Scenic Group has opened bookings for the 2024-25 ocean sailing season with new itineraries and a full slate of cruises for the brand-new Scenic Eclipse II, sister ship to Scenic Eclipse. The twin ultra-luxury Discovery Yachts will call on 500-plus ports across 63 countries and all seven continents. Highlights of the season include expeditions to western Australia’s Islands of the Kimberley, the Indonesian Archipelago including the Spice Islands and Komodo Island, New Zealand and Fiji, as well as calls on Japan and South Korea. In December 2023, Scenic Eclipse II makes its inaugural voyage to Antarctica, exploring the continent’s east coast and Weddell Sea while the Scenic Eclipse carries guests to the Antarctic peninsula and below the Antarctic Circle.
Highlight of the 2024-25 sailing season include:
Australia and New Zealand
On the 11-day "Discover the Kimberley Coastline: An Ancient Wilderness" itinerary, guests will visit the sparsely populated region where the ocean meets the outback and experience natural phenomena like the Montgomery Reef, which appears to rise from the ocean at low tide and submerge as the tide rises, and the Horizontal Falls, a river current as powerful as a waterfall that stymies all but the most skilled river pilots. When guests join the onboard Discovery Team on walks in the bush, they’ll encounter seaside waterfalls and endemic plant and animal life and learn about Australia’s evolutionary history as they connect with the "Land Down Under."
The 12-day "Along the East Coast of Australia: Beaches & the Great Barrier Reef" begins in Auckland, New Zealand, and ends in Cairns, Australia, calling on a half-dozen islands and the world’s largest coral reef system—the Great Barrier Reef—along the way. Guests will find white-sand beaches lined with palm trees along with ample opportunities for kayaking, standup paddleboarding, snorkeling and playing with other onboard aquatic toys.
"Pure New Zealand: North & South Islands" takes guest on a 13-day exploration of the land and culture of New Zealand, from Māori culture to the incredible environment to renowned wines. For guest seeking even more New Zealand, there is the 18-day "New Zealand In Depth."
The Pacific Islands
Guests joining the 15-day "Secrets of Indonesia: Spice Islands & Raja Ampat" sailing will depart Darwin to explore the Spice Islands—home to nutmeg, mace, pepper and clove—and the reefs of Raja Ampat, with some of the most pristine and biodiverse reefs on Earth.
The 13-day "Treasures of the Pacific: The Yasawas to New Zealand" gives guests a taste of the South Pacific and New Zealand on one epic voyage. As guests explore the islands, cultures and flavors of Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and New Zealand they’ll have ample opportunities to kayak, paddleboard and beachcomb and to explore below the waves with snorkeling or a trip on the ship’s submarine.
Wonders of Asia
On the 17-day "Circumnavigation of Japan: Cultures & Traditions," the flavors, people and sights of Japan take center stage. The urban rush of Tokyo, Kanazawa’s historic districts where samurai once lived and trained, and the countryside temples and parks offer one look at Japan, but the nation’s rich culture of festivals adds another. Cherry Blossom Festivals, the Takayama Spring Festival, Hiroshima’s Flower Festival, Kanda Festival (one of the biggest in Japan) and summer’s Sannō Festival are some of what guests may encounter in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Sailing from Indonesia to Taipei, the 17-day "Natural Treasures of Indonesia, Borneo & Taiwan" showcases the diversity of the region as guests travel between dense modern cities, uninhabited islands and natural experiences. Guests might swim with stingless jellyfish on the Derawan Islands, visit the dragons on Komodo Island, or see 70 rescued orangutans at the Sepilok Rehabilitation Center.
Antarctica
For the first time, both Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II will call on Antarctica, taking a limited number of guests—only 200 on each ship—to the "White Continent."
The 24-day "Antarctica’s Ross Sea: Majestic Ice & Wildlife" offers guests nearly a month to explore and experience Antarctica aboard Scenic Eclipse II. Guests can watch for whales with the Discovery Team, fly over the frozen landscape—glaciers, ice fields and snow-clad mountains—in one of the two onboard state-of-the-art helicopters, dive beneath the icy waves on a submarine expedition, or do all three.
On the 13-day "Beyond the Antarctic Circle" sailing, guests depart Argentina aboard Scenic Eclipse and cross the Drake Passage to explore the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula before crossing the Antarctic Circle at 66˚ 33’ south into one of the hardest-to-reach places on earth. Daily excursions—via kayak, paddleboard or zodiac—allow for exploration on land and sea, and trips on the ship’s helicopters and submarine let guests experience this place as few others have.
Good to know:Guests booking any of the newly launched 2024-2025 sailings can receive two-for-one fares as well as free roundtrip air. Additional offers include discounts for booking consecutive cruises and offers for solo and group travelers.
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