Scenic Eclipse is offering guests the opportunity to embark on a helicopter excursion to witness 5,000 breeding pairs of Emperor penguins of Antarctica's Snow Hill Island. A colony that was only discovered in the 90’s and situated on the brink of the Antarctic Circle, Snow Hill Island is only accessible by helicopter. According to Scenic, it is one of the only cruise lines able to facilitate this rare moment for guests visiting this region of the Antarctic Peninsula.
From DEC 2022, subject to weather and operational conditions, guests (chosen in order of suite level) on board Scenic Eclipse’s 15/16-day Antarctica & The Weddell Sea voyage will have the chance to experience the excursion typically only visited by scientists.
According to Scenic, the new excursion has been planned to coincide with the end of the breeding season, allowing guests to spot downy chicks as they shed grey feathers and prepare for their first forays into the Antarctic Ocean. Guests can also watch the chicks’ parents waddle out to sea to hunt and spot their iconic orange ear patches. Scenic notes that Emperor penguins are a near-endangered species only found in a few specific locations and seasons.
On Weddell Sea voyages, guests can also spy rookeries of elephant seals lazing on the beach, or pods of humpback whales, minke and orcas breaching the surface of the water while enjoying the views of snow-capped mountains and glaciers.
To witness the colony, guests can join the 16-day Antarctica & The Weddell Sea voyage, flying to Buenos Aires in Argentina and sailing a round trip from Ushuaia. Prices start at CAD $29,335 per person, double, based on 20DEC 2022 departure in a Deluxe Verandah suite.
For more information on Scenic, visit its web site.
