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EMPEROR PENGUINS OF WEDDELL SEA Ponant cruise slider

EMPEROR PENGUINS OF WEDDELL SEA

Experience one of the rarest expeditions on Earth. Travel aboard Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot into the Weddell Sea to witness emperor penguins in the wild. Limited departures, extreme conditions – enquire now.

THE EMPERIOR PENGUINS OF WEDDELL SEA - PONANT CRUISE

10% TO 25% OFF

The Emperor Penguins of the Weddell Sea itinerary isn’t just premium… it’s one of the most extreme, rare, and logistically complex expeditions in the world. 

It is also the ONLY way most people will ever get to see the Emperor Penguins in the wild

If the Great Austral Loop is “serious Antarctica”…
👉 this is Antarctica on expert mode.

This is where Antarctica stops pretending to be accessible.

Most Antarctic cruises keep to the edges.

The Peninsula.
The familiar routes.
The version that works.

This one doesn’t.

The Weddell Sea is colder, harsher, and far less forgiving — a place defined by pack ice, shifting conditions and distances that don’t care about your itinerary.

And somewhere inside it…are emperor penguins.

This luxury expedition cruise is one of the most spectacular Polar cruises available. Lasting 14-nights, this  amazing Antarctic cruise is on Le Commandant Charcot and is perfet for all cruise and penguin lovers. 

EMPEROR PENGUIN CRUISE IN BRIEF

Duration:            14 nights 

From:   Ushuaia (Argentina) 

To:    Ushuaia (Argentina) 

Ship:    Le Commandant Charcot

Cabins:  Click here

Deck Plans:  Click here

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2027 Cruise Dates - Emperor Penguins of Weddell

26 October to 08 November, 2027 - 15% Off - from $41,250 pp

07 November to 11 November, 2027 - 20% Off - from $39,820 pp

19 November to 11 December, 2027 - 20% Off - from $39,820 pp

 
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* Prices and dates are subjec to change. For the latest update call our Ponant reservation experts on 1300 799 758.

Why This Expedition Is So Rare

Let’s be clear.

Seeing emperor penguins in the wild is not a standard Antarctic experience.

In fact, for most travellers, it never happens at all.

This expedition attempts something very few ships on Earth can do:

  • Navigate deep into the Weddell Sea
  • Traverse heavy pack ice
  • Position close enough for helicopter-assisted access to emperor penguin colonies

What makes it exceptional:

  • 🚁 Helicopter operations to remote emperor penguin sites
  • 🧊 Icebreaker-class ship capable of penetrating deep pack ice
  • 🐧 Access to one of the most elusive wildlife encounters on Earth
  • 🌏 Ultra-limited departures with highly restricted capacity

Even then…

👉 Nothing is guaranteed.

And that’s exactly why it matters.

Beyond the Penguins — The Weddell Sea Itself

Even without emperor penguins, this region is extraordinary.

  • Vast ice fields stretching beyond the horizon
  • Tabular icebergs the size of cities
  • Some of the most remote ocean on Earth

This is Antarctica in its most uncompromising form.

Availability Is Extremely Limited

  • Very few departures globally
  • Small passenger numbers
  • High demand from experienced expedition travellers

And once these cabins are gone…

They are gone.

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EXCLUSIVE BONUSES!

UP TO 20% OFF & EXCLUSIVE BONUSES

Who This Expedition Is For

Let’s not pretend this suits everyone.

This is for:

✔ Highly experienced travellers
✔ Expedition cruise veterans (Antarctica / Arctic / Galápagos)
✔ Wildlife enthusiasts chasing rare encounters
✔ Clients who understand value beyond guarantees

This is not for:

✘ First-time Antarctica travellers
✘ Anyone uncomfortable with risk or uncertainty
✘ Travellers seeking comfort-first luxury
✘ People expecting a “normal cruise”

This is not tourism.

It’s exploration.

* Prices and dates are subjec to change. For the latest update call our Ponant reservation experts on 1300 799 758.

PONANT ANTARCTIC CRUISE DEAL - EMPEROR PENGUINS & WEDDELL SEA

Cruise Description & Highlights

Included land services linked to Charter Flight

Set off on an ultimate quest, the promise of unprecedented encounters in the heart of the mysterious Weddell Sea, the kingdom of ice and polar legends. Endless ice floe, majestic tabular icebergs and immaculate silence make up the landscapes of this pristine world. Emperor penguins live here, these guardians of Antarctica that we see only at the boundaries of these highest latitudes. Alongside them, Adelie penguins liven up the ice floe. During your journey aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a strikingly elegant ship capable of navigating the planet’s most extreme environments, the echoes of the great expeditions still resonate, from Shackleton to the modern explorers, while the ice unveils all its many nuances. A unique experience that will plunge you into the heart of a universe unlike any other.

We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Our navigation will be determined by the type of ice we come across; as the fast ice must be preserved, we will take this factor into account from day to day in our itineraries. The sailing schedule and any landings, activities and wildlife encounters are subject to weather and ice conditions. These experiences are unique and vary with each departure. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while respecting safety instructions and regulations imposed by the IAATO.

 

Cruise Itinerary (indicative) for 15 December, 2027 cruise

Date Port Arrive Depart
15 Dec 2027 Ushuaia, Argentina   6:30 PM
16 Dec 2027 Drake Passage    
17 Dec 2027 Drake Passage    
18 Dec 2027 Weddell Sea Antarctica    
19 Dec 2027 Weddell Sea Antarctica    
20 Dec 2027 The Antarctic Circle    
  Weddell Sea Antarctica    
21 Dec 2027 Larsen Ice Shelf, Antarctica    
22 Dec 2027 Larsen Ice Shelf, Antarctica    
23 Dec 2027 Larsen Ice Shelf, Antarctica    
24 Dec 2027 Weddell Sea Antarctica    
25 Dec 2027 Weddell Sea Antarctica    
  Antarctic Peninsula    
26 Dec 2027 Antarctic Peninsula    
  Antarctic Peninsula    
27 Dec 2027 Drake Passage    
27 Dec 2027 Drake Passage    
26 Dec 2027 Ushuaia, Argentina

Note:

Prices are subject to change without notice, as cabins are being booked all the time. For the latest availablity and update, please do call our amazing reservation team on 1300 799 758 or email us your enquiry.

We are available 7 days a week. 

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This is Antarctica at its most extreme — and most rewarding.

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