Kerri-Anne Kennerley is Australian entertainment royalty. She’s been in the spotlight for more than 50 years as a television presenter, radio host, actor and singer. And in her downtime, you might find her on a Scenic ultra-luxury cruise. She’s currently preparing for her third sailing on Scenic Eclipse II, during the inaugural Kimberley season in 2024. Read on to learn why she loves cruising on our ultra-luxury Discovery Yachts, why Scenic is perfect for solo travellers and why the Kimberley should be in your travel plans for next year.
Kerri-Anne was one of just 228 guests on board Scenic Eclipse II’s christening voyage in June 2023, sailing from Lisbon to Barcelona. As soon as she set foot on the Discovery Yacht, she knew it was something special. “The suites are magnificent, and you've got everything within your space,” she says. “They've got binoculars sitting there, so you don't have to remember to take yours with you. You've got your butler who is always happy to organise anything or get something for you if you need it. Everything's catered for.” She made time to soak up every indulgence on board. “In terms of dining, they're all fabulous.” The Chef’s Table was a particular favourite. “The experience and the beauty of this meal. You don't actually want to eat the degustation because everything's so beautifully presented.” Night Market @ Koko’s was also a highlight. “There's only eight people in a sitting and it's all literally cooked in front of you. It's just like an Asian food market, elevated to an ultra-luxury experience.”
LEFT: Night Market @ Koko’s
“The spa's pretty fabulous as well,” Kerri-Anne says. “They've got these great saunas, two different kinds, and the infrared chair, which I used almost every day. I would kick up and down in the heated pool for half an hour, because I love water, then sit in the infrared chair and sometimes get a massage. That's complete relaxation.”
There was also time to make connections with like-minded cruisers – including Scenic Eclipse II’s godmother, Dr Kathy Sullivan. “She was so personable, so delightful, so smart. An amazing woman who is an oceanographer, an astronaut and a geologist. She speaks fluent Norwegian! I couldn't think of a better representative for Scenic Eclipse II, because she could probably have driven that ship herself!”
RIGHT: Senses Spa - KLAFS infrared sauna, Scenic Eclipse II
Travelling solo on Scenic Eclipse
Having also sailed with her friends on Scenic Eclipse, Kerri-Anne recognises that the Discovery Yacht makes the perfect escape for solo travellers – whether really travelling alone or with some girlfriends. “I think women are far more inclined to travel alone than men are at my age. They want to go somewhere exciting, they want to be safe and they want their environment to be fabulous,” Kerri-Anne says. “Scenic Eclipse ticks all those boxes.”
Safety is a key concern for many travellers, especially if you’re a party of one. “There isn't any question that being on a ship is one of the safest ways to travel,” she says. “Scenic Eclipse I and II are state-of-the-art. At this point in time, they are the best cruising experience in the world. They are also small enough that you can get on that ship as a single person and feel very comfortable.”
LEFT: Kerri-Anne Kennerley
Arctic discoveries
After her spectacular first journey in the Mediterranean, Kerri-Anne was eager for something a little more adventurous. “In July, I spent two fabulous weeks on Scenic Eclipse II going from Bergen up to the Arctic Circle,” she says. “The scenery is some of the most exquisite in the world and spending two weeks on the ship gave a real insight into how it works. You can really relax because not every day is a full excursion day. I thoroughly enjoyed that.”
From kayaking in the Arctic Circle to chasing waterfalls in the Norwegian Fjords and playing golf on the Lofoten Islands, each day was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. “It was just magnificent,” says Kerri-Anne. “There are so many waterfalls that were just truly amazing. In the fjords, it’s stunning to think that all the towering cliffs are as deep as they are high. There are walking tours in every destination. You get on the Zodiac and the guides are fabulous, teaching you so much about the culture and the history. And when you get up into the Arctic Circle, you actually get into icebreaking territory.”
RIGHT: Kerri-Anne with friends in the Arctic
She was also impressed with the commitment to safety and environmental protection standards, an essential part of cruising to these pristine destinations. “For example, when visiting the walrus colonies, you walk through disinfectant before you get on the Zodiac,” she explains. “The Discovery Team have already, very early that morning, set out a path for everybody to walk. You can't just go everywhere risking contaminating the area.”
LEFT: Zodiac excursion, Arctic & Fjords
The journey of a lifetime in the Kimberley awaits
Kerri-Anne is excited to be a guest on board our inaugural Kimberley season in 2024.
Q: What are you most excited about for your upcoming Kimberley voyage?
A: I'm excited to be getting back on board Scenic Eclipse II because I've done it before and I know how luxurious it is. I’m really excited to see this magnificent coastline as I've never been to the Kimberley and it’s one of the most staggeringly beautiful places in the world. And I know Scenic has the Zodiacs, so we're going to be able to get into these places other people can't.
Q: How do you feel Scenic Eclipse will elevate this exploration for you?
A: Oh, I'm definitely into ultra-luxury. Especially as Scenic Eclipse II takes it to the next level. To me personally, add to the beautiful experience of the ruggedness, the remoteness of these places that, still to this very day, only a handful of people have ever seen. I'm spoiled and I want to stay spoiled, so I want to enjoy it in luxurious surrounds but then get in that Zodiac and explore.
Q: Are you looking forward to the helicopter excursions?
I absolutely, without question, will be joining some of these excursions taking you up for a bird's eye view of these magnificent locations. This whole helicopter program is special because no other ship has this many helicopter experiences. With my job and previous life, I did a lot of helicopter flights and it's always fabulous, but to be able to do it in the Kimberley and land in remote places you can't get to any other way is going to be sensational. I would especially love to do the Willie Creek pearl farm visit. I can't wait.
Read more about our helicopter program in the Kimberley here
Q: How do you like to spend your time on board?
A: I’ll be signing up for whatever new thing is on the agenda. Each day you sail into this new archipelago or to this remote area, and there will be Zodiac expeditions or the helicopter. I also love all the theatre presentations and discussions. The Discovery Team are pretty special, because they’re all very well-qualified people with really different areas of expertise. So I’m looking forward to going into their magnificent theatre and learning about what we’re about to see the next day.
Q: Why do you think the Kimberley voyage should be on every traveller's wish list?
A: It's been on my bucket list for at least 15 or 20 years, but because of my workload I was never able to do it. I've seen the pictures of friends who visited it, I know the stunning beauty and rugged nature, but I also know the pictures don’t do it justice. So, I'm really looking forward to it because it's something you can't describe to people. I think it’s like being in the Norwegian fjords; nothing can replace seeing it in person.
Q: Do you have any advice for travellers considering a trip to the Kimberley, whether solo or with friends and family?
A: I think you've just got to go with an open mind, whoever you’re travelling with. Have a look at what the journey is about and what you really want to see. Make sure you don't miss and experience everything you possibly can.
Q: As a seasoned globetrotter, do you have any packing tips to share?
A: I always take a small paperback novel. I don't like reading off devices and I never take my big computer. I've also ditched the large suitcases. I go with two medium ones instead. So much easier to handle and organise what I need at each step of the trip.
