Hollywood, FL (September 2023) – Scenic Group is enticing travelers to break with traditions this holiday season by letting someone else do all the heavy lifting – from the cooking to the cleaning to the entertaining – and allowing for more quality time to spend with loved ones. A unique opportunity to exchange gifts while exploring some of the world’s oldest Christmas markets, visiting with penguins in their “tuxedos,” or swimming in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. And both Scenic and Emerald Cruises have some gifts for guests in the way of savings offers – including 2-for-1 fares, free flights and more.
Christmas Opportunities
Sun & Fun in the Caribbean: The islands of the Caribbean, with their pristine beaches and European flair, beckon guests looking to escape the colder holiday climates. Emerald Cruises’ twin luxury yachts, Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara, will spend the winter season sailing those warm waters with departures that incorporate Christmas. On December 23, 2023, Emerald Sakarasails round trip out of St. John’s, Antigua, on the eight-day Eastern Caribbean & Grenadinesitinerary, while Emerald Azzurra will sail from Barbados to St. Martin, on the Eastern Caribbean with St. Barths itinerary. Both call on intimate ports like Soufrière, St. Lucia, situated in the crater of a dormant volcano; and Terre-de-Haut in Îles de Saintes, Guadeloupe with its South-of-France vibe and stunning white sand beaches. Beautifully trimmed trees onboard help set the mood while special Christmas Eve and Christmas dinners featuring fresh seafood, Christmas turkey, glazed ham, roasted duck, veal tenderloin, vegetarian selections and more are followed by holiday themed cocktails. Guests can also join the crew for caroling on the Sky Deck.
Penguins, penguins, everywhere: Scenic’s ultra-luxury Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse, is taking a more expeditionary approach to the holidays. Festooned with the holiday trimmings, Scenic Eclipse departs Dec. 13 on a 16-day Antarctica & the Weddell Sea sailing in search of the elusive Emperor Penguin. The tallest (up to 4.3 feet) and heaviest (51 lbs) of the penguin species, Emperor Penguins are found along the ice-chocked Weddell Sea, well past the Antarctica Peninsula. Guests can take the optional helicopter excursion to see them in their natural habitat and learn how they survive the -67°F winters.
River Cruises beckon: On the rivers, both lines excel at the holidays, offering guests the chance to step back in time with visits to the Christmas Markets that appear along the Rhine and Danube Rivers. Scenic’s 15-day Christmas Markets, from Budapest to Amsterdam on Dec. 5, sails along two of Europe’s most popular rivers – the Rhine and Danube – where the bulk of the oldest and most traditional Christmas Markets are set. For those with less time, Scenic offers eight-day Christmas Market sailings.
Emerald Cruises’ eight-day Christmas Markets on the Rhine departing Dec. 16 from Zurich, and ending in Amsterdam, has Christmas Market visits nearly daily – from the charm of Strasbourg’s quaint wooden stalls, adorned by row-upon-row of twinkling lights, to any of Cologne’s seven different Christmas Markets showcasing handcrafted souvenirs and Christmas treats. Longer Christmas Market sailings are available.
New Year’s Opportunities
White sand and colorful fireworks: Those looking for true romantic gestures can ring in New Year’s Eve onboard a luxury yacht with the eight-day Hidden Charms of the Caribbean on Emerald Sakara. Departing St. John’s, Antigua, on Dec. 30, this sailing calls on Gustavia, St. Barths, where French “joie de vivre” can be felt in the historic wooden houses that dot the island as well as in the high-end shopping and world class dining, and Culebra Island, Puerto Rico, known for its white sand beaches and active reef system ideal for snorkeling, before concluding in San Juan. Following a special dinner, a New Year’s Eve party (complete with hats and noisemakers), champagne toast and countdown will be held on the Sky Deck against the backdrop of a fireworks show on nearby Antigua. Emerald Azzurra will repeat its Christmas Eastern Caribbean with St. Barths itinerary for guests looking to escape for a more intimate New Year’s celebration.
Paddleboarding amidst the icebergs: Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II are both taking New Year’s guests on an adventure of a lifetime with the 13-day Antarctica in Depth, departing Ushuaia on Dec. 27 and 28, respectively. Due to the speed of the yachts and their oversized stabilizers, guests spend more than six full days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula. Highlights include traversing the stunning seven-mile Lemaire Channel, where guests can take in the ample wildlife – seals, penguins, whales in their natural habitat. Along the way there are visits to the remnants of a derelict whaling station, climbs to the rim of a volcanic crater, paddleboarding, kayaking, Zodiac tours, and so much more.
Two holidays for one sailing: A special Scenic 15-day Christmas & New Years river sailing on the Rhine, Danube and Main- Canal combines the two holidays so guests can truly kick back and enjoy the season in carefree fashion. Departing Amsterdam on Dec. 19, guests will be able to wander through the Christmas Markets in Cologne and Miltenberg, attend a traditional Christmas Mass in Würzburg, celebrate Christmas onboard, enjoy an exclusive performance of “Best of The Sound of Music and Salzburg Show” in Salzburg, the location of the true story, and ring in the New Year in one of Europe’s most musical of cities – Budapest.
Scenic Group, which includes Emerald Cruises, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Mayflower Cruises & Tours and Evergreen Tours, has grown over its 37-year history to include award-winning, river and ocean cruises and handcrafted land journeys that take guests to many of the world’s most fascinating destinations covering all seven continents. Since 2008, Scenic has set the benchmark for truly all-inclusive, five-star river cruises in Europe and Southeast Asia as well as luxury cruises on Egypt’s Nile on board a private luxury charter. In 2019, Scenic introduced Scenic Eclipse, The World’s First Discovery Yacht™, a 228-guest ultra-luxury ship, and in 2023, unveiled its sister, Scenic Eclipse II. Emerald Cruises has nine branded Star-Ships offering river sailings in Europe and on the Mekong. In 2022, Emerald Azzurra was the first yacht to launch under the Emerald Cruises brand – a 100-guest superyacht sailing the warm waters of the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Caribbean and Central America – followed in August 2023 by its sister, Emerald Sakara.
Scenic can be found on Twitter at @ScenicLuxury, on Facebook as ScenicCruises and on Instagram as Scenic.luxurycruisestours, while Emerald Cruises can be found on Twitter at @emerald_cruises, on Facebook as EmeraldCruisesGlobal and on Instagram as @EmeraldCruises.global.
Additional information on these and other cruises, brochures and reservations can be obtained via travel advisors; or in the US: www.scenicusa.com, phone (844) 788-7985, email: [email protected]; on Emerald Cruises’ website, www.emeraldcruises.com; or by calling the consumer/travel agent reservations line at 844-428-8389. Brochures can also be downloaded directly from the websites.