Scenic Unveils Scenic Ikon
Scenic have once again made waves in the world of ultra-luxury expedition cruising as they this week announced the next in their series of cutting-edge Discovery Yachts—and it promises to be even bigger and more luxurious than the line’s existing Eclipse-class ships.
Set to be one of the most spacious, sumptuous and state-of-the art expedition vessels at sea, Scenic Ikon measures 205 metres and will accommodate 270 passengers (that’s 37 metres longer and housing 40 more passengers than Scenic Eclipse, for anyone keeping score). Constructed by Scenic’s in-house team at MKM Yachts, she has been carefully designed to meet Polar Code 6 and Ice Class 1A Super Standards, meaning she will be just as at home in the unforgiving Antarctic climate as the balmy Mediterranean where she will spend up to seven months of the year.
Expedition cruising often attracts those in search of something new, something different, something unlike anything they’ve experienced before. Such travellers will find the answer they’ve been looking for in Ikon, as she boasts the most extensive selection of onboard amenities and technologically advanced features to be found anywhere. Guests will find fresh perspectives at every turn, soaring above unique topography in one of the vessel’s two Airbus H130-T2 helicopters or trawling the deep in Scenic Neptune II, a custom designed Triton AVA submersible. Ikon also features a fleet of Zodiacs and specially crafted Fassmer tenders for the smoothest ship to shore experience possible.
Equally impressive is the onboard experience which, true to Scenic’s trademark all-inclusive experience, comprises 15 dining venues, a selection of bars, lounges and social spaces and the two-storey Senses Rejuvenation Spa and Fitness Centre. Also included are immersive shore excursions in every port as well as onboard entertainment and cultural events, all thoughtfully curated to reflect the unique charms of each destination.
“Scenic Ikon has been conceived, engineered and built with our in-house shipbuilding division and will be operated entirely by our own dedicated Scenic crew,” said Glen Maroney, founder and chairman of Scenic Group. “Every element of its design has been optimised to deliver unrivalled expectations across diverse destinations—from its primary base in the Mediterranean to the wilds of Antarctica.”
Indeed, Ikon is off to a flying start, with the first two sailings already sold out completely. She is due for completion at the end of 2027 and set to debut in April 2028, kicking off her maiden season in Venice before touring the Mediterranean, the Aegean, Egypt, Cape Verde, Antarctica and the Chilean Fjords. She will traverse 110 ports across 21 countries, bringing the Scenic experience to a total of 26 new destinations.
Scenic Ikon symbolises a new wave of luxury cruising, navigating ecologically sensitive areas and transporting guests to the most isolated destinations on earth without ever sacrificing an iota of quality when it comes to style, service, dining, and pioneering sustainability measures. This is an expedition experience tailor-made for the most discerning of travellers.
You can find out more about cruising with Scenic here.
