Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
25% Ponant Bonus
20 m²
2
With featured guests Mike Louagie and Sue Flood, Photo Ambassadors.
Le Commandant Charcot, a technological wonder capable of sailing in the most extreme environments, is opening up new horizons in unrivalled comfort and invites you to explore the Saint Lawrence. This river is not accessible to traditional ships in winter, so this exclusive and all-new PONANT journey lifts the veil on unique great open spaces, where the waters, once turbulent, freeze into ice, and where the forests are dressed in an immaculate white coat.
You will sail among different states and forms of ice - from drifting and fragmented sea ice to solid ice - and will be able to admire the evolution of this spectacular natural scenery from the reassuring cocoon of Le Commandant Charcot. In these lands, only the murmur of broken ice, bearing mysteries and legends, disturbs the calmness. Aboard the ship or on shore, you will seize the opportunities to explore these places where nature reigns supreme and in never-ending variety: boreal forests of immaculate conifers, snow-covered valleys and a sea of ice. Set off to discover this enchanting environment, thanks to winter activities such as hiking or snowshoeing, dog sledding or ice fishing. Perhaps you will be lucky enough to observe the emblematic caribou and moose in their natural habitat.
In this region, where souls are filled with deep serenity, the colourful houses and fishing huts stand valiantly. Their sparkling facades, in bright and vibrant colours, defy the harshness of the winter landscape. Here, where there is “no other place where you can feel the cold with as much warmth” (a Saguenay proverb), you will experience the welcome and conviviality of the Quebecois and the Innu people during privileged encounters. These indigenous communities, part of the First Nations, will tell you about their history, legends and ancestral traditions.
A journey suspended in time, where lives blend with the natural elements and where the wild beauty of nature is revealed in its full splendour.
The itinerary is subject to modifications. On board, the sailing programme, outings and activities cannot be guaranteed and are subject to weather and ice conditions
Ref : SQ014 - CC100225
With featured guests Mike Louagie and Sue Flood, Photo Ambassadors. Take a trip through the heart of nature as you explore the St. Lawrence in winter – a PONANT exclusive that is only possible on board...
"I am very much looking forward to returning to the St. Lawrence River area of Canada, after filming there with the BBC during the making of The Blue Planet series. There should be some wonderful winter photography opportunities during our voyage - wildlife, dramatic icescapes and cultural scenes in the Quebecois winter. And, hopefully the Aurora borealis or Northern lights. I will be there to help you make the most of these unique opportunities during this new expedition."
Sue Flood
Find out moreOur guests
Choose your stateroom
Complete your trip
Included in your cruise
For more peace of mind, PONANT organizes your trip before or after the cruise. This package is included in the price of your cruise.
Additional services
For more peace of mind, PONANT selects stays and flights then takes care of your transfers for your trip as well as shore visits before and after the cruise.
You may also like...
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
Services provided
Select your stateroom category
Sue Flood
Sue Flood is an award-winning photographer, filmmaker and public speaker. Her work takes her all over the world but she has a special passion for the wildlife and icy beauty of the Polar regions and is one of the very few women who chooses to return again and again to Earth’s harshest and most demanding environments.
A zoology graduate, Sue spent 11 years with the BBC Natural History Unit, working on series including The Blue Planet and Planet Earth as well as the Disneynature movie Earth with Sir David Attenborough, before turning her focus to photography. Her images have appeared in National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Geo and other distinguished publications. Her most recent book is Emperor, The Perfect Penguin with a foreword by Sir Michael Palin.
Sue’s work has won multiple awards and in recognition of her photographic achievements, Sue was invited to meet Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace. In May 2022 Sue received an Honorary Master of Science degree from The University of Chester.
Her adventures in the Arctic and Antarctic include diving with narwhals and leopard seals, living with Inuit hunters on the floe edge and camping for several weeks in Antarctica’s most southerly emperor penguin colony.
Sue is a member of the Explorers Club, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Royal Photographic Society and of the North American Nature Photography Association.
When she is not in some far-flung location, Sue lives on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales.
Sue is honoured to have been appointed as one of Ponant’s Photo Ambassadors.
Language spoken: English
Photo credit: Ian Dawson
Clothing tips:
INSULATING BASE LAYER AND WATERPROOF OUTER LAYER :
Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
For men :
Officer’s evening:
For all cruises longer than 8 nights, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
For men:
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry-cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
INSULATED BASE LAYER:
WATERPROOF OUTER LAYER:
HEALTH CARE:
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
ACCESSORIES:
PONANT activities
Kayaking - Le Commandant Charcot
You will make the most of the sailing opportunities and weather and ice conditions to glide along on the clear waters or between the ice floes and get as close as possible to the immaculate nature of the poles. Supervised by licenced expert guides, you will try your hand in a kayak- a craft favoured by the Inuits for at least 4,000 years. The kayak was initially used for hunting and fishing; for you, it will be a means of making the most of your adventure on the White Continent or in the Far North.*
*with limited places available
*Activities subject to weather conditions, to be pre-booked before the cruise. More information available soon.
Embarkation 10/02/2025 from 16:00 to 17:00
Departure 10/02/2025 at 18:00
Off the Canadian coast, discover Saint Pierre Island, one of the two main islands of the Saint Pierre and Miquelon archipelago, the only French territory in North America. Endowed with a natural harbour, the island, whose name is a reference to the patron saint of fishermen, developed around the fishing industry and still has many traces of its past today. Whale hunting, cod fishing, alcohol smuggling during the Prohibition: all of these memories are still very much alive in the capital, Saint-Pierre. The island is also renowned for the observation of exceptional fauna including, among others, whales, fin whales, dolphins, seals, puffins and petrels.
Arrival 11/02/2025
Departure 11/02/2025
Anchored on the eastern shores of the province of Nova Scotia, Sydney, the largest town on the Cape Breton Island, stands proudly opposite the icy breezes of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Fall under the charms of an immaculate and preserved nature in this winter setting. Here, the snow-capped mountains plunge into the waters dotted with drifting ice floe, the rays of winter sun caress the captivating conifer forests with their golden hue, creating enchanting plays on light. On these lands steeped in history, the place where the Mi’kmaq indigenous people encountered the British and French explorers, discover a rich heritage shaped by these different visits, as evidenced by the emblematic Big Fiddle, the largest violin in the world standing over 18 metres (60 feet) tall.
Arrival 12/02/2025
Departure 13/02/2025
Scattered through the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the Magdalen Islands offer a variety of extraordinary landscapes, between captivating drifting ice floe, tall red sandstone cliffs, sandy beaches covered with an immaculate coat and snow-covered valleys. Here, winter really is a special season, a time of contrasts and mysteries. The icy winds intertwine with the softness of the salty air, and the colourful houses, dressed in their finest attire, stand bravely in this enchanting scenery. In these distant lands, you will be plunged into Acadian culture, you will discover ancestral traditions here and will have the chance to explore the unique landscapes on hikes or snowshoe walks along the icy shores.
Arrival 14/02/2025
Departure 14/02/2025
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.
Arrival 14/02/2025
Departure 15/02/2025
In the glacial darkness of the Canadian winter, Gaspé stands proud like a preserved and authentic jewel at the edge of the dark waters of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Nature seems to be holding its breath. The captivating Mount Jacques-Cartier, the highest point of the Chic-Choc Mountains range and the South, is dressed with an immaculate coat of snow, while the frozen rivers slowly wind their way, fixing time in their icy embrace. During a snowshoe walk, fall in love with the captivating landscapes of the L’Anse-au-Griffon Valley, right in the heart of the Forillon National Park. Then, in Percé, opposite the famous eponymous Rock, dive into the natural beauty of the “magic forest”, where thousands of conifers decked out in an immaculate white cloak are like silent guardians watching over this isolated piece of land. You may also fall in love with this charming town, where the exciting history and the conviviality of the locals come together in a delightful blend.
Arrival 16/02/2025
Departure 17/02/2025
On the edge of the Canadian landscape, between the icy waters of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Sept-Îles invites you on a unique journey. Surrounded by a captivating sea of ice and an immaculate boreal forest, the seven islands, eternal guardians of the coastline, seem to murmur timeless stories. In particular, you will have the privilege of meeting the Innu people, the indigenous civilisation of the Côte-Nord, during a unique moment when you will learn more about their ancestral customs and traditions. The area is famous for its winter festivities; like its emblematic Hivernants (hunters and trappers who would spend the winter), fall under the charm of its unique environment. During Nordic hikes on skis or snowshoes, you will be enchanted by its captivated landscapes.
Arrival 18/02/2025
Departure 18/02/2025
In the heart of winter, the Saguenay River becomes an enchanting setting. Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, set sail on a captivating cruise. The once turbulent waters of the Saguenay are now calm and silent, covered in a thick layer of ice. The trees lining its shores are wrapped in a glistening coat of snow, forming a majestic alley. At twilight, when the sun is setting behind the mountains, pink and gold reflections light up the horizon, turning the landscape into a bewitching tableau.
Arrival 18/02/2025
Departure 20/02/2025
During the long winter months, in the majestic Saguenay Valley, the borough of La Baie is cloaked in an aura of mystery. Here, the striking contrasts of its pristine lands, where nature displays its full splendour, invite you to experience a unique moment alongside the Saguenayens, a people amongst the most welcoming and hospitable in the world. During a snowshoe walk or a dog sled outing, as a passenger or a musher, take the time to observe immaculate nature bordered by a thick ice floe, where Le Commandant Charcot will remain for several days, and you will be able to disembark. Each winter, hundreds of colourful huts set up on these frozen waters to practice traditional ice fishing. You will be initiated into these ancestral techniques and have the pleasure of tasting freshly caught rockfish.
Arrival 21/02/2025
Disembarkation 22/02/2025 at 08:00
At the confluence of the Saint Charles River and the Saint Lawrence estuary, in the South-East of Canada, the capital of the Beautiful Province puts on its best finery in the winter season. During its long winter months, the historic streets of the city - whose name means “where the river narrows” in the Mi'kmaq language - are decked out in a cloak of snow. Let yourself be swept away by the unique atmosphere of the old town, including in the Petit Champlain district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the aromas of spices and hot chocolate emanating from the surrounding cafés will warm up hearts and souls alike. An oasis in the heart of urban life, the Plains of Abraham will provide you with the opportunity to try out the most popular winter activities, like cross-country skiing or ice skating, while making the most of sumptuous panoramas over the city that hosts the world’s largest winter carnival every year.
For your serenity, PONANT selects a flight and organises the transfer between the airport and the port. This package is included in your cruise fare.
Embarkation day Montreal/Saint Pierre & Miquelon
Flight Montreal/Saint Pierre & Miquelon selected by PONANT.
Approximate flight duration: 2 h 50.
We highly recommend you arrive in Montreal the day before this flight.
We suggest you to be at the check-in counter 2 hours before departure.
Meet & greet at the airport by our local English-speaking representative.
Transfer to the pier for embarkation.
- Cruise aboard your cruise ship -
This programme includes:
This programme does not include:
Please note:
Polar Expedition
Make your dreams of adventure come true, explore the boundaries of the world, and discover wild and legendary territories. The icy immensity of Antarctica, the constantly changing glaciers and icebergs of the North Pole, the mysterious mists of the North European coastlines, the most remote fjords on the planet… Every destination unveils unrivalled landscapes, home to increasingly varied fauna. Our team of naturalist-guides will share their knowledge with you during varied lectures about the history of the great explorations, geology and climatology, the fauna and flora, and will invite you to share special moments with the local populations.
No single supplement
FREE SINGLE SUPPLEMENT *
*The supplement for single usage of a double cabin is waived, according to availability and staterooms categories.
Shore excursions, Pre/Post & Overlands
09/02/2025 - FLIGHTS FROM/ TO PARIS + OVERNIGHT IN MONTREAL 1N (PRE) + MONTREAL: THE CITY OF LIGHTS 3N (POST)
4.830 €
Find out more09/02/2025 - FLIGHTS FROM/ TO PARIS + OVERNIGHT IN MONTREAL 1N (PRE) + FROM QUEBEC TO MONTREAL 1N (POST)
3.030 €
Find out more09/02/2025 - FLIGHTS FROM/ TO PARIS + OVERNIGHT IN MONTREAL 1N (PRE) + FROM QUEBEC TO MONTREAL 1N (POST)
6.975 €
Find out more09/02/2025 - FLIGHTS FROM/ TO PARIS IN BUSINESS CLASS + OVERNIGHT IN MONTREAL 1N (PRE) + MONTREAL: THE CITY OF LIGHTS 3N (POST)
8.775 €
Find out moreTravel with peace of mind as PONANT organizes your day of transit in Montreal. This programme will be a pleasant prelude to your embarkation.
Day 1 - Montreal
Meet and greet at the airport arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative off the flight selected by PONANT or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).
You will be transferred to the hotel Four Seasons Montreal 5*.
Dinner at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 - Montreal
Breakfast and check-out.
You will be transferred by coach to the airport for your Ponant flight to Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
Your hotel:
The Four Seasons Hotel Montreal 5* is ideally located in the city centre. This hotel with a chic and modern décor is an institution in Montreal’s lively Golden Square Mile neighbourhood. It boasts a restaurant serving refined and local dishes, a wine and cocktail bar, and a Guerlain spa. All the Carré Doré rooms feature a floor-to-ceiling window offering views of the city and are located on the upper floors of the hotel.
Your programme includes:
Your programme does not include:
Please note:
Contact of your hotel:
Four Seasons Hotel Montreal
1440 Rue de la Montagne
Montreal, QC, H3G 1Z5
Telephone: +1-514-843-2500
Duration of the visits are given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed. For the times of your PONANT flight, please contact your travel agent; they are also shown on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
Total : 550 €
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.
Day 1 – Québec/Montréal
After disembarkation procedures are completed, you will be greeted at the port by our local representative.
Transfer to Québec City train statin.
Board your train in business class for a 3 h 30 ride to Montreal. Breakfast or lunch will be served onboard depending on the final train schedule.
Then you will be transferred to the hotel Four Seasons Montreal 5*.
Rest of the day at leisure.
A hospitality desk will be available to assist you.
Diner will be served at the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 - Montréal
After breakfast and check-out, time at leisure depending on your flight schedule.
A hospitality desk will be available to assist you.
You will then be transferred to the airport in time for check-in for the PONANT selected flight or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).
Your hotel:
The Four Seasons Hotel Montreal 5* is ideally located in the city centre. This hotel with a chic and modern décor is an institution in Montreal’s lively Golden Square Mile neighbourhood. It boasts a restaurant serving refined and local dishes, a wine and cocktail bar, and a Guerlain spa. All the Premium Carré Doré rooms feature a floor-to-ceiling window offering views of the city.
Upgraded rooms are also available depending on availability and on a supplement basis. Contact your travel professional for further detail.
Your programme includes:
Your programme does not include:
Please note:
Contact of your hotel:
Four Seasons Hotel Montreal
1440 Rue de la Montagne
Montreal, QC, H3G 1Z5
Telephone: +1-514-843-2500
Duration and order of the visits may vary. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
Total : 1.200 €
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.
Day 1 - Québec
After disembarkation procedures are completed, you will be greeted at the port by our local representative.
Start the morning with a visit to the Hotel de Glace. With its majestic snow arches, crystal clear ice sculptures and beautiful rooms, the ice hotel offers its guests a one-of-a-kind winter experience. Each year, the hotel changes its theme, leaving ice carvers the possibility to create a unique and ephemeral hotel. Meet a sculptor who will share his experience and talent with you. Witness how the magic is created with your own eyes.
Lunch will be served in a local restaurant.
Transfer to your hotel Fairmont Chateau Frontenac 5* and check in.
Time at leisure.
In the late afternoon, board your coach for a 30 minutes transfer to Wendake. This national institution is dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage of the Huron-Wendat Nation. Enjoy a cocktail and then experience Onhwa Lumina, an enchanted night walk that celebrates the Huron- Wendat Nation and their way of life. As night falls, you will be transported along a 1.2-kilometre pathway infused with the magic of light, sound and video projections. This immersive multimedia experience will invite you into a collective adventure rich with emotion, which bridges the founding myth to a vision of a bright and promising future.
Diner will be served at La Traite restaurant located in Wendake and experience an indigenous and fine cuisine.
Return to your hotel.
Day 2 – Québec City/Montreal
After breakfast and check-out, board your coach for a 3-hour transfer to Montreal.
Lunch will be served in a local restaurant.
Continue with a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts along with your guide. Discover the Pavilion for Peace, a legacy project for Montreal’s 375th Anniversary. The Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion for Peace was named in honour of these generous Montreal patrons who survived the Holocaust. It is the largest private donation made to a Quebec museum in modern history.
Transfer to your hotel Fairmont Chateau Frontenac 5* and check in.
Time at leisure. A hospitality desk will be available to assist.
Diner will be served at the hotel.
Overnight.
Day 3 – Montreal
After breakfast, start your day with a walking tour of Old Montréal. The historic character and charm of Old Montréal comes alive as you walk through its narrow, cobblestoned streets and alleyways and along its charming waterfront district, discovering the splendid architecture of one of the oldest cities in North America.
Warm up from the cold at Marché Bonsecours with Ice wine and local product tastings. Ice wine is a typical product from the region of Québec. It is a very sweet wine served with dessert or at the end of the meal. It is made from grapes that have frozen on the vine.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
Continue with a visit to Images Boréales, Canada's largest Inuit and Indigenous Art Gallery. Established in 2010, Galerie Images Boréales is proud to represent nearly 200 of Canada’s most established Inuit artists from all over Nunavut.
Return to the hotel.
Time and diner at leisure. A hospitality desk will be available to assist.
Overnight.
Day 4 – Montreal
Breakfast and check-out.
A hospitality desk will be available to assist.
You will then be transferred to the airport in time for check-in of the PONANT selected flight or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).
Your hotel:
Ideally located inside the walls of Old Quebec, perched on a hill overlooking St. Lawrence, the chateau of the Fairmont Frontenac 4* is emblematic of Quebec. It was one of the first of a long series of château-style hotels and it was here that Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and William Mackenzie agreed on the allied forces’ strategy during the Second World War. Fairmont Gold rooms are located on a private level and feature private check in and check out, a lounge, an exclusive continental breakfast and afternoon tea.
The Four Seasons Hotel Montreal 5* is ideally located in the city centre. This hotel with a chic and modern décor is an institution in Montreal’s lively Golden Square Mile neighbourhood. It boasts a restaurant serving refined and local dishes, a wine and cocktail bar, and a Guerlain spa. All the Premium Carré Doré rooms feature a floor-to-ceiling window offering views of the city.
Upgraded rooms are also available depending on availability and on a supplement basis. Contact your travel professional for further detail.
Your programme includes:
Your programme does not include:
Please note:
Contact of your hotels:
Four Seasons Hotel Montreal
1440 Rue de la Montagne
Montreal, QC, H3G 1Z5
Telephone: +1-514-843-2500
Fairmont Le Château de Frontenac
1, rue des Carrières
Quebec City, Qc, GR1 4P5
Telephone: +1-418-692-3861
Duration and order of the visits may vary. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
Total : 3.000 €
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.Total : 4.830 €
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.Total : 3.030 €
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.Total : 6.975 €
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.Total : 8.775 €
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.