Cruise Plus & Scenic Eclipse Brochure 2023-2024

Scenic°

Scenic Eclipse

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Antarctica guards its secrets in an icy grip for all but fivemagical months, the Chilean fjords twomonths more, when the sea ice slowly retreats and penguins, seabirds, whales and sealsmake their way south for an intense breeding and feeding season.

SUMMER January–Early February

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, 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 thewonders 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 planwhich voyage to choose: SPRING/EARLYSUMMER 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 towonder. On board Scenic Eclipse, TheWorld’s First Discovery Yachts™your dreams become reality. Flightsee^ abovemagnificent 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, whalesmigrate south andMagellanic, 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 Into theWeddell Sea voyage visits the famous SnowHill 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.

Peak season on the Antarctic Peninsula sees rookeries full of chicks and sunlight is at its peak. Parents dodge leopard seals and skuas scan for the unattended. Crabeater andWeddell seals lounge on ice floes, females often nursing newborn pups. Ice retreats to alloweasier access to the Antarctic Circle and theWeddell Sea opening up newvistas to enjoy fromour two custombuilt helicopters^. As summer winds down, adolescent chicks fledge and are curious, often approaching visitors before running the leopard seal gauntlet on their first swims. TheBeyond the Antarctic Circle voyagewill navigate south, further thanmost expedition ships go, to discover exquisitewaterways like Lemaire Channel, theGullet and Crystal Sound to celebrate crossing the Antarctic Circle (66°33’S). In 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, thewarmest of the year. On Scenic’s submarine^, explorewaters never dived before and be a part of the exploration under the surface. In the Falkland Islands, Magellanic penguin chicks emerge fromburrows, and King penguin chicks hatch. AUTUMN LateFebruary–EarlyMarch In the Chilean fjords, penguin chicks reach peak ‘cuteness’. As autumn reaches Antarctica, cormorant chicks bravely begin to fly andwhales group up for their migration north to breeding grounds. Brilliant sunsets herald nightfall, patches of sea freeze, courting leopard seals captivatewith eerie songs and the last gentoo penguins are chased into the Southern Ocean by winter’s ever-increasing ice barrier. South Georgia is alivewith millions of fur seal pups cavorting in swimschools, king penguins pack beaches while newly discovered Type D orcas and elusive spermwhales pass nearby.

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

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