Thank you so much for watching! It really does mean the world to us! Please give this video a THUMBS UP, please SUBSCRIBE and please leave us a comment too as that's extremely important to us (and it also encourages RU-vid to suggest it with other viewers who might be interested), and also we’d LOVE to hear from you. R&H x
Had no idea the Aranui existed. I know cargo crossings and cruising has been around for decades - but one with BALCONIES!? The interior, I’ve never seen on any other cruise ship. The atrium is original and all that, but those MIRRORED chrome-ish window trims in the port side lounge areas! They really draw your eye out to the view and I want to see it incorporated in other cruise ships! Kara and Nate sailed aboard this ship to Antarctica, I believe. Got to vicariously see the ship in ice action. But didn’t get the cruise ship aficionado look into the ship that Rich & Helen provide. What a trailblazer of a ship.
These days, I’ve been dreaming about cruising and traveling once again. It inspired me to update this post and include more than 50 cruise travel quotes that I find inspiring, and I hope you do too
I have been a subscriber for a while. This was my first live chat with you two We seem to gravitate to Brits on our cruises, trivia just chatting Would love to meet up with you some day
Hi Warren. Thanks so much for joining us and taking part in the conversation, it was a pleasure to e-meet you 😁 And yes, drinks are included on Ponant. The drinks menu in the bars has prices against the premium drinks which are extra cost but if there’s no price against it then it’s included. We found there were plenty on there for us, and champagne is included - they were serving Henriot on the Charcot, though if it’s a captains welcome or farewell party they will usually bring our the Veuve 🥂
Tbf, most cruise ship bathrooms onky have showers with many choosing to take out baths as most guests prefer showers. However, we too like sometimes to choose a suite with a bath and there are some lovely ones in the larger Ponant suites. Watch out for our suite guide coming out in the next few days and you’ll see which categories have baths in them 👍
Absolutely outstanding ship, if I ever I have the opportunity in my life time to cruise on any ship, it would be this one. It's not just an ordinary ship oh, it's a functional expedition ship & and I used to love exploring but I can't anymore do to my legs but I can take in the exploring excitement right on the ship it self.. Thank you for sharing.
So glad you enjoyed your all too brief stay with us on Le Commandant Charcot , Rich & Helen. And this is a really beautiful video you put together! Bravo et Merci!!
Thank you for taking the time to watch Stephen. It was a pleasure meeting you and we’re glad we had the time to film what we could, despite the rocky sea and the empty pools. 😆 We’ve got a suite guide to come too so we hope you enjoy that. Le Commandant Charcot is everything we imagined it to be. An absolute marvel. 😍
Hi Stephen. We didn't have your email address, but we've just released the second and final video in our brief Charcot series. If Nabil doesn't forward it to you, here's the link - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-EHGm6C1RPQo.html We hope you like it! All the best, Rich
A stunning video of a stunning ship! You filmed on the aft of the ship during rough seas - could you please tell more of the "behaviour" of the ship? Is it more calm in the middle, or is it moving all over the ship, because of the small length?
Thanks for watching Karsten. Well, it's got some pretty advanced stabilisation tech (reinforced fin stabilisers) but even so she's a small ship so you'll always feel a bit of movement. However, stay in a mid ships low deck room and that will definitely minimise the movement. :)
Cruises and cruise ships do not normally appeal. This one is an exception. I have been lucky to have filmed inside one of the largest cruise ships whilst it was docked in Tokyo. Whilst impressive, the garish interior, the type of entertainment and the restaurants designed more for glutton than fine dining made me thankful that the short time I had onboard was all that I had to spend on that ship. Conversely, the Ponant Le Commandant Charcot espouses quality, a relaxing atmosphere and fine dining that satisfies in every way. Furthermore, the ship will take you to destinations that you cannot otherwise reach so easily. The expeditions seem fascinating and offer an opportunity to learn and not just 'sightsee'.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment Andrew. Yes, the Charcot certainly is a beautiful ship and you're right, the intention is to learn not sightsee. :D
I watched a documentary of this ship being tested to the extreme breaking 15 meter ice sheet mound with the length of 20 meter. Was shaking and vibrating hard while breaking through the ice. Considering what I see from your video about the luxury interior. Guess they will play it safe with full passengers. After all it's a Cruise ship not a nuke powered Expedition Pole Research ship😊
A beautiful ship for sure. I will never be going to the Antarctic or the Arctic, except when I went to Iceland and will go to the North Cape of Norway, but no expedition cruises for me as I have a problem walking. Plus those cruises are so expensive and I hate the snow and am so scared of falling in it. Thx for lovely video.
Thanks for watching Chris 😊 Hopefully you still enjoy watching about these parts of the world and the ships that sail there from the comfort of your sofa 😁❤️
Thanks for watching. We take guest privacy very seriously, so we video the ship at its quietest so the viewer still gets to see the ship in all her glory, but no guests privacy is compromised. I hope this makes sense. 😆
I love the simple understated elegance of the ship … just the ticket for me 😉👍🏻. Looking forward to seeing the accommodations presentation … just might make me have a conversation with my Virtuoso Travel Agent. 🤔
Wow! You make me regret I have no children…to trade for a spot on that ship. 😎 Okay, or not…but I did look at the prices. Yowza! Beautiful vessel, and I love the amazing emphasis on being an eco-minded, very green ship. But it would be the height (or depth, more likely) of modern irony to offer cruising to a place being so strongly affected by global warming…if the vessel added insult to injury. Looking forward to the rest of your videos of this incredible experience!
Btw, they had scientists on board when we were on who were keen to point out how much the ship is aiding research into areas that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to get to in such a regular basis. There are scientists on board most of the year round carrying out actual research in the two labs on board. In fact if one could afford one of their voyages you could probably be funding some vital research into climate change in Antarctica or the Arctic 👍😁
I do not travel by ship! Packed in with people I neither know nor like does not sound fun to me! I refuse to travel in a pack or pod of strangers! Forced to dine with them at the same table, tour with them on a bus, or otherwise be forced into close proximity for 12 hrs a day! You could not gift me with a trip on any cruise ship or ocean liner! I would rather have dental work done! And you? What will you do for a pound?? Anything it seems!
If I give you a pound, will you watch more of our videos about cruises that you hate? Yes please!!! I would do lots for a pound, like swap it for a 50p coin or a penny chew. Or anything less than a pound!
They must have thought of that and decided that the copter was the best option in the environment they are sailing in. Perhaps drones can’t operate in such extreme temperatures and wind etc?
Beautiful ship, visiting great places (including the actual North Pole), but won't be getting anywhere near it, Rich you may remember why. Now the Aranui 5, that is peaking my interest.
No, Charcot is the only Ice Breaker. The Viking, Silversea and all the other expedition ships in service are classed PC6 (Polar Class 6) which means they can operate in the summer months and can move ice floes up to a metre thick. They can also get stuck in sea ice if it closes in on them. Charcot is PC2, which means she can not only genuinely break ice up to 2.5 metres thick, but can also get out of trouble if surrounded by ice. She's the only one in the world with a PC2 rating. :)
It’s a tremendous ship as is this vlog/review. Too bad Ponant doesn’t sail it in other areas of the world. How does it compare to the Seabourn and Silversea explorer ships?
thank you Randy. Ponant DO sail in most of the other parts of the world, but this ship only does the poles, North in our (European) summer, Antarctica in our winter. All the other ships do all the rest. :D
Huge step up from the earlier Ponant ships, thats for sure. I'm not a fan of the line after Le Laperouse cruise in 2018 but this could tempt me.........
@@visitwithus Sorry if I mislead! Really nothing to resolve. I just found the ship and cabin cramped, unfriendly and restaurant offerings below standard to my taste. I was left with the notion that Ponant was not for me.
Too bad I can’t appreciate 99% of this food. I was raised as a midwestern boy. I’m happy with a steak or rib dinner. I also don’t enjoy mixed drinks. I would rather sit in front of our fireplace in our library drinking an American beer. The wife and I do enjoy stepping over the pond for a few months a year driving around Europe with a well educated guide explaining the history of what ever country I’m in for 6 too 8 hours a day and stopping off to visit castles and grand church.
I'm overwhelmed with 2 colors...brown and tan. Dang, couldn't they throw in some yellow, green, red, and blues to break up he blandness of those 2 boring colors? Sheesh.
Personally we like it and think it tends to age better than adding in colours but understand what you mean with so many ships interiors going down this Scandi design route. Thanks for watching 👍
@@visitwithus I made a comment re the decor. The main public spaces were the exact same tones and finish By doctors consent as long as the treatments don't clash with the meds yes booze is available. cheers
