PONANT EXPLORATIONS has announced that Jonathan Shackleton – family historian and cousin of Sir Ernest Shackleton – will join a landmark voyage aboard the luxury icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, sailing from Ushuaia to Hobart in January 2026.
Shackleton lives in Mullagh, County Cavan, Ireland, where his family runs an organic farm and forest. A cousin of the famed Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, Jonathan is the family historian, tracing his lineage back to Abraham Shackleton, a Quaker who founded the Newtown School in County Kildare in 1726 – an institution that went on to educate many prominent Irish figures.
Sir Ernest Shackleton is best known for his heroic leadership during the 1914 Endurance expedition, a remarkable tale of survival after his ship became trapped and crushed in the ice of the Weddell Sea. His 800-mile journey to secure rescue for all 28 crew members remains one of the greatest feats in polar exploration history.
For over 25 years, Jonathan Shackleton has followed in his ancestor’s footsteps, taking part in numerous expeditions to Antarctica. As a historian, guide, photographer and Zodiac driver, he has accompanied 44 groups to the White Continent – including a memorable private voyage in 2016 with guests such as Tom Hanks, Michael Palin and Jools Holland.
Beyond the field, Jonathan has contributed extensively to Antarctic storytelling through films, television documentaries, exhibitions, interviews and international conferences. He is co-author of Shackleton – An Irishman in Antarctica with John MacKenna, and his writing has featured in publications including Nimrod – The Journal of the Ernest Shackleton Autumn School and The Antarctic Crossing.
Shackleton will travel aboard PONANT’s luxury icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot, on a once-in-a-lifetime expedition from Ushuaia, Argentina to Hobart, Tasmania – a 31-day journey retracing the path of Sir Ernest Shackleton and other pioneering polar explorers.
On board, Jonathan is expected to deliver a series of engaging lectures and informal talks inspired by those he presented during PONANT’s previous Ross Sea voyage. Topics may explore early Antarctic exploration, the Heroic Age, the life and legacy of Sir Ernest Shackleton, polar literature and the natural history of the region. Past programs have also included screenings of polar documentaries, including Shackleton’s Cabin. Guests can look forward to insightful storytelling, rich historical context and a deeper appreciation for the explorers who shaped Antarctic history.
