Cruise |
Le Commandant Charcot, 29 Night Unexplored Antarctica between Two Continents ex Ushuaia, Argentina to Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
Cruise Line |
Ponant |
Ship |
Le Commandant Charcot |
Destination |
Antarctica |
Brief Description |
29 Night Cruise sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina onboard Le Commandant Charcot |
Type of Cruise |
Luxury |
Departure Date |
17 Jan 2026 |
Cruise Description |
The exceptional presence on board of Jonathan Shackleton, descendant of Sir Ernest Shackleton and family historian.
Charcot, Bellingshausen, Dean, Fisher, Ross, Amundsen… Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the names of these legendary explorers resonate at every moment. Thanks to its unique capacity to sail into the very heart of the ice, Le Commandant Charcot invites you, with respect and humility, to set off in the footsteps of these great Antarctic figures during an all-new and unrivalled half-circumnavigation that will sail from the far south of the American continent to Australia. This journey to the boundaries of the known world will take you on a long adventure, where time stands still, where the horizon stretches into infinity to reveal dreamlike landscapes and abundant wildlife.
Antarctic exploration cannot be separated from the pioneers who travelled in these territories at the edges of the Earth. They left their names everywhere. Inaccessible and elusive are certainly the adjectives that best describe these lands that are among our planet’s most little-known and remote. Like a real explorer, you will cross the legendary southern seas of Bellingshausen and Amundsen, approach Marie Byrd Land, one of the last Terra nullius of our planet, and, if conditions allow it, attempt to reach the Charcot Island, enveloped in its blanket of ice. Very significant in the history of South Pole exploration, Ross Sea is also the world’s largest marine protected area, the kingdom of prodigious wildlife. As a privileged witness, keep a watchful eye and take the time to observe the Antarctic petrels, whales, orcas, seals and penguins that are to be found here.
The power of the polar world will conquer you, leaving you with unforgettable memories of the impressive Drygalski glacier scattered with blue, the endless and constant Ross Ice Shelf, the majestic Witkins and Getz ice shelves, and the ice floe taking over the Amundsen Sea. Here and there, you will notice clues to the past presence of Shackleton and Scott who have forever marked this continent of extremes with their historic exploits. At the foot of Mount Erebus, the highest volcano in Antarctica, their memory becomes tangible: the former base camp has remained intact.
On the way back, in the latitudes of the Howling Fifties, Macquarie Island will emerge, with its cliffs battered by the wind, its lush vegetation and its impressive colony of Royal penguins. You will slip out of the polar world, welcomed by this spectacle of abundant nature.
Your cruise will end in Hobart, the Tasmanian capital, which has a captivating history. For those wishing to extend their exploration of the White Continent, the Tasmanian city will also be the departure point for a second half-circumnavigation aboard Le Commandant Charcot that you can discover here, so as to continue exploring the Antarctic and its mythical regions, heading towards the Cape.
We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Our navigation will be determined by the type of ice we come across; as the fast ice must be preserved, we will take this factor into account from day to day in our itineraries. The sailing schedule and any landings, activities and wildlife encounters are subject to weather and ice conditions. These experiences are unique and vary with each departure. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while respecting safety instructions and regulations imposed by the IAATO. |
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Sailing Dates |
17 Jan 2026 |
Pricing |
Please enquire for pricing |
Cruise Itinerary
Date |
Port |
Arrive |
Depart |
17 Jan 2026 |
Ushuaia, Argentina |
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6:00 PM |
18 Jan 2026 |
Drake Passage |
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19 Jan 2026 |
Drake Passage |
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20 Jan 2026 |
The Antarctic Circle |
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21 Jan 2026 |
Charcot Island, Antarctica |
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22 Jan 2026 |
Bellingshausen Sea, Antarctica |
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23 Jan 2026 |
Bellingshausen Sea, Antarctica |
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24 Jan 2026 |
Bellingshausen Sea, Antarctica |
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25 Jan 2026 |
Amundsen Sea, Antarctica |
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26 Jan 2026 |
Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica |
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27 Jan 2026 |
Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica |
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28 Jan 2026 |
Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica |
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29 Jan 2026 |
Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica |
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30 Jan 2026 |
Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica |
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31 Jan 2026 |
Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica |
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1 Feb 2026 |
Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica |
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2 Feb 2026 |
Date Line Crossing |
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3 Feb 2026 |
At Sea |
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4 Feb 2026 |
Ross Sea Region, Antarctica |
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5 Feb 2026 |
Ross Sea Region, Antarctica |
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6 Feb 2026 |
Ross Sea Region, Antarctica |
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7 Feb 2026 |
Ross Sea Region, Antarctica |
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8 Feb 2026 |
Balleny Islands, Sub Antarctic Islands |
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9 Feb 2026 |
At Sea |
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10 Feb 2026 |
At Sea |
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11 Feb 2026 |
Macquarie Island, Sub Antarctic Island |
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12 Feb 2026 |
At Sea |
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13 Feb 2026 |
At Sea |
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14 Feb 2026 |
At Sea |
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15 Feb 2026 |
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
8:00 AM |
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All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.
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