The very first thing I realized in regards to the Scenic Eclipse II is simply how graceful the dark-hulled send seemed. Suppose mega yacht. Incorrect, suppose giga-yacht. At 551 ft, that is incorrect tiny send — even though, on the earth of cruise traces, the Scenic Eclipse II charges as a instead intimate vessel, with a capability of simply 228 passengers.
Operated by way of the Australian emblem that carved out a distinct segment with luxurious expedition vessels, this “discovery yacht” cuts the similar beautiful silhouette as its sibling, Scenic Eclipse, which debuted in 2019. Each ships even have the entire {hardware} had to function within the polar areas, with an expedition staff to tug off adventures in playgrounds corresponding to Antarctica.
However Scenic Eclipse II additionally represents an evolution: It’s been tweaked with an sight to warm-weather locations, such because the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Added on Deck 10 have been plunge swimming pools, solar loungers, and an indoor-outdoor Sky Bar. Those options, the pondering is going, will likely be extra in call for when the send is in playgrounds like Southern Europe, say, the place there’s much less hard-core journey and a extra immersive shore-side enjoy.
To present it a attempt, I joined the Scenic Eclipse II for its christening proceed in June 2023, touring from Barcelona to Málaga, Spain, with stops alongside the best way within the Balearic Islands. I used to be keen to check the enjoy in this send, within the bustling ports of Southern Europe, with the texture of the actual, on which I had in the past traveled to Antarctica.
The studies have been, because it seems, starkly other. In contrast to within the polar areas, the place visitors spend the lion’s percentage in their era at the send, the Europe cruise took me to interesting playgrounds on land: I spent maximum of my voyage on diverse town excursions, visiting important websites just like the prehistoric Talayotic villages in Menorca and the Botánico Biotecnológico, a high-tech botanical farmland, in Ibiza.
One of the vital highlights of my specific crusing used to be the chance to talk with NASA astronaut Kathryn Sullivan, who used to be on board in her capability because the send’s godmother. She regaled us — passengers and staff — with stories of her occupation in area, her voyages on expedition cruises, and her descent into the Challenger Deep, the Pacific Ocean spot that’s greater than 35,000 ft under sea point.
“There is one common thread of DNA that combines all these experiences: exploration and learning. That’s has always been what motivates me,” Sullivan stated. “It’s just the intense and pervasive curiosity about different places, about this planet. Who lives there? What critters live there? What’s the landscape like?”
Reality be informed, that very same sense of journey is what’s aspiring me to hop enroute many expedition ships over time. Day this actual voyage thru Spain lacked the texture of, say, an icebergs-and-penguins odyssey thru Antarctica, I did respect being enroute a smaller send right through height season in Europe. It used to be additionally a peace to go back to the finest eating places on board — to not point out my spacious cabin — next a protracted era of traveling on shore.
Right here’s a more in-depth glance about what to anticipate when touring on Scenic Eclipse II and my assessment of its staterooms, facilities, and extra.
Scenic Eclipse II
The Staterooms
Courtesy of Scenic
There are 114 balcony suites, or even entry-level choices are attended by way of butlers. Even the smallest of the bunch, Verandah Suites, really feel spacious, launch at 344 sq. ft. I in particular cherished how roomy the toilet felt — and the way snazzy the black-and-white marble seemed. All suites have king-size beds (that may be crack into two twins) and high-end facilities together with Dyson hair dryers.
Alternative cabin divisions come with Spa Suites (launch at 495 sq. ft), Landscape Suites (launch at 1,130 sq. ft), and Proprietor’s Penthouse Suites (an astonishing 2,099 sq. ft). Spa Suites have the addition of a Philippe Starck–designed bathtub; the 2 Proprietor’s Penthouse Suites on board have open air spa tubs on their sprawling terraces.
MISLAV MESEK/Courtesy of Scenic
Bars and Eating places
Scenic Eclipse II has an improbable array of pleasant eating studies — 10 in all. My favorites integrated the sushi bar, French eating place Lumière, the adjoining Champagne bar, and Evening Marketplace @ Koko’s, a venue with a rotating menu of regional cuisines, from the Heart East to Republic of India. I additionally cherished the fickle Azure Café, which serves lighter bites for breakfast and lunch, plus pizzas and pastas for dinner. Room provider — which is to be had 24 hours a era — used to be additionally important. After all, it’s importance bringing up the pretty Scenic Front room Bar, at the back of which is an illuminated show of uncommon whiskies, all to be had at incorrect difference rate.
The place Scenic Eclipse II Sails
The place doesn’t this send sail? With Polar Elegance 6 score, Scenic Eclipse II is able to touring to the Arctic and Antarctica but in addition spends era in warm-weather spots together with the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia, relying at the season. The send additionally travels to ordinary cruise locations, together with the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. On account of the send’s rather tiny length, it may discuss with some ports that mega-ships aren’t in a position to.
Shore Tours
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On my crusing, integrated shore tours have been relatively conventional: Visitors had their selection of town strolling excursions, at the side of visits to main points of interest, like ancient websites and cultural facilities. In some locations, we had the solution to take on extra adventurous tours, corresponding to snorkeling.
When the send is in “discovery mode,” on expedition in additional far flung places, such because the Arctic and Antarctica, tours are extra dynamic — suppose boarding Zodiacs to create “wet landings” on shore or for scenic journeys round icebergs. In lots of locations, Scenic Eclipse II deals helicopter and submersible tours for an spare rate, relying on native rules and the elements. .
Facilities and Leisure
Courtesy of Scenic
Essentially the most noteceable amenity on Scenic Eclipse II is the spa, which spans just about 6,000 sq. ft and features a thermal suite. I additionally spent plethora of relaxing era at the solar deck, the place there’s a plunge puddle and the indoor-outdoor Sky Bar. So far as leisure is going, you received’t in finding the over-the-top productions that it’s possible you’ll see on mega-ships, however that’s a part of being on an intimate expedition-style vessel. There’s a tiny theater, despite the fact that, and I loved the night displays placed on by way of the gifted singers enroute.
Nation-friendly Choices
Kids elderly 12 and up are welcome, however my sense used to be that this isn’t a in particular kid-friendly send: There’s incorrect child’s membership neither is there any form of programming aimed in particular at tweens or teenagers. The proper of youngsters may like those journeys, however they’ll wish to be keen to be, probably, the one kids enroute.
Accessibility
There are not any wheelchair-accessible cabins on Scenic Eclipse II, which does have elevator provider between all decks. Scenic advises vacationers to touch the corporate sooner than reserving to talk about any particular accessibility considerations. Significance a point out used to be one day right through my travel, when a number of alternative visitors and I have been transported by way of bus from our pre-embarkation resort to the port: We have been dropped off nowhere close the send, and there have been incorrect Scenic team of workers available to steer us to the terminal’s front. A couple of lot folks, together with some society with restricted mobility, discovered it to be a relatively tricky enjoy.
