The ultra-luxury expedition vessel Scenic Eclipse II was assisted by the United States Coast Guard’s heavy icebreaker, USCGC Polar Star, after the cruise ship became beset in pack ice in Antarctica’s Ross Sea on 17 January 2026.
In a Coast Guard statement, Polar Star said Scenic Eclipse II contacted the cutter at around 11pm local time after becoming stuck in pack ice roughly eight nautical miles from McMurdo Sound. The icebreaker’s crew conducted two close passes to break the vessel free, then escorted the ship approximately four nautical miles to open water. There was no distress call made and there was no danger to the vessel, its passengers and crew at any time.
This a timely reminder that polar itineraries are defined as much by conditions as by geography. Crucially, where a ship can safely operate is influenced by its ice strengthening and ice-class certification, not simply marketing language.
Scenic positions Scenic Eclipse II as Polar Class 6, with a strengthened hull for polar operations. That is an important capability yet it is not the same as being a dedicated heavy icebreaker which is designed to break and maintain channels through far heavier ice as part of Antarctic operations.
When recommending Antarctic and Arctic voyages, it’s worth verifying the vessel’s ice class, expedition operating model, and the realities of itinerary variability. In these environments, conditions can change quickly so the ship’s capability (and the operator’s operational decision-making) is central to the overall guest experience.
Video Courtesy: US Coast Guard / Christopher Bokum