If the North Pole has always felt a touch out of reach because of time, Ponant just shifted the goalposts. Beginning in 2027, the French expedition specialist will run a 12-night itinerary to 90°N on the cutting-edge Le Commandant Charcot, promising the full high-latitude experience within a realistic two-week window. It is a clear signal that shorter polar sailings are here to stay, and they are thoughtfully designed rather than stripped back.
From 2027, Ponant adds a 12-night North Pole Express on Le Commandant Charcot, using refined routing and ice floe strategy to reach 90°N faster while keeping hallmark expedition elements. The line also unveils a one-off Mediterranean theme voyage, Made in Italy: The Luxury Edition, sailing from Livorno to Venice for 10 nights on Le Boreal in September 2027.
Expedition travel has long meant three to four weeks away, complex flights, and a diary cleared of life’s normal rhythms. Many of us love that slow, immersive pace, though an equally passionate cohort needs a shorter, smarter path to the same wonder. Ponant’s move answers that reality without diluting what draws travellers north in the first place.
Annual leave is finite, and school calendars rarely bend. A 12-night frame lowers the threshold for professionals, educators, and families who could never justify classic durations. You still travel through latitudes where the light feels otherworldly; you simply compress the calendar so real life can absorb it.
Ponant’s leadership is clear that the experience remains the full experience. The difference lies in operational precision, not in cutting the heart out of the journey. Guests can still expect long horizons, pressure ridges, leads opening across the pack, and the quiet excitement of watching a ship work respectfully through ice.
Getting there quicker is about intelligence, not haste. Purpose-built hulls, satellite reads, on-ice reporting, and seasoned bridge teams combine with known seasonal patterns. That lets the ship reduce meanders, avoid dead-end floes, and place you where conditions most often deliver the scenes you came for.
A condensed timeline asks the ship and the team to focus on what matters. That is where Ponant’s expedition DNA shines, crafting days with intention so you see more than you expect without feeling rushed.
Le Commandant Charcot pairs serious polar capability with a calm, contemporary interior. Guests can expect quiet, well-insulated staterooms, wide observation lounges, and outer decks designed for real-time viewing when wildlife or a striking ice floe appears. The ship’s systems reduce vibration and noise, so the drama is outside, not underfoot.
On a 12-night arc, every hour works. The bridge leans on decades of polar knowledge, daily satellite feeds, and on-the-ice intelligence to track leads and pressure zones. You still touch 90°N, you simply trim the transit time without sacrificing safety or the contemplative moments that make polar travel special.
Shorter does not mean thinner. Briefings are concise and meaningful, lectures are curated rather than encyclopaedic, and meals remain unhurried. When conditions pop, the focus pivots quickly to decks and zodiacs. It is a rhythm that respects attention spans and rewards curiosity.
Not every traveller wants the same style of expedition. The beauty of this format is how many profiles it genuinely serves, from first-timers to seasoned ice chasers.
If you have dreamed of the poles but hesitated at classic durations, North Pole Express is your perfect proof of concept. You get the essence, the light, the ice, the ship handling, and the quiet that draws people back, all in a window that does not swallow your month.
Two weeks is a stretch many can plan around. It is long enough to change your headspace and short enough to protect projects, school terms, and family routines. For multi-generational trips, a shorter commitment increases the odds that everyone can say yes.
If you have already done longer itineraries, this is a beautiful way to revisit the far north between other goals. You will appreciate the operational nuance and the way a condensed plan concentrates your time on the scenes you value most.
Ponant’s 2027 announcements are not only about ice. A one-off theme voyage brings a very different canvas into view, centred on craftsmanship, taste, and design.
Expect hands-on sessions and stories from master makers, along with menus and wine lists that foreground regional provenance. This is travel for people who collect methods and materials as much as memories, where the object is a doorway into a place.
Over 10 nights on Le Boreal, the route runs from Livorno to Venice, two ports that bookend a coastline of ateliers, galleries, and kitchens. Shore days pair historic façades with contemporary studios, then you return to a ship whose own lines and service echo the same devotion to detail.
If you like to build a year of contrasts, Italy in September and the poles in the colder windows make a pleasing duo. One travel thread explores human craft, the other the planet’s raw geometry. Together, they leave you with a balanced, deeply satisfying travel year.
A shorter window magnifies small decisions. Make them early and thoughtfully, and the experience on board becomes as easy as it is extraordinary.
On ice itineraries, outer-deck proximity matters. If you are a keen photographer, consider a cabin near stairwells for quick dashes outside when conditions turn magical. Balconies can be priceless in gentle wind, while forward lounges offer shelter with wide angles when the weather sharpens.
Bring fewer, better layers. Merino base, breathable insulation, and a storm-worthy shell are your core. Break in boots early and test gloves with your camera. Simple stair fitness helps with zodiac steps and brisk deck moves when wildlife appears. The most valuable gear is a mindset, curious and patient.
Debut seasons carry high demand. Sketch dates early, keep buffers around flight days, and allow for winter weather at both ends. If you plan to combine Italy and a polar run within the year, map your annual leave with intention so each trip gets the attention it deserves.
Before you choose dates, it helps to see live sailings in one view, filtered by region, length, and ship. Our Cruise Finder makes it simple to compare expedition options with Mediterranean ideas and save a shortlist you are actually excited to book. Explore the grid.
If you are planning from outside Australia, the same tool helps you line up long-haul flights, sensible stopovers, and pre or post-cruise stays. Share two or three favourites and we will check space, confirm the side of the ship you prefer for light, and secure what matters most to you.
If the poles have sat on your list while time kept saying not now, Ponant’s 12-night North Pole Express changes the equation. You still stand at the top of the world, you still feel the hush of pack ice, you simply get there with less calendar contortion. If that sounds like your kind of adventure, start your plan with our secure enquiry form, chat with us at S.W. Black Travel, and we will shape dates, ships, and staterooms to fit your year.