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Inaugural Cruise – In the Wake of Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot

Inaugural Cruise – In the Wake of Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot

From AUD $32,480

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Description

At the boundaries of the Arctic territories, PONANT invites you on the inaugural cruise of Le Commandant-Charcot, the first hybrid electric polar exploration vessel.

This exceptional 15-day voyage between Iceland and Greenland will take you to discover the emblematic sites of the polar adventure led by the famous French explorer, Jean-Baptiste Charcot.

Your journey will start in Le Havre, which has been the starting point for many expeditions in direction of the frozen territories of the north. After passing the Rockall Rock, frequently battered by impressive waves, you will sail along the coast of the Alftanes Peninsula, in the south-west of Iceland. In this region, haunted by the sinking of the Pourquoi Pas? IV, you will take part in a small ceremony at the site where the wrecked ship lies: a very emotional moment.

You will then reach the shores of Greenland to sail along the majestic and mysterious Blosseville Coast. You will discover the Scoresby Sund, the world’s largest fjord network. The Arctic will then reveal itself to you such as you had always imagined it: clad in a thick layer of ice and snow with sparkling reflections and spellbinding silence.

Trip Name
Inaugural Cruise - In the Wake of Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot
Days
15
Overview
Vessel Type: Polar Luxury Expedition Passenger Capacity: 135 cabins Built: 2018/2019 Be the first aboard Le Commandant-Charcot, the world's luxury polar exploration vessel, and enjoy a unique sailing experience in the Arctic or Antarctic! With its hybrid propulsion combining liquefied natural gas (LNG) and electric generators, Le Commandant-Charcot has been designed to minimise the environmental impact of travel to the furthest latitudes.  The decoration of the ship, imagined by two internationally renowned design and architecture firms - the studio of Jean-Philippe Nuel and Wilmotte & Associés - is designed to be in harmony with the environment. The approach is contemporary with the desire to create a warm and elegant setting; stone, wood and leather recall the natural environment in which the ship is sailing. Equipped with just 135 staterooms including 31 suites with balconies and outside views, Le Commandant-Charcot welcomes you in an intimate and refined atmosphere. Outstanding gastronomy in the two restaurants, relaxation in the indoor pool surrounded by its winter garden, relaxation in the well-being area with sauna and Snow Room... Like on a private yacht, each of our guests is unique. PUBLIC AREAS Le Commandant-Charcot has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger. A 177 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An expeditions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Hospitality & Travel Manager officer, Our boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, The image & photo desk. The different lounges: A 302 m² main lounge including a 28 m² cigar lounge, a tea corner and a bar, with live music on selected evenings, A 400 m² panoramic bar and lounge, An open-air Bar. The recreation spaces  Fitness & Beauty Corner: Fitness room: Elliptic, running machines, bicycles...  Beauty Corner: Hairdresser, Massage rooms, Sauna, Snow Room, Nail Shop. Pool area: Indoor Pool and winter garden - Outdoor Pool Theatre: Capacity: 270-276 - Main show room for conferences and live entertainment on selected evenings - State-of-the-art audio and video technology. Leisure area: Public areas - Library - Medical centre. 16 Zodiac®.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 LE HAVRE
Formerly the home port of the SS France, the emblematic ocean liner that in the 1960s was the maritime link between Europe and the United States, Le Havre is rich with a substantial maritime and port tradition.A major trading location during the Industrial Revolution and the gateway to the New World in the era of the transatlantic adventures, the town became very prosperous before being bombed heavily during the Second World War. Magnificently rebuilt by the architect Auguste Perret, the city founded in 1517 by François I now boasts a modern style that is perfectly integrated with its historic structure: a fabulous example of Post-War architecture that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 2 - Day 2 SAINT-MALO
The mere mention of Saint-Malo’s name is enough to plunge us back into the richness of its past. The fortifications stand as testimony to the Malouins’ determination to defend their citadel, fought over by France and Britain in turn. When we drop anchor here, immerse yourself in the diversity of its heritage: the time when privateers sailed the oceans in search of trade and victories; the legendary yacht races the port city is still famous for, such as the Route du Rhum; and the final resting place of the French writer François-René de Chateaubriand, who was born here and chose to be buried here anonymously.
Day 3 - Days 3 - 4 AT SEA
During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
Day 4 - Day 5 SAILING IN FRONT OF THE ISLET OF ROCKALL
Lost in the middle of the North Atlantic, between Ireland and Iceland, Rockall is one of the remotest places on Earth. The eroded summit of an extinct volcano, the site was formed some 55 million years ago, when the Laurasia supercontinent broke up, followed by the separation of Europe and Greenland. Frequently swept by immense waves, this granite rock standing some twenty metres above the water will offer you spectacular panoramas.
Day 5 - Day 6 AT SEA
During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
Day 6 - Day 7 ALFTANES (ICELAND)
In the south-west of Iceland, discover the Alftanes Peninsula, made sadly famous by the sinking of the Pourquoi Pas? IV. In 1936, the French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot was returning to France aboard the Pourquoi Pas? after having provided support to the expedition led by Paul-Émile Victor in Greenland, when the ship was caught in a violent storm and was wrecked off the coast. The memory of this tragic event offers a striking contrast with the calmness of the surrounding countryside, made up of vast green plains and distant hills.
Day 7 - Days 8 - 9 BLOSSEVILLE COAST
Aboard your ship, follow in the footsteps of Jules Poret de Blosseville, a French explorer and sailor. In 1833, aboard La Lilloise, he set off to discover this isolated and unexplored part of eastern Greenland and gave French names to various sites on the coast. The adventure probably has an unfortunate outcome, since the crew was never found. This uninhabited territory, which now bears his name, lies to the south of Scoresby Sund. Surrounded by ice, icebergs and pieces of pack ice, Blosseville Coast is one of these wild and hard-to-reach places that very few people are lucky enough to explore.
Day 8 - Days 10 - 11 ITTOQQORTOORMIIT REGION (GREENLAND)
Located between the largest national park and the longest system of fjords in the world, the town of Ittoqqortoormiit, whose name means “great house” in Greenlandic, is one of the remotest inhabited places in the world. Covered with ice and snow for nine months of the year, you will be able to discover the ancestral way of life of the last hunters of the polar region. As soon as the thickness of the ice floe allows, they set out on the trail of walruses, seals, narwhals, musk ox and polar bears, travelling by traditional dog sleds.
Day 9 - Day 12 JAN MAYEN ISLAND, SVALBARD
The island of Jan Mayen, belonging to Norway, lies hidden off Greenland’s coastlines, lost between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. This small piece of land is inhabited by only a handful of Norwegian meteorologists. Tongues of ice descend from its volcanic summit, which culminates at 2,227 metres and is covered with a thick glacial coat. These tongues join the sea, between ranges of black volcanic rocks at times tinged with red. If the sky is clement, you will have the chance to glimpse the summit, decked out in magnificent light. The visit of a small fin whale will perhaps enable you to complete this memorable picture.
Day 10 - Days 13 - 14 AT SEA
During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
Day 11 - Day 15 REYKJAVÍK
Iceland’s capital stretches along the edge of a vast bay in the west of the country. Perlan, the “Pearl of Reykjavík”, a museum located on ’Oskjuhlið hill, offers a panoramic view of the lush, green landscapes. A little further, one can easily spot the signpost showing the way to the evangelical Hallgrímskirkja church, and to the historical centre where one can stroll along the Skólavördustígur and the Laugavegur, two lively streets with charming small shops. For some relaxation just outside of the city, visitors have the opportunity to visit the Reykjanes peninsula and its famous thermal lagoons of the Blue Lagoon.
Day 12 - Please Note:
We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. The itinerary, landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by the AECO.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
31-05-202114-06-2021AUD $32,480PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 6
31-05-202114-06-2021AUD $33,150PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 7
31-05-202114-06-2021AUD $103,040OWNER'S SUITE
31-05-202114-06-2021AUD $33,820PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 8
31-05-202114-06-2021AUD $40,880PRIVILEGE STATEROOM DECK 6
31-05-202114-06-2021AUD $42,560PRIVILEGE STATEROOM DECK 7
31-05-202114-06-2021AUD $44,240PRIVILEGE STATEROOM DECK 8
31-05-202114-06-2021AUD $57,680PRESTIGE SUITE DECK 7
31-05-202114-06-2021AUD $59,360PRESTIGE SUITE DECK 8
31-05-202114-06-2021AUD $62,720PRIVILEGE SUITE
31-05-202114-06-2021AUD $89,600SUITE DUPLEX

Inclusions

    • INAUGURAL CRUISE: Be the first to set sail on Le Commandant-Charcot, the first hybrid electric polar exploration vessel.
    • Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with the naturalists.
    • Hiking opportunity.
    • Explore the east coast of Greenland and its still pristine territories upon which the first French explorers set foot in the past.
    • Landscapes: volcanic rock and wild tundra on Jan Mayen island, fjords, jagged mountains, glaciers, icebergs, sheer cliff s and polar ice cap.
    • Wildlife: musk oxen, Arctic foxes and hares, polar bears, seals, sea birds.

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