Polar bear walking across the pack ice in low sunset light, photographed from PONANT's Le Commandant Charcot on an Arctic expedition cruise

Ponant · Le Commandant Charcot · 16 nights

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.

Call 1300 187 630

Close-up of a polar bear standing on the sea ice at 82 degrees north, photographed from PONANT's Le Commandant Charcot on an Arctic cruise

16 nights, one way between Iceland and Svalbard

Two Arctics, joined by the ice

In early summer the coast of North-East Greenland is still locked in sea ice, and only Le Commandant Charcot can reach it. This voyage uses that advantage. Sailing north from Reykjavík, the ship calls at Tasiilaq and the Blosseville Coast, then Ittoqqortoormiit at the mouth of Scoresby Sund, before four days inside the Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest on earth and empty of people. Two sea days carry her east to Svalbard: the ice cap of Nordaustlandet, the bird cliffs of Hinlopen Strait, the Søraust-Svalbard reserve and the south-west of Spitsbergen, ending in Longyearbyen. The same route runs in reverse later in June. Polar bears, walrus and muskoxen live along these coasts, and the expedition team watches for them from the bridge.

Sixteen nights is a long time at sea, and we only suggest it to guests who want Svalbard and East Greenland done properly, aboard the one ship that can push into the ice between them. We shape the rest around you, the suite, flights from Australia, Paris either side of the charters, and the offers we hold for Arctic Cruise guests. One Australian specialist, from the first conversation until you are home.

11 ports
3 countries
16 nights

Signature sites

Seven places only an icebreaker reaches in June

Most of these coasts open to conventional ships in August. In June they belong to the ice, and to the one ship built for it. All landings depend on the ice and the weather on the day.

Tasiilaq

The largest town in East Greenland, in a bowl of mountains on Ammassalik Island, with the Helheim glacier and the Sermilik icefjord beyond.

Tasiilaq

The largest town in East Greenland, in a bowl of mountains on Ammassalik Island, with the Helheim glacier and the Sermilik icefjord beyond.

Day by day

Sixteen nights, in outline

The ice decides where the ship goes, and the expedition leader decides each morning. The outline below follows the June 2027 northbound sailing; the later departure sails the same route in reverse. The full programme comes with the proposal we write for you.

Board Le Commandant Charcot in Reykjavík and sail in the evening.

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

Sixteen nights aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the charter flight between Longyearbyen and Paris with transfers, all meals in every restaurant and 24-hour room service, open bar and in-room minibar, Zodiac outings, ice landings, hiking and snowshoeing led by the expedition team, lectures and the science programme, Wi-Fi, gratuities, port taxes and the polar parka to keep

Flights from Australia to Reykjavík and home from Paris, hotel nights in Reykjavík and Paris, kayaking on selected outings, travel insurance, visa fees and personal expenses, spa treatments

Ponant includes the charter flight between Longyearbyen and Paris at the Svalbard end of the voyage. We arrange your flights from Australia, the Reykjavík and Paris nights and the days either side, so the whole journey is one booking.

Further Exploration

Other Arctic itineraries

Le Commandant Charcot also sails to the Geographic North Pole, and Greenland can be reached by Swan Hellenic from Iceland in summer. 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.

14 Nights

Aurora Expeditions

From A$28,414

Jewels of the Arctic: Svalbard and East Greenland

Oslo to Reykjavík, or the reverse, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen included. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$28,414 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.

10 Nights

Aurora Expeditions

From A$19,812

Iceland and East Greenland, Under the Northern Lights

Reykjavík to Reykjavík in September, with a hotel night in Reykjavík included. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$19,812 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

12 Nights

Ponant

From A$29,280

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.

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.

Polar bear mother and cub standing on an ice floe and looking toward the camera, photographed from PONANT's Le Commandant Charcot

Dates & prices

Departures, 2027 to 2029

Sixteen nights aboard Le Commandant Charcot, one way between Reykjavík and Longyearbyen. Fares are per person, twin share, in Australian dollars, with Ponant’s Paris charter flight 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.

Northbound, with the Greenland coast still in its spring ice and Svalbard opening as the ship arrives. Charter flight Longyearbyen to Paris included.

Southbound, sold as In the Ice of the Arctic, from Svalbard to Greenland: Svalbard first, then the national park and Scoresby Sund as the fjords begin to open. Charter flight Paris to Longyearbyen included.

Ponant’s 2028 Arctic programme for Le Commandant Charcot is being released; we come back to you with the June 2028 dates and Australian fares.

Tell us the direction 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.