1. The Last Great Wilderness
2. The Sentinel Expedition
3. Discovery with Scenic Eclipse
4. Witness History in the Making
5. Sail Alongside Pioneers of Exploration & Preservation
6. Featured Itineraries

Vast, wild and untouched, East Antarctica is one of the last great frontiers on Earth. Covering two-thirds of the continent, it’s a place few have seen, and even fewer have explored.

Defined by contrasts, East Antarctica features towering glaciers that stretch endlessly towards the horizon, the breathtaking Mount Erebus, and ancient ice shelves, some over a million years old. Beneath the surface lies a landscape that scientists are only just beginning to uncover. Mountain ranges buried beneath ice, freshwater lakes sealed for millennia, and climate secrets frozen in time.

It’s a place where scale humbles, peaceful silence reigns, and the winds whisper stories of Scott’s and Mawson’s historic exploration. Home to Emperor penguins, elusive Weddell seals, intelligent orcas, and the legendary blue whale, East Antarctica is where you’ll experience wildlife few places on Earth can match.

With minimal human encounters and only a few seasonal research stations, this region is a pristine scientific frontier, rich in discovery, and a major key to understanding our planet’s past and future.

At Scenic we are fortunate to travel to the most spectacular corners of the planet. But with this opportunity comes a responsibility to ensure that we protect these fragile environments and bring attention to their vital importance. This is why we are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Dr. Scott Pallett and Bill Kwok and their ‘Sentinel Expedition’.

Led by explorers and environmental advocates, Scott Pallett and Bill Kwok will be conducting a groundbreaking expedition in East Antarctica focusing on understanding antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global health threat. Within this pristine environment, the team will conduct genomic sequencing and study the effects of extreme cold on human immunity during arduous polar travel.

Dr Scott Pallett and Bill Kwok will disembark Scenic Eclipse II on Ross Island equipped with skis, kites and sleds, before venturing across one of the most remote and extreme environments. They will summit Mt Erebus to collect cave samples for genetic analysis, traverse the vast Ross Ice Shelf and hope to plot an uncharted route through the Transantarctic Mountains.

This partnership with Scenic and the Sentinel Expedition reinforces Scenic’s ongoing and future commitment to the environment and scientific endeavours. Backed with technical support from Zymo Research and senior researchers of the extreme microbiome project at NASA, the Expedition aims to shed light on how climate change may drive the evolution of AMR and its potential impact on global human health.

Scenic Eclipse II is designed to take you further, and East Antarctica is a true testament to this commitment. As one of the only ultra-luxury ships equipped to explore this remote frontier, the Discovery Yacht delivers an extraordinary blend of discovery and access.

With a Polar Class 6 rating, GPS Dynamic Positioning, strengthened hull, and custom-built stabilisers, Scenic Eclipse II sails with confidence and ease through the world’s oceans. On board, up to only 200 guests enjoy spacious all-verandah suites, world-class dining and a 550m² wellness sanctuary, redefining what it means to explore in style.

For unrivalled destination immersion, Scenic Eclipse II is equipped with two state-of-the-art helicopters, Zodiacs, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards~ unlocking a rare perspective of East Antarctica few have ever witnessed. A Discovery Team of up to 20 polar experts, including scientists, naturalists and historians, will bring each moment to life in this white wilderness through enriching excursions and lectures.

Step into the extraordinary with our 24-day Ross Sea: Majestic Ice & Wildlife voyage departing 6 January 2026, and explore this awe-inspiring region in unrivalled ultra-luxury. Join renowned Sentinel Expedition explorers Dr. Scott Pallett and Bill Kwok on board the Antarctica's Ross Sea: Majestic Ice & Wildlife as they sail into East Antarctica. Midway through the voyage, they will disembark to conduct their scientific work before rejoining the expedition on the Antarctica's Ross Sea: Majestic Ice & Wildlife for the return journey — giving you the unique opportunity to witness their spirited mission up close on either or both stages of their journey.

With the Scenic Eclipse Discovery Team providing vital communication support throughout their journey, you’ll also have a rare front-row seat witnessing history unfolding, all from the comfort of your 6-star Discovery Yacht. Enjoy lectures, Q&As, and intimate conversations with explorers in the main lounge over a whiskey or cocktail of your choice. These moments offer unique insights into their groundbreaking research and the challenges of remote expeditions.

This isn’t just a voyage, it’s an invitation to join a moment in time, exploring one of the planet’s last great frontiers alongside those shaping its future.

Joining the 29 January 2026 departure of the Antarctica's Ross Sea: Majestic Ice & Wildlife are fellow guests Robert Swan - the first person to walk to both the North and South Poles - and his son, fellow explorer and environmental advocate Barney Swan. Re-joining this season is Ian Godfrey, Head Conservator at the Mawson’s Huts Foundation, who will accompany all three East Antarctica voyages.

Read more about Robert & Barney Swan

Read more about Ian Godfrey