Scenic Cruises Antarctica Review

I know I’ve been to Antarctica 3 times already working on being an Antarctica Travel Agent I can be, but had to go back for a 4th time to also visit South Georgia Islands and Falkland Islands!  I wanted to be able to answer people when they asked me if it was worth paying more.  I’ll do another post about that specifically, but for now, let’s just look at the Scenic Cruises Antarctica trip as a whole and review it!

 

Scenic Cruises Antarctica Itinerary

Now buckle up, because this one is a 3-week trip!  This itinerary contains the classic peninsula-only cruise as well as South Georgia and Falkland Islands.  

Day 1 ~ Arrival Day!

This was a first, but this was the first company that’s ever picked me up from the airport! And it was a private transfer, so we didn’t have to wait for a whole bunch of people to show up.  It was definitely a nice touch, and it started the trip off right!  

The transfer dropped us off at the hotel (Sofitel in Recoleta), and since I had stayed at the same hotel last trip, it was easy to wander around from there.  For dinner, we met up with my friend’s friend who lives in Baires, and we went to a Michelin-starred restaurant called Fervor. It was in walking distance, really good, and surprisingly way less expensive than I thought a Michelin-starred restaurant would be.

 

Day 2 ~ Trip down to Ushuaia

Scenic took us back to the airport in a bus with the other passengers, helped with luggage, and then we were off on our included flight to Ushuaia.  It was a pretty early flight (I think we left at 5 am), but that gave us some time in Ushuaia as well.

I’ve been to Ushuaia a few times, so I was happy to show my friend around some places that I remembered and looked for some souvenirs.

Then it was time to board the ship!  Check-in was very smooth, and we were met with Champagne and smiling faces.  Here’s a big bonus for Scenic…. All companies require a muster meeting before departure.  It seems boring (it is) and unlikely you’ll need the info (it is), but is still an important process of embarkation.  But with Scenic, we had a personal muster drill where they showed us where to go and told us all the info on the way to the room.  That really saves the vibe because all I want to do is explore and this was very efficient!

 

Day 3 – 4 Drake Crossing

Scenic has stabilizers about 40% larger than they need to be, so the ship was not only smooth but fast too. We crossed the Drake in record time!  Drake days have some info meetings like for bio-security, helicopter info meeting, kayaking/paddling info meeting, etc.  

Like always, it was so exciting to get that first sight of land.  But then we stumbled across a pod of whales that must have found a pretty food-rich area, because they were all around us!  Definitely over 12 of them, and one swam under the ship RIGHT by my window at dinner. I could see all the barnacles! No picture because it was so fast, but a cool experience.

Day 5 – 7 ~ Around Antarctic Peninsula

When you’re actually around land, there are landings and excursions!  They try and get you off the ship twice a day, but as you’ll get used to hearing, “It depends on the weather.”  Landings are on the land, obviously, but they’ll also have zodiac cruises and kayaking.

Some stops we made were Peterman Island (landing), Damoy Point (landing), Charlotte Bay (zodiac), Portal Point (landing), and Charcot Bay (zodiac)

Day 8 – 9 ~ Sea Days on the way to South Georgia Islands

So this is new for me! Normally these days it’s heading back to Ushuaia, but this time we went more Northeast to South Georgia Islands.  On the way, we did a slight detour so we could see A23a iceberg… the largest iceberg in the world!  It’s also making its way to South Georgia, and I was told it would be devastating if it hits there. After seeing it, I can see why! I couldn’t even see where the iceberg ended, so I can understand why it would be so difficult for animals to get food if it runs aground.

Day 10 – 12 ~ Around South Georgia Islands

Stops here will also vary, but just like around the peninsula, they’ll try and get you off twice a day.  Our stops were Bird Island (ship cruise), King Haakon Bay (zodiac), Grytviken (landing), Godthul (zodiac), Fortuna Bay (landing), and Prince Olav Harbour/Possession Bay (ship cruise). 

Grytviken was a whaling site, and now also has a church, museum, and a post office!  

Fortuna Bay is *the* stop in the South Georgia Islands.  It has the megacolony of King Penguins!  We also saw some Chinstraps which was fun because we didn’t see them on the peninsula, lots of seal pups, and a light mantled albatross!

Day 13 – 14 ~ Sea days on the way to Falkland Islands

More sea days!  People often ask me if I get bored, but honestly, I never have time to be bored! I will write more about it in the entertainment section. 

Day 15 – 16 ~ Falkland Islands

The first stop in the Falklands was at Port Stanley!  This was the first stop we had “excursions,” and they were included!  There were a few types of tours, and we opted for the “Battlefield” tour.  While I mostly didn’t care about the battles per se, it was the only tour that got us out of the city to see some of the countryside!

We also had a nice wander around the very walkable town.

The other stop in the Falklands was Saunders Island with a bit of a hike!  While it was a bit steep, it was worth it to see the Black-browed Albatrosses nesting site! 

Also plenty of Rockhoppers which were so cute with their yellow party hair. 

And another surprise to see the Magellanic Penguins!  They actually burrow, and you could see a lot of them coming and going.  

Day 17 – 19 ~ Sea Days heading to Montevideo

More sea days!  Mostly prepping for departure (boo), playing trivia (spoiler alert: we won!), and enjoying the ship while we could!

There were lots of “Behind the scenes” tours that you can sign up for.  Here we are on the kitchen tour!

Day 20 ~ Montevideo and departure 🙁

Scenic handled the disembarkation very smoothly!  We popped our luggage out in the morning, got one last breakfast, said goodbye to our new friends, and then just walked off the ship into Montevideo!  

Scenic Eclipse Cabins

There are several room categories (which will hopefully get their own post soon!), but I stayed in a balcony (verandah) suite!

My absolute favorite feature of the room was the adjustable beds. I’ve never had that at sea before and honestly, never on land!  It made it so comfy for hanging out, reading, working, or watching TV.  My friend was very excited because her father can only sleep in adjustable beds, so this really opens things up for people!

Lots of storage, to put things away (although I am glad I brought magnetic hooks to hang wet things).

The bathroom was lovely and sufficiently big enough.

The entertainment area was interesting.  It was a TV, but in kind of a mirror?  There were preloaded movies to watch, cameras on board, or you could even link your phone to it! We looked at pictures and decided which to delete and keep this way which was much nicer than us both looking at a phone.

All in all, loved the rooms.  The beds were insanely comfortable, robes were used DAILY, and slept very well!

 

Scenic Cruises Antarctica Food and Drinks 

Breakfast and lunch are usually buffet style, but there are several options for dinner (and some lunches). 

Yacht Club

Yacht Club is the main dining area.  It’s where the main breakfast and lunch buffets are (though there are also other places to eat those).   The spread is vast, delicious, and often there were themes! I think it was my favorite buffet of all the Antarctica trips I’ve been on.

Azure Cafe

This is a smaller bistro feel with indoor and outdoor (weather permitting) seating.  They do have a menu available, but I’d say this is more of a snacks or light breakfast vibe. They always have beautiful desserts, so I found myself swinging by a lot just to see them.

Elements

Elements and Koko’s are the main two dinner places.  We’d always check the menus to decide which one to go to that night.  No reservations are required. Elements is more Italian, Steak and Seafood.  I leaned more towards Elements just because of my dining preferences.  I loved the gnocchi!

Koko’s

The second of the two main dinner places.  Kokos is Asian Fusian.  I’m not the best person to ask about food because I have some allergies, but everyone just raved about it here, so I know it must be good!

Lumiere ~ Reservations Required

Lumiere is the French restaurant, and it was AMAZING.  Like I said, I’m not a foodie… I’m very basic, but this food was amazing.  It was several courses and each one was well-proportioned so you won’t feel stuffed. 

Just absolutely gorgeous and decadent food.

 

Sushi at Koko’s ~ Reservations Required

This was my other favorite spot because I love sushi.  The ingredients were so fresh, beautifully rolled, and you could have as much as you wanted! The seared scallops were my favorite!

Nightmarket ~ Reservations Required

Nightmarket is an intimate and slightly interactive meal event.  There are different cuisines featured, so you can sign up for your preference!  It’s another several course affair with just 6  people!

Chef’s Table ~ Very Exclusive

This is a private event with the head chef. I don’t much about it because… I wasn’t invited! I’m not sure what the stipulations are to get this experience, but I imagine it’s based on interest (gotta ask!), celebrations, and maybe room category?  

 

Epicure ~ Reservations Required

Epicure is another intimate gathering (maybe 16 people?) in a private kitchen with the Head Chef.  The Head Chef will walk you through prep and cooking of a beautiful meal. And bonus, you’ll also receive the recipe to take home! 

He was also able to make me a side dish separately without my allergens, so I was still able to have the experience.

 

Room Service

Then there’s always good ol’ room service!

Food Allergies/Special Diets on Swan Hellenic Cruise

Before boarding, you complete a form detailing your food allergies and preferences. Once on board, I also remind the crew about my allergies: pepper, peppers, and onions (I know, right?). They often went out of their way to ensure my food was safe for me to eat, even preparing special dishes when necessary! I met others on board who were lactose intolerant and gluten-free, and they always had suitable meal choices available too.

 

What To Do on Scenic Antarctica Cruises

Sightseeing

This one’s free! Just poke your head outside, and you’re going to see a lot of wildlife!  They always joke that the smokers always see the most wildlife, because they’re outside!

Presentations

Each expedition leader has a different area of expertise, so they give us amazing presentations!  The main topics will be birds/penguins, cetaceans, mammals, history, and many more!  They also record them if you’re not able to attend.

Entertainment

This ship had the most entertainment of any I’ve done.  There were two hosts who would perform as a duet,  solo, and full-blown ensembles complete with costume changes.  They did a phenomenal job, and my friend (who works in Theater agrees! One evening, we were treated to a special outdoor concert.

They also hosted silly game events and excursions throughout the ship.  There was a fun one where we pretended we were scientists and had to make a packing list.  Our leader said our group got the highest score she’d ever seen! We’re so competitive lol!  Another favorite was a “Murder Mystery Musical.”

My favorite silly game event was nightly trivia!  My friends and I formed a small group with some other travelers, and we were fiercely competitive! And it paid off because we won the trivia event!

Then a less structured arts and crafts time! We had cookie decorating, origami, and more!

Snack time

You can get food at any time!  Most of the time snack time I’d go to Azure or get some room service.

 

Health and Wellness

Gym

Of course, there’s a gym! It’s pretty cool to be working out and look out and see whales and icebergs!  It had some treadmills, weight training, and yoga mats.

Yoga and Pilates Studio

This isn’t really my thing,  but they had some equipment and classes.

There was also a smaller area with these?

Steam Sauna

There’s a classic steam sauna on board as well when you need a warm-up.

Infrared Sauna

I’ve never seen this on a ship before, but there’s also a light therapy sauna!  

Thermal Loungers

Very chill area with heated loungers to bask and replenish.

Cold Plunge Pool

If you can’t wait for the polar plunge, there’s a small cold plunge pool inside. I saw people use it between sauna sessions.

Vitality Pool

At the back of the ship, is a heated pool to look out the rear of the ship. It’s not like HOT but it’s warmer than you’d expect.

Hot Tubs

If you wanted a real hot tub, no worries, there are two!  Sometimes there’s a bartender up there, but you can also bring drinks or someone walking by will ask as well.

Hair and Beauty Salon

You can also get your hair cut, dyed, or blown out at the salon!  And would you even believe there were mani/pedis too!

Massages and Facials

I waited too long to book, so definitely sign up if you want one. But you’re able to get nice and pampered while on board.

Reading/Writing

There’s also a library on board with books and games you can borrow.  I also used the very plentiful hang-out areas to read a book or write in my journal.

Hang out on the Bridge

Scenic has an open bridge policy which means you get to go see how the ship is commanded. You have to be quiet, but it’s a great view! We tried to pop in at least every day.

Scenic Cruises Antarctica Excursions:

Included: 

Zodiacs

Not only are zodiacs used to get us from ship to shore, but zodiacs can also be an excursion if there’s nothing on land to see.  I really like the zodiac cruises because you can see whales, seals, and penguins at eye level!

Polar Plunge

Totally optional, and you get a certificate!  It was done off the back of this ship.

Kayaking and Paddle-boarding

It’s included, but is weather dependent.  

Hiking

It depends on the landing site, but often there’s a bit of a walk to get up higher to see a view.  

Not included:

Helicopter

I wasn’t planning on doing it since I had already on the Ultramarine, but because of our itinerary, we ended up near the world’s largest iceberg, A23a.  So… I did it!  

Submarine

Scenic Eclipse also has a submarine, however it wasn’t running when I went.  But it looked amazing, and I absolutely would have if it was an option! I know a lot of people are worried after the whole Oceangate thing, but this is a very sophisticated submarine and very different. And not at all as deep! 

 

Staff and Crew on Scenic Antarctica Ship

Expedition Staff

This ship had a huge expedition staff!  They were all very friendly and quite knowledgeable as well.  

Hotel Staff

Their job is the “hotel” side of the trip like keeping our rooms tidy, and food and drink service.  My room attendant even taught me how to make some of the towel animals!

You’ve also gotta make friends with the bartenders and find one that makes your fave drinks.  It was hard to choose a favorite, but Ivan and Pavan were ours!

Sailors

Their job is to do a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff to keep the ship going.  They also offered us a few tours to see more.  The ones you’re most likely to see are the ones who work with the zodiacs and help us on and off.  

The Best Part of the Scenic Cruises Antarctica Trip

Always hard to choose! And as always, can’t pick anything not in their control.  So my favorite feature is probably the adjustable beds!  Close second is the launderette though, but I definitely used the beds more often.  

The Worst Part of Scenic Antarctica Trip

I absolutely loved my trip, but I will admit the submarine being out of service was a huge disappointment.  Trust me, I’m so happy they are safe and figured it out, but it was something I was looking forward to.  Something more in their control though is I said I can’t eat onions or peppers, and I was served a sauce that had chili pepper in it, and I ended up very sick. 

They were super apologetic after that, and also went overboard confirming all my meals in the future were ok for me.  Like I said, they even made me my own dish in the cooking class so I could try it.  

 

Compare Scenic Antarctica to Other Companies

It’s in the works to make an infographic to compare all the lines’ ships. But for now, Scenic I feel lived up to the ultra luxury with the fine details.  

I would recommend this company to people who are in a pair, want adventurous activities like helicopters and submarines, and like an ultra-luxury experience!

 

How to Book Scenic Antarctica Cruises

Thanks for reading!  Please reach out if you have any questions!