Scenic has launched savings on 2025 and 2026 East Antarctica and Ross Sea itineraries on its industry-leading ultra-luxury Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse II, providing more opportunity to explore the remote region.
At the heart of these extraordinary expeditions is Scenic Eclipse’s expert polar Discovery Team, dedicated to showcasing the Antarctic region’s unique wildlife, geography, history and culture. Exciting new experts join these voyages, and guests can delve deep into the polar wonderland, connecting with the stunning landscapes and remarkable ecosystems that define this breathtaking part of the world.
A highlight of the Scenic 2025 collection, Queenstown and Mawson’s Antarctica: Along the East Coast is a 28-day Antarctica expedition departing Queenstown on 10 December that follows in the footsteps of the great polar explorers. Guests can experience Antarctica’s eastern region in its most extreme and spectacular form, where everything is on a grand scale, from sprawling penguin colonies to majestic whales.
This unique itinerary includes a complimentary helicopter shuttle to Mawson’s Huts, offering guests a rare glimpse into the lives of early Antarctic pioneers. On board, guests gain invaluable insights from special guest experts and conservation consultants from the Mawson’s Huts Foundation and the Cape Denison Seabird Research team. This is a rare expedition filled with discovery, history and wildlife, taking guests to a rarely visited side of Antarctica.
“It is always a thrill to return to Cape Denison because the landscape is different every time; a different melt, different materials exposed and changed ice, snow and rock conditions,” Mawson’s Huts Foundation head conservator, Ian Godfrey, said.
“I enjoy bringing the history of Mawson and East Antarctica to life for guests; not just talking about dates, times and achievements, but also talking about the men involved, giving some insights into their characters and how they related to each other. I am always inspired when talking with guests, as many have their own stories to tell. Their fascination with this part of Australia’s history has become such a significant part of my own life.”
Bonus three-night stay in Queenstown
Travellers who book this journey now receive a bonus three-night stay in Queenstown with Scenic Freechoice excursions, including a boutique winery tour, a vintage steamship cruise aboard the TSS Earnslaw, and the Dart River Safari.
Antarctica’s Ross Sea: Majestic Ice & Wildlife is another extraordinary, life-changing voyage on board Scenic Eclipse II. Travelling in the footsteps of Shackleton and Scott, there are two voyage departures: from Hobart on 6 January 2026 and from Timaru (transfer from Christchurch) on 29 January 2026, with just 200 guests on board. Guests can encounter a vast wilderness with gem-like glaciers, immense icebergs and rugged mountain ranges that are the setting for some of the planet’s most prolific wildlife displays. Guests also follow the routes carved out by some of the world’s greatest explorers and have the option of an exclusive helicopter flight to visit McMurdo Dry Valleys, an otherworldly landscape and the driest place on earth, with the opportunity to view the magnificent Ross Sea Ice Shelf from above.
“Antarctica’s Dry Valleys are an emotional place. You’re in a place that’s billions of years old; it’s the oldest exposed bedrock in the world,” Discovery Operations director, Jason Flesher, said. “It hasn’t seen precipitation for over 2 million years, which is why it’s studied by NASA. It’s where they found meteorites from Mars. Guests on other ships can’t get there, but with Scenic Eclipse’s two helicopters, we can fly our guests there. The Dry Valleys look like a desert and are unlike anything you would experience over in the Antarctic Peninsula. The vastness is just incredible.”
Guests who book now on the 29 January 2026 Timaru departure receive a bonus three-night stay in Christchurch and Mt Cook with Scenic Freechoice excursions. They also have the option to save up to 50 per cent on a Verandah Suite upgrade. The Scenic Freechoice excursions include a nature harbour cruise around the historic French settlement of Akaroa with its majestic scenery and stunning wildlife, as well as a trip on one of the world’s great train journeys with TranzAlpine across the Southern Alps.
A guided tour of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens is an opportunity to explore the city’s natural beauty, history and culture, and a visit to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre in Mount Cook National Park offers the chance to discover the story behind this famous Kiwi, one of the world’s greatest explorers.
Sailing on board Scenic Eclipse II with just 200 guests elevates polar exploration to new heights. Guests enjoy Scenic’s all-inclusive philosophy with spacious all-verandah suites with personalised butler service, world-class dining across up to 10 culinary experiences, and a selection of the finest beverages, including over 130 whiskeys. They can rejuvenate in the 550m2 Senses Spa with its salt therapy lounge, infrared sauna, steam rooms, vitality pools and dedicated yoga and pilates studio. For guests wanting to fully embrace their Antarctic expedition, the ultra-luxury Discovery Yacht’s state-of-the-art features include two helicopters, providing unparalleled discoveries in this extraordinary southern wilderness.
