Ponant opens its 2028-29 Antarctic season: 12 routes, nearly 30 departures, from $15,450

ItinerariesBy Patrick KarshOct 15, 2026

Ponant has opened its 2028-29 Antarctic season, with 12 expedition routes and nearly 30 departures. The trips run from 10 to 59 nights. Fares start at $15,450 per person.

The French line announced the season on October 13, as reported by Cruise Industry News and Seatrade Cruise News.

"Our 2028-29 Antarctic season showcases the extraordinary diversity of experiences available across the White Continent," said Ponant CEO Samuel Chamberlain.

The core trips

Most of the departures are on two routes, sailed by Ponant's mid-size expedition ships Le Boréal and Le Lyrial:

Emblematic Antarctica, 10 nights, with 13 departures from November 2028 to February 2029.
The Great Austral Loop, 17 nights, with four departures in the same window.

These are Ponant's classic Antarctic trips. Peninsula cruises like these usually start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and cross the Drake Passage to reach the ice.

The polar icebreaker routes

Le Commandant Charcot, Ponant's polar icebreaker, takes the harder routes. It can push into sea ice that the other ships must avoid.

Setting Sail for the Ice of the Mythical Weddell Sea, 12 nights from November 6, 2028, run with The Explorers Club.
The Weddell Sea and Larsen Ice Shelf, 12 nights from December 16, 2028.
Beyond the Antarctic Circle, In the Wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, 14 nights from December 28, 2028.
A 59-night voyage from Ushuaia on January 11, 2029, sold in two segments. It includes a one-night stop in Hobart, Tasmania, on February 9, 2029.

The Ross Sea and New Zealand side

Le Soléal will work the far side of Antarctica:

Expedition to New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands, 14 nights, two departures from December 2028 to January 2029.
Scott and Shackleton's Antarctic, Ross Sea Expedition, 21 nights, two departures from January to February 2029.

The Ross Sea is home to the historic huts of the early British explorers. It is far harder to reach than the peninsula, and few ships go there each year.

Partner trips and add-ons

Le Lyrial also sails Antarctica: The White Continent with Smithsonian Journeys, 10 nights from January 28, 2029. To close the season, it runs Falklands, South Georgia and Valdés Peninsula, 18 nights from February 27, 2029.

Guests can add a three-night stay at Iguazú Falls to trips from Ushuaia. On board, activities may include Zodiac outings, landings, kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing and the polar plunge, led by the expedition team.

How to choose

Start with time and budget. The 10-night trip is the shortest way to see the ice. The 17-night loop adds a full week at sea and ashore.

If you want the Weddell Sea or a crossing of the Antarctic Circle, look at Le Commandant Charcot. Compare its fares with the core trips before you decide.

Book early for the routes with only one or two departures, such as the Ross Sea, the Weddell Sea trips and the long Charcot voyage. There are simply fewer cabins to go around.

Finally, check what the fare covers. Flights to Ushuaia, hotel nights and charter flights can add a lot to a trip at the end of the world. Ask the line for a full quote before you compare it with other expedition brands.

My take

Two years ahead is not too early for Antarctica, especially on the small number of Ross Sea and Weddell Sea departures. If this is your first trip, I would start with the 10-night Emblematic route. Save the Charcot for the second time, when you know you love the ice.