Bookings are now open for 28 voyages to Antarctica with PONANT EXPLORATIONS for the winter of 2027-2028, when four of the cruise line’s ships will sail in the region.

The program promises “immersive exploration and extreme latitudes,” offering travellers the chance to experience one of the planet’s most remote and pristine environments.

Of the four PONANT EXPLORATIONS ships to sail Antarctic waters during this period, three will be expedition ships operating the company’s flagship routes, while the fourth is described by PONANT as “the world’s only luxury icebreaker” – Le Commandant Charcot.

This ship, equipped with a PC2 polar hull, combines advanced technology with sustainable practices. Its hybrid propulsion system, fuelled by liquefied natural gas (LNG), makes “exploration more respectful of polar ecosystems.” Two special voyages will navigate areas of the Southern Hemisphere accessible only to ships capable of breaking through ice floes.

One of these, “In the Wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot,” follows the routes of the legendary Antarctic pioneer toward the Bellingshausen Sea and Charcot Island. Departures are from Ushuaia on 2 and 28 December 2027, for 16 days/14 nights, starting at $34,900 per person.

Another voyage, “The Emperor Penguins of the Weddell Sea,” offers a rare encounter with emperor penguins amidst “colossal tabular icebergs” and pack ice, with departures in October, November, and December 2027.

For those seeking a broader Antarctic experience, PONANT EXPLORATIONS offers four unmissable voyages between the Antarctic Peninsula and Patagonia. The flagship journey, “Emblematic Antarctica,” provides a first discovery of the White Continent, featuring icebergs and cetaceans, penguins and seals.

Other options include “The Great Austral Loop,” “The Best of Chilean Fjords,” and “Falklands, South Georgia & Valdes Peninsula: in the Heart of the Wilderness,” each offering unique landscapes and wildlife encounters, with trips ranging from 12 to 20 days.