US Coast Guard icebreaker smashes through Antarctic ice to rescue a cruise ship that got stuck
Published on Feb 20, 2026 at 7:14 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Feb 20, 2026 at 9:10 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
When this cruise ship got stuck on the Antarctic ice, a US Coast Guard icebreaker came to its aid.
After ice conditions changed, the Scenic Eclipse II was left stranded.
Fortunately, the Coast Guard sailed into action, breaking through the ice and helping the ship sail free.
The icebreaker in question was the Polar Star, and it did a magnificent job.
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US Coast Guard icebreaker came to the rescue of this cruise ship
When the Scenic Eclipse II became ‘beset in ice’, the ship’s captain put out a call to the Polar Star for assistance.
While the cruise ship has a strengthened hull ideal for cruising in cold waters, it’s not an icebreaker.
That role was for the Polar Star to fill.
Videos filmed from the point of view of the Polar Star showed the icebreaker in action, as it cut a path through the ice for the other vessel to exit.
It then went on to escort the Scenic Eclipse II for four nautical miles until it reached open water.
Scenic Group, the company behind the Eclipse II, has clarified that the ship was ‘never in need of rescue services’ – this was assistance.
“The coordination between both vessels ensured we could navigate the changing pack ice safely and efficiently,” Scenic’s general manager for ocean operations, Capt. James Griffiths said.
For guests onboard, this whole experience was described as a highlight, and they were offered champagne to commemorate the operation’s success, Travel Weekly reported.
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It’s always awesome to see icebreakers in action
The North Pole and Antarctica are places that have fascinated us for centuries.
They’re widely seen as inhospitable to human life, and these regions certainly aren’t ideal for sailing conditions.
Only a few ships are capable of navigating them.
And boy, does it make for an impressive spectacle.
Remember when these Russian and French icebreakers came face-to-face?
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Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
