Polar Explorer Le Commandant-Charcot
By Anne Kalosh.
It’s unique — Le Commandant-Charcot, coming this summer from French cruise line Ponant.
Like its namesake, Jean-Baptiste Charcot, who led the first French Antarctic expedition and missions to Greenland and Svalbard, Le Commandant-Charcot the vessel is dedicated to polar exploration.
Ponant offers fully bilingual (French and English) sailings that carry about 45 percent French-speakers and the rest are from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Belgium, China and Japan.
What’s so special about Le Commandant-Charcot?
Let us count the ways …
This is a dual-fuel, LNG-powered, hybrid electric icebreaker, an audacious and expensive undertaking. It has inventive public spaces, exciting adventure activities and extraordinary itineraries.
The atrium lobby’s towering LED screen. * Rendering: @PonantWilmotte & Associés Architectes
Loris Di Giorgio, who heads sales for the Merchant Ships Division at Fincantieri, the world’s most prolific cruise shipbuilder, singled out Le Commandant-Charcot as an example of complexity in new build design. Fincantieri’s Vard subsidiary is constructing the ship. Its hull was fabricated in Tulcea, Romania, then towed to Norway’s Søviknes where final outfitting is under way.
Highest Ice-Class Purpose-Built Cruise Ship
There are some icebreakers in expedition cruising, but Le Commandant-Charcot will be the only one originally commissioned as a cruise ship. This sets it apart from repurposed vessels like the Russian research ship Kapitan Khlebnikov and the nuclear-powered 50 Years of Victory, built to pilot scientific and cargo ships to hard-to-reach areas of the Arctic.
Le Commandant-Charcot has the highest ice-class rating — Polar Class 2 — of any purpose-built cruise ship.
This means it can operate year-round in moderate multi-year ice conditions. PC2 is just one notch below the highest, Polar Class 1, exemplified by the muscular 50 Years of Victory, which can navigate year-round in all polar waters.
Le Commandant-Charcot is constructed to Polar Class 2, the highest ice-class rating for any purpose-built cruise ship. * Rendering: ©PonantStirling Design International
(The standard for expedition cruise ship new builds entering service nowadays is Polar Class 6, capable of sailing summer/autumn in medium first-year ice, which may include old ice inclusions. Some exceptions to PC6 include this year’s Polar Class 5 National Geographic Resolution for Lindblad Expeditions and SH Minerva for Swan Hellenic; both can operate year-round in medium first-year ice, which may include old ice inclusions.)
The Ponant ship will be able to cut through ice that’s 8.5-feet/2.6-meters thick, versus about 3.5 feet/1.07 meters for PC6, according to Lindsay White, director of experience, Le Commandant-Charcot. This, she explained, is the difference between navigating in multi-year ice versus ice just formed over the winter.
So the PC2 rating means Le Commandant-Charcot will be able to offer extended polar seasons, roaming further than most other passenger ships.
RELATED: An Update on Expedition Cruising. by Anne Kalosh
LNG-Powered
Many of the big cruise new builds in coming years will be powered by liquefied natural gas, a very clean-burning fuel. LNG requires much larger tank capacity on board, and since LNG is not ubiquitous like bunker fuel, that limits ships itinerary-wise. Expedition cruises by their nature don’t stick to standard runs or the kind of major ports where LNG is routinely available.
The fact that Ponant chose to design Le Commandant-Charcot for LNG is a daring move. Sourcing LNG will be a challenge yet apparently one the company felt worthwhile, given the environmental benefit.
Because of the capacity needed for LNG tanks on board, this 492-foot/150-meter vessel is large for an expedition ship — 31,757 gross tons, triple the size of the rest of Ponant’s fleet, and wider (92 feet/28 meters). This makes for a chunkier profile than the brand’s yachtlike Explorer- and Boréal-class ships.
It will have capacity for 270 passengers but is expected to carry 200 to 220 on average, making for a very high space ratio. There are accommodations for 190 crew.
Hybrid Electric
What’s more, Le Commandant-Charcot is a hybrid electric ship — it can run silently for short stints on battery power.
Besides reducing air emissions in pristine places, this also avoids disturbing wildlife, a boon to expedition cruising.
Facilities And Amenities
Le Commandant Charcot has six passenger decks (of nine decks in total) with three containing public rooms and three the 135 all-veranda accommodations. Renderings show sleek, contemporary design in a neutral palette.
The outdoor decks 5-9 are heated to prevent people from slipping on snow or ice, and the windows and doors are heated so it’s possible to see outside in frosty weather.
Benches on the wrap-around Promenade Deck (5) and nestled against the Deck 9 Blue Lagoon outdoor pool will be heated, too. All of this energy is supplied by recovered waste heat.
Deck 9’s Blue Lagoon features a semi-circular wading pool surrounding an outdoor lounge with fire pit heated by repurposed waste heat. * Rendering: ©PonantWilmotte & Associés Architectes
A research station will host scientists from around the world, and a citizen science program will allow travelers to participate in their work.
Deck 3 houses two sleek expedition rooms for stowing and donning gear. These don’t look like typical mudrooms. Everyone will get a parka to keep, while free boot rentals will be available on board. Crew will disinfect and dry the boots between uses so they’re clean and warm for the next adventure.
There will be 20 Zodiacs and a host of other exploration tools.
Each public room has an Inuit name. For example, naturalist presentations and musical performances will take place in the tiered theater Kita, which means “Let’s go.” It can seat all passengers. The boutique is named Illu, “igloo.”
The 3,400-square-foot/316-square-meter main lounge on Deck 5 offers a bar, piano and dance floor, and the space is flanked by small alcoves for extra privacy. The adjacent cigar lounge will serve high-end cigars and cognacs.
Off the Deck 5 main lounge are little alcoves (one’s visible at center, with seated figure) for more privacy. * Rendering: ©PonantStudio Jean-Philippe Nuel
The elegant main restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving French and international dishes, and can accommodate everyone in a single seating. Fine wines from the display cellar are included.
The main, fine-dining restaurant can seat all passengers at once. * Rendering: ©PonantStudio Jean-Philippe Nuel
The casual grill restaurant up on Deck 9 has an open kitchen concept and indoor/outdoor seating. The outdoor section abuts the Blue Lagoon Bar, where sweet and savory bites will be available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The spectacular aft Blue Lagoon area is enclosed by a curved, super-heated wading pool (and those aforementioned heated benches), plus tables and chairs that encircle a “fire pit” with lava rocks — energy supplied by waste heat recovery.
Forward on Deck 9 is a U-shaped observation lounge with seating for 84, floor to ceiling windows and another faux fireplace. This will be a great perch at night to see the stars and northern lights. Those willing to brave the cold can head back to Blue Lagoon to use the telescopes there.
Deck 9 lounge with views and faux fireplace. * Rendering: @PonantWilmotte & Associés Architectes
Midship on Deck 9 is Nuan (“happiness”), the 5,000-square-foot/464-square-meter wellness center. It encompasses a sauna, “snow room” and a glass-topped saltwater pool with a counter-current for swimming laps. A detox bar serves fresh fruit juices and smoothies, while a serenity lounge is available for relaxing before and after spa treatments.
A hair and nail salon and a gym with a personal trainer and group classes like yoga round out the amenities.
The spa has a snow room. * Rendering: ©PonantWilmotte & Associés Architectes
All-Veranda Accommodations
All accommodations have verandas, and standard amenities include a stocked mini-bar, replenished daily; 24-hour room service, a Bose Bluetooth speaker, safe, fine French toiletries, bathrobes and Wi-Fi. Staterooms have showers only, while the “privilege,” duplex and owner’s suites have a separate shower and bathtub.
The standard category “prestige” stateroom measures 215 square feet/20 square meters. The shower has a slider to add light, which can be closed for privacy.
A standard (prestige category) room, looking out toward the balcony. * Rendering: ©PonantStudio Jean-Philippe Nuel
A panel between some of the rooms can be removed to convert two staterooms into a “prestige” suite of 430 square feet/40 square meters, sleeping four.
“Privilege” category staterooms measure 301 square feet/28 square meters, while “privilege” suites measure 517 square feet/48 square meters, and sleep four.
Duplex (split level) suites with 1.5 baths measure 1,012 square feet/94 square meters, plus terrace, and each terrace holds a hot tub. The layout features a separate living area with sofa bed and dining area seating six on the lower level and a bedroom on the upper level.
The single-story owner’s suite sprawls across 1,238 square feet/115 square meters, with a living room, dining area, bedroom, dressing room and 1.5 baths.
Duplex (two story) suite verandas. * Rendering: ©PonantStirling Design International
But the real showstopper is the owner suite’s 1,937-square-foot/180-square-meter terrace with a hot tub, heated “rocks” for additional seating and a telescope.
The lavish owner’s suite bathroom includes a whirpool tub overlooking a private, wrap-around deck with its own hot tub. * Rendering: ©PonantStudio Jean-Philippe Nuel
Wow! Experiences
Off-ship activities will be arranged in small groups with one naturalist for every 10 travelers.
These include hiking, snowshoeing, Zodiac cruising, kayaking and, for the brave (or masochistic), a polar plunge. A still adventurous but less frigid option is the new polar swim in a dry suit with a flotation device on the back. Passengers won’t swim but lie back and float.
Also new: ice fishing.
This is expected to be offered mainly in Greenland, and Le Commandant-Charcot’s chefs will prepare the catch. Ponant is also considering offering polar camping ashore and dogsledding in Greenland. Polar diving will be available for groups only, not individuals.
The ship’s hovercraft will be used for transfers and perhaps for scenic tours.
But the helicopter and snowmobiles are for scouting and emergencies only, not touring.
Unusual Itineraries
Lindsay White singled out three itineraries that illustrate the Le Commandant-Charcot’s unusual offerings.
One is what she called “the holy grail for polar explorers, where travelers can literally stand on the top of the world” at 90 degrees north latitude.
“The Geographic North Pole,” offered on three departures in July and August this year, is virtually sold out. 2022 dates will soon be posted.
The ship sets off from Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, on a 15-night adventure with fares starting at more than $30,000.
At the other end of the globe, “Total Eclipse in the Weddell Sea” will journey to the eastern part of the Weddell Sea, a place where the solar eclipse will be fully visible. Near the polar circle at this time, the sun never sets.
“When the sky goes dark from this eclipse, temperatures will fall and birds and animals will go silent. While the dramatic event lasts around six minutes, the experience will be one never forgotten,” White said.
The 14-night journey embarks at Ushuaia, Argentina, on Nov. 30, and is priced starting at $17,800.
And “The Emperor Penguins of the Bellingshausen Sea,” the favorite of Ponant’s expedition director Nicolas Dubreuil, is a true exploration. It features Le Commandant-Charcot going in search of a giant colony of emperor penguins that have never been seen by humans.
“We know they’re there because we’ve seen them with satellites, but the colony has never been documented,” White said. “Guests on this departure will be the first to see and be seen by these penguins and, at this time, they should have chicks that are only a few weeks old.”
Sailing Nov. 1 from Puerto Montt, Chile, the 18-night odyssey is priced starting at $29,760.
So, what do you think? Have you ever heard of a cruise ship like Le Commandant-Charcot?
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HEIDI SARNA
