expedition Vessel

Le Commandant Charcot

Ponant

Expedition Team

Zodiacs

245

Passengers

145

Crew

30,000GT

Tonnage

150m

Length

10m

Draft

15 knots knots

Speed

41,260t

About Le Commandant Charcot

5 photos

Active fin stabilizers + dynamic positioning

Stabilizers

LNG-Battery hybrid (4.5 MWh) + diesel-electric, four Azipod thrusters

Propulsion

220V / 50Hz; European Type C/E + US Type A sockets

Voltage

This superb yacht unique atmosphere a subtle blend of luxury intimacy and well-being. French flag

Deck Plans

Deck 3

Deck 5

Deck 6

Deck 7

Deck 8

Deck 9

Outdoor Grill / Buffet Restaurant

An open-air aft-deck venue offering relaxed buffet lunch and themed BBQ dinners, weather permitting. Often the venue for the Polar Plunge BBQ on expedition voyages.

restaurant

Sothys Spa

A spa centre with treatment rooms, hammam, sauna and a relaxation lounge. Massages, facials and body rituals use the French Sothys product line.

spa

Hair Salon

Onboard hair salon with cut, colour, blow-dry and grooming services. Advance booking recommended.

spa

Satellite Wi-Fi

Complimentary satellite Wi-Fi throughout the ship. Suitable for messaging, email and standard browsing; high-bandwidth streaming may be throttled in remote regions.

wifi

Charcot Polar Laboratory

An 80 m² onboard polar research facility hosting visiting scientists from CNRS, IFREMER, NASA and other partners. Guests can attend live science demonstrations, observe ongoing experiments and participate in citizen-science projects.

entertainment

Sila Restaurant by Anne-Sophie Pic

A signature gastronomic restaurant designed by triple-Michelin-starred Anne-Sophie Pic, available by reservation on selected evenings. Tasting menu format; complimentary for guests in suite categories Privilege and above.

restaurant

Library

A reading lounge stocked with destination-specific literature, polar reference books, French art-de-vivre titles and board games.

entertainment

Theatre / Conference Room

Dedicated venue for daily expedition lectures, recap briefings, guest-speaker presentations and evening performances.

entertainment

Sauna & Hammam

Complimentary access to dry sauna and steam hammam (Turkish bath), open during spa-centre hours.

spa

Outdoor Pool & Sun Deck

Heated saltwater pool on the upper aft deck with sun-loungers, towel service and an adjacent pool bar. Open year-round, weather permitting.

pool

Medical Centre

Onboard infirmary with a doctor and nurse on every voyage. Consultation and basic care included; medication and procedures billed at standard rates.

medical

Fitness Centre

Cardio machines (treadmill, elliptical, stationary bikes), free weights, yoga mats and stretching space — sea-view windows on most ships.

gym

Tipping Policy

Gratuities for all crew, expedition team and dining staff are included in the cruise fare on PONANT voyages — no additional tipping is expected.

tipping

Laundry Service

Same-day laundry, dry-cleaning and pressing service available. Self-service is not available onboard.

laundry

Helideck & Helicopter Excursions

Certified helideck for optional aerial sightseeing and remote-area access (subject to weather and itinerary), including potential geographic-North-Pole landings on selected voyages.

entertainment

Blue Lagoon Indoor Pool

An enclosed pool with floor-to-ceiling polar windows lets guests watch icebergs drift past while swimming. Adjacent: a panoramic sauna with views over the bow.

pool

Lounge & Bars

Open-seating lounges and bars throughout the ship serve premium spirits, French wines and Champagne. Afternoon tea with house-baked pastries; complimentary espresso and pour-over coffee on demand.

entertainment

Main Restaurant

Open-seating breakfast, lunch and dinner with a daily-changing French menu curated by an Alain Ducasse advisory kitchen. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options available with advance notice.

restaurant

Boutique

Onboard shop selling PONANT-branded merchandise, French jewellery, perfume, expedition-essentials clothing, sun creams and souvenirs from the destination.

entertainment

Snow Lounge

An indoor 'snow room' that recreates a Nordic winter forest with falling snowflakes and chilled benches — used as a Russian sauna-style cooldown room.

spa

24-Hour Suite Service

Complimentary in-suite dining and concierge service available 24 hours. Suite-category guests benefit from dedicated butler service for unpacking, garment pressing, dinner reservations and shore-excursion booking.

butler