Atlas Ocean Voyages vs Scenic Ocean Cruises

The core difference

Atlas Ocean Voyages and Scenic Ocean Cruises are the closest direct competitors in this comparison series. Both operate small luxury expedition ships with Zodiac fleets, all-inclusive models, and casual dress codes. The differences — a helicopter and submarine on Scenic, included flights on Atlas, and Australian ownership for Scenic — determine which line wins for specific travellers.

Atlas operates three Portuguese-flagged polar-class vessels — World Navigator, World Traveller, and World Voyager — each carrying approximately 196 guests. The fare includes roundtrip flights from North American gateways, premium drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, L’Occitane amenities, and butler service in suites. The fleet launched from 2021 with modern hardware and expedition capability.

Scenic Ocean Cruises operates two expedition mega-yachts — Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II — each carrying 228 guests. The ships are the only luxury expedition vessels to carry both a helicopter and a submarine, available complimentary to all guests. The all-inclusive fare covers all dining, premium drinks, butler service in every suite, laundry, gratuities, Wi-Fi, and expedition activities. Scenic Group is Australian-owned, providing local customer service, AUD pricing, and strong brand loyalty across Australia.

For Australian travellers, this comparison comes down to three questions: how much does the helicopter and submarine matter to you, how important is Australian ownership and local support, and does Atlas’s included flights and lower per-diem change the equation?

What is actually included

Both lines are comprehensively all-inclusive, which is unusual even in the luxury expedition segment.

Atlas includes roundtrip flights from North American gateways, premium drinks at all hours, Wi-Fi, gratuities, L’Occitane amenities, butler service in suites, all dining across six venues, and Zodiac excursions.

Scenic includes all dining across multiple venues, premium drinks including champagne and top-shelf spirits, butler service for every suite category (not just top-tier), laundry, pressing, and dry cleaning, Wi-Fi, gratuities, helicopter flights, submarine dives, Zodiac excursions, kayaking, and other expedition activities. Shore excursions in most ports are also included — Scenic Discovery excursions are bundled into the fare.

Scenic’s all-inclusive model is more comprehensive — butler service for every guest, helicopter, submarine, shore excursions, and laundry all included. Atlas’s unique inclusion is flights from North American gateways, which represents significant value but targets a specific travel corridor. For Australian travellers, Scenic’s broader inclusion model and local support typically outweigh Atlas’s flight inclusion from distant gateways.

Dining and culinary experience

Both lines offer quality dining scaled to their intimate ship sizes.

Atlas provides six dining venues with regionally inspired menus and no surcharges. All premium beverages are included. The intimate 196-guest format allows personalised attention from the kitchen. The cuisine draws on Portuguese and international influences with resort-casual atmosphere.

Scenic Eclipse offers multiple dining venues including the main restaurant, a speciality restaurant, and casual poolside options. All dining is included without surcharges. The cuisine is contemporary international with quality ingredients appropriate to the luxury expedition positioning. Butler service extends to in-suite dining for all guests.

Neither line positions dining as its primary selling point — both are expedition lines where the destination, not the restaurant, is the main attraction. Dining quality is strong on both. Atlas has a marginal advantage in the number of venues; Scenic has a marginal advantage in butler-delivered in-suite dining for all guests.

Suites and accommodation

The accommodation comparison reveals similar philosophies with different executions.

Atlas staterooms are modern (launched from 2021) with L’Occitane amenities, balconies in most categories, and butler service in suites. The ships are purpose-built for expedition with contemporary design.

Scenic Eclipse suites are all-suite — there are no standard staterooms. Entry-level Verandah Suites offer generous space with a private balcony. The Penthouse, Spa, and Owner’s Suites provide progressively more space and luxury. Butler service is provided to every suite category, not just top-tier — an important distinction from Atlas and most competitors. The design is contemporary and luxurious, with quality materials throughout.

Scenic wins on the all-suite format and universal butler service. Every Scenic guest receives butler attention regardless of category, while Atlas restricts butler service to suite categories. For travellers who value attentive personal service as a baseline rather than a premium, Scenic’s approach is more generous.

Pricing and value

The pricing difference is meaningful and reflects the different inclusion models.

Atlas per-diems range from approximately AUD $800 to $1,500 per person per night, with Antarctic and Arctic voyages at the premium end. The included flights from North American gateways represent genuine value — expedition flights can cost US$1,000 to $3,000 per person.

Scenic per-diems are generally higher, reflecting the helicopter, submarine, universal butler service, and more comprehensive inclusion model. Comparable expedition itineraries on Scenic typically start from AUD $1,200 to $2,000 per person per night. Antarctic voyages command significant premiums.

Atlas is the more accessible entry point for luxury expedition. Scenic is the more comprehensive product at a higher price. The premium buys a helicopter, a submarine, universal butler service, and included shore excursions. Whether that premium represents value depends on how much you want to fly over glaciers and dive beneath coral reefs — experiences available on no other expedition ship.

Spa and wellness

Both lines offer wellness facilities appropriate to expedition ships.

Atlas ships feature compact spas with L’Occitane products and functional fitness facilities. The primary wellness experience is active expedition.

Scenic Eclipse features a more comprehensive spa and wellness offering, including multiple treatment rooms, a sauna, and a gym with ocean views. The all-suite format extends wellness into the cabin with spacious bathrooms and quality amenities. The submarine experience — descending 200 metres into clear blue water to observe marine life — is arguably a wellness experience unlike anything offered on conventional ships.

Scenic offers a more complete wellness infrastructure. Atlas offers a functional complement to expedition activities. Neither competes with dedicated wellness cruise ships, but both deliver appropriate facilities for the expedition format.

Entertainment and enrichment

Both lines deliver expedition-focused enrichment with similar philosophies.

Atlas provides expedition enrichment through naturalists, expedition leaders, and wildlife photographers with daily briefings and guided shore activities. The 196-guest format creates intimate access to the expedition team.

Scenic provides expedition enrichment through a similar team of naturalists, expedition guides, and specialists. The helicopter adds an enrichment dimension unavailable on Atlas — aerial surveys of ice formations, volcano flyovers, and heli-landing excursions provide perspectives impossible from sea level. The submarine adds another unique enrichment tool — diving to observe underwater ecosystems, shipwrecks, and deep-water marine life. Evening entertainment is intimate and social on both lines.

Scenic’s helicopter and submarine are genuine enrichment differentiators. No lecture, no Zodiac excursion, and no deck observation can replicate the experience of flying over a glacier or diving beneath an Antarctic ice shelf. For enrichment-motivated travellers, these tools elevate Scenic’s programme above any competitor.

Fleet and destination coverage

The fleets are comparable in size but differ in capability.

Atlas operates three polar-class ships (approximately 196 guests each) covering Antarctica, the Arctic, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and Central America. Atlas Adventurer (luxury sailing yacht) is expected in 2028.

Scenic operates two expedition mega-yachts — Scenic Eclipse and Eclipse II (228 guests each) — deploying to Antarctica, the Arctic, the Mediterranean, Japan, and global expedition destinations. The helicopter and submarine extend expedition reach beyond what Zodiac-only ships can achieve.

The fleet sizes are comparable (three ships versus two), but Scenic’s helicopter and submarine effectively extend the exploration range of each ship. A Scenic voyage covers more territory — aerial, surface, and underwater — than an Atlas voyage covering the same itinerary.

Where each line excels

Atlas Ocean Voyages excels in:

• Included flights. Roundtrip flights from North American gateways — unique in the expedition segment.
• Accessible pricing. Lower per-diems than Scenic for comparable itineraries.
• Modern hardware. Ships launched from 2021 with contemporary design.
• Boutique intimacy. At 196 guests, marginally smaller than Scenic’s 228.

Scenic Ocean Cruises excels in:

• Helicopter and submarine. The only expedition ships with both — genuinely transformative tools for exploration.
• Universal butler service. Every suite category receives butler attention, not just top-tier.
• Comprehensive all-inclusive. Shore excursions, laundry, helicopter, and submarine all bundled.
• Australian ownership. Local customer service, AUD pricing, and strong brand loyalty through the Scenic Group.

Standout itineraries for Australian travellers

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Antarctica Expedition (10–14 nights from Ushuaia) — Zodiac landings on the Antarctic Peninsula with included flights from North American gateways. A compelling Antarctic option at a more accessible price point than Scenic.

Mediterranean Expedition (7–12 nights) — Atlas’s intimate expedition format in European waters. The most accessible entry point for Australians considering the brand.

Scenic Ocean Cruises

Antarctica with Helicopter and Submarine (various durations from Ushuaia) — The definitive luxury Antarctic expedition. Zodiac landings augmented by helicopter flights over ice formations and submarine dives beneath Antarctic waters. Unmatched by any competitor.

Arctic and Norwegian Fjords (various, summer departures) — Expedition in the northern hemisphere with helicopter surveys of glaciers and submarine observations in Norwegian fjords.

Japan Expedition (10–14 nights) — Scenic Eclipse in Japanese waters with expedition activities, cultural excursions, and the helicopter and submarine providing unique perspectives on volcanic landscapes and marine ecosystems.

Ship-by-ship recommendations

Atlas Ocean Voyages

World Navigator, World Traveller, or World Voyager (196 guests each) — Identical sister ships with polar-class capability. Choose by itinerary and dates. Modern hardware launched from 2021.

Scenic Ocean Cruises

Scenic Eclipse or Eclipse II (228 guests each) — Sister ships with identical specifications including helicopter and submarine. Both are all-suite with universal butler service. Choose by itinerary and dates — the product is consistent across both ships.

For Australian travellers specifically

Scenic holds a decisive advantage for Australian travellers through its local ownership and brand infrastructure.

Scenic Group is Australian-owned with Australian headquarters, providing local customer service in Australian time zones, pricing in AUD, loyalty programme integration with Emerald Cruises, and marketing tailored to Australian travel patterns. The Scenic brand is deeply established in Australia with decades of loyalty from river cruise passengers who have followed the brand into ocean expedition. Repeat guests benefit from loyalty recognition and priority access to new itineraries.

Atlas has no Australian presence — no local office, no Australian departures, and no regional brand awareness. Booking typically occurs through specialist expedition agents or directly. The included flights from North American gateways provide practical value but target a corridor that Australian travellers must reach independently.

For Australians who value local brand support, familiar booking processes, and the confidence of dealing with an Australian-owned company, Scenic is the clear choice. For those willing to navigate an international booking process for a more accessible price point, Atlas is worth considering.

The onboard atmosphere

The atmospheres are remarkably similar — both are intimate expedition yachts with casual dress codes and adventure-driven passengers.

Atlas feels like a private expedition yacht. One hundred and ninety-six guests in resort-casual dress, bonding through shared Zodiac landings and wildlife encounters. The Portuguese-flagged ships carry a European sensibility. The atmosphere is international, purposeful, and intimate.

Scenic Eclipse feels like a luxury expedition mega-yacht. Two hundred and twenty-eight guests in all-suite accommodation with universal butler service, bonding through shared Zodiac, helicopter, and submarine experiences. The atmosphere is polished, luxurious, and adventure-driven. The Australian ownership and significant Australian passenger contingent create a familiar social dynamic for Australian travellers.

The difference is primarily one of polish and scale. Scenic’s universal butler service, helicopter, and submarine elevate the luxury quotient. Atlas’s slightly smaller ship creates marginally more intimacy. Both attract well-travelled adults seeking authentic expedition experiences in luxury settings.

The bottom line

Atlas Ocean Voyages and Scenic Ocean Cruises are the two most directly comparable lines in this series, and the choice between them is genuinely nuanced.

Choose Atlas for luxury expedition at a more accessible price point with included flights, modern hardware, and a boutique 196-guest format. Choose it for comprehensive all-inclusive packaging that bundles flights with premium drinks and dining. Accept the absence of helicopter and submarine, the lack of Australian brand presence, and the need to position to North American gateways.

Choose Scenic for the most complete luxury expedition product afloat — helicopter flights, submarine dives, universal butler service, and all-inclusive packaging that covers shore excursions and laundry alongside dining and drinks. Choose it for Australian ownership, local customer service, and the confidence of booking with a well-established Australian brand. Accept the higher per-diem and the understanding that the premium buys genuinely unique expedition tools available on no other ship.

For most Australian travellers, Scenic’s helicopter, submarine, and local ownership make it the stronger choice despite the higher price. For budget-conscious expedition enthusiasts who prioritise comprehensive inclusion and intimate ship size, Atlas offers a compelling alternative.