Helicopters? Check. Submersible? Check.: An exclusive look inside a six-star luxury cruise ship in Halifax

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeAtlantic CanadaNewsNova ScotiaHalifax Helicopters? Check. Submersible? Check.: An exclusive look inside a six-star luxury cruise ship in Halifax Scenic Eclipse, billed as the world’s first luxury discovery yacht, is part of a growing niche tourism sector in Atlantic Canada Author of the article: By Jen Taplin Published Sep 23, 2026 Last updated 46 minutes ago 5 minute read Visitors to the Scenic Eclipse check out the deck while the ship was docked in Halifax on Sept. 16. PHOTO BY JEN TAPLIN /The Chronicle Herald Article content For most of us, this level of luxury vacationing is something we can only imagine, but for those with the means — it’s the only way to travel. Article content The Scenic Eclipse, billed as a six-star luxury discovery yacht, made a rare stop in Halifax last week and The Chronicle Herald got an exclusive look inside. Article content Article content It has helicopters (two of them), a submersible, butler service for each room, 10 dining options and a whole lot of other perks. Article content Article content The Scenic Eclipse visiting St. Tropez, France in May 2025. PHOTO BY THE SCENIC GROUP Article content This ship goes all around the world — top to bottom — with bookending tours through the Arctic and Antarctic. It only visits Atlantic Canada every few years when the itinerary permits, and this year it worked for a visit through the region for a tour called the Contrasts of Canada and the St. Lawrence River. This 11-day trip costs $17,000 to $20,000 per ticket. Article content Butler service, anyone? Article content First stop on board is the bar, of course, for champagne. There are also 120 types of Scotch on board, but you can just get your butler to bring samples to your room. Article content Everything except for helicopter and submersible tours and spa treatments is included. Article content At a full capacity of 228 passengers, it’s nearly a one-to-one crew-to-passenger ratio, which makes sense when each room has a butler and there’s 24-hour room service. The crew is from all over the world: the U.K., Croatia, South Africa and other countries. Article content Two members of the bridge crew on board the Scenic Eclipse as it docked in Halifax on Sept. 16. There are about 200 crew members for a passenger capacity of 228. PHOTO BY JEN TAPLIN /The Chronicle Herald Article content It’s owned by the…