Scenic Eclipse II sails into the heart of London, opening up a new frontier

• The ultra-luxury yacht travelled from the open waters of Western Europe and into London for the first time.
• Scenic Eclipse II is designed to explore everywhere from Antarctica and the Arctic, to the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
• The six-star yacht accommodates up to 228 guests, boasts two helicopters, a custom-built submersible and butler service for every suite.

Scenic Eclipse II, the ultra-luxurious yacht that was built for exploring polar regions and remote fjords, has just completed what might be its most important expedition yet – sailing into the middle of London.

In an impressive demonstration of how Scenic Discovery Yachts are combining ocean expeditions with river sailings on smaller waterways and city gateways, Eclipse II travelled from the open waters of Western Europe to Greenwich in the heart of London.

Rather than docking only in Southampton or Tilbury, passengers were taken straight up the Thames into Greenwich, a fitting port considering the rich maritime heritage of the riverside district.

The arrival of the Eclipse II into London for the first time on July 31 is a clear example of what Scenic’s two Discovery Yachts – Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II – are built to do: bridge open-ocean luxury with the kind of access usually reserved for far smaller vessels.

This new frontier for Scenic has been made possible by the use of technology that allows for precise manoeuvrability through complex waterways and the ability to maintain position without dropping anchor onto sensitive seabeds.

James Griffiths, Scenic Group General Manager – Ocean, said the Thames transit demonstrated what Scenic Discovery Yachts were engineered to achieve, giving “our Captains the precision and flexibility to access a much wider range of waterways and destinations”.

The Thames arrival comes as Scenic gears up for the launch of Scenic Ikon in April 2028. It will carry up to 270 guests across 135 all-verandah suites and feature 15 different culinary experiences, a two-level spa and next-gen battery technology designed to reduce emission, noise and vibration.

Its inaugural season will span 110 ports, 21 countries and 26 new destinations across Europe, the Mediterranean, the Aegean, Egypt, Africa, Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and the Chilean Fjords.

Scenic is one of several lines combining ocean and river itineraries on the one ship. Viking’s new ocean ship Viking Mira begins several sailings in London, while the newest Windstar ship Star Explorer has been purpose-built for hybrid cruising.