Scenic Eclipse

Is Scenic Eclipse a good ship for Antarctica?

Yes, for travelers who want a luxury all-verandah ship with the option of a helicopter flight or a submarine dive. Scenic Eclipse is the first of the two "Discovery Yachts" from Scenic, launched in 2019, and the one that also sails the Arctic in 2027.¹³¹¹ It carries up to 228 guests, cut to 200 in Antarctica, in 114 suites, with a Polar Class 6 hull, two helicopters and a U-Boat Worx submarine called Scenic Neptune.¹⁴ IAATO's vessel directory lists it as built in 2018 and sailing to Antarctica since 2019.²

Its sister, Scenic Eclipse II, is the same size and, on the classic 13-day voyage, charges the same for each suite on nearby dates, so choose between them by date and itinerary.¹⁰ This season only Eclipse runs the 31-day voyage from Chile and the 29-day loop that adds the Chilean fjords after Antarctica.¹⁴¹⁵

What are Scenic Eclipse's specs?

Scenic Eclipse is 168 m (551 ft) long, measures 17,545 gross tons and cruises at 17 knots, with close to one crew member per guest.¹

Polar Class 6 is the rating for summer and autumn operation in medium first-year ice, which may include old ice inclusions.⁵ Scenic says Eclipse was built for Antarctica with oversized stabilizers and a strengthened hull.⁷ Since launch it has gained a Salt Therapy Lounge in the Senses Spa and a Sky Deck bar.¹ It has two spa pools on Deck 10 and a cold plunge pool in the spa; Eclipse II has a single lap pool and an ice shower instead.⁴

Scenic publishes a separate deck plan for departures from March 2027, and the 2027 Arctic fares list suite categories on different decks from the Antarctic ones, so check the deck when you book.¹¹⁰¹⁶

How do 200 guests go ashore in Antarctica?

In two groups at most sites. IAATO allows no more than 100 visitors ashore at one site at a time, with at least one guide for every 20, and Scenic's filing to the Antarctic Treaty says it staggers landings so no more than 100 of its passengers are ashore together.⁸⁶ The 200-guest cap matters: IAATO puts ships of 201 to 500 passengers under "stringent restrictions on time and place of landing activities."⁸ Scenic says its low numbers allow several landings a day, led by a Discovery Team of up to 20.⁷¹⁰

Where can you fly and dive from Scenic Eclipse?

In Antarctica you can book a scenic flight of about 30 minutes or a dive of about 40, but not every region on Eclipse's route allows them.⁶⁹

One rule is unique to this ship: Scenic says its Scenic Neptune submarine does not operate in US waters, so do not expect a dive at the New York end of the September voyage.⁹³¹

Scenic's filing to the Antarctic Treaty says Eclipse flies the same general Peninsula area it has used since its first season, 2019-20, staying within 25 statute miles (40 km) of the ship; its map marks the area of a typical 20-minute flight as about 13 miles (21 km).⁶ Dives run in open water only, never under the ice, under IAATO's 2017 submersible guidelines.⁶²⁹ Eclipse introduced Scenic's Snow Hill flights in late 2023, flying guests on its 13-day Antarctica in Depth to the sea ice near Snow Hill Island, where they walked about 0.6 mile (1 km) to the emperor penguin colony.²³ In 2026-27 Scenic offers that flight on Eclipse's South Georgia, Weddell Sea and 31-day Chile voyages, with a walk of about a mile (1.5 km).¹²¹³¹⁴ The wildlife distances every flight must keep are on our Scenic operator page.

Scenic does not publish current prices for flights or dives; you book and pay for them with the Discovery Team once on board.⁴ The only prices we found come from 2023 press reports and are not current fares: in September 2023 the Arizona Republic reported $795 per person for a 30-minute flight and $350 to $795 for a dive, from a voyage on Eclipse II, and in December 2023 Cruise Industry News put Eclipse's Snow Hill flight at $1,500 per person.²²²³ Ask Scenic or your travel advisor for the current price before you budget for one.

Which suite should you book on Scenic Eclipse?

Book a Deluxe Verandah: it is the cheapest suite still open on most Antarctic dates, because the Verandah Suites were not available.¹⁰ Scenic gives one size range for its three verandah grades, 344 to 430 sq ft (32 to 40 m²), with a separate sleeping area and lounge and floor-to-ceiling doors to the verandah.¹⁴ Fares on the Feb 17, 2027 Antarctica in Depth, per person sharing:

The Spa Suites add a bath overlooking the sea and a steam shower; the Panoramas add a terrace and a separate bedroom; the Owner's Penthouse has a terrace with its own spa pool.¹ A Two-Bedroom Owner's Penthouse of 2,658 sq ft combines the Owner's Penthouse with a Spa Suite.¹ Solo travelers can book Verandah and Deluxe Verandah suites on Scenic's Solo Program fares, which carry a single supplement.²¹

How much does a Scenic Eclipse voyage cost?

Scenic Eclipse's 2026-27 Antarctic voyages start at $18,973 per person, and its 2027 Arctic voyages at $16,781.¹⁰¹⁹ Lowest open fares, per person sharing, read October 15, 2026:

The Antarctica in Depth fares include a hotel night in Buenos Aires and flights to and from Ushuaia.¹⁰ Its Jan 26 and Feb 6, 2027 dates start at $21,473 on a Select Fare, the Dec 28, 2026 date showed $20,145 with no suite open, and Dec 17 was waitlisted.¹⁰¹¹ For sailings less than 10 months away, which covers every Antarctic date this season, a Preferred Fare must be paid in full within 30 days of booking, or sooner if the standard final payment date comes first.²¹ Every Arctic voyage in the table except the East Greenland one includes a flight to or from the ship: Oslo to Longyearbyen for Svalbard, Kangerlussuaq to or from Copenhagen for western Greenland, and Toronto to Churchill for Hudson Bay.^161718302031

Where does Scenic Eclipse sail in 2026-27 and 2027?

Scenic Eclipse is in the south from November 2026 to mid-March 2027 and in the Arctic from June to September 2027.¹¹ It opens the season in Valparaíso on Nov 4, 2026, sailing the Chilean fjords, Cape Horn, the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica on the 31-day voyage.¹⁴ Then come the South Georgia voyage on Nov 15, the Weddell Sea voyage on Dec 3, and five Antarctica in Depth trips across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula.¹¹ On Feb 17 the 29-day voyage visits Antarctica and then the Chilean fjords, Punta Arenas and Montevideo before ending in Buenos Aires.¹⁵ After a Chilean fjords trip and a Brazilian coast voyage, Eclipse spends spring 2027 in the Mediterranean and western Europe.¹¹

In 2027 it sails north from Bergen on Jun 15 through the Lofoten Islands and past North Cape to Svalbard, then runs ten days around Svalbard from Oslo on Jun 28.¹⁷¹⁶ On Jul 20 it crosses from Svalbard to East Greenland and spends four days in Scoresby Sund before Iceland.¹⁸ August brings East Greenland's national park from Reykjavík, southern Greenland and Disko Bay to Ilulissat, and Greenland to Baffin Island and Hudson Bay; the season ends from Churchill to New York in September.^19302031

How does Scenic Eclipse compare with similar luxury ships?

Scenic Eclipse costs more than Seabourn Venture or Quark's Ultramarine at entry level but carries fewer guests in Antarctica than Venture.^10252627

Against its sister the choice is about dates and itineraries, plus a few details: Eclipse has nine bars to Eclipse II's eight, two spa pools instead of a lap pool, and the smaller submarine.⁴ For the wider field, see our guide to luxury Antarctica cruises.

Who should book Scenic Eclipse, and who should skip it?

Book Scenic Eclipse if you want an all-inclusive verandah suite on a ship that keeps to IAATO's 200-guest category, plan to pay for a helicopter flight, or want a long voyage that links Antarctica with Chile.¹⁸¹⁴¹⁵ It is also Scenic's only choice for Svalbard, Greenland or Hudson Bay in 2027.¹¹

Skip it if the helicopters are the reason you are going to Svalbard, Greenland or South Georgia, because they do not fly there.⁹¹² Skip it if you want the larger submarine, which is on Eclipse II.⁴ And if price comes first, Quark's Ultramarine and Seabourn Venture start lower for a classic Peninsula trip.²⁶²⁷ Our guide on how to choose an Antarctica cruise lays out the other factors.