VIDEO: Captain of Scenic Eclipse Shares What it’s Like to Navigate in Antarctica

Is Antarctica on your travel bucket list? The White Continent is the ultimate expedition cruising destination: literally at the end of the earth, and able to be reached only by ship, with its epic scenery of glaciers, icebergs, and surprisingly rich wildlife, including several varieties of penguins, elephant seals, whales and more, Antarctica has remained just a dream destination for most travelers. 

Well, that’s changing, with luxury expedition cruising that allows you to achieve one of the travel experiences of a lifetime – in the lap of luxury, with all the comforts of an upscale, chic, urban hotel, even while you’re sailing in the farthest reaches of the world. 

In addition to Scenic Eclipse’s stylish design, lavish suites, elegant and lively bars, inspiring and educational destination learning sessions in the Discovery Center, and globally-inspired cuisine in multiple restaurants (they even grow their own greens onboard so, no matter how remote a region the Scenic Eclipse is sailing, the quality and presentation of the cuisine remains at the highest levels), the ship is equipped to safely and comfortably navigate the farthest waters of the planet. 

That means Azipod stabilizers, and a polar-class hull that allows it to sail through year-old ice. 

Despite the technological innovations in recent years that make ships like the Scenic Eclipse possible, sailing in polar waters is no ‘walk in the park.’  The natural wonders polar travelers seek have a flip side – and humans are puny next to Nature. 

It requires a highly skilled, accomplished and experienced team to sail the 200 guests aboard the Scenic Eclipse in Antarctica, where no Coast Guard and few other ships are to be found. 

Scenic Eclipse has an ‘open bridge’ policy – one of the unique aspects of sailing with this cruise line. It allows guests to meet the navigation team, watch them in action, and talk to them about their extraordinary jobs, and learn a bit about what it takes to sail an ultra-luxury, polar-class expedition ship in one of the world’s last frontiers. 

So when we sailed aboard the Scenic Eclipse in Antarctica, we took our cameras to the bridge to talk to the captain and staff captain about the challenges and the rewards – and what they love most – about sailing around the White Continent. 

It was no surprise they told us some guests visit the bridge daily and even - tongue in cheek - ask for a job! One of the most exciting and incredible jobs in the world in one of the most fascinating and inspiring destinations. 

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By: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist. 

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