When the six-star ocean-going discovery yacht, Scenic Eclipse, made her debut in 2019, her butlers, submarines, helicopters and fleet of Zodiacs reminiscent of a Bond movie made a brilliant splash. The ship, in fact, has shot straight to the top of the ultra-luxury lists of demanding clients everywhere.
I boarded this striking black-and-silver mega-yacht in Vancouver, where I was picked up from the airport by a black-liveried chauffeur in a private Lincoln—an inkling of what awaited me during our 10-day jaunt on the Iconic West Coast Experience that ended in San Diego. The itinerary—a repositioning voyage after a deployment in Antarctica—included stops in Victoria, Seattle, Astoria, Eureka, San Francisco and Santa Barbara. Note for your clients: The itinerary will be repeated in May when the ship goes back north, just in reverse.
“For us it’s about showcasing the wonderful Pacific Northwest and California,” says Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours’ Maggie Carbonell, v.p. of marketing, U.S. “I think it’s a unique itinerary for anyone in the U.S. Even though you can drive the coast, you’re not going to get all the experiences you can have aboard this luxury yacht anywhere. For us it’s showing America in a different way.”
It’s perfect for cruisers who are looking for curated experiences and can appreciate the onboard ultra-luxury ambiance, she adds. “This is a different style of cruising, slower. Almost like it’s your own yacht.” Case in point: When whales were sighted, the captain promptly turned the ship around so we could all enjoy them.
As I walked up to the vessel, it was easy to see why Scenic named it The World’s First Discovery Yacht, not ship. This is no rough-and-tumble expedition cruiser. Check-in is in the expansive main lounge on deck four, the heart of the Eclipse where everyone gathers for socializing with before- and after-dinner drinks at the striking premium whiskey bar (you can order anything you crave, not just whiskey, by the way). The uber-modern decor here and throughout the ship relies on an elegant, muted palette of grays and chrome accents, the better to showcase the incredible art collection curated by CEO and founder Glen Moroney’s wife, Karen.
My “home away from home” was a Deluxe Verandah Suite, one of only 114 total suites across five decks. They all come with furnished private terraces or verandahs, ultra-luxury amenities, an espresso coffee machine, a separate lounge area and butler service. The latter ensures you’re stocked with your fave beverages and snacks, makes reservations at the handful of restaurants that need them, and whatever else your heart desires. The cabin is wonderfully soundproof, features electronic black-out blinds and the king-sized bed is adjustable and comes with a pillow menu. Suite categories range from the 344-sq.-ft. Verandah Suites to the 2,637-sq.-ft. 2-bedroom Penthouse Suite.
This ship is also “truly all-inclusive,” as in all restaurants and all excursions. This voyage included an unforgettable morning of whale watching off the coast of Victoria, a turn on the Redwood Sky Walk in Eureka, wine tasting in Sonoma, a visit to the Dale Chihuly glass exhibit in Seattle, and a private tour of the “Ramses the Great” exhibit at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, to name but a few.
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The maximum passenger capacity is 228 (200 in Polar areas) with a crew of 176, which equals extraordinary personalized service, a big draw for high-end travel advisors. “For couples and more sophisticated travelers, the smaller ship is the way to go,” says Virtuoso advisor Bonnie Sherman of San Diego’s ProTravel International. “This ship is beautiful, the staff is well-trained, and the majority of the staff addresses you by name—that’s important and makes you feel they value you.”
“The staff-to-client ration is like no other,” agrees Marie-France Gravel of Toronto’s Bespoke Travel Design, also a Virtuoso agency. “The private butler, all the dining options, the ship itself—the stability, the security, the helicopter, the added amenities, the size of the cabins are definitely a plus. Luxury-wise it’s a 10 out of 10. This is the level that my clients expect. As for the itinerary, even though it’s a repositioning itinerary, seeing the Western Pacific Coast from the water versus driving it is really cool.”
Because this is an actual expedition craft, onboard entertainment and amenities are pared down, but by no means absent. There are nine bars and lounges and eight dining options from casual to dressy in addition to 24-hour (surprisingly fast) room service, plus an exquisite Chef’s Table, an out-of-this-world degustation experience that’s by invitation only. Onboard wellness is just as upscale: the Senses Spa on deck 6 boasts 5,920 sq. ft. of temperature-controlled plunge pools, saunas, steam rooms, treatment rooms, the outdoor Vitality pool and talented massage therapists, plus there’s a full-service salon, a fully equipped gym and a dreamy yoga and Pilates studio with daily classes. On deck 10, you can indulge in two bubbling hot-tubs and semi-private cabanas with a view.
All this above-and-beyond mega-yacht luxury notwithstanding, there’s no forgetting you’re on a ship with actual superpowers: This is a polar-class 6 certified vessel, with an electronic Azipod propulsion system, huge stabilizers and GPS dynamic positioning—Bond-worthy technology so it can slice through pack ice with ease and hover over delicate seabeds without dropping anchor.
Two surprisingly quiet state-of-the-art helicopters and the Scenic Neptune submarine offer guests the opportunity to get up-close and personal with sealife and views they’d never dream possible. And while a helicopter ride over the Golden Gate Bridge is memorable, the ship and its toys truly shine on Polar voyages, as Jason Flesher, expedition operations manager for Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, explained in a gorgeous show-and-tell. When booking Scenic for Antarctica, remember it’s the only one currently offering helicopter tours, and thanks to its unique marina, it can put Zodiacs and guests in the water quicker than any other ship to make the most of time restrictions.
This next-level luxury expedition ocean cruiser and its sister ships aren’t passing unnoticed. Ann Chamberlin, v.p. of sales for Scenic, U.S., shares they have won a slew of awards and were recently accepted into the Nexion Travel Group as a supplier and are ready to go full steam ahead in this market. “We are fully staffed for trade support,” she says. “We have a newly created inside sales support team, as well, to gear up for the demand we expect from the American traveler.” The line currently has a charter division—perfect for these small ships—and Chamberlin shares they just started a new North America groups division headed by veteran leader in luxury groups cruise travel, Lisa Auguste. “These are all divisions to help support and nurture new trade business.”
Chamberlin is also a huge supporter of ASTA, and shares Scenic has invested with them on the Diamond Level to help them continue to advocate for travel advisors. “The other thing we’re doing is aggressively pursuing preferred relationships with our host agency account and consortia, so you’ll see more of that in 2023. This will help travel advisors get elevated commissions, additional marketing support, and opportunities to experience our ships. We’re pretty generous with our FAM programs—we know that seeing is believing,” she adds.
Earlier this year, Scenic announced its Advance Commission Program, which pays travel advisor commissions within 21 days after full payment for trips booked at least six months out (note: the program currently ends December 31, 2022).