Antarctica Seasonal Guide

Scenic Eclipse Seasonal Guide Antarctic Region & Chilean Fjords

Argentina

Chile Argentina

Ushuaia

Falkland Islands

(Islas Malvinas)

Drake Passage

Lemaire Channel

Antarctic Circle King George Island

Elephant Island

Antarctic Peninsula

Weddell Sea

Antarctica guards its secrets in an icy grip for all but five magical months, the Chilean fjords two months more, 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 features a strengthened hull and Polar Class 6 rating which enables safe access to places others can’t, from the first month to the last. Walk straight on to sea ice from the ship, South Georgia watch penguin chicks hatch, herald the arrival of seal pups on the beaches and humpbacks offshore – every Expedition Voyage offers unique experiences. You can add the wonders of Chile, 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

October – 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 and the rarely seen sea floor in our custom-built submarine^. By October in the Chilean fjords, whales migrate south and Magellanic, Humbolt and gentoo penguins begin nesting, with parents sharing incubation duties. By November in Antarctica, watch penguins begin courting, nest-building thievery and egg incubation. Mid-to-late December in Chile, South Georgia, the Falklands and Antarctica, chicks hatch to be fed by parents sharing fishing and feeding duties. In Antarctica, minkes, humpbacks and Southern Right whales arrive to feed beneath near 24-hours of daylight. The Antarctica and the Weddell Sea voyage visits the famous Snow Hill Island, where thousands of Emperor penguins nurture their young, before returning to the Antarctic Peninsula’s west side. On South Georgia, male fur and elephant seals battle to create and protect their harems. King penguins balance eggs on their feet and albatross reveal their gawky, gorgeous chicks.

SUMMER

January – Early February Peak season on the Antarctic Peninsula see rookeries full of chicks and sunlight is at its peak. 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. The Beyond the Antarctic Circle voyage will navigate south, further than most expedition ships go, to discover exquisite waterways like Lemaire Channel, the Gullet and Crystal Sound to celebrate crossing the Antarctic Circle (66°33’S). On South Georgia, penguin chicks almost as big as their parents need constant feeding and are old enough to play with juvenile seals. Long days continue and temperatures rise above 5°C, the warmest of the year. On Scenic’s submarine^, explore waters never dived before and be a part of the exploration under the surface. In the Falkland Islands, Magellanic penguin chicks emerge from burrows, and King penguin chicks hatch.

AUTUMN

Late February – Early March In the Chilean fjords, penguin chicks reach peak ‘cuteness’. As autumn reaches Antarctica, cormorant chicks bravely begin to fly and whales group up for their migration north to breeding grounds. Brilliant sunsets herald nightfall, patches of sea freeze, courting leopard seals captivate with eerie songs and the last gentoo penguins are chased 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 pack beaches while newly discovered Type D orcas and elusive sperm whales pass nearby.