PonantLe Commandant Charcot vs MS Fridtjof Nansen
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated January 2026
Le Commandant Charcot is the significantly larger vessel at 30,000 GT — 44% more than MS Fridtjof Nansen's 20,889 GT. Le Commandant Charcot offers more personal space with a space ratio of 122.5 GT per passenger versus 39.4. Le Commandant Charcot edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 1.1:1, meaning more crew per guest.
Score: 5 – 2
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Category
Le Commandant Charcot
MS Fridtjof Nansen
Size
30,000 GT
20,889 GT
Passengers
245
530
Year Built
2021
2020
Crew Ratio
1:1.1
1:3.5
Space Ratio
122.5
39.4
Decks
—
—
Length
150m
140m
From Price
$18,700/pp
—
Comparison Verdict
Le Commandant Charcot is the significantly larger vessel at 30,000 GT — 44% more than MS Fridtjof Nansen's 20,889 GT. Le Commandant Charcot offers more personal space with a space ratio of 122.5 GT per passenger versus 39.4. Le Commandant Charcot edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 1.1:1, meaning more crew per guest.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Le Commandant Charcot |
| Capacity | MS Fridtjof Nansen |
| Modernity | Le Commandant Charcot |
| Service | Le Commandant Charcot |
| Spaciousness | Le Commandant Charcot |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Le Commandant Charcot |
| Fleet Power | MS Fridtjof Nansen |
Bottom line: Le Commandant Charcot leads 5–2 across our categories — strongest in Size. Choose Le Commandant Charcot for overall superiority; pick MS Fridtjof Nansen if its strengths matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Le Commandant Charcot if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2021, 1yr newer)
- Size matters to you (30,000 GT)
- Better service ratio (1.1:1 crew ratio)
- More space per guest (122.5 GT/pax)
You've compared the ships. Now see what they cost.
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Sailing Prices
| Le Commandant Charcot | MS Fridtjof Nansen | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest | $18,700 pp | — |
| Departing | Nov 1 | — |
| Duration | 13 nights | — |
| View Deal |
Prices from Cruisebound. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is the comparison score calculated?
We compute scores across 8 categories using real spec data — gross tonnage, passenger capacity, crew capacity, year built, length, deck count, space ratio, and fleet power. Each category awards one point to the winning ship.
What is the space ratio and why does it matter?
Space ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity. A higher number means more space per guest. Luxury lines typically score above 40; mass-market ships often fall in the 30-40 range.
What does the passenger-to-crew ratio mean?
Passengers per crew member. Lower is better — more staff per guest means better service. Luxury lines aim below 2:1; large mainstream ships may be 3-4:1.
Are the prices shown accurate?
Prices are sourced from Cruisebound and reflect real-time availability. They may change based on cabin type, date, and demand. Click through to see the latest fares.
Can I compare more than two ships?
Yes — up to four ships. Use the search tool on the compare hub page to add additional ships.
How current is the ship data?
Specifications come from our database of 380+ vessels, revalidated every 5 minutes via ISR. The "Updated" timestamp shows when records were last modified.
