Cruise to the North Pole aboard the luxury icebreaker Le Commandant-Charcot
Voyage to the top of the world aboard the world’s first and only luxury icebreaker. Michelin-starred restaurants, panoramic spa, balcony suites — and the North Pole on the horizon. All Inclusive.
About the cruise
The North Pole —
The Top of the World
The North Pole is the Holy Grail of polar exploration. For centuries, people tried to reach 90°N — and only a few succeeded. Today you can stand at the top of the world without giving up the comfort of a five-star hotel. Le Commandant-Charcot is the world’s first and only luxury icebreaker. 150 metres, 135 balcony suites, two Michelin-starred restaurants, an indoor and an outdoor pool, champagne and signature cocktails — all included. Not an expedition vessel with comfort touches; a floating palace with PC2 ice class, capable of breaking through multi-year Arctic ice.
Le Commandant-Charcot is one of only two cruise vessels in the world that reach the North Pole, alongside the nuclear-powered 50 Years of Victory. The route runs through Svalbard — one of the most spectacular Arctic archipelagos and the best place on Earth to see polar bears in the wild. You’ll explore the fjords and glaciers of Spitsbergen at the start and end of the expedition, and in between — cross the Arctic Ocean to the point where every meridian on Earth converges.
Highlights
What awaits you
on the journey
The North Pole aboard a luxury icebreaker
90° North. Every meridian converges here — and every direction is south. Walk a circle around the Pole and complete the shortest round-the-world journey on Earth. Plunge into the Arctic Ocean. Then return on board — to champagne, a heated pool and dinner from a Michelin-starred chef. No contrast like it anywhere on the planet.
Spitsbergen — kingdom of polar bears
The route begins and ends in Spitsbergen — the last land before the planet’s ice cap. From polar deserts to massive glaciers, from cut fjords to towering bird cliffs. Largely uninhabited and strictly protected, this is one of the best places on Earth to see polar bears in the wild. Zodiac landings, photography of Arctic wildlife, whales and walruses — all within the first and last days of the expedition.
All Inclusive — French haute cuisine
Two restaurants on board, menus from Michelin-starred chefs. Foie gras, duck confit, fresh seafood, just-baked patisserie and collectable wines from the cellar. Champagne, signature cocktails and beverages — included. 24/7 room service: breakfast or lunch in your suite, anytime. Dietary menus on request. This is not expedition fare; this is a gastronomic journey.
SPA, pools and observation deck
The SPA Nuan complex on Deck 9: an indoor pool with a winter garden, a Finnish sauna, a snow room, treatment rooms and a hair salon. On the upper deck — an outdoor pool with views of the Arctic ice. The Anori observation deck — the best vantage point for watching the Arctic from above. A live-music bar, a cigar room and a panoramic lounge complete the picture of absolute comfort in the icy wilderness.
Apartments in the middle of the Arctic
All 135 cabins are luxury suites with ocean views and private balconies. Areas from 20 to 114 m². King-size beds, satellite TV, climate control, mini-bar, in-room safe, Wi-Fi. The Duplex Suite — a two-storey, 94 m² cabin with a living room, fireplace and personal butler. The Owner’s Suite — 114 m² with a terrace and jacuzzi. Not cabins — apartments in the middle of the Arctic.
The world’s first sustainable icebreaker
Le Commandant-Charcot is the first expedition vessel with a hybrid LNG-electric power system. Her PC2 ice class allows her to push confidently through multi-year ice. Built in 2021 at a Finnish shipyard for Ponant. 150 metres long. The ship combines the power of an icebreaker with the refinement of a private yacht — an engineering masterpiece designed for polar latitudes.
Itinerary
The expedition route
Charter to the world’s northernmost capital
Charter flight from Paris to Longyearbyen — the northernmost capital on the planet. A coal miners’ town at the foot of glaciers, where winter temperatures drop to −40°C. In the afternoon you board Le Commandant-Charcot. Settle into your suite, meet the expedition team and attend the first briefing. At 18:00 the icebreaker leaves port — ahead lie 15 days that will change how you think about travel.
Along the coast of Spitsbergen
The first day in the Arctic. The icebreaker tracks the coast of the largest island of the Svalbard Archipelago — the last land before the planet’s ice cap. Beyond the rail: thousand-year-old glaciers, deeply cut fjords and serrated peaks. From the deck a coastline opens up that few have ever seen. This is the territory of Arctic seabirds — guillemots, terns and skuas nest on the sheer cliffs. The photo hunt starts on day one: keep your camera ready.
Through the pack ice to the Pole
The icebreaker enters the pack ice — an endless white sheet that stretches to the horizon. The landscape changes by the hour: smooth icy plains, chaos of ridges metres high, leads of open water with seals at rest. Le Commandant-Charcot threads natural channels and breaks through thin ice — moments that hold you transfixed. Ice conditions in the high latitudes are unpredictable — and that very unpredictability fills the expedition with the spirit of true adventure.
We are at the top of the world
90° North — the axis of Earth’s rotation, the crossroads of every meridian. Six months of darkness, six months of light. A place permanently covered in ice and far from any land. Generations of explorers dreamed of reaching it — and only a few succeeded. Now it’s within your reach. Two days at the top of the world: stepping onto the ice, the formal champagne ceremony, the shortest round-the-world walk on Earth. A swim in the Arctic Ocean, a barbecue and a photo session against the icebreaker.
The journey south through the ice
The main goal is reached, but the expedition continues. The icebreaker turns south, working through ice fields and ridges. The landscapes on the way back are no less striking — the light shifts, and familiar ice looks completely different. Time to settle into the rhythm of life on board: a morning swim, an afternoon massage at SPA Nuan, an evening cocktail in the panoramic lounge, dinner from Michelin-starred chefs. The afterglow of the Pole — a feeling known only to a few thousand people.
North-west Spitsbergen
Back to the archipelago. North-west Spitsbergen is a kingdom of contrasts: fjords with icy water, serrated mountains and glaciers that stand like monumental sculptures. The silence is broken only by the crack of calving ice. Zodiac landings with naturalist guides — as close as it gets to Arctic wildlife. Whales glide through icy waters, walruses and Arctic foxes add life to the scene, and on shore you may meet Svalbard reindeer. And, with luck, a polar bear against the icy coastline.
South-west Spitsbergen
A new day, a new shore. South-west Spitsbergen is a natural cathedral in its rawest form. Polar light mixes with Arctic weather: bottomless blue sky one moment, fog erasing the line between land and sea the next. Majestic fjords reveal their thousand-year-old secrets, glaciers slip slowly to the water and release glittering icebergs. In the water — belugas and minke whales. On the cliffs — thousands of seabirds. The final photo presentation and farewell gala dinner from the icebreaker’s chefs.
North-west Spitsbergen
The last full day in the Arctic. One more Zodiac landing — a chance to say farewell to this world of glaciers and wildlife. The contrasts of Spitsbergen never tire: every fjord, every glacier looks new in the shifting polar light. Evening on board — a glass of champagne on the Anori observation deck, a final sunset over the Arctic. Tomorrow you return to the world of people. But this experience stays with you forever.
Charter back to Paris
Arrival in Longyearbyen early in the morning. Disembarkation at 08:00, transfer to the airport. Charter flight to Paris. Over 16 days you have stood at the top of the world in absolute comfort. You are now among the few thousand people in history to have done so. Until the next expedition.
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About the vessel
Icebreaker Le Commandant-Charcot
Le Commandant-Charcot is the world’s first and only luxury icebreaker. Built in 2021 at the Vard shipyard in Finland for the French operator Ponant. Named after Jean-Baptiste Charcot — the legendary polar explorer known as the “gentleman of the Poles”.
Her hybrid LNG-electric power system makes her a pioneer in sustainable expedition cruising. Her PC2 ice class allows her to push through multi-year Arctic ice and reach places previously unreachable by cruise ships. Sixteen onboard Zodiacs deliver guests to the most remote points on the planet.
On board
Amenities aboard the icebreaker
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Dates and prices
North Pole cruises
Prices are quoted per person.
Included in the price
Not included
Questions & answers
Frequently asked questions
An expedition cruise lets you reach remote and difficult-to-access places without sacrificing a reasonable level of comfort. You see, in person, what most people only see on television.
The whole point is to land — repeatedly — on shores with no infrastructure. That’s why expedition vessels are small: they reach places that standard cruise ships can’t.
For polar landings you will need warm waterproof clothing: thermal base layers, a fleece, a waterproof jacket and trousers, and warm boots with non-slip soles. Gloves and a hat are essential.
On board — comfortable everyday clothes. For the farewell dinner with the captain you may wish to bring something more formal. We recommend confirming the full packing list at the time of booking.
No special physical preparation is required. General fitness is enough — being able to walk on uneven surfaces and transfer in and out of Zodiac landing craft during shore landings.
Medical restrictions are minimal, but we recommend consulting your doctor, especially in the case of chronic conditions.
Yes — children are welcome from age 6. The expedition gives children a unique educational experience: lectures by polar scientists, wildlife observation and the chance to stand at the North Pole.
We recommend confirming accommodation details and family-friendly aspects of the programme with our manager in advance.
The day starts with a briefing where the team outlines the upcoming landings and weather conditions. Then come the expedition activities: shore landings by Zodiac, wildlife observation, helicopter flights.
In the evening — lectures by polar experts, dinner and informal time together. The programme is flexible and adapts to the weather and ice conditions.
The main factor when choosing your clothing is comfort. Casual and informal clothing is fine. For the evening events — the captain’s cocktail and the farewell gala dinner — we recommend bringing something more elegant.
Satellite communication is available on board. Bandwidth is limited — fine for messaging and email, not for video streaming. The ship offers satellite phone service for urgent calls home.
Mobile networks do not work at the North Pole, but the ship’s communications keep you in constant contact with the mainland.
Yes, a professional ship’s doctor is on board and a medical station is fitted out. Helicopter evacuation is possible if required. We recommend bringing any necessary medication and arranging insurance with evacuation cover.
The IMO ranks ocean cruising among the safest forms of leisure travel. All vessels meet strict international certification, and crews regularly drill emergency procedures.
A full set of safety and rescue equipment is available on board. <em>Le Commandant-Charcot</em> is a PC2 ice-class icebreaker, purpose-built by Ponant for regular voyages to the high latitudes since 2021.
The expedition programme may be adjusted depending on ice conditions, weather and decisions of the captain. This is the nature of polar expeditions — nature dictates the route.
The team always aims to deliver the full programme, and any changes are compensated with alternative activities.
Shore and ice landings are made by Zodiac — agile, reliable and safe, the standard for expedition cruises.
At the North Pole the landing is made directly onto the ice — a unique moment you will remember for a lifetime.
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Reviews
What guests say
about our Pole expeditions
for the North Pole
the North Pole with our club
The expedition to the North Pole was excellent. The impressions began the moment we saw Le Commandant-Charcot. She is huge, slightly intimidating, and the suites are very comfortable. We had no prior experience of cruises like this, but I would not say it was hard. An unusual journey that will stay with you for a long time.
We took the cruise to the North Pole. A grand journey, every part of it unique and unusual — we absolutely loved it. The photographs came out unreal, and the polar dip stays with you. Every activity was included, and they even gifted us a parka. Thank you for the excellent organisation.
Best operator for expedition cruises — and I have a lot of experience here. The destinations really are unusual, and everything is fully planned and organised: from the cabins to the programme and the locations. A professional approach at every stage.
In 2019 we sailed to the North Pole with a stop at Franz Josef Land — I recommend it without hesitation. This year our friends are going. We want to repeat a journey like this — that says it all.
It was a long-held dream of mine to reach the North Pole. There are many operators; I chose carefully — read the programme, looked at the reviews. Settled on this one and did not regret a single moment. Everything met my expectations and even exceeded them.
Our family wishes to thank you for the trip. Everything went very smoothly — we travelled with two children aged 7 and 11. A cruise on a comfortable vessel, with everything you need at hand. The programme is full but manageable, and genuinely engaging.
About the company
The Expedition Cruises Club
A trusted guide to the world of expedition travel — helping you reach the most remote corners of the planet.
“Achievers” with Oscar Konyukhov
Oscar is the son of Fyodor Konyukhov — the Russian explorer who has reached both Poles, summited Everest and sailed solo around the world. Guests on the show are people with global ambitions: polar explorers, entrepreneurs and researchers. Topics include leadership, resilience and the experience of trailblazers.
Operating expedition cruises since 2013. Thousands of clients have visited the most inaccessible places on the planet.
The North Pole, Antarctica, the Arctic, the Russian Far East, the Galápagos, French Polynesia and round-the-world voyages.
A small group means every guest receives personal attention. No crowds — only like-minded travellers.
We work directly with the world’s leading cruise operators. No hidden mark-ups — you pay only what the journey costs.
We work with Poseidon, Swan Hellenic, Ponant and other leading operators — only proven vessels and professional expedition teams.
Our managers stay in touch at every stage — they will help you choose a route, prepare your documents and answer questions at any time.
Officially registered tour operator under Russian law, with mandatory financial liability cover. Russian Tour Operator Registry: РТО 022681
All trips are fully protected — financial responsibility and client insurance are guaranteed by law.
