Scenic Eclipse sets sail: Luxury mega yacht to embark on first discovery cruise

It has been years in the making and now the world’s first discovery ‘mega-yacht’ has finally set sail in what will be a game-changer in cruising.

The world’s first discovery yacht is finally here.

Australian-owned cruise company Scenic has made the announcement we’ve all been waiting for — its Scenic Eclipse ship has hit the water and is en route to Reykjavik, Iceland, for her first scheduled cruise.

The Scenic Eclipse sails past Valletta, Malta, ready for her maiden cruise. Picture: Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Scenic has been teasing us with details and updates of the ship for years, but delays pushed out its original August 2018 sailing date.

The ship officially departed the shipyard on July 26 to take up its inaugural voyage on a 13-day discovery sailing from Reykjavik, Iceland via Greenland and Eastern Canada before arriving in Quebec on August 27.

A glimpse inside the Scenic Eclipse. Picture: Supplied

This six-star mega yacht has all the bells and whistles of a luxury cruise ship, with the added opportunities for epic off-ship adventures.

With its own submarine and two helicopters on board, this cruise takes shore excursions to the next level, giving guests unprecedented access to some of the world’s most remote and stunning natural sites.

On-board helicopters are stored in specially-designed hangars after landing on the ship’s own helipads. Picture: Supplied

The state-of-the-art Airbus H130 helicopters are also one of the quietest helicopters in the skies. Scenic Founder and Chairman, Glen Moroney, said they needed a high-calibre helicopter to suit the “technological sophistication of the Scenic Eclipse”.

“I’m very proud to say the Scenic Eclipse has been successfully certified for passenger ship operations, has been officially registered, and we are now in the final stages of preparations for our inaugural voyage”.

The Scenic Eclipse helicopter takes guests to remote places for unparalleled views over the world’s best natural locations. Picture: Supplied

ON-BOARD STATS TO BLOW YOUR MIND

•Limit of only 228 guests (200 in the Arctic and Antarctica)

•114 all-veranda suites

•10 dining options (including Asian Fusion, French fine dining, chef’s table, and poolside buffet)

•A 550m² spa with a gym and separate Yoga and pilates studio

•Two six-guest helicopters and one six-guest submarine (capable of depths of over 300 metres) to allow for explorations beyond any expedition ships to date)

•A 240-seat theatre for entertainment and lectures

•Indoor and outdoor plunge pools

•Butler service for all guests with an almost 1:1 guest-to-staff ratio

•Innovative zero-speed stabiliser fins, 50 per cent larger than standard to provide greater stability

•The highest passenger ship ice class rating — Polar Class 6

•State-of-the-art bridge systems

•GPS dynamic positioning system allowing for stationary positioning without an anchor, reducing environmental affect in sensitive regions.

The mega yacht boasts both indoor and outdoor plunge pools. Picture: Supplied

EXPLORATION

Itineraries include Antarctica, South Georgia and Falkland Islands, Europe and the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords and Baltics, Caribbean, The Americas, and the Arctic.

As well as helicopter and submarine tours, offshore excursions are lead by a team of location-specific experts, local guides, regional specialists, and local community experts — sharing their insights and knowledge with guests. Explorations are undertaken by zodiac, kayak, snorkelling, snowshoe or e-bikes.

Discovery Excursions provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Picture: Supplied

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