Seabourn vs Scenic Eclipse: which is better for an expedition cruise?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 9 November 2026
No score and no verdict of ours: what Seabourn and Scenic each publish on their own websites, read 9 November 2026, topic by topic, each line linked to the page it came from.
Seabourn vs Scenic Eclipse: which is better for an expedition cruise?
Neither is better for everyone: Seabourn carries 264 guests on each expedition ship, while Scenic takes a maximum of 228 adult-only guests on Scenic Eclipse (200 in Antarctica) and prices Antarctica in Depth for the 2028 to 2029 season from £16,573 per person.
What is each line?
Seabourn says it offers all-inclusive ocean and expedition cruises, sold under its own name on ships it operates, two of them purpose-built expedition ships; Seabourn Cruise Line is a division of Carnival Corporation Ltd. Source
Scenic sells all-inclusive ocean voyages on its own Scenic Discovery Yachts, which Scenic Group says it designs, builds and operates through its shipbuilding division MKM Yachts, alongside river cruises and land journeys. Source
Which ships does each line sail?
Seabourn lists the expedition ships Seabourn Venture (launched 2022) and Seabourn Pursuit (2023) beside its ocean ships Seabourn Quest, Encore and Ovation; its pages do not say whether it owns or charters them. Source
Scenic sails Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II, with Scenic Ikon set to launch in 2028. Source
How many guests are on board?
Seabourn carries 264 guests on each expedition ship, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit. Source
Scenic takes a maximum of 228 adult-only guests on Scenic Eclipse, 200 in Antarctica and the High Arctic, with what it calls an almost 1:1 crew to guest ratio. Source
Where does each line sail?
Seabourn sails Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands, Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland, the Northwest Passage, the Kimberley and the South Pacific. Source
Scenic sells named voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falklands, the Ross Sea, East Greenland and Iceland, the Canadian Arctic, the Norwegian fjords, Scotland, the Chilean fjords, the Kimberley, Indonesia and the Mediterranean. Source
What ice class are the ships?
Seabourn says Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit are designed and built to PC6 Polar Class standards; it gives no ice class for its ocean ships. Source
Scenic says its Scenic Discovery Yachts are built to Polar Class 6 standards for operations in polar waters. Source
Who leads the landings?
Seabourn sails an expedition team of 26 academics, scientists and naturalists led by an Expedition Leader; it gives no guide-to-guest ratio. Source
Scenic does not publish this on the pages read.
How much time ashore?
Seabourn says each expedition ship carries 24 Zodiacs that can take all guests at once; all tendering from ship to shore is by Zodiac. Source
Scenic does not publish this on the pages read.
What can you do off the ship?
Seabourn includes Zodiac tours and landings, guided walks and hikes and snorkelling (gear provided except wetsuits); kayaking (eight double kayaks per ship, limited places) and the four-day Image Masters photography programme cost extra; in the Kimberley a Mitchell Falls helicopter flight is an optional excursion. Source
Scenic includes Zodiacs, kayaks, paddleboards and snorkelling, though kayaks, paddleboards and e-bikes are not available in all locations; experiences on its two helicopters and submersible cost extra. Source
What does a voyage cost?
Scenic prices Antarctica in Depth, 13 days from Buenos Aires, 2028/2029 season, from £16,573 per person, two sharing the lowest priced cabin. Source
Seabourn does not publish a dated price on the pages read.
What does the fare include?
Seabourn's fares include all dining venues, premium spirits and fine wines, caviar and, on expeditions, Zodiac tours, landings, guided walks and snorkelling; optional shore excursions, kayaking, Image Masters, Seabourn Journeys and flights (unless a promotion includes them) are extra. Source
Scenic's fares include return flights from UK airports on Flexi and Best Available fares, a butler for every guest, all-day premium drinks, up to 10 dining experiences, Zodiac and kayak outings, shore excursions, an expedition parka, all tipping, transfers and taxes and Starlink Wi-Fi; helicopter and submersible experiences, spa treatments and a few rare wines and spirits are extra. Source
What do solo travellers pay?
Seabourn charges a standard single supplement of 200%; an offer cuts it to as low as 125% on select sailings, with no end date given; Diamond Elite Club members pay as low as 150% or 175% by suite category. Single-guarantee SA and SV suites are sold on some sailings. Source
Scenic does not publish this on the pages read.
How much is the deposit?
Seabourn does not state its deposit amount; final payment is due 120 days before departure for cruises of 21 days or less, 150 days for 22 to 69 days and 180 days for 70 days or more. Source
Scenic does not publish this on the pages read.
What happens if you cancel?
Seabourn charges, on cruises of 21 days or less booked from 17 December 2024, a $100 per guest fee (returned as a Future Cruise Credit) up to 121 days before departure, then 15% from 120 to 91 days, 50% from 90 to 61, 75% from 60 to 46 and 100% from 45 days; longer cruises start the scale earlier; 100% non-refundable promotional fares get no refund. Source
Scenic does not publish this on the pages read.
Is your money protected?
Scenic protects flight-inclusive holidays under ATOL Number 9294 when indicated at booking; it says its ABTA membership gives financial protection on package holidays. Source
Seabourn does not publish this on the pages read.
What insurance do you need?
Seabourn strongly recommends travel insurance that includes emergency evacuation cover and offers its optional SeabournShield Travel Protection Plan; it names no required minimum. Source
Scenic recommends, rather than requires, travel insurance covering medical or repatriation needs; it names no minimum cover. Source
Can children come?
Scenic takes adult-only guests on Scenic Eclipse. Source
Seabourn does not publish this on the pages read.
When is each not the fit?
The limits below are published by each line on their own websites.
- Seabourn: not the fit if you use a wheelchair ashore: its Zodiacs have no wheelchair tie-downs and guests who cannot sit unassisted on the Zodiac pontoon cannot use them. Source
How do their reviews compare?
Their figures per platform, read 9 November 2026, each from a listing under the line's own name; a whole-company profile is marked. Figures are never added together.
- Seabourn: Trustpilot (whole company): 1.8 out of 5 from 32 reviews, newest 2 October 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
The lines at a glance
One card each, as on every Uncompromised Travel expedition page: what each sells, why to choose each, what to ask for and the limits each publishes.
Seabourn
- Best for
- Expedition ships with all-veranda suites
- What it sells
- Runs all-inclusive ocean and expedition cruises; its two expedition ships, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, carry 264 guests in 132 suites.
- Why choose them
- Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit are built to PC6 Polar Class standards and each carries 24 Zodiacs. Trustpilot (whole company): 1.8 out of 5 from 32 reviews, newest 2 October 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the SBNSOLO offer, which cuts the single supplement to as low as 125% on select sailings.
- Not the fit if
- you cannot sit unassisted on a Zodiac pontoon: Zodiacs have no wheelchair tie-downs and such guests cannot use them.
Scenic
- Best for
- All-inclusive polar yachts with helicopters
- What it sells
- Sells all-inclusive ocean voyages on its Scenic Discovery Yachts, Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II, to Antarctica, the Arctic, the Chilean fjords, the Kimberley and Indonesia, plus river cruises on its Scenic Space-Ships.
- Why choose them
- Scenic Eclipse takes a maximum of 228 adult-only guests, 200 in Antarctica and the High Arctic, with an almost 1:1 crew to guest ratio.
- Ask for
- Ask for the fare on select voyages that includes a 30-minute helicopter flightseeing experience in Antarctica.
- Not the fit if
- you travel with children: Scenic Eclipse sails with adult-only guests.
- Published price
- From £16,573 per person, two sharing the lowest priced cabin, Antarctica in Depth, 13 days from Buenos Aires, 2028/2029 season. Read 9 November 2026.
- Money protection
- ATOL 9294 on flight-inclusive holidays where indicated at booking; ABTA member.
Seabourn vs Scenic Eclipse: the questions people ask
How many guests are on board with Seabourn and Scenic?
Seabourn carries 264 guests on each expedition ship, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit. Scenic takes a maximum of 228 adult-only guests on Scenic Eclipse, 200 in Antarctica and the High Arctic, with what it calls an almost 1:1 crew to guest ratio.
How much does a voyage cost with Seabourn and Scenic?
Scenic prices Antarctica in Depth, 13 days from Buenos Aires, 2028/2029 season, from £16,573 per person, two sharing the lowest priced cabin. Seabourn does not publish a dated price on the pages read.
What does the fare include with Seabourn and Scenic?
Seabourn's fares include all dining venues, premium spirits and fine wines, caviar and, on expeditions, Zodiac tours, landings, guided walks and snorkelling; optional shore excursions, kayaking, Image Masters, Seabourn Journeys and flights (unless a promotion includes them) are extra. Scenic's fares include return flights from UK airports on Flexi and Best Available fares, a butler for every guest, all-day premium drinks, up to 10 dining experiences, Zodiac and kayak outings, shore excursions, an expedition parka, all tipping, transfers and taxes and Starlink Wi-Fi; helicopter and submersible experiences, spa treatments and a few rare wines and spirits are extra.
What is the cancellation policy with Seabourn and Scenic?
Seabourn charges, on cruises of 21 days or less booked from 17 December 2024, a $100 per guest fee (returned as a Future Cruise Credit) up to 121 days before departure, then 15% from 120 to 91 days, 50% from 90 to 61, 75% from 60 to 46 and 100% from 45 days; longer cruises start the scale earlier; 100% non-refundable promotional fares get no refund. Scenic does not publish this on the pages read.
How much is the deposit with Seabourn and Scenic?
Seabourn does not state its deposit amount; final payment is due 120 days before departure for cruises of 21 days or less, 150 days for 22 to 69 days and 180 days for 70 days or more. Scenic does not publish this on the pages read.
Is there a single supplement with Seabourn and Scenic?
Seabourn charges a standard single supplement of 200%; an offer cuts it to as low as 125% on select sailings, with no end date given; Diamond Elite Club members pay as low as 150% or 175% by suite category. Single-guarantee SA and SV suites are sold on some sailings. Scenic does not publish this on the pages read.
How do I compare prices like for like?
Ask for a written quote for the same dates and the same cabin type, with every inclusion listed: flights, hotel nights, drinks, gratuities, kayaking or camping and the parka. The price lines above give what each line publishes and on what basis.
Can I book directly?
Yes. Each card links the line's own website; ask for a written quote that lists what the fare includes.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Every line on this page links the page of the line's own website it was read from, read 9 November 2026.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.
Read next
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each line published on its own website, read on 9 November 2026, with links to the pages read. Google and Trustpilot figures are shown where the listing carries the line's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel expedition cruise lines table. Lines are set out in the order the question names them. No score and no verdict. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.