Only two ships can successfully reach the true North Pole and one is a luxury expedition cruiser
Published on Jan 15, 2026 at 4:29 PM (UTC-5)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jan 16, 2026 at 8:08 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
There are only two ships that can reach the true North Pole, and one of these is an impressive luxury expedition cruiser designed for comfort as well as exploration.
The North Pole has almost a mythical status, although there are actually multiple places that claim to have the name the North Pole.
Most famous is, of course, the ‘true North Pole’, which is where the longitude lines on a map meet, but there is also the North Pole of Inaccessibility (POI).
This is a location that is very challenging to get to, and it’s where these two impressive ships come in.
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The two ships that can reach the North Pole
These two luxury ships are very different from each other.
The first is 50 Years of Victory, a nuclear-powered Russian Arktika-rated icebreaker.
Then there is the French Le Commandant Charcot, a Polar Class 2-rated luxury expedition ship.
Le Commandant Charcot is equipped with a hybrid electric engine that utilizes liquefied natural gas as its fuel.
The 50 Years of Victory, or 50 Let Pobedy, is an interesting vessel.
It was constructed in 2007, as the fifth of the six Artika-class icebreakers built in Russia.
An 18-foot-wide stainless-steel belt ensures the ship can withstand the Arctic environment.
The 20-inch thick spoon-shaped prow cuts through the ice, and its nuclear reactors produce 75,000hp.
It has enough space onboard for 124 passengers, as well as a restaurant, gym, and even two saunas.
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Le Commandant Charcot is a huge vessel
Much larger than the Russian icebreaker is Le Commandant Charcot.
Launched in 2021, it was labeled as the first purpose-built icebreaking cruise ship ever produced.
This luxury expedition cruiser carries 245 guests as well as 215 crew members.
While not as adept at cutting through the ice as the Russian ship, it is still an impressive vessel, as it can cut through eight-foot ice floes.
What is very impressive is that it can run for two hours on silent, and be autonomous for 45 days.
Both of these ships are remarkably impressive, boasting some extraordinary capabilities.
But it’s Le Commandant Charcot that really grabbed our attention.
There aren’t many ships that can cut through arctic ice, while also allowing you to travel in luxury!
Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
