A French luxury cruise line has unveiled its new ship that it will use to sail around Antarctica - see inside

French luxury cruise company Ponant recently launched its 13th vessel, a hybrid electric cruise ship designed to sail in frigid climates like Antarctica.

Source: Ponant

Meet Le Commandant Charcot, Ponant's first hybrid "Polar Class 2" ship that's in part fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Source: Ponant

The new ship is a "mark of Ponant's commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism," according to its maker.

Source: Ponant

 

The 492-foot-long ship is powered by five engines and 50 tons of lithium ion batteries, but most of its power comes from the LNG, Rachel King reported for Fortune.

Source: Fortune

 

Besides these cleaner energy sources, Le Commandant Charcot isn't like the typical Royal Caribbean or Carnival mega cruise ship.

For one, Ponant has banned single-use plastic while implementing onboard waste sorting aboard the ship.

It's also full of suites lined with Dyptique products and restaurants by multi-Michelin star chef Alain Ducasse.

And on that note, let's take a tour of Le Commandant Charcot's amenities.

The vessel can accommodate 245 people inside its 123 staterooms.

Source: Ponant

These rooms range from 215 square-feet to 1,238 square-feet.

Source: Ponant

And every unit comes with its own balcony, which is perfect passengers who want to enjoy their quiet morning cup of coffee in the frigid Antarctic temperatures.

The largest suite, the owner's suite, has its own 1,937-square-foot terrace.

There are also four 1,011 square-foot duplex suites that all have their own jacuzzis and terraces.

These duplex suites, the owner's suite, and the privilege and grand prestige suites all come with butler service.

All of the rooms also have charging ports that are compatible with both European and American devices.

In true luxury fashion, Le Commandant Charcot will have amenities that aren't often found on a cruise ship, such as a cigar lounge …

… a wrap-around promenade deck with heated seats …

… and a spa equipped with services like a gym, a "snow room" with real snow, a detox bar, and massages with luxury products.

Despite these flashy amenities, Le Commandant Charcot also has a few amenities that can be found on your typical cruise ship, such as a theater, an indoor pool ...

... meeting rooms, and a heated outdoor pool by a fire pit.

Hungry sea goers can dine at the ship's two restaurants or its outdoor bar.

There's also an onboard laboratory to aid in the studying of the environments the cruise ship will be sailing through.

And passengers interested in these studies can attend the ship's onboard lectures.

But if you prefer the thrill of the outdoors, Le Commandant Charcot will offer opportunities to go kayaking, ice fishing, polar diving, hovercrafting, and more.

Ponant officially launched the ship September 28, and there are now itineraries available through the winter of 2022 to 2023.

Source: Ponant

And unlike your typical ship, Le Commandant Charcot can travel to remote destinations like the North Pole region.

Source: Ponant

 

This includes the upcoming "Weddell Sea and Larsen Ice Shelf" sailings starting at almost $14,000, making it one of the ship's cheapest options.

Source: Ponant

This 11-night lineup will either sail to and from Punta Arenas, Chile or Ushuaia, Argentina with stops along the Antarctic Peninsula.

There's also the more expensive Northwest Passage itinerary, which will sail from Iceland to Alaska.

This 25-day cruise, which will sail from September to October 2022, starts at $42,100.

Source: Ponant

 

This price may seem hefty to the average cruise goer, but the sailing is already booked out.

Source: Ponant

If you're looking to spend big, you can book the "Unexplored Antarctica between Two Continents" sailing, which will operate from January 15 to February 13, 2023.

This 30-day cruise will sail from Argentina to New Zealand, and will "half-circumnavigate" Antarctica along the way, according to the cruise line.

Source: Ponant 

 

The sailing starts at $45,420 for a stateroom, making it the ship's most expensive itinerary so far.

Source: Ponant 

This price then shoots up to a lofty $172,050 for the owner's suite, which has already been booked for the sailing.