Scenic Eclipse: An Exclusive Ship Tour, Including a Behind-the-Scenes Look
Updated: Aug 18
Updated: 2026 Cruise Atelier had the privilege of visiting the ultra-luxury yacht Scenic Eclipse from Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. During our visit, Assistant Cruise Director Jamie gave us an exclusive tour of the ship, including a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the Zodiac area.
Scenic Eclipse accommodates up to 228 guests in 114 spacious suites, located across Decks 5 through 9. Guests can enjoy up to 10 distinct dining experiences, while every suite comes with dedicated butler service.
Facts
Scenic Eclipse offers an impressive range of facilities, including a luxurious spa, fitness centre, Pilates studio, self-service laundry, theatre, lounges, a dedicated mudroom and a medical facility.
Designed for both luxury and adventure, the yacht is equipped with two bridges, a helicopter deck, two helicopters, a submarine and a fleet of Zodiacs, allowing guests to explore some of the world’s most remote destinations.
During expedition voyages, an additional 20 crew members join the ship to lead and support the excursions, together with five helicopter pilots. This dedicated expedition team ensures that guests can experience the destination both safely and comfortably.
The Scenic Lounge Bar
Is an elegant and beautifully designed space, with plenty of comfortable areas to sit back and relax. During the day, it is the perfect place to admire the views, enjoy a coffee or tea, or join in a game of trivia.
As the afternoon turns into evening, the atmosphere becomes more lively. It is an ideal spot to enjoy an aperitivo while listening to live music or the pianist. The reception desk is also conveniently located within the lounge, making this a central and welcoming space on board.
The Grand Panorama Suite
We had the opportunity to visit Suite 601, a stunning Grand Panorama Suite designed with space, comfort and panoramic views in mind. The spacious living room features floor-to-ceiling windows, offering spectacular views throughout the cruise, as well as a generous private balcony. In the Suite you will find a large TV screen which is hidden in the mirror, very innovative!
The suite also features a spacious walk-in wardrobe and a beautifully appointed master bedroom with a vanity and a Dyson hairdryer. The exceptionally large bathroom includes both a bathtub and a separate walk-in shower, and can be accessed from both the bedroom and the living area.
Wellness-Fitness
The gym is equipped with Technogym machines, and just across from it is the Pilates room, a peaceful space for practicing yoga or Pilates, complete with numerous meditation bowls. It's truly an area where you can find your inner zen.
The spa features a Finnish sauna, a steam room, a salt room, and a plunge pool.
Dining experiences
Elements: Located on Deck 4, Elements is the main restaurant on board. It offers an extensive à-la-carte menu inspired by Italian cuisine, alongside a selection of steak and seafood specialties.
Azure Bar & Café: Located on Deck 5, Azure Bar & Café is a relaxed and informal venue open throughout the day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served here, with a selection of light dishes, pizzas, salads, tapas and desserts. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, and it is also a convenient place to stop by for a snack or a quick bite throughout the day.
Yacht Club: Located on Deck 7, the Yacht Club offers a more relaxed buffet-style dining experience. Breakfast and lunch are served daily, with a wide variety of dishes, including freshly baked bread, hot entrées and fresh salads.
Koko’s: An Asian fusion restaurant on Deck 4, featuring a daily-changing menu with a variety of dishes inspired by Asian cuisine.
Sushi @Koko's: An intimate sushi-bar within Koko's, seating 10 guests. Fresh sushi and sashimi are prepared by a Japanese chef.
Night Market @Koko’s: A private dining experience featuring a teppanyaki grill, where guests can enjoy a six-course menu inspired by street foods from Asia, India and the Middle East.
Lumière: French fine dining restaurant on Deck 5, open for diner by reservation only. It offers classic French cuisine with a modern twist. You can enjoy here a seven-courses menu.
Chef’s Table @ Elements: An exclusive, invitation-only dining experience for 10 guests, located behind a hidden door in Elements. Here, the chef presents gastronomic masterpieces.
Sun deck
The Sun Deck, located on Deck 10, features two jacuzzis and several private cabanas, making it a wonderful spot to relax and enjoy the fresh air. The Thalasso Pool is located near the spa on Deck 7.
As Scenic Eclipse is primarily designed for expedition cruising in colder climates, the outdoor deck spaces are somewhat more limited compared to those found on traditional warm-weather cruise ships. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of inviting spaces to relax and take in the surroundings.
Enough about the ship, let me tell you more about the expedition cruise where she was designed for!
Expedition
Scenic Eclipse was purpose-built for expedition cruising and features two bridges for added safety and redundancy. The second bridge serves as a backup and can be used in the event of an emergency, helping to ensure the safe operation of the ship and the continuation of the journey.
The main bridge is open to guests during port days, offering a wonderful opportunity to step inside, meet the officers on duty and learn more about life at sea. You are welcome to simply walk in and have a chat with the team, a unique and engaging experience for cruise guests.
Scenic Eclipse carries two helicopters. As the ship was not on an expedition during our visit, only one pilot was on board at the time. However, we learned that several scenic flights had recently taken place over the Norwegian fjords.
During a full expedition cruise, five helicopter pilots are on board to operate the helicopters and offer optional scenic flights at an additional cost. Each helicopter can accommodate up to six guests, providing an unforgettable perspective of the spectacular landscapes along the way.
There is also a submarine on board, the Scenic Neptune I, which can accommodate up to eight guests. It offers the opportunity to explore the underwater world during selected expeditions, at an additional cost.
The Zodiacs are the ship’s gateway to the shores of Antarctica and other remote destinations. Whenever excursions are scheduled, they are launched from the Marina Platform. During our visit, we had the privilege of getting a behind-the-scenes look at where the Zodiacs are securely stored on board, a fascinating glimpse into the logistics behind Scenic Eclipse’s expedition operations.
To take part in these activities, guests are provided with all the specialized gear they need by the ship. Equipment can be collected in the Mudroom, also known as the Discovery Centre, located on Deck 3. Here, guests are fitted with expedition boots, jackets and life vests. Each guest is assigned a personal locker, identified by their suite number, where their equipment can be stored throughout the cruise.
What kind of tours will be offered when going on expedition?
Here are just a few examples of the incredible experiences that can be part of a Scenic Eclipse expedition.
Spotting wildlife in the Arctic
Heading out on Zodiac
Excursions along the Amazon River in South America
Flying over or even sailing through the spectacular narrow fjords of Norway.
Explore the underwater wonders of the Great Barrier Reef
You will create truly unforgettable memories along the way!
My experience
This ship truly breathes luxury, what an experience!
From the moment you step on board, you can feel it: this is an ultra-luxury expedition cruise ship. I honestly expected it to feel much smaller, especially based on how it looks from the outside. But I was pleasantly surprised by how spacious it is inside. I had imagined something more like a river cruise ship, with just one lounges and one restaurant, but this is on a completely different level.
One of the highlights for me was the open bridge. It was my first time seeing this, and I found it incredibly welcoming. As a guest, being able to simply walk in and have a chat with the officers on duty made the whole experience feel more personal and approachable.
If you love expedition cruises combined with ultra-luxury, then this is the ship for you. The stunning interior was designed by Karen Moroney, wife of Glen Moroney, the owner of the Scenic Group.
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