In the Arctic Ocean off the coast of Greenland, the ship eases to a halt and passengers step ashore to walk. It may seem impossible, but in polar regions this is routine: a solid crust of sea ice forms a safe platform for short excursions. Clad in bright jackets and moving in groups for safety, visitors tread across the frozen surface while the vessel waits nearby. The ship looks beached, but it is not merely a cruise ship — it is an icebreaker ready to resume its work, carving a route through the ice once the landing is complete.
The ship in question is Le Commandant Charcot, a distinctive hybrid vessel powered by electricity and liquefied natural gas. Operated by the French company Ponant Cruises, it combines exceptional comfort with the ability to navigate some of the planet’s harshest environments. During the northern summer (May–September) it explores the Arctic; in the southern summer (November–March) it crosses to Antarctica.
Outside the ship’s sheltered interior, conditions can be dangerous, so experienced guides accompany every outing. They assess ice stability, steer clear of hidden cracks, and keep a watchful eye for wildlife hazards—critical in polar zones where encounters with large predators are possible. At each stop, a variety of activities is available: dog sledding across frozen tundra, ice fishing through drilled holes, kayaking in stretches of open water left by the ship’s passage, and for the very adventurous, a brief dip in the Arctic—typically only for those prepared for extreme cold.
PHOTO: © STUDIOPONANT-OLIVIER BLAUD
In winter, a more utilitarian vessel such as Polar Explorer, a Swedish icebreaker, offers three-hour cruises through the ice-choked Bothnian Sea between Finland and Sweden. That voyage also includes the opportunity to swim, but participants wear insulated waterproof survival suits to reduce the risk of hypothermia.
M/S Kvitungen, a compact “ice class” vessel, runs wildlife-focused expeditions from Svalbard, Norway, in August and September. Polar bears often headline these trips, but guests may also see walruses, musk oxen, seals and whales. Travelers should not expect luxury accommodations: bunks and shared facilities reflect the expeditionary nature of the voyages.
BirdLife South Africa periodically organizes January bird-watching cruises aboard MSC Musica from Durban to the remote Prince Edward Islands in the sub-Antarctic. Over eight days passengers can watch for penguins, pelagic seabirds, elephant seals and passing whales. Because the islands lack infrastructure for cruise ship calls, wildlife observation takes place from the ship and its zodiac boats, offering birdwatchers a chance to see many elusive species.
Antarctica does not have polar bears, but it offers unique wildlife found nowhere else, notably several species of penguin and the enormous southern elephant seal. Dozens of operators run Antarctic cruises in the southern summer, and many voyages include opportunities to land on the continent. These trips range from comfortable expedition cruises to more rugged, specialist journeys.
Heritage Adventurer, operating from New Zealand, runs two 28-day voyages in January and February that explore the Ross Sea. That region was central to the early heroic age of Antarctic exploration, and itineraries often include visits to historic wooden huts built by the first explorers, as well as abundant wildlife encounters.
Another widely traveled route circles the Atlantic side of Antarctica, calling at the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula. Several operators run this itinerary; Quark Expeditions fields ships such as Ocean Explorer and Ultramarine. Typical voyages last around 20 days and may offer optional activities like helicopter landings that allow passengers to explore the continent’s interior.
Once impenetrable and remote, the polar regions are now accessible to modern travelers seeking adventure and wildlife encounters. With experienced crews, purpose-built ships and a focus on safety and conservation, it is possible to reach the ends of the Earth in relative comfort.
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Le Commandant Charcot’s Arctic itineraries embark from Svalbard and also operate from ports in Iceland, Greenland and occasionally Alaska. Its Antarctic sailings typically depart from Ushuaia, Argentina. Polar Explorer starts from a remote terminal in Lapland in northern Sweden, with bus transfers available from selected towns in Sweden and Finland. M/S Kvitungen sails from Longyearbyen in Svalbard. Heritage Adventurer departs from Bluff Harbour in southern New Zealand, with many passengers assembling a day earlier in Queenstown before an overland transfer to the port. Quark Expeditions also operates Antarctic voyages from Ushuaia, Argentina.