Newly launched Scenic Eclipse II will be based in the Southern Hemisphere for the next two years.
Its itineraries are included in the 2024-25 Worldwide Discoveries Collection just released by Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours, which includes 350 ports in 49 countries.
They include two voyages between Busselton and Broome in 2025 — a 15-day cruise called Australian Odyssey: Western Australia and the Abrolhos Islands. It leaves from Broome on August 20, 2025, and from Fremantle on September 3, 2025.
The itinerary includes snorkelling at Rowley Shoals, seeing the rock formations and indigenous art of the Dampier Archipelago in the West Kimberley and visiting Ningaloo Reef. The voyage also calls at Denham, Dirk Hartog Island, the Abrolhos Islands, Geraldton, Jurien Bay and Busselton.
Along with the first Scenic Eclipse, the vessel’s capacity is limited to 228 guests. There are two Airbus H130 helicopters on board each yacht, and a submersible mini-sub with wraparound viewing which can dive to 200m. There are 10 dining experiences, a yoga and Pilates studio, vitality pool and bars. Scenic’s fares are all-inclusive. The yachts have GPS dynamic positioning so they can remain stationary without having to drop anchor on sensitive seabeds.
Scenic’s on-board experts specialise in marine biology, history, geology, ornithology and veterinary science. There are naturalists and local guides too, and they are led by Mike Cusack, who has almost 25 years experience in the Kimberley.
Anthony Laver, Scenic Group’s general manager sales and marketing Asia Pacific says the expansion of the fleet to two Discovery Yachts in April was “a major milestone” in the Australian-founded company’s 37-year history.
Scenic II’s inaugural Australian sailing on April 22, 2024 is the nine-day The Chairman’s Voyage: East Coast Islands and Reefs. It will depart Newcastle, in tribute to where Scenic was founded 37 years ago, tracking north along the Queensland coast to Cairns. The ship will then continue to circumnavigate Australia as it starts its two-year Southern Hemisphere deployment.
The 2024-25 itineraries of both ships cover the Americas, Antarctic Peninsula, Europe and Mediterranean (Scenic Eclipse), and East Antarctica, New Zealand, Australia, South Pacific, Japan, Borneo and Indonesia (Scenic Eclipse II). Or for an extended experience, combine journeys.
Scenic Eclipse II was christened in Malaga, Spain, on June 3 by oceanographer and former NASA astronaut Kathryn Sullivan. Glen Moroney, founder and chairman of Scenic Group, said: “The depth of her experiences above our planet and below our seas, and her incredible passion for exploration, is truly inspiring and is what we feel makes her the perfect representation of our newest Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yacht.
“We do believe that Scenic Eclipse II offers our guests exploration possibilities unlike any in the industry.”
sceniceclipse.com
PURSUIT OF THE KIMBERLEY
Among the lines to join the rush to the Kimberley is another in the ultra-luxe class, Seabourn. Its new expedition ship Seabourn Pursuit has six 10-day voyages scheduled from June to August 2024 and will mark the line’s first foray to the Kimberley.
Visits and excursions to many of the region’s big sites will feature in Pursuit’s inaugural season including King George Falls; Talbot Bay and its Horizontal Waterfalls; Montgomery Reef with guided walks to visit ancient rock art caves available. There’ll also be optional excursions to see the Bungle Bungles and El Questro National Park.
The voyages will cover mostly the classic Broome-to-Darwin route but some sailings will incorporate Matakus Island in Indonesia.
Pursuit will debut in October this year.
Seabourn’s general manager of expeditions Robin West says: “These new expeditions are going to be thrilling and offer so many opportunities for guests to discover the natural and cultural wonders found in some of the farthest corners of the planet, including our first-ever visit to the Kimberley.”
Pursuit’s other Southern Hemisphere sailings include visits to Papua New Guinea and West Papua, with sailings between the islands of Melanesia in the South Pacific and the coast of Chile.
Aboard sister ship Seabourn Venture there are itineraries around the UK and Ireland, Norway, Greenland and the Canadian Arctic throughout 2024.
For longer journeys there’s the option on each ship to combine voyages.
Both vessels will also sail next year’s Antarctic season between November 2024 and March 2025. Coming up first is the Seabourn Antarctic Experience — a 21-day voyage aboard Pursuit in February 2024.
Venture (2022 launch) and Pursuit (2023) are identical polar-class ships purpose-built for expeditions, and are among Seabourn’s fleet of seven luxury ocean ships. Fares are all-inclusive, each with 132 all-suite cabins with ocean views, an expedition team and two submarines, Zodiacs and kayaks.
seabourn.com
