SCENIC SETS ITS SIGHTS ON LUXURY LINER
Well-known river cruiser to launch first ocean mega-yacht in 2018
A war on the water for luxury dollars is now underway and it starts with this man: Glen Moroney.
Moroney, the man who started Scenic Tours with one bus in Australia, has been prolific in building the Scenic brand. His inaugural Scenic Space-Ship broke the barrier by being the first in Europe with balconies.
When others followed, his became the first — and still only — all-inclusive line on the rivers of Europe.
Another giant step for river cruising was his launch of another cruise line, Emerald Waterways. Featuring plenty of amenities, it was aimed more toward the mass market with room for 182 passengers,
He saved his final coup — for the time being — for last weekend, by announcing Scenic is going into luxury ocean cruising.
Moroney is aiming at the peak of the luxury mountain with a 228-passenger yacht — complete with helicopters (plural) and a submarine — to be launched in 2018. Now that’s a meteoric rise! His newest baby will be the Scenic Eclipse. He calls it a luxury mega-yacht, with 114 spacious all-veranda suites that range in size from 32 square metres to 233 metres for the Owner’s Suite.
Fewer guests on a larger ship mean a wealth of public space, so the choices will be many. Like six dining options — from contemporary fine dining with French cuisine to Pan Asian-Italiansteak to casual al fresco dining on the pool deck or in the Ocean Cafe Lounge.
Guests will be able to relax in one of the sundeck Jacuzzis or enjoy a drink with friends in one of the bars and lounges. A 465-square-metre spa will offer an extensive menu of luxury treatments, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis and plunge pools. A well-equipped gym with a separate yoga and Pilates studio complements the stay-healthyat-sea aspect.
Among other amenities: butler service, almost a one-to-one guest-to-staff ratio and entertainment in a 240-seat theatre.
As I said, with Scenic everything is included, and that means the Scenic Freechoice activities as well as numerous Scenic Enrich special events.
Inspiration for the interior came from some of the world’s luxury hotels, according to the line.
As always at sea, safety comes first, so the Scenic Eclipse will utilize zero-speed stabilizer fins that are 50 per cent larger than standard to provide greater stability. These sophisticated stabilizers, normally only found on the largest private yachts, also work when the ship is floating in open water.
New technologies will be added to this ship, some specific to Arctic and Antarctica cruises, and Scenic has ordered a second ship for 2019.
The Scenic Eclipse will take guests to places previously considered inaccessible by using two helicopters with the custom-built seven-passenger submarine, providing optimal sightseeing to the rarely visited world below the surface.
For the more adventurous, a fleet of zodiacs and kayaks plus scuba diving and snorkelling equipment will be available for “in-depth discoveries.”
You’ll have a daily choice at keeping your adventurous softside busy.
This all comes on the heels of a busy year for Scenic adding river cruise ships to the Mekong, Irrawaddy and Douro rivers, and more ships for sister-line Emerald Waterways next year.