Scenic Eclipse Trip Report - Panama Canal Cruise October 30, 2019

[towel-animal]

Hello CruiseCritic.

 

After years of anticipation for Scenic Eclipse, our cruise is finally upon us. There are many valuable posts you'll find within this helpful thread started by @Carol From California. I am simply starting mine as a separate thread for ease to others to find a firsthand experience since the other is currently at 17 pages of posts and counting. 

 

A little about us: I'm a Millennial traveler (and cruise addict) sailing this voyage with my mother. The two of us have wanted to take a "dream vacation" just the two of us for years now. Our vacation journey started in 2016 when we booked a Mediterranean cruise on the Regent Explorer. Two days before sailing, a medical emergency required us to cancel the trip. Later when we were looking to try again, we landed on aMediterranean cruise on the Scenic Eclipse as a replacement vacation. (We did later end up sailing the Caribbean on Regent Explorer which was a FABULOUS product — and I believe Scenic Eclipse may be the only ship that can match if not top it).

 

Our cruise was originally scheduled to be the second sailing after the inaugural cruise in September 2018. So unfortunately, due to the extensively reported delays with the Croatian shipyard, we were canceled. We hung in there and rebooked a Baltic itinerary for May of 2019, and then once again got the dreaded news of cancellation for the extended delays. While my mother was ready to "jump ship," I remained confident that the Eclipse would be a ship worth waiting for and successfully convinced her we should utilize Scenic's compensation offer to rebook a third time for the 9-night Panama and Colombia Discovery cruise.

 

Our itinerary from Cartagena covers Colombia, Panama and Peru and includes calls at the San Blas islands, Darien National Park, Utria, Salverry, Isla Guanape, 2 sea days, as well as a day transiting the Panama Canal, all before disembarking in Lima.

 

We are departing tomorrow and staying a night early in Cartagena, with accommodations booked at Scenic's choice pre-cruise hotel, the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara. Transfers from the airport to the hotel, as well as from the hotel to the ship have been provided by Scenic (as well as the final transfer from the ship to the airport at the end of the voyage). 

 

Once boarding the ship on the next afternoon, we will be calling a Spa Suite on deck 8 our home for the next 9 nights. 

 

But tonight we are kicking off the adventure at one of our favorite special occasion restaurants in Fort Lauderdale before cramming some remaining last minute items into our already overstuffed suitcases. 

 

I look forward to detailing our voyage with CruiseCritic and "returning the favor" to several posters like @goorawin, @RockyandMoose and @Holy Roller in the longer thread who also have provided helpful trip reports during their voyages. I will try my best to post regularly and welcome any questions from fellow CruiseCritic users. If I'm unable to answer it myself, I will do my best to source the answer onboard.

 

Til next time!

Edited October 28, 2019 by towel-animal

[Carol From California]

Glad you started a new thread for this. I am anxious to know how you like it compared to the Regent Explorer which we have also sailed on.  I hope you and your mom have a most enjoyable cruise and look forward to reading your detailed reviews.😀   

[RockyandMoose]

1 hour ago, towel-animal said:

Hello CruiseCritic.

 

After years of anticipation for Scenic Eclipse, our cruise is finally upon us. There are many valuable posts you'll find within this helpful thread started by @Carol From California. I am simply starting mine as a separate thread for ease to others to find a firsthand experience since the other is currently at 17 pages of posts and counting. 

 

A little about us: I'm a Millennial traveler (and cruise addict) sailing this voyage with my mother. The two of us have wanted to take a "dream vacation" just the two of us for years now. Our vacation journey started in 2016 when we booked a Mediterranean cruise on the Regent Explorer. Two days before sailing, a medical emergency required us to cancel the trip. Later when we were looking to try again, we landed on aMediterranean cruise on the Scenic Eclipse as a replacement vacation. (We did later end up sailing the Caribbean on Regent Explorer which was a FABULOUS product — and I believe Scenic Eclipse may be the only ship that can match if not top it).

 

Our cruise was originally scheduled to be the second sailing after the inaugural cruise in September 2018. So unfortunately, due to the extensively reported delays with the Croatian shipyard, we were canceled. We hung in there and rebooked a Baltic itinerary for May of 2019, and then once again got the dreaded news of cancellation for the extended delays. While my mother was ready to "jump ship," I remained confident that the Eclipse would be a ship worth waiting for and successfully convinced her we should utilize Scenic's compensation offer to rebook a third time for the 9-night Panama and Colombia Discovery cruise.

 

Our itinerary from Cartagena covers Colombia, Panama and Peru and includes calls at the San Blas islands, Darien National Park, Utria, Salverry, Isla Guanape, 2 sea days, as well as a day transiting the Panama Canal, all before disembarking in Lima.

 

We are departing tomorrow and staying a night early in Cartagena, with accommodations booked at Scenic's choice pre-cruise hotel, the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara. Transfers from the airport to the hotel, as well as from the hotel to the ship have been provided by Scenic (as well as the final transfer from the ship to the airport at the end of the voyage). 

 

Once boarding the ship on the next afternoon, we will be calling a Spa Suite on deck 8 our home for the next 9 nights. 

 

But tonight we are kicking off the adventure at one of our favorite special occasion restaurants in Fort Lauderdale before cramming some remaining last minute items into our already overstuffed suitcases. 

 

I look forward to detailing our voyage with CruiseCritic and "returning the favor" to several posters like @goorawin, @RockyandMoose and @Holy Roller in the longer thread who also have provided helpful trip reports during their voyages. I will try my best to post regularly and welcome any questions from fellow CruiseCritic users. If I'm unable to answer it myself, I will do my best to source the answer onboard.

 

Til next time!

Bon voyage.  We are confident that you will have an amazing time!  We will be particularly interested in additions to the state rooms, new art around the ship and news about new programs instituted since we were on board back in September. Have a great time and don’t forget to write!😀

[TRIPACIAN]

We are on the April 5th sailing from Buenos Aires to Lisbon and can’t wait!  We will anxiously await your trip reports in preparations for our experience!

[towel-animal]

Yesterday was the kickoff to our vacation and off we went to beautiful Cartagena. We flew a direct flight from Miami, which was delayed due to a maintenance issue. But upon landing and lining up for customs, we ran into several lovely couples also sailing on the Eclipse (identified by the backpacks sent with travel docs).  We all shared our excitement about boarding the ship the following day and it was nice to meet some fellow travelers.

 

Finding Scenic's provided transfer could not have been easier. A driver holding a Scenic sign was waiting for us all, who escorted us to a bus. He handled all of the luggage during boarding, as well as when we arrived to the hotel, so the next time we saw it was when it was delivered promptly to our suite after check-in.

 

The hotel Scenic uses here is just outstanding — the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara. It couldn't be more beautiful, and the service is phenomenal. I have attached photos of our suite. 

 

 

 

 

 

After settling into our hotel, we did the city's hop on, hop off tour which we completed in about 2 hours. This is such a beautiful town, and you really need much more than one day here to appreciate it. Because of the delay in arrival, our time was cut short and after the tour, we needed to go back to our hotel to prepare for dinner. We dined last night at La Vitrola, a very popular local restaurant with live music and beautiful architecture. The food was delicious!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning, we are about to have breakfast at the hotel, then prepare our luggage for the Scenic porters, as we are supposed to meet the group later for Scenic's provided transfer to the ship. Soon my posts will be written from onboard and I can report on the boarding and ship experience!

 

 

[towel-animal]

Now officially reporting from Scenic Eclipse!  Today was...exhausting to say the least. The transfer and boarding process I have to admit seemed rather inefficient. After the required 12:00 PM checkout from the hotel, the Scenic passengers were asked to gather in the lobby...for two hours until the busses arrived.. Beyond the monotony, the waiting was made a bit uncomfortable due to the heat (the lobby of this was hotel was actually outdoors). After about 90 minutes in, those of us were feeling a bit restless. During this time thunder clouds boomed overhead almost taunting us. Of course, right before the first bus arrived was when the downpour started. This led to everyone making a mad dash to the busses and identifying their luggage which became a bit chaotic.  

 

After about a 30 minute bus ride, we arrived to the port and finally had our first real glimpse of the ship. Even the pouring rain and gloomy sky couldn't subtract from her beauty. Upon stepping off the bus, Scenic crew were waiting to personally escort everyone onboard with umbrellas. If arriving with carry on luggage, friendly staff immediately offered to deliver it straight to your suite. The first thing we were asked to do was check-in with our passports in the Theater. After that, we had an hour of free time to roam the ship before we were all required to disembark again and be shuttled to the terminal for the immigration checkpoint — after which we were shuttled back to the ship. 

 

Before the immigration checkpoint, we used our free time to take care of dinner reservations. We had no problem securing reservations to Lumier and Teppanyaki. Guests were allowed 3 reservations in Lumier to correspond with the 3 changing menus to be served on this cruise. For Teppanyaki, guests were allowed 1 reservation. On this sailing, Teppanyaki is open for two seatings each night. We also emphasized our interest for a Chef's Table invitation. Invitations are sent based first on loyalty (Diamond and Emerald members) and then on suite level. So if you book what the staff here consider "Top Suites" (Penthouse, Grand Panorama, Panorama and Spa Suites), your chances are pretty good of scoring an invite. We are keeping our fingers crossed!

 

We also filled out interest forms in the helicopter and submarine tours. On this cruise, helicopter tours are plentiful and seem to be readily available. The submarine however will only be offered on the last day of our cruise (and they warned that weather may even prevent that from happening), so space is limited and demand high. We are keeping our fingers crossed for that too. At boarding time, the only food available were small plates and pizzas at Azure Cafe, all of which were delicious.

 

At 5:00 PM we were required to bring our life jackets and survival kits to the mandatory muster drill which was quick and seamless. Afterwards, we went to our suite to unpack. During this time we met our butler and room attendant who are both very friendly and willing and excited to fulfill any request to make their guests feel at home.

 

At 6:30, they held a welcome gathering in the Theater where we were introduced to the discovery team and got a preview of all the ports in store. I'm beginning to appreciate just how much of an expedition cruise this is, as most of the tours to be offered are very physically strenuous. Fine for me! But those with mobility issues will not have too many options.

 

Impressions of our spa suite: The suite is very bright and airy, with lots of whites and creams in decor. A large living area is separated from the bedroom by a half-wall with a sheer curtain (in contrast to many of the suites which are decorated in very dark tones). Some Spa Suites have been photographed as having a wall mounted television, but ours is on a chrome freestanding pedestal. The bathroom is gorgeous with a mammoth jacuzzi tub overlooking the ocean, a dual vanity sink, and a large walk in shower. The only complaint here is that the toilet is in a completely different part of the suite, and not accessible from the shower area. I can report that towel hooks still have not been installed in all the suites, and our attendant will be providing some tomorrow for us. 

 

We've also noticed a lack of storage space. While the closet is quite large with ample room to hang things, drawer space is limited to only a few inside the closet and none inside the rest of the suite. Cubby areas and shelves are also limited which is proving a bit inconvenient. But otherwise, the suite is beautiful and very comfortable. I will post pictures of the suite tomorrow. Daily programs on paper are now being delivered each night to every suite during turn down service.

 

The rest of the ship: All the public areas we have visited thus far are very well appointed and elegant. The only thing missing on this ship...is color. Greys, silvers, and whites, and blacks everywhere you look. Black carpets, dark furniture, dark walls. While I can appreciate the beauty of each space, it may feel a bit monotonous to some. I can agree with the other poster who mentioned all the reflective surfaces everywhere. Gorgeous to look at, but probably quite a task to keep clean. I will post as many pictures as I can throughout the cruise, but your best bet is to look at several of the very high quality ships tours found on YouTube.

 

Tonight's Dinner: Tonight we dined at Lumier. Before being seated for our 8:00PM reservation, we arrived early and enjoyed a pre-dinner experience at the champagne bar inside the restaurant. Three champagnes are on offer, accompanied by oysters and caviar, all of which are delicious. This bar only seats four and is reserved for those dining in the restaurant that evening. After being seated at our table, we were treated to a stunning seven course affair, each dish setting the bar for the next even higher. The highlights of tonight's meal for me were the lobster bisque and the chateaubriand. Tonight I can share pictures of the dining experience, starting with the champagne bar:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a such a long day, were are beyond tired. Off to bed now. Will report more tomorrow!

[TahoeTraveler]

Thank you so much towel-animal, for your very detailed review of your first day aboard the Eclipse.  Despite the issues getting onboard, it sounds as if you had a fabulous first day/night.  Certainly an excellent dinner and one that we look forward to anxiously!!! 

 

I especially appreciated your description of the embarkation process.  We have no idea what to expect in Lima, and at least now we know to be prepared for a boarding, and then a disembarkation afterwards for customs.  It might not happen for us, but at least we now know to wear very comfortable clothing and shoes, just in case!!!  And it sounds as if the transfer process was...painful.  Again, I appreciate your report, as well will also be prepared for that.

 

Very disconcerting that they don't have the towel racks/hooks up yet.  Perhaps I should pack my portable towel hook that hangs over the door.  I don't want to waste the space (as I just found out that the airline flying us from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires will not accept ANY luggage over 50 pounds), but it may be necessary.

 

I'm going to admit right now, I am rather disappointed that Scenic apparently ascribes to the class system regarding reservations and invitations to the various dining venues. I am very sad to hear that we are in the "lower echelon" per the staff, as we are "only" in a Grand Deluxe Suite.  We normally cruise Regent, and that is one thing we love about them.  Once onboard, there is simply no class system...everyone is treated equally, and reservations to the dining venues and invitations to special events, table, etc, are given out to all, not based on cabin category.  It's all good, as hubby doesn't much care for all that pomp and circumstance involved with the "special" meals and events.  But it's sad to think that we paid that much money for our cruise and the staff will consider us other than a "Top Suite."  Good to know though. 

 

Thank you again for your update, and I hope you keep them coming!!!  As much as you dread 8 November, Mike and I are very much looking forward to that day!!!

Tami

[TRIPACIAN]

What a great trip report!  Everything that has been reported since launch, both good and bad, is appreciated and helps those of us sailing in the future!!

[Essiesmom]

Am I right that you will be transiting the Panama Canal tomorrow?  EM

[towel-animal]

 

Todays was day 2, and marvelous in every way. Today we arrived to the San Blas Islands in Panama for a relaxing beach day in paradise. I awoke at 8:00 AM and had a wonderful eggs benedict for breakfast before arriving to the theater for a briefing about the procedure for kayaking activities (Required if you plan to participate throughout the voyage). Kevin, in charge of the kayaking program is so full of enthusiasm for the sport you can't help but want to join in, even if a beginner. 

 

Helicopter tours commenced today. While we did not participate, I was amazed that you could not hear it at all from inside the ship. These walls are incredible sound proof. At 10:00 AM, the zodiac transfers began to the island — a short 5 minute ride or so. The island we visited was small (for perspective, the staff said if you were to place the ship on top of the island, it would hang off on both sides), but picturesque. A bar was set up on the beach, while indigenous people set up tables with their local crafts for purchase (unlike other islands I've visited, they were not pushy in the slightest to purchase their items and let you browse at your leisure). Guests were able to use snorkeling equipment if they desired to see the coral reefs. 

 

 

 

At 11:00 AM, the magic really started when several of the restaurant and bar staff entered the water with a floating bar serving champagne and caviar to all! WOW! I've heard this is quite a treat for those who sail Seabourn, and I can say that this was definitely the best beach day I've ever had. After an hour, the locals gathered in the center of the island for a ritual dance and musical number. The kayaking began at 1:00 PM though I did not participate. The last zodiac back to ship was at 3:00 PM which was lucky timing, as no sooner had it arrived to the ship than the rain broke out. 

 

 

 

I returned to the ship around 1:00 and met my mother for lunch. We started at the Yacht Club, which had a small but tasty selection of hot entrees, salads, sides and one soup. We "made the rounds" you could say, as once we finished, we went down to Elements to see what they had to offer and saw that they serve an abbreviated menu of the same offerings from the Yacht Club at lunch. We finished our tour de lunch at Azure and had pizza and sandwiches. 

 

After lunch, we ventured to the rear outer deck of the spa where we read our books on the lovely lounge chairs overlooking the ocean. The spa is gorgeous and I can't wait to return and use the facilities there including the indoor plunge pool, sauna, infrared lounge, relaxation chamber and steam room.

 

After returning to the Spa Suite, we saw that the suction cup hooks previously mentioned in another's report had been installed in the bathroom at our request (it is interesting that proper hooks ARE present in the toilet room, but not in the shower room where one would use a towel). This was the first time I used the spa shower, and I honestly wondered how I would ever leave it — the many rain shower heads and jets are heaven, and the shower even features mood lighting that allows you to change the color and brightness. I have not yet used the in-suite jacuzzi yet but I plan to tomorrow. 

 

One thing we discovered last night about the suite is that there are several lights in the toilet room and bathroom that are designed not to be turned off, which is fine in the day time but at night can be bothersome as it shines through the cracks in the doors and over the half glass wall of the jacuzzi area. Tonight we are covering as much of the light as we can with towels which has made it much less noticeable. 

 

At 4:15, a lecture was held in the theater covering the history of the Panama Canal which we are transiting tomorrow. We will be the 18th ship of the day to make the transit, and will be crossing via the historical canal instead of the new one. About 15 minutes later, a recap of the day was held and introductions were made with more of the crew involved with shore and tour operations before giving us a breakdown of key times to be aware of during our Panama  Canal crossing so we don't miss the highlights.

 

Directly after, we had the opportunity to browse the small boutique, carrying a limited selection of mens and women's clothing/swimwear, jewelry, pocket books and beach items. I'd hoped to purchase an Eclipse t-shirt but the only logo item in stock is a thermal sweatshirt meant for the Antarctic weather. The shop assistant said more logo items are expected for the next cruise.  

 

At 6:45 the Captain's Introduction began, which was a cocktail party with hors d'oeuvres in the main lounge. This was a great chance to socialize with fellow guests and make new friends. At 7:15 or so, the Captain gave a welcome speech and introduced key officers and staff (this confirmed that Tom, the Top Chef, is currently not onboard as he is on vacation and another great chef, Bert, has taken over). As soon as he wrapped up, the gathering quite quickly disbanded as everyone rushed to the various restaurants onboard for dinner, which opened at 7:30. We dined at Elements, the Italian steakhouse and what is considered to be the "main dining room" onboard. Before being seated, we enjoy a drink and a selection of cheeses at the wine & cheese bar just inside the entrance.

 

 

Once we transitioned to the dining room, we had an absolutely wonderful meal. The menu here changes daily, but begins to repeat it's cycle after four days. They have a selection of appetizers, pastas, and meats/fish that you accompany with sauces and sides. The dessert was festively decorated for Halloween!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of Halloween, the main lounge was decorated with jack-o-lanters and festive cakes in preparation for the Halloween dance party after dinner. We arrived just as "Ghost Busters" started playing and had a jolly time dancing and having a blast with fellow guest and crew who were not shy to "bust a move." 

 

 

 

 

 

It really has been an incredible day!

 

 

[towel-animal]

23 hours ago, TahoeTraveler said:

And it sounds as if the transfer process was...painful.  Again, I appreciate your report, as well will also be prepared for that.

 

It definitely wasn't seamless, but I should point out that although the transfers are "arranged" by Scenic, they are not "performed" by Scenic. For Cartagena, they used a local company called Colombia 57 for the transfers. All actual Scenic staff onboard have bent over backwards to make things go smoothly.

 

Quote

Very disconcerting that they don't have the towel racks/hooks up yet.  Perhaps I should pack my portable towel hook that hangs over the door.  I don't want to waste the space (as I just found out that the airline flying us from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires will not accept ANY luggage over 50 pounds), but it may be necessary.

 

I think you'll find this is not necessary as the temporary hooks they provide on request are perfectly adequate for your needs.

 

Quote

I'm going to admit right now, I am rather disappointed that Scenic apparently ascribes to the class system regarding reservations and invitations to the various dining venues. I am very sad to hear that we are in the "lower echelon" per the staff, as we are "only" in a Grand Deluxe Suite.  We normally cruise Regent, and that is one thing we love about them.  Once onboard, there is simply no class system...everyone is treated equally, and reservations to the dining venues and invitations to special events, table, etc, are given out to all, not based on cabin category.  It's all good, as hubby doesn't much care for all that pomp and circumstance involved with the "special" meals and events.  But it's sad to think that we paid that much money for our cruise and the staff will consider us other than a "Top Suite."  Good to know though. 

 

I assure you when the word "top suites" was used to describe the invitation system, it was not said in a "they're 'up here,' while other suites are 'down here'" type of way and there is no feeling of a class system onboard. Given the length of your voyage, I'm confident you'll be successful in receiving an invitation to the Chef's Table as the dinner is held every other night. I think only the shorter voyages like ours leave many excluded as there simply aren't enough opportunities for the dinner to be offered. I believe you'll find the atmosphere and processes onboard similar to Regent, especially dining, as on Regent, Grand Suites and above receive priority dinner reservations, just as it works on Scenic, although this is not an "in your face" benefit or intrusive to the guest experience. All guests, regardless of accommodation, are treated equally by staff, who desire nothing but to make your vacation as wonderful as possible.

 

 

Edited November 1, 2019 by towel-animal

[TahoeTraveler]

3 minutes ago, towel-animal said:

 

It definitely wasn't seamless, but I should point out that although the transfers are "arranged" by Scenic, they are not "performed" by Scenic. For Cartagena, they used a local company called Colombia 57 for the transfers. All actual Scenic staff onboard have bent over backwards to make things go smoothly.

 

 

I think you'll find this is not necessary as the temporary hooks they provide on request are perfect adequate for your needs.

 

 

I assure you when the word "top suites" was used to describe the invitation system, it was not said in a "they're 'up here,' while other suites are 'down here'" type of way and there is no feeling of a class system onboard. Given the length of your voyage, I'm confident you'll be successful in receiving an invitation to the Chef's Table as the dinner is held every other night. I think only the shorter voyages like ours leave many excluded as there simply aren't enough opportunities for the dinner to be offered. I think you'll find the atmosphere and processes onboard similar to Regent, especially dining, as on Regent, Grand Suites and above receive priority dinner reservations, just as it works on Scenic, although this is not an "in your face" benefit or expressly intrusive to the guest experience. All guests, regardless of accommodation, are treated equally by staff, who desire nothing but to make your vacation as wonderful as possible.

 

 

Thanks towel-animal, this all makes me feel much better.  I'm sorry if I sounded snippish regarding Scenic's priority system.  I am just very much stressed out right now, as I just discovered, after calling the airline that Scenic has booked for us from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires, that we literally cannot have a bag over 50 pounds each.  Anything over 50 pounds will be rejected, and will not be allowed on the flight.  The last thing that I want is to be stranded in Ushuaia because of a bag that Aerolineas Airlines will simply not accept.  We have now repacked and have a third bag, which blessedly Aerolineas will accept as long as we pay extra for it.  But I fear for my fellow passengers, who most likely have not discovered this piece of information.  I fully believe the Eclipse is a beautiful ship and the staff is fantastic...but Scenic's management has been severely lacking in providing useful information to their passengers, especially those of us cruising to remote regions like Antarctica, and it is very tiresome to have to dig up the necessary information ourselves.  I know we will be absolutely overwhelmed by everything once we are onboard the Eclipse. And I very much appreciate your posts and updates!  You have no idea how much more excited I am to board that ship now after seeing your posts!!!  Thank you so much, and please keep them coming!!!!

[Essiesmom]

Some views in the Panama Canal  Gatun Locks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eclipse is in the upper right:

 

[Essiesmom]

Miraflores Locks

 

[towel-animal]

Day 3 in the Panama Canal has been quite the experience despite the dreary weather. But alas, I have had quite too much to drink and way too early a morning ahead to tell you about it now. I will report on day 3 and 4 tomorrow! 

[towel-animal]

Internet has been very spotty today so I may not be able to post photos for a bit. But until then, let me play catch up on Day 3.

 

Yesterday we transited the Panama Canal. Our transit was due to begin at 7:15 AM but due to delays with other ships, we were pushed back by about an hour and a half (I was glad, as I had overslept and was scared I'd missed the entrance). A local guide boarded the ship for the duration of the transit and provided announcements over the PA system all the way through, explaining the hightails and history of the canal.

 

Unfortunately, the weather all day was dreary and rainy skies. In the morning, most gathered in the Observation Lounge, which as others have reported, does not offer particularly great views for observing, as most of what you see is the elongated bow of the ship. Hopefully in the design of the Scenic Eclipse II, they move the observation lounge to a higher deck to solve this problem. However, the space was very comfortable and there were always waiters present to serve champagne or take coffee/tea/cocktail orders. When the rain became less heavy, many of us donned our umbrellas and ventured to the bow to really have a proper look. This was my first time transiting the canal so I enjoyed soaking it all in and learning about the history through the commentary. It was also nice to begin the transit in the late morning and finish in the evening so you got to experience it both in the light and the darkness. 

 

In between taking in the views, I had breakfast and lunch were the Yacht Club. I confirmed that both breakfast and lunch are pretty much the same in Yacht Club and Elements, although Elements menu has a bit less of the choices. It really comes down to if you prefer quick and self-serve, or a proper sit-down style meal with table service. 

 

I also had the opportunity to take a class at Epicure. (Classes are announced 1 day prior and require sign up with Reception. Waitlists are available if the class fills). While the original intent was for Epicure to be a hands-on practical venue where you cook along with the chef, unfortunately the design apparently was not ideal for that purpose and for now, guests are only able to observe the cooking and not participate. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable lesson where with Executive Chef and one of his cooks where we learned to prepare Pasta Carbonara. We were able to taste ingredients along the way and at the end of the cooking, each enjoyed a plate (or 2!) of the delicious meal. Upon return to the suite, participants are delivered a recipe and history of the dish to take home. 

 

Because of the delays entering the canal, the briefing for the following day was moved earlier in order not to conflict with highlights of the canal. We were advised that the following days in Darien National Park and Umbria would have options for very strenuous hikes (the one in Darien so much so in fact, that it required a special sign up in advance).

 

 For a late snack, I ordered a custom pepperoni, artichoke, basil and jalapeño pizza from Azure which was fantastic. Pizzas are only available for the lunch and snack times, are unavailable once the dinner hour starts which is a shame, as they are not on the Room Service menu either.

 

At the risk of sounding gluttonous, before our main dinner, we started with a pre-dinner course at Elements. Mom had the jumbo shrimp cocktail which she loved, and I had one of the daily specials, a generous sized lobster, with pasta. Quite honestly the tastiest lobster I have eaten.

 

After that, we moved across the hall to Koko's for our "official" dinner. We arrived at around 7:50 or so and were told every table was full. We were offered seats and the completely vacant Koko's Sushi Bar, but as mom doesn't eat sushi, that was a no-go. The main asian fusion venue of Koko's is probably the most popular restaurant onboard ∏ at least unlike Elements which has been mostly lightly occupied, Koko's always has a crowd. Although she suggested coming back at 8:15, we were successful in getting a table at 8:00 and had a WONDERFUL meal. Mom is not particularly fond of Asian, and even she said that this was her favorite dinner thus far. The menu at Koko's changes around every three days, focusing on different Asian cousins for each menu. Ours was Thai. Feel free to ask for extra spicy, or not spicy at all — they are very accommodating. The avocado ice cream was particularly refreshing. 

 

After dinner, guests were treated to a Broadway revue sung by one of the entertainment staff, Grace, which was delightful. Be warned that you make get coerced into joining her onstage. 

 

For the next day's tours, 2 departure into Darien National Park were arranged. Decks 8 and 9 were assigned to the early 8:00 AM, while remaining decks were in the afternoon. (To make sleeping in fair, the assignments are being flipped flopped the next day in Utria). Because of the early morning ahead, after the Broadway numbers, we called it a day and headed back to the suite. (Before falling asleep, we ordered the pasta bolognese, roasted chicken and a hot dog via Room Service, which were excellent).

 

I will try to post relevant photos of this report when the internet is more cooperative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[towel-animal]

As a preview for my upcoming report of today's adventures on shore and onboard while at Darien National Park, I'm excited to say that we received an invitation this morning to tonight's Chef's Table — an experience I hope will be appropriate to take photos during as from all the rave reviews I've heard, words alone will not be able to do this meal justice!

[TahoeTraveler]

33 minutes ago, towel-animal said:

Internet has been very spotty today so I may not be able to post photos for a bit. But until then, let me play catch up on Day 3.

 

Yesterday we transited the Panama Canal. Our transit was due to begin at 7:15 AM but due to delays with other ships, we were pushed back by about an hour and a half (I was glad, as I had overslept and was scared I'd missed the entrance). A local guide boarded the ship for the duration of the transit and provided announcements over the PA system all the way through, explaining the hightails and history of the canal.

 

Unfortunately, the weather all day was dreary and rainy skies. In the morning, most gathered in the Observation Lounge, which as others have reported, does not offer particularly great views for observing, as most of what you see is the elongated bow of the ship. Hopefully in the design of the Scenic Eclipse II, they move the observation lounge to a higher deck to solve this problem. However, the space was very comfortable and there were always waiters present to serve champagne or take coffee/tea/cocktail orders. When the rain became less heavy, many of us donned our umbrellas and ventured to the bow to really have a proper look. This was my first time transiting the canal so I enjoyed soaking it all in and learning about the history through the commentary. It was also nice to begin the transit in the late morning and finish in the evening so you got to experience it both in the light and the darkness. 

 

In between taking in the views, I had breakfast and lunch were the Yacht Club. I confirmed that both breakfast and lunch are pretty much the same in Yacht Club and Elements, although Elements menu has a bit less of the choices. It really comes down to if you prefer quick and self-serve, or a proper sit-down style meal with table service. 

 

I also had the opportunity to take a class at Epicure. (Classes are announced 1 day prior and require sign up with Reception. Waitlists are available if the class fills). While the original intent was for Epicure to be a hands-on practical venue where you cook along with the chef, unfortunately the design apparently was not ideal for that purpose and for now, guests are only able to observe the cooking and not participate. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable lesson where with Executive Chef and one of his cooks where we learned to prepare Pasta Carbonara. We were able to taste ingredients along the way and at the end of the cooking, each enjoyed a plate (or 2!) of the delicious meal. Upon return to the suite, participants are delivered a recipe and history of the dish to take home. 

 

Because of the delays entering the canal, the briefing for the following day was moved earlier in order not to conflict with highlights of the canal. We were advised that the following days in Darien National Park and Umbria would have options for very strenuous hikes (the one in Darien so much so in fact, that it required a special sign up in advance).

 

 For a late snack, I ordered a custom pepperoni, artichoke, basil and jalapeño pizza from Azure which was fantastic. Pizzas are only available for the lunch and snack times, are unavailable once the dinner hour starts which is a shame, as they are not on the Room Service menu either.

 

At the risk of sounding gluttonous, before our main dinner, we started with a pre-dinner course at Elements. Mom had the jumbo shrimp cocktail which she loved, and I had one of the daily specials, a generous sized lobster, with pasta. Quite honestly the tastiest lobster I have eaten.

 

After that, we moved across the hall to Koko's for our "official" dinner. We arrived at around 7:50 or so and were told every table was full. We were offered seats and the completely vacant Koko's Sushi Bar, but as mom doesn't eat sushi, that was a no-go. The main asian fusion venue of Koko's is probably the most popular restaurant onboard ∏ at least unlike Elements which has been mostly lightly occupied, Koko's always has a crowd. Although she suggested coming back at 8:15, we were successful in getting a table at 8:00 and had a WONDERFUL meal. Mom is not particularly fond of Asian, and even she said that this was her favorite dinner thus far. The menu at Koko's changes around every three days, focusing on different Asian cousins for each menu. Ours was Thai. Feel free to ask for extra spicy, or not spicy at all — they are very accommodating. The avocado ice cream was particularly refreshing. 

 

After dinner, guests were treated to a Broadway revue sung by one of the entertainment staff, Grace, which was delightful. Be warned that you make get coerced into joining her onstage. 

 

For the next day's tours, 2 departure into Darien National Park were arranged. Decks 8 and 9 were assigned to the early 8:00 AM, while remaining decks were in the afternoon. (To make sleeping in fair, the assignments are being flipped flopped the next day in Utria). Because of the early morning ahead, after the Broadway numbers, we called it a day and headed back to the suite. (Before falling asleep, we ordered the pasta bolognese, roasted chicken and a hot dog via Room Service, which were excellent).

 

I will try to post relevant photos of this report when the internet is more cooperative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much for all the great updates!!!!  We board in less than a week and the excitement is mounting!!!

[TahoeTraveler]

towel-animal, if you happen to have a spa menu and it isn't too much trouble, could you please let me know what services are available?  I'm specifically interested in any nail and hair services they might have. My travel agent did try to get this info from Scenic, but they said they didn't have any info on the spa onboard. Thanks!

[towel-animal]

Some photos during the Panama Canal transit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 5, 2019 by towel-animal

[towel-animal]

Here is some photos from the Epicure cooking class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[towel-animal]

The Sushi Bar at Koko's:

 

 

Koko's Asian Fusion:

 

 

 

 

Teppanyaki at Koko's:

 

 

 

The Discovery Lounge and Whiskey Bar:

[towel-animal]

On 11/2/2019 at 6:43 PM, TahoeTraveler said:

towel-animal, if you happen to have a spa menu and it isn't too much trouble, could you please let me know what services are available?  I'm specifically interested in any nail and hair services they might have. My travel agent did try to get this info from Scenic, but they said they didn't have any info on the spa onboard. Thanks!

 

Sure. I can take some and post them tomorrow.

Edited November 5, 2019 by towel-animal

[towel-animal]

Day 4 — Darien National Park, Panama

 

The adventure started from the moment you entered the launch bay of the zodiacs, as members of the local tribe adorned in body paint had been shuttled to the ship to join our zodiac transfers. Once we reached the landing site on the beach, we were greeted by many more locals who performed a welcome dance for us.

 

 

 

 

We were given the history of the area and the locals by a Park guide, who took us deeper into the park. We had two options for places to tour — either the top of a steep hill overlooking the beach area, or to a waterfall and spring area where you could take a dip. There was plenty of time to do both, and the local people were very attentive and quick to help people if they were about to slip or fall.

 

 

 

 

The waterfall hike was beautiful. Initially I wasn't going to get in the water, but Lou, one of the Discovery Team members, urged me in and said "When it comes to experiences, never say no." She's absolutely right. It was FREEZING but so much fun. I'd have regretted it if I hadn't done it.

 

 

 

Yes, it was COLD!

 

 

After the hikes, we gathered for a cultural performance. Several of us were pulled into the dance and had such a great time. They then set up a marketplace for us to browse and purchase their handmade crafts. We were then free to return to the zodiacs and head back to the ship at our leisure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back onboard, I had a shower, when was the the phone rang — our butler was calling to tell us about our invitation to the evening's Chef's Table. We confirmed our RSVP.

 

As we have another booking for the Eclipse next year, we were granted our request to tour a standard Veranda Suite and went to meet the Head Butler at 12:00 PM for the tour. This is the entry level accommodations onboard, which are lovely. There's no walk-in closet here, but there are plenty of drawers and storage areas (something lacking in our Spa Suite). I will find and upload these pictures soon, as well as pictures of our Spa Suite.

 

We had a tasty lunch at the Yacht Club and enjoyed the rest of the day leisurely lounging and reading until the evening's recap. It's quite important to attend these briefings as it when you learn the important details for what is to happen the following day with meeting times, etc...

 

After the briefing concluded, it was time to attend the Chef's Table. I'll be covering this in the next post.

 

 

[towel-animal]

Well, the rumors are true. The Chef's Table is indeed an unparalleled culinary experience, and for sure one of the highlights of our voyage thus far. Chef Bert did tell us the menu for this does not change often, so if you prefer to keep the experience a surprise, I suggest you skip the rest of this post, as the photos will be a bit of a spoiler.

 

Guests are asked to congregate in the Discovery Lounge for drinks until the Chef is ready to collect you. The dinner is held in a private room in the Elements restaurant, at a long stone table with panoramic views into kitchen. Each participant receives a "toolbox" with different instruments, as some of the courses are interactive. The meal tells the journey of the Eclipse from its beginnings in the shipyard til today. Each of the 10 courses is paired with a carefully selected wine. The dinner took our group just over three hours, and has been known to run longer or shorter depending on the chemistry and conversation of the guests. Luckily our group got along great and it was wonderful to share this experience with newly made friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I definitely recommend making your interest known in participating in this experience. As mentioned previously, the invitation system seems to work first in order of Diamond and Emerald members of Scenic's loyalty program, then works its way down the top suites and guests chosen from the head office, and then the rest remains a mystery. There is a wait list available to get signed up on, so if a guest cancels they have a bank of interested parties to fill the vacated slots. On longer sailings, I think most guests will have the opportunity to participate. It seems to be mainly the shorter cruises where space is truly too exclusive to meet demand, as this dinner is only held every two days (the Chef says it takes 8 hour of preparation time).