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Aliya: ...there's comfort and then there's luxury.
Man: Do you not love it?
Teddy: I do. I thought it was just--
How are the guests going to love this?
Yeah.
From red-carpet treatment aboard a palace on wheels
gliding through India...
The stained glass is from Paris.
Teddy: ...to eating caviar on the high seas,
while creating your journey on the fly...
The passengers will decide where we go.
So, for me, it will be pretty much a surprise.
(Indistinct chatter)
Aliya: ...To scoring a golden ticket in Japan
aboard an ultra exclusive train serving up decadence...
That is the single best piece of sushi I've ever had.
Aliya ...and a six-star cruise ship that promises
not just luxury but discovery.
Pilot: It is just magic flying it here.
Teddy: These are some of the finest luxury experiences
to put on your bucket list.
♪
These are the mightiest planes, trains and ships
humankind has ever devised.
And they can sometimes be the most comfortable, most decadent
luxury experiences anyone could ever imagine.
And they have the price tag to match.
Yeah, they really do, and you know, AJ,
as the host of Mighty Trains,
I really got the red-carpet treatment
on the legendary Maharajas' Express,
travelling through the heart of India by rail.
And I got to experience the epic beauty
of Kyushu, Japan, with a glass of sake in hand,
and that was onboard the Seven Stars cruise train.
Ooh-la-la!
Well, I too am excited to talk about sea and rail journeys
fit for royalty,
like the surprise cruise aboard the Europa II,
where the passengers actually set the destination.
Teddy: That is such a cool novel idea.
I love it.
Now, I don't want to rub this next one in,
but I can still barely believe it myself.
I just recently got back from the coast of Norway on a ship
that calls itself the world's first discovery yacht.
And that's because, in addition to all the luxury
and five-star dining on board,
guests also experience unbelievable excursions
on the ship's very own Zodiacs,
helicopter and submarine.
You did not?
I did.
Okay, I need to call my agent.
Why was there no luxury clause in my contract?
I can't help you with that. I don't know.
But the yacht is called Scenic Eclipse,
and, AJ, it's got all the toys.
♪
At 165.7 metres, or 544 feet long,
with eight passenger decks,
Scenic Eclipse is smaller than the average cruise ship.
But this six-star vessel trades size for style and substance.
Captain Griffiths: She looks like a super yacht,
but she is actually a discovery yacht
with a nice reinforced hull,
exceptionally overpowered for a ship of this size.
Obviously, the Eclipse, there's a lot of moving parts to it,
which really adds to the complexity of it,
and is one of the reasons
that actually we have a ratio of one-to-one
with guests and passengers.
It's good to have you here. Welcome aboard.
Thank you.
Teddy: The VIP treatment extends to the excursions off-ship,
led by dedicated expert crews called Discovery Teams.
Jason: They're from all over the world,
various different experiences,
PhDs, master beholders, because it's not just
about managing and mitigating the risk,
but it's also about the experience for the guests.
Teddy: And remember I said "toys"?
Well, put on your flight suit.
♪
We're actually the only cruise ship in the world
to permanently carry two helicopters.
(Indistinct chatter)
Pilot: It looks a little bit different from here.
Teddy: The Scenic Eclipse also carries a fleet of Zodiacs,
small inflatable boats that are both fun and functional.
♪
So it's just a quick recce, uh, reconnaissance,
to have a look to see if there's any dangers.
♪
Teddy: And if being on or above the water
doesn't float your boat,
you can dive, dive, dive...
Where do we go?
Teddy: ...on Scenic Eclipse's own submarine.
Chris: So, as soon as we get to the bottom,
we could find some kind of, some weird creatures.
You never,
you just never know.
So, it's very exciting.
So, look at this. Right out of the darkness,
we got the hull of this shipwreck-- whoa!
Man: Whoa, big fish.
Chris: Big fish!
Teddy: So much adventure
is sure to work up an appetite.
But no need to worry.
Scenic Eclipse takes food to the next level as well.
Tom: I think what makes us quite different is
we're trying to focus
on my simple items
and do it the very best quality.
It's good. Shall we try it?
Yes, definitely.
This is really, yeah.
Excellent.
Teddy: Scenic Eclipse can carry 228 passengers
and the crew is getting ready for its next adventure.
Daniel: Well, we're looking at the ship from top to bottom.
We gave guests coming on in a couple hours
and after that, it's showtime.
Teddy: While everything is coming together
onboard the ship,
the same can't be said dockside, literally.
♪
This one is too far. So, big problem.
You take this gangway
from the back, from the luggage,
and connect it here.
You need a lot of people.
Teddy: Hotel director Daniel has emerged to join the efforts.
We need more weight on it.
(Chatter)
You got it?
Is it in or is it out?
Man: It's in.
(Bang)
(Cheering) Opa!
Teddy: So, the ship at the back here
was too far away from the dock.
They weren't able to get the provisions on
with the normal platform that they use.
So, they've taken this gangplank
from the other end of the ship,
brought it over with a forklift--
really difficult to do--
and now, they've attached it.
And they're going to bring all of these provisions
onto the ship here.
It looks like this has worked,
but they still have all of these provisions
and a lot of luggage to get onboard.
Time's tickin'.
We need more people out there.
Let's go.
(Unclear shouting)
Teddy: Back aboard the ship,
Daniel checks one last ultra-luxury location
before embarkation begins.
Daniel: Right now, we're in the Scenic Lounge.
It's a beautiful, comfortable area.
And, of course, we have the, uh, whisky bar.
Over 135 whiskies.
Milos, good afternoon.
Good afternoon.
How is your bar today?
The bar is excellent.
Right. All your bottles are on-point?
Daniel's just talking with staff,
making sure everything is in perfect shape
before the guests get on.
All the pillows look good. The chairs look right.
We're gonna sample some of those whiskies later.
Thank you very much. That's great.
But you can cut that part out.
Champagne is cold and we are ready for operations.
Really, okay, excellent.
Thank you very much. Looks great.
Milos: You're welcome. Thank you.
Tom: I think we have all the fruit and vegetables aboard,
so we're gonna be fine, so.
Looks like everything is coming.
We checked the boxes, so.
We should be all right.
Looks good.
We're lucky.
Will be a good cruise.
Teddy: While the provisioning continues on the gangway,
the baggage gets loaded with
some more creative troubleshooting
Daniel: Ship from top to bottom.
All the suites are good.
The public venues look excellent, the rooms.
Uh, we have a green light, okay?
♪
Welcome to the beautiful Scenic Eclipse.
My name is Pablo.
I'm your Assistant Cruise Director.
Welcome aboard!
Follow me.
Teddy: Now, finally, it's showtime.
♪
This will be Scenic Eclipse's
first trip to Norwegian Waters.
And it promises to be spectacular.
Scenic Eclipse will set out from Bergen,
stopping in Vikoyri and Flam.
Continuing north,
we'll visit Norway's magnificent Sognefjord,
and then Geirangerfjord.
From there, we'll stop at the Lofoten Islands
and Tromso.
Captain Griffiths and his bridge crew meet
to review their operating plan.
Okay, everyone, so departure Bergen tonight.
We're currently on two DGs.
We'll start the Azipods and the thrusters just before we let
go of the lines, we'll pin the ship alongside the dock using
thrusters and Azipods and then we'll start singling up.
The challenge with the Norwegian fjord is that they are very
narrow and the Scenic Eclipse isn't a huge cruise ship but she
does weigh 17.5 thousand tonnes, so we are always aware that it
takes us a good while to stop the ship.
Teddy: The Norwegian fjords are so tricky to navigate, special
local pilots are required on the bridge for our entire journey
along the coastline.
These pilots, they're ex captains themselves but they're
super knowledgeable in the waters around Norway.
Okay, so we've got full control?
Yes, sir.
Okay, we'll just start slowly thrusting.
Okay, when you're ready, single up, forward and out.
Forward out.
Single up.
Single up, forward.
Up, let go all lines.
Let go lines.
Teddy: While Captain Griffiths keeps a close watch on
Scenic Eclipse, the pilot scans ahead for trouble.
Go stations, and remember travel.
Forward and give us the control.
Just behind us there now.
Wait.
Wait here.
Starboard side five.
Starboard five.
Yes.
♪
Waiting six minutes here.
Captain, this is great.
Teddy: Thanks for the access up here.
Does it feel good to be under way?
Captain Griffiths: It is.
It's great to be underway.
Ships are meant to be at sea, not in port,
that's for sure.
Teddy: And we're off.
The epic wonders of Norway await.
♪
Teddy?
Sorry, I was just reminiscing a bit there.
Mm, yeah. In a bit mostly just Teddy goes but we all go...
around the world experiencing the planet's most luxurious
experiences by sea and by rail to India, Japan and more.
Yeah, I returned to Scenic Eclipse as a prepared the sub
for a deep-sea adventure and you know what?
If we ever get on a space shuttle, that's all yours.
I'll take that deal.
Okay.
It's not in writing though so...
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Push up to 10 knots now to get in there.
Yeah.
Teddy: Captain Griffiths and his team are approaching their
second port of call, Vikoyri.
About 140 of the passengers will actually be getting off
the ship this morning and then they
will actually go over land to our next destination
which is Flam.
And that we can go stand by 7-12, take the thrusters.
Teddy: The seabed close to shore at Vikoyri is too
delicate for Scenic Eclipse to approach, so Captain Griffiths
stops here over deep waters where an anchor
would be useless.
It's well over 1,000 metres underneath the keel right
now so, more than 3,000 feet.
So you obviously cannot drop anchor and that type of
depth of waters.
Standby the way on nav, please.
Captain has.
Speed and maintenance.
Starboard.
Yes, we are.
Teddy: He maneuvers the ship to find a location that will
protect the tenders from the wind.
Monitoring the speed of the wind as well
to make sure that we end up
where we need to be and then we'll actually engage our
dynamic positioning system to avoid
dropping anchor on the seabed.
We need to literally press a button and the
ship will use satellites and its internal systems
to actually maintain a really precise position.
Have about another 40° left in the swing and then when we've
swung and we're pointing straight back out
where we came, we'll just back up a little bit.
Okay, now. Engage DP now, please.
♪
(Beeping)
♪
We're on DP now.
Captain Griffiths: DP engaged. Okay, very good.
♪
Teddy: A few decks below, the Scenic Eclipse crew
is prepping the tenders for their run to shore.
So, soon passengers will be loading out here
and into these tenders, taken to shore
and they'll-- they'll go on some really cool excursions.
♪
Once ashore, passengers will explore one of
Scenic's Discovery Excursions:
the world-famous Flam Railway.
Stretching 20 kilometres or 12 miles long,
this railway descends 866 metres,
or about 1,000 yards, to sea level at Flam.
♪
The Flam Line began construction in 1924
to open up the Flam Valley,
one of Norway's hidden treasures.
There are several waterfalls,
but they're not just part of the scenery,
they also help power the train.
The Kjosfossen Falls are one of the line's first stops.
The cascade runs through a two generator power plant
beside the falls, creating enough electricity
to power the Flam Line, Flam Village,
and the Bergen Line Railway.
The falls are as powerful
as they are spectacular and unforgettable.
♪
After the Kjosfossen Falls,
the train crisscrosses down the Flam Valley.
The scenery is incredible, and it's hard to imagine
that this rail line was built
a century ago using hand tools.
(Train horn squeals)
Passengers head to Flam by rail,
and Scenic Eclipse races to meet them there.
En route, not a second is wasted.
On the deck, the Discovery Team
takes to the air to research future excursions.
♪
(Over radio) Just look at this view.
Look at the fjord and the mountains in the background.
We're doing a pretty steep turn right now.
It's quite a feeling.
♪
Pilot: I never had an unhappy passenger yet.
It's, uh-- it is just magic flying in here.
Teddy: The landscape here is just so epic and stunning.
This is like nowhere else on Earth.
On other journeys, these scouting missions
are also essential for ship navigation.
Yeah, in Antarctica it's mostly important
for the ship for the ice reconnaissance.
That we can look if a passage is open
or if we need to go around it,
and that makes a big difference.
Oh, you see there, straight ahead there's
the Eclipse, and it just looks stunning from up here.
Teddy: As we come in for a safe landing,
Captain Griffiths and his team shift
their attention from the air to our arrival in Flam.
Captain Griffiths: You actually have this river.
You can see the waterfall up on the mountain.
It's actually running down into this river,
and then the water flow out the river actually causes
the ship to veer one way or the other
as we back through the line of that current.
So, that's one of the challenges that we have.
Teddy: It's a hands-on, full attention operation,
and Captain Griffiths brings his years of experience to bear.
Captain Griffiths: It's about 220 metres to cut soon.
So, line up these springs first.
Man: Yes.
Okay, so it's looking calm. No wind here.
♪
The spring is in there.
Captain Griffiths: Speed there?
Man: 0.8, sir.
Yeah, so we're alongside now in Flam,
which is, uh-- which is great.
Teddy: Just in time for guests returning
from the Flam railway.
Teddy, it looks like what guests enjoy
on and off Scenic Eclipse
is nothing short of spectacular.
That's totally true,
and once you see those Norwegian fjords
from a helicopter,
you'll never forget it.
Right now, I wanna take everybody to India.
Ah, the Maharaja Express which, I am told,
is one of the most opulent train rides in the world.
It absolutely is, and, you know, on board,
they really make you feel like a maharaja.
There's gold-plated cutlery,
hand-carved crystal, and butler service.
It's a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
(Train rumbling)
Teddy: India,
home to more than 12,000 passenger trains.
(Wheels rattling, horns blaring)
And the most luxurious of them all
is the Maharajas' Express.
(Wheels rattling)
(Horn blaring)
Built in 2008,
every detail is designed
to treat passengers like Indian royalty.
The maharajas were local kings
who ruled for hundreds of years
in unparalleled wealth and splendour.
♪
(Hubbub of crowd)
We're welcomed with garlands of marigolds
and a bindi, a dab of vermilion paint
on our foreheads--
Thank you.
A sign that we're about to embark
on an auspicious journey.
♪
Any question? Group: No, sir.
Anybody? No, sir.
Teddy: The last of the guests are on board.
We've got the green light to head out
and the Maharajas' Express is ready to roll.
Teddy: It's amazing, isn't it?
It is beautiful, yeah.
Wow!
Hello...
Each carriage bears the Indian name
of a precious jewel.
For emerald: Panna.
Other coaches are named for rubies and sapphires.
In the middle of the train,
there are two lounges
and two restaurants,
the pride and joy
of Executive Chef, John Stone.
Namaskar.
Welcome to the Mayur Mahal Restaurant,
which literally means the Peacock Restaurant.
Teddy: The restaurants show another side of the maharajas,
their love of imported luxuries.
As you can see, the hand-blown glass chips
come all the way from Spain.
The stained glass is from Paris.
The theme is such that everything resembles
the beautiful bird peacock.
Everything is blue in colour.
The chairs are all handmade.
The wood used is mahogany
and it has
cushioning fitted to it.
And no machine was ever used
to make these chairs.
♪
(Horn blaring)
♪
Teddy: The restaurants have
everything you could want,
including a really smooth ride
so nothing spills.
That's due to
the special suspension system
Wow!
♪
All of the rooms are really ornate,
but this is the most luxurious of all.
This is the Presidential Suite.
That's the master bedroom, right in there.
You can see there's a full bathroom
with a tub and a shower
on that side,
and then, you've got this amazing living room area.
And through there is a guest bedroom.
So, this is, this is really amazing.
The cost of this luxury?
Prices range from $5,000 US to almost $24,000 US,
making it one of
the most expensive train journeys
in the world.
♪
My fellow passengers and I are living the life:
Pure luxury, zero stress.
Hey, how are ya?
♪
(Instrumental music)
What a romantic and nostalgic way to experience such
a beautiful country.
Yeah, you said it.
It's really something, or you think of Scenic Eclipse, right?
One of the best ways to explore the coast of Europe.
And some of the incredible cuisine on offer.
I mean, imagine being on board Scenic Eclipse and eating a
mouthwatering dish that was scooped from the ocean
just moments before.
That's what the five-star cuisine onboard is all about.
Let's have a look at the caviar, right?
Also unloading, right?
Man: Yeah...
Teddy: Tom Goetter is Scenic's food and beverage director
overseeing not just Scenic Eclipse
but also every one of the company's ships.
He's a man with a vision.
Well, I would love to have the first vegan restaurant
on our ocean ship.
I think it's about time.
I think we already late if you ask me.
And where we are right now with the cuisine,
we just source right now, it's group effect.
This is the future.
Teddy: While floating vegan eatery is still just a dream,
Tom does plan to explore a very appropriate ingredient for
this seafaring kitchen, seaweed.
I think seaweed has a lot of judgement going on,
and seaweed is so full of carotene,
and potassium.
So many different flavours you can play with.
So, I think guests gonna be a little bit mind
open more to that because it is an
expedition food journey, let's say.
♪
Later in the show we'll take a helicopter to source this rare
and tasty delicacy and we'll jump in the submarine for an
awe-inspiring dive to see a deep sea shipwreck.
It's unforgettable stuff.
Do you see any sharks down there?
No sharks but just being in that submarine on the ocean
floor was a real once-in-a-lifetime experience.
I loved it.
We also travel to Japan for the ultimate luxury aboard
the Seven Stars, and we go on a cruise where passengers set the
destinations on-the-fly.
I love that.
But before that we're with the crew of Scenic Eclipse as they
navigate choppy waters on zodiacs to see if it's safe
for a guest excursion through the Fjords.
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Teddy: Another day aboard Scenic Eclipse,
another spectacular view.
After two days at sea, Captain Griffiths approaches Geiranger,
a spectacular Fjord surrounded by dramatic mountains,
steep cliffs and majestic waterfall plunges.
Okay, so the plan is obviously just keep above
14 knots all the way down.
Obviously it's getting a lot narrow as we head in.
It is a bit windy so as we've discussed you can have
quite strong winds come out of nowhere really.
Yeah.
The mountains actually create quite unique localized weather
conditions, so you can go from
maybe 5, 10 knots to suddenly
have 30, 40, even 50 knots of wind just within
a few minutes.
Teddy: But Scenic Eclipse is designed to battled the elements
to deliver discovery cruising.
This ship has the best propulsion system yeah,
two ports, keep those horsepower in the bows,
so, you can do whatever you like with the ship.
She is so good.
Teddy: Another busy day of luxury and discovery is on order
and the crew aims to deliver.
When the quakes come over we have to be aware of ruffle,
these really steep cliffs on this side, so we'll
have to make the team aware of that.
If the winds pick up beyond the threshold of what is
safe to take guests out, then we will cancel
and what we'll then do is get
our guests who were going to go with us today,
out at a later time.
♪
Teddy: Right now, the crew and I are in a zodiac with
Ross and Jason from the discovery team
and we're going out to do Recce reconnaissance
to make sure the conditions are
okay to bring guests out on various excursions.
That's where we're headed right now.
It's a little rough, but it's great.
Let's try to see if we can find any nesting areas along shores.
They did let us know to be careful
of rock fall in the area, as well, so.
Stay away from the edges.
The main thing to see here, if they can get around in time,
is the Seven Sisters and the other waterfall
on the opposite side.
I think it's just coming into view now.
Teddy: These Norwegian fjords are full of natural beauty,
but this is next level.
Jackpot for the discovery team.
Approaching a waterfall like this on a small inflatable,
it's just incredible.
I mean, look at this.
We're getting some footage right now of these waterfalls.
They're called the Seven Sisters,
considered one of the most epic, impressive,
beautiful waterfalls on Earth.
Look at that.
This area is actually a UNESCO World Heritage site,
obviously for good reason.
♪
All drivers, all drivers.
We've made it out to the seven Sisters.
We can make the run from the ship easily.
It's a great spot.
Make sure you bring your guests out so they can check it out.
Teddy: The word is given; excursions are a go.
If today the weather deteriorates,
or we need to get everyone back,
we just sound one long blast on the ship's whistle
and all of our guides, all of our team leaders
know that that's the signal
to get back to the ship as soon as possible.
They can splash the tender now, eh?
Man: The sun's coming out and there's a bit of a wind.
So, it's looking great for our excursion today.
♪
Kayaking is a go.
And then our Zodiac cruisers,
of course, will be ready to go, as well.
Who's first time?
Yeah? Oh, there's a couple.
Are you excited? Don't worry.
(Guests laughing)
♪
Teddy: Back on Scenic Eclipse Captain Griffiths steers
through the narrow fjord for guests
who aren't on the Zodiacs to get a view, as well.
♪
No matter how you choose to see the sights,
Scenic Eclipse has you covered.
Zodiacs and kayaks and helicopters, oh, my.
Woman: Really breathtaking.
Yeah.
Yeah. I'd do it again and again and again.
♪
It's so interesting to me, AJ,
because the guests see all this natural beauty.
It's like seeing a swan gliding on the water,
but under the surface its feet are kicking furiously.
That's like the crew working so hard.
Yeah, it clearly takes a lot of effort to keep
luxury passengers safe and entertained.
But now, how about keeping passengers in suspense?
Like on the Europa 2?
Right. You've got all of the expected five-star indulgences,
but on a Europa 2 Surprise Cruise
passengers vote on their next port of call
every step of the way.
So, the guests and the crew are constantly on their toes.
On this special cruise personal service isn't just
about getting the passengers to their rooms.
(Indistinct chatter)
It's also about giving the guests
a choice of where the ship will go.
It's called a Surprise Cruise.
The concept of the Surprise Cruise
is basically to do something very special
and also to enable our passengers to vote
about the route we are taking.
Aliya: Not even Christian Van Zwamen,
the ship's captain,
knows where the ship will go.
The passengers will decide where we go, when to go,
and so also for me it will be pretty much a surprise.
♪
Aliya: From Istanbul there are many itineraries in play
featuring stops in idyllic and storied places
such as Crete, Rhodes, and Santorini.
It all depends on which route garners
the most votes from the guests.
(Indistinct chatter)
♪
Captain Van Zwamen oversees the vote.
--very warm welcome for all our international guests.
I'm happy to see you here in the theatre.
♪
Aliya: The guests are asked to choose between
Myrina in the north,
Volos in the west, or Naxos to the south.
Here's my vote.
Crew Member: Go for it.
Depends on what I say.
Yes, so you're the boss.
Man: Yes. As always.
Woman: As always.
♪
Aliya: The guests vote with chips.
Three buckets, three routes.
(Indistinct chatter)
Whatever the result, it will send the ship's crew
scrambling to make plans in just the next few days.
The passengers and crew of Europa 2
are on the edge of their seats.
After 500 votes are tallied,
Captain Christian Van Zwamen announces the winner.
(Speaking other language)
(Light applause)
Aliya: A strong majority, two-thirds of the guests,
has voted that the first port of call
will be the island of Naxos.
From there Europa 2 will head to Rhodes,
the island of Crete,
and to the remains of an ancient volcano in Santorini.
Are you happy with the choice?
Yes, very happy.
Santorini was at the top of the list, so, uh...
♪
Aliya: The Europa 2 heads off on its winning route.
They have no idea what's in store for them.
Alright, one of the most unique things about Scenic Eclipse
is that there's a submarine right on board.
So, can guests just go dive whenever they want?
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean, that's not normal for a cruise, is it?
It is not normal at all.
But if one of my favourite movies,
The Abyss, has taught us anything,
it's that going for a dive can be really dangerous business.
So, the crew takes every precaution
to make sure passengers are safe and sound.
Right now you can see Scenic Eclipse behind us.
We've just gotten on this Zodiac with Jason and our crew,
and we're going out to take a sub under the water.
♪
Time to go under to see what's below.
♪
Our pilot has something very special in mind for this dive.
We're going to try to go find a shipwreck.
Yeah, we like to do a scouting-- uh, scouting dive before
we bring the guests out, just to see what we can see.
As you can see, the water visibility
isn't the greatest today.
Teddy: The sub is so high-tech and comfortable,
it feels like something from a movie.
Topside, topside, this is Neptune.
Man: Neptune, Topside.
My hatch is locked, closed, and secure.
My equalizing valve is closed.
Oxygen is on and flowing.
Teddy: When passenger safety is at stake,
everything has to be airtight, literally.
Here we go.
(Dramatic instrumental music)
Chris: One and a half metres.
We should start seeing the bottom now.
Yeah, there it is.
We can see the bottom right down here.
It's so, so cool.
We're almost touching down.
Look at this.
The window is right here.
It's, it's such an incredible view.
It was all murky gloom and the odd starfish,
but then...
So, look at this, right out of the darkness,
we've got the hull of this shipwreck.
It just appeared all of a sudden.
We got it on camera, and it's spectacular.
Whoa! Chris: Ah, big fish.
Big fish.
Just looking at the hull, it's absolutely brilliant.
More marine life.
Just seeing it come out of the darkness
was absolutely incredible.
Really makes you feel like an explorer.
♪
This one is absolutely incredible.
I mean, the water visibility isn't fantastic,
but we have lots of stars,
lots of fish, lots of life on here.
Do you think the guests are gonna love it too?
Do you not love it? Teddy: I do.
How are the guests not gonna love this? Teddy: Yeah.
Unfortunately, Scenic Eclipse's guests
won't get to experience this dive today.
There's just not enough time.
But the Neptune sub has passed its test runs,
uh, swimmingly.
So, we're about to head back up to the surface,
but it's been a really successful mission.
Chris: Topside, Topside, radio check.
Teddy: What a phenomenal experience.
But I'll admit, I'm grateful to see the sky again.
♪
Well, it's a big ocean,
so there will be more opportunities
for passengers on Scenic Eclipse.
Okay, and coming up, Teddy boards the luxurious
Seven Stars train in Japan.
And you know, I've ridden trains all over the world.
This is easily one of my favourites.
And Scenic Eclipse navigates challenging waters
on its quest to deliver the ultimate luxury experience.
(Rock instrumental music)
♪
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(Rock instrumental music)
♪
Woman: So, we're crossing Arctic Circle tonight.
The ship is built for the polar region,
so we are built to cross the Arctic and Antarctic Circle.
So, in this case, we are heading north.
So, we're gonna end up all the way to Svalbard
and Greenland and hopefully Northwest Passage.
Teddy: With a Polar Class 6 ice rating,
Scenic Eclipse can safely handle icy waters.
But this particular trip may not be much of a challenge.
According to latest ice charts,
the ice is really retracted up high over Svalbard.
So, we might get some glacier ice
around Svalbard but not much.
Teddy: We continue north,
crossing open waters, and by morning...
Crossed the Arctic Circle. Wow.
Now, look, we're in sight. It's beautiful.
Dmitrij: And it is beautiful.
Teddy: We crossed into the Arctic at exactly 2:33 AM.
This is the first time they've had this ship in this area,
so there's a lot going on.
The bridge team cautiously navigates the Arctic,
arriving at the Lofoten Islands with ease.
(Whirring)
It's exactly where Chef Tom wants to be
for a very special shopping trip that can only happen by air.
(Whirring)
Tom: Let's go to the coast somewhere,
because it's one of the best coasts in the world at the--
Just the perfect mix between current and temperature
for doing much more than fishing.
Ah, look at this. There's some really good-looking seaweed.
You actually can see from here. (Pilot chuckling)
Did you know there's more than a thousand
seaweed kinds out there?
Pilot: Really, more than a thousand? Yeah, it's all over the place.
Some of the best are more expensive than frog legs.
Pilot: Wow. Tom: Really, really craving.
Teddy: Tom's not just dropping in
to find delicious seaweed on his own;
he's meeting two specialists to guide him to the good stuff.
Tom: They're providing Michelin restaurants
all around the world with the seaweed.
And these two ladies are crazy,
and I'm hoping to find them today here.
Yoo-hoo!
Teddy: Fortunately, their wetsuits gave them away.
Let's go, let's go, let's go.
Woman: Let's show you, yeah.
We're ready to go.
Tom: Whoo!
So, it's a little bit slippery, heh.
A little red algae. And we taste.
Tell me what you think?
Wow. It literally tastes like truffle.
Woman: It's also the most expensive because we have to
pick it like berries and dry it.
It becomes-- You know, it's really light.
I can't get over it. It actually tastes like truffle.
Angelita: Yeah, it does. Tom: It's shocking. It's amazing.
Angelita: It's actually the most nutritious-dense
plant on the planet.
It is a sustainable and climate-friendly food product.
My head is already rotating.
It's full of ideas what I want to do with that,
and I cannot wait to come back to the kitchen and play with it.
I can't recall the last time a chef put on a dive suit
to go prepare my dinner, but I am here for it.
Isn't that wild? Yeah.
But before I try that one-of-a-kind creation
with the best seaweed in the world,
I want to tell you about a really unbelievable
dining experience I had in Japan
on the Seven Stars cruise train.
I heard there's a really long waitlist for that train.
Yeah, it takes a long time to even get the opportunity
to buy a ticket, which is pretty mind-blowing.
And something that really stood out to me
on this train was the food.
It's this fantastic traditional Japanese cuisine,
prepared with local ingredients by Michelin-trained chefs.
(Atmospheric instrumental music)
Kyushu, Japan's third largest island,
the setting for one of the most
sought-after train rides in the world.
(Dynamic instrumental music)
Hello. Konnichi wa.
I've come here to embark on an extraordinarily posh
four-day rail journey.
(Gentle music)
It takes years to get one of only 30 spots
aboard this incredible train.
Good morning, Teddy. Ah, Konnichi wa. Hello.
Konnichi wa. How are you?
I have to punch on this ticket.
This is the golden ticket.
Teddy: A ticket so exclusive,
passengers have to enter a lottery
just to get on to the waitlist.
The demand for the train is about 10 times greater
than its capacity.
Let's get rolling.
To pull off an unparalleled rail adventure...
(Clattering)
there's three times more staff than passengers for every trip.
(Dramatic instrumental music)
Oh, here it is. Wow.
It's beautiful.
Launched in 2013, Seven Stars cost a whopping 3 billion yen,
or more than 20 million US dollars.
It's one of a kind, with no replacement carriages.
♪
In the dining car, head chef Takuo Yamanaka starts us off
on our Seven Star of culinary experience.
(Text on screen)
♪
To minimize the risk of injury on a moving train,
Yamanaka prepares well in advance of departure.
(Text on screen)
♪
I don't want to talk with my mouth full.
That is the single best piece of sushi I have ever had.
Everyone aboard feels the same way, and lucky for us,
more high-end chefs board the train
throughout the four day journey.
(Speaking other language)
It looks really cool. (Speaking Japanese)
♪
(Text on screen)
♪
So this is not your typical bento here.
This is next level, right?
This is like a work of art, to be honest with you.
(Text on screen)
(Applause)
♪
(Speaking other language)
Man: That's really good.
Hmm! Very good.
(Text on screen)
Mm!
(Speaking other language)
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another guest chef prepares us a mouth-watering dinner.
♪
(Speaking other language)
Thank you.
(Speaking other language)
Thank you.
It looks delicious, and I've got to tell you,
the food on this train is absolutely five-star dining,
and the theme tonight is French cuisine.
♪
(Indistinct chatter)
♪
It actually tastes even better than it looks.
An unforgettable culinary journey
pairs perfectly with the lush landscapes
along one of the most luxurious train rides in the world.
After the break, the breathtaking Norwegian fjords
by helicopter,
and we finally get the dive, or no dive,
for excited guests on Scenic Eclipse.
(Driving rock music)
♪
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♪
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It's true, and I've been saving up my travel budget
for two or three years now, so I am ready to splurge.
Or you can just, you know, wait til Season 2.
Ah, that's a better idea.
Well played!
All right, now we're going return to Scenic Eclipse
where guests may finally get to experience
some of the not-to-be-missed excursions throughout Norway.
And the seaweed!
I want to see you try the seaweed!
Yeah, and, sneak peek, it was good.
♪
Scenic Eclipse continues its exploration
of the stunning Lofoten Islands.
♪
With today's picture-perfect weather
the discovery team launches into action.
♪
The helicopter team gives guests a bird's eye view.
There's nothing I've done before like this.
Teddy: Passengers dive for treasure aboard Scenic Neptune.
Now I'm extremely excited.
I can't wait.
♪
Teddy: This sub is bursting with excited guests,
turned explorers.
♪
Meanwhile, back aboard Scenic Eclipse...
(Indistinct yelling)
...its award-winning chefs reveal
the mouth-watering ingredient of the day.
Tom: But it's all about seaweed tonight, yeah.
It's just an amazing dish.
It becomes creamy. The seaweed comes together.
The bacon gives some salty flavour to it.
I'm sure they're going to love it.
Shall we run it, guys?
(Speaking other language)
♪
So, ladies and gentlemen,
our first dish, it's seared scallops.
Please enjoy.
Man: Thank you.
Teddy: Thank you very much.
It's incredible.
Oh, what do you think of the seaweed?
It adds something nice to it, doesn't it? Yeah.
Mm! Like a saltiness.
Yeah.
Like a brine, briny-- It's delicious.
Teddy: The scenic kitchen reveals humble seaweed's
hidden identity: a luxurious delicacy.
Truffle seaweed risotto. Oh, yeah!
And it tastes like truffle. It's crazy, huh?
Like fresh truffle, very like truffle.
(Unclear) this other one's going to get cold, uh.
We have to plate it fast.
Our next course is a truffle seaweed risotto.
Lots of seaweed, like a sea-lettuce combo nori,
and finished with dry sea lettuce on top,
just for the texture, and a little bit of truffle oil.
Please enjoy.
Oh, thank you very much.
Man: I've never be so excited about seaweed before!
♪
It never really crossed my mind to put these flavours together.
Teddy: It works, though.
Yeah, it's amazing.
Just like (Unclear) in your mouth, isn't it?
We just keep thinking about it.
It's beautiful. Mm!
Very good. Delicious.
What a whirl!
Teddy: What a whirl!
All: What a whirl!
Yeah!
♪
Teddy: As we savour every bite,
and every stunning view,
above and underwater...
The bottom is another 80 metres below.
♪
Teddy: ...Captain Griffiths sails on towards the North Pole
for more discovery and more magical moments aboard...
Man: That's incredible.
Woman: Truly amazing.
Teddy: ...Scenic Eclipse.
(Dynamic instrumental music)
♪
(Musical flourish)