21 night Luxury Polar Expedition from
$40,239
per person share twin Deluxe Balcony StateroomDeparts 26 Jan 2026 from DunedinHOT EXCLUSIVESave $4000 per couple
Voyage from Dunedin
Explore Antarctica's Ross Sea and the Sub Antarctic Islands on this extraordinary adventure with Ponant and featured guest Richard McElrea, writer. Ponant are leaders in luxury expeditions that go beyond the traditional cruise routes, and with more than 20 years of experience in extreme regions.
From the glorious albatross of Campbell Island, and historic huts of Scott, Shackleton and Borchgrevink, to the largest Adelie penguin rookeries in the world, and the majestic king penguins of Macquarie Island, not to mention enormous icebergs, glaciers and stunning flora & fauna, this is the exploration of a lifetime! You'll be accompanied by expedition guides during outings, and while at sea take advantage of the informative and fascinating talks and lectures onboard.
Antarctica, the PONANT way
Your luxurious small ship
Le Soléal embodies the French art of living with modern and elegant design along with cutting-edge technology.
Discover Le Soléal
HOT Exclusive Deal Includes
ā 21 night Polar Expedition onboard Le Soléal
ā All meals onboard & 24 hour room service
ā Open Bar and in-room mini bar
ā Free Wi-Fi Internet access
ā Guided Shore Excursions and Zodiac Safari's
ā Team of professional Expedition Guides
ā Polar Parka & Free Rental Boots
Included savings of $4000 per couple
Deluxe Balcony Stateroom from $40,239 per person share twin
Please ask us about other room types, availability & pricing
Expedition Departure 26 January 2026
26 January 2026 - Dunedin
Embarkation 26/1/2026 From 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Departure 26/1/2026 at 6:00 pm
27 January 2026 - At sea
28 January 2026 - Campbell Island
Campbell Island is the most southerly of the five New Zealand subantarctic groups. Described by the English botanist Joseph Hooker as having a "flora display second to none outside the tropics." It is known for its megaherbs, herbaceous, perennial wildflowers characterised by their great size, with huge leaves and very colourful flowers, which have developed as an adaptation to the harsh weather conditions on the islands. Campbell Island is also home to six species of albatross, and several critically endangered endemic birds including the Campbell Island teal and snipe. You will have the opportunity to undertake a guided walk on the Col Lyell Saddle boardwalk as well as undertake a zodiac tour around the coastline of Perseverance Harbour.
29 January 2026 31 January 2026 - At sea
1 February 2026 8 February 2026 - Ross Sea Region
The Ross Sea, the southernmost sea in the world, owes its name to Sir James Clark Ross, both a naturalist and a Royal Navy officer, who first explored the area in 1841 with HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. It is bounded on the east by Roosevelt Island and the Edward VII Peninsula in Mary Byrd Land, on the west by Ross Island and the coastal mountains of Victoria Land, and on the south by the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest ice shelf in Antarctica located some 320 km from the geographic South Pole. The history and treasures of the world's ultimate marine sanctuary will be revealed during this extraordinary expedition.
You will be able, weather and ice conditions permitting, to discover several emblematic sites in the region. Among the possible stopovers, Cape Adare, at the northern end of the Borchgrevink coast, home to the world’s largest colony of Adélie penguins. We will attempt to reach Terra Nova Bay where the Italian and South Korean scientific stations are located to the north and the Drygalski Ice Tongue to the south. Dating back at least 4000 years, it extends 70 km offshore from the David Glacier and is 24 km at its widest point. On the Inexpressible Island, discover the exceptional survival conditions of a group of six men of the Terra Nova expedition, led by Robert Falcon Scott (1910-1913), forced to winter in a cave dug in the ice, today classified as an Antarctica historical monument. On Ross Island, follow in the footsteps of the polar explorers Sir James Clark Ross and discover Sir Ernest Shackleton's hut, classified as an Antarctica historical monument. Built at Cape Royds during the British expedition Nimrod (1907-1909), it proudly stands at the bottom of Mount Erebus. Sixty years earlier, while Captain James Ross was trying to reach the South Magnetic Pole, he discovered Franklin Island, located 130 km east of Cape Hickey in Victoria Land. He named it after Sir John Franklin, Arctic explorer and governor of the territory of present-day Tasmania. You will be offered there, a privileged position to observe Adélie penguins in their daily ballet as well as Weddell seals, resting on the shore.
9 February 2026 11 February 2026 - At sea
12 February 2026 - Macquarie Island
Long celebrated as one of the wonder spots of the world, Macquarie Island is an island of great beauty and outstanding natural diversity, a breeding place for more than 3.5 million seabirds, most of which are penguins. There are four species breeding on Macquarie Island: Royals, Kings, Gentoos and Rock Hoppers. There are also three types of fur seals and one seventh of the world's population of elephant seals breeding on the Island. In 1948 The Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) established its expedition headquarters on Macquarie Island. If time and weather permit, guests will have the opportunity to land ashore and view the prolific wildlife that resides here.
13 February 2026 - At sea
Amongst the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand, the Snares have the distinction of being the only forested group without introduced mammals, not even mice. Consequently, it is a remarkable haven for wildlife. The island boasts more nesting seabirds than the entire realm of the British Isles. Over 2 million Sooty Shearwaters breed here in the summer months. Four species of Albatross are listed as breeding on the Snares along with 35,000 endemic Snares crested penguins. There are also approximately 1,000 New Zealand fur seals and 500 New Zealand sea lions. Landing on the Snares is prohibited. If time and weather permit, you will have the opportunity to explore the coastal environments and view the prolific wildlife from our fleet of zodiac.
15 February 2026 - At sea
16 February 2026 - Dunedin
Arrival 16/2/2026 early morning
Disembarkation 16/2/2026 at 8:00 am
We are privileged guests in these remote lands where we are at the mercy of weather, ice, tidal and current conditions. Landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by the IAATO. Any disembarkation on the Subantarctic Islands is subject to weather conditions and on obtaining the authorisation of the local authorities. To preserve the wild environment of these islands, the number of visitors is in fact strictly controlled. Wherever possible, we will run Zodiac excursions around their shorelines in order to guarantee the best possible experience for all guests if it is not possible to disembark.
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