Scenic Eclipse II is the second of Scenic's so-called Discovery Yachts, launched in 2023 and built in Croatia at a reported cost of USD 230 million. She's a 168-metre, 11-deck vessel styled more like a superyacht than a conventional cruise ship, carrying a maximum of 228 guests — dropping to 200 on polar sailings — with roughly 200 crew, giving close to a one-to-one guest-to-crew ratio.
The headline features sit outside the hull: two onboard helicopters and a custom submersible called Scenic Neptune II. Both cost extra, require availability, medical sign-off and decent weather, but they open up excursions — flightseeing over polar scenery, dives below the surface — that bigger ships simply can't offer. The ship is built to Polar Class 6 standards and cruises at 17 knots, so itineraries stretch from East Antarctica and the High Arctic to the South Pacific and Australia's Kimberley.
Onboard, the format is genuinely all-inclusive. All meals, drinks, excursions, gratuities and spa group classes are covered in the fare. There are up to 10 dining venues run by a brigade of more than 38 chefs from 15 countries: Elements is the main restaurant, Lumière does French fine dining with its own Champagne bar, and Koko's covers Asian fusion, sushi and saké, plus a teppanyaki-style Night Market seating just eight guests at a time. The invitation-only Chef's Table @ Elements serves a 10-course degustation to 10 people. Bars range from the Scenic Lounge Bar with its whiskey list to the marble Sky Bar on Deck 10, which has six private cabanas.
Accommodation starts at a roomy 32 square metres for the Verandah suites — every category comes with butler service — and climbs through Spa Suites with ocean-view baths to a 195-square-metre Owner's Penthouse and a 247-square-metre two-bedroom version at the top. Suites are spread across decks 5 to 9, with the spa on deck 6 and the Observation Lounge up on deck 5.
Who's it for? Not young families — there's no kids' club, and the helicopter and submarine experiences carry weight restrictions and medical approval, so the ship skews adult and multi-generational with older teens. Couples and solo travellers are well catered for: expedition voyages are led by up to 20 scientists and guides, lighter Discovery Voyages run Zodiac cruises, guided hikes and snorkelling with marine biologists, and warm-water sailings include kayaks, paddleboards and SEABOB underwater scooters at no extra charge. Solo travellers can find single-supplement discounts of up to 75% on selected departures.
Dress is smart-casual rather than black-tie — most guests dress up a little for the fine-dining venues, while days are relaxed. If you're comparing ultra-luxury expedition ships, Scenic Eclipse II's mix of polar capability, all-inclusive pricing and yacht-scale dining makes it one of the strongest options in the category, provided the extra-cost helicopter and submersible experiences don't factor too heavily into your budget.
Story via Cruise Passenger.
