| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 15th15 | DecDec | 202424 | Queenstown, New Zealand, embark on the Scenic Eclipse II | | |
Fly from the UK to Queenstown.Queenstown is the kind of place that will leave you breathless – in more ways than one. There are the high altitudes of the Southern Alps, mirror-like Lake Wakatipu, dreamy vine-laced countryside and the atmospheric town itself, where wood fires crackle and wine glasses toast the end of another remarkable day.
Enjoy your one-night stay in Queenstown. |
| 16th16 | DecDec | 202424 | Queenstown, New Zealand | | |
This morning you will be transferred via coach from Queenstown to Milford Sound.
This remote, nature-blessed pocket of South Island's Fiordland is home to some of New Zealand’s most dramatic scenery. Lakes are so clear it’s as if they are glass, fiords are carved by ancient glaciers and rainforest reigns supreme.
It’s a fitting backdrop as you board Scenic Eclipse to be welcomed by the crew who will keep you company for the duration of your voyage. But first, champagne – to provide extra sparkle to the beginning of your cruise. Mix and mingle and meet your fellow travellers. |
| 16th16 | DecDec | 202424 | Milford Sound, New Zealand | | |
| New Zealand fiord country along with Fiordland National Park is one of New Zealand's premier attractions. Incredibly beautiful, wild and remote, the region is an intriguing combination of rugged mountain ranges, dense rainforest, solitary alpine lakes, sparkling rivers and splashing waterfalls. Much of Fiordland is virtually unexplored wilderness and still the habitat of rare birds. As the ship cruises the beautiful Doubtful, Dusky and Milford Sounds, experience the majestic fiordland of South Island's western coast. Captain James Cook sailed along this coast in 1770 and again in 1773, when he anchored at Dusky Sound for a rest and ship repair. Doubtful Sound is one of the region's most majestic fiords. It is ten times larger than Milford Sound. As the ship cruises into Hall Arm, gaze at vertical cliffs and mighty waterfalls plunging over sheer rock faces. In fine weather, mountains and greenery are reflected in the protected waters of the fiord. Farther north lies Milford Sound. Far from any populated area, Milford Sound is famous for its grandeur and spectacular beauty. It is perhaps the best example of New Zealand's renowned classic landscape of steep granite peaks framing glacier-carved inlets with mirrored reflections on dark waters. Dominating the scene is Milford's landmark, the triangular pinnacle of Mitre Peak. Along the sheer cliffs, several waterfalls tumble more than 500 feet (154 metres) into the sheltered Sound. Only a few moored boats and a scattering of buildings at the head of the Sound break the unity of mountains, forest and water. This spectacular beauty and unspoiled setting is yours to enjoy as the ship cruises Milford Sound. |
| 17th17 | DecDec | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 18th18 | DecDec | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 19th19 | DecDec | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 20th20 | DecDec | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 21st21 | DecDec | 202424 | Balleny Islands, New Zealand | | |
This 160-kilometre-long chain of volcanic islands (some of them still active) is a delightful surprise in what you may be expecting to be the whole Antarctic landscape.
The Balleny Islands are remote and fascinating, their location straddling the Antarctic Circle leaving them heavily glaciated. Landings aren’t permitted, but in favourable weather conditions you may have the chance to explore in Zodiacs for a front-row seat to one of the greatest convergences of wildlife in the world.
Humpbacks, fin and minke whales may put on a show while we are nearby, breaching and blowing and slapping their tails. Crabeater, Weddell, elephant and leopard seals loll about, sunbaking between swims. And Adélie and chinstrap penguins march and squark, creating a cacophony that is strangely melodic.
Make sure you head to the Observation Deck for a vantage view or enjoy the comforts of your private balcony to take in every moment navigating this incredible region. |
| 22nd22 | DecDec | 202424 | Balleny Islands, New Zealand | | |
Almost completely mantled by ice, Young Island is the northernmost island in the archipelago, and British mariner Captain Balleny – after whom the chain is named – reported seeing smoke billowing from its 1,340-metre summit when he was here exploring in 1839.
At the other end of the chain, Sturge is the southernmost island in the Balleny archipelago. Pull out your binoculars or head for the telescopes in the Observation Lounge, because this particular slip of land has been declared and Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. Twitchers will rejoice at spotting the enormous breeding colonies of southern fulmers and snow petrels, which set up base on the ice-free cliffs along the western and northern coasts. Gain deep insights from your expert Discovery Team about the region and its rich birdlife. |
| 23rd23 | DecDec | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 24th24 | DecDec | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 25th25 | DecDec | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 26th26 | DecDec | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 27th27 | DecDec | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 28th28 | DecDec | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 29th29 | DecDec | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 30th30 | DecDec | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 31st31 | DecDec | 202424 | At Sea | | |
| 1st01 | JanJan | 202525 | At Sea | | |
| 2nd02 | JanJan | 202525 | At Sea | | |
| 3rd03 | JanJan | 202525 | At Sea | | |
| 4th04 | JanJan | 202525 | At Sea | | |
| 5th05 | JanJan | 202525 | Macquarie Island, Tasmania, Australia | | |
| Macquarie Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its major geoconservation significance. It is the only island in the world that is entirely composed of oceanic crust and rocks from the mantel. The unique diversity of the island makes it a truly remarkable place to visit. Sand Bay is located on the east coast where you will find Royal and King Penguin rookeries as well as Southern Elephant Seals, and if the weather permits, you will have the opportunity to get closer on a Zodiac®. Macquarie Island is a place that sparks every sense. First smell, then sound… then sight. From a distance, Macquarie’s earth appears to be moving. As Scenic Eclipse approaches you realise that the land is, in fact, heaving – under the weight of millions of penguins.
Subject to permits, you may get to see this spectacle of epic proportions, an extraordinary landscape hosting one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the Southern Ocean. Countless tuxedoed, bushy eyebrowed and golden crowned penguins – king, rockhopper, gentoo and the endemic royal – breed here, and they’re not shy about having a good time. Or about greeting passengers who step ashore with squarks and squeaks. Occasionally one flops down for ice surfing, paddling on its belly like a torpedo-shaped toboggan. The youngsters, fluffy, impossibly cute, have the gleeful look of children allowed to stay up past their bedtime for a grown-up gathering.
You’re likely to see leopard seals that patrol the waters, southern elephant seals that peek from tussocked dunes, and sooty albatrosses that circle overhead. |
| 6th06 | JanJan | 202525 | At Sea | | |
| 7th07 | JanJan | 202525 | At Sea | | |
| 8th08 | JanJan | 202525 | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, disembark the Scenic Eclipse II | | |
| Straddling the Derwent River at the foot of Mt. Wellington's forested slopes, Hobart was founded as a penal settlement in 1803. It's the second-oldest city in the country after Sydney, and it certainly rivals its mainland counterpart as Australia's most beautiful state capital. Close-set colonial brick-and-sandstone shops and homes line the narrow, quiet streets, creating a genteel setting for this historic city of 215,000. Life revolves around the broad Derwent River port, one of the deepest harbors in the world. Here warehouses that once stored Hobart's major exports of fruit, wool, and corn and products from the city's former whaling fleet still stand alongside the wharf today.Hobart sparkles between Christmas and New Year's—summer Down Under—during the annual Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race. The event dominates conversations among Hobart's citizens, who descend on Constitution Dock to welcome the yachts and join in the boisterous festivities of the crews. The New Year also coincides with the Tastes of Tasmania Festival, when the dockside area comes alive with the best of Tasmanian food and wine on offer in numerous cafés, bars, and waterfront stalls. Otherwise, Hobart is a placid city whose nightlife is largely confined to excellent restaurants, jazz clubs, and the action at the Wrest Point Casino in Sandy Bay.The Hobart Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre hours are weekdays 8:30–5:30 and Saturday 9–5. Your voyage ends in Hobart – knowing there’s still nothing between you and Antarctica but swathes of icy ocean helps take away the sting of everyday life. After breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to your new friends and the dedicated Scenic Eclipse crew, who have made your voyage so remarkable. Fly home carrying once-in-a-lifetime memories with you, or choose to extend your journey to explore the captivating city of Hobart. Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. Please book your flight to depart out of Hobart after 12:00 PM. Please note, the itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons and weather conditions. As such, Scenic cannot guarantee the cruise will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. |
