This Is the Most Important Cruise Detail to Know Before Booking an Expedition Cruise

"If you're a cruise fan, it's likely that you've seen the video circulating online of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) carving out an Antarctic escape route for Scenic Eclipse II, whose path was obstructed by shifting pack ice in the Ross Sea on January 17th, 2026. Guests onboard sipped champagne from the observation deck as the USCG Polar Star cleared the waters for their onward passage."

"Scenic Eclipse II is a Polar Class 6 ship, a classification that indicates it's capable of cruising during summer and autumn in medium first-year ice. In other words, through ice that's not as thick as multi-year ice. As you browse expedition cruise itineraries and websites, you'll come across terms like Polar Class, often grouped under the umbrella term of Ice Class."

Scenic Eclipse II, a Polar Class 6 vessel, required assistance when shifting pack ice obstructed its path in the Ross Sea on January 17, 2026, prompting the USCG Polar Star to clear a route. Polar Class (PC) is an international hull-strength classification used to indicate a ship's ice capability, with seven categories from PC7 to PC1. Key factors for ice classification include hull reinforcement, propulsion power and protection, maneuverability in ice, and the ship's ability to withstand ice pressure and different ice types. Life-saving and fire-fighting equipment must be certified for polar conditions for reliable operation in extreme cold.

Read at Travel + Leisure