Scenic Eclipse should be finished by August 2018
As published by Cruisemapper and Glas Istre on January 23, 2016, Uljanik shipyard signed a contract with Scenic Cruises for the construction of an ultra luxury cruiser. The project should be concluded in 2018 since Scenic Eclipse’s maiden voyage will begin on August 31, 2018, from Istanbul to Venice.
Scenic Eclipse will be the first cruise ship ever built in this Istrian shipyard. This all-suite, 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse with 10 000 t displacement, which looks a lot like the billionaire’s yacht, will have an ice-strengthened hull, twin helicopters, an aft marina with a fleet of Zodiacs and a 7-person submarine. The ship will have an almost 1:1 staff to passenger-to-crew ratio and each suite will have a butler.
Construction of cruise ships represents the pinnacle of ship building so it looks like Uljanik is returning to the elite group of shipyards in the world. Scenic Eclipse will be used for luxury tours and scientific expeditions along the Arctic and Antarctica. The price of the last cruise ship with similar characteristics, built in Italy, was 134 million dollars (around 1 billion kunas).
Scenic’s move to construct an expedition cruiser follows that of Viking River, which entered the ocean arena last year with the launch of Viking Star. Scenic is describing the future vessel as the “world’s first discovery yacht;” it will have the highest passenger ship ice-class rating – 1A Super – allowing it to operate deep into the Arctic and Antarctica, where it will spend three months of the year.
The passenger numbers will be limited to 200 during polar expeditions, allowing several landings per day for passengers. The helicopters, which will carry an extra charge to hire, will allow passengers to get closer to the wildlife than by boat. The same goes for the submarine.
Cruise ship will also feature:
-Six restaurants, including pan-Asian, contemporary French and Italian venues, along with a steakhouse;
-Four bars and lounges;
– 240-seat theatre;
– Heated pool with a retractable roof;
– 450-square-meter spa with indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis and plunge pools; a gym with separate yoga and Pilates studio;
-114 suites, the smallest of which starts at 32 square meters (344 square feet). Each will have a veranda and separate living room.
– 233-square-meter (2,507-square-foot) Owners Penthouse Suite.
The ship will also have “zero speed stabilizer fins,” which are 50% larger than typical on a ship of this size, allowing it to navigate the choppiest seas with little movement.
