This article is part of Traveller’s Holiday Guide to ocean cruising. See all stories . Scenic Eclipse II Built 2023 The cruise Broome to Darwin, 11 days Passengers 228 Crew 200 Decks 10, eight are accessible by guests Length 168 metres The ship Scenic Eclipse II is the new glamorous head-turner for Australian-founded company Scenic.
Almost identical to Scenic Eclipse launched in 2019, these sister ships mark Scenic’s expansion from river cruising into the oceans. Helicopter leaves the heli-deck aboard Scenic Eclipse II. Scenic calls these ships “Discovery Yachts” with “discovery” referring to exploring adventurous destinations by Zodiac with an informative squadron of scientists and historians.
According to Captain Erwan Le Rouzic, the term “yacht” ties into this ship having the largest amount of space per passenger of any cruise ship, invoking a rich-friend’s-superyacht vibe. In keeping with that same vibe, almost everything is included here, such as alcohol anytime, all restaurants, room service, Wi-Fi, spa spaces and excursions. Once aboard, guests can kick back and enjoy the hospitality.
The ship also has plenty of superyacht toys. Two custom-designed helicopters offer unforgettable perspectives on the wilderness, and depending on location, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and even an eight-passenger submersible will be deployed (the latter three not in the Kimberley). Boarding Arriving at Broome airport, I’m whisked over to the Mangrove Hotel.
A couple o.