Ponant’s Commandant Charcot to Return to the Arctic, Canada for Winter 2026-27 – Cruise Industry News

Currently wrapping up a season in the region, Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot will return to the Arctic for the 2026-27 winter.

According to the company, the icebreaker will once again sail in the Baltic, Scandinavia and St. Lawrence River due to popular demand from its guests.

The newly announced deployment includes 15 expeditions in the region, with departures scheduled between October 2026 and February 2027.

Sailing from Norway, Denmark, Finland and Canada, the itineraries were designed to allow guests to experience the Arctic in the winter.

According to Ponant, the expeditions will offer opportunities to explore snowy forests, picturesque villages and illuminated cities while chasing opportunities to witness the Northern Lights and taking in winter traditions.

Among the highlights of the deployment are two sailings to the Gulf of Bothnia, which will feature visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites like the High Coast archipelago, Old Rauma and Gammelstad Church Town.

Le Commandant Charcot is also scheduled to operate two expeditions from Quebec that allow guests to explore the St. Lawrence River in the winter.

After offering its first-ever winter season in the Arctic in 2024-25, Le Commandant Charcot is scheduled to return to Antarctica for the upcoming winter.

The 245-guest ship offers expeditions in the region between October 2025 and March 2026, with 12- to 29-night itineraries exploring East Antarctica, the Weddell Sea, the Bellingshausen Sea, the Ross Sea and more.

Built by Fincantieri’s VARD shipyard, Le Commandant Charcot entered service for Ponant in 2021 as the industry’s first cruise icebreaker.

According to the company, the vessel was designed to bring passengers to the world’s polar extremes, exploring destinations that include the geographic North Pole and the Weddell Sea.

The dual-fuel propulsion ship carries a Polar Class 2 certification and is also equipped with the latest environmentally friendly and safety standards.