with Le Commandant Charcot, Ponant has expanded its offer to include two itineraries providing unforgettable semi-circumnavigations of the Antarctic.
Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, guests can take their pick from a range of new activities from citizen science to kayaking, hiking or snowshoeing, to polar diving without a wetsuit and polar swimming in a drysuit. More than 20 naturalist-guides will be supervising the activities and taking guests to meet a fascinating array of wildlife during Zodiac and hovercraft outings.
Expedition “Unexplored Antarctic between Two Continents”
For the very first time, Le Commandant Charcot is inviting guests to follow in the footsteps of the great Antarctic explorers during a truly exceptional semi-circumnavigation, a voyage of exploration linking the southern end of the American continent to New Zealand. This exclusive expedition into the heart of the icefields explores the Bellingshausen, Amundsen and Ross seas, the world’s largest marine sanctuary, where whales, orcas, seals and penguins can be seen, as well as Marie Byrd Land, the last Terra Nullius (unclaimed land) on our planet.
Ushuaia – Dunedin
30 days, 28 nights
15 January to 13 February 2023
From AUD 60,545 per person
Expedition “From Dumont d’Urville to Mawson: retracing Heroic Age expeditions”
This first ever polar odyssey to earth’s boundary retraces the steps of early explorers to the White Continent, sharpening the senses during a voyage where all the nuances of the ice come into their own. From the shores of New Zealand to those of Ushuaia, a city at the end of the world, with this itinerary PONANT is offering another semi-circumnavigation of the Antarctic. On the way guests will discover Adélie Land, Victoria Land and Marie Byrd Land, as well as Macquarie Island, a sub-Antarctic Australian island, classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its extraordinary biodiversity. A unique voyage of exploration steeped in French and Australian polar history.
Dunedin – Ushuaia
28 days, 26 nights
13 February to 12 March 2023
From AUD 57,261 per person
IMAGE: Le Commandant Charcot – Ponant