Truly All-Inclusive Discovery

Discover the Antarctic Region Seasonal Guide

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A Elephant Seals and King penguins and their chicks, South Georgia B Black browed Albatross, West Point Island,

The Falklands C Southern Right whales arrive in Spring/Early

Summer D Patches of sea begin to freeze in the Fall Antarctica guards its secrets in an icy grip for all but five magical months, when the sea ice slowly retreats and penguins, seabirds, whales and seals make their way south for an intense breeding and feeding season.

Purpose built for Polar regions, Scenic Eclipse’s strengthened hull and Polar Class 6 rating allows you to safely access places others can’t, from the first month to the last. Walk straight on to sea ice from the ship, watch penguin chicks hatch, herald the arrival of seal pups on the beaches and humpbacks offshore – every voyage offers unique experiences. You can add the wonders of South Georgia and the Falkland Islands to your itinerary and combine these, with the 6-star ultra-luxury of Scenic Eclipse for your ideal voyage. Here are some seasonal highlights to help you plan which voyage to choose: Spring/Early Summer

November – December On the Antarctic Peninsula, Spring is a favourite time for many, especially photographers, who delight in pristine snowscapes. Fast ice clings to bays along the west coast, and one ship’s barrier is another’s gateway to wonder. On board Scenic Eclipse, The World’s First Discovery Yachts™ your dreams become reality. Flightsee^ above magnificent Lemaire Channel, heliski^* hidden powder stashes, and explore the ice edge the rarely-seen sea floor in our custom-built submersible, Scenic Neptune^. Watch penguins begin courting, nest-building thievery and egg incubation. By late December, chicks hatch to be fed by parents that share fishing and feeding duties. Minkes, humpbacks and Southern Right whales arrive to feed beneath near 24-hour daylight. Our Into the Weddell Sea voyage visits the famous Snow Hill Island, where thousands of Emporer penguins nurture their young, before returning to the Antarctic Peninsula’s west side. If ice conditions allow, navigating south, further than most expedition ships go, discover exquisite waterways like Lemaire Channel, the Gullet and Crystal Sound to celebrate crossing the Antarctic Circle (66°33’S). Where we may reach rarely-visited Marguerite Bay for a true Discovery Adventure. On South Georgia, testosterone runs high amongst male fur and elephant seals, who battle to create and protect their harems. King penguins balance eggs on their feet and albatross reveal their gawky, gorgeous chicks. By mid-to-late December, in both South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, most penguin chicks have hatched.

Summer

January – Early February During peak season on the Antarctic Peninsula, rookeries are full of chicks, parents dodge leopard seals and skuas scan for the unattended. Crabeater and Weddell seals lounge on ice floes, females often nursing newborn pups. Ice retreats to allow easier access to the Antarctic Circle and the Weddell Sea and opens up new vistas to enjoy from our two custom built helicopters^. As summer winds down, adolescent chicks fledge and are curious, often approaching visitors before running the leopard seal gauntlet on their first swims. On South Georgia, penguin chicks almost as big as their parents need constant feeding and are old enough to play with juvenile seals. Days continue to be long and temperatures rise above 5°C, the warmest of the year. On board Scenic Neptune^, explore waters never dived before by submarine. Enjoy a seal ballet, schooling pelagic fish and maybe even whales. In the Falkland Islands, Magellenic penguin chicks emerge from burrows, and King penguin chicks hatch. Fall

Late February – Early March As autumn approaches, cormorant chicks bravely begin to fly and whales, now well fed, group up before beginning their great migration north to breeding grounds. Brilliant sunsets herald nightfall, patches of sea freeze as you watch, courting leopard seals captivate with eerie song and the last gentoo penguins are chased out into the Southern Ocean by winter’s ever-increasing ice barrier. South Georgia is alive with millions of fur seal pups cavorting in swim schools, king penguins packing beaches while the newly-discovered Type D orcas and elusive sperm whales pass nearby.

^Submarine, helicopter and helicopter experiences at additional cost, subject to regulatory approval, availability, weight restrictions, medical approval and weather and ice conditions. Helicopters are unable to operate in South Georgia. *Guests will need to have advanced skills to participate.

“Nothing prepares you for the vast, open sky; the mirror calm waters; the monolithic ice; and the deafening silence of the poles. It is as close to visiting another planet as you can get!

Discover The Antarctic Peninsula

Between South America’s Cape Horn and the Antarctic Peninsula is Drake Passage, the shortest sailing distance and perhaps the world’s most-fickle waterway. Like its namesake (Francis Drake was a pirate to the Spanish, a hero to the English) it can be ‘Drake Shake’ one day, ‘Drake Lake’ the next. However, Scenic Eclipse’s custom-built, oversized zero speed stabilisers are 50 per cent larger than most other ships, bringing greater stability regardless of sea state, and its Comfort Class 1 standard promises the lowest ship noise and vibration. The result? A smooth journey and less time to reach the Frozen Continent.

Enjoy an enlightening presentation by the Discovery Team in the state-of-the-art theatre to excite you for what’s to come or relax in your suite and watch the live streaming on your TV. Step out onto your private verandah or terrace to admire soaring albatross, the flutter of Wilson’s storm petrels or blow of whales. Explore the extensive range of up to 10 dining experiences, or your butler will serve you should you wish to dine in-suite. How different it must have been for Irish ship’s master Edward Bransfield in 1820, when he became the first to see the Antarctic Peninsula. Today we follow in his wake, first to the wildlife-rich South Shetland Islands, home to 16 scientific research stations (mostly on King George Island) and mysterious live volcanic islands, then across the strait that bears Bransfield’s name, to the Peninsula. On the east side is the Weddell Sea, a wonderland of fossil fields on ice-free islands, and a series of vast tabular icebergs. We’ll search for big colonies, think 16,000 breeding pairs of Adélie penguins and curious fur seals. It’s here in 1915 that Shackleton and his men made an epic escape, after the sinking of his ship Endurance – one of several incredible survival stories you’ll hear beautifully told by our Discovery Team historian.

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A Scenic Eclipse, Paradise Harbor, Antarctic Peninsula B Adélie penguins, Brown Bluff C Brown Station, Antarctic Peninsula D Zodiac excursion, Antarctic Peninsula

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C More than 1,500 km in length, the Antarctic Peninsula’s west side offers a maze of protected channels to explore by Zodiac or our fully inclusive kayak and stand-up paddleboard program. This is photographer’s delight with soaring, steep-faced mountains topped by a glistening ice cap. Whether it’s watching a fluffy chick take its first steps, penguins diving through glassy seas, leopard seals languidly resting on ice floes, packs of crabeater seals swimming along a sapphire ice edge, or orcas rising to match the pace of your Zodiac, your Discovery Team naturalist will be there to enhance your experience by sharing their knowledge of Antarctica. We strive to give you a deeper understanding of the ‘must see’ sights, along with the flexibility to explore at your own pace. With just 200 guests on our Scenic Expedition Voyages, every day on the Antarctic Peninsula offers multiple excursions, each one unique. Land on your seventh continent in the morning, visit a historic hut in the afternoon, soothe your mind, body & soul at the yoga & Pilates Studio to rejuvenate before dinner. Truly where luxury meets discovery. The world-class design and crew of Scenic Eclipse, The World’s First Discovery Yachts™ puts the Antarctic environment first with a GPS Dynamic Positioning system that allows us to maintain our location without dropping anchor onto sensitive seabeds. The latest emissions technology, IMO low sulphur fuel and Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems allows for minimum impact exploration. Scenic Eclipse’s two state-of-the-art helicopters^ and custom-built submarine, Scenic Neptune^ allow you to explore above, below and beyond the next horizon. Remember, wherever you touch down, or simply float quietly, take time to allow Antarctica’s silence to infuse your heart.