Landing on Peter I Island is like landing on the moon!
In fact, fewer people have visited this small volcanic island located in the Bellingshausen Sea, 450 km from the Antarctic coastlines, than have set foot on lunar soil.
Discovered in February 1821, Peter I Island could only be approached for the first time in 1929, as the ice front made approach and disembarkation difficult. Its summit still remains untouched to this day.
This unusual itinerary will also provide an opportunity to approach Charcot Island, thus named by Captain Charcot in memory of his father during its discovery in 1910.
Please note: your voyage rates include Overnight in Santiago + flight Santiago/Ushuaia + transfers + flight Ushuaia/Santiago.
Highlights
• Be among the few people on earth who have approached two islands beyond the Antarctic Polar Circle.
• Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables.
• Lectures and information sessions hosted by our naturalist-guides.
• Hiking opportunity.
• Wildlife: humpback whales, gentoo penguins, Weddell seals.
• Many included activities: Hovercraft, hot air balloon, snowmobiles….
Transfer from airport to PONANT selected hotel.
Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…
Use your days spent in the Drake Passage to familiarise yourself with your ship and deepen your knowledge of the Antarctic. The Expedition Leader will first present the IAATO rules of conduct that must be observed during landings in the region and will explain everything you need to know about the Zodiac® outings. Lectures about the history and wildlife of the Antarctic will be an opportunity for you to learn more about this magical region, where every cruise is a unique experience. From the ship’s bridge, you will experience exceptional sailing moments before joining the naturalist-guides on your ship’s exterior decks to look out for albatrosses, cape petrels, and other seabirds flying over the Drake Passage.
Weather permitting, we'll cross the mythic line of the Antarctic Polar Circle, located along 66°33’ south of the Equator. This iconic area demarcates the point from which it is possible to view the midnight sun during the December solstice. Within this circle, the sun remains above the horizon for 24 consecutive hours at least once a year. Crossing this line, an experience known to few people, is sure to be an unforgettable highlight of your cruise through the polar regions.
Detaille Island is a small island situated off the Loubet Coast in the Crystal Sound, a magnificent region surrounded by snow-covered peaks. A British research station was set up there in 1956, ahead of the International Geophysical Year 1957-58. Like the International Polar Years, organised for the first time in 1882-83, the purpose of this event was to take a coordinated approach to the geophysical research conducted by the different nations. With the island difficult to access, this station was shut down in 1959. The vestiges of the buildings and sledge dog pens that made it possible to map more than 4,000 miles around the island are now maintained by the United Kingdom Heritage Trust.
The sumptuous landscapes of this narrow channel between Adelaide Island and Graham Land attract all visitors sailing towards Marguerite Bay. It is like an ice palace, its immaculate white walls reflected in the frozen mirror formed by the waters of the Southern Ocean, scattered with icebergs and gleaming blocks of ice. This passage was explored for the first time by the Jean-Baptiste Charcot expedition in 1909, which sketched its position. It was then surveyed in 1936 by the British expedition under John Rymill. It is here in this magical setting that some of the first subaquatic images of the Antarctic were shot during Philippe Cousteau’s four-month expedition to Antarctica between 1972 and 1973.
Le Commandant Charcot will land on the coast of Pourquoi Pas Island, so named in the 1930s by John Riddoch Rymill in honour of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, who discovered it from aboard his ship Le Pourquoi Pas ? during his second expedition to Antarctica between 1908 and 1910. This mountainous island, situated in the north of Marguerite Bay between Graham Land and Adelaide Island, is 28 km long and 14 km large. It is scattered with narrow fjords and snow-covered mountains. You will go to shore in a Zodiac® dinghy with your expedition team and you could get the chance to observe Adelie penguins going about their business on the island’s rocky shores.
The icebergs are each more majestic than the next and scattered around the deep and intense blue waters of Marguerite Bay, one of the most beautiful regions in the Antarctic. It is delimited in the north by the mountainous Adelaide Island, in the south by George VI Sound and Alexander Island, and in the east by the Fallières Coast. Charcot named it after his wife during his second expedition to the Antarctic between 1908 and 1910. In 1909, in the southern summer when the skies are at their clearest, he led an important scientific mission to map and study this region. The bay is home to a number of cetaceans and you may get the chance to observe leopard seals or Adelie penguins.
When he discovered this island surrounded by sea ice in 1910 from aboard the Pourquoi Pas ? as he mapped Alexander Island, Jean-Baptiste Charcot had not be able to get less than 40 miles away from it. Situated in a zone that experiences frequent low-pressure systems and regular cloud cover, the island remains in many ways an enigma. It is entirely covered in ice and sheer cliffs, with the exception of the rocky outcrops extending over a dozen kilometres in the far north-west. The ice in the narrowest part of Wilkins Sound has been cracking in recent times, thus officially detaching this island from its neighbour, Alexander Island, lying 50 km away. Very few people have landed on this largely untouched island, whose waters attract numerous seabirds, such as petrels, Antarctic terns and skuas.
You will then head for the legendary Peter I Island. Located 450 km away from the Atlantic coast, it was discovered in 1821 by the Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, who named it in honour of the Russian tsar Peter the Great. In 1909, Captain Charcot sighted it for the first time from aboard the Pourquoi Pas ?, but was unable to land there: “In the parting mists, one or two miles away, an enormous black mass shrouded in clouds appears suddenly before us: it is Peter I Island.” Surrounded by pack ice and with about 95% of its surface covered by ice, this volcanic island, whose highest peak reaches 1,640 metres, is protected by ice cliffs some 40 metres tall, making any approach difficult.
Spend exceptional moments sailing aboard Le Commandant-Charcot, the world’s first luxury polar exploration vessel and the first PC2-class polar cruise ship capable of sailing into the very heart of the ice, on seas and oceans which the frozen conditions render inaccessible to ordinary ships. Le Commandant-Charcot is fitted with oceanographic and scientific equipment selected by a committee of experts. Take advantage of the on-board lectures and opportunities for discussion with these specialists to learn more about the poles. Participate in furthering scientific research with PONANT and let us discover together what these fascinating destinations have yet to reveal to us.
The sumptuous landscapes of this narrow channel between Adelaide Island and Graham Land attract all visitors sailing towards Marguerite Bay. It is like an ice palace, its immaculate white walls reflected in the frozen mirror formed by the waters of the Southern Ocean, scattered with icebergs and gleaming blocks of ice. This passage was explored for the first time by the Jean-Baptiste Charcot expedition in 1909, which sketched its position. It was then surveyed in 1936 by the British expedition under John Rymill. It is here in this magical setting that some of the first subaquatic images of the Antarctic were shot during Philippe Cousteau’s four-month expedition to Antarctica between 1972 and 1973.
If there is one place, one sea, one waterway dreaded by tourists, researchers and hardened seafarers alike, it is undoubtedly Drake Passage. Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, it is the shortest route to connect Antarctica to South America. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent! As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, Drake Passage harbours a very diverse marine fauna. Don't forget to look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels, playfully floating about in the wind around your ship.
Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…
We are privileged guests in these remote lands where we are at the mercy of weather, ice, tidal and current conditions. Landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by the IAATO.
13 December, 2021 to 28 December, 2021
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PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 6
Area : 20 m²
Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin
5 m² private balcony
Shower
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 7
Area : 20 m²
Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin
5 m² private balcony
Shower
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 8
Area : 20 m²
Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin
5 m² private balcony
Shower
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
PRIVILEGE STATEROOM DECK 6
Area : 28 m²
Capacity :up to 3 passengers per cabin
5 m² private balcony
Shower
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
PRIVILEGE STATEROOM DECK 7
Area : 28 m²
Capacity :up to 3 passengers per cabin
5 m² private balcony
Shower
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
PRIVILEGE STATEROOM DECK 8
Area : 28 m²
Capacity :up to 3 passengers per cabin
5 m² private balcony
Shower
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
Area : 40 m²
Capacity :up to 4 passengers per cabin
10 m² private balcony
2 Showers
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
Area : 40 m²
Capacity :up to 4 passengers per cabin
10 m² private balcony
2 Showers
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
Area : 48 m²
Capacity :up to 4 passengers per cabin
12.5 m² private balcony
Shower & Balneo bathtub
Butler service
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
Area : 48 m²
Capacity :up to 4 passengers per cabin
26 m² private balcony with jacuzzi
Shower & Balneo bathtub
Butler service
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
Area : 114 m²
Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin
186 m² private balcony with jacuzzi
Shower & Balneo bathtub
Butler service
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
01 February, 2022 to 16 February, 2022
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Book now
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PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 6
Area : 20 m²
Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin
5 m² private balcony
Shower
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 7
Area : 20 m²
Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin
5 m² private balcony
Shower
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 8
Area : 20 m²
Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin
5 m² private balcony
Shower
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
PRIVILEGE STATEROOM DECK 6
Area : 28 m²
Capacity :up to 3 passengers per cabin
5 m² private balcony
Shower
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
PRIVILEGE STATEROOM DECK 7
Area : 28 m²
Capacity :up to 3 passengers per cabin
5 m² private balcony
Shower
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
PRIVILEGE STATEROOM DECK 8
Area : 28 m²
Capacity :up to 3 passengers per cabin
5 m² private balcony
Shower
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
Area : 40 m²
Capacity :up to 4 passengers per cabin
10 m² private balcony
2 Showers
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
Area : 40 m²
Capacity :up to 4 passengers per cabin
10 m² private balcony
2 Showers
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
Area : 48 m²
Capacity :up to 4 passengers per cabin
12.5 m² private balcony
Shower & Balneo bathtub
Butler service
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
Area : 48 m²
Capacity :up to 4 passengers per cabin
26 m² private balcony with jacuzzi
Shower & Balneo bathtub
Butler service
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
Area : 114 m²
Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin
186 m² private balcony with jacuzzi
Shower & Balneo bathtub
Butler service
Individually-controlled airconditioning
Stateroom layout: king-size bed or twin beds - communicating staterooms available
Minibar - 24hr room service
Flat screen satellite TV
Video on demand
IPod™ docks
Safe
French bath products
Dressing table with hairdryer
Direct line telephone
110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
Internet access Wifi.
Additional charges:
Port Taxes: 1040 AUD pp
Le Commandant-Charcot
Vessel Type: Polar Luxury Expedition
Passenger Capacity: 135 cabins
Built: 2018/2019
Be the first aboard Le Commandant-Charcot, the world's luxury polar exploration vessel, and enjoy a unique sailing experience in the Arctic or Antarctic!
With its hybrid propulsion combining liquefied natural gas (LNG) and electric generators, Le Commandant-Charcot has been designed to minimise the environmental impact of travel to the furthest latitudes.
The decoration of the ship, imagined by two internationally renowned design and architecture firms - the studio of Jean-Philippe Nuel and Wilmotte & Associés - is designed to be in harmony with the environment. The approach is contemporary with the desire to create a warm and elegant setting; stone, wood and leather recall the natural environment in which the ship is sailing.
Equipped with just 135 staterooms including 31 suites with balconies and outside views, Le Commandant-Charcot welcomes you in an intimate and refined atmosphere. Outstanding gastronomy in the two restaurants, relaxation in the indoor pool surrounded by its winter garden, relaxation in the well-being area with sauna and Snow Room... Like on a private yacht, each of our guests is unique.
PUBLIC AREAS
Le Commandant-Charcot has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger.
A 177 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An expeditions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Hospitality & Travel Manager officer, Our boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, The image & photo desk.
The different lounges: A 302 m² main lounge including a 28 m² cigar lounge, a tea corner and a bar, with live music on selected evenings, A 400 m² panoramic bar and lounge, An open-air Bar.
The recreation spaces
Fitness & Beauty Corner: Fitness room: Elliptic, running machines, bicycles...
Beauty Corner: Hairdresser, Massage rooms, Sauna, Snow Room, Nail Shop.
Pool area: Indoor Pool and winter garden - Outdoor Pool
Theatre: Capacity: 270-276 - Main show room for conferences and live entertainment on selected evenings - State-of-the-art audio and video technology.
Leisure area: Public areas - Library - Medical centre.
16 Zodiac®.

Ponant Bonus - Save up to 30% on Ponant Small Ship Cruises
Save up to 30% on Ponant Small Ship Cruises. Prices online do not show the discounted rates. Terms and Conditions apply, special offer is subject to availability, please contact us for more details.
Inclusions
• Voyage on board in selected cabin category
• All meals while on board
• Non-alcoholic and Alcoholic beverages included (Excluding Premium Brands)
• Free wifi (Subject to coverage)
Trip specific inclusions;
Transfer from Santiago airport to group hotel the day before embarkation*
Meet and greet at the hotel in Santiago, check in from late morning
Overnight hotel accommodation in Santiago
Dinner in Santiago
Tranfser from hotel to airport on embarkation day
Flight from Santiago to Ushuaia
Transfer from ship to airport on disembarkation day
Flight from Ushuaia to Santiago
Parka to keep
Boots for use throughout the voyage
Lectures on board
Zodiac cruising and excursions
*NOTE: In order to arrange the transfer you must advise Wild Earth your flight details at least 60 adys prior to departure. You can also chose to have the transfer from another location within a 50km range of Santiago city centre.
Exclusions
• Flights other than those mentioned in the itinerary
• Travel insurance
• Passport and visa costs if applicable
• Premium beverages package (Can be purchased on board)
• Optional Excursions where applicable
• Spa treatments on board
• Pre and post cruise accommodation unless otherwise stated
• Transfers unless specified
• Gratuities