Scenic Eclipse switches out Cuba trips

SCENIC has announced two new itineraries for its upcoming Scenic Eclipse, revamping its program in response to the Trump Administration’s ban on cruises to Cuba ( CW 07 Jun).

The change sees new departures including a 13-day “Taste of Caribbean” cruise from Nassau on 08 Oct this year, and an 11-day “Colombia & Panama” exploration which leaves Miami on 20 Oct 2019, with disembarkation in Cartagena, Colombia.

Previously Scenic had scheduled “Cuba in Depth” and “Taste of Cuba and the Caribbean” itineraries over the same dates, which are now no longer available - although the Scenic Eclipse cruise calendar on the company’s Australian website continues to list the Cuba-centric voyages.

Scenic said the new Caribbean cruise offered rarely visited ports such as Great Inagua Island, Guanaja Island in Honduras, and Half Moon Caye which is “home to the red footed booby”.

The Colombia & Panama sailing takes in Belize City, Roatan Island, Costa Rica’s Puerto Limon (home to a Jaguar Rescue Centre and Sloth Sanctuary), San Blas Islands and Isla de Providencia, the former base of pirate Henry Morgan.

The repeatedly delayed new ship is currently undergoing sea trials in the Adriatic, and remains on track to launch in exactly one month’s time, on 15 Aug 2019, with the first cruises including six weeks sailing on the North American east coast.

The “World’s first Discovery Yacht” is Polar Class 6 rated, with 114 all-veranda suites, 10 dining options, two six-passenger helicopters and a submarine.