Scenic Canada has unveiled its new 2023/2024 Antarctica program, with the option for guests to avoid the nearly two-day Drake Passage journey by instead flying from Punta Arenas, Chile, to meet the Scenic Eclipse at Antarctica’s King George Island, the largest of the South Shetland Islands.
The two-hour flight allows guests on the new nine- and 10-day offerings to be able to enjoy a "fully-focused" Antarctica adventure. Scenic is also introducing a 16-day cruise which provides guests the opportunity to explore south of the Antarctica Circle, a "rarely visited" region of the world.
Booking any of the newly launched 2023/24 Antarctica itineraries can save travellers up to 20 per cent when paying in full 12 months before departure and is reflected in the pricing below. Scenic is also offering an air credit of CAD $1,500 per guest.
The new nine-day Antarctica Insights: Fly & Cruise voyage will be Scenic Eclipse’s first fly-cruise, which would allow guests to travel over the Drake Passage one way by air, flying from Punta Arenas, Chile to King George Island to embark the yacht, and return by yacht to Ushuaia, Argentina for a flight to Buenos Aires before heading home.
According to Scenic Canada, the flight option to Antarctica provides a shorter overall voyage and allows for more exploration of Antarctica. Fares start at CAD $21,087 per person, double. The reverse 10-day itinerary, flying from King George Island to Punta Arenas at the end of the cruise, is priced from CAD $21,437.
For guests looking to avoid the Drake Passage crossing completely, Scenic is also offering the nine-day Wild Antarctica: Fly the Drake itinerary, with flights both ways between Punta Arenas and King George Island. Guests will spend one night at each end of the cruise in Punta Arenas and the rest of the time exploring the continent. There are three departures and fares begin at CAD $19,301.
Scenic is also introducing the new 16-day Beyond the Antarctic Circle voyage, which explores the Antarctic Circle in "greater depth in more remote locales." Heading south of latitude 66° 33’ south (Antarctic Circle) brings with a change in scenery, with more sea ice and wildlife living off the krill-rich waters. Prices for the 16-day itinerary on 09FEB 2024 start at CAD $25,220.
Guests on board Scenic Eclipse have the opportunity to cruise on Zodiacs or kayak and paddleboard around ice formations, step onto islands and walk among penguin rookeries and seal colonies and, conditions permitting, visit a working scientific base and meet the staff located there. Guests can explore below the horizon aboard Scenic Neptune, the ship’s six-guest submarine, taking in the wildlife and scenery beneath the icy surface, or explore above the horizon on one of the ships two helicopters with a bird's eye view of the landscape.
On board, the 20-member Specialist Polar Discovery Team will host an educational series of lectures about Antarctic history, geography and its ecosystem.
All Scenic Eclipse voyages are all-inclusive, including itinerary-required flights, transfers, up to 10 dining experiences, excursions, butlers, and more. All new bookings are covered by Scenic’s Flexible Booking Policy, enabling guests to defer their cruise to another travel date or itinerary up to 60 days prior to departure and come with Scenic’s Deposit Protection Plan included.
For more information, visit Scenic Canada's web site.
