Scenic Eclipse II

Eclipse II took everything Eclipse I offered in the wellness department and turned it up to eleven. The salt therapy lounge features KLAFS heated beds with dedicated aroma programs. The infrared lounge is expanded with ocean-view KLAFS chairs and color light therapy — so you're getting deep-tissue heat recovery while watching the Southern Ocean scroll past. The steam room adds an ice fountain and experience showers with aromatherapy cycling, turning a standard thermal circuit into something genuinely spa-forward. These aren't cosmetic upgrades; they're purpose-built wellness spaces designed from scratch rather than retrofitted. Complimentary, uncrowded, and available anytime — the kind of daily wellness access that high-end resort guests expect but rarely find at sea.

Eclipse II's Sky Bar on Deck 10 is the single best outdoor social space on either Eclipse ship — and it's not particularly close. An open-air bar with 360-degree views anchors the space, but the real differentiator is the six private cabanas surrounding it: sheltered, comfortable, ocean-facing pods where you can claim a spot for the afternoon and alternate between cocktails, napping, and staring at whatever the ship is sailing through. Add the adjacent Vitality Pool with swim jets and the vibe lands somewhere between rooftop lounge and private beach club — except you're in Antarctica, or the Norwegian fjords, or wherever else this ship decides to take you.

Eclipse II carries the Scenic Neptune II — the next-generation submarine with capacity for 8 passengers, built on lessons learned from thousands of Neptune I dives across every ocean. The larger passenger compartment means slightly better interior sightlines and a more comfortable ride at depth, descending up to 200 meters for encounters with marine environments most people will never see outside of a documentary. Submarine excursions are included on select itineraries and subject to conditions and availability. If you're comparing the two Eclipse ships and the sub experience matters to you, the Neptune II's extra seat and refined build are a genuine upgrade — though both subs deliver the same jaw-dropping core experience.

The forward Observation Lounge wraps the bow with floor-to-ceiling windows that put whatever the ship is sailing through squarely in your lap — glacier calving, whale breaches, Antarctic sunsets that last four hours. It's the quiet counterpart to the livelier Scenic Lounge: fewer cocktails, more binoculars. The integrated library stocks a curated collection of polar exploration history, natural science, and destination-specific titles that pair suspiciously well with whatever you're seeing outside. Best seat on the ship for the Drake Passage crossing, and genuinely hard to leave once you've settled in.

The onboard theater pulls triple duty: evening entertainment (live music, performances, film screenings), daytime expedition lectures from the science and naturalist team, and daily briefings where the expedition leader walks you through tomorrow's plan. The seating is tiered and comfortable, the AV setup is legit, and on a 228-guest ship the sightlines are good from every seat. It's also where some of the best conversations of the voyage happen — a glaciologist explaining what you're about to see tomorrow tends to hit different than reading about it in a guidebook.

The aft pool deck centers around a heated outdoor pool flanked by hot tubs and sun loungers — the kind of setup that feels resort-normal in the Caribbean and genuinely surreal when there are icebergs in the background. In warmer waters it's the obvious hangout between excursions; in polar regions the hot tubs become the post-landing debrief spot where everyone gathers with a drink and compares notes on what they just saw. Either way, the 228-guest cap means you will always find a lounger.

A fully equipped gym with cardio machines, free weights, and resistance training covers the keep-your-routine-alive basics. The dedicated yoga and Pilates studio adds something most expedition ships skip entirely — a proper space for guided classes, stretching sessions, and the kind of post-landing recovery work that makes the difference between feeling great on day twelve and feeling like you've been dragged behind a Zodiac. Complimentary group classes run throughout the voyage; personal training is available on request.

At 5,920 square feet, the Senses Spa on both Eclipse ships is larger than most boutique day spas on land — and it's floating through some of the most remote waters on the planet. Treatment rooms for massage, facials, and body work. A thermal suite. A hair and beauty salon. Complimentary access to the sauna and steam facilities. The therapists know what they're doing, and the scheduling is relaxed enough that you can usually book same-day without drama. After a morning Zodiac landing in sub-zero conditions or a full day of helicopter excursions, this is where your body says thank you.

Nine bars and lounges. Two hundred and twenty-eight guests. You do not need to be a math person to appreciate this ratio. The Scenic Lounge anchors the social calendar with panoramic views and live music. The Observation Bar is the forward-facing quiet drink spot. There's a whisky bar, a wine bar, a poolside bar, and enough other options that you could have a different nightcap venue every evening of a two-week voyage without repeating. All drinks — premium spirits, wines, cocktails, beer — are included. No sign-and-sail cards, no end-of-cruise bar tab surprise. Just walk up, order, and enjoy the view.

The math here is borderline absurd: up to ten distinct dining venues for a maximum of 228 guests. Lumière delivers French fine dining. Elements handles pan-Asian with actual range. Koko's is the intimate teppanyaki experience. Chef's Table seats twelve for a multi-course degustation. Azure Bar & Café covers casual bites and espresso. The main restaurant rotates regionally inspired menus. And that's before you get to in-suite dining, poolside service, and the more casual options. Every restaurant is included — no cover charges, no upsells, no reservations required for most venues. On a ship this size, you'll never wait for a table, and you'll never eat at the same place twice unless you want to.

The Discovery Centre is where the expedition brain trust lives — a dedicated space for lectures, briefings, and deep-dive presentations led by the onboard team of scientists, naturalists, and polar specialists. Interactive displays, a curated library, and the kind of Q&A sessions that turn a casual wildlife sighting into genuine understanding. Eclipse I's centre was expanded during the 2025 refit; Eclipse II launched with an enhanced version from day one. Either way, this is the room that turns a luxury cruise into an actual expedition — and the ~1:1 staff-to-guest ratio means you're never competing for access to the experts.

The Eclipse fleet carries a full arsenal of water-based exploration gear: a fleet of Zodiacs for shore landings and wildlife cruising, plus complimentary kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for those mornings when the conditions line up and the expedition team gives the green light. Eclipse II also carries SEABOBs — handheld underwater scooters that let you glide beneath the surface in warmer waters. The marina platform at the stern of both ships deploys directly to sea level, turning the ship itself into a floating basecamp. On an expedition yacht this size, gear gets deployed fast and groups stay small — which is the whole point.

Here's the flex that separates the Eclipse from every other expedition ship on earth: two six-passenger Airbus H130 helicopters, included in select excursions, ready to take you places that Zodiacs physically cannot reach. Volcanic craters. Unnamed glaciers. Mountain ridgelines where you're the only human footprint for miles. The H130 is the same airframe used by heli-ski operators worldwide — quiet, stable, panoramic bubble windows — and having two of them on a 228-guest ship means the logistics actually work. This isn't a marketing gimmick with a six-month waitlist; it's a genuine operational tool that transforms what an expedition itinerary can offer.

Eclipse II's Owner's Penthouse Suite shares the same commanding ~245 square meter footprint as Eclipse I's — wraparound verandah, separate living and sleeping areas, dining space, dedicated butler, the works — but the bathroom is where the sister ships diverge dramatically. Eclipse II's version features a private mini spa within the suite itself: dual spa baths, a private steam room, two KLAFS infrared lounge seats, and a multi-jet shower system. It's not a bathroom with nice fixtures; it's a genuine private wellness facility that happens to be attached to a penthouse. For guests who want the absolute pinnacle of what expedition cruising offers — the helicopters, the submarine, the 10:228 dining ratio, and a personal spa waiting in your suite — this is the room. There is nothing else like it afloat.

Eclipse II's Spa Suite takes the same ~46 square meter footprint as Eclipse I's version and gives the bathroom a genuine generational upgrade. The centerpiece is a circular spa bath — a completely different design language from Eclipse I's rectangular tub — paired with an enhanced multi-jet shower system that lands somewhere between "really nice hotel" and "actual hydrotherapy." The living area, verandah, butler service, and all-inclusive amenities mirror the Eclipse I Spa Suite, so the core experience is identical. But if the in-suite wellness angle is what's drawing you to this category, Eclipse II's version is the one to book. The circular tub alone changes the entire energy of the room.

The Grand Panorama Suite is the largest standard category on both Eclipse ships — roughly 60 square meters of properly residential space with panoramic windows, a generous private verandah, separate living and sleeping areas, walk-in wardrobe, a bathroom with full tub and rain shower, and every amenity Scenic offers short of the Owner's Penthouse tier. Butler service, espresso machine, Bulgari toiletries, premium minibar, and the full all-inclusive model. At this size, the suite competes with entry-level suites on much larger luxury ships — except you're sharing the ship with only 227 other guests, you have two helicopters and a submarine at your disposal, and your butler actually knows your name by day two.

The Panorama Suite earns its name: roughly 51 square meters of living space with expanded windows and a private verandah that frames the scenery in a way that makes the room itself feel like part of the expedition. Separate living area, walk-in wardrobe, full-size bathroom with tub and separate rain shower, espresso machine, minibar, and Scenic's butler service covering everything from unpacking to restaurant reservations. This is the category where the suite starts to feel residential — a genuine home base you look forward to returning to after a day of Zodiac landings, helicopter excursions, and submarine dives, rather than just a place to sleep.

At roughly 46 square meters, the Grand Deluxe Suite crosses the line from "nice hotel room that floats" into "this is actually a suite" territory. The living area is big enough to feel like a separate room, the verandah is generous enough for two chairs and a small table, and the bathroom starts to feel genuinely luxurious rather than just functional. Butler service, Bulgari amenities, minibar, espresso machine, and the full Scenic all-inclusive model apply. For couples who want meaningful space to decompress after big expedition days without jumping to the top-tier categories, the Grand Deluxe is the sweet spot — enough room to breathe, without paying for square footage you'll only use while sleeping.

Same footprint as the standard Verandah Suite — roughly 32 square meters with a private verandah, butler service, and the full Scenic all-inclusive treatment — but positioned on higher or more desirable decks with potentially better sightlines depending on the specific cabin. The interior layout, furnishings, and amenities are identical to the Verandah Suite, so the Deluxe designation is really about location on the ship rather than a different room. If deck positioning and view angle matter to you (and on an expedition ship sailing past icebergs and breaching whales, they absolutely should), your ABC Trips broker can identify which specific Deluxe Verandah cabins offer the best orientation for your itinerary.

The Verandah Suite is where the Eclipse experience begins — and "begins" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, because this entry-level suite would be a premium category on most other expedition ships. At roughly 32 square meters with a private step-out verandah, queen or twin bed configuration, separate sitting area, minibar, Bulgari toiletries, and butler service, it's the kind of room that makes you wonder what the upgrade even looks like. The verandah is the real differentiator: your own private outdoor space for morning coffee, wildlife spotting, and those moments when the ship glides past a glacier in near-silence and you want to just stand there and take it in without sharing the railing with strangers.