Scenic Eclipse: Helicopter on board as USP
Like the Eclipse I, the Scenic Eclipse II also offers its guests two state-of-the-art Airbus H130-T2 helicopters to add an extraordinary excursion experience to the ultra-luxurious cruise with a flightseeing tour.
Is there any more luxury on a cruise? Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has a unique selling point with the two helicopters on board its Discovery Yachts. There is also one submarine per yacht: Neptune I & II. But that is another topic.
These two exclusive features can be booked for an additional charge, subject to availability. Alongside spa treatments, these are the only extras that are not included in the cruise line’s ultra-all-inclusive offer. We test flightseeing on an Arctic voyage from Tromsø in Norway via the North Cape to Iceland. The price of USD 750 per person for 30 minutes of pure flight time seems fair. With a maximum of six guests + pilot on board and a very limited offer, it is clear that the helicopters are not on board to make money. The millions invested in the aircraft, maintenance, operation and crew (two pilots and a mechanic) are not recouped by the price of flightseeing. Not to mention the space that the helipad and the two hangars for the helicopters take up on the ship. This is about the extraordinary, which is in demand in the high-end cruise segment. That takes courage and determination – something the Australian founder of the brand, Glen Moroney, has plenty of. Congratulations on that!
Flighseeing heli cockpit over Island
Flightseeing coast of Island
After embarkation, there is a registration form in the suite, which must also be signed as a flight waiver. Depending on the trip, there are certain destinations to choose from. The data to be provided also includes your own body weight, as the allocation of seats in the helicopter is based on optimum weight distribution. A mandatory briefing and safety lecture must be completed in advance and then it’s time to wait. Depending on the weather conditions and flight permits, the flight time will be announced by message to the suite the evening before.
What do I need to consider for the flight? Clothing should be as dark as possible to minimize reflections in the helicopter’s panoramic windows. The cabin is very spacious and air-conditioned. Cameras are only permitted with a short lens; action cameras cannot be attached due to vibrations. The best memory of the impressive experience remains in our minds anyway when we consciously experience it with our own eyes. You can also take a few photos or videos on your smartphone.
We put on our safety vests in the waiting area and are escorted into the aircraft via the helipad while the rotor is running. We put our heads down, take our seats, fasten our seatbelts and put on our Bose noise-canceling headphones. And before we know it, we are taking off with a little wobble – while the Scenic Eclipse is sailing at full speed. It’s an incredible feeling, and after just a few seconds in the air, our nervousness has given way to excitement as we look down at our Discovery Yacht. The side walls on the helipad are folded down to provide a 180-degree angle of free space for take-off and landing. With a left turn, our pilot Christina pulls over the ship towards the Icelandic coast. There is a reverent silence in the helicopter, the headphones muffle almost all noise and also serve to communicate with each other. The silence also comes from the enthusiasm for the breathtaking panoramic view over the rugged coastline with its steep cliffs and a small lighthouse. Behind them, mighty mountains and snow-covered glaciers rise into the sky, which we easily climb and float over the mountain peaks.
Flightseeing heli
Heli approach to Scenic Eclipse in full speed
New mountain formations and an extinct volcanic crater keep opening in front of us. Only the height of the waterfalls is difficult to estimate from above. Christina asks our permission for a dynamic flight maneuver: “Of course! And then the nose of our aircraft tilts sharply downwards along a slope, with skillful curves and ups and downs that get our adrenaline pumping like a rollercoaster ride. Time flies and our pilot turns back towards the open sea. Somewhere out there, the Scenic Eclipse is heading towards our next port. She quickly comes into view and before we land, we take another lap around our ship for a perfect souvenir photo. Our pilot steers the Scenic Eclipse precisely to the landing platform at full speed. The closer we get, the more we feel gusts of wind that cause our aircraft to sway a little. The brief moment of nervousness in my eyes gives way to a skillful landing. This landing maneuver during the flight is like the icing on the cake of the sensational experience of a sightseeing flight over Iceland. As we march back inside one by one via the helipad, all the guests can be seen grinning with enthusiasm. As soon as we have taken off our lifejackets, we go back up one deck to watch the next group take off.
Stowing the helicopter in the hangar is no less exciting. The rotor blades are folded back, while the helipad walls fold up again at the side of the ship. The helicopter is then transported into the hangar by mover and subjected to a check by the mechanic. The teamwork between the pilots and the mechanic is first class.
The following day, as we enter the Arnarfjördurfjord in the direction of the Dynjandi waterfall, the crew offers a public tour of the hangar and the Airbus H130-T2 aircraft. The crowds are large, so even guests without a flight can enjoy a souvenir photo in the helicopter and conversations with the pilots. The Scenic Eclipse attracts a lot of attention, especially when one of the helicopters is on display. This was already apparent a few days earlier when we were moored in the port of Seydisfjördur together with the Hanseatic nature, the World Navigator and Seaventure. Their guests were happy to stand at the railing or on the balcony and take a close look at the Discovery yacht and its USP.
Island coast with Scenic Eclipse in the background
Helipad Scenic Eclipse
Iceland can perhaps still be viewed from land by helicopter sightseeing flight, but what about Antarctica? The two Scenic Eclipse yachts offer unique experiences from a bird’s eye view, even in the most remote spots on Earth. This is how a new absolute dream is forming in my mind:
The colony of emperor penguins on Snow Hill Island at close range
On an expedition cruise with the Scenic Eclipse, guests have the exclusive opportunity to travel to this unique location in the Antarctic and experience the spectacular show of thousands of emperor penguins from the front row.
The helicopter lands near Snow Hill Island. The custom-built Airbus H130s are the quietest helicopters in the air, minimizing the impact on the surrounding environment. After landing, the specialized Polar Discovery team will take you on a short hike through the snow to a perfect viewing spot for the majestic Emperors and their chicks. The Scenic Eclipse’s resident ornithologist provides deep insights into the behavior and ecology of Antarctica’s most famous wildlife, while the dedicated crew ensures all IAATO and biosecurity protocols are followed.
But it doesn’t have to remain a dream, given the necessary budget, this dream can also be realized in 2024/2025 or the following seasons.
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