PONANT Reveals More Than the Tip of the Iceberg During Luxury Polar Expeditions

On every polar cruise with PONANT, you’ll encounter one of nature’s most majestic creations: icebergs. Towering above the water, these frozen giants captivate with their otherworldly beauty, gleaming whites, and shimmering blues. It was inevitable that humans developed an intimate relationship with them. They beg to be understood and unraveled, whether by curious artistic minds or by scientific methods. We at PONANT harbor a deep appreciation for both.

The Allure of Icebergs

From the Arctic to Antarctica, PONANT takes you to the very edges of the earth, where icebergs reign as sculptural masterpieces of nature. Our expedition ships, of course, approach icebergs with the scientific curiosity that they deserve. But no matter how many times we lay our eyes on them, their beauty transcends our most intricate understandings. Simply put, the sublimity of the iceberg cannot be measured. Their sheer size and intricate forms are poetry incarnate, reminders of the planet’s pristine beauty and profound stillness.

Iconic 19th-century artists such as Frederic Edwin Church and Albert Bierstadt understood this. Each of these celebrated painters immortalized icebergs on canvas, seeing them as metaphors for solitude, strength, and the undefinable power of nature. Church’s The Icebergs (1861) and Bierstadt’s polar scenes of the 1880s evoke a true sense of awe. But nothing compares to witnessing them in person, in their purest form, and in their natural remote landscape.

PONANT helps you do just that.

The Shape of Icebergs: A Primer

The English word iceberg is a partial translation of the Dutch ijsberg, or “ice mountain,” which speaks to one of their most significant features – their sheer size. Masses of floating ice must be at least 48 feet long to be called an iceberg. The smaller masses of drifting ice you’ll see are known as “growlers” or, a bit more humorously, “bergy bits.”

One of the simplest ways to understand and catalogue icebergs is simply through sight. You’re likely to see icebergs of countless shapes and sizes. But they’ll all fall into a few main categories:

• • Tabular Icebergs: Flat-topped and resembling floating plateaus, these immense structures often calve from ice shelves like those in Antarctica.
  • Dome Icebergs: Rounded tops and smooth forms give these icebergs a deceptively demure appearance.
  • Pinnacle Icebergs: Featuring dramatic spires and peaks, these are the stereotypical icebergs that seem to reach up to the sky.
  • Wedge Icebergs: Sloped on one side, these asymmetrical forms can appear as though they’re leaning into the water.
  • Drydock Icebergs: This iceberg might look like two icebergs because of a hollowed-out channel that has formed down its center.

Sail close to these frozen titans on a PONANT cruise and their shapes spark the imagination. Some might resemble castles while others call to mind giant sculptures molded by nature’s hand.

Naming and Tracking Icebergs

Icebergs are often named or categorized by their region of origin. The United States National Ice Center (NIC) bestows names on the largest of the Antarctic icebergs (those that are at least ten nautical miles long along any axis) – and tracks them via satellite. The first “call letter” in an iceberg’s name – A, B, C, or D – depends on which of four longitudinal quadrants surrounding the continent it formed in. That letter is then followed by a set of numbers.
The long journey of “Iceberg B15” illustrates the importance of tracking. When this behemoth broke off from the Ross Ice Shelf in 2000, it measured 4,200 square miles. It fell apart more than two years later, yet one of its pieces was still the largest on earth, at 1,200 square miles. It collided with Antarctica in 2005, sending rumblings throughout the white wilderness that resembled earthquakes. Other icebergs might float around for decades. It goes without saying that our captains and the bridges they command work closely with NIC data to ensure safe and smooth expeditions.

Meanwhile in the Arctic, the Danish Meteorological Institute monitors icebergs around Greenland. Those that have calved from Greenland’s glaciers are sometimes carried by ocean currents, perhaps hundreds of miles to the coasts of Newfoundland or Iceland.

Their journey tells a story that is deeply connected to the climate and to the human role in warming. As temperatures rise globally, glaciers and ice shelves are retreating, producing more icebergs, melting more freshwater into saline waters, and slowing down the oceans’ overturning circulation that regulates the world’s climate. An increase in the number of icebergs serves as a visual testament to an ever-changing planet and a call to action for understanding the complex interactions between ice, water, and global systems.

The Timeless Appeal and Global Lessons of Icebergs

For now, as scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of our changing oceans, we continue to be spellbound by the magnificence of the iceberg. Timeless, ephemeral, dazzling white or cerulean blue, and often striated with sediments that mark the passage of millennia, they are a mystical frozen record of the earth’s geological history, a bridge between a primeval polar past and a future that will be shaped by the urgency of environmental stewardship.

Exploring the polar regions with PONANT is more than just a wonder-filled cruise among majestic icebergs and all of nature’s wonders; it’s an expedition of discovery and inspiration. Our onboard scientists and guides gather samples from the floating ice and surrounding waters throughout your expedition and share their findings with you, creating a convivial atmosphere of learning and enrichment – and giving you a front-row seat to phenomena that carry global implications.

See the Icebergs with PONANT

In the Arctic’s icy wilderness and along Antarctica’s vast expanse, icebergs are waiting to be seen, felt, and understood. They stir in us a sense of awe even as their scientific significance deepens our commitment to preserving the planet for future generations.

PONANT’s polar expeditions give you unparalleled insight into the delicate balance between ice and ocean, and help you feel truly connected to this marvelous place we call home. Let the icebergs inspire you – because on a

PONANT cruise, the frozen frontier is not just a destination; it’s a revelation.

Our expeditions into sublime icy worlds fill up quickly. Don’t miss your chance to join PONANT in the Arctic and in Antarctica in 2025 and beyond.