Scenic Ikon Gives Warm-Weather Cruising More Room on Deck

Scenic Ikon is getting a full swimming pool, a large outdoor deck and a stern marina with two floating bars. Those are the additions I’d put ahead of the helicopters and submersible. Scenic’s existing Eclipse ships have polar-focused layouts with less outdoor space and no large pool. That is a limitation worth fixing when most of the itinerary calls for warm weather.

The 270-passenger yacht, scheduled to enter service in April 2028, will spend 70% of its time in warm destinations and 30% in polar regions. That reverses the pattern of Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II, which spend up to 70% of their time in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Scenic is making the ship fit that change in emphasis. At 26,500 gross tons, Ikon will be about 50% larger than the original Eclipse while carrying 18% more passengers. The ship grows far more than its guest count, and some of the additional space goes toward the outdoor areas a warm-weather yacht ought to have.

Ikon will begin sailing from Venice. Its destinations will include the Mediterranean, Aegean, Egypt, Cape Verde Islands and Dakar, while a shorter polar season will take in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and the Chilean Fjords.

A different balance, with the expedition equipment retained

The 672-foot ship will have 15 dining locations, compared with 10 on the original Eclipse, plus a larger spa and wellness area. Scenic will retain its all-inclusive offering.

Two helicopters will be positioned at the bow, with elevators taking them to their storage garages. Ikon will also carry a custom-designed Triton AVA submersible, Zodiacs and superyacht tenders for reaching smaller, out-of-the-way ports.

That equipment keeps the expedition side of the product firmly in view. But the outdoor changes are the more consequential design decision for a ship expected to spend most of its time away from the poles. A marina and a generous pool deck give the warm-weather program something tangible beyond a different set of destinations.

Scenic specifies an Ice Class 1A Superior-strengthened hull for Ikon, retaining a polar program alongside the longer warm-weather season. The existing Eclipse ships have Polar Class 6 ratings.

Founder and Chairman Glen Moroney said the design followed three years of planning. “Guest feedback drives our innovation and guides our investment in new ships, destinations, and journeys,” he said. He also credited the group’s control of design, construction, ownership and operations with allowing it to act directly on that feedback.

Warm-water choice within Scenic itself

Scenic Group already has a warm-water ocean business through Emerald Cruises, whose offering is less formal and more value-oriented than Scenic’s. Emerald Azzurra entered service in March 2022 with capacity for 100 passengers, followed by sister ship Emerald Sakara. The larger, 128-passenger Emerald Kaia is the first of three ships in the next stage of that expansion.

Ikon gives travelers more warm-weather choice under the Scenic brand itself. The group, founded by Moroney in Newcastle, Australia, in 1986, moved from escorted land tours into river cruising before launching its ocean business with Scenic Eclipse in 2019. Moroney said the ship’s black hull and exterior lines were intended to give it the appearance of a private yacht.

Ken Muskat, president of Scenic Group USA & LATAM, said marketing, promotions and travel advisor education, alongside a greater North American focus, were helping build demand and repeat business. He expects the broader range of destinations and onboard experiences to widen Scenic’s passenger demographics.

The group also plans river ships for the Seine, India’s Hooghly and Brahmaputra rivers, and the Mekong. Scenic Eclipse II will be based in Asia Pacific from 2028.

For Ikon, though, the strongest decision is a straightforward one. On a ship scheduled to spend seven days out of ten in warm destinations, the pool and outdoor deck deserve to be treated as core equipment, every bit as relevant to the itinerary as the Zodiacs.