Scenic Eclipse II Brings Yacht-Style Luxury to Expedition Cruising

I arrive on deck to find the most magical spectacle I’ve ever witnessed at sea:  A glorious sunset, perfect weather, champagne-bearing servers and a stunning musical performance set against the majestic backdrop of the White Cliffs of Dover. 

Scenic Eclipse II has just started sailing from Dover, England when an announcement invited guests to the ship’s helipad on deck 8 for pre-dinner cocktails and music, an event apparently organized on the fly since it didn’t appear in the ship’s daily program. 

I am dazzled, but not surprised.  It is only five days into my 12-day Scenic Eclipse II sailing from Bergen, Norway to Lisbon, Portugal. But already I’ve learned that extraordinary experiences are routine aboard this luxury 17,545-gross ton, 228-guest marvel from Australia’s Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours, a 40-year-old organization that began as a land-tour operator and has evolved into the only cruise company that conceives, designs, builds (with shipyards in Croatia and Vietnam) and operates its own fleet.

Until sailing Scenic Eclipse II, Australia to me meant the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, great wine, kangaroos, and Men at Work’s “Down Under.”  But now, all-inclusive ultra-luxury cruising, superb dining and meticulous attention to detail are the first things that come to mind.

A Most Inclusive All-Inclusive

Even from her exterior, you know Scenic Eclipse II will be clean, sleek, modern…and decidedly yacht like.  On my European itinerary, it’s hard to believe that this luxurious yacht is, in fact, a Polar Class 6 expedition vessel with all the bells and whistles that guarantee the highest safety standards and protect the world’s most pristine environments.

What isn’t obvious though is Scenic Eclipse II’s revolutionary “all inclusive” format.  Free Starlink Wi-Fi?  Of course.  Gratuities included?  Certainly.  Airport transfers?  Yup.  Specialty restaurant surcharges?  Not a chance. 

Yet Scenic Eclipse II redefines “all inclusive” by taking the concept further, much further.  Guests need not peruse a “premium” menu of beverage options when fine wines are freely poured at every bar and restaurant; whisky lovers are delighted to learn that pricey single malts like Johnny Walker Blue and Macallan 18 are among the 135 whiskies that are theirs for the asking.

Shore excursions are complimentary too, and not limited to basic offerings.  At Honfleur, an 11-hour visit to The American Landing in Normandy included an elaborate lunch at the chi-chi Chateau La Chenviere while an all-day excursion to Paris was also offered that day, lunch at a restaurant with a view of the Eiffel Tower.  An Amsterdam canal cruise was among tour choices during the ship’s call at Ijmuiden and, in Dover, an intimate 90-minute Eucharistic Service at Canterbury Cathedral with free time following.

It is only treatments at the ship’s Senses Spa, flights aboard one of the ship’s two state-of-the-art Airbus H130-T2 helicopters, or a dive aboard the ship’s submersible (unavailable on my sailing) that incur extra charges.

All Decked Out

I am greeted by the captain himself when I board Scenic Eclipse II in Bergen and I then head to The Scenic Lounge, the spacious heart of the ship.  The Lounge is a palette of gray, brightened by a riot of magenta floral arrangements with a soaring marble backlit bar its focal point. 

From the gathering here, it appears that Australians and New Zealanders will significantly outnumber North Americans on this sailing, and already I can tell they’ll be cheerful and friendly shipmates. 

No matter where Scenic Eclipse II sails, she is dedicated to immersive exploration so you can’t expect a multi-page daily program filled with frivolous activities.  The Scenic Lounge is the place for daily trivia, evening showtime and arts and crafts while the Theatre, located directly behind, is where to head for film screenings, port talks and special events like, on my Tastes of Discovery sailing featuring Top Chef Mexico winner Gabriel Rodriguez, cooking demonstrations and a hilarious Top Chef competition that even the captain participated in! 

Evenings often conclude with a relaxing piano concert or, occasionally, a dance night.

Wellness plays a big role aboard Scenic Eclipse II with yoga and Pilates classes, the ship’s gym and fitness center, the wellness spa pool and the ship’s innovative infra-red sauna and salt therapy lounge.  A full-service spa operates daily, usually from 8:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m., and offers body and facial treatments, massage, hairdressing services, waxing, manicures and pedicures. 

Grab a book and relax at The Observation Lounge/Library (don’t miss the scrumptious cookies near the coffee machine) or head to the Sky Deck to claim a shaded table outside the Sky Bar.  Sunbathers will prefer a dip in the Vitality Pool (sunscreen provided) claiming a nearby lounge chair or a cabana on the port or starboard side of the ship.

A Very Suite Life

My butler guides me to my Deluxe Veranda suite aboard Scenic Eclipse II and I open the door to a spacious oasis done in restful shades of beige with a queen bed, desk, flat-screen wall-mounted TV and ample closet space.  A loveseat is tucked away in a little nook alongside sliding doors that lead to a veranda, while a cabinet houses coffee and tea makers and a mini fridge. 

The striking black and white marble bathroom is a stunner, with dual-fixture glass shower, toilet, and a large mirrored vanity capable of storing a supermodel’s supply of beauty and skincare products.

But, wait!  That description might apply to a suite on any ship!  What sets Scenic Eclipse II apart is in the details.

Take a closer look at that queen size bed, and you’ll notice an electric control that allows you to adjust your mattress from a completely reclined position to all sorts of head and foot elevations. A “master” switch bedside extinguishes all lights in the cabin yet leaves a faint glow that prevents tripping or toe-stubbing in the dark.  And you’ll want to lower that electronic shade to completely block any blinding sun that might wake you the following morning.

Your Scenic Eclipse II bathroom holds a few surprises as well.  Vanity items abound with dental kit, shaving kit, loofah, Q-Tips, cotton pads, nail file and hair comb supplementing the usual sewing kit and shower cap and the drawer beneath them holds your hair dryer—a Dyson, valued at about $400 on Amazon!  Even the vanity itself is special—the mirror won’t fog up, no matter how hot your shower.

Suites aboard Scenic Eclipse II range from my spacious 344-square-foot deluxe veranda one to a mind-boggling 2,658-square-foot two-bedroom penthouse.

A Culinary Celebration

Herb-crusted lamb…pan-fried scallops…pasta and risotto dishes…veal saltimbocca…duck a l’orange…crispy panko shrimp…and look at these desserts!  Walnut cannoli and Irish coffee sundae among them!

I’m perusing the dinner menu at Scenic Eclipse II’s Elements and realize I am agonizing…not over what to order, but what to forego. 

On any other ship, the dinner-only Elements (no reservations required) would be a highly-acclaimed specialty restaurant with its well-spaced tables, glowing sconces, sea views, and an Italian/international menu that changes daily.  Aboard Scenic Eclipse II, however, Elements is the closest you’ll find to a “main dining room.”

Scenic Eclipse II offers an impressive collection of specialty restaurants and special dining experiences as well.  In addition to Elements, guests may choose the modern French Cuisine of reservations-only Lumiere while those seeking a more casual experience can head to Azure Café which, with its display case of specialties, first appears to be grab-and-go but does, in fact, offer full menus at breakfast, lunch and dinner.   The Yacht Club’s is another casual dining spot for breakfast and lunch and offers a lavish buffet at each.

The exotic trio of deck 4’s Koko is for those seeking more exotic dinner fare with the changing menus of Koko’s Asian Fusion, the adjacent Koko’s Sushi counter-style dining and, tucked behind, Night Market@Koko’s, a reservations-only culinary celebration where only eight guests per sitting are treated to a themed tasting menu that’s part theater, part education, and all superb dining.

Repeat guests or those occupying the highest category suites may have a chance to experience the remarkable invitation-only Chef’s Table, another intimate indulgence, with an exotic and eccentric 11-course feast overseen by the ship’s culinary masters.  (I’ll forever remember that foie gras lollypop and the Angus beef burrito that looked like a cigar resting in an ashtray.)

Aboard Scenic Eclipse II, I discovered a magnificent cruise experience and a yacht that flawlessly  combines expedition with ultimate luxury.

And, throughout the entire voyage, I didn’t encounter one shipmate who didn’t feel exactly the same way.