One Antarctic Cruise Now Lasts 59 Nights and Circles the Whole Continent

Ponant Explorations has published its 2028-29 Antarctic season: 12 expedition itineraries and nearly 30 departures ranging from 10 to 59 nights, with fares starting at $15,450 per person. Four ships will operate the program: Le Commandant Charcot, Le Lyrial, Le Boreal and Le Soleal. A three-night Iguazu Falls extension is available from Ushuaia.

The showpiece is a 59-night circumnavigation of Antarctica aboard Le Commandant Charcot, departing Ushuaia, Argentina on January 11, 2029, in two segments. It includes a one-night stay in Hobart, Tasmania on February 9, 2029, and Ponant describes it as its second full circumnavigation of the continent. It is the kind of voyage most travelers will admire rather than book, but it sets the tone for the season.

Shorter options abound. Emblematic Antarctica runs 10 nights on Le Boreal and Le Lyrial with 13 departures between November 2028 and February 2029. The Great Austral Loop lasts 17 nights, and Le Commandant Charcot offers Weddell Sea itineraries of 12 nights on November 6 and December 16, 2028, plus a 14-night trip beyond the Antarctic Circle on December 28. Partnerships with The Explorers Club and Smithsonian Journeys add themed departures.

Beyond the peninsula, Le Soleal will visit New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands for 14 nights and follow Scott and Shackleton to the Ross Sea for 21 nights, while Le Lyrial heads to the Falklands, South Georgia and the Valdes Peninsula for 18 nights in February 2029. Activities include Zodiac excursions, shore landings, kayaking, hiking and snowshoeing, led by expedition and naturalist teams.

Sources: Cruise Industry News