Antarctica and the Weddell Sea
Nov 2026–Feb 2027; Nov 2027–Feb 2028Antarctica in Depth from Buenos Aires, the Weddell Sea and South Georgia.
Helicopters and sub both possible.
Scenic’s yachts: two sisters, one blueprint, a third in 2028
Scenic Eclipse and Eclipse II are the same 168-meter yacht built four years apart. The differences are small — and the bigger choice is which region each one sails in the year you want to go.
2Discovery yachts sailing today
114All-veranda suites on each
344Smallest suite, in sq ft
2028Scenic Ikon’s first season
By Joey Boleslawski, founder & travel advisorFacts checked November 1, 2026
The short answer
Choose the date and region, not the hull. Eclipse and Eclipse II share a length, a tonnage, a polar class and a suite plan. Eclipse II adds SEABOBs and a trampoline for warm water, and loses one bar.
Where they sail is what splits them. In 2027 Eclipse runs the Arctic and Hudson Bay while Eclipse II stays in Europe. In 2028 Eclipse II goes to the Pacific, the Kimberley and the Ross Sea.
Scenic Ikon arrives in April 2028, larger at 270 guests. Wait for it only if the Mediterranean is your trip.
01
The sortable fleet
Three yachts, measured the same way
Tap a sort button; the meters redraw against the largest yacht. “Not stated” means Scenic or the trade press hasn’t published it.
Eclipse and Eclipse II figures come from Scenic’s US ship pages; lengths are converted from Scenic’s 168 meters. Scenic Ikon’s come from Seatrade Cruise News, since Scenic hasn’t posted a full Ikon spec page we could read.
Scenic doesn’t publish a crew count or a Zodiac count, only a guest-to-crew ratio of close to 1:1. We’ve left both out rather than borrow a number. Sort by year to see how fast the fleet is growing.
02
Four years apart
What actually changed on Eclipse II
Scenic Eclipse, 2019
The original
Up to nine bars and lounges, ten culinary experiences and the submersible Scenic Neptune. Scenic lists enhancements in 2021 and 2024. Its sub isn’t operational in US waters — relevant on the East Coast and Caribbean sailings.
vs
Scenic Eclipse II, 2023
The refined sister
Eight bars and lounges, SEABOBs and an inflatable trampoline on warm-water voyages, and Neptune II. Before delivery, Seatrade reported a 5,920 sq ft spa with a salt therapy lounge, a new Deck 10 bar and a yoga and Pilates studio.
Under the decor they’re one design, not two: 168 meters, 17,545 gross tons, 17 knots, Polar Class 6, 114 suites. Scenic’s suite sizes match to the square meter.
A SEABOB is a handheld underwater scooter. Scenic includes them on selected warm-water Discovery Voyages, not in the Kimberley or New Zealand.
Same hull, same suites. Different seas.
If you’re torn between two departures on different yachts, decide on the route. Then ask us which one carries the toys you want on that route, since the list changes by region.
03
Five suite families
The suites, smallest to largest
- Size
- 344–430 sq ft (32–40 m²)
- Categories
- Verandah, Deluxe and Grand Deluxe
- Outside
- Private veranda
- Service
- Butler, as in every suite
- Laundry
- Self-service launderette, free
✓The lead-in suites, and still larger than the standard cabin on most polar ships we cover, in our reading.
- Size
- 495–538 sq ft (46–50 m²)
- Where
- Deck 9
- Outside
- Private veranda
- Laundry
- Up to 10 pieces a day included
⚠The step up that adds laundry service. Worth pricing on long polar voyages where layers pile up.
- Size
- 1,130–1,184 sq ft (105–110 m²)
- Categories
- Panorama and Grand Panorama
- Inside
- Dining table for four
- Laundry
- Up to 10 pieces a day included
- Extras
- Private jet Buenos Aires–Ushuaia on Peninsula voyages, November 2028 to April 2029
⚠The jet applies to Panorama and higher on the 2028–29 Antarctic Peninsula season only, per Scenic’s July 2026 release.
- Size
- 2,098 sq ft (195 m²)
- Outside
- Spa pool terrace
- Inside
- Dining for up to eight
- Laundry
- Up to 10 pieces a day included
⚠One of the largest suites at sea on an expedition-capable ship, by our reading of the fleets we cover.
- Size
- 2,658 sq ft (247 m²)
- Layout
- The Owner’s Penthouse plus a Spa Suite’s features
- For
- Families or two couples traveling together
✓Scenic lists it on both yachts. Ask us for the fare; it rarely appears in a “from” price.
Sizes are from Scenic’s US Eclipse page, in square feet, and its Eclipse II page, in square meters, and the two sets agree. Brochure prices are per person, double occupancy, and Scenic’s FAQ offers special solo fares only on selected voyages.
Solo space is a matter of luck, not a published rate, so ask us early if you’re traveling alone.
04
Air, sea and ice
The expedition kit, with its conditions
From Scenic’s ship pages, FAQs and its helicopter and submersible page.
| Kit | What Scenic publishes | Cost | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopters | Two Airbus H130-T2s per yacht | Extra; no price published | Grounded in Greenland, Svalbard, Canada, South Georgia, the UK and more (Scenic’s fleet-wide list) |
| Submersible | Neptune I and II: up to eight guests plus a pilot, to 100 m | Extra; no price published | Not in the Arctic, Europe, the Mediterranean or New Zealand |
| Zodiacs | Used on Discovery excursions; count not stated | Included | Wheelchair users and walkers can’t be carried |
| Kayaks and paddleboards | Where conditions allow | Included | Paddleboards can’t be used in the Arctic |
| SEABOBs, trampoline | Eclipse II, warm-water Discovery Voyages | Included | Not in the Kimberley or New Zealand |
| Discovery Team | Up to 20 polar experts on the Ross Sea voyage | Included | Team size on other voyages not stated |
| Parka and boots | Parka to keep, polar boots on loan | Included | Polar voyages only |
Every flight and dive is subject to regulatory approval, weight limits, medical approval and the weather, per Scenic. None publishes a weight figure.
Scenic’s fare page for the Ross Sea lists optional helicopter flightseeing over the McMurdo Dry Valleys — the clearest case for the aircraft on any itinerary we read.
The sub is the rarer experience, not the easier one. Its “not operational” list covers more ground, including every Arctic region Eclipse sails.
Want both on one trip? Book the Antarctic Peninsula and ask us to confirm each is offered on your date.
05
Filter by yacht and region
Who sails where, 2026 to 2029
Try “Scenic Eclipse” with “Pacific & Australia”. Nothing answers, and that’s the point.
Yacht
Region
Antarctica
Nov 2026–Feb 2027; Nov 2027–Mar 2028The same Peninsula voyages, then the Chilean fjords and Panama in March 2027, on to the Caribbean in April.
Helicopters and sub both possible.
Svalbard and the High Arctic
June–July 2027 and 2028Glaciers and Wildlife of Svalbard, then Wonders of the High Arctic to Reykjavik.
No helicopter or sub here.
Greenland, Iceland and Hudson Bay
August–September 2027 and 2028East Greenland, Disko Bay, Hudson Bay and Churchill’s polar bears.
Ship and Zodiac only.
Mediterranean and Atlantic Europe
April–May 2027 and 2028Spain, the Riviera and Italy, then Western Europe and Scotland.
Helicopters where permitted.
Mediterranean, Baltic and Northern Europe
April–September 2027Italy, Greece and Croatia; then London to Bergen, the Baltics and Lisbon.
Sub not operational in Europe.
US East Coast and the Caribbean
September–October 2027 and 2028New York to the Bahamas, the Grenadines and the Panama Canal.
Sub can’t dive in US waters.
South Pacific and the Kimberley
March–July 2028Easter Island and Tahiti to the Solomons, then the Kimberley from Broome and Darwin.
SEABOBs, not in the Kimberley.
Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand
August–November 2028The Spice Islands, Komodo and Raja Ampat, Australia’s east coast and New Zealand’s fjords.
Sub not operational in New Zealand.
Antarctica’s Ross Sea
December 2028–January 202924 days round trip from Christchurch, from $35,676.
Dry Valleys flightseeing listed.
No sailing matches that pair. Widen one filter.
Dates come from Scenic’s US cruise calendar. For the places, read our Antarctica, Antarctica landing sites, Arctic, Greenland, polar bear and Kimberley guides.
Neither yacht lists the Galápagos or Alaska; our Galápagos visitor sites and Alaska expedition guides name lines that do.
06
Seven years, three yachts
How the fleet is taking shape
No sales, renamings or retirements that we found as of November 1, 2026. Here’s each move with the date it takes effect.
2019Launched
Scenic Eclipse
Scenic’s first ocean ship, sold as a discovery yacht, with two helicopters and a submersible aboard.
2021, 2024Refreshed
Enhancements
Scenic’s ship page lists enhancements to Eclipse in both years.
Apr 2023Delivered
Scenic Eclipse II
Delivered April 12, 2023, then a maiden voyage from Lisbon to Barcelona, per Seatrade Cruise News.
Aug 2026First call
Maiden Hamburg call
Eclipse II made its maiden call at Hamburg on August 3, 2026, on a Tilbury-to-Stockholm voyage.
Mar 2028Redeployed
Eclipse II to the Pacific
Tahiti, the Kimberley, Indonesia and New Zealand, then the Ross Sea from December 2028.
Apr 2028New
Scenic Ikon
The third yacht: 270 guests, 26,500 gross tons, an inaugural from Venice, per Seatrade.
07
Our picks
Which Scenic yacht, for which trip
Our judgement, built on Scenic’s published specs and calendar. Narrow to a route first, then the date.
Antarctica with a flight
Either yacht, November to February
Both carry two helicopters and a sub to the Peninsula. Pick the departure first, since the ship rarely changes what you get on the ice.
The Arctic and polar bears
Scenic Eclipse, June to September
Svalbard, Greenland and Churchill. Expect a ship-and-Zodiac trip, not a flightseeing one — the aircraft stay on deck.
The Kimberley or the Ross Sea
Scenic Eclipse II, 2028
The only Scenic yacht on either route in the calendar we read.
The Mediterranean, newest
Scenic Ikon, from April 2028
The largest Scenic yacht, with 15 dining venues. Cruise Industry News reported in April 2026 that several early departures had already sold out.
Look elsewhere if
You need an icebreaker
Polar Class 6 won’t reach the North Pole. Compare Ponant’s fleet, with Le Commandant Charcot.
Look elsewhere if
You want a smaller group
Two hundred guests is a large group for Antarctica, in our judgement, and a smaller ship usually means more time ashore each. Compare Aurora or Lindblad’s ships.
08
Fleet questions
Straight answers on the yachts
How many ocean ships does Scenic have?
Two, with a third on the way. Scenic Eclipse (2019) and Scenic Eclipse II (2023) are sister discovery yachts of 228 guests each. Scenic Ikon, a larger 270-guest yacht, is scheduled to join with an inaugural voyage from Venice in April 2028, per Seatrade Cruise News.
What polar class is Scenic Eclipse?
Polar Class 6, on both Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II, per Scenic's US ship pages. Each yacht caps guests at 200 in Antarctica, down from 228 elsewhere. Scenic Ikon is reported with an Ice Class 1A Super hull rather than a polar class.
What's different on Scenic Eclipse II?
Less than the name suggests. The two share length, tonnage, 114 suites and suite sizes. Eclipse II has eight bars and lounges to Eclipse's nine, adds SEABOBs and an inflatable trampoline on warm-water voyages, and Seatrade reported an expanded Senses Spa and a new Deck 10 bar before its April 2023 delivery. Its submersible is Neptune II.
How big are the suites on Scenic Eclipse?
From about 344 sq ft. Scenic lists Verandah, Deluxe and Grand Deluxe suites at 344 to 430 sq ft, Spa Suites at 495 to 538, Panorama and Grand Panorama at 1,130 to 1,184, the Owner's Penthouse at 2,098 and the Two-Bedroom Owner's Penthouse at 2,658 sq ft. Every suite has a veranda and butler service.
Where can the helicopters and submarine operate?
Not everywhere. Scenic's pages say the helicopters don't operate in places including Greenland, Svalbard, Canada, South Georgia, the UK and Panama. The submersible doesn't operate in the Arctic, Europe and the Mediterranean, New Zealand or the UK, and the one on Scenic Eclipse can't dive in US waters. Antarctica's peninsula is on neither list. Both are extra-cost.
What is Scenic Ikon?
Scenic's third discovery yacht, due in April 2028. Seatrade Cruise News reports 270 guests in 135 suites, 26,500 gross tons, 205 meters, two Airbus helicopters, a submersible named Scenic Neptune III and 15 dining venues, built at Scenic's own yard in Croatia. Its first season centers on the Mediterranean, with Antarctica to follow.
Plan with Seabound Journeys
Eclipse or Eclipse II? We’ll check your dates on both.
Send the region, the month and how many are traveling. We’ll confirm which yacht runs your departure, which suites are open, and whether the helicopters and sub operate on that route.
- Which yacht sails your date
- Suite availability, including solo
- Whether the aircraft and sub fly on your route
No fee, no obligation. You pay the cruise line’s own fare. A real advisor replies, usually within one business day.
Ask about Scenic’s yachts
Answers come straight from this guide.
How many ocean ships does Scenic have?What polar class is Scenic Eclipse?What's different on Scenic Eclipse II?How big are the suites on Scenic Eclipse?
Answers come from our guides and are general information. Confirm details with us before you book.
09
Sources and verification
Where every spec came from
Scenic Eclipse ship page (US)Launch year, guests, polar class, length, tonnage, speed, suites and sizes.
Checked November 1, 2026Scenic Eclipse II ship page (US)The same specs, Neptune II, SEABOBs and not-operational lists.
Checked November 1, 2026Scenic: Helicopter and submersible experiencesAirbus H130-T2, Neptune I and II, seats and depth.
Checked November 1, 2026Scenic ocean FAQ (UK)Bars by yacht, laundry, kit, mobility and solo fares.
Checked November 1, 2026Scenic US cruise calendar, 2026–2029Deployments by yacht and month.
Checked November 1, 2026Scenic: Antarctica’s Ross Sea (131S)Discovery Team of up to 20, Dry Valleys flightseeing.
Checked November 1, 2026Scenic media release, July 13, 2026Private jet for Panorama suites and higher, 2028–29.
Checked November 1, 2026Seatrade Cruise NewsScenic Ikon specs; Eclipse II delivery and enhancements.
Checked November 1, 2026Cruise Industry News, 2026Eclipse II’s Hamburg call; the 2028 deployments.
Checked November 1, 2026Eclipse and Eclipse II figures are Scenic’s own; Scenic Ikon’s are Seatrade Cruise News’s until Scenic posts a spec page. Feet are our conversion from meters. The picks and the “largest suites” reading are our judgement, not Scenic’s.
Keep planning
Where to go next
The lineScenic Eclipse Expedition CruisesInclusions, the true cost, fare types and the calendar.Same companyScenic River CruisesThe Space-Ships on Europe’s and Asia’s rivers.Start hereExpedition Cruises, DecodedShip sizes, regions and seasons across every line.DestinationAntarctica Landing SitesWhere the Zodiacs actually go.DestinationArctic CruisesSvalbard, Greenland and the Canadian Arctic.DestinationKimberley CruisesEclipse II’s 2028 season, in context.Compare fleetsViking’s Expedition ShipsAnother fleet with submarines aboard.CoverExpedition Cruise InsuranceThe evacuation number to check before you sail.
One advisor, the whole expedition
The voyage, the gateway night, and the cover that matters out there.
Expedition trips have more moving parts than a Caribbean week: a charter flight, a night in a gateway city, gear lists and an evacuation clause the line sets for you. We book them together and check that the dates and the fine print agree.
01The voyageMatched to the region, the season and the ship size that fit you, at the line’s own fare.Get a free quote →
02The region and the seasonAntarctica, the Arctic, Galápagos, the Kimberley: when to go, and what each season trades away.Expedition cruises, decoded →
03The coverMany expedition lines set their own minimum for evacuation cover. We check your plan against it before you sail.Expedition insurance →