Scenic Eclipse II isn’t just another luxury cruise ship.
In fact, Scenic doesn’t even call it a cruise ship. It’s an ultra-luxury discovery yacht, designed to combine the comfort of a six-star hotel with the kind of adventures you’d normally only expect from an expedition cruise.
After spending five nights on board (thanks to Scenic for the invite), I found plenty of things that it does differently. Some were immediately obvious, while others only became apparent after a few days.
These are the things I think Scenic does better than almost any other cruise line.
1. Every Suite Is Huge
Most cruise ships have a mix of cabins – from small inside rooms right through to lavish suites.
Scenic takes a completely different approach. Every single accommodation option on Scenic Eclipse II (and her sister Scenic Eclipse) is a suite.
Even the entry-level Verandah Suite that I stayed in is far larger than the standard balcony cabins you’ll find on most luxury cruise ships.
My suite was the cheapest available on board, yet it still had a separate seating area, a spacious bathroom and a large private veranda.
The extra space makes a huge difference. There’s room to properly unpack, relax and spend time in your suite without feeling cramped. Many cruise lines reserve this level of comfort for their highest-paying guests. On Scenic Eclipse, everyone gets it.
You can take a closer look at my room in this video…
2. The Beds Have Remote Controls
This is a relatively simple thing, but something that we enjoyed a lot!
The bed in our suite had a remote control on each side that allowed us to adjust the position with the touch of a button. You can raise your head to read, watch television in comfort or simply relax with your feet up high.
I’ve never heard of any other cruise line having remote-controlled adjustable beds. It’s one of those small touches that demonstrates just how much thought has gone into creating a luxury hotel experience rather than simply a cruise cabin.
3. Everyone Gets A Butler
Many luxury cruise lines offer butler service. The difference is that Scenic provides one for every suite. Whether you’re staying in the most affordable Verandah Suite or the most expensive penthouse, you’ll have your own butler throughout your cruise.
Your butler can arrange room service, organise laundry, make dining reservations and help with almost anything you need during your trip.
What impressed me most wasn’t the service itself but how relaxed it felt. There was nothing stuffy or intimidating about it.
My butler, George, delivered room service, stocked our minibar with exactly what we’d requested and was always available if we needed anything. It never felt formal or uncomfortable, just genuinely helpful.
4. The Food Is Incredible
I’ve eaten on a lot of cruise ships, but Scenic Eclipse II served up some of the best food I’ve ever had at sea.
The ship has multiple dining venues serving everything from sushi and Asian cuisine to French fine dining and Italian favourites. All of them are included in the fare.
What really stood out wasn’t just the variety. It was the quality. Even simple dishes were exceptional. A tomato salad tasted like the best tomato salad I’d ever eaten. Plain pasta somehow tasted extraordinary.
The ingredients are excellent, the presentation is beautiful and every meal feels carefully considered.
One evening we enjoyed a tasting menu that seemed to go on forever, with course after course of beautifully prepared food appearing throughout the evening.
Special diets are well catered-for too, with separate vegan menus available and allergens clearly marked.
For food lovers, Scenic Eclipse is hard to beat.
5. The Wine Never Stops Flowing
Many cruise lines include drinks. Few do it quite like Scenic.
Champagne seems to appear everywhere. Guests are welcomed aboard with a glass, it’s available throughout the ship and staff seem to have a sixth sense for topping up your glass before it becomes empty.
Wine service in the restaurants is equally impressive. Rather than handing you a long wine list and leaving you to decide, the sommeliers recommend wines chosen specifically to complement each course.
The result feels much more like dining in a luxury restaurant than eating on a cruise ship.
And because the wines included in the fare are already excellent, most guests never feel the need to pay extra.
6. The Spa Is A Real Part Of The Experience
On many cruise ships, the spa feels like an extra splurge. On Scenic cruises, popping in for a sauna or a nap on a heated bed is just part of your day.
Access to the Senses Spa thermal area is included, allowing guests to enjoy steam rooms, saunas, heated loungers, experience showers and relaxation spaces whenever they wish.
Because the ship carries relatively few guests, the spa rarely feels crowded. I often found myself relaxing there after excursions, and it became one of my favourite places on board.
7. It Blends Expedition Adventure With Serious Comfort
Most cruise lines specialise in either luxury or adventure. Scenic manages to combine both.
The same ship that serves caviar and Champagne while visiting destinations like St Tropez and Portofino can also take guests to Antarctica, the Arctic and some of the world’s most remote places.
Its expedition credentials are genuine, with advanced technology, specialist equipment and a design capable of operating in polar regions. Yet at the end of an adventurous day, you’re still returning to a luxurious suite, gourmet dining and exceptional service.
Very few cruise lines deliver both experiences so successfully.
8. Included Excursions Make Exploration Effortless
One of the biggest differences I noticed on Scenic Eclipse II was how much easier port days felt.
On many cruises, you have to plan out each day. Should you book an excursion? Which one? Is it better to book with the cruise line or a third party? Is it worth the cost? Should you just explore independently instead?
With Scenic, most of those decisions disappear because a wide range of excursions are already included.
Each port usually offers several options, from active hikes and bike rides to food and wine experiences, guided walking tours and panoramic sightseeing trips.
There are meetings about the excursions to help you decide which is the best for you.
I found that I actually explored more than I normally would because the excursions were already included. Instead of wandering around aimlessly, I was experiencing destinations with knowledgeable local guides and returning to the ship feeling like I’d made the most of each port.
9. Electric Bikes Are Available To Borrow
Most cruise lines don’t offer guests bicycles. You would need to go ashore and find a bicycle hire centre.
But, on selected itineraries, Scenic ships have a fleet of electric bikes available onboard for you. It’s a fantastic option for guests who want tol explore a little further than they could do on foot.
And, the electric assistance means hills become much less intimidating, allowing you to cover far greater distances than you could comfortably manage on a standard bicycle.
For active travellers, it’s another way Scenic encourages guests to experience destinations rather than simply visit them.
10. The Theatre Is Incredibly Comfortable
You won’t find Broadway-style productions or huge theatrical spectacles on Scenic cruises. That’s not really the point.
Instead, the theatre is designed for destination lectures, enrichment talks, expedition briefings and intimate entertainment performances.
What stood out to me was how comfortable it is. The stage is in the centre, with seats around, meaning that the performers are just a few feet away. The screen extends right around the room too. Plus, each seat reclines for ultimate comfort.
11. The Ship Feels Spacious And Calm
Wherever I went on the ship, I was constantly asking myself ‘where is everybody?’
When I first went to the pool area and saw only a handful of loungers, I was worried. That’s not many at all. Yet somehow, there were always some free.
The ship has large open spaces, that look as though they should be filled with something – yet there was no need to.
And as for music? It was usually silent. No blasting party hits or loud music quizzes by the pool. Just peace and quiet.
That sense of calm creates a completely different atmosphere from a mainstream cruise ship. It’s one of the reasons the cruise felt so relaxing from the moment I stepped on board.
12. Its Super Easy To Make Friends
I wasn’t expecting this.
Luxury cruises sometimes have a reputation for being a little formal or reserved. Scenic Eclipse wasn’t like that at all.
Because the ship is relatively small, you naturally start recognising people after a day or two. You see the same faces at breakfast, on excursions and around the lounges.
Many of the dining venues encourage shared tables, making it easy to strike up conversations with fellow guests. And in the lounge, the seating is cleverly arranged so that it’s easy to interact.
We shared tables with people we’d never met before and ended up having some of the most enjoyable evenings of the cruise. The atmosphere felt warm, welcoming and refreshingly unpretentious.
13. The Marina Adds A Whole Extra Side To The Cruise
Most cruise ships are designed to keep you away from the water. Scenic encourages you to get into it!
The marina platform opens directly onto the sea, creating an entire watersports centre at the back of the ship.
Depending on conditions and the itinerary, guests can enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding and swimming directly from the yacht.
One of my favourite moments of the cruise was climbing out of the sea after paddleboarding and being handed a glass of Champagne. What an experience!
14. The Crew-To-Guest Ratio Makes A Big Difference
Scenic Eclipse carries around 200 guests on many itineraries but has almost as many crew members. The result is a crew-to-guest ratio that’s close to one-to-one.
Numbers alone don’t guarantee great service, but you certainly notice the difference.
Crew members quickly learn your name, remember your favourite drinks and genuinely seem to know who you are. By the second day, waiters were already asking whether I wanted the same drinks I’d ordered previously.
That level of personal service is difficult to achieve on larger ships carrying thousands of guests.
15. It Offers Experiences Most Cruise Ships Simply Can’t
This is where Scenic truly separates itself from almost every other cruise line.
The yacht carries not one but two helicopters. And on expedition voyages, it also offers rides in a custom-built submarine.
Very few cruise ships can offer guests the chance to see remote landscapes from the air or explore beneath the ocean’s surface.
Even beyond the helicopters and submarine, Scenic Eclipse II was built for destinations that many luxury ships simply can’t reach.
It can sail in Antarctica, the Arctic and other remote regions while still providing the kind of luxury experience most travellers would associate with a high-end hotel.
Check out the best itineraries from Scenic
Sail the world in unrivalled luxury!
Final Thoughts
Scenic won’t be the right cruise line for everyone.
If you want water slides, casinos, quizzes and Broadway shows, you’ll find more suitable options elsewhere.
But if you love exceptional food, personalised service, included experiences and a calm, luxurious atmosphere, then Scenic does an extraordinary job.
What impressed me most wasn’t any single feature. It was how all of these elements come together to create an experience that feels genuinely different from every other cruise line I’ve sailed with.
Check out my YouTube video for a close look at this remarkable ship…
Related Posts:
- I Tried an Ultra-Luxury Scenic Yacht Cruise. Here’s What It Was Really Like
- What You Actually Get on an Ultra-Luxury Scenic Cruise (It’s A LOT)
- Luxury Cruise Lines Ranked From Best To Worst (2026 Reviews)
