Scenic Unveils Shore Excursions for New Scenic Eclipse Cruise Ship

(4:30 p.m. EDT) — Luxury small-ship line Scenic has unveiled some of the shore excursions for its first-ever Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse.

The 228-passenger ship, set to debut summer 2018, will offer a variety of tours focused on culture, wildlife and off-the-beaten-path adventure — all of which will be included in the cruise fare — during its inaugural season.

Wildlife-themed excursions will be available on the ship’s 11-day Ultimate Arctic cruise. On land, cruisers will search for Svalbard reindeer and hike to the upper reaches of the archipelago to see flora unique to this part of the world. In Zodiacs, they will search for polar bears on ice floes and glide by bird colonies that are home to thousands of Arctic terns and skuas.

On the ship’s 11-day Discover the British Isles sailing, passengers will get to enjoy a morning or afternoon tea with Lord and Lady Dunleath at their restored 170-year-old estate in Northern Ireland. One option — a visit to the famed Fakasel Horse Show near Reykjavik — will only be available on August 6, 2019 during the ship’s 10-day Iceland Discovery journey.

Scenic Eclipse launches in the Mediterranean on August 31, 2018; it will offer 10 dining options, eight bars and lounges, a 5,900-square-foot spa and cabins that range in size from 345 square feet to 2,660 square feet.

–By Dori Saltzman, Senior Editor