DAY 1 – DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND
Welcome to Dunedin, which sits on a sheltered harbour. Rich in heritage and stunning scenery, Dunedin is renowned as the wildlife capital of New Zealand. Look for well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian architecture, the world’s steepest street and the world’s smallest and rarest penguins as you explore this beautiful city. Enjoy a three-night Special Stay.
DAY 2 – DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND
Spend the morning north of Dunedin at the spectacular Huriawa Peninsula, where you’ll discover the area’s Maori heritage. In the Maori Pa experience, your local Maori guide will show you stunning cliff- top views and tell stories from the past. You’ll spend time with the whanau of Kati Huirapa and get to know their world, customs and fascinating history.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 3 – DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND
Today, the morning is yours to explore Dunedin or enjoy a slow start at your elegant hotel. In the afternoon, choose from the following enriching experiences.
Freechoice:
Speights Brewery Tour: Be introduced to the origins of Speight’s Brewery and the history of beer in New Zealand.
Heritage Walking Tour: Explore Dunedin’s heritage of wealth and architectural beauty on this walking tour.
Culinary Otago Tour: Discover the fresh produce of the Otago Peninsula, taste ethical chocolate, try a bite of haggis and discover the best pies in the city.
Otago Peninsula Wildlife Tour: Take a half-day cruise to discover the natural beauty and unique wildlife of the Otago Peninsula.
Your farewell dinner from Dunedin will be a Olverston Historic House, where you can experience a peek at what life was like In Dunedin during Edwardian times.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 4 – DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND
On your final day in Dunedin, take a guided tour through the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum.
Afterwards, you’ll be transferred to Scenic Eclipse II, your 6-star, ultra-luxury Discovery Yacht and be warmly welcomed by the crew. Meet your butler and settle into your spacious suite. Meet your fellow guests over a glass of chilled Champagne in the Observation Lounge, toasting to the start of a wonderful journey.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 5 – AT SEA
While exploring the luxurious spaces on board, you’ll have the opportunity to meet some of the experts who will bring the places you’ll visit to life. The Discovery Team will enrich your Antarctic experience with their encyclopaedic knowledge of geology, glaciology, photography, marine biology, history, ecology and more.
Due to the extraordinary nature of the region, Discovery excursions throughout your Expedition Voyage are dependent on the ice and weather conditions. Your experienced Captain and specialist polar Discovery Team, who have made countless journeys to Antarctica, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, making the most of your time in this spectacular destination.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6 – AT SEA
Sea days aboard Scenic Eclipse II offer a perfect opportunity to unwind, connect with fellow guests, and dive into the rich history, environment, and unique wildlife of this captivating part of the world. Our guest experts, as well as the Polar Discovery Team, will deliver engaging talks and presentations on the local wildlife and history.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7 – AT SEA
It’s time to ease into your ultra-luxury surroundings. This might be the day you sleep in, conserving energy for the activities ahead, then spend lazy hours in your suite, which cocoons you within the comforts of a 6-star hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8 – AT SEA
Located on Deck 4, the state-of-the-art theatre serves as the heart of onboard entertainment, featuring advanced cinemascope technology, multiple viewing screens for an immersive 270-degree experience, a sparkling night sky ceiling, and supremely comfortable reclining lounge chairs.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 9 – AT SEA
Wake up reinvigorated after a good night’s sleep on your signature Scenic Slumber Bed. Then, begin your day with a barista coffee brought by your butler, or perhaps with your choice of a buffet or an à la carte breakfast in the Yacht Club.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 10 – AT SEA
Sea days aboard Scenic Eclipse II offer a perfect opportunity to unwind, connect with fellow guests, and dive into the rich history, environment, and unique wildlife of this captivating part of the world. Our polar Discovery Team, will deliver engaging talks and presentations on the local wildlife and history.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 11 – ANTARCTICA’S ROSS SEA REGION
Be sure to stay close to your verandah as you enter the Ross Sea – wandering albatrosses are a common sight, and icebergs will begin to pop up around you as well. The pristine, nutrient-rich ocean is popular among orcas, seals, penguins and whales.
This rugged and remarkable body of water is surrounded by sky-scraping mountains and carved by glacial ice tongues, vast ice shelves and drifting sea ice.
Over the next few days on Ross Island, at the base of Mount Erebus, you’ll walk in the footsteps of legendary explorers Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 12 – ANTARCTICA’S ROSS SEA REGION
Cape Royds, on the western edge of Ross Island, is famed for Ernest Shackleton’s Hut, a well-preserved landmark from his 1907–1909 Nimrod Expedition. This iconic site offers a rare glimpse into the golden age of Antarctic exploration. Cape Royds is also home to one of the southernmost Adélie penguin rookeries, where penguins thrive thanks to nearby polynyas, providing easy access to fish.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 13 – ANTARCTICA’S ROSS SEA REGION
Weather plays an important role in deciding if and when you land on Ross Island, but even if you have to stay on the ship you’ll be amazed by its natural drama. The landscape is dominated by Mount Erebus, the southernmost active volcano on Earth and the second-highest volcano in Antarctica.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 14 – ANTARCTICA’S ROSS SEA REGION
A row of largely snow-free valleys, the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Ross Island comprise one of the world’s most extreme deserts, plus the saline Lake Vida and the Onyx River, a meltwater stream and Antarctica’s longest river. The only way to glimpse this dramatic landscape is by adding an optional excursion on one of Scenic Eclipse II’s helicopters^ – weather permitting, your pilot may even land on this end-of-the-Earth landscape.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 15 – ANTARCTICA’S ROSS SEA REGION
Today enjoy a breathtaking Ross Ice Shelf cruise to the remote Cape Crozier, where adventure meets history and nature in the heart of Antarctica. Sail alongside the towering ice cliffs of the world’s largest ice shelf, with its awe-inspiring walls of ice rising 50 metres (160 feet) above the ocean. As you journey to Cape Crozier, famous for its Adélie penguin colony and rich Antarctic history, you’ll experience the raw beauty of the frozen continent like never before.
Depending on conditions, you may have the opportunity to fly on one of the two on board helicopters to the Ross Sea Ice Shelf. On this unforgettable optional flightseeing excursion, see the spectacular ice shelf from above and possibly land on it.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 16 – ANTARCTICA’S ROSS SEA REGION
Journey to Terra Nova Bay, where cutting-edge science meets timeless exploration. To the north, discover the Italian and South Korean research stations, while to the south lies the ancient Drygalski Ice Tongue, an awe-inspiring natural feature stretching 70 km from the David Glacier.
Visit Adélie Cove, a thriving sanctuary for Adélie penguins, offering unforgettable wildlife encounters. Nestled along the rugged coastline, it’s a spectacular spot to witness these charming creatures in their natural habitat, adding a touch of wildlife wonder to your Antarctic expedition.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 17 – ANTARCTICA’S ROSS SEA REGION
You might visit Inexpressible Island, where a group of six men from the Terra Nova expedition, led by Robert Falcon Scott (1910-1913), endured a harsh winter in a cave carved into the ice — now a designated historical monument. Today, you may have the opportunity to explore this fascinating landscape on the fleet of custom-built Zodiacs.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 18 – ANTARCTICA’S ROSS SEA REGION
All jagged cliffs and ink-black escarpments backed by the towering Admiralty Mountains, the Adare Peninsula is a postcard of natural drama. Much of the spectacle comes courtesy of the 250,000 breeding pairs of Adélie penguins – the largest colony in Antarctica – that call the region home. Weather and conditions permitting, you may have the opportunity to explore the hut remains with your Discovery Team.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 19 – ANTARCTICA’S ROSS SEA REGION
Weather and ice conditions permitting, you’ll have the opportunity to explore several of the region’s iconic sites. Alongside Adélie penguins, you might encounter other wildlife such as seals and seabirds, making it a prime spot for wildlife enthusiasts. Experience the dramatic landscapes of Cape Adare, featuring striking ice formations, breathtaking views and fantastic photo opportunities.
Or today could be the day to brave the polar plunge – a rite of passage for polar explorers. You’re going to feel invigorated at the end of this split second, once-in-a-lifetime experience. The cold plunge is exhilarating, and the shared experience with your fellow Antarctica ‘plungers’ immensely bonding. That hot drink or whiskey as you emerge is restorative and reviving. This is an unmissable opportunity, whether enjoyed today or throughout your voyage in Antarctic waters.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 20 – AT SEA
Freshly squeezed juice, steaming coffee or tea delivered by your butler will help start your day. Perhaps have an invigorating workout, a Pilates class, some guided stretching or aerial yoga.
Experience the grandeur of nature on a monumental scale as you cruise along the edge of the immense Ross Ice Shelf. Marvel at towering ice cliffs that soar above the sea, and glide through an icy expanse that stretches endlessly into the horizon. This extraordinary journey offers a rare glimpse into one of the world’s most remote and pristine landscapes, promising breathtaking vistas and an unparalleled Antarctic adventure.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 21 – AT SEA
Over the next few days, settle into the pace of life at sea. Your Discovery Team will present a daily schedule of educational activities for you to enjoy. Be sure to join the lectures and daily recaps to stay updated on the progress of the voyage.
The only thing you need to do now is decide which bar or lounge to move to, making the most of the all-inclusive beverage menu, including premium top-shelf wines and spirits.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 22 – AT SEA
The past weeks have delivered an abundance of emotions and active explorations. As you begin to sail away from Antarctica, today could be the day for some downtime in the expansive 550m² Senses Spa.
Be rejuvenated with a yoga or Pilates session or add a tailored treatment# and indulgent wellness experiences, from dreamy massages and facials to body wraps and scrubs, manicures and pedicures. Then take some time out on one of the thermal lounges; your limbs will thank you later.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 23 – AT SEA
Countless penguins, seals, whales and birds and endless expanses of ice. The remarkable sights of the world’s southernmost continent take a while to digest. Perhaps edit your images, write in your journal, mark highlights on a map. Or share your memories with your fellow guests in one of restaurants, bar and lounges. Relive every moment that sparked joy over the last three weeks, looking forward to sharing these once-in-a-lifetime memories with your loved ones at home.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 24 – AT SEA
End your journey in the same way you began it – by indulging in Scenic’s truly all-inclusive philosophy. Enjoy an unrivalled selection of premium beverages available on board all day, every day, including premium gin, saké and more than 130 varieties of whiskey.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 25 – AT SEA
When you’re visiting some of the world’s most fragile ecosystems, you have a commitment to protect them for future generations. At least, that’s Scenic’s mantra. Take advantage of our open bridge policy to meet with the Captain and the team to find out all about your Discovery Yacht’s state-of-the-art technology and environmentally sustainable systems that aim to leave as small a footprint as possible.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 26 – AT SEA
If you have any last questions before you disembark, this is the time to ask them to your expert polar Discovery Team. Join a final lecture, find the photography expert for tips on editing your images, the historian for extra details on the explorers you’ve been following, and the Captain to learn where your next voyage might take you.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 27 – PORT CHALMERS (DUNEDIN)
Your voyage ends in Dunedin (Port Chalmers), on the southeastern tip of New Zealand’s South Island.
After one last luxurious breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to your new friends and crew, taking memories for a lifetime.
You will join a standard transfer from Port Chalmers to Dunedin.
Please book your flight to depart out of Dunedin after 12:00 PM.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Flights on board two helicopters and submersible experiences are at additional cost, subject to regulatory approval, availability, weight restrictions, medical approval and weather, ice and tidal conditions. Spa treatments at additional cost. All drinks on board, including those stocked in your mini bar, are included, except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, Champagnes and spirits. Specialty restaurants require a reservation, enquire on board.
The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the voyage will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Locations listed within East Antarctica are subject to weather and operational conditions. Sightings cannot be guaranteed. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.
