Scenic Crystal Review

4.5 / 5.0
88 reviews

One of Our Best Holidays Ever

Review for Europe River Cruise on Scenic Crystal
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kendrick
First Time Cruiser • Age 70s

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Sail Date: May 2016

First thing you need to do prior to taking a Scenic cruise, if my first experience is typical and I think it is, try to lose some weight. Failing that and regardless how successful, bring clothes that will adapt to a weight increase. In the two weeks I spent on Scenic Crystal going from Amsterdam to Budapest 27 April to 11 May 2016 I managed to gain almost a stone (sounds less that way). Even my wife who is much more judicious in her eating and drinking gained. So be forewarned; the food is 24 hours and excellent. The liquor offerings are top shelf or just about anything you would want. A Scenic repeat couple told us they “go into training” prior to a Scenic cruise.

When you first board your ‘space ship’ as Scenic likes to call their custom designed boats, you notice how friendly all the staff and crew are to you. They are obviously trained to act this way and it is nice. It lasts the whole time and must get tiring for them, but they keep it up. More about the staff later.

Our cabin (port side, diamond deck) was a standard balcony and had a nice and spacious feeling considering the actual space (19sqm/205sqft). A nice amount of storage and room to store your luggage under the queen size bed. Our shower was actually full-sized, not the corner one pictured in the published deck plan. There is one category below this cabin and four above and the advice I got from this thread was accurate; this is the best choice unless you are willing to splurge on one of the Royal Suites. Your only other decision is which deck, as the upper Diamond Deck includes a higher degree of butler services and an invitation to special wine tasting dinner. The uniquely designed ‘Sun Lounge’ balcony with full width window that could be lowered to half height was nice, but we found that we actually didn’t use it too much. That the chairs weren’t too comfortable would be one reason, but the action and fun was going on in the public areas where all the food and drink was flowing.

Cabin Review

Cabin Balcony Suite

Our cabin (port side, diamond deck) was a standard balcony and had a nice and spacious feeling considering the actual space (19sqm/205sqft). A nice amount of storage and room to store your luggage under the queen size bed. Our shower was actually full-sized, not the corner one pictured in the published deck plan. There is one category below this cabin and four above and the advice I got from this thread was accurate; this is the best choice unless you are willing to splurge on one of the Royal Suites. Your only other decision is which deck, as the upper Diamond Deck includes a higher degree of butler services and an invitation to special wine tasting dinner. The uniquely designed ‘Sun Lounge’ balcony with full width window that could be lowered to half height was nice, but we found that we actually didn’t use it too much. That the chairs weren’t too comfortable would be one reason, but the action and fun was going on in the public areas where all the food and drink was flowing.

I’ll mention a relatively minor consideration in choosing a cabin; port or starboard side. This has nothing to do with the POSH myth, but how the boat moors along the way. As most daylight moorings are on the right your view is generally less obstructed going south on the port side, the higher the deck, and the farther aft your cabin is located. Although I can’t personally verify, then starboard going north as I would think the same moorings would be used but on the left. Regardless, Scenic rarely moors beside another cruise ship forcing you to look into someone’s cabin. Unlike what we saw Viking doing with multiple Viking ships. The only time we saw another Scenic ship (Jewel) was when it passed going the opposite direction.

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