Winter Cruising In Canada With Small Ship Line Ponant

Winter Cruising in Canada

By Anne Kalosh

Travelers on small-ship line Ponant will become the first to cruise Canada in winter when Le Commandant Charcot braves the snow and ice to offer a pioneering adventure.

Icebreakers crunch open a path for cargo ships on the Saint Lawrence River throughout winter but Le Commandant Charcot, with its sturdy Polar Class 2 rating, can cut its own course.

In early 2025, the 245-passenger vessel will sail four 12-night one-way adventures between Québec City and the French territory of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, nestled south of Newfoundland.

Winter Cruising in Canada on Ponant's Le Commandant Charcot

Le Commandant Charcot is a sturdy, Polar Class 2 ship able to break through the ice. * Photo: Ponant

The 12-night one-way itinerary between Québec City and the French territory of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. * Map: Ponant

Winter Wonderland

Ponant travelers will experience the wonders of the Canadian winter with opportunities such as camping in a tent overnight in an Innu community, riding a fat bike on a snow-covered beach, dogsledding, snowshoeing and ice fishing on the Saguenay fjord.

Snow-shoeing while Winter Cruising in Canada

Snow-shoeing is among the winter pursuits Ponant passengers will get to try. * Photo: Anne Kalosh

They may even get to see the northern lights and attend Québec’s spectacular Winter Carnival and other festivities.

“For almost a decade, we have repeatedly promoted unparalleled winterscapes and winter season shore activities with expedition cruise operators. Our efforts appear, at long last, to have begun to pay off with the announcement of this exciting North American premiere,” said René Trépanier, executive director of Cruise the Saint Lawrence, an association that markets nine regional ports.

René Trépanier, executive director of Cruise the Saint Lawrence, envisioned winter cruising for many years. Here he’s wearing a cap made from recycled fur. * Photo: Anne Kalosh

Ponant, which had been contemplating winter cruising in Canada for several years, firmed its decision after José Sarica, director, expedition experience, and Emerick Le Mouël, first officer from Le Commandant Charcot, scouted the region in February this year.

Sarica, who lives in France where Ponant is based, grew up in Canada.

As a young man, “Every winter, I did the same thing as the whales — I would go to the sun. When I came back [in February], it opened my eyes to take advantage of the winter. I rediscovered Québec.”

Ponant's José Sarica helped plan winter cruises in Canada

Ponant’s José Sarica advocated for his company’s pioneering winter cruise itineraries. * Photo: Anne Kalosh

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Dogsled Trek & Northern Lights

One of his eye-opening experiences was a dogsled trek into the boreal forest with members of Sept-Îles’ indigenous Innu community, where they witnessed the glittering northern lights. These are the types of opportunities Ponant plans to offer its passengers.

Sarica noted Le Commandant Charcot would be “slow cruising” — no more than 90 nautical miles per day at an average speed of 8 to 9 knots — to afford stays of one or two nights in the ports. This, and because the LNG-powered, hybrid electric Le Commandant Charcot can also operate on batteries for short stints, will reduce emissions by 30 percent, he said.

“Our commitment is to reduce [greenhouse gas emissions].”

Ports in Québec Plus Nova Scotia’s Sydney

Destinations for the winter cruises in Canada between late January and early March 2025 include Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Gaspé, Sept-Îles and Saguenay in Québec, and Sydney on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton.

“The itinerary is perfect — a mix of France and Canada, the Innu community, the fjord and the city of Québec. It’s magical,” said Priscilla Nemey, director, Promotion Saguenay, who, together with Trépanier, campaigned for winter cruising in their region for years.

Winter in Québec City with Ponant on winter cruises in Canada

Winter in Québec City, a home port on Ponant’s 2025 winter cruises. * Photo: Anne Kalosh

The news that their “crazy” dream would come true was announced June 19 at the Canada/New England Cruise Symposium, an industry gathering of ports, destinations, tour operators and cruise lines, held this year in Québec City.

During the spring and summer but especially in the fall when the autumn colors dazzle, Québec hosts cruise ships from lines big and small.

Winter cruising in Canada will be something bold and very different.

That said, winter tourism isn’t new to Québec, with its world-famous Winter Carnival, ice hotels, sugar shacks, vast array of winter sports and residents who shrug off the sometimes shoulder-deep snow that would shut down most other places.

So attractions are open and people are out and welcoming even in the most frigid months.

An ice hotel outside Québec City. * Photo:vAnne Kalosh

My Personal Connection

As a reporter covering the symposium, I was particularly excited to help break this news because in February 2018, when Cruise the Saint Lawrence invited cruise line executives to visit and explore the possibilities, I went along.

Cruise executives on the 2018 scouting mission to Canada

Cruise executives on the 2018 scouting mission. * Photo: Anne Kalosh

Even having grown up in the U.S. Midwest and lived in Sweden for a couple years, I was dazzled by the Québec winter. But just one day into our inspection trip, I slipped on the ice and landed in the emergency room of a Montréal hospital overnight.

My arm was broken. The doctor wrapped it and said I’d need surgery.

Anne Kalosh reporting on winter cruising in Canada

Anne Kalosh, center, with broken arm, snow painting with biodegradable “paint” on the 2018 cruise line inspection trip. * Photo: Anne Kalosh

I didn’t want to miss the rest of the trip, though, so I went from the hospital to the bus for our group’s morning pickup and continued on the journey. I’m so glad I did.

Among our group’s experiences were exploring an ice hotel with its intricate sculptures, getting introduced to sports like paraskiing on the frozen Saint Lawrence and ice climbing at frozen Montmorency Falls.

the frozen Montmorency falls on a canada winter cruise

The dramatic winter look of Québec City’s Montmorency Falls. * Photo: Anne Kalosh

An ice fishing village at Saguenay was so big it had street signs.

Ice fishing while winter cruising in Canada

Drilling a hole for ice fishing. * Photo: Anne Kalosh

We tasted maple syrup taffy cooled on snow at a sugar shack, sipped artisanal gin and reveled in the floats, ice sculptures, beer tents and festivities of Québec Winter Carnival.