PONANT heads into the heart of the Weddell Sea ice

PONANT is slated to offer four new sailings In November and December 2025 that take travellers on a voyage of exploration to meet Emperor penguins in the Weddell Sea. 

An exceptional itinerary at this time of year in the Antarctic, it gives nature-lovers and explorers an opportunity of a lifetime to observe polar species during their breeding season in their natural habitat. 

PONANT’s new sailings welcome guests to an extraordinary universe, a dreamlike experience that is literally out of this world. Imagine a white wilderness devoid of any human traces, a vast expanse of ice as far as the eye can see. 

During these sailings, Antarctica is presented as a place where infinite shades of white delineate the reliefs, where wind blowing from the ice cap lifts the snow into swirls. 

From the outside deck in the distance, you can just make out strange black and white silhouettes waddling around on the ice. It may be Emperor penguins returning to their colony to feed their chicks. 

The brave and the bold will be able to traverse the Weddell Sea aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s only luxury icebreaker, and the only vessel able to navigate in the heart of the Antarctic ice from early November, as the southern winter draws to a close.

An unparalleled opportunity to observe polar wildlife

In a titanic setting of tabular icebergs and vast glaciers, most polar animal species are concentrated between the north of the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea. 

If they’re lucky, guests may be able to observe orcas and humpback whales, Weddell and leopard seals, and several penguin species including Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo. 

But the Holy Grail is to meet their majesties, the Emperor penguins, at the end of their breeding season. This is the moment the chicks, a few months old on the pack ice, are experiencing their first swim; a spectacle that is both fascinating and touching, and is only possible at this time of year at these high latitudes.

Exploring this amazing universe is also a chance to try out literally breathtaking activities, supervised by specially qualified crew members. Whether it’s paddling between blocks of ice in a sea kayak, daring to plunge into polar waters or snowshoeing on the ice, every day the unexpected is an option.

On board, naturalist guides, photo ambassadors and expert speakers run talks and information get-togethers. Every aspect of the polar environment is brought to life and explained be it wildlife, glaciology, epic tales of great explorers, scientific research or photography.