First hybrid-electric luxury cruise ship reached North Pole

Russian nuclear-powered icebreakers have brought wealthy tourists on voyages from Murmansk to the North Pole every summer since the early 1990s, but with the purpose-built expedition ship, Ponant brings a whole new level of luxury for those willing to cash out more than €34,000 for a 2-weeks tour to the top of the world.

Monday morning, at 10:38, the “Le Commandant Charcot” arrived at the North Pole, only a few days after the ship sailed out of Longyearbyen, Svalbard. This time of the year has the lowest sea-ice extent, the Midnight Sun doesn’t set until late September. 

At 10:38 a.m. (UTC+2) this Monday 6 September 2021, Le Commandant Charcot reached the Geographic North Pole! A highly significant moment in the unique story of this liquified-natural-gas-powered vessel, and a first for a French flagged ship.
© Alexiane Eymard, Etienne Garcia pic.twitter.com/ZoutdRSS1I

— PONANT Cruises (@ponant_cruises) September 6, 2021

Next season, the ship will bring passengers on the same tour, with four departures from Longyearbyen for the period early July to late August.

With a guest capacity of 270 and a crew of 235, the Norwegian-built ship, designed by Aker Arctic, has an indoor swimming pool, spa, a few restaurants, suites with private balconies, even a few with jacuzzis.

The new cruise vessels just add to the long list of new ice-classed expedition cruise vessels aimed for Arctic waters. Ponant has a few other vessels to be added to the fleet. 

It might seem like a paradox, but global warming opens more and more Arctic waters for vessels with tourists who want to see the sea ice before it vanishes.

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Ponant’s new cruise ship is the first for the tourist industry featuring Polar Class 2 ice-strengthened hull sailing with LNG-powered, hybrid-electric engines.

With LNG (liquid natural gas), emissions are way lower than engines running on bunker oil, making it more environmentally suited to sail near coastlines and in protected areas.