WORLD’S ONLY LUXURY ICEBREAKER MAKES AUSSIE DEBUT AS PONANT UNVEILS FULL ANTARCTIC CIRCUMNAVIGATION

Hobart has welcomed a world-first in polar exploration, with the arrival of Le Commandant Charcot, the only luxury icebreaker operating anywhere on the planet.

The next-generation expedition vessel docked in Tasmania on February 14, marking her inaugural call to Australia and concluding a landmark half-circumnavigation of Antarctica.

Sailing from Ushuaia, the vessel traversed rarely visited regions of East Antarctica, including Adélie Land, Wilkes Land, the Shackleton Ice Shelf and Queen Mary Land, before arriving in Hobart.

The milestone underscores Tasmania’s position as a key global gateway to Antarctica and coincides with the unveiling of one of the most ambitious commercial polar voyages ever announced.

PONANT EXPLORATIONS has opened bookings for a full Antarctic Circumnavigation in early 2028, a 62-day, 23,000-kilometre journey that will see Le Commandant Charcot sail around the entire White Continent at the height of the austral summer.

Departing Ushuaia in January 2028, the voyage will unfold in two phases, with a pivotal stopover in Hobart before the vessel continues eastward back to South America.

Guests will navigate some of the most inaccessible coastlines on Earth, including the Ross Sea, the world’s largest marine sanctuary, as well as Charcot Island, Marie Byrd Land, Wilkes Land, Adélie Land and the remote Balleny Islands.

Captain Stanislas Devorsine, one of four captains of Le Commandant Charcot and a veteran of the Southern Ocean, described the Australian debut as a significant personal and professional milestone.

“This is a deeply personal moment for me. I spent many years in Hobart and had the privilege of commanding L’Astrolabe for a decade, at the heart of the long-standing French-Australian collaboration in Antarctica.

“When PONANT EXPLORATIONS launched this project in 2018, I was proud to share my icebreaker experience as Le Commandant Charcot was being designed. To stand here today, on board this extraordinary ship, is truly a fantastic moment,” Captain Devorsine said.

He added that the forthcoming circumnavigation marks a defining chapter in modern polar exploration.

“For more than twenty years, I dreamed of circumnavigating Antarctica. From my earliest days with PONANT EXPLORATIONS, I’ve been deeply connected to that vision.

“Today, seeing Le Commandant Charcot poised to complete a full circumnavigation of the White Continent isn’t just a milestone for us, it’s a turning point in the story of modern polar exploration,” he said.

Delivered in 2021, Le Commandant Charcot is the only passenger vessel in the world with a PC2-class hull, enabling navigation through multi-year ice up to 2.5 metres thick.

Powered by hybrid-electric propulsion using liquefied natural gas, the 245-guest vessel pairs technical capability with a refined onboard experience, including a 1:1 guest-to-crew ratio, gastronomy by Alain Ducasse, and dedicated onboard scientific laboratories supporting research in marine biology and polar ecosystems.

Following her Australian debut, the vessel departed Hobart on February 17, continuing her programme via the French Southern and Antarctic Lands en route to Cape Town.

For luxury travellers seeking the rarest form of expedition cruising, the 2028 circumnavigation represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to retrace the routes of Shackleton, Scott, Amundsen and Jean-Baptiste Charcot, aboard a vessel designed to redefine what is possible in Antarctica.

Luxury safari operator Abercrombie & Kent has announced the opening of Kitirua Plains Lodge, a new design-led property in Kenya’s Amboseli region that aims to redefine traditional safari accommodation.

Set on a 128-acre private concession bordering Amboseli National Park, the lodge has been designed to blend into its natural surroundings rather than dominate them.

Developed in partnership with architecture firm Luxury Frontiers, the property reflects a broader shift towards environmentally responsive and community-integrated safari experiences.

Positioned within sweeping savannah landscapes and offering uninterrupted views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the lodge features 13 standalone suites oriented to frame the iconic peak.

The design draws on vernacular architecture and local artistic traditions, with an undulating black roof inspired by traditional Maasai buildings and lath screens based on indigenous construction methods to enhance ventilation and shade.

The project marks a return to Amboseli for Abercrombie & Kent, where founder Geoffrey Kent first introduced clients to luxury safari travel in 1962, establishing a model of adventure by day and comfort by night that continues to influence the industry.

Materials used throughout the lodge have been sourced locally where possible.

According to the company, 90 per cent of the furniture was made in Kenya using mango wood and African teak, while Mazeras stone quarried nearby has been used for cladding and flooring.

Interior finishes, including rough-plaster walls mixed with soil from the site, reflect the colours and textures of the surrounding terrain.

Sustainability measures have been embedded into the design from the outset.

The lodge operates on 100 per cent solar power, uses passive cooling strategies to reduce reliance on air-conditioning and recycles greywater for irrigation.

Waste management systems, including recycling and composting, were incorporated during construction.

Community engagement also formed a central part of the development, with local workers employed during construction and traditional techniques used to encourage skills transfer and economic benefit.

Features such as hand-woven sisal ceilings, clay bead pendants and sculptural grass art highlight the role of regional artisans in shaping the property’s aesthetic identity.

Kitirua Plains Lodge is scheduled to open on June 1, 2026, joining A&K Sanctuary’s existing Kenyan properties Olonana Lodge in the Maasai Mara and Tambarare Camp in Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

The lodge will be available as part of the brand’s Tailor Made and Small Group journeys.

WORLD’S ONLY LUXURY ICEBREAKER MAKES AUSSIE DEBUT AS PONANT UNVEILS FULL ANTARCTIC CIRCUMNAVIGATION

Le Commandant Charcot has made her first call to Hobart, as PONANT EXPLORATIONS announces an unprecedented 62-day circumnavigation of Antarctica for 2028.

A&K Sanctuary unveils Kitirua Plains Lodge, a sustainability-focused luxury property shaped by landscape, local craft and contemporary safari architecture.