A game changer for the industry, Scenic will launch the world’s first discovery yacht in 2018, Scenic Eclipse, complete with helicopters and a submarine for prime viewing in the Arctic and Antarctica.

The surprise announcement from Scenic owner Glen Moroney was made while celebrating Australian and New Zealand top travel agent sales achievers at its annual event, “Night of Stars”, in Sydney attended by 240 guests on Saturday night.

Celebrating 30 years in 2016, last years’ sales and ship deployments marked the biggest year of growth for the freshly branded Newcastle-based tour operator, cementing its place in the river cruising arena. However, the move to venture into ocean cruising has been on the cards for three years with planning for 6-star mega yacht Scenic Eclipse.

“The majority of our business is cruising, and we’re growing rapidly from just two ships in 2008 to 21 ships in 2016, and a fleet of 23 ships by 2017,” Moroney said.

Earmarked to launch on a maiden voyage from Istanbul to Venice on August 31 2018, the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse will then set sail to The Americas; Antarctica; Europe and the Mediterranean; and the Arctic and Norwegian Fjords. On Arctic and Antarctica cruises, passenger numbers will be dropped to 200 to enable a number of landings per day per guest.

“This is a whole new step for our company,” Moroney said.

“We want to get the people who would never go to Antarctica because of the Drake Passage, but this [Scenic Eclipse] will be as smooth as possible.”

According to the company, the ship has been “specifically designed to navigate challenging seas in the utmost comfort and safety”. Scenic also confirmed there is an option for a second ship to be delivered in June 2019.

Featuring 114 all-verandah suites – as well as a 233sqm two-bedroom owner’s penthouse – Scenic Eclipse guests will enjoy a wealth of variety on board with six dining venues, a 450sqm spa, gym, yoga and pilates studio, as well as indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis and plunge pools. Karen Moroney, who was also in charge of Scenic Jasper and Opal’s fittings, has designed the interiors.

As with other Scenic ships, Eclipse will feature an all-inclusive model for dining and excursions, but tours on one of two on-board helicopters, scuba diving and a ride in the custom-built 7-seater submarine will be optional extras.

“Our goal with Scenic Eclipse was to open up the private Discovery Yacht experience so that our guests could discover regions previously only visited by a fortunate few,” Moroney said.

“In many cases only the supremely wealthy or explorers and adventurers could’ve travelled to the Antarctic hinterland or have ventured below the surface to witness Polar wildlife in their natural habitat, but now we are making these experiences accessible to our guests whilst they travel in the utmost luxury and safety.”

Trade attending Night of Stars received an initial launch booklet – available for download here – but the full brochure detailing the 18 different itineraries will be available in February.

Over 240 agents attended the event which Channel 9’s Steve Jacobs MC’d for the third year running. Seven awards were given to the top offices in each state plus four national awards – top multiple location agency and top single location agency; and the top consultants in Australia and New Zealand.

“Everyone looks forward to ‘Night of Stars’, it is a really fun event and both the agents and Scenic staff all look forward to celebrating another great year together. This is our way of thanking our top agents who are all hugely important to the success of our business. We really do appreciate how loyal they are to our brand and hard they work throughout the year to promote and sell our ever expanding product range so ‘Night of Stars’ is all about them,” Scenic GM Sales & Marketing, Michelle Black, said.

The Night of Stars winners are listed below.

Scenic’s Diamond Agents

Top office VIC Awards

First place – Ballarat Travel and Cruise

Second place – helloworld Horsham

Third place – helloworld Mildura

Top office NSW/ACT Awards

First place – Weston Cruise & Travel

Second place – helloworld Winston Hills

Third place – Escape Travel Toronto

Top office WA Awards

First place – Sorrento Quay Travel & Cruise Centre

Second place – Bicton Travel

Third place – helloworld Carousel

Top office QLD Awards

First place – helloworld Strathpine

Second place – Escape Travel Townsville

Third place – Escape Travel Rockhampton

Top office SA Awards

First place – Phil Hoffmann Travel Glenelg

Second place – helloworld Marion

Third place – Travel and Cruise Professionals

Top office TAS Awards

First place – helloworld Launceston

Top office NZ Awards

First place – House of Travel Whangarei

National Awards – Multiple Location

First place – Travel Managers

National Awards – Single Location

First place – Weston Cruise & Travel

Second place – Sorrento Quay Travel & Cruise Centre

Third place – Phil Hoffmann Travel Glenelg

Top Consultant National Awards – Australia

First place – Deborah Long – Weston Cruise & Travel

Second place – Jan Welch – Sorrento Quay Travel & Cruise Centre

Third place – Carol Shaw -Tour De Force Travel

Top Consultant National Awards – New Zealand

First place – Lesley Johns – United Travel Westgate

Top Agency Sales QLD 3rd Place, Debbie Rains, Escape Travel Rockhampton

Top Agency Sales QLD 2nd Place, Debbie Rains, Escape Travel Townsville

Top Agency Sales QLD 1st Place, Cathy Donaghy, helloworld Strathpine

Top Agency Sales NZ 1st Place, Stephen Gillingham, House of Travel Whangarei

Top Agency Sales NSW&ACT 3rd Place, Angela Jenkins, Escape Travel Toronto

Top Agency Sales NSW&ACT 2nd Place, Scott McGlynn & Luke Kokotovich, helloworld Winston Hills

Top Agency Sales NSW&ACT 1st Place, Deb Long, Emma Sullivan & Ria Ligeros, Weston Cruise & Travel

Top Agency Sales 2015 Highest Sales, Multi Location, Sandra Leslie, TravelManagers

Top Agency Sales 2015 Highest Sales Single Location, 3rd Place, Georgina Nunn, Phil Hoffmann Travel Glenelg

Top Agency Sales SA 1st Place, Georgina Nunn, Phil Hoffmann Travel Glenelg

Top Agency Sales SA 2nd Place, Anita Wenn, helloworld Marion

Top Agency Sales SA 3rd Place, Brian Bennett, Travel & Cruise Professionals

Top Agency Sales VIC 1st Place, Alan Valpied, Ballarat Travel & Cruise

Top Agency Sales VIC 2nd Place, Chris Buwalda, helloworld Horsham

Top Agency Sales WA 1st Place, Jan Welch, Sorrento Quay Travel & Cruise Centre

Top Agency Sales WA 2nd Place, Carole Smethurst, Bicton Travel

Top Agency Sales WA 3rd Place, Gary Ewart, helloworld Carousel

Glen Moroney with winners of a suite on Scenic Eclipse