Discovery Deluxe is going head to head

The discovery and expedition market is growing fast, and at the top head to head.

by Earl of Cruise

Rendering of deluxe SCENIC ECLIPSE - courtesy SCENIC CRUISES

rendering of Crystal Endeavor in Antarctica

Rendering of deluxe CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR - courtesy CRYSTAL CRUISES

rendering of Ponant´s new buildings, expedition cruisers deluxe

Rendering and description of PONANT´s new deluxe LE LAPÉROUSE, LE CHAMPLAIN, LE BOUGAINVILLE and LE KERGUELEN - courtesy PONANT

SCENIC CRUISES, CRYTAL CRUISES and PONANT anounced new de luxe expedition ships. SCENIC the SCENIC ECLIPSE, CRYSTAL the CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR and PONANT its four French endeavourers - LE LAPÉROUSE, LE CHAMPLAIN, LE BOUGAINVILLE and LE KERGUELEN. While SCENIC has an option for a second vessel CRYSTAL seems to check the market, while they slow a bit down in their growing strategy. And it looks like - we have to have the more luxurious expedition vessel, as of our self claimed position at the top ...

All six vessels aim for the sophisticated travellers or cruisers, who have good filled `portemonais´ filled with coins to spend.

Another tour and cruise operator, the self proclaimed "top of the luxury" HAPAG-LLOYD CRUISES, is building two vessels for the same market, but won´t reach the level that is set by SCENIC at first, toped by CRYSTAL and still underneath the level of the French offer.

SCENIC and CRYSTAL have lesser desisity than PONANT and far less from that of HAPAG-LLOYD CRUISES. The HURTIGRUTEN newbuilds will have in comparision a cramped condition on board, and can´t be named in any way luxurious.

The expedition and especially the luxury expedition market is fast a growing cruise segment in the mainly volume oriented international cruise market. It turns out that the luxury expedition seems to be the hotest market in the industry. This year four lines have announced newbuilds for this market.

Of the three top offers we will see 2018 the first luxury expedition vessel, which is by far the better luxury offer than the REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES, SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER offer, or that from HAPAG-LLOYD, EUROPA 2 and the two expedition cruises newbuilds.

But undoubtedy, the sexiest and most exciting are the two new polar vessels: SCENIC ECLIPSE and CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR, with PONANT’s chic new foursome coming up the rear.

When CRYSTAL announced their new offering, Australians gulped. Wasn’t it almost exactly like Aussie ship-builder Glen Moroney’s SCENIC ECLIPSE, announced some months before?

The helicopters … the submarines … the special safetly features. Even the superstructure – with the exception that SCENIC ECLIPSE is black and CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR is white.

Mr Moroney was stoically saying nothing. CRYSTAL maintained the designs were definately CRYSTAL inspired.

Space, the room per passenger is the benchmark to luxury. But too the service and the quality of food and drinks.

Looking at the figures below, you may think PONANT´s newbuild are out of shape for the deluxe expedition market. It looks like, but perhaps - cabins can be interchanged (two into one) - their food quality will beat ...

So how do they stack up? I went behind the renderings to find out.

	Size		Passenger	Crew	Cabin Size
PONANT	131 m	10,000 GT	184	110	min 18 square metres
SCENIC ECLIPSE	165 m	16,500 GT	228	228	min 32 square metres
CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR	183 m	25,000 GT	200	200	min 37 square metres
Technology
PONANT	Ice Class ranked, equipped with latest environmental preservation technology
SCENIC ECLIPSE	Custom-built stabilisers that are 50% larger than other ships, state of the art fins to adjust to large swells, ice strengthened hulls with Polar Class 6 (Ice Class 1A Super) rating
CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR	PC6 Polar Class rating, state of the art offshore dynamic positioning technology to maintain position and float over reefs without dropping anchor
Top cabin
PONANT	Not yet released. Sister ship Le Lyrial has 67 square metre Owner’s Suite with private balcony, Jacuzzi bath, two flat screen TVs and 24 hour room service
SCENIC ECLIPSE	Two-bedroom Penthouse Suite. 233 square metres with private terrace, Jacuzzi, spa bath, spa day bed for in-suite treatments, dual steam shower with light therapy, two walk in wardrobes, dining table for 10, library, fully stocked wine bar and personalised mini bar replenished daily and butler service
CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR	Owner’s Suite. 290 square metres with three bedrooms, private conservatory, garden, Jacuzzi, spa and gym with sauna and steam room, and butler service
Onboard toys
PONANT	Zodiac fleet, Infinity-Pool, variable Marina used as wassersports plattform and mini-landing station, Kajak, Paddle Board (SUP), diving, snorkeling, water skiing
SCENIC ECLIPSE	Two twin-engine six-seater helicopters, a seven-seat submarine, fleet of zodiacs
CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR	Two helicopters, two seven-seat submarines, eight zodiacs, jet skis, waverunners, recompression chamber for scuba diving, dive support tender, multi-person ATV, SEABOB underwater scooters, Remote Operated Vehicle to see underwater wrecks
Facilities
PONANT	Panorama restaurant, Grillrestaurant
SCENIC ECLIPSE	Six dining options, retractable roof heated pool, plunge pools, gym, yoga and pilates studios, 450 square metre spa, theatre
CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR	Six dining options, lecture rooms, cinema, infinity pool, Jacuzzis, 930 square metre spa and fitness area

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