Taking the scenic route
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours is not only about luxury, but personalised experiences in some of the world’s most magical destinations
Picture the scene: it is evening on the Danube and, after a day exploring beautiful Budapest, dinner is served on board an ultra-luxury river cruise ship operated by Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. Should a guest opt to dine in their spacious suite, they can press a button to open a floor-to-ceiling window, expanding their living space out to the balcony. The uninterrupted views transform the city into a glittering backdrop to a delicious, elegant meal.
It is an unforgettable end to a perfect day.
“We call it the Sun Lounge,” says Nichola Absalom, Managing Director of Sales and Marketing at Scenic UK. “These are the details transforming the experience of river cruises for Scenic guests. We do things differently, with ultra-luxury ships that offer the best of guest experiences on rivers and oceans.”
Scenic operates luxury cruises on the major rivers of Central Europe, France and Iberia, as well as the Mekong in Southeast Asia. In addition, the company’s two six-star 228-passenger ocean vessels tour the Arctic, Antarctica, the Caribbean, Europe and the Mediterranean, Asia and Australasia. These two Discovery Yachts, Scenic Eclipse
and Scenic Eclipse II, enable guests to enjoy access to tiny ports, hidden islands and extraordinary wildlife. “For these ocean vessels we use GPS dynamic positioning, which means they don’t need to drop anchor,” says Nichola. “This is very good for sustainability and gives us the flexibility to stop in shallow water if we want to do something different, like visit a colony of emperor penguins.”
Whether they are designed for the ocean or rivers, all Scenic vessels are custom-built with a focus on safety and comfort. There are multiple dining options on board, as well as spas and pools, plus luxurious suites that offer privacy and relaxation. Such innovation and excellence comes straight from the top. Founder Glen Moroney began running coach tours around his native Australia in 1986, before expanding into Canada and New Zealand. When he brought his business to the rivers of Europe in 2006 and worldwide oceans in 2019, Glen designed unique cruise ships to offer an outstanding boutique experience. “He saw that people are looking for a more personalised experience that takes them off the beaten track with an almost one-to-one service,” says Nichola. One facet of this approach is a price that is truly all-inclusive. A Scenic cruise includes every meal, drink
and excursion. Furthermore, each cruise has at least one exclusive trip that no other cruise line can provide, such as a private concert by a professional orchestra in one of the most prestigious palaces in Vienna. The groundbreaking technology of the ocean yachts ensures seamless navigation around the world’s most remote locations, while the state-of-the-art helicopters and custom-built submersible offer unrivalled exploration at new heights and depths.
With so many itineraries on offer, the only real question is which one to choose. Seven-night river cruises are a popular option and tours can be combined, so guests can take back-to-back cruises on different rivers, or a short river cruise followed by a longer ocean trip.
Wellbeing is an important consideration, with Scenic ocean vessels including therapy rooms, gyms, yoga and Pilates, as well as operating dedicated wellness cruises.
“We continue to look ahead,” says Nichola. “Our goal is to create an ultra-luxury route to smaller, lesser-known destinations, providing a unique experience. This is not mainstream cruising, it is a personalised experience.”
www.scenic.co.uk