Expedition cruising is in high demand!
With excitement still growing here at In The Loop Travel and around the world for the launch of Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tour's soon-to-launch "Discovery Yacht," Scenic Eclipse, the luxury cruise and travel company has announced this flagship expedition vessel will be joined by a sister ship, Scenic Eclipse II.
Scenic Eclipse II adds to Scenic's fleet and boosts its ambitions to become the leading innovator in the cruise industry when it comes to a blending edgy design, luxury and technology.
Launching in 2020, Scenic Eclipse II (video rendering) will embark on a maiden voyage from Athens to Lisbon, before the debut sailing season, which will include the European and Russian Arctic, a region of diverse wildlife and habitat.
Itineraries will include remote and long-sought-after destinations, such as the remote territory of Russia's White Sea; the Northwest Passage, for travelers seeking polar exploration; the rarely visited Southern Greenland, where cruisers can take in some of the most spectacular and raw scenery anywhere on earth; the stark beauty of the Bering Sea, with ports in both Russia and Alaska; the Alaskan wilderness; the coastal waters of North America, Central America and South America; a circumnavigation of Cuba; and several itineraries for the ultimate adventurers, going to Antarctica, the Falklands and South Georgia.
The expansion of Scenic's ocean cruise fleet is a natural progression, Scenic Founder and Chairman Glen Moroney said.
"Since we first announced our foray into ocean cruising, we have had unprecedented interest in Scenic Eclipse from guests keen to experience our unique blend of 6-star luxury meets expedition cruising," Moroney said. "The debut of Scenic Eclipse II will not only allow us to expand our offering and pioneer new destinations, such as the Russian Arctic, it will also allow us to continue our passion for innovation in design and innovation in handcrafted itineraries, which we are confident will appeal to a wide variety of guests."
Building of Scenic Eclipse II starts next year in Pula, Croatia, where Scenic Eclipse is being constructed. Scenic Eclipse II will be of similar design, including 114 all-balcony suites, nine restaurants, eight lounges and bars, a luxurious Spa Sanctuary, fitness areas and indoor, outdoor and plunge pools, as well as a sports marina, helicopters and a submarine.
The Scenic Eclipse fleet will be built to comply with International Maritime Organization Polar Code requirements, as well as to the highest international safety standards. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology and a host of safety features, including innovative zero-speed stabilizer fins that are more than 50 percent larger for greater stability, the ship will have a rating of Ice Class 1A (Polar Class 6), the highest of any luxury vessel.
In January, Scenic Eclipse celebrated its floatout from the shipyard and is on target for its debut on August 31, 2018.
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has grown during its 30-year history to include award-winning, all-inclusive escorted tours that take participants to many of the world's most fascinating destinations; two award-winning river cruise lines -- Scenic and Emerald Waterways -- as well as the and the Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yachts. Emerald Waterways' ships offer deluxe cruises in Europe and on the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia. Scenic's river ships offer all-inclusive cruises in Europe, on the Mekong River and on the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar. â