Ponant - Ice Breaker

LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT Pioneer of the Poles

On the roof of the world Travel to the North Pole. Cross the Arctic Ocean. Explore the far northeast of Greenland...

PONANT has created a futuristic voyage with Le Commandant Charcot, the first electric hybrid icebreaker cruise ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Beginning in 2021, this newest member of the PONANT fleet will offer guests the chance to follow in the wake of the great polar explorers in sophisticated surroundings enhanced with luxury amenities never before seen at the very top or bottom of the globe.

Beyond cruises, these voyages are true polar odysseys.

“From where does this strange, powerful and enduring attraction to the polar regions come, such that after returning one forgets the mental and physical fatigue resulting from the expedition and dreams only of returning? From where do these deserted, terrifying lands attain their extraordinary charm? Is it the pleasure of the unknown?

The thrill of the struggle and the effort required to reach them and to survive in them?

The arrogance of attempting to do something that others do not? The joy of being far away from small-mindedness and meanness? All of these play their role, as does something more. I long believed that I would feel more delighted to be alive when faced with this scene of desolation and death. Yet, I now consider that these regions leave a kind of reverent mark on a person. At temperate or equatorial latitudes, nature makes a considerable effort to provide abundant and indefatigable animal and plant life. Beings are born, grow and multiply; act and die to help each other reproduce and ensure life continues on. However, here we have the sanctuary of sanctuaries, where nature reveals its tremendous power, sheltering like an Egyptian goddess in the shade and silence of the temple away from everything; set apart from the lives she creates and governs. Any man who reaches this place feels his spirit soar.�

Jean-Baptiste Charcot Doctor, polar explorer and author of The Frenchman at the South Pole

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PONANT, the polar specialist PONANT is the only French cruise line to navigate through the ice, offering guests a fascinating experience on the Arctic and Antarctic polar seas.

As the world’s leading polar cruise company with over 20 years of experience in extreme conditions, PONANT can bring the traveller’s dream of adventure to life.

Our flexible itineraries allow us to linger at iconic sites, take an unscheduled detour to admire a whale, or disembark to meet a colony of penguins.

During cruises we offer safe impromptu shore visits and smallgroup Zodiac® trips so guests may come as close as possible to the enigmatic lands of the Far North and the mysterious White Continent. Accompanied by our naturalist guides specialising in extreme regions, each trip offers guests a unique cultural and historical perspective.

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Le Commandant Charcot, the first electric hybrid icebreaker powered by LNG

A doctor by convention, an explorer by vocation and a man with a love for sailing, Jean-Baptiste Charcot was also a key player in early French polar expeditions. By naming the first luxury icebreaker after him, PONANT pays homage to this inspiring pioneer of the poles.

Like the explorer himself, the ship Le Commandant Charcot will be testing the limits of Arctic and Antarctic navigation to write a new chapter in our collective knowledge. This polar exploration ship will also be focusing on scientific research.

As well as offering passengers the adventure of a lifetime, PONANT aims to teach them just how vulnerable the poles are and convert them into ambassadors for these fragile regions.

Research, materials and cutting-edge technologies have been combined in the ship’s design to minimize our environmental impact.

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A design with sustainable development at its core This PONANT polar exploration ship will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and equipped with the latest in environmental protection technology.

Thanks to preliminary exploration, environmental impact studies and protocols developed by PONANT, Le Commandant Charcot itineraries are carefully chosen to be entirely safe for, and respectful of, the environment.

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Powered by liquified natural gas (LNG)

Energy Optimization System

Latest generation electric batteries to reduce energy consumption

Waste Heat Recovery System

The Icebreaker features optimised “Clean Ship” fittings that go beyond the current industrystandard environmental regulations: • Reduction of SOx, NOX, CO2 and particle emissions thanks to the use of LNG • Zero emissions when in electric hybrid mode Energy management • Energy management optimization system that precisely measures consumptions and efficiency of ship sailing methods • Waste Heat Recovery System electric output optimized and consumption reduced through the use of latest generation electric batteries Water treatment • Advanced Waste Water Treatment system

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Advanced Waste Water Treatment system

-85 %

reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions

-95 %

reduction in fine particle emissions

The perpetually moving ice field Rather than an homogeneous mass, sea ice is a perpetually moving entity which grows, shrinks, fractures, contracts, folds, breaks and deforms in certain places to re-establish itself in others.

Despite appearances, icebreaker ships do not affect this constant movement. When sailing an icebreaker, it is important to aim for those areas of ice which are easiest to break up.

Therefore, most icebreaker navigation involves travelling through ice leads (fractures) which are naturally open.

The broken ice then knits itself back together when the ship has passed through, in a process that can take between 15 minutes and a day depending on the weather conditions.

We have learnt to navigate alongside nature, rather than to fight it.

PONANT has developed a high-technology ship which even has its own ice routing software so we can visit places where others do not go. The latest and most reliable ice and weather information is used to forecast ice behaviour over a five-day period.

Le Commandant Charcot and its itineraries have been designed to minimize impact as much as possible and maximize learning by making the ship a mobile research observatory.

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Grill restaurant

Open air bar Outdoor pool

Winter garden

Duplex suite

Panoramic restaurant

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Revolutionary technology

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PONANT has joined forces with global ice navigation technology specialist Aker Arctic to develop new and cutting-edge innovations.

One result of this collaboration is the PONANT hybrid polar exploration ship’s PC2 Polar Class hull. Thanks to the Double Action Principle (Aker Arctic DAS™), Le Commandant Charcot will be able to navigate forwards through compact ice and reverse through extreme ice conditions.

With its innovative design, Le Commandant Charcot will achieve unrivalled icebreaking performance.

Inside pool Sports hall Spa Observatory bar

Theater Stabilizers

Main lounge

16 Onboard expedition Zodiac

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS Cabins and suites with balcony ...........................135 (Including 68 suites with patio doors and a private balcony) Length...................................................................150 m Width ..................................................................... 28 m Draught ................................................................ 10 m Ice Class .............................................................. PC 2 Propulsion .............................LNG & Hybrid Electric Classification.......................................Bureau Veritas

Flag...................................................................... French Crew members ....................................................... 187 Panoramic restaurant ................................................1 Grill restaurant ...........................................................1 Spa & Wellness ...........................................................1 Onboard expedition Zodiac dinghies ..................16 Shipyard ............................................................... VARD Delivery.................................................................. 2021

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Outside view, Pool, Owner’s & Duplex suites

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Stateroom

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Lounge

Owner’s suite

Outdoor pool

Luxury and comfort at the poles: a unique concept As the only French cruise company, PONANT radiates a special savoir-faire as we navigate around the world. This “PONANT touch� will now be taken all the way to the poles.

Like other PONANT ships, Le Commandant Charcot has been designed to offer passengers a welcoming, sophisticated ambience. Even at the extreme temperatures of the poles, a cruise on our polar exploration ship promises intimate comfort, discrete service, outstanding gastronomy and luxury amenities including a spa and a wellness area.

With just 135 cabins, including 68 suites with private terraces, this ship remains true to the PONANT philosophy of providing every guest with a relaxed ambience where they feel like they are travelling on a private yacht.

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Exclusive itineraries only available on an icebreaker With Le Commandant Charcot in its fleet, PONANT will be the world’s only luxury cruise company to offer trips on seas and oceans which only icebreaker ships can navigate.

Thanks to preliminary exploration, environmental impact studies and protocols developed by the company, Le Commandant Charcot itineraries are carefully chosen to be totally safe for and respectful of the environment.

“We are working on a new voyage concept for this extraordinary exploration tool. The hybrid polar exploration ship will enable us to explore unchartered territory which has been inaccessible until now.

I have already planned winter cruises through the ice field to Nunavut and Greenland, where guests can see Inuit camps for themselves. Our passengers will be able to go onto the ice and immerse themselves in the lives of these hunters. They will also be able to rub shoulders with Emperor penguins living on the Antarctic sea ice. Finally, the North Pole will no longer be merely an unreachable dream. PONANT will soon be operating the first passenger ship able to reach this iconic location.”

Nicolas Dubreuil Director of Expedition Cruises and Director of Sustainable Development at PONANT

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Your next expeditions The North Pole - April/September 2021

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Arct ic C irc le

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In the Wake of Commander Jean-Baptiste Charcot April to May - 10 to 14 nights

On Top of the World July to August - 13 to 17 nights

The Ice Field: the Frozen Continent April - 12 nights

Around the Pole July to August - 16 to 20 nights

The Origins of the Early French Polar Expeditions April to May - 10 to 12 nights

The Northern Sea Route August to September - 25 to 30 nights

The Last Predators of the Poles May - 15 nights

Alaska and the Coast Mountains September - 10 nights

FALKLAND ISLANDS

SOUTH GEORGIA

UshuaĂŻa

The South Pole - October/March 2021/2022

An

ta rct i

cC irc le

The Pristine Antarctic Peninsula October to November - 10 to 12 nights

Discovering Charcot and Peter I Islands December to February - 12 nights

The Distant Peninsula November to March - 12 to 15 nights

In the Thick of the Weddell Sea February to March - 15 nights

The Snow Hill Emperor Penguin Colony October to November - 14 nights

The Emperor Penguins of the Amundsen Sea February to March - 20 nights

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The Arctic

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In the Wake of Commander Jean-Baptiste Charcot April to May 10 to 14 nights This cruise pays homage to the incredible odyssey undertaken by Commander Jean-Baptiste Charcot and visits iconic sites from Charcot’s polar scientific adventure. Sites include the Ireland (a place he particularly loved), the Blosseville Coast of Greenland (which he mapped out), Jan Mayen Island (which fascinated him) and Scoresby Sund fjord (which he explored in detail). Enjoy these magnificent landscapes and key Arctic locations in the spring — a beautiful time of year in which Jean-Baptiste Charcot only dreamed of navigating.

Fare from $17,900

The Origins of the Early French Polar Expeditions

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April to May 10 to 12 nights

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The fate of brig-gunboat La Lilloise commanded by Jules Alphonse René Poret, Baron of Blosseville, is still shrouded in mystery. Although the scientific results Blosseville obtained were insignificant, the general staff and crew of La Lilloise did not die in vain. Their mysterious deaths lead to the La Recherche corvette expedition of 1835, one of the proudest undertakings in the history of French naval and scientific exploration.

We will travel in the wake of La Lilloise, visiting key locations from early French polar expeditions at the foot of the highest peaks of Greenland.

Fare from $14,580

The Last Predators of the Poles May 15 nights Covering over 44% of Greenland (its entire northeastern region), Kalaallit Nunaanni nuna eqqissisimatitaq is the world’s biggest national park and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. On this cruise, we will explore this national park and enjoy the magical time when life blooms again in the Arctic.

With sunshine once more beating down, the sea ice fractures to allow animals to reach the coast.

We will meet the last predators of the poles: the only inhabitants of these unusual lands which are twice the size of France.

Fare from $19,180

On Top of the World July to August 13 to 17 nights A cruise to the North Pole, allowing travellers to visit the northernmost point on the planet.

This adventure will leave guests feeling on top of the world.

Departing from Longyearbyen, we will quickly move through the sea ice and continue directly to the pole. The main objective will be to reach the pole and explore this dense, compact ice field. However, as we return we will be sure to take time to observe the wildlife we meet at under 85°N and enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of Spitsbergen Island.

Fare from $22,800

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Around the Pole July to August 16 to 20 nights Departing from Longyearbyen, we will quickly move through the sea ice and and continue directly to the pole. The main objective will be to reach the pole and explore this dense, compact ice field. However, as we return we will be sure to take time to observe the wildlife we meet at under 85°N and enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of the Franz Josef Land archipelago. This, the northernmost archipelago in Eurasia, is made up of 191 islands and teems with incredible wildlife (polar bears, walruses, guillemots, etc.) as well as impressive High Arctic landscapes.

Fare from $26,820

The Ice Field: the Frozen Arctic April 12 nights “To see the true beauty of the sea ice, you must look upon it with your heart” - Greenlandic proverb.

As we sail around this little-known ice field, we will learn all about the incredibly diverse landscapes and wildlife it contains. Discover the annual sea ice at Baffin Bay, the coastal ice field nestled at the bottom of the steep South Greenland fjords and the thick, dense sea ice which descends from the North Pole along the east coast of Greenland and lasts for several years..

Fare from $13,830

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The Northern Sea Route August to September 25 to 30 nights The Northeast Passage or Northern Sea Route is one of the longest maritime routes in the world and was discovered in 1880 by Swedish explorer Adolf Erik NordenskiĂśld.

PONANT will take you on an extraordinary voyage to the north of Russia. This tricky-to-navigate route brims with amazing wildlife (polar bears, walruses, caribou, etc.) and little-known islands, including some as yet unexplored.

Fare from $34,560

Alaska and the Coast Mountains

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September 10 nights

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At the end of the season for Le Commandant Charcot, the icebreaker will have no need to break through any sea ice. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy all this formidable vessel has to offer, including exclusive exploration tools (helicopters, kayaks, etc.) which can be used to scout out secluded locations along the coasts of Alaska and British Columbia. Fly over the Aleutian Islands, the volcanic peaks of the Katmai peninsula, the glaciers and the virgin forest along the Coast Mountains, then later on explore them in more detail by ZodiacÂŽ or kayak.

Fare from $10,800

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The Antarctic

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The Pristine Antarctic Peninsula October to November 10 to 12 nights At the start of the Antarctic season, you will find many places have not been explored by conventional vessels. But this does not apply to us! By sailing on an icebreaker, we can explore all the treasures of the Antarctic at the end of the long polar winter and discover the most pristine of sites.

Fare from $12,320

The Distant Peninsula

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November to March 12 to 15 nights

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This is an opportunity to travel to the far south of the peninsula, well beyond the Antarctic Circle, and to follow in the footsteps of Jean-Baptiste Charcot by exploring the beautiful Marguerite Bay. We will disembark at Pourquoi Pas Island, where we pay homage to this great French explorer. There will be time to explore the vast bay that was mapped out in 1908-1910 by this Le Commandant Charcot from aboard his ship, the Pourquoi Pas. Fare from $17,280

The Snow Hill Emperor Penguin Colony October to November 14 nights We will take you to meet the Emperor penguin: the most extraordinary species of penguin in Antarctica.

These penguins breed on the sea ice in mid-winter, keep their eggs safe atop their webbed feet and waddle dozens of miles across the ice to reach the sea to feed. Of the approximately 30 Emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica, the Snow Hill colony is the easiest to reach. Our icebreaker will cruise through the frozen Weddell Sea to come as close as possible to this colony of 4,000 Emperor penguins.

Fare from $17,020

Discovering Charcot and Peter I Islands December to February 12 nights Travelling to Charcot and Peter I Islands is a little like trying to reach the moon. Indeed, fewer people have landed on these small islands than have ever been to the moon. They are, without doubt, one of the last of the truly isolated places on the planet. Peter I Island was discovered in February 1821, but the first landing did not occur until February 1929. What’s more, no one has ever reached its summit.

Fare from $14,580

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In the Thick of the Weddell Sea February to March 15 nights The Weddell Sea cannot be navigated by most expedition ships — only icebreakers can create a pathway through its thick, compressed sea ice.

This voyage offers an opportunity to discover mysterious sites around this vast sea, potentially the largest marine sanctuary in the world. The Weddell Sea is a true haven for wildlife, harbouring dozens of iconic Antarctic species including whales, seals and of course, the famous Emperor penguin.

Fare from $25,560

The Emperor Penguins of the Amundsen Sea

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February to March 20 nights

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The Amundsen Sea is named after famous Norwegian captain and explorer Roald Amundsen, who crossed it successfully in February 1929. With a nearconstant covering of ice, it remains almost entirely unexplored. The sea runs alongside Marie Byrd Land on the west coast of the Antarctic and is home to gigantic Emperor penguin colonies which thus far, scientists have only been able to observe via satellite.

Accompanied by a team of scientists, we will explore this pristine Antarctic coast and try to locate these colonies.

Fare from $25,560

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Deck plan Communal areas and activities

DECK 9

DECK 5

THEATRE

PANORAMIC BAR

MAIN LOUNGE

SPA

FITNESS

SHOP WINTER GARDEN

RECEPTION DECK

POOL

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LOUNGE

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BAR

POOL

RESTAURANT

Deck plan Guest cabins

THÉÂTRE

THÉÂTRE

THÉÂTRE

GRAND SALON GRAND SALONGRAND SALON

Owner’s Suite

(125 m2 excluding balcony)

S

Duplex Suite

BOUTIQUE BOUTIQUE

(80 m2 excluding balcony)

PrestigeRÉCEPTION Suite RÉCEPTION

BOUTIQUE

RÉCEPTION

(50 m2 excluding balcony)

Deluxe Suite

(40 m2 excluding balcony)

Prestige

(27 m2 excluding balcony)

Deluxe

(20 m2 excluding balcony)

RESTAURANTRESTAURANT RESTAURANT

DECK 8

DECK 6

DECK 7

Amenities • Balcony • Individual air conditioning • A double bed or two single beds; interconnecting cabins can be arranged; children welcome • Minibar (refreshed daily) • Flat-screen TV, satellite channels • On-demand video • iPodTM station • Electronic safe • Selection of Hermès toiletries

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Dressing table and hairdryer Direct satellite telephone line Electricity: 110/220 volts Room service 24 hours a day Wi-Fi Terrace Jacuzzi (Duplex Suite, Owner’s Suite) Indoor Jacuzzi (Duplex Suite, Owner’s Suite, Prestige Suite) • Terrace (Duplex Suite, Owner’s Suite)

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PONANT pre-booking system Given the high degree of interest in many of our trips, PONANT has put in place a pre-booking system which establishes an order of priority for processing bookings once sales begin. The pre-booking system allows you to you to request a type of stateroom for a given trip prior to the beginning of ticket sales. One week before tickets are officially released, you will receive your detailed itinerary and the final price of your trip (additional services will also be offered: flights, transfers, pre-stays, post-stays). You will then have a period of 5 days to confirm your trip and turn your pre-booking into a booking. PONANT guarantees that the confirmed booking will be at the best available rate.

Any pre-booking request for Le Commandant Charcot requires a deposit of $300 (including taxes) per passenger or per group booking. When the trip is confirmed, this deposit will be deducted from the total price. If the trip is not confirmed by the time tickets are officially released, with a simple request requiring no justification on your part, this amount will be reimbursed in full or transferred as credit to another PONANT trip of your choice.

TICKET RELEASE DATES PRE-BOOKING | LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT

April/September 2021 (Arctic) & October/March 2021-2022 (Antarctica) on Thursday April 11, 2019

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Special conditions The payment of the pre-booking deposit ensures the order of booking priority for a trip. It cannot guarantee a specific stateroom, only the date of the pre-booking in order to establish an order of priority. The staterooms are limited by type and by trip. When a category of stateroom on a given trip is no longer available, customers who were unable to receive their stateroom of choice will be offered a superior stateroom, depending on availability and order of booking priority. The rates shown are for information only and are based on a Deck 6 Prestige stateroom. They are subject to change and are not binding. The estimated rates shown are per person, based on double occupancy and include only the price of the cruise and taxes. The detail of the route and the final price will be announced one week prior to the ticket release date. Only these final rates will have contractual value. The indicated trips are not final and are subject to change when tickets are released. The pre-booking deposit is entirely separate from the cruise and is non-commissionable for travel agents.

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Photographs, all right reserved : Olivier Blaud, LĂŠa Paulin, Margot Sib, Laurence Fischer, Laure Patricot, Nathalie Michel, Stirling Design International, Infostrates, Adobe Stock, Alamy. Non contractual documents and photos.

The photo used in this brochure represent only possible experiences and therefore can not be guaranteed. Realization: September 2018. www.ponant.com