Why is a Scenic River Cruise so wonderful?
Scenic River cruising is an all-inclusive luxury experience, Scenic’s Star-Ships are modern, but elegant and comfortable, accommodating up to 163 guests.
We stayed in a deluxe balcony cabin onboard Scenic Amber that included butler service, mini bar, laundry, Wi-Fi and daily room service. All meals and drinks are included in your fare and the meals were outstanding.
The ship has a sundeck with deck chairs, vitality pool, onboard salon/spa, a salt therapy room and gym along with 24-hour guest services.
River cruising is a slow-paced relaxing way to explore all of the historical sights in Europe. The beauty of European River cruising is that the ship often docks right in the heart of town, making it convenient to walk or use the e-bikes onboard to explore independently in your free time.
Scenic include a shore excursion in each stop and the beauty of Scenic’s Freechoice is that you can choose a tour that suits your interests and level of fitness. A port information session is held each evening at pre-dinner drinks in the lounge which is the main meeting point for events and conversation.
Often some of the towns you visit may be smaller that you may not have otherwise discovered on your own, but throw in the larger cities of Amsterdam, Cologne, Vienna and Budapest and you have some great diversity on your journey.
The main dining room is Crystal dining and the menu changes daily. There are also 2 other dining options onboard. Portobellos is an Italian or French themed restaurant and each passenger will have a turn being invited to experience this. Table La Rive is a fine dining degustation menu for guests only staying on Diamond Deck or in Junior suites. There is always food available at the River Café in the main lounge all day also. You will never go hungry!
When visiting some of the towns, there was an emphasis on local cuisine and onboard entertainment, think German sausages, crackling pork and schnitzel and German men slapping, clapping and stomping in traditional costume when visiting Regensburg.
The scenery is stunning on the Jewels of Europe itinerary, showcasing castles on the hills and beautiful towns nestled along the riverbanks.
Another highlight of Scenic is their Enrichment program with unique highlights like a private Viennese classical concert in a beautiful palace.
I would not hesitate to recommend Scenic River cruises; the staff make the experience wonderful from the moment you step onboard.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions. I have also sailed in France from Lyon to Arles so can also help you with first hand knowledge on this product too.