PRESS RELEASE - Rijeka, April 9, 2023 - The upgraded version of the most luxurious expedition cruiser in the world is the second ship in Scenic's fleet built in Croatia, and good cooperation with the Rijeka shipyard paves the way for future projects.

After the launch in June of last year, and almost eight months of intensive work in Rijeka at the May 3 shipyard, the new explorer cruiser Scenic Eclipse II set sail from the Rijeka shipyard on its first voyage. The newest ship in the fleet of the world's leading company for luxury cruises, Scenic Group, which has been engaged in shipbuilding since 2007, was completely built in Croatia, and at May 3rd, it was the first new construction after a long four-year break. The management of the construction of this luxury cruiser was led by the domestic company MKM Yachts, which is part of the Scenic group. The ceremony on the occasion of the cruise ship's departure from the shipyard for its first voyage, held in the theater of the ship itself, was attended by Scenic's owner, Australian businessman Glen Moroney, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Davor Filipović, and other distinguished guests and business partners. 

"Today we celebrate not only the launch of a new luxury research cruiser, but also the persistence and collective effort that has brought us here today, where Eclipse II has been built from scratch. This project once again confirmed for us an important lesson that we have learned through the years of working in Croatia, namely that Croatia has a valuable, extremely high-quality engineering staff, as well as hardworking and skilled shipbuilders. When you combine that with the great project management by the MKM Yachts team, you get an outstanding result like this. I can proudly say that we have found great partners in Croatia, primarily in the 3. May shipyard, to whom I hereby thank for their excellent cooperation, and in the Government of the Republic of Croatia, which provided all the prerequisites for this project to come true, and whose support we count on in the future as well so that, as before, we would find quality and sustainable solutions for the realization of future projects", said Glen Moroney, owner of Scenic.

"Trust is the word that adorned the relationship between the Government and Scenic, as well as the Government and May 3, and opened the way for the effective and systematic implementation of the project three months ahead of schedule, and within the budget, which is a unique case. The entrepreneurial spirit and vision that Mr. Moroney brought first to the Uljanik shipyard in Pula, and now here on May 3, created another pearl of Croatian shipbuilding and made a huge contribution to Croatian industry, as well as to the numerous workers and subcontractors who contributed their knowledge. and his work in Eclipse II. I am here in Rijeka today with a sense of pride, convinced that our cooperation will continue, and that in the future, we will build new fascinating ships that will be a kind of heritage of Croatian shipbuilding", said the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, and congratulated everyone on a successful project.

Scenic Eclipse II was completed in less than three years since the cutting of the first sheets for the hull of the new construction began on May 3, 2020, and what sets this project apart is the fact that the ship was completed and ready to sail even three months ahead of schedule. Another specific feature of the project to build a highly sophisticated expedition ship is the model of contracted cooperation with the Rijeka shipyard, according to which MKM Yachts took part of the subconcession on May 3, and there, using the existing infrastructure and expertise of local shipbuilders in synergy with Scenic's team, built one of the technological of the most advanced research passenger ships in the world.

The 3rd of May workers and subcontractors participated in the construction of the hull and partial fitting out of the luxury ship, and MKM Yachts also cooperated with numerous Croatian companies for procurement purposes, which resulted in a total value of 170 million euros, with the share of domestic labor and materials amounting to as much as 45 percent of the ship's value, and that the new research cruiser can be called a top Croatian product.

Scenic Eclipse II is the second explorer cruiser in Scenic's fleet built in Croatia, and with the same length of 168 meters and width of 21.5 meters as its predecessor, declared the most luxurious polar cruiser in the world, its appearance resembles a luxury megayacht. 114 designer cabins can accommodate up to 228 passengers, with as many as 200 crew members at their disposal, and in addition to improved design and finesse in luxury equipment, it also differs from its predecessor in additional content, which includes an additional outdoor pool, nine restaurants, two custom-made built submarines that can dive up to 300 meters, and two helicopters. Eclipse II, like its predecessor, thanks to innovative technology, is strengthened for navigation in all seas, including those frozen around the North and South Poles.

Maj 22, 2020 - The Prime Minister toured the most luxurious ship in the world, currently anchored in the port of Rijeka, not far from his sister vessel, which construction began recently in Rijeka shipyard 3. maj as a part of an investment worth 860 million euros

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, accompanied by Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts Darko Horvat, Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butković and Minister of Tourism Gari Cappelli, visited the Scenic Eclipse, the best luxury ship in the world according to critics from last year. The luxury 6-star ship, owned by the Australian Scenic Group, sailed into the port of Rijeka this month, where it will remain until the situation with the coronavirus calms down.

We will be looking for solutions that will enable the continuation of Croatian shipbuilding because it was fascinating to see that in such difficult circumstances a ship like this was built in Uljanik. Many of the shipyard employees contributed greatly to the construction of this ship, although it ended with one incredible personal engagement of the client himself. The whole idea is to start with further investments, this time in 3. maj. Such ships, according to the captain are the best there is at the moment when it comes to polar cruisers and will be built in the Rijeka shipyard in the future, said Prime Minister Plenković. He also stated that the intentions of the Scenic Group are still very strong and a solution is being sought on how to proceed with these processes in the right way.

Prime Minister Plenković and ministers were welcomed in Rijeka by Saša Čokljat, director of MKM Yachts, a subsidiary of the Australian corporation Scenic, which has ordered Eclipse II. Australian businessman and Scenic Group owner Glen Moroney greeted them via video call from Switzerland. On this occasion, Čokljat once again expressed his satisfaction with the excellent cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Croatia, which has recognized the importance of the project and the long-term development perspective it can provide to the Croatian shipbuilding.

I am extremely glad because, at the moment when other cruising companies are putting their projects on hold, Scenic Group and 3. maj are starting a new business. We believe that this job will not only strengthen Scenic's fleet but also the shipyard itself. The activation of state guarantees awaits us soon which will enable a needed work to start the construction in full swing of the sister luxury polar cruiser ship. I believe that one such construction creates an opportunity to preserve rich tradition in shipbuilding, the continuity of production and knowledge, and hundreds of jobs, said Čokljat.

If we make a recall, cutting the sheets for the hull of the ship "Eclipse II" in April concluded a new project of building five cruisers worth 860 million euros. The first 1,000 tons of steel from a total of 4,500 arrived from North Macedonia. The hull keel is scheduled to be laid in 3. maj by the beginning of this summer. Then, the construction of four more ships with similar characteristics is planned. 

"Scenic Eclipse" was also built and completed at the Croatian shipyard Uljanik in July 2019. Its construction is specific because, at a time when the ship was only half-way completed, Uljanik ended in a blockade and bankruptcy. Scenic then set a precedent - it did not collect 50 million euros of state guarantees, but it returned them to the state - it kept the ship and continued construction with its own funds and manpower. There are two helicopters on board for trips to distant places, as well as a submarine that can dive to a depth of 330 meters below the sea surface to provide guests with an unforgettable and unique adventure experience. At the christening ceremony in New York last year, the godmother of "Scenic Eclipse" was the famous actress Helen Mirren.

Now meet the original Scenic Eclipse. You can learn more about Scenic Eclipse on the official website. 

May 19, 2020 - Last week, the key international media covering the tourism and shipbuilding sectors announced that the Eclipse II, the sister ship of the Scenic Eclipse, the most sophisticated and elegant ship of its kind, was being built in Rijeka's 3. Maj. 

Cruise Industry News reported about the steel cutting of the Scenic Eclipse II in Croatia in April this year. Recall, the company also announced it would build five vessels in the next six years in Croatia. 

The independent luxury magazine showcasing the finest and most luxurious things in life, Luxurious Magazine, also published an article about the second coveted discovery yacht from The Scenic Group in their ocean fleet, at the Rijeka shipyard in Croatia. 

Another great insight is shown by Latte, Luxury Australian Travel Trade E-news, who wrote that Scenic is now progressing with developing an expanded five-star yacht fleet under a new Croatian subsidiary called MKM Yachts. Scenic Eclipse II will be the first new ship to be built at the 3. Maj dockyard in four years.

Luxury Travel Advisor, describing themselves as the top travel website for travel agents seeking the very latest in luxury cruise news, luxury destination news, luxury hotel news, luxury airline news, and luxury tour news, did not miss the story about the construction of Scenic Eclipse II.

Besides TCN's report on the same news, many Croatian portals published an article about cutting the steal, adding how the yacht sailed into the port of Rijeka where it will remain on a dead berth until the end of the year and until the next season, i.e., until the coronavirus pandemic calms down.

Now meet the original Scenic Eclipse. You can learn more about Scenic Eclipse on the official website. 

April 24, 2020 - An important day for shipbuilding in Croatia, as work on new luxury polar discovery cruise ship Eclipse II begins. 

“Eclipse II” was ordered by MKM Yachts, a subsidiary of Scenic Group, an Australian corporation that has shipbuilding experience here in Croatia, because their “Scenic Eclipse”, the best luxury vessel of its kind in the world in 2019, was built in the Uljanik shipyard in Uljanik.

Scenic Group has plans to build four more cruisers such as “Scenic Eclipse” and “Eclipse II” in 3. Maj. In total, the value of this project is € 860 million, and this deal represents a new great opportunity for the revival of Croatian shipbuilding and the preservation of hundreds of jobs in Rijeka’s shipyard.

The start of work on Eclipse II, a new polar cruiser for the Australian Scenic Group, was marked in the 3. Maj dockyard, and Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts Darko Horvat, emphasized that the polar cruiser was the first new ship to be built at the dockyard in four years.

Some 1,000 tons of steel were delivered from North Macedonia to the dock required to build the Eclipse II polar cruise ship. Saša Čokljat, managing director of MKM Yachts, a Croatian subsidiary of Scenic, an Australian corporation that commissioned Eclipse II, explained the new business model in which MKM Yachts has taken a small part of Rijeka's shipyard on concession and is using existing infrastructure and knowledge of Croatian shipbuilders in cooperation with Scenic's expert team, to complete the construction of the Scenic Eclipse carbon copy. The project is a result of strong support and partnership with the Croatian Government and the 3. Maj shipyard, Cokljat mentioned in his speech.

Čokljat also pointed out that this great project would have failed if the Croatian Government had not recognizes its potential at the very beginning of the negotiations. Prime minister Andrej Plenković, Minister of Economy Darko Horvat and Minister of Finance Zlatko Marić showed courage and readiness to "think outside the box". That resulted in a project that offers a long-term development perspective to Croatian shipbuilding and the opportunity to preserve rich traditions in shipbuilding, continuity of production and knowledge, as well as hundreds of jobs in Rijeka.

"Today, during the crisis caused by the coronavirus, we are starting a new business that will, we believe, strengthen Scenic's fleet, as well as Rijeka’s shipyard. As other cruising companies put their projects on hold, Scenic Group 3. Maj begins to create a common future for both Scenic and the Croatian shipbuilding industry on a sound basis. I believe the niche for the construction of research cruisers represents a sound direction for the revival of Croatian shipbuilding, its new face in the future. We can be proud that the construction of one of the best ships in the world in its class is taking place right here in Rijeka”, Čokljat added.

"Eclipse II" will be the sister ship of "Scenic Eclipse", a 6-star luxury vessel designed for excursions to both poles, which was voted by critics as the best luxury ship in the world in 2019. “Scenic Eclipse” is expected to arrive in the port of Rijeka between May 2 - 4. and it will remain in Rijeka until the coronavirus lockdown ends.

“Scenic Eclipse” was built and equipped in Uljanik, Pula – but given the development of the situation in Uljanik, the ship was completed by the owner himself instead of the shipyard. At the moment when the ship was only half-finished, Uljanik went bankrupt and into receivership. Instead of collecting 50 million euros in state guarantees, Scenic decided to give back the guarantees, keep the ship and continue construction with its own resources and manpower. A team of Croatian shipbuilding engineers, designers, and about a thousand other experts and workers were assembled working on the completion of the ship on a daily basis. Despite all the difficulties in the process of production, the final result was great, so Scenic Group owner, an Australian businessman Glen Moroney, decided to continue building new cruisers for his fleet right here in Croatia.

Now meet the original Scenic Eclipse.

February 14, 2020 - How to overcome the pain of coming second at the Oscars? A luxury Croatian product is just one of the consolation prizes to take away the pain. 

There are consolation prizes, and there are consolation prizes. 

Being nominated for the Oscars must be the pinnacle of any acting career, and coming second is undoubtedly a huge disappointment, but it seems that nobody goes home emptyhanded.  

The actual Oscar statuette (also with its own Croatian connection) costs in the region of $400 to make, but every winner and runner up this year received a gift bag worth an astonishing $225,000. 

And that bag included a gift that was made in Croatia - could you imagine a better holiday to get away from the world and getting over the disappointment of coming second? 

The nominees also receive vouchers to redeem the big-ticket items, such as a 12-day cruise on the Scenic Eclipse, a yacht for 220 guests, with butler service, two helicopters and a spa. (Dame Helen Mirren is actually the “godmother” of the Scenic Eclipse.) The expedition, provided by Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, is valued at $78,190; it is the most extravagant gift in Distinctive Assets’ history. Destinations include Antarctica and the Mediterranean. For intrepid guests, there is also a trip on a submarine capable of diving 1,000 feet.

To read the full Forbes article, click here. 

The amazing gift is not the only connection between Scenic Eclipse and the Oscars. As mentioned above by Forbes, Dame Helen Mirren is the official godmother of the luxury polar discovery yacht, and her distinguished acting career has also included an Oscar for Best Actress in 'The Queen'. Check out the famous British actress in her godmother role on Scenic Eclipse, below. 

As recently reported on TCN, Scenic Eclipse is a 200-million-euro luxury polar discovery yacht, which was built in Pula. It is the first of its type and opens up a completely new frontier in luxury tourism, taking its guests to parts of the world that larger vessels can only dream about. And the exciting news for Croatia's embattled shipbuilding industry, is that the Scenic owners are in talks with the Croatian government to build five more ships in Rijeka, in a 900-mllion-euro deal which could bring job security - and new jobs - to Rijeka's shipyard. 

Just one more example of Croatian excellence on the global stage. To learn more about exciting things being produced in Croatia, follow our dedicated Made in Croatia section.  

Yesterday, TCN reported on the incredible story of Scenic Eclipse, the world's first polar discovery yacht cruiser, built in Croatia, christened by Dame Helen Mirren, and winner of the Cruise Critic Best New Luxury Ship 2019. A ship which is unique and setting the standards in high-end luxury cruise tourism. Read the full story here. 

There have been developments to the story, as reported today in the Croatian media.

As Dnevnik/Ivan Forjan writes on the 15th of January, 2020, better business awaits the Rijeka shipyard 3 Maj and could arrive from as far away as Australia. After one of the most luxurious cruise ships in the world, Scenic Eclipse, was built in the Pula shipyard Uljanik last year, production should resume in Rijeka. The mega-investment is worth several hundred million euros in total.

Due to its state-of-the-art equipment, it can sail all the seas of the world, even through the very iciest of waters. It also boasts its own submarine and even two helicopters. Its production cost more than 200 million euros in total, and the vessel you're looking at was constructed in Uljanik in Pula, Croatia. It has already sailed half of the world.

(Dame Helen Mirren christening Scenic Eclipse in New York)

"This is one of the most sophisticated and elegant ships of this type. We can all be proud that such a ship was made in Croatia. What makes this ship stand out is the luxury, a penthouse of about 200 square metres, offering dishes from different cuisines from across the world, from Asian to French,'' points out Sasha Cokljat of Scenic Group.

(Scenic Group owner Glen Moroney at the christening of Scenic Eclipse)

Satisfied with the work done by Uljanik for them, Australian investors now want to build five more ships like this to be constructed at Rijeka's 3 Maj shipyard. Glen Moroney, the owner of Scenic Group with extensive shipbuilding experience, is behind the whole project. Glen himself has come to see the expertise of local shipbuilders several times now.

"We were able to keep that nucleus of knowledge that was in Uljanik in 3 Maj. The whole team is Croatian, and that's exactly what we base our further development on and we think we can do it in Croatia. We're looking for some modality for joint construction and we're also in talks with the 3 Maj shipyard and with the Croatian Government,'' Cokljat stated.

The Ministry of Economy has confirmed that there is serious interest from Australians. And what can be said about everything that has happened at 3 Maj which has produced more losses than it has ships in recent years? Hundreds of workers have left, but the quality of vessels made there is still recognised by investors.

"It would mean one big plus, one boat is not enough work, one has to strive to get as much work as possible. Many things have changed, first of all - we get paid, our salaries have become regular," said Dalibor Cupkovic of 3 Maj's Trade Union Committee.

Five new exclusive cruisers would be a guarantee that this would continue. The job would go on until least until 2026, which would mean a minimum of 900 million euros of new investments in the Rijeka shipyard.

TCN reached out to Moroney for comment on the potential deal:

"We are very much aware that the Government of Croatia is actively pursuing a solution for shipbuilding in Croatia and our wish is to progress this exciting proposal with the government and the shipyard. We have already proven that together with Croatian engineers and shipbuilders we can build one of the most sophisticated cruise ships in the world, even under extraordinary circumstances. Scenic Eclipse did not cost Croatian taxpayers a penny and no state guarantees were taken. We finished the ship ourselves and now that we have the knowledge and practical experience, we are very confident that we can build and deliver five more ships in Croatia. The Government is being very cooperative and open with us so I look forward to the positive development and future of Croatian shipbuilding.”

Great news potentially for Croatian shipbuilding, an industry where it has traditionally competed with the best in the world. From Tesla to Rimac Croatia has proved that it can deliver technologies that change and amaze the world. Scenic Eclipse and its fellow polar discovery yachts is the latest and could, just like Rimac, become Croatian top export technology product setting the standards globally.

Make sure to follow our dedicated Made in Croatia page for much more.

January 15, 2020 - More under-reported Croatian excellence on the global stage, as Croatian shipbuilders produce the world's best new luxury cruise ship of 2019, as Scenic Eclipse enjoys the patronage of Helen Mirren. 

One thing I have come to learn after many years of living in Croatia is that things are rarely as they seem on the surface, and that few scratch beneath that surface to see what lies below. The perceived picture of the Croatian economy is one of doom and gloom - lots of unemployment, lack of skilled workers, few opportunities, lack of competitiveness. 

And while all this is certainly true on one level, taking a closer look at the realities on the ground show that there are many young seeds being sown in various industries which are already bearing fruit, and with the potential to bear a lot more. And one of the things that these seeds have in common is excellence. And not just five-star excellence but something higher, competing with the very best in the world. 

The best example of this, of course, is Mate Rimac and his phenomenal Rimac Automobili. In a country with no car industry whatsoever, a young man in his 20s started a business to realise his dream of building an electric supercar. So successful has Rimac been that not only has he now produced the world's fastest electric supercar, but he has also built a cutting edge technology business employing more than 600 people, with A-lister investors such as Porsche and Hyundai. 

But away from the bright lights and column inches that the Rimac success demands these days, there are other many other Croatian success stories occurring under the radar. I had absolutely no idea, for example, that the German Minister of Economy had visited a warehouse in eastern Zagreb to learn about innovation in the workplace. Or that that same warehouse, operated by a small family business, Tokic car parts, had been listed in the top 50 most innovative companies in Europe by the London Stock Exchange. Read their incredible story here. Similarly, it was a pleasure to be in Berlin recently to see Bagatin Clinic collect the award for best international cosmetic surgery clinic at the International Medical Travel Journal 2019 awards, the latest endorsement of Croatia's emerging medical tourism industry.

But the last place I expected to find Croatian global excellence, having read recent news reports, was from the troubled Uljanik shipyard in Pula. 

Don't get me wrong, Croatia has a fantastic shipbuilding heritage, and one which has provided much employment and built world-class vessels over the years. But the glory days seem to be over due to new economic realities, and the plight of the Uljanik shipyard was one of the main economic stories of 2019, a shipyard where orders had dried up and debts accrued. 

But if you look a little deeper, you will find one of the most fantastic stories of Croatian success of last year, and one which has been little reported. 

Not having paid more than cursory attention to the situation in the shipyard, I was somewhat surprised last July to see TCN reporting on a luxury 200-million-euro yacht called Scenic Eclipse being launched from Pula, destination Rejkavik, where it would pick up its first passengers for a new life of luxury Arctic and Antarctic cruises. Check out the gracious departure of Scenic Eclipse in the video below. 

And there the story might have ended, except that I recently came across a list of awards for the cruise ship industry by leading industry website, Cruise Critic, in which Scenic Eclipse featured rather well - Best New Luxury Ship 2019.

Cruisers might book Scenic Eclipse because it offers two state-of-the-art helicopters and a six-person sub, but they'll come back because of the 200-passenger ship's chic, modern design, generously-sized suites and incredible dining offerings. Scenic pulled out all the stops with its first ocean ship, which seamlessly combines luxury and soft-adventure travel to exotic destinations, including the Arctic and Antarctica.

And the more I looked into this wondrous little ship, the more surprises I found along the way. The ship was christened in New York by none other than Dame Helen Mirren in New York in September.

So enthralled was Dame Helen that she has agreed to be the Godmother of the Scenic Eclipse, expressing her admiration both for the luxury on board and the attention paid to the environment in its construction, "a ship that has minimal environmental impact on sensitive marine areas and the eco-systems it sails."

And then when I decided to take a closer look at the ship itself, I made a rather interesting discovery. It seemed like the Scenic owners and the Pula shipyard had managed to produce the first of an entirely new category of ship - the discovery yacht, a polar cruiser that could explore parts of the planet no competition could visit. A little like Rimac, was Croatia contributing something unique and world-class yet again?

The ship is owned by the phenomenally successful cruise ship company, Scenic, whose company profile is summarised as:

Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours has more than three decades of experience creating unforgettable handcrafted journeys for our guests with itineraries to more than 60 countries around the world. Scenic and its sister company, Evergreen Cruises and Tours are recognised as leaders in the industry.

Having seen a luxury private yacht in Sydney harbour one day, Scenic's Australian owners Glen and Karen Moroney apparently came up with the idea of offering all the luxury of a private yacht for cruise-paying passengers. A discovery yacht, smaller and more flexible than the normal cruise ship, allowing more personal guest attention and better flexibility and agility in routes and reaching destinations that the bigger ships simply could not go. And not just a discovery yacht, but a polar discovery yacht, capable of taking guests to parts of the Arctic and Antarctic that other ships simply cannot. 

And toys. Lots of toys. 

Where else would you find a cruise ship with its very own submarine, available to guests for excursions? A sophisticated sub with all the latest features that can take guests down to depths of 330 metres, including in some of the remotest parts of the planet during the Scenic Eclipse signature tours of the Arctic and Antarctic. As you can see in the US media story in the video below, the submarine skipper talks of some of the magical things he has seen, including jellyfish in the Arctic with tentacles about 15 metres long. 

You can also check out an extended video interview with the submarine skipper, including some great footage.

Toys in the air - two helicopters available for sightseeing tours. Toys on the water - zodiac boats and kayaks, allowing guests to get up close. Rare sightings of leopard seals, and the chance to kayak in the Antarctic. How else would you get to experience a penguin flying out of the water and landing on your boat, observing the situation for a few minutes and then flipping back into the water? Experiences explained by the expert Scenic Eclipse guide in the video below.

One of the ironies I have always found with the cruise ship industry is that people travel to get away from it all to go and explore faraway places, then find themselves on a boat with several thousand people for at least a week. The Scenic Eclipse discovery yacht is an altogether different experience. As one would expect, the number of guests on board is considerably less (maximum 228) and the number of staff ratio much higher. 

(Glen and Karen Moroney together with Dame Helen Mirren at the christening of Scenic Eclipse)

Glen and Karen Moroney were very much involved in the Scenic Eclipse project, having had that initial vision in Sydney Harbour. Glen was in charge of the overall design of the ship, while Karen - working with just two assistants - took care of the spectacular interior design.

Each suite comes with its own butler, and their spacious feel (the Owner's Suite is an impressive 195 m2) and luxury design gives a feel more of a presidential 5-star hotel suite than that of a yacht. There are ten venues on board, ranging from French to Japanese, with flavours and ingredients from all four corners of the planet, with an undoubted highlight being an invitation to Chef's Table, an exquisite dinner for a maximum of ten diners. No menu, diners are at the mercy of the creativity of the chef's kitchen. Early feedback suggests that the Chef's Table experience is not only the culinary highlight of the cruise, but among the top things on the entire cruise. An example of the range of quality on the wine, Champagne and spirits on offer can be gauged by the whiskey selection - sample one, or all, of the world's top 100 whiskeys while on your voyage. 

A variety of beauty and health services are available to guests, such as the 600-square-foot Senses Spa Center featuring Scandinavian-style baths, a gym and Pilates studio and a hair salon.

Construction of Scenic Eclipse was far from straightforward. What was already a groundbreaking project was complicated by the bankruptcy problems at the Uljanik factory, which went bankrupt halfway through the ship's construction. Despite this, the Moroneys decided to continue to invest and - together with willing and skilled Croatian engineers and shipbuilders - Scenic Eclipse was completed in 2019. So happy are the owners with the ship that they have announced plans to build five more, all of them in Croatia. 

A great opportunity, perhaps, for Croatia to develop a new sector of excellence serving the global market, in the same way that Rimac Automobili does. Rimac has only actually built a handful of cars, but they are the very best on the market, with an appropriate price tag attached. Why can Croatia not repeat that success in the luxury discovery cruiser market, a market which was born in its shipyards?

“Despite the long tradition and the well-known skill of quality shipbuilding in Croatia, building this type of ship has been an incredible challenge for all of us involved in the construction. Scenic Eclipse proudly bears the label of a unique Croatian product in the world and offers its guests a special and cinematic "bonding" adventure experience. My wife and I are really proud that we had the opportunity to participate in the construction process ourselves, because for us this ship is much more than a business project. Scenic Eclipse is really a family project that we are very passionate about and we really care about, "said Scenic Group owner Glen Moroney.

Built for both Arctic and tropical waters, and with a flexibility due to its size that other cruise ships cannot offer, the Scenic Eclipse itinerary offers voyages like no other ship. Choose from Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands; Europe & the Mediterranean; Norwegian Fjords & Baltic States; the Caribbean; the Arctic; and the Americas. Scenic Eclipse even visits the country of its birth, with Croatian stops in Rovinj, Hvar, Split and Dubrovnik. 

The most popular tour on the Scenic Eclipse is the one from the Norwegian Svalbard Archipelago along the Greenland iceberg to Reykjavik. It is a 14-day trip that costs about $ 23,945 or HRK 160,000. The price includes plane tickets for arrival and return and nine meals on board, and 16 polar research experts who lead the tours and hold educational programmes with the guests. Longer Antarctic tours are much more expensive, so for example, a 19-day trip from Buenos Aires, around the Falkland Islands and the South Georgia Islands to the Antarctic Peninsula, where guests can enjoy views of whales and penguins, costs around $ 30,695 (HRK 200,000) for ordinary accommodation and almost half a million kuna for the Owner's Suite ($ 77,000).

A Mediterranean tour with Scenic Eclipse, from Barcelona, ​​via Monte Carlo, sailing along the Italian coast to Santorini and all the way to Athens, guests will pay a minimum of $ 8,695 per person, or about HRK 57,000 for nine days. But it is actually the lowest price for off-season sailing with accommodation in the 32 m2 Verandah Suite cabin. Only the wealthiest who choose the Owner's Suite cabin, located on the sixth deck, will experience true exclusive accommodation. For a Mediterranean 9-day trip, the price of this cabin is $ 30,695 per person (HRK 200 thousand or HRK 22 thousand per day).

A luxury experience out of the budget of this correspondent, but how refreshing to once again scratch under the surface of Croatia and discover yet one example where it leads the world. And with the potential to deliver so much more to the Croatian economy, as well as luxury tourism worldwide. 

Learn more about Scenic Eclipse on the official website. 

Uljanik Shipyard in Pula launched Hull 530, a polar expedition yacht built for the Australian company Scenic

Scenic Eclipse should be finished by August 2018