Celebrity Equinox has altered its Antarctica itinerary after a medical emergency onboard required an urgent diversion, resulting in the ship missing a planned visit to Elephant Island during its 14-night round-trip Antarctica sailing.
While operating in Antarctic waters during its scenic sailing, the Celebrity ship diverted away from Elephant Island and repositioned near King George Island. This is an area commonly used for medical evacuations due to the presence of Antarctica’s primary airstrip.
Passenger reports and live tracking data from CruiseMapper show Celebrity Equinox holding position off King George Island near Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Martin Airport.
The airfield serves as a critical evacuation point for ships operating around the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, particularly during medical emergencies where onboard treatment is insufficient.
The round-trip cruise departed Buenos Aires on January 3, 2026, and is scheduled to return on January 17, 2026.
Medical evacuation was necessary, resulting in diversion
While no specific medical details were shared, passengers broadly supported the decision, noting that emergency response options in Antarctica are extremely limited and safety must come first.
Unfortunately, guests on the Antarctica sailing will miss the scenic sailing in Elephant Island, which is one of Antarctica’s most historically significant and visually dramatic locations. Situated off the northern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, the island is known for its sheer cliffs, glaciers, and notoriously rough seas.
The island is best known for its role in Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance expedition in the early 1900s, when his crew famously took refuge there after their ship was crushed by ice. Today, Elephant Island remains a powerful symbol of survival and leadership in polar exploration history.
Because of its exposed position and lack of sheltered landing sites, calls at Elephant Island are among the most weather-dependent and operationally challenging stops on any Antarctica itinerary, even under normal conditions.
Because of its size, Celebrity Equinox does not conduct passenger landings in Antarctica. Unlike smaller expedition vessels designed for Zodiac operations and shore excursions, the ship’s Antarctica itineraries are structured around scenic cruising only.
Guests experience Antarctica from onboard vantage points as the ship navigates through ice-filled waters, glaciers, and fjords, with itinerary highlights focused on wildlife viewing, photography, and commentary rather than landfall.
As of January 17, 2026, the sailing remains scheduled to conclude as planned:
- January 3 – Departed Buenos Aires, Argentina
- January 7 – Ushuaia, Argentina
- January 8 – Cape Horn
- January 9 – Paradise Harbor, Antarctica
- January 10 – Elephant Island (missed due to medical diversion)
- January 12 – Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
- January 14 – Puerto Madryn, Argentina
- January 16 – Montevideo, Uruguay
- January 17 – Arrives in Buenos Aires, Argentina
About Celebrity Equinox
Celebrity Equinox is a Solstice-class cruise ship that operates a mix of South America, Antarctica, and repositioning itineraries during the Southern Hemisphere summer. When she isn’t sailing in South America, Celebrity Equinox offers Mediterranean cruises in Europe.
While not a purpose-built expedition vessel, the ship offers extended scenic cruising in Antarctic waters, allowing guests to experience icebergs, glaciers, and polar wildlife from onboard vantage points rather than landings.
Antarctica sailings aboard Celebrity Equinox typically depart from Buenos Aires and include stops in southern Argentina, Chilean fjords or Cape Horn, and the Falkland Islands before reaching Antarctic waters. These voyages are highly dependent on weather, ice conditions, and operational feasibility, with itinerary changes always possible.
This isn’t the first time Celebrity Equinox has made headlines in recent weeks
Celebrity Equinox made headlines in Buenos Aires earlier this month after the ship broke free from its moorings while docked at the cruise terminal. The sudden jolt sent the gangway into the water and caused the ship to drift into a nearby refueling vessel, forcing boarding operations to pause temporarily.
Passengers shared images and videos showing the vessel drifting away from the pier, prompting an immediate response from port authorities and tugboats, which worked to stabilize the ship and prevent further movement.
No injuries were reported, and Celebrity Cruises later confirmed that the situation was brought under control. While the incident caused concern among passengers and observers, the ship was ultimately able to resume operations following a delayed departure.
The accident highlights the challenges of port operations in South America, where strong winds, shifting currents, and variable weather can impact even large, modern cruise ships.
Separately, additional disruptions were reported in Ushuaia, where an Atlas Ocean Voyages expedition ship, World Voyager, broke loose during severe weather and struck a nearby Viking expedition vessel, Viking Octantis.
The incident further highlighted the difficult port conditions common during the Antarctic cruise season, when high winds and sudden storms can complicate docking and mooring operations in southern Argentina and Chile.
