Ponant has announced that, between 2024 to 2026, the French expedition cruise line and The Explorers Club will offer 12 expeditions in Antarctica and the Arctic, and in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The Explorers Club will also host a speaker series dedicated to themes of research and exploration, as well as sponsor 10 scientists annually on Ponant's luxury icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot.
In a release, Ponant notes that both it and The Explorers Club "are rooted in common values - focusing on the spirit of exploration and the advancement of field research."
The Explorers Club was established more than a century ago and remains devoted to scientific expeditions of all disciplines. Notable explorers were members—Neil Armstrong, Edmund Hillary, Roald Amundsen—with current members including Jane Goodall and Buzz Aldrin.
Ponant - The Explorers Club weeks-long expeditions will sail travelers to the world’s most remote corners, including the Geographic North Pole, Papua New Guinea, and Antarctica, and will host VIP speakers such as circumpolar archaeologists and geoscientists. Members of The Explorers Club will regale guests with the wildest tales from their adventures and share fascinating insights from their research during on-board lectures and offshore activities.
Scientists will be present on five out of the 12 expeditions to share their findings across the disciplines of glaciology, oceanography, and geology—plus lead scientific research initiatives. These experiences will take place on the 123-cabin Le Commandant Charcot, which serves as a floating research center with an onboard laboratory.
Additional information will be forthcoming; visit Ponant's web site for more information about the cruise line.