The Ross Sea, found on the south side of the Antarctic Continent, was discovered in 1841 by James Ross, an explorer of the Arctic and Antarctica who also discovered Mount Erebus, the second highest volcano in Antarctica which is found in the west of the Ross Sea on Ross Island.

Coming down from the coast of Antarctica into the Ross Sea is the huge Ross Ice Shelf, nearly 750 metres thick in places, which covers some 188,000 sq miles, which is roughly the size of France. Few Antarctic cruises journey this far south, but those that do usually visit these pristine waters en route to New Zealand via Macquarie Island.

Find out more about Antarctic cruises