Scenic (cruise line)
{{Short description|Cruise line and tour company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Advert|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours
| industry = Tourism
| founded = 1986
| services = River Cruising, Ocean Cruising, Escorted Tours
| homepage = https://www.scenic.co.uk/
}}
Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours is a privately held Cruise Line and Touring Company, established by Australian businessman Glen Moroney in 1986. The company opened its first United Kingdom office in 2007, its headquarters in Manchester.{{Cite web|url=https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/double-deal-at-piccadilly-place/|title=Place North West | Double deal at Piccadilly Place|date=March 15, 2019}} Scenic's inaugural European river cruise occurred in 2008 with the debut of its first river ship, "Scenic Sapphire".{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/cruiseline.cfm?CruiseLineID=144|title=Scenic Cruises 2019: Reviews, Photos & Activities - Cruise Critic|website=www.cruisecritic.com}}
As of January 2024, Scenic operates 15 river cruise ships, providing services in Europe and Southeast Asia, and previously including Russia. On August 15, Scenic introduced its first purpose-built ocean cruise ship, Scenic Eclipse, which operates in the Americas, Europe, the Arctic, Antarctica, and the Norwegian fjords.{{Cite web|url=http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/334856/scenic-eclipse-sea-trials-surpass-expectations|title = Scenic Eclipse sea trials 'surpass expectations'}} In April 2023, Scenic launched Scenic Eclipse II, a nearly identical sister ship.{{cite web |title=Scenic Eclipse II Departs on Inaugural Sailing from Lisbon |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/04/scenic-eclipse-ii-departs-on-inaugural-sailing-from-lisbon |website=cruiseindustrynews.com |access-date=15 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530185741/https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/04/scenic-eclipse-ii-departs-on-inaugural-sailing-from-lisbon/ |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |language=en |date=April 14, 2023 |url-status=live}}
History
Scenic was established by Glen Moroney in 1986.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/4130983/take-the-scenic-route/|title=Take the Scenic route|date=October 5, 2016|website=Newcastle Herald}} The company first offered river cruises in Europe in 2008 with the launch of Scenic Sapphire, followed by Scenic Emerald, Scenic Diamond, and Scenic Ruby in 2009.{{cite news |title=Take me to the rivers |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/travel/take-me-to-the-rivers/news-story/52f955609b6fd69c9971b20245fa3209 |work=The Australian |date=October 13, 2012}}
In 2012, Scenic launched the Scenic Tsar, which operated on the Moscow-St Petersburg route. In 2013, Scenic established Emerald Waterways as a lower-cost river cruise line.{{cite news |last1=Baran |first1=Michelle |title=Scenic Tours' new river cruise line a lower-priced option: Travel Weekly |url=https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Scenic-Tours-new-river-cruise-line-a-lower-priced-option |accessdate=January 6, 2020 |work=Travel Weekly |publisher=Northstar Travel Media, LLC |date=August 19, 2013 |language=en}} In 2014, Scenic expanded its fleet with the addition of the 169-passenger Scenic Jade, operating on the River Danube, and the 126-passenger Scenic Gem, servicing the River Seine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelpulse.com/articles/cruise/scenics-new-gem.html|title=Scenic's New Gem|website=TravelPulse}}
In 2016, Scenic launched several new ships: Scenic Azure for the River Douro in Portugal; Scenic Amber for Europe's major rivers, and Scenic Aura and Scenic Spirit for the Irrawaddy and Mekong rivers in Southeast Asia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/scenic-building-four-ships-for-2016.html|title=Scenic Building Four Ships for 2016|website=TravelPulse}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6544|title=Scenic Aura and Scenic Spirit Unveil New Design and Asian River Cruise Itineraries|website=www.cruisecritic.com}} In January 2016, Scenic announced plans to enter the ocean cruise market with the launch of Scenic Eclipse, a 228-passenger ocean liner, which began service in August 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6755|title=Scenic Enters Ocean Cruising With New Luxury Cruise Ship|website=www.cruisecritic.com}}
As of 2019, Scenic is redesigning 10 ships, including Scenic Diamond, Scenic Sapphire, Scenic Ruby, Scenic Pearl, Scenic Jasper, Scenic Opal, Scenic Amber, Scenic Crystal, Scenic Jade, and Scenic Jewel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8641|title=Scenic Cruises to Redesign Eight European River Ships in 2019|website=www.cruisecritic.com}} In March 2022, Scenic suspended all Russian operations following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{cite web |last1=Chua |first1=Bernadette |date=7 March 2022 |title=River cruise lines cancel Russian Volga river cruises in support of Ukraine |url=https://rivercruise.cruisepassenger.com.au/lines/river-cruise-lines-cancel-russian-volga-river-cruises-in-support-of-ukraine/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527110424/https://rivercruise.cruisepassenger.com.au/lines/river-cruise-lines-cancel-russian-volga-river-cruises-in-support-of-ukraine/ |archive-date=May 27, 2023 |access-date=15 June 2023 |website=rivercruise.cruisepassenger.com.au |language=en}}
Cruises and destinations
Scenic operates on nine rivers, covering major rivers in Europe and Southeast Asia, and formerly the Volga in Russia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rivercruiseadvisor.com/cruise-companies/scenic-tours/|title=Scenic Company Overview|website=River Cruise Advisor}}
With the introduction of their ocean cruise ships, Scenic now also operates in Antarctica, the Arctic, the Americas, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, the British Isles, and the Norwegian Fjords.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/4189/|title=Scenic Eclipse Expedition Cruise Ship Successfully Completes Sea Trials|website=www.cruisecritic.com}}
Current fleet
Expedition ship
| class="wikitable"
! Ship name ! Year launched ! Type ! Length ! Crew ! Guests ! Registry |
| Scenic Eclipse
|2018 |Ocean Vessel |166{{nbsp}}m |200 |228 |
| Scenic Eclipse II
|2023 |Ocean Vessel |166{{nbsp}}m |200 |228 |Nassau, Bahamas |