Ponant Explorations will deploy 12 expedition itineraries across nearly 30 Antarctic departures in the 2028-29 season, with fares starting at $15,450 per person. The French expedition operator confirmed the program in a press release, staking its claim to the ultra-premium polar market two full booking cycles out.

The portfolio spans 10- to 59-night sailings, covering the continent's full reach from the Antarctic Peninsula to the Ross Sea. CEO Samuel Chamberlain framed the range as the season's core selling proposition.

"Our 2028-29 Antarctic season showcases the extraordinary diversity of experiences available across the White Continent, from classic journeys along the Antarctic Peninsula to crossing the Weddell Sea to our second full circumnavigation," Chamberlain said.

What anchors the season?

The revenue centerpiece is Le Commandant Charcot, the company's icebreaker, which returns in 2029 for a 59-night circumnavigation sold in two segments. The ship departs Ushuaia, Argentina, on January 11, 2029, with a one-night stay in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, on February 9, 2029. A 59-night product gives agents a rare long-dwell, high-ticket inventory item in a category where most sailings run under three weeks.

Volume rests on the shorter Peninsula programs. "Emblematic Antarctica" runs 10 nights aboard Le Boréal and Le Lyrial with 13 departures between November 2028 and February 2029 — the single largest block of berths in the program.

How is Ponant differentiating distribution?

Two departures carry brand partnerships that function as demand generators for distinct customer segments:

• "Antarctica: The White Continent in alliance with Smithsonian Journeys" — Le Lyrial, 10 nights, January 28, 2029
• "Setting Sail for the Ice of the Mythical Weddell Sea in alliance with The Explorers Club" — Le Commandant Charcot, 12 nights, November 6, 2028

Alliance sailings of this type typically command premium positioning in catalog and trade channels, giving sellers an affinity hook beyond destination.

The remaining itineraries segment the market by depth and geography:

• "The Great Austral Loop" — Le Boréal, Le Lyrial; 17 nights, four departures, November 2028-February 2029
• "The Weddell Sea & Larsen Ice Shelf" — Le Commandant Charcot; 12 nights, December 16, 2028
• "Beyond the Antarctic Circle – In the Wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot" — Le Commandant Charcot; 14 nights, December 28, 2028
• "Expedition to New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands" — Le Soléal; 14 nights, two departures, December 2028-January 2029
• "Scott & Shackleton's Antarctic – Ross Sea Expedition" — Le Soléal; 21 nights, two departures, January-February 2029
• "Falklands, South Georgia & Valdés Peninsula: in the Heart of the Wilderness" — Le Lyrial; 18 nights, February 27, 2029

What upsell levers does the program carry?

Ponant has built in a pre/post-cruise extension: a three-night stay at Iguazú Falls departing from Ushuaia. That add-on lengthens average booking value on Peninsula departures, the program's volume engine.

Onboard, the expedition team and naturalist guides run Zodiac excursions, shore landings, polar plunges, kayaking, hiking and snowshoeing — inclusion-based activities that keep the fare comparison simple against competitors charging expedition extras à la carte.

The $15,450 entry price positions the season squarely in the luxury expedition tier, where berth inventory is constrained by IAATO (the Antarctic tourism industry's self-regulatory body) operating limits. Sellers of travel now have a dated, priced program to work against rival Antarctic deployments from the likes of Lindblad, Viking and Silversea for the same window.