Sail, soar & see the secrets of the ocean
Only two cruise ship companies in the world offer a truly immersive experience—a dive down the ocean in a “submersible.”
One of them is Scenic, which produced the world’s first Discovery yachts—six-star, ultra-luxury yachts—in Scenic Eclipse I and II. These Discovery yachts have on board two helicopters and a submersible.
Now, I’ve flown on helicopter tours with other cruise lines, but the tours were outsourced. On the Scenic Eclipse I and II, they’re part of the gear, so to speak.
I’ve never been on a submersible. Neptune I can take up to six guests; Neptune II, up to eight. It is navigated by an expert pilot, and according to Scenic, these crystal-clear acrylic spheres can “dive up to 100 meters, often viewing parts of the ocean rarely seen by humans.” According to Scenic, depending on the length of time of the excursion, a dive on the submersible costs $395 (20 min), $595 (30 min), $795 (40 min) and $1,150 (60 min).
“There is currently only one other operator offering a submersibles experience. However, Scenic provides this as part of an integrated four-dimensional guest experience for truly immersive discovery,” says Anthony Laver, group general manager of Scenic Cruises and Tours. “This is via air with the two helicopters, on the sea with Zodiacs, exploring on land with the discovery team, or underwater with the submersible.”
Plumbing the depths of the ocean in a submersible, for me, is an unrivalled adventure, and I know of four Filipinos—Sophia De Jesus, Marivic Del Pilar, Patrick Del Pilar and Lawrence Fariñas, who all booked their cruise through Citti Elite—who have actually tried it, describing the experience as “extraordinarily amazing.”
“We experienced both excursions during our Antarctic Scenic Eclipse Cruise. Both the helicopter and submersible experiences definitely came with an element of fear and excitement, especially considering the extreme environment of Antarctica, but they were also extraordinarily amazing, unforgettable, and incredibly fun,” the group said in an interview.
“Naturally, boarding a helicopter over Antarctica and descending into the ocean in a submersible can feel intimidating at first. However, the crew and expedition team were extremely professional, reassuring, and thorough with safety protocols and briefings, which made us feel very well taken care of throughout the experience.”
How was soaring over Antarctica?
“The helicopter ride was unlike anything else because of the sheer remoteness and beauty of Antarctica. Seeing endless glaciers, icebergs, mountains and untouched landscapes from above felt surreal, almost like flying over another planet,” they recalled.
How about the dive?
“The submersible experience was equally unique. The submarine is capable of going hundreds of meters deep, and as we descended further, it became increasingly dark with almost zero visibility at certain points, which made the experience both thrilling and humbling. There is a strange silence and mystery underwater in Antarctica that is difficult to describe.
“To our surprise, we eventually encountered what looked like a massive wall-like underwater formation surrounded by beautiful marine life, corals, and species. The highlight for us was unexpectedly seeing a giant phantom jellyfish, which we understand is quite a rare sighting especially since some guests on the submersible dives did not see marine life at all. That moment felt incredibly special and once-in-a-lifetime.”
I have tried adventures I once never dreamt of—like snorkeling in the deep waters off El Nido in Palawan, zip-lining between trees as tall as buildings in New Zealand, climbing to the top of the Sydney Bridge in Australia—but plumbing the depths of the ocean in a submarine is something…I am not considering. At the moment?
(According to Scenic, before participating in a Discovery Excursion, guests will be required to sign a waiver to confirm they are “physically and mentally fit to undertake and complete the excursion.” The team has the right to decline a guest boarding if they believe the guest is unfit to participate.)
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I asked Anthony Laver—if he were a tourist perusing the Scenic brochure, what would he like to experience and discover?
“If I look at the brochure as a guest or new traveler would, then what would really tempt me about Scenic is the feeling of uncompromised luxury and that everything is included. The Scenic Discovery Yacht cruises are very exciting—cruising pole to pole—to many stunning destinations not accessible to other larger ships,” he says.
For those who would rather enjoy the yachts’ amenities, they have 10 all-inclusive dining experiences, nine bars and lounges (eight on Scenic Eclipse II), 114 suites (from 32 sq.m. to 245 sq.m.) and a spa. Butler service for every guest and close to 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio.
I embarked on a Scenic river cruise a couple of years ago with Citti Elite president Shan Dioquino-David on the Scenic Azure, which took us on a memorable journey on the Douro River in Portugal. Indeed, each stateroom had its own attentive butler.
Why does cruising, whether ocean or river, remain very popular?
“Cruising has become very popular due to the great on-board and on-shore experiences, ease of travel, value for money, and variety of destinations that standard hotels cannot provide. This enables guests to relax—only unpacking once, with meals and services provided for friends and family to enjoy together,” points out Anthony.
“On Scenic Discovery Yachts, we have a state-of-the-art HVAC network that delivers 100 percent fresh air throughout the ship, with no recirculation between suites or public areas, and that air is treated with medical grade HEPA filtration and UVC light. We implement strict international and local cleaning and sanitation protocols and work with experienced medical teams—to ensure the comfort and safety of our guests and crew,” he adds.
Memories, indeed, should be scenic—whether they make you soar through polar skies or splash into an ocean of memories. *
For inquiries, call Citti Elite at 0917-800-601, +63-027001-5248, or email info@cittielite.net.
