Le Commandant Charcot
Ponant ship guide
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Le Commandant Charcot in an Arctic ice field during Operation Tugaalik, June 2024 · Photo: Cmdr. Krystyn Pecora, U.S. Coast Guard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
About Le Commandant Charcot
Le Commandant Charcot is a Ponant cruise ship, in service since 2021. She measures 31,283 gross tons and carries 245 guests with a crew of 215. She sails Antarctica, Northern Europe, Canada and New England itineraries. We rate her 4.0 out of 5.
Le Commandant Charcot is Ponant's flagship and its only icebreaker, built to Polar Class 2 so that she can reach the geographic North Pole and the ice of the Weddell Sea. Vard built her hull in Romania and completed her in Norway for delivery in 2021; at about 31,000 gross tons and 150 metres she is far larger than the rest of the fleet but carries only about 245 guests in 123 staterooms and suites. She runs on liquefied natural gas with battery support and has two laboratories for visiting scientists. Her seasons alternate between the Arctic (Greenland, Svalbard and the North Pole) and Antarctica, with winter voyages in the Baltic and on the Saint Lawrence. In September 2024 she was the first ship ever to reach the Arctic's northern pole of inaccessibility.
Ship facts
- Guests
- 245
- Crew 215 · 1:1.1
- Entered service
- 2021
- Length
- 150 m
- Longer than 52% of 575 ships
- Decks
- 5
Le Commandant Charcot is smaller than 60% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruises Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 51%. At 127.7 gross tons per guest she is roomier than 100% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
Ratings
- Cabins
- 5/5+0.8, fleet average 4.3
- Dining
- 5/5, fleet average 5.0
- Entertainment
- 2/5, fleet average 2.0
- Service
- 5/5, fleet average 5.0
- Pools & decks
- 4/5+0.4, fleet average 3.6
- Value
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
Editorial scores, 1 to 5 per metric; the overall is their average, not an average of reader reviews. Ticks mark the Ponant fleet average across 12 rated ships in service.
More from Ponant
The ships in the fleet closest to her in size.
3.7 ★L'Austral2011 · 10,944 GT · 264 guests · Antarctica · MediterraneanL'Austral is the second of Ponant's four Sisterships, built by Fincantieri at Ancona and put into service in April 2011. Like her sisters she is 142 metres long and takes up to…
3.7 ★Le Boréal2010 · 10,944 GT · 264 guests · Mediterranean · AntarcticaLe Boréal is the first of Ponant's four near-identical Sisterships, completed by Fincantieri at Ancona in 2010. She measures 142 metres and about 10,900 gross tons and carries up…
3.7 ★Le Lyrial2015 · 10,944 GT · 244 guests · Antarctica · Northern EuropeLe Lyrial is the youngest of Ponant's four Sisterships, delivered by Fincantieri's Ancona yard in April 2015 and named after the constellation Lyra. She shares the 142-metre…Official deck plans
Photos
Le Commandant Charcot in an Arctic ice field during Operation Tugaalik, June 2024Photo: Cmdr. Krystyn Pecora, U.S. Coast Guard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Where she sails
Quick answers
Which cruise line operates Le Commandant Charcot?
Le Commandant Charcot is operated by Ponant.
How big is Le Commandant Charcot?
Le Commandant Charcot measures 31,283 gross tons and 150 metres in length, with 5 decks.
How does Le Commandant Charcot compare in size with other cruise ships?
Le Commandant Charcot is smaller than 60% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruises Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 51%. At 127.7 gross tons per guest she is roomier than 100% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
How crowded does Le Commandant Charcot feel?
Le Commandant Charcot has a passenger space ratio of 127.7: 31,283 gross tons for 245 guests. Ratios over 50 feel spacious and under 30 busy, so Le Commandant Charcot feels spacious for her size.
How many passengers does Le Commandant Charcot carry?
Le Commandant Charcot carries 245 guests at double occupancy, with a crew of 215 (about 1.1 guests per crew member).
When did Le Commandant Charcot enter service?
Le Commandant Charcot entered service in 2021.
Where does Le Commandant Charcot sail?
Le Commandant Charcot sails Antarctica, Northern Europe and Canada and New England itineraries.
Where can I find the deck plans for Le Commandant Charcot?
Ponant publishes the deck plans for Le Commandant Charcot; this page links to Deck plans.
How is Le Commandant Charcot rated?
Cruises Frog rates Le Commandant Charcot 4.0 out of 5 overall, the average of 6 editorial scores. She scores best on cabins (5/5) and lowest on entertainment (2/5).
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
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