The U.S. Coast Guard helped break the Scenic Eclipse II cruise ship out of sea ice during an Antarctica voyage on Jan. 17.
The cruise ship had become "beset in pack ice" when its captain contacted the Polar Star, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, for assistance, according to the Coast Guard. The Scenic Eclipse II has a strengthened hull designed for Antarctica cruising, but the ship is not an icebreaker.
Video from the Coast Guard vessel, a heavy icebreaker, shows it cutting a path in the ice for the cruise ship's exit. It then escorted the Scenic Eclipse II four nautical miles until it reached open water, the Coast Guard said.
Without assistance, the journey would have been significantly slower for the Scenic Eclipse II, though Scenic Group said it "was never in need of rescue services."
"The coordination between both vessels ensured we could navigate the changing pack ice safely and efficiently," said Scenic's general manager for ocean operations, Capt. James Griffiths.
Scenic described the experience as a highlight for its guests and said they were offered champagne to commemorate the operation.
The Coast Guard, meanwhile, also considered the operation celebratory, as it happened to fall on the 50th anniversary of the day the Polar Star was commissioned.