An Introduction to Scenic Cruises
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours (commonly known as Scenic) offers a truly "all-inclusive" and ultra-luxury experience across its diverse portfolio of river cruises, ocean voyages, and land tours. As the parent company of Emerald Cruises, Scenic distinguishes itself with a higher level of luxury, personalized butler service, and groundbreaking "Discovery Yachts" designed for unparalleled exploration.
A Brief History
Scenic's journey began in 1986 as Scenic Tours, an Australian coach tour operator founded by Glen Moroney. Building on its success in land touring, Scenic ventured into river cruising in Europe in 2008 with the launch of its "Space-Ships," quickly establishing itself as a pioneer in the luxury river cruise market by offering an all-inclusive product with a high level of service and innovative design.
The company's most ambitious expansion came with its entry into the ultra-luxury ocean expedition market. In 2019, Scenic launched Scenic Eclipse, the world's first Discovery Yacht, a groundbreaking vessel combining the amenities of a mega-yacht with the capabilities of a polar expedition ship, complete with helicopters and a submarine. The sister ship, Scenic Eclipse II, followed in 2023. These vessels have solidified Scenic's reputation for innovation and for providing unparalleled access to remote and extraordinary destinations while maintaining a six-star luxury standard. As the umbrella company for both Scenic and Emerald Cruises, Scenic Group continues to be a major force in global luxury travel.
The Fleet: Space-Ships and Discovery Yachts
Scenic's fleet is designed to deliver a consistent standard of ultra-luxury, with every detail considered to provide a seamless and indulgent journey.
River Space-Ships (Europe & Southeast Asia): These custom-built river ships are characterized by their spaciousness, elegant design, and a host of all-inclusive features.
Scenic Jasper, Opal, Amber, Ruby, Pearl, Sapphire, Diamond, Jade, Jewel, Gem, Azure: A fleet of highly acclaimed "Space-Ships" operating across Europe's major rivers. (Guest capacity varies, typically 163 guests for standard European ships, 118 for Douro).
Scenic Aura & Scenic Spirit: Custom-built for the Mekong River (68 guests), designed to offer the ultimate luxury on this iconic waterway.
Luxury Discovery Yachts: These state-of-the-art ocean vessels are built for expedition and luxury, offering unparalleled amenities and exploration tools.
Scenic Eclipse (228 guests, 200 in polar regions): Launched 2019. The world's first Discovery Yacht, featuring two helicopters^, a submarine^, and a fleet of Zodiacs.
Scenic Eclipse II (228 guests, 200 in polar regions): Launched 2023. Sister ship to Scenic Eclipse, further enhancing the expedition and luxury experience.
Current Starting Ports and Itineraries (2025-2026)
Scenic offers an extensive array of itineraries across all seven continents, ranging from classic European river cruises to extreme polar expeditions. The focus is on truly all-inclusive luxury, often featuring butler service for all guests, unlimited complimentary beverages, and a wide selection of included excursions and unique "Scenic Freechoice" and "Scenic Enrich" experiences.
River Cruise Starting Ports and Itineraries:
Europe:
Danube River: From Budapest (Hungary), Vilshofen (Germany), Nuremberg (Germany), Passau (Germany). Famous itineraries include "Jewels of Europe," "Delightful Danube," and a wide array of Christmas Markets cruises.
Rhine River: From Amsterdam (Netherlands), Basel (Switzerland). Popular cruises include "Romantic Rhine & Moselle" and "Black Forest & Rhine Highlights."
Main & Moselle Rivers: Often combined with Rhine and Danube cruises.
Seine River (France): Roundtrip from Paris (France), exploring Normandy.
Rhône & Saône Rivers (France): From Lyon (France) and Chalon-sur-Saône (France), focusing on gastronomic and cultural highlights.
Douro River (Portugal): Roundtrip from Porto (Portugal), known for its terraced vineyards.
Dutch & Belgian Waterways: From Amsterdam (Netherlands).
Southeast Asia:
Mekong River (Vietnam & Cambodia): From Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and Siem Reap (Cambodia) (with extensive land tours), offering profound cultural immersion.
Ocean Cruise (Discovery Yacht) Starting Ports and Itineraries:
Polar Regions (Arctic & Antarctic):
Arctic:
Longyearbyen (Svalbard) | Reykjavik (Iceland) | Kangerlussuaq (Greenland) | Tromsø (Norway).
Antarctic:
Ushuaia (Argentina) | Punta Arenas (Chile)
Sometimes with "Fly/Cruise" options. Includes expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands.
Europe & Mediterranean:
Starting Ports:
Barcelona, Spain | Nice, France | Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy | Venice, Italy | Athens (Piraeus),Greece | Dubrovnik, Croatia | Valletta, Malta | Reykjavik, Iceland | Lisbon, Portugal | London (Tower Bridge), England, UK
Itineraries span the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Northern Europe, Iceland, and the British Isles, offering access to both iconic cities and remote islands.
Americas:
Starting Ports:
Vancouver (Canada) | Seward (Alaska) | Boston (USA | Miami (USA) | Cartagena De Indias, (Colombia) | Guayaquil (Ecuador) | Valparaíso (Chile) | Buenos Aires (Argentina).
Includes Alaska, Canadian Arctic, Caribbean, Central & South America, and trans-canal voyages.
Australia & South Pacific:
Starting Ports:
Sydney (Australia) | Darwin (Australia) | Auckland (New Zealand) | Papeete Tahiti (French Polynesia).
Explorations of the Australian Kimberley, Great Barrier Reef, South Pacific islands, and New Zealand.
Asia:
Starting Ports:
Tokyo (Yokohama) | Singapore | Hong Kong (China).
Voyages exploring Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and often including the Russian Far East.
Africa & Indian Ocean:
Starting Ports:
Cape Town (South Africa) | Mahé (Seychelles).
Expeditions to the African coastline, islands of the Indian Ocean, and beyond.
Transoceanic Voyages: Extended journeys connecting continents.
Official Websites
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours maintains a comprehensive online presence, with various regional sites.
Global/UK Official Website: https://www.scenic.co.uk/
USA Official Website: https://www.scenicusa.com/
Australia Official Website: https://www.scenic.com.au/
A Word of Caution: Cruise Scams
When planning your ultra-luxury journey with Scenic, it is absolutely essential to exercise extreme vigilance against potential scam attempts that, unfortunately, target travelers. Be aware of these critical red flags:
"Free Cruise" or "Exclusive Offer" Traps: Be highly suspicious of any unsolicited communications (calls, emails, texts, or social media messages) claiming you've won a "free Scenic cruise" or are eligible for an impossibly low-priced "exclusive" deal. These are almost always fraudulent. They often come with demands for immediate payment for "port taxes," "service charges," or other hidden fees, or are simply phishing attempts to collect your personal data or pressure you into buying something else entirely. As an ultra-luxury brand, Scenic is a prime target for such schemes.
Fake Websites and Phishing Attempts: Scammers create highly convincing fake websites that mimic the official Scenic website or reputable luxury travel agencies. They also send deceptive phishing emails that appear legitimate. Their goal is to trick you into entering your login credentials, credit card details, or other sensitive personal information. Always manually type the official website address (e.g., scenic.co.uk, scenicusa.com) into your browser's address bar or use trusted bookmarks. Double-check the URL very carefully before entering any data, looking for subtle misspellings or unusual domain extensions.
High-Pressure Sales Tactics: Be wary of any offer that demands an immediate decision due to a "limited-time offer" that will expire in minutes or hours. This tactic is used by fraudsters to prevent you from doing proper research or verifying the offer's legitimacy.
Unusual Payment Requests: Never agree to pay for a cruise via untraceable methods like wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency if requested by an individual or an unverified entity. Legitimate luxury travel providers and their authorized partners use secure, traceable payment methods (e.g., credit cards) that offer consumer protection.
Fraudulent Job Offers: Like its sister company Emerald Cruises, Scenic Group has also been targeted by fraudulent job offers. Be extremely cautious of unsolicited emails or messages offering employment that ask for personal information outside of a standard resume, or, critically, demand payment for visas, training, or application processing. Scenic will never ask for payment as part of a job application process.
To ensure your extraordinary Scenic journey begins safely and securely, always book directly through the official Scenic website for your region or through a well-established, highly reputable luxury travel advisor who is explicitly authorized to sell Scenic cruises. If an offer feels suspicious, or if you receive any communication that raises red flags, contact Scenic directly using the official contact information found on their verified website, not from the suspicious offer itself. Prepare to embark on your all-inclusive ultra-luxury discovery with complete peace of mind.
Additional Resources
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