After years of searching by some of the most talented explorers and navigators in the world, the Antarctic continent was finally discovered in the early 1820s. Back then, reaching Antarctica was no mean feat, and it took many more years before intrepid explorers were able to venture into the great snow deserts and mountains of its interior. If only they had a state-of-the-art, ultra-luxury cruise ship and high-performance helicopter at their disposal, as the well-heeled guests of Scenic Eclipse do today.
First launched in 2018, Scenic Eclipse, is the ultimate Antarctic explorer, with 100 veranda suites, a Senses Spa, 10 dining venues and a garage full of adventure toys, including two helicopters and a submarine. The ship has added new Antarctic voyages and land experiences for its 2022/23 departures, which all take place in the Antarctic summer between November and March.
In December 2022, Scenic Eclipse will embark on its first voyage into the Weddell Sea, the vast expanse of frozen ocean to the east of the Antarctic Peninsula, to the edge of the Antarctic Circle. The Polar Class 6 vessel will carve a path through ice floes and icebergs, dropping anchor while guests explore the surreal waterscape by kayak or stand-up paddle board while looking out for Weddell seals, Adelie and Emperor penguins and a variety of whale species, or head for land aboard one of the ship’s zodiacs.
New helicopter excursions will whisk guests further inland than ever before, allowing skiers to visit virgin mountain slopes for once-in-a-lifetime downhill experiences, and Scenic Neptune will carry guests down to 300 metres below the surface of the ocean to discover icefish and other-worldly marine life.
The experience starts and ends in Buenos Aires, where guests have a chance to prepare and unwind before and after the trip. The cruise itself departs form the southerly Argentine town of Ushuaia, before navigating the fabled Beagle Channel and Drake Passage, then sailing through open ocean to the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea. The 19-day ‘Into the Weddell Sea’ journey starts form £15,031 (US $20,950) per person and includes flights, hotels, excursions, meals and beverages. Twenty-minute helicopter excursions are an additional £395 per person and submarine dives are $599 per person.