Europe for Visitors Blog

ABOVE: A CGI rendering of Scenic Eclipse in Paradise Bay, Antarctica.

Scenic, an Australian-based international cruise and tour company, has operated river cruises in Europe since 2008. Today, Scenic has 13 luxury "space ships" operating in Europe under the Scenic Cruises brand, and it launched a new four-star brand--Emerald Waterways--in 2014.

Now, with the announcement of a Polar Class 6-rated "discovery yacht," Scenic is going after the small-ship oceangoing cruise market. When Scenic Eclipse enters service on August 31, 2018, it will offer luxury cruises in such disparate regions as the Mediterranean, the  Arctic, and the Antarctic.

The brand-new 16,500-GRT vessel will accommodate a maximum of 228 passengers in 114 suites (200 passengers in polar regions).

Every suite will have a private verandah (to use Scenic's Australian spelling), and suites will vary in size from 32 square meters (344 square feet) to 233 square meters (2,508 square feet), including balcony.

Other amenities will include two seven-seat helicopters, a seven-seat submarine, Zodiacs, kayaks, snorkeling and scuba equipment, and a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). Six dining venues, a spa, a gym, a library, and a 240-seat theater will also be on hand.

As of this writing, details about Scenic Eclipse's debut season were still sketchy, but we do know that the cruise calendar will begin with a miaden voyage from Istanbul to Venice followed by sailings to the Americas, Antarctica, Europe and the Mediterranean, and the Antarctic and Norwegian fjords.

To keep an eye on Scenic's plans for its first "discovery yacht," visit and bookmark:

www.scenicusa.com/eclipse

 Images courtesy of Scenic USA.