France’s Ponant to offer North Pole cruises starting in 2021

The Le Commandant Charcot will be the the world’s first icebreaking cruise ship. While it will run on LNG and carry a Polar Class 2 rating, questions about environmental and passenger safety still persist for Arctic cruises.

With the continued melting of Arctic sea ice and the further opening of the Arctic Ocean to maritime traffic, cruise ship tourism is the latest economic sector forecasted to experience a boom in the region over the coming years. Cruise ship operators around the world are adding ice-capable expedition cruise ships to their fleets: in 2019 alone, 13 such new vessels will be launched, with an additional 28 vessels to be commissioned by 2022.