In fact, I felt right at home, and all my fears went away. Everyone on board this ship is very friendly. There are many ways to communicate, even if we do not speak the same language. The staff on board help the guests with anything that we might need.
I even gave one of my lectures, or talks, in French! My heart was pounding. Everyone cheered me on! They gave me lots of applause. I felt so proud to have tried, and succeeded!
After only eight days, I have made new friends from all over the world. We see each other in the halls, on the ice, or at meals. We always share stories and laughter. Every day, we look forward to hearing the Captain or the Cruise Director make announcements over the PA system, just like your Principal does at school. Now, I can hardly imagine going home and saying goodbye to all of my new friends and these adventures in just a few more days.
Le Commandant Charcot is definitely connected to the local environment. She is a Class P2 ice-breaker ship. She is the only luxury ice-breaker ship in the world! On board Le Commandant Charcot, guests can visit the Arctic and the Antarctic regions for tourism for the first time.
Le Commandant Charcot has so many special features to be able to sail in the ice. For example, did you know that many ice-breaker ships, including Le Commandant Charcot, have an “ice belt?” The ice belt is an area of the ship at the waterline that is reinforced, or built much stronger, to protect the ship when it is cracking and crashing through the ice. I can tell you that this ice belt is needed! When the ship is going through the ice, you can hear loud crashing and grinding. I was terrified at first.
