PONANT Launches First International Winter Cruises On Canada’s St. Lawrence

PONANT EXPLORATIONS’s Le Commandant Charcot has embarked on the first of five winter sailings on the Saint Lawrence River, a first on the normally seasonal route.

“The presence of Le Commandant Charcotin winter speaks to a key component of our strategic plan to transform the Saint Lawrence into a four-season international cruise destination. In seeking to extend the cruise season, we aim to provide our member ports of call with a year-round revenue stream,” said René Trépanier, Executive Director of Cruise the Saint Lawrence.

“This world premiere event aligns to perfection with our strategy to position the Saint Lawrence as an upmarket winter tourism destination ripe with a superlative blend of snowscapes, culture and Indigenous offerings ‒ all in a single region,” Trépanier added.

Departing from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, high polar exploration ship Le Commandant Charcot headed to Cap-aux-Meules in Îles-de-la-Madeleine and will offer further calls at Gaspé, Sept-Îles, La Baie(Saguenay) and Québec, where passengers will disembark.

“At PONANT EXPLORATIONS, we feel a deep connection to the Saint Lawrence region, which our ships have been visiting every summer for many years,” says Hervé Gastinel, President of PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP. “These winter cruises aboard Le Commandant Charcot, completely unprecedented in nature, open the door to a new and unique experience, offering exceptional moments for our guests,” 

In total, Le Commandant Charcot will operate five 12- to 15-night voyages from now through to early March. Embarkation and disembarkation operations will be shared between Québec and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, while Saint Lawrence member ports of call will welcome visitors with specially curated shore excursions and activities designed to ensure unique and memorable experiences.

Whether an adventure on an electric assist bike, a hike along the cliffs at Fatima in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, a snowshoe trek in Forillon National Park or an initiation into Mi’kmaq culture at Gaspé, an introduction to Innu traditions at Sept-Îles, an ice fishing or electric snowmobile adventure at La Baie (Saguenay) or an ice skating activity in Old Québec, passengers will leave with unforgettable memories of winter in Québec.

The only hybrid electric polar expedition vessel powered by liquid natural gas, Le Commandant Charcot’s sustainable features include the use of recycled, propulsion-based energy to heat various components, the elimination of single-used plastics, disembarkation protocols respectful of local ecosystems and a battery pack which enables the vessel to use electric power to navigate silently in protected areas. 

In addition, the ship’s ice breaking capability enables her to operate safely in polar conditions, preserve the coastal ice pack and provide for the responsible exploration of places visited.