Ponant have often been looked at as innovators within the cruising industry. With their latest creation, Le Commandant Charcot, they have perfectly broken the barrier between luxury and expedition. I was unbelievably lucky to be one of the first agents to step foot aboard this expedition cruise vessel.

For all things Ponant, read on!

An experience like no other

The Arctic and Antarctic are often thought as remote and unreachable, places that we only could dream of hearing the muffled silence of vast polar deserts. This is now no longer a fantasy, for all those who desire to be lulled by the crunching of snowshoes and the regular rhythm of their breathing – it’s time to suit up! 

Le Commandant Charcot allows you to experience the thrill of a polar adventure and get up close and personal with the wildlife like never before. Due to the ship’s maximum capacity of 245 passengers and its ability to glide through ice fields, the opportunity to step foot onto the ice is always present, weather permitting!

The exploration starts on board, with experts providing incisive and invaluable insights as they deliver thought-provoking talks on this fascinating ecosystem. They cover topics such as biology, history, geology and glaciology. Ready at a moment’s notice, the expert staff aboard are eager to answer any questions and provide in-depth presentations about research and protecting the poles.

Keep a keen ear out for your captains Patrick Marchesseau and Etienne Garcia on the tannoy system, as they’ll be keeping you up to date with any wildlife that crosses your path.

The one thing that stood out to me most was the plethora of activities and off-ship experiences available to explore the Polar world with total immersion. The following are some excursions that I would recommend for all to try…

• Kayaking

• Mushing

• Snowshoeing

• Hiking

• Ice fishing

• Polar plunge (my personal favourite and a must-do!)

• Zodiac cruises

… and many more!

If you’re looking for a truly unique experience, Ponant is already one step ahead. 

Why not create memories that will last a lifetime and camp overnight on the ice? A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the Ponant experts will guide you every step of the way for an evening of pure bliss.

Culinary excellence

Now for my favourite part of the experience, the food!

I think it’s very fair to say that when it comes to culinary excellence, the French are lightyears ahead of the rest. Aboard Le Commandant Charcot it showed.

Upon embarkation we were greeted with warm smiles and a delightful selection of hors d’oeuvres. What were these tasty bites, I hear you cry? Well, to begin we feasted upon a beautiful combination of fresh salmon, resting on a bed of tartar and garnished with watercress. Absolutely gorgeous, 10/10 would recommend! 

This was hastily followed by what can only be described as the poshest pâté on toast I have ever tasted. The flavours were rich, and it held a creamy consistency, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!

To finish off what was already a delectable dining experience, we were treated to a bit of Spanish flair with a vegetarian frittata, delicately topped with emerald green fish eggs.

It was also aboard Le Commandant Charcot that I finally had the opportunity to try real caviar. My god, it did not disappoint! I am a bit of a seafood fanatic, so I was completely stunned by the flavours held by such a small and delicate fish. The exquisite culinary talents of the Ponant chefs continuously stunned me throughout every meal, and the wine pairings weren’t too bad either! 

I have to say the words ‘above & beyond’ often get used to describe 6 star cruise lines. However when it comes to Ponant, they truly did embody this. Nothing was a hassle, and we were made to feel extra special by our server, PJ. PJ truly went out of his way to look after us. I think he might have actually cracked more jokes than bottles of wine for us… although I wish I could say I 100% remember that part.

A warm smile consistently glowed from his face. You could tell that he was a man who truly lived, laughed and loved his job. He ensured that we had the best experience possible. The moment we stepped out of that restaurant, full of fine foods and fine wines, we were nothing but completely satisfied. 

​And the rest

In between attending the fascinating lectures and talks on how Le Commandant Charcot came to be, and hearing the inspiring stories of those involved, we were also able to enjoy some downtime and truly experience the little details that this ship had to offer. A lot of that downtime was split between exploring the stunning ship in all its glory, including the beautifully designed and spacious staterooms, and enjoying the varying on-board amenities.

My personal highlight was the spa, complete with a health bar, sauna, and snow room. It was truly the perfect way to watch the world sail by. I can definitely say it was my first time swimming against an artificial current while I can hear the buzzing of my mystery green juice being made; a truly blissful experience. Of course this had to be followed by running back and forth between the sauna and cold room to feel the full effects of hot-cold therapy, greeted by a fresh water or juice in between for a key dose of rehydration.

All-in-all, I left Le Commandant Charcot not only feeling reinvigorated and re-energised, but with a newfound appreciation for the fleet of incredible ships that Ponant has cultivated. A true 10/10 experience.

Call Panache Cruises on 0161 513 8200 if you want to learn more about Ponant and Le Commandant Charcot.