Start of the first international winter cruises on the St. Lawrence

Article from January 2025: the cruises described below took place during the winter of 2024–2025.

Today, passengers on the first international winter cruise on the St. Lawrence are boarding the Commandant Charcot, the expedition ship of the French company Ponant Explorations.

Departing from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, the ship begins one of its five winter cruises in Québec with its very first call on Québec soil, in the Magdalen Islands. The Commandant Charcot then continues its winter voyage to Gaspé, Sept-Îles and La Baie (Saguenay), before ending its itinerary in Québec City on January 28.

A world first

“This world first fits perfectly with our destination’s strategies to position high-end winter tourism, Québec’s great outdoors, our culture and our Indigenous offering, all at once!” said René Trépanier, General Manager of Croisières du Saint-Laurent.

In total, there are five voyages of 12 to 15 nights each, running until early March 2025. Boarding and disembarkation will be shared between Québec City and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, while the St. Lawrence ports of call have prepared a wide range of excursions and activities to offer passengers a unique and memorable experience.

Passengers can try electric-assist fat biking or hike along the cliffs of the Magdalen Islands, go snowshoeing in Forillon National Park, discover Mi’kmaq culture in Gaspé or Innu traditions in Sept-Îles, go ice fishing or ride an electric snowmobile in La Baie (Saguenay), or skate in Old Québec, among other activities.

An example of a more sustainable cruise

A hybrid (electric/liquefied natural gas) polar exploration ship, the Commandant Charcot is at the forefront of more responsible navigation. Its sustainable features include using recovered energy from the ship’s propulsion to heat certain areas, eliminating single-use plastics, batteries for silent electric navigation in protected areas and disembarkation protocols that respect ecosystems.

Its icebreaker function also allows it to operate safely in polar areas while preserving the coastal ice, for a responsible exploration of the places visited.

“At Ponant Explorations, we feel a deep loyalty to the St. Lawrence, which our ships have visited for many years in summer,” said Hervé Gastinel, Chairman of the Group. These winter cruises aboard the Commandant Charcot, entirely new in nature, open the door to a new experience, unique in the world.

In line with its goal of making the St. Lawrence a sustainable cruise destination, the ACSL hopes that the arrival of the Commandant Charcot this winter will inspire the future of cruising in Québec. With a state-of-the-art ship and more sustainable navigation with longer stops at each port, and thanks to the efforts of the ports of call to welcome passengers in an eco-responsible way and offer excursions designed with sustainability in mind, this event is a true source of inspiration for the years to come, says the ACSL.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Commandant Charcot winter cruise on the St. Lawrence?

It is the first international winter cruise on the St. Lawrence, offered by Ponant Explorations aboard the Commandant Charcot, an expedition ship.

How many cruises and nights are there?

Five voyages of 12 to 15 nights each, running until early March 2025.

What activities were offered at the ports of call?

Electric-assist fat biking and hiking in the Magdalen Islands, snowshoeing in Forillon National Park, Mi’kmaq culture in Gaspé, Innu traditions in Sept-Îles, ice fishing and electric snowmobiling in La Baie, and skating in Old Québec.

Why is this cruise considered more sustainable?

The ship is hybrid (electric/liquefied natural gas), eliminates single-use plastics, sails in silent electric mode in protected areas and follows disembarkation protocols that respect ecosystems.