Scenic announces plans to cruise the Northwest Passage, Russia’s White Sea and the East Coast of North America in 2020

Scenic Makes Plans for its 2019/20 Eclipse Season with Offerings That Include the Northwest Passage, Russia's White Sea and The East Coast of North America            Boston & Vancouver, March 2018 – On the heels of Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours' recent announcement of a second Discovery Yacht being added to the Scenic Eclipse fleet (launching May 2020), the company has expanded its already adventure-laden list of itineraries – adding several more of the world's most demanded bucket list opportunities. Highlights include a 21-day Northwest Passage exploration; a 13-day adventure through one of the world's most geographically-isolated regions, Russia's White Sea; and two opportunities to take in numerous ports along North America's east coast, including Halifax and NYC. With its onboard helicopters, submarine, Zodiacs and kayaks, these luxurious Discovery Yachts feature many opportunities for guests to immerse themselves in the best these spectacular destinations have to offer.            Limited to just 200 guests and departing August 15, 2020, Across the Northwest Passage is a once-in-a-lifetime journey and a pinnacle of polar exploration. Until this century, this route between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans was almost always impassable due to the dangers of the ice-heavy waters. With the highest ice class rating of any luxury ship (Polar Class 6), the Scenic Eclipse will make its way from Copenhagen, along the coast of Greenland and through the Canadian Arctic Islands until reaching Nome, Alaska, with the amazing scenery lit by the 24-hour sun. Guests will meet local Inuit communities, learning about the harsh environments, culture and wildlife from the onboard expert Discovery Team. There are opportunities for kayaking amongst icebergs, viewing whales, polar bears and Arctic foxes close up, and hiking across the frozen tundra.            Russia's White Sea is another of the sought-after bucket list trips. Located on the northwest coast of Russia, it is surrounded on three sides and is a southern inlet of the Barents Sea. Its very remoteness is what appeals to so many – unspoiled and untamed. Departing Tromsø, Norway's northernmost port, on June 21 and July 3, guests will get to visit the North Cape and Murmansk before focusing on the Russian Arctic - Archangelsk and the Solovetsky Islands - a forbidden region for decades.            For travelers wanting a closer to home voyage that still ticks the bucket list boxes, Scenic has scheduled 10- and 20-day sailings along North America's East Coast. The 10-day exploration departs New York City on September 29, 2019 and heads south, taking Baltimore, Norfolk, Wilmington (NC) and Charleston before ending in the Bahamas. Guests interested in doing the entire coast can start earlier (September 20) in Halifax, Canada and add five Canadian ports including Prince Edward Island and Lunenburg as well as the US's Boston and Martha's Vineyard. Melding world-class innovation with incredible luxury, the Scenic Eclipse fleet has set a new standard for doing expedition cruises: 228 guests are accommodated in 114 all-verandah suites, ranging in size from 345 ft² to 2,659 ft²; 10 dining options – from Asian Fusion to French fine dining to a chef's table to a poolside buffet; a 5,920 ft² spa with a well-equipped gym and separate yoga and Pilates studio; two six-guest helicopters and one six-guest submarine – to allow for explorations far beyond any done on expedition ships to date; a 240-seat theater for entertainment and lectures; indoor and outdoor plunge pools; butler service for all guests; and an almost 1:1 guest-to-staff ratio. And then there is the technology… innovative zero-speed stabilizer fins, 50% larger than standard to provide even greater stability; the highest passenger ship ice class rating – Polar Class 6 (Ice Class 1A Super): redundancies in propulsion, navigation, safety systems and food refrigeration; state-of-the-art bridge systems; and GPS dynamic positioning system that allows for stationary positioning without the use of an anchor. Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has grown over its 31-year history to include award-winning, all-inclusive escorted tours that take participants to many of the world's most fascinating destinations; two award-winning river cruise lines – Scenic and Emerald Waterways; and the world's first Discovery Yachts – Scenic Eclipse in 2018 and a sister ship in 2020. Award-winning Emerald Waterways' seven Star Ships offer deluxe cruises in Europe and the Mekong, and in 2019, a deluxe yacht cruise on the Dalmatian Coast, while Scenic's 15 Space-Ships offer truly all-inclusive, five-star river cruises in the same destinations as well as the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar and the Volga River in Russia.