Helicopter aerial view of Ponant's Le Commandant Charcot in loose sea ice off Greenland, bathed in golden haze, on a Ponant Reykjavik round-trip Arctic expedition cruise

Ponant · Le Commandant Charcot · 12 nights

Encounter with the Last Guardians of the North Pole

Nuuk to Nuuk, 4 to 16 April 2027, with 2028 to follow. From A$29,280 per person, Paris charter flights included, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Call 1300 187 630

Helicopter view over a frozen fjord and sea ice toward snow-covered mountains on the Blosseville Coast, East Greenland, from PONANT's Le Commandant Charcot

12 nights, roundtrip from Nuuk

Greenland in spring, with the people who live on the ice

In April the coast of north-west Greenland is still sea ice, and the hunters of Kullorsuaq still travel it by dog sled. Le Commandant Charcot is the only ship able to reach them at this time of year, and this voyage was built with them, in partnership with the polar guides of SEDNA. The ship sails north from Nuuk through Disko Bay and the ice of Baffin Bay to spend several days at Kullorsuaq, where the days are shared with the community: sledging on the sea ice, a walk to the hunting grounds, and for those who choose it a night in a camp on the floe. The ice itself is the landscape, lit by a sun that is back after the winter and setting later each evening. Narwhal, seals and, with luck, a polar bear move along the ice edge. The expedition team leads each day with the hunters, and the programme follows the ice.

Spring in the far north of Greenland is a different Arctic from the summer voyages, and we talk it through with every guest before they book: sea ice, cold, long light and very few other ships. If that is the Arctic you want, we build the journey around it, flights from Australia, Paris either side of the charter, and the offers we hold for Arctic Cruise guests. One Australian specialist, from the first conversation until you are home.

3 ports
1 country
12 nights

Signature moments

Five moments on the spring ice

This is a voyage of a few places visited deeply rather than many visited briefly. Every landing is made on sea ice with the hunters of the community, and the weather and the ice set each day.

Guests in red parkas spread across the sea ice beneath a striped snowy mountain in Scoresby Sund, East Greenland, on a PONANT Le Commandant Charcot cruise

Nuuk

Greenland’s capital among its fjords, the National Museum and the old harbour, before the ship turns north.

Nuuk

Greenland’s capital among its fjords, the National Museum and the old harbour, before the ship turns north.

Day by day

Twelve nights, in outline

The sea ice sets the programme, and the hunters of Kullorsuaq set the days ashore. The outline below is the plan the ship works from; the full programme, with every activity, comes with the proposal we write for you.

Charter flight from Paris to Nuuk and embarkation.

Aboard Le Commandant Charcot

Le Commandant Charcot is the only passenger ship with a Polar Class 2 hull, built to reach 90° North and the winter coasts of Greenland. She carries 245 guests in suites and staterooms that all open onto a balcony or terrace, with restaurants under Alain Ducasse, an indoor pool, a spa, a science laboratory and a hybrid electric and LNG propulsion that keeps her quiet in the ice.

Le Commandant Charcot

Alain Ducasse at the table

The spa and pool aboard Ponant's Le Commandant Charcot, which cruises to Antarctica.

The indoor pool, ice outside

The main lounge aboard Ponant's Le Commandant Charcot, which cruises to Antarctica.

The main lounge, bow forward

The scenic sauna aboard Ponant's Le Commandant Charcot, which cruises to Antarctica.

Spa and sauna at 80° North

Kayaks and Zodiacs at the ice edge

We want to make your journey as easy as possible

Twelve nights aboard Le Commandant Charcot, return charter flights between Paris and Nuuk with transfers, all meals in every restaurant and 24-hour room service, open bar and in-room minibar, ice landings, Zodiac outings and the activities shared with the community of Kullorsuaq, lectures and the science programme, Wi-Fi, gratuities, port taxes and the polar parka to keep

Flights from Australia to Paris and home, hotel nights in Paris, the overnight camp on the ice and other optional SEDNA packages, travel insurance, visa fees and personal expenses, spa treatments

Ponant includes the return charter flights between Paris and Nuuk. We arrange your flights from Australia to Paris and the nights in Paris either side, so the whole journey is one booking.

Further Exploration

Other Arctic itineraries

The same ship sails Beyond the Inhabited World the following fortnight, and the two can be booked back to back. Each voyage shows its from price in Australian dollars where published; our specialists help you choose the one that suits the way you like to travel.

The Geographic North Pole

Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen, through the pack ice to 90° North. Four sailings in 2027, six in 2028, with 2029 to follow. Return charter flights Paris to Longyearbyen included. From A$53,610 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

12 Nights

Ponant

From A$34,910

Beyond the Inhabited World

Nuuk to Nuuk, 16 to 28 April 2027, with 2028 to follow. From A$34,910 per person, Paris charter flights included, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

15 Nights

Quark Expeditions

From US$19,281

West Greenland and the Far North: Ilulissat to Qaanaaq

Reykjavík to Reykjavík via Nuuk, flights across the Denmark Strait included. One sailing in September 2027, one in September 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$19,281 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

14 Nights

Quark Expeditions

From US$10,041

South Greenland: Alpine Exploration by Helicopter

Reykjavík to Reykjavík, with the flight from Nuuk at the end included. One sailing in August 2027, one in August 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$10,041 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

16 Nights

Ponant

From A$53,550

In the Ice of the Arctic: Svalbard and Greenland

Reykjavík to Longyearbyen in June, or Longyearbyen to Reykjavík. Sailings in 2027, with 2028 to follow. Paris charter flight included. From A$53,550 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

7 Nights

Swan Hellenic

From A$16,975

Greenland, Land of Northern Lights

Kangerlussuaq to Kangerlussuaq. Sailings in September 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$16,975 per person, charter flights from Reykjavík included, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Polar bear lying on the snow beside blue pressure-ice blocks at the edge of open water, photographed from PONANT's Le Commandant Charcot

Dates & prices

Departures, 2027 to 2029

Twelve nights aboard Le Commandant Charcot, Nuuk to Nuuk. Fares are Ponant’s published Australian fares per person, twin share, with the Paris charter flights included. Ask us before you compare: our offers for Arctic Cruise guests come on top, and we tell you which sailing is the best value for the way you want to travel.

The single 2027 sailing, at the start of the Arctic spring. Paris charter flights included. Bookable back to back with Beyond the Inhabited World on 16 April.

A shorter Nuuk roundtrip through Sisimiut and Disko Bay at the end of winter, for those with less time. Ask us for the programme.

Ponant is releasing its 2028 Greenland spring programme; we come back to you with the dates and Australian fares.

Tell us the month and the suite you have in mind and we hold your place on our list, then come back to you with dates and Australian fares the day they open.

Made to measure

Tell us your Arctic, we build the rest

Every guest sails differently. Tell us what you are hoping for, the ice, the wildlife, the light, who you are travelling with, and we match it to the right sailing, the right stateroom and the right year, with flights from Australia and our own offers included. One Arctic Cruise specialist stays with you from the first call until you are home.