Ponant Explorations has outlined an Antarctica season for 2028–29 that stretches from a classic 10-night Peninsula cruise to a 59-night voyage around the continent. Nearly 30 departures across 12 itineraries will give travelers a choice between a first polar expedition and a much longer journey into remote southern waters.
The program uses four ships: Le Boréal, Le Lyrial, Le Soléal and the icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot. Ponant’s season announcement also highlights departures with Smithsonian Journeys and The Explorers Club, adding specialist lectures and research perspectives to the onboard expedition program.
A 59-Night Journey Around Antarctica
The longest option is the 2029 circumnavigation aboard Le Commandant Charcot, offered in two segments linked through Hobart, Tasmania. The route begins in Ushuaia, Argentina, on January 11, 2029, and is advertised as tracing roughly 14,300 miles of Antarctic coastline.
Ponant’s western itinerary confirms 29 nights aboard from Ushuaia to Hobart, arriving February 9. It follows the Antarctic Peninsula toward places such as Marie Byrd Land and the Ross Sea, with the Ross Ice Shelf among its highlights. The eastern segment adds another 30 nights aboard on the return toward South America.
This is a substantially different commitment from a Peninsula cruise, both in time away and in the distance covered. Travelers considering the complete journey should check the combined package, the arrangements between segments and the full calendar duration, rather than treating the number of nights aboard as the entire trip length.
The Shorter Introduction to the White Continent
For travelers planning a first visit, Emblematic Antarctica remains the core option: 13 departures of 10 nights aboard Le Boréal or Le Lyrial between November 2028 and February 2029, including Christmas and New Year sailings.
The January 8 departure on Le Boréal is listed from $15,450 per person. Its package includes a Buenos Aires hotel night and return flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. That is a specific sailing’s advertised starting price, based on double occupancy and availability, with the applicable Ponant Bonus discount included.
The distinction between the package and the sailing matters when arranging international flights. The pre-cruise stay comes before embarkation, while the 10 nights aboard include the sea crossing through the Drake Passage as well as time around the Peninsula.
Expert-Led Voyages and Longer Southern Routes
A 10-night departure aboard Le Lyrial on January 28, 2029, operates with Smithsonian Journeys. Two experts will lead discussions alongside Ponant’s naturalist team, with the itinerary tailored to English-speaking travelers.
For a different focus, the 12-night Weddell Sea expedition departs November 6, 2028, aboard Le Commandant Charcot in alliance with The Explorers Club. The season also includes longer routes involving South Georgia and the Falklands, plus Le Soléal expeditions from New Zealand to the Subantarctic Islands and Ross Sea.
What to Check Before Booking
Ponant makes clear that weather and ice determine landings and wildlife encounters. Zodiac outings and shore visits are central to the experience, but no particular animal sighting or landing site is guaranteed. Activities also differ by voyage: the Smithsonian departure lists its guided kayaking experience at an additional cost.
We recently covered Atlas Ocean Voyages and its expanded flight-assisted options for the same season. For anyone comparing operators, the useful starting points are the time spent crossing the Drake, the regions visited and what is included before and after the cruise.
Choose the route around the experience you want: a concentrated introduction to the Peninsula, extra time around the subantarctic islands or an extended journey around the continent. Then compare the total trip cost, cabin category, flights and optional activities for that specific departure.
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