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Subject to fine print regarding the advertised itineraries which says: subject to the grant of Australian and international regulatory approvals for operations

within Australian territorial waters, and if approved Scenic Eclipse will still be subject to any Federal, State or Local Government restrictions based on current pandemic protocols, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours says it will be operating 8, 11 night Kimberley cruises on board its Scenic Eclipse this year between Darwin and Broome.

With the first departure only a few months away on 30 May 2021 and ending at the end of August, along with some other operators Scenic does not have approval to operate yet, but appears confident, subject to the fine print above!

Scenic Eclipse carries 228 passengers with earlybird pricing starting at $15,475 per person, with the full fare for a two-bedroom penthouse at $71,040 per person, so not inexpensive.

Scenic Eclipse is the first ocean going vessel and flagship for the Australian Scenic Group. built at the Uljanik shipyard in Pula, Croatia, but due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, reported to be in a ‘warm lay-up status’ in the Port of Rijeka since May 2020 awaiting a return to service.

Scenic Group founder and Chairman Glen Moroney decided to build the Scenic Eclipse, after being inspired by Paul Allen’s Octopus yacht, with the construction beginning in 2017 but delayed numerous times due apparently to the bankruptcy of the building yard, with the vessel finally entering service in August 2019.

Scenic Eclipse is equipped with two Eurocopter EC130 Helicopters and also carries a seven person manned submersible called ‘Scenic Neptune’ built by U-Boat Worx which is capable of diving in depths of up to 300 meters.

A report by John Alwyn-Jones