by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 10:00 AM ET, Tue January 21, 2025
Ponant is launching winter cruises on Canada’s Saint Lawrence River.
Over the weekend, the ice breaker Le Commandant Charcot set sail on the first of five winter sailings planned for this season. The ship embarked from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and will stop in Cap-aux-Meules in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Gaspé, Sept-Îles, La Baie (Saguenay) and Québec.
“This world premiere event aligns to perfection with our strategy to position the Saint Lawrence as an upmarket winter tourism destination ripe with a superlative blend of snowscapes, culture and Indigenous offerings—all in a single region,” says René Trépanier, executive director of Cruise the Saint Lawrence.
From now through early March, passengers aboard Le Commandant Charcot will join five total voyages ranging from 12 to 15 nights long.
Specially curated shore excursions will include e-bike rides, hikes along the cliffs at Fatima in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, snowshoe treks in Forillon National Park and more.
“We feel a deep connection to the Saint Lawrence region, which our ships have been visiting every summer for many years,” says Hervé Gastinel, president of Ponant Explorations Group. “These winter cruises aboard Le Commandant Charcot, completely unprecedented in nature, open the door to a new and unique experience, offering exceptional moments for our guests.”
Cruise the Saint Lawrence hopes Le Commandant Charcot’s journeys will inspire other cruise lines to consider winter trips in the region.
“The presence of Le Commandant Charcot in winter speaks to a key component of our strategic plan to transform the Saint Lawrence into a four-season international cruise destination,” says Trépanier. “In seeking to extend the cruise season, we aim to provide our member ports of call with a year-round revenue stream.”
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