Scenic Discovery Cruises vs Silversea
+ Global JourneysCompare the ships, onboard inclusions, pricing, shore excursions and popularity of cruising with Scenic Discovery Cruises and Silversea, to see which is the better fit for your next journey.
We asked Scenic why you should cruise with them, here's what they said...
Scenic is proudly an Australian founded company setting the global standard for all inclusive luxury travel. We have delighted guests for more than 40 years with memorable journeys to fascinating locations across the world, delivering unsurpassed excellence in service, product quality and exclusive experiences. The guest is at the heart of everything we do, as we strive to provide continual innovation to enhance the guest experience in luxury river cruising, land tours and our state of the art expedition ocean cruising with Scenic Eclipse.
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The Scenic difference is the details, the unwavering commitment to anticipate our guests every need, from butler services, quality dining, wellness, Scenic Enrich and Scenic FreeChoice experiences. That is why so many of our past guests choose to travel with Scenic many times, to destinations around the globe with family and friends, trusting Scenic to create memories that will last a lifetime. We welcome you to enjoy the portfolio of Scenic luxury products and feel the difference of Scenic’s dedicated staff, who will look after you to the nth degree.
Total No. Cruises
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Avg. cruise length
Avg. price per day (by cabin type)
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All-Inclusive level
Onboard currencyThe low down on Scenic from our expert team of advisors at Global Journeys...
Scenic's 5 star luxury river cruises are well known and popular in Australia and NZ. Scenic were the first to introduce balconies on their Scenic Space-Ships, which many clients love, but this comes at a cost to interior cabin space. Like many of the other premium river cruise Operators, look out for their great Fly Free offers, and Earlybird Savings. All inclusive, with Freechoice activities that allow you to choose what you want to do in each port, Scenic also offer a range of luxury additions (like your own Butler) depending on the cabin type select.
Launching in 2018 and with another ship in 2020, the Scenic Eclipse is Scenic's first foray read more into luxury all inclusive ocean cruising. From the Arctic to Antarctica and everywhere in between, these Discovery Yachts, are all inclusive with shore excursions involving Zodiacs, kayaks and e-bikes as well as the option (for an additional charge) to adventure out by helicopter and submarine!
Well-travelled couples and solo travellers seeking ultra-luxury small-ship cruising and destination-focused exploration. Guests are international, with a strong Australian, New Zealand, North American and British mix.
Ultra-luxury small-ship cruising aboard Scenic Eclipse, Eclipse II and Ikon, all-verandah suites, butler service for every guest, close to 1:1 crew-to-guest service, expedition cruising and onboard helicopters and submersibles.
All-inclusive fares with all dining, premium beverages throughout the day, in-suite minibar, gratuities, WiFi, butler service and Scenic Freechoice or Discovery excursions.
Additional costs include helicopter and submersible experiences, spa and salon treatments, a small selection of rare, fine and vintage wines and spirits and laundry outside applicable suite inclusions.
Yes. Tipping and gratuities onboard and onshore are included.
Yes. Scenic Freechoice and Discovery excursions are included. Expedition and Discovery voyages can include Zodiac cruising, guided landings, kayaking and paddleboarding, while helicopters and submersible experiences cost extra.
Yes. Complimentary WiFi is included throughout the ship.
Yes. Scenic and Emerald loyalty programs are combined into Scenic & Emerald Rewards, allowing members to earn status across Scenic's and Emerald's ocean, river and land journeys.
Children are permitted but Scenic Eclipse is primarily designed for adults rather than families.
Included activities include live music, theatre performances, cabaret, trivia, dance classes, lectures, Discovery Team presentations, gym use, yoga and Pilates, pools and spa relaxation facilities.
No.
Yes. Helicopter and submersible experiences and spa treatments cost extra.
Yes. Scenic Eclipse offers up to 10 included culinary experiences, ranging from casual venues to fine dining and degustation restaurants. Reservations are required for some venues, but there is no dining surcharge.
No. Dining packages are unnecessary because all onboard dining experiences are included.
Yes. Soft drinks, bottled water, specialty coffees, teas and other non-alcoholic beverages are included, along with a complimentary in-suite minibar.
Yes. Premium wines, Champagne, spirits and other alcoholic drinks are included throughout the day, except for a small selection of rare, fine and vintage labels.
No. A beverage package is unnecessary because premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are already included.
Yes. In-suite dining and beverage service are included, with personalised butler service for every suite.
Yes. Scenic Eclipse has an expansive Senses Spa with thermal and relaxation facilities. Salt therapy lounges, dry and wet saunas, cold plunge pool and mineralised spa facilities are included. Selected spa therapy and salon treatments cost extra.
Yes. Scenic's Discovery Yachts have fully equipped gyms included in the cruise fare.
Yes. Complimentary yoga, Pilates, stretching and other group wellness activities are offered, with programmes varying by voyage.
Yes
Yes
Yes, self-service laundry service is available and included. Complimentary laundry is included with selected higher suite categories and loyalty benefits.
We asked Silversea why you should cruise with them, here's what they said...
A luxurious cruise means many things to many people but we feel that Silversea’s small ship cruises personify the true meaning of comfort. Our intimate, ultra-luxury ships can sail up narrow waterways into the heart of a city, or tie up right at the pier while others must anchor off shore. And for those who yearn to explore the new and unknown, Silversea’s expedition ships can transport you to the furthermost boundaries of the planet.
Enjoy free-flowing premium wines and spirits, delicious gourmet cuisine, in-suite dining, full butler service read more for every suite and of course all gratuities. Whether you long to mingle in the Mediterranean, swim with the turtles of the Galapagos or embrace the glaciers of Alaska, there is something special about knowing that this cruising is all inclusive.
Total No. CruisesDeparturesAvg. cruise lengthAvg. price per day (by cabin type)No. of ShipsAll-Inclusive levelOnboard currencyThe low down on Silversea from our expert team of advisors at Global Journeys...
Silversea is an ultra-luxury, all-suite cruise line. Its classic All-Inclusive fare includes butler-serviced suites, dining, unlimited wines and spirits, gratuities and Wi-Fi, while shore excursions are typically optional. You can upgrade to their All-Inclusive Plus fare which includes a generous shore excursion credit if you're looking at getting everything paid up before you leave. We’ve had amazing feedback from our past clients, so if you’re looking for some pampering while exploring the world aboard a small luxury or expedition ship, we think Silversea is very hard to go past.
World travellers seeking to explore remote locations with most passengers from the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Luxury cruises and expeditions, over 1,000 destinations, and overnight and late port departures.
Positioned as all-inclusive, although shore excursions and some specialty restaurants incur charges.
Shore excursions, selected specialty restaurants, some premium champagne, wines and spirits, spa and salon services, personal training, laundry service and upgraded WiFi packages incur additional charges.
Yes.
Excursions are not included and cost extra. Expedition-cruise Zodiac, sea and shore excursions are included, with optional excursions available for purchase.
Yes. Complimentary WiFi is provided for one device at a time in every suite and two devices at a time in premium suites; upgraded premium access packages are available for purchase.
No. Venetian Club only.
Children are accepted from 6 months, or 12 months on select cruises or ships. Children under five cannot participate in expedition excursions or embarkations requiring a Zodiac, and an adult family member must remain onboard during Zodiac excursions.
Small ship cruises offer production shows, classical soloists, cultural entertainment and feature films. Expedition cruises offer expert lectures and films.
Yes, but not on Silversea's expedtion ships.
No.
Yes. La Dame, Seishin Restaurant and Kaiseki Restaurant attract a charge; most other dining is complimentary.
No.
Yes. Soft drinks, water, tea and coffee are included.
Yes. Premium wines and spirits are included, although some premium champagne, wine and spirit selections cost extra.
No.
Yes. 24-hour in-suite dining is available, with butler service for every suite.
Yes. Spa and salon services are available at an additional charge.
Yes.
Yes. Circuit training is complimentary, while Pilates and yoga may incur charges. Services vary between classic and expedition ships.
Yes. Charges apply.
Yes.
Yes. Charges apply.
Scenic’s Discovery Yacht collection and Silversea both offer ultra-luxury expedition cruising, but they approach it differently. Scenic operates two purpose-built Discovery Yachts (with Scenic Ikon lauching in 2028) with a strong focus on active exploration and all-inclusive luxury, while Silversea has a broader fleet spanning both classic cruising and dedicated expedition ships, giving you considerably more choice of ships, destinations and cruise styles.
Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II each carry up to 228 guests, reduced to 200 in polar regions, and combine expedition capability with an unusually large range of luxury facilities for ships of their size. Expect all-verandah suites, butler service for every guest, up to 10 dining experiences, extensive spa facilities and specialist equipment including helicopters and a submersible. Silversea’s current expedition fleet ranges from the intimate 100-guest Silver Origin to Silver Wind carrying 274 guests, with all-suite accommodation and butler service throughout. Scenic provides a very consistent yacht-style experience, while Silversea gives you more variation depending on the ship and destination.
Both include Zodiac exploration, expert-led shore activities and dedicated expedition teams, but Scenic adds some particularly distinctive ways to explore, including its helicopters and submersible, at additional cost, and where operationally available. Silversea has greater expedition breadth, with purpose-built and converted expedition ships sailing regions including Antarctica, the Arctic, the Galápagos, the Kimberley and the South Pacific. Scenic therefore stands out for the range of exploration equipment available from its Discovery Yachts, while Silversea gives you more ships and expedition destinations to choose from.
Both are highly inclusive, with butler service, dining, premium beverages, Wi-Fi and gratuities included. Scenic also includes its Discovery activities, Freechoice and Enrich experiences, with helicopter and submersible journeys among the main extras. Silversea expedition fares include expedition activities and required expedition gear, while Classic voyages now offer different fare options, with shore excursions either purchased separately or covered partly by a shore excursion credit on All-Inclusive Plus fares. When comparing expedition voyages specifically, both include most of what you’ll need, so the itinerary, ship and type of exploration are likely to matter more than small differences in inclusions.
Silversea has the broader overall program because it combines a large classic cruise network with four dedicated expedition ships, including the Galápagos-based Silver Origin. Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II also cruise extensively through Antarctica, the Arctic, Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, the Americas, Europe and other regions, with their smaller fleet placing more emphasis on carefully selected Discovery Yacht itineraries. If you want the widest choice of departure dates and expedition destinations, Silversea has more options; if the Scenic Eclipse style of yacht cruising and exploration appeals, Scenic delivers a particularly consistent experience across both ships.
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