PONANT Explorations has announced that polar historian Jonathan Shackleton, cousin of legendary Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, will join a 20-day expedition voyage to Antarctica and South Georgia departing February 26, 2027.
Deb Corbett, PONANT Explorations CEO Asia Pacific, welcomed Mr Shackleton’s decision to join the voyage.
“His deep connection to Antarctica, combined with his family’s extraordinary place in polar history, creates a truly special experience for our guests. Bringing world-leading experts such as Jonathan on board reflects our ongoing commitment to exploring uncharted worlds while delivering enriching, meaningful and unforgettable journeys,” Ms Corbett said.
Having completed 44 expedition voyages to Antarctica over more than 25 years as a historian, guide, photographer and Zodiac driver, Mr Shackleton brings a rare lived connection to the region.
He described his most recent experience aboard Le Commandant Charcot as a trip of a lifetime, despite having visited Antarctica many times before.
The voyage holds particular personal significance through its inclusion of South Georgia, which Mr Shackleton is visiting for the 15th time.
The itinerary includes a return to Grytviken, where Sir Ernest Shackleton is buried following his death in 1922 during his final Quest expedition.
Sir Ernest Shackleton is best known for his leadership during the 1914 Endurance expedition, when his ship became trapped and crushed in the ice of the Weddell Sea.
His subsequent 800-mile journey to secure rescue for all 28 crew members remains one of the greatest feats in polar exploration history.
Sailing aboard L’Austral from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires, Mr Shackleton will deliver lectures and talks on early Antarctic exploration, the Heroic Age of polar discovery and the natural history of the Southern Ocean throughout the voyage.
