Scenic Eclipse News

[RockyandMoose]

15 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

New article on Cruise Critic about Scenic Eclipse:

Live From Scenic Eclipse: First Impressions From The New Luxury Expedition Ship

We are at the pier and she is more gorgeous than photos can capture.  Christening starts in 15 minutes and terminal is packed with people, string quartet playing, superb hor douvres being* passed and free flowing champagne too!

Edited September 10, 2019 by RockyandMoose

[Carol From California]

6 minutes ago, RockyandMoose said:

We are at the pier and she is more gorgeous than photos can capture.  Christening starts in 15 minutes and terminal is packed with people, string quartet playing, superb hor douvres being* passed and free flowing champagne too!

So awesome! ENJOY! Have a great cruise. Share photos if you can. 

[towel-animal]

Really awesome video tour of most of the public spaces onboard the Eclipse posted to YouTube today

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RXqnvcAlpo

[RockyandMoose]

Greetings from onboard the scenic eclipse. This morning after breakfast we were taken by bus to the dock for the christening.   The bus departed fairly punctually from the hotel in the process of boarding the bus and identifying your luggage to make sure that it had been properly collected from the hotel rooms was pure genius. On arrival at the Manhattan cruise terminal a string Quartet was playing and seats were set up for the christening ceremony. Waiters passed delicious appetizers with complementary champagne.  It was a festive moment to be sure.

 

Although the christening was called for 1230 I did not start until about 1245. A representative of the commission that runs the New York harbors presented a plaque to Captain Griffith and to Glen Molroney.   The proceedings were officiated by the godmother for the scenic sapphire who introduced several VIPs from scenic including Mr. and Mrs.  Molroney and Dame Helen Mirren.  Each delivered brief but significant remarks in the insights provided by Glenn in particular about the trials and tribulations in dealing with the shipyard in the building of the cruise ship we’re quite interesting and provided New insights into the reasons for the delay in completion of the ship and the significant personal burdens undertaken by the owners to make sure that the ship was delivered exactly As envisioned.

 

Helen Mirren  had arrived earlier in the day and dined on board having also enjoyed a tour along with other tour company officials before we as guests participated in the christening and we’re allowed to board the ship .

 

we are about to have a safety muster so I will close now but continue later.

 

 

[Vpilon]

So exciting - and you have a way with words that allows me to imagine I am there! Thank you so much for your time   Bon voyage!!  

[TorontoCruiser6]

We're on the Feb 3 sailing to Antarctic, so definitely hanging on your every post. Like you, we don't sweat the small stuff. Thanks for these updates!

[RockyandMoose]

 Continuing where I left off, in her remarks Helen Mirren mentioned that the food was delicious and that everything on the ship was so outstanding that it rivaled the very best hotels she had ever stayed out in her career. She told us to prepare ourselves to be wowed. After the prepared remarks the christening continued shipside with a bottle of champagne being thrust against the bow of the ship.  We returned to the indoor terminal where registration and boarding occurred very quickly. It took us no more than 10 minutes to get everything squared away and to board the ship.

 

Entering the gangway onto the ship was easy passing by security and a host of officers including the hotel director who introduced himself to us and we were then shown to our suite by the maître d’ of elements, one of the Restaurants onboard.   The suite is well appointed with concealed spaces under the platform which holds the king size bed which electronically adjust at the foot and at the head to be raised and lowered with individual controls for both sides of the bed. The concealed spaces under the bed are ideal for four full sized suitcases and if you bring two regular sized suitcases on board with two roll-on suitcases you can usually place your roll-on suitcases inside the full-sized suitcases and they still nicely under The bed.  In fact, when we reached our sweet all four of our suitcases parentheses the two large ones and the two rolling suitcases were already in our state room and placed on the bed so that we could unpack them with ease.

 

 Closet space was ample for an 11 day cruise including a full length closet ideal for long trousers, to luxurious ropes, two full-size scenic umbrellas and additional space with a half sized hi closet bottom half consisting of three large drawers one of which included a built-in safe. The third closet was more like a cupboard but ideal for shoes, cosmetics, and Other small items. The adjoining this include electrical outlets for European continent, UK and US plugs. For those traveling from the United States you would be willing to get a multi-plug extension cord to plug in so that you could use multiple AC devices.  The desk has two drawers one of which includes a Dyson hairdryer with hair diffusers and which uses European continental electrical plugs already on the desktop. There is also a mirror for make up application with extra lights which can be switched on or off to incl The desk has two drawers one of which includes a Dyson hairdryer with hair diffusers and which uses European continental electrical plugs already on the desktop. There is also a mirror for make up application with extra lights which can be switched on or off to increase visibility.

 

 The bed is a king size bed as noted above with luxurious linens and a duvet. The bed is separated from sitting area with an ottoman and two person couch and a large coffee table. There is also a smaller ottoman whose purpose is not clear. 

 

 Our suite is on the sixth floor and the veranda has a table and two chairs. The double sliding glass doors leading out to the veranda are concealed by the sheer curtain which can be moved by hand and a blackout shade which is electronically operated allowing you to close it all the way to the floor or to leave it open partway for partial production of light into the suite.

 

The bathroom has a sink and multiple drawers with a large mirror/medicine cabinet .  The  The sweet comes  bathroom house in at a fairly standard toilet adjacent to a walk-in shower. The medicine cabinet is as wide and long as the sink above which it is set and is deep enough to hold a standard men’s Dopp kit along with cosmetics and the like. There is also a decent size container for holding toothbrushes and regular brushes, tube of toothpaste etc.  Air conditioning works extremely well and the touchpad for operating it is intuitively designed. The big screen television is actually set behind a mirror and is a little more challenging to navigate but it contains a lot of information on it each day. Both are Butler and our room attendant came to visit us within 15 minutes of our arrival at our room with helpful information and ready to assist with any additional needs  Or requests.

 

 Soon we were off to explore the ship. We visited the gorgeous spa with separate men’s and women’s facilities, the outdoor heated pool, the yacht club deck with a retractable indoor roof and good-sized heated pool, the Pilates room which also serves as a yoga room and meditation room. The observation lounge, the various restaurants each more gorgeous than the next and the gym which is stocked well with a host of free weights, wall weights, exercise equipment  etc.

 

 There are plenty of places to eat and drink on board the ship throughout the day and quiet spaces are abundant. The main lobby lounge tends to be cooler than the other places on board the ship. 

 

 We took a lot of pictures but are not going to post them right away here as we have just been on board a few hours and would like to enjoy some time without dealing with that issue but we will try to do so in the next day or so. Everything about the appointments in the common areas reflects great refined taste and a certain elegance born of simplicity. Each restaurant venue has a unique appearance with custom art and great attention to details. 

 

 This evening we had dinner in elements after a gorgeous sail away out of New York Harbor and passed the Statue of Liberty. Service was excellent, the food was very good and the portions were reasonable in size. The wine pairings were wonderful and the menu presented reasonable variety of choices. 

 

 We will close for the night here but hope to offer more information in the coming days. So far everything we have seen we have enjoyed and are frankly amazed that. Glenn had mentioned in his remarks that his dream was to build a ship that was of such a nature so that the passengers would feel that they were on a billionaires yacht. He certainly has accomplished that goal! 

[RockyandMoose]

A few additional thoughts: connectivity on board is excellent. They provide you with a password and as far as internet connectivity goes it is far better than most but certainly not as fast as DSL at home.  

 

 There are USB slots at the desk and what each side of the bed. 

 

In an effort to reduce paper waste, the daily program of events is only available in your state room on paper if you requested from guest services. Otherwise it appears on the ships interactive television screen which takes a bit of effort to navigate.

 

The artist renderings of the deluxe veranda state room shows a bench at the foot of the bed. There is no bench at the foot of the bed. The distance between the foot of the bed and the desk area makes it prohibitive to put a bench there.

 

Laundry service is available for a nominal charge. Pressing service is also available if you wash your clothes in the guest laundry and then just want the clothes ironed. There are no dry cleaning services on the ship.

 

Each state room is well-stocked with a refrigerator which is filled with various beverages, a cappuccino/coffee maker, a teapot for brewing hot water for tea, and assortment of illy each state room is well-stocked with a refrigerator which is filled with various beverages, a cappuccino/coffee maker, a teapot for brewing hot water for tea, and assortment of illy Coffee products and an extensive 24 hour dining menu Coffee products and an extensive 24 hour dining menu for in suite dining.

 

 In addition to theFull length closet and the closet that is 1/2 for hanging and the other half containing three large drawers, there is also an area  Full length closet in the closet that is 1/2 for hanging and the other half containing three large drawers, there is also an area for Of shelving which is roughly 8 to 9 inches deep and 2 feet wide parentheses three shelves) ideal for backpacks, books and other personal possessions. Additionally there is a shelf over the desk which can be used to store purses and the like.

 Of shelving which is roughly 8 to 9 inches deep and 2 feet wide parentheses three shelves) ideal for backpacks, books and other personal possessions. Additionally there is a shelf over the desk which can be used to store purses and the like. 

For the purposes of guided tours the ship offers complementary quietvox

Devices with earbuds for each passenger and a charging station in the state room.

 Devices with earbuds for each passenger and a charging station in the state room. 

 

Each state room has a piece of original resin art produced by an Australian artist in the area above the couch adjacent to the king size bed and nightstands. Each nightstand has two drawers and a countertop.

[Carol From California]

4 minutes ago, RockyandMoose said:

A few additional thoughts: connectivity on board is excellent. They provide you with a password and as far as internet connectivity goes it is far better than most but certainly not as fast as DSL at home.  

 

 There are USB slots at the desk and what each side of the bed. 

 

In an effort to reduce paper waste, the daily program of events is only available in your state room on paper if you requested from guest services. Otherwise it appears on the ships interactive television screen which takes a bit of effort to navigate.

 

The artist renderings of the deluxe veranda state room shows a bench at the foot of the bed. There is no bench at the foot of the bed. The distance between the foot of the bed and the desk area makes it prohibitive to put a bench there.

 

Laundry service is available for a nominal charge. Pressing service is also available if you wash your clothes in the guest laundry and then just want the clothes ironed. There are no dry cleaning services on the ship.

 

Each state room is well-stocked with a refrigerator which is filled with various beverages, a cappuccino/coffee maker, a teapot for brewing hot water for tea, and assortment of illy each state room is well-stocked with a refrigerator which is filled with various beverages, a cappuccino/coffee maker, a teapot for brewing hot water for tea, and assortment of illy Coffee products and an extensive 24 hour dining menu Coffee products and an extensive 24 hour dining menu for in suite dining.

 

 In addition to theFull length closet and the closet that is 1/2 for hanging and the other half containing three large drawers, there is also an area  Full length closet in the closet that is 1/2 for hanging and the other half containing three large drawers, there is also an area for Of shelving which is roughly 8 to 9 inches deep and 2 feet wide parentheses three shelves) ideal for backpacks, books and other personal possessions. Additionally there is a shelf over the desk which can be used to store purses and the like.

 Of shelving which is roughly 8 to 9 inches deep and 2 feet wide parentheses three shelves) ideal for backpacks, books and other personal possessions. Additionally there is a shelf over the desk which can be used to store purses and the like. 

For the purposes of guided tours the ship offers complementary quietvox

Devices with earbuds for each passenger and a charging station in the state room.

 Devices with earbuds for each passenger and a charging station in the state room. 

 

Each state room has a piece of original resin art produced by an Australian artist in the area above the couch adjacent to the king size bed and nightstands. Each nightstand has two drawers and a countertop.

Thank you for taking the time out from your cruise to post all of these details.  It is very helpful. Are you in a deluxe verandah?  The website says the deluxe verandah has 366 sq. ft., while the verandah has 344 sq. ft.  On the website the verandah does not show a bench at the foot of the bed, but the deluxe verandah does.  We booked the verandah for our cruise next summer and wonder if the 22 sq. ft difference is noticeable.  Let me know if you get a chance to take a peek at the smaller standard verandah.  On your deck those are  612, 617, 628, and 633.  One more question....how full is the ship?  Have a great cruise!  

[czardas]

7 hours ago, TorontoCruiser6 said:

We're on the Feb 3 sailing to Antarctic, so definitely hanging on your every post. Like you, we don't sweat the small stuff. Thanks for these updates!

Hi TotontoCruiser6, we are also on the same cruise. Can’t wait and I am currently hanging off anything I can read. Look forward to hopefully catching up when we finally board. 

[R&R Cruiser]

8 hours ago, RockyandMoose said:

A few additional thoughts: connectivity on board is excellent. They provide you with a password and as far as internet connectivity goes it is far better than most but certainly not as fast as DSL at home.  

 

 There are USB slots at the desk and what each side of the bed. 

 

In an effort to reduce paper waste, the daily program of events is only available in your state room on paper if you requested from guest services. Otherwise it appears on the ships interactive television screen which takes a bit of effort to navigate.

 

The artist renderings of the deluxe veranda state room shows a bench at the foot of the bed. There is no bench at the foot of the bed. The distance between the foot of the bed and the desk area makes it prohibitive to put a bench there.

 

Laundry service is available for a nominal charge. Pressing service is also available if you wash your clothes in the guest laundry and then just want the clothes ironed. There are no dry cleaning services on the ship.

 

Each state room is well-stocked with a refrigerator which is filled with various beverages, a cappuccino/coffee maker, a teapot for brewing hot water for tea, and assortment of illy each state room is well-stocked with a refrigerator which is filled with various beverages, a cappuccino/coffee maker, a teapot for brewing hot water for tea, and assortment of illy Coffee products and an extensive 24 hour dining menu Coffee products and an extensive 24 hour dining menu for in suite dining.

 

 In addition to theFull length closet and the closet that is 1/2 for hanging and the other half containing three large drawers, there is also an area  Full length closet in the closet that is 1/2 for hanging and the other half containing three large drawers, there is also an area for Of shelving which is roughly 8 to 9 inches deep and 2 feet wide parentheses three shelves) ideal for backpacks, books and other personal possessions. Additionally there is a shelf over the desk which can be used to store purses and the like.

 Of shelving which is roughly 8 to 9 inches deep and 2 feet wide parentheses three shelves) ideal for backpacks, books and other personal possessions. Additionally there is a shelf over the desk which can be used to store purses and the like. 

For the purposes of guided tours the ship offers complementary quietvox

Devices with earbuds for each passenger and a charging station in the state room.

 Devices with earbuds for each passenger and a charging station in the state room. 

 

Each state room has a piece of original resin art produced by an Australian artist in the area above the couch adjacent to the king size bed and nightstands. Each nightstand has two drawers and a countertop.

Thank you for such great feedback R&M, greatly appreciated!

[TorontoCruiser6]

4 hours ago, czardas said:

Hi TotontoCruiser6, we are also on the same cruise. Can’t wait and I am currently hanging off anything I can read. Look forward to hopefully catching up when we finally board. 

Fantastic -- look forward to meeting you! Great updates from R&M so far. There are penguins in our future!

[RockyandMoose]

 Hello everybody. We continue to have a wonderful time on the ship. Some miscellaneous comments follow. Today we tendered into Martha’s Vineyard. All the seas were quite choppy the process of entering and exiting the tender could not have been more smooth and efficient. The deck which extends out from the third level to the tender is a great thing and allows for far more stability entering the tender. The tender is new and instead of having seats of foam padding with material which can get wet , The material is of a nature that repels water. There are visible lifejackets under each of the benches of the tender which is also reassuring. Everything smells, feels and looks new. The employees around the ship looks like they are in seventh heaven working here!

 

For those who will be getting on the ship for cruises coming up a couple of things I will be of value to you to know. Particularly when you board the ship as a first item of business you should talk to the hotel Director to make reservations for the t Director to make reservations for the teppanyaki  dining room as space is limited. You should do the same for Lumiere the French restaurant. If you want to attend the cooking Academy you should make that known to your butler as the availability of the Academy depends on the provisions on board it is at the discretion of the chef  in terms of its availability and frequency of its offering. You will also want to sign up fairly quickly for the submarine and for the helicopters. Space is limited on those but in our experience so far they have met demand with supply as far as the helicopters are concerned. Because of the Jones act, access to the submarine is limited to waters outside of the United States and the feasibility of operating the submarine in waters of a more international nature. For that reason the submarine is only offered one day on this cruise.

 

The Butler’s and cabins attendance are very helpful and quick to fulfill requests. All speak good English but some of them have accents which take a little getting used to but all earnestly try to make you feel at home.

 

 The Butlers and cabins attendants are very helpful and quick to fulfill requests. All speak good English but some of them have accents which take a little getting used to but all earnestly try to make you feel at home. 

 

 Because we slept until 915 this morning things to the blackout curtains and the shutters which completely seal out the light from the veranda, by the time we got dressed eating in the main breakfast area had concluded. However we were able to grab a bite to eat in the azure lounge and bar area. Lunch service was excellent on the pool deck level with a wide assortment of salads, hot and cold entrées, a few different dessert options all tasty and well prepared. .   Menus for the dining venues reflect gluten-free, vegan, products containing nuts and local ingredients. Ideal for people with dietary issues. After we return from our sure excursion we went up to the azure lounge where a couple of sandwiches and three or four different desserts were offered a light along with excellent beverage service. The place was not the least bit crowded. 

 

One of the remarkable things about the ship is that it is small but even with 200 passengers on board you never seem to feel crowded or cramped. There are so many public spaces and little spots that you can enjoy with privacy that it is luxurious in all regards. Though we have not sampled it yet the gym as well equipped, the spa offers all of its services for free, the yoga/Pilates meditation room is staffed by a gentleman who is very passionate about what he does and apparently quite knowledgeable as well. Some of the rougher edges that were  One of the remarkable things about the ship is that it is small but even with 200 passengers on board you never seem to feel crowded or cramped. There are so many public spaces and little spots that you can enjoy with privacy that it is luxurious in all regards. Though we have not sampled it yet the gym as well equipped, the spa offers all of its services for free, the yoga/Pilates meditation room is staffed by a gentleman who is very passionate about what he does and apparently quite knowledgeable as well. Some of the rougher edges that were described by  earlier voyagers seem to of been worked out quite well. The restaurant staff is still new and there are some issues with regard to the accuracy of orders being taken by the new servers but we expected that will work out in relatively short order as they become more comfortable in their roles and doing their jobs. Our dinner last night at elements was delicious. .

 

more later.

[AllisonJames]

Thanks for the link to the video. I’ve been following all the posts with great interest but after seeing the video, I am not excited about the interior design and ambiance.  I’m sure they were going for very sleek and modern, but to me it is stark, lacks color and warmth and much of the furniture looks uncomfortable.  So much black, white and gray.  I’m sure it’s an amazing ship, just not for me.

[Carol From California]

22 minutes ago, AllisonJames said:

Thanks for the link to the video. I’ve been following all the posts with great interest but after seeing the video, I am not excited about the interior design and ambiance.  I’m sure they were going for very sleek and modern, but to me it is stark, lacks color and warmth and much of the furniture looks uncomfortable.  So much black, white and gray.  I’m sure it’s an amazing ship, just not for me.

Everyone has different taste. My husband and I like the sleek, modern look and we look forward to sailing on her next summer in the Arctic. We also like ships like the Explorer on Regent which is "over the top" luxurious. That's why there are cruise lines for everyone's taste! 

[salbags]

RockyandMoose

 

Really appreciate all the information and time you are taking to pass this over especially with regard to booking the restaurants and cooking classes.  

I did note on the video that there is obviously still a problem with hot tubs and pool as empty, but I also noted that there didn't seem to be any sun loungers or much outside seating and eating?  Is your cruise full as it seemed like there was no one around? Finally is the use of sauna and spa complimentary apart from treatments?

Many thanks once again

[RockyandMoose]

The use of the spa, plunge pools and all treatments are complementary including the infrared sauna and a steam rooms. There is a separate sauna and steam room for men that is distinct and different from the ones for the women.  There is some outside availability for dining and the pool has a retractable roof over it. While we were in Port the pool was filled as was the outdoor pool which is much smaller. However today in Boston we are in Port and the pool has been drained perhaps due to rain or perhaps due to the fact that breakfast is served in the space surrounding the pool and some people are just not ready to look at others swimming in the pool while diners are eating breakfast !

 

Apropos of food, I’m going to attempt to attach year the in room dining menu available 24 hours a day and the room service menu for breakfast.

[RockyandMoose]

Some photos of the deluxe veranda stateroom And bathroom. Shower pressure is excellent with both an overhead rain shower  and handheld spray as well. Products are excellent quality with mild if any scent. They are also hypoallergenic. Bathroom has ample drawer, wall cabinet space for stowing product and personal items. 

[Carol From California]

Thanks for sharing the photos! Everything looks great! I have always wanted to try the Dyson hair dryer!  LOL!

[RockyandMoose]

Pictures of the yoga/Pilates/meditation room and the gym/fitness facilities along with a couple of pictures of the spa treatment rooms.Pictures of the yoga/Pilates/meditation room and the gym/fitness facilities along with a couple of pictures of the spa treatment rooms.  Classes are offered for no charge for yoga, Pilates and meditation and the gentleman who runs that area also offers private sessions. We are unsure whether those are charge for or not. She also offers meditation experiences with Tibetan bowls.

[TRIPACIAN]

I just wanted to thank everyone that has posted information and pictures of the Eclipse. We are really getting excited about our cruise next April from Buenos Aires.  

 

We can’t wait!!!

[cruising kirby]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post your experiences, and the photos as well.  I am following with interest!

[mochuck]

Ditto. Are Helen Mirren and the owners aboard?

[RockyandMoose]

No they are not. It turns out that the ship is completely full but only 110 paying guests with the rest being travel agents and other scenic personnel. The scenic Folks have been very visible and very accessible. They have sought out candid guest reaction to things and have been earnest in their desire to make note of the comments with an eye toward change and improvement.  This morning in a conversation with the cruised hotel manager my wife mentioned that what was missing in our cabin was a magnifying mirror and by the time we returned in the early afternoon to our State room there was a magnifying mirror on the desk. Talk about prompt and efficient responsiveness to the needs of passengers on board!

[mochuck]

Yes! A magnifying mirror is a must for ageing eyes. 😁