Embarking on Canada's historic first international winter cruiseEmbarking on Canada's historic first international winter cruise
Ponant's Le Commandant Charcot will undertake this world premiere itinerary, which has been years in the making.
January 17, 2025

Ponant Explorations and Québec are making history today as Le Commandant Charcot embarks on Canada's first international winter cruise.
Years in the making, the voyage sets sail from the French outpost of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon off the south coast of Newfoundland and will travel along the St. Lawrence River through Québec.
Calls are scheduled at Cap-aux-Meules in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Gaspé, Sept-Îles, La Baie (Saguenay) and Québec City, where passengers will disembark.
Winter wonders
Winter in Québec comes replete with wonders, and passengers will get to immerse themselves fully in the culture and activities unique to the region.
'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,' said René Trépanier, executive director of Cruise the Saint Lawrence, and one of the visionaries behind this new itinerary.
Five voyages
In total, Le Commandant Charcot will operate five 12- to 15-night voyages from mid-January 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 multiple, specially curated shore excursions and activities designed to ensure long-to-be-remembered experiences.
These may include an electric assist bike adventure, a hike along the cliffs at Fatima in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, a snowshoe trek in Forillon National Park, 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) and ice skating Old Québec.
Polar Class 2 vessel
The sturdy, Polar Class 2 Le Commandant Charcot is capable of safely navigating this icy journey. It will be another in a string of firsts for this one-of-a-kind vessel.
'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,' said Hervé Gastinel, CEO of Ponant Explorations Group.
Seatrade Cruise News, which was part of the first cruise industry scouting mission for this itinerary in February 2018, sponsored by Cruise the Saint Lawrence, is aboard Le Commandant Charcot to report on the execution of this extraordinary undertaking.
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