Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours is a privately held Cruise Line and Touring Company, founded by Australian businessman Glen Moroney in 1986. In 2007, Scenic opened its first UK office, with its UK headquarters in Manchester.^[1] Its inaugural European river cruise took place a year later with the launch of its first river ship named as "Scenic Sapphire".^[2]

As of January 2024, Scenic operates 15 river cruise ships, offering services in Europe and Southeast Asia, and formerly in Russia.^[2] On 15 August, Scenic launched its first purpose-built ocean cruise ship, Scenic Eclipse, which operates in the Americas, Europe, the Arctic, Antarctica, and the Norwegian Fjords.^[3] In April 2023, Scenic Eclipse II, a nearly identical sister ship was delivered.^[4]

Company History

Scenic was established by Glen Moroney in 1986.^[5] Scenic offered its first cruises on the rivers of Europe in 2008, with the launch of the brand’s first river cruise ship, Scenic Sapphire. This was followed shortly by the Scenic Emerald, with the Scenic Diamond and Scenic Ruby arriving in 2009.^[6]

In 2012, Scenic launched a new ship, the Scenic Tsar, which became the first new passenger vessel to be registered on the Moscow—St Petersburg passage in 25 years. The Scenic Tsar was deployed on the River Volga between Moscow and St Petersburg, with excursions to the island of Kizhi.^[7]

Scenic established Emerald Waterways as a lower-cost river cruise line in 2013.^[8]

In 2014, Scenic added two ships to its fleet, with the addition of the 169-passenger Scenic Jade, operating on the River Danube, and the 126-passenger Scenic Gem, which services the River Seine.^[9]

In 2015, Scenic confirmed that four new ships were in production and scheduled to enter service in 2016. The new ships were: the Scenic Azure, custom-built to cruise the waters of the River Douro in Portugal; Scenic Amber, scheduled for Europe’s major rivers; and two new custom ships for the Irrawaddy and Mekong rivers in Southeast Asia, the Scenic Aura and Scenic Spirit.^[10][11]

In January 2016, Scenic announced its plans to enter the ocean cruise market with the launch of Scenic Eclipse, a 228-passenger ocean liner scheduled to enter service in August 2019.^[12]

As of 2019, Scenic is in the process of redesigning 10 ships. These ships include Scenic Diamond, Scenic Sapphire, Scenic Ruby, Scenic Peal, Scenic Jasper, Scenic Opal, Scenic Amber, Scenic Crystal, Scenic Jade, and Scenic Jewel.^[13]

In March 2022, Scenic suspended all Russian operations following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.^[14]

Cruises and destinations

Scenic operates on nine rivers, encompassing major rivers in Europe, Southeast Asia, as well as formerly serving the Volga in Russia.^[15]

With the launch of their ocean cruise ships Scenic now also operates in Antarctica, the Arctic, the Americas, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, the British Isles, and the Norwegian Fjords.^[16]

Current Fleet

Expedition ship

References