On December 4, an incredibly rare total solar eclipse will occur near the Antarctic Peninsula, a phenomenon that only happens every few hundred years.
Practically every expedition cruise line is seizing the occasion of this rare event to offer sailings in which their ships will be positioned in the path of eclipse totality, (the narrow track of the moon’s shadow falling on the Earth), as this shadow falls on the South Atlantic Ocean, according to Travel Weekly.
Development Promotions told Travel News that the MS Roald Amundsen, Hurtigruten’s first new hybrid powered ship, will sail an 18-day eclipse-watching cruise, departing from Santiago de Chile on November 24, and positioning for the eclipse in the South Orkney Islands, 600km northeast of the Antarctic Peninsula. A professional astronomer will be part of the expedition team for the duration of the voyage, delivering a series of in-depth lectures and providing insights during the eclipse.
Hurtigruten’s MS Fram will also be positioned at the South Orkney Islands for the eclipse, departing Ushuaia on November 22 (flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia is included in packages), for a 23-day cruise.
Development Promotions also has the representation for Ponant, which will have a sailing of Le Commandant-Charcot. This is a polar exploration vessel powered by a hybrid model of electric/liquid natural gas. Departure is from Ushuaia on November 29, and the cruise duration is 16 days. The ship plans to be positioned in the Weddell Sea ice pack, in the heart of the area in the area where the eclipse will be 100% visible, weather permitting.
Silversea Cruises (represented in South Africa by Cruise Vacations) is offering two eclipse cruises – an 11-night cruise, departing from Ushuaia (flight from Santiago de Chile included in the package) on November 30 on the Silver Cloud, taking in the eclipse, plus Elephant Island, the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. On board will be David Aguilar, former Director of Science Information at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, and he won’t be the only scientist on the Southern Ocean on December 4.
Cruise operators are also rustling up astronomers, physicists and astronauts to enrich the voyage for cruisers.
Scenic Cruises offers guests a chance to see the eclipse from the Scenic Eclipse on a 20-day cruise, departing November 21 from Ushuaia (flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia is included in packages). The cruise includes the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, the Antarctic Peninsula and the eclipse at sea. Scenic Eclipse will have an on-board team of more than a dozen experts, including two astrophysics lecturers, formerly of NASA.
Cruise Vacations is the GSA in South Africa for Silversea Cruises and Scenic Cruises.
The eclipse (as a partial eclipse) will also be visible from certain sites on the Namibia and South African coasts.
