From: Argentina, Ushuaia
To: Australia, Hobart
Dates: 17.01.2026 - 15.02.2026
Duration: 30 Nights
Ship: LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT

Unexplored Antarctica between Two Continents

With featured guest Jonathan Shackleton, descendant of Sir Ernest Shackleton and family historian, and the presence of Sue Flood, British Photo Ambassador and polar specialist,  and author of Emperor - The Perfect Penguin. Charcot, Bellingshausen, Dean, Fisher, Ross, Amundsen… Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the names of these legendary explorers resonate at every moment. Thanks to its unique capacity to sail into the very heart of the ice, Le Commandant Charcot invites you, with respect and humility, to set off in the footsteps of these great Antarctic figures during an all-new and unrivalled half-circumnavigation that will sail from the far south of the American continent to Australia. This journey to the boundaries of the known world will take you on a long adventure, where time stands still, where the horizon stretches into infinity to reveal dreamlike landscapes and abundant wildlife. Antarctic exploration cannot be separated from the pioneers who travelled in these territories at the edges of the Earth. They left their names everywhere. Inaccessible and elusive are certainly the adjectives that best describe these lands that are among our planet’s most little-known and remote. Like a real explorer, you will cross the legendary southern seas of Bellingshausen and Amundsen, approach Marie Byrd Land, one of the last Terra nullius of our planet, and, if conditions allow it, attempt to reach the Charcot Island, enveloped in its blanket of ice. Very significant in the history of South Pole exploration, Ross Sea is also the world’s largest marine protected area, the kingdom of prodigious wildlife. As a privileged witness, keep a watchful eye and take the time to observe the Antarctic petrels, whales, orcas, seals and penguins that are to be found here. The power of the polar world will conquer you, leaving you with unforgettable memories of the impressive Drygalski glacier scattered with blue, the endless and constant Ross Ice Shelf, the majestic Witkins and Getz ice shelves, and the ice floe taking over the Amundsen Sea. Here and there, you will notice clues to the past presence of Shackleton and Scott who have forever marked this continent of extremes with their historic exploits. At the foot of Mount Erebus, the highest volcano in Antarctica, their memory becomes tangible: the former base camp has remained intact. Your cruise will end in Hobart, the Tasmanian capital, which has a captivating history. For those wishing to extend their exploration of the White Continent, the Tasmanian city will also be the departure point for a second half-circumnavigation aboard Le Commandant Charcot that you can discover here, so as to continue exploring the Antarctic and its mythical regions, heading towards the Cape. We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Our navigation will be determined by the type of ice we come across; as the fast ice must be preserved, we will take this factor into account from day to day in our itineraries. The sailing schedule and any landings, activities and wildlife encounters are subject to weather and ice conditions. These experiences are unique and vary with each departure. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while respecting safety instructions and regulations imposed by the IAATO.

LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT

  • Guests: 245
  • Suites: 123
  • Crew: 215
  • Spa: 1
  • Restaurants: 2
  • Length: 492 ft
  • Beam: 92 ft
  • Draft: 33 ft
  • Ice class polar: Class PC2
  • Classification: Bureau Veritas
  • Flag: French
  • Decks: 5
  • Zodiacs: 16
  • Tonnage: 31 757 UMS
  • Electric propulsion motors: 34 MW
  • Power: 42 MW
  • Construction: Sovik, Norway

Cruise Itinerary

Day
Date
Location
Arrival
Departure
1
Jan 17, 2026
Argentina, Ushuaia
16:00*
18:00
2-3
Jan 18, 2026 – Jan 19, 2026
Crossing the Drake Passage
-
-
4
Jan 20, 2026
Crossing the Antarctic Circle
-
-
5
Jan 21, 2026
Expedition to Charcot Island
-
-
6-8
Jan 22, 2026 – Jan 24, 2026
Bellingshausen Sea
-
-
9
Jan 25, 2026
Amundsen Sea
-
-
10-16
Jan 26, 2026 – Feb 1, 2026
Marie Byrd Land exploration
-
-
17
Feb 2, 2026
Crossing the International Date Line
-
-
18
Feb 3, 2026
cruising
-
-
19-22
Feb 4, 2026 – Feb 7, 2026
The Ross Sea exploration
-
-
23
Feb 8, 2026
Balleny Islands
-
-
24-29
Feb 9, 2026 – Feb 14, 2026
cruising
-
-
30
Feb 15, 2026
Australia, Hobart
-
08:00**
The itinerary is subject to change without prior notice at the discretion of the cruise line or due to operational, weather, port, or safety considerations. The cruise operator reserves the right to substitute ports, alter the order of calls, or modify the program as necessary to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers.

Cabins & Accomodations

Lower deck balcony stateroom

  • Cabin: 20 m²
  • Pax: 2
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Upper decks balcony stateroom

  • Cabin: 20 m²
  • Pax: 2
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Deluxe Suite

  • Cabin: 28 m²
  • Pax: 2
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Prestige Suite

  • Cabin: 40 m²
  • Pax: 4
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Grand Suite

  • Cabin: 115 m²
  • Pax: 6
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Privilege Suite

  • Cabin: 48 m²
  • Pax: 4
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Duplex Suite

  • Cabin: 94 m²
  • Pax: 4
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Owner's Suite

  • Cabin: 115 m²
  • Pax: 6
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