g src=”/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/scenicsteelcutting.jpg” alt=”Glen Moroney, chairman” width=”200″ height=”150″ style=”margin: 5px; float: left;” />What started as essentially a bus tour company with the intent of filling hotels in Australia 30 years ago will enter the ocean cruise business in 2018 when the Scenic Eclipse launches from Uljanik Group shipyard in Croatia.

Scenic Tours marked the official start of production of the Scenic Eclipse, with a steel cutting ceremony at the Uljanik Shipyard JSC in Pula, Croatia in November.

“It’s an extremely exciting day for us. About six years ago, what you see behind us, was just a dream. Four years ago we started the planning in earnest seriously; and 12 months ago we signed a contract,” said Glen Moroney, chairman. “There has been a huge amount of work put in not only by our own team but the yard.”

The so-called expedition build will be delivered in August of 2018, with capacity for 228 passengers at 16,500 tons. The Australian company has an option for a second ship.