Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours Founder Glen Moroney has confirmed his travel company will be launching a “new series” of oceangoing vessels.
Specific details on the new series remain under wraps, but it is understood the vessels form part of the agreement Scenic struck with the Croatian shipyard where Scenic Eclipse II is currently being built.
Speaking with media aboard the original Scenic Eclipse in the Red Sea last weekend, Moroney stated Scenic’s “growth plans have slowed by two years,” no doubt as a consequence of the global pandemic.
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“Although Scenic Eclipse II should have been in operation by now, we had to pause the building process but we’re in full production now, as is Azzurra [the first superyacht for Scenic’s sister brand, Emerald Cruises],” Moroney said, as reported by Cruise and Ferry.
The sister-ship to Scenic Eclipse will launch in April or May of 2023.
“Scenic Eclipse II will be the last of the series and we’ll be launching a new series of vessels that we’ve already started engineering,” Moroney revealed.
In August 2019, upon delivery of Scenic Eclipse, Moroney flagged his intention to build a further five super cruisers. And last July Scenic Group’s shipbuilding company, MKM Yachts, was granted a sub concession of the 3. Maj Shipyard in Rijeka, Croatia – the location where the company is developing and will produce its ultra-luxury fleet of cruisers over the next 10 years.
The only other detail of Scenic’s future ocean cruisers that Moroney shared with media last weekend was the capacity of the fleet, saying: “You know I will never build anything over 300 passengers. Ever.”
Moroney also discussed the future of cruising in Saudi Arabia where the six-star ‘Discovery Yacht’ has been based since July as part of a charter with Cruise Saudi for the local market.
He said Saudi Arabia currently lacks the infrastructure in place to offer a dedicated Red Sea voyage for the international market but he has connected with Saudi Vision 2030.
Before 2030 Scenic should have multiple new oceangoing vessels and superyachts in its fleet, enabling the company to position one back in the destination prior to then.
“Consequently, our cruises will include calls in the Holy Lands, the Suez and then go to Saudi Arabia, so it will be included as part of a longer cruise. I’m sure that this will change over time,” Moroney said.
Meanwhile in the Red Sea, Scenic has unveiled a new pontoon that was developed while Scenic Eclipse was out of service in Rijeka, due to the pandemic.
The pontoon is an extension of the marina at the extreme aft of the yacht. It will be used for watersports during warm water sailings, providing guests with easy access to Scenic Eclipse’s collection of watercrafts, which now include paddleboards, kayaks, sea-bobs and Zodiac excursions.
Scenic Eclipse will depart Saudi Arabia in early December bound for Antarctica where it will recommence ultra-luxury expedition voyages from Ushuaia on 8 January 2022.
Lead image: Scenic Eclipse in Antarctica | Credit: Roger Pimenta