Great White Wonder
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Polar Regions
Ocean Voyages
There’s nowhere else on Earth quite like it, and that means the only way to truly appreciate the seventh continent’s frozen beauty and unique wildlife is to experience it for yourself.
The sheer expanse of the Antarctic Peninsula means there’s always something new to discover, even for repeat visitors. Despite its proximity to South America, the thick pack ice of the nearby Weddell Sea makes this region inaccessible to many ships.
Scenic’s Discovery Yachts are purpose-built to navigate this unique landscape. A Scenic Eclipse expedition cruise reveals the Weddell Sea’s breathtaking polar scenery, including giant tabular icebergs, ice shelves and iconic wildlife.
The sight of the most famous Antarctic resident, the Emperor penguin, playing, swimming and waddling in their natural habitat is a lifechanging experience. At the start of the season, you may chance a sighting of a few penguins coming down to the coastline, but the best way to see them is by visiting Snow Hill Island.
Snow Hill Island is home to around 4,000 breeding pairs of Emperor penguins and their fluffy chicks. The tiny, snow-covered island is a breeding colony, one of only two of its kind in the Antarctic Peninsula.
Discovered in 1843 by British explorer James Clark Ross (of Ross Sea and Ross Ice Shelf fame), Snow Hill Island is known for its unusual blanket of snow, a stark contrast to the rockier islands with which it shares the Weddell Sea.
Long before and since Ross’s arrival, Emperor penguins have gathered every March on Snow Hill Island to mate. Emperor penguins thrive in extreme sub-zero conditions and prefer a frosty surface for breeding and incubating their eggs. This, along with its remoteness, makes Snow Hill Island an ideal breeding ground for these beautiful birds.
By November, the start of the Antarctic cruise season, the chicks are at their fluffiest and the sea ice has broken up enough for ships with helicopters to access Snow Hill Island for a look into this wondrous natural society.
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