We’d never been to France and a wine cruise sounded like it would be fun. We were traveling with friends and met new ones. The staff is outstanding! Wonderful attention to even the smallest details. We would especially like to thank our butler Armin(and Victor). Bart in the dining room and Martina and Patrice in the lounge were always smiling and very attentive. We had lovely massages as well. On the down side, excursions were early in the AM. Wine or foie gras at 10 or so in the AM were tough. Our last cruise we had different entertainment every night. Although our piano player was nice, it was all the same until the last 2 nights when they brought in people from Bordeaux. We didn’t enjoy the L’Amore dinner. The duck was very chewy. The way Scenic words the culinary class, it looks like you can do one every day, not that we could only do 1...if you signed up in time. Read Less

We are wine lovers and had heard about this from friends. Scenic puts the L in Luxury! Every detail is taken care of and and every request is met as part of the service. Staff are amazing, the ship is beautiful, and the activities are top notch! The dining is 5 star, with excellent wine pairings to accompany the meal selections. It really is all inclusive — you would be hard pressed to include additional charges, unless at the spa, massage therapy or hair salon. The tour guides that accompany the excursions are extremely knowledgeable and personable. The variety of excursions is diverse enough to meet the interests of all travellers, and allow for accommodation for passengers with mobility issues. For example, the bike tours offered always offer a friends of cyclists bus option. The cabins are very well appointed, the beds are heavenly, the pillow menu ensures all have a great sleep. We will definitely be repeat clients. Read Less

This was my first river cruise and won’t be my last. Had a wonderful experience on the Scenic Crystal. Wonderful staff, great excursions, food was outstanding. We came with a group of 18. Couldn’t have been a better way to travel with this many people. We had 160 people on our boat but never felt crowded. Plenty of space to accommodate our group.They had such a nice variety of excursions. Always something for all interests. The staff saw to our every need. They all seemed to work together as a team . The food was very good. Loved that we had 2 nights with different dining experience’s outside of the normal dining room. Nice variety of entertainment . Also very happy with the way they timed everything. Never felt rushed or over scheduled but yet we saw and did so much. Very well organized and run operation. Loved that everything was included. No upgrades required. Thank You Scenic Crystal for a wonderful first River Cruise. Read Less

I have always wanted to try a river cruise because I have always travelled on ocean cruises. I liked the smaller amount of people, the ports were exquisite, you could see land on both sides of the ship always, no rocking of the boat, the excursions were good except for one where we could not understand our guide. The cons were there was not a lot of choice as far as food, the rooms are small with some issues of smelling the drain in the shower. There was also issues with the woman’s bathroom on one of the floors. Another common thing is changing ships because the water level being low. Talking to the crew this happens almost every time and in that case you are shuttled to the next ship or to your next excursion but that usually is hours away. I’m glad I did it but will think hard about doing it again. Read Less

This is a lovely boat with very friendly staff. We enjoyed the trip and especially loved Bordeaux. We were involved in a bus accident that was very upsetting. No one was badly injured but all were very emotionally upset. The accident was not caused by Scenic but I felt there should have been some kind of counselling made available to the group of us involved in the accident. Speaking to others that were involved many felt the same way. It was said to be “unfortunate “ by the director but was then business as usual. Some post trauma talking was needed. The food was very good and the staff always generous with their wine pouring. They were quick to respond to any needs and the ship was always being cleaned. The main dining hall is large and there was no issue with getting a table ever. Large groups sat together. On the whole a good trip but thankful to be alive!! Read Less

Chose this cruise because the ship went to Normandy, and we had never been to Paris. The ships was fairly new, and was excellent in every way. All inclusive, so never paid for anything else but a little laundry, cruise director Valerie, was exceptional. Food and beverage was outstanding. I think you would be hard pressed to find a better cruise line than scenic. I would highly recommend this cruise line. Shore excursions were handled by experienced professionals who were very well versed on subject matter. Ship could have had a few more onboard activity’s. Average age of travelers was about 75. All of the employees were helpful and courteous. We have cruised on larger ships before, but never again. Smaller river cruise is better, we were double parked many times with other ships, and very few were as nice as scenic. Tauck was the only other one that looked as nice, but the ship was older. Read Less

We chose this cruise as it was something my elderly mother and father had always wanted to do. My father passed away before they had the chance to go so we did a mother daughter trip. The ship was beautiful and the staff were incredible with their service no matter what role they had on the boat. The food was amazing - as was the wine selections it was truly a wonderful experience and a wonderful way to see the Seine and its rich history. The organised trips were good although my only feedback on these were some were very arduous for any one really elderly or with mobility impairments. Although in saying this the cruise director was very good at describing each tour option the evening before. This was a lovely experience and total "all inclusive" so the price covered everything except the hairdresser or the massage, no tipping required. We could not really fault this except the weather could have been a little kinder :-) Read Less

We were a little concerned we might find a river cruise a little 'small' compared to ocean cruising but we should not have been concerned. It was a simply amazing experience - first class scenery, experiences, staff, food and company. The excursions were wonderful - the Golden City of Salamanca, a wonderful concert in a church in Porto, the most amazing scenery. There was the chance to do more strenuous excursions if you wanted to. The staff and the food were the best we have ever experienced on board any ship and all staff from the Captain down were very interactive and funny and nothing was ever too much for any of them. Of course the cabins are smaller - otherwise we would not fit in the five locks up the Douro river! However, they were luxurious and the beds very comfortable. The highlight of the trip for me was the photography. This was a cruise in partnership with National Geographic and not only did we have an expert lecturer Tim Weed, but also a photographer Gianluca Colla. He was patient, very funny, interactive and very tolerant of stupid questions. The staff would join in - whether it was the head chef dancing at the lunchtime barbecue or the bar staff in the evening. The butlers did everything and were completely down to earth. Read Less

Travel agent recommended. Everything was wonderful. We enjoyed the room very much except for the septic odour that was prevalent on a number of occasions and the lighting, which was not very good, especially for the application of make-up. The cleaning staff did an excellent job of taking care of any requests we had and tried on a number of occasions to get rid of the door, with some success but it did not last long. The odour did make it difficult to sit on the balcony for any length of time. The staff was absolutely wonderful, extremely helpful and very personable. They made the trip as wonderful as it was. I would recommend Scenic to my friends based on the excellent service the staff provided. The food was excellent and the selection of shore excursions gave everyone an opportunity to see many various parts of the country. Great job again by the crew. 6 stars out of 5********. Read Less

I had done the Rhine River Cruise before and thoroughly enjoyed it. This one was equally as brilliant but maybe a little less “hectic”. A joy from beginning to end. The staff were so friendly, welcoming and professional. The food was exceptional. The scenery and tours were all first class, five star all the way! Everything was so well organised that you knew every day exactly what time to expect everything to happen. The executive chef, captain, crew, manager, cruise director bar attendants, restaurant, waiters and waitresses were all very professional and friendly. Every excursion we went on was extremely interesting and the guides were very interesting and friendly. I would not hesitate in recommending this cruise to anyone. The only thing I would advise is to make sure you are reasonably fit because even the tours said to be easy walking etc could be very tiring. Do it now! Read Less

Chose this cruise because it included everything. We feel we are now spoiled for any other company.Low water levels meant we couldn't cruise between Regensburg and Passau so we were stuck in Passau for a few days. Scenic handled it brilliantly and bussed those who wanted to see Nuremberg .We chose to do the extra trip to Passau which is beautiful. The ship was very modern and stable .Didn't feel any movement . Only heard noise going through the locks . Excellent showers in the cabins,wonderful beds. I thought my bed at home was soft until last night when the mattress felt hard in comparison. The food and wine plentiful. I put on six pounds in weight. Brilliant pianist,Mark, every night.. The classical concert at the Palace Liechtenstein in Vienna is memorable. Hungarian dancers on our last night. Great fun. Loved the great mix of people on board everyone was so friendly. I have left the best to last. The marvellous crew. They couldn't do enough for you. Always smiling,always friendly. We have been cruising many years,Twenty five in all, mostly ocean cruises and all the different companies . This was our first with Scenic .Hubby has now stated any future ones will be with Scenic. Read Less

Scenic booking agents were attentive. We arrived in Amsterdam two days prior to boarding the Scenic Opal. We would recommend doing this as Amsterdam is a beautiful city with much to offer. We chose Scenic because it was all inclusive. The vessel was clean. The staff were very attentive. The food good. The free choice shore excursions, almost three a day to choose from, were well planned and organized. Tour groups were broken down into groups of no more than 20 people. The Scenic travel app on our cell phones were tethered to our guides speaker system, so we could hear what they had to say without straining. If we could change anything about the tours, perhaps a little more free time in each town would have been nice. On board the vessel, as it cruised down the Rhine, we could also use the Scenic app to inform us what towns, villages and castles we were passing. I recommend Scenic. Read Less

Great service from housekeeping to the cruise director and captain. Waiters were top-notch and worked extremely hard. Food was very good as were all the drinks. Scenic also hosted a private concert for the passengers at a palace in Rastaat. The Tailormade App made sailing really interesting, particularly down the Rhine Gorge. We sat on top, enjoying the sun and the incredible scenery while the app told us details about the castles and towns we passed. Waiters went up and down the stairs bringing drinks and you barely had time to finish one before they were asking if you needed another. We used the laundry service, placing our bag of laundry on the bed before leaving for a morning excursion. We got the laundry back expertly folded before dinner that night. If I had one complaint it is that the ship seemed to dock a long way from wherever the excursions were resulting in bus rides. This shortened our stays on shore. All in all, I recommend Scenic 100%. Read Less

Our friends chose this cruise and asked us to join them. We did this exact same cruise with Scenic 2 years ago. The cruise is amazing starting on the Danube and finishing on the Rhine. The scenery is spectacular. It's all inclusive. All excursions are exceptional. Most of the buses are owned by Scenic are very clean with professional drivers. We thought the groups on the free choice tours were rather large and could be smaller. The Scenic app loaded on your phone was used by all of the guides. The system needs some serious fine tuning as it was problematic on most of the tours. Several choices were available at each stop with three Scenic Exclusive Enrich experiences that were exceptional. One at Vienna Palais Liechtenstein, one at Passau/Salzburg Sound of Music and one at Marksburg Castle. Breakfast and lunch are buffets. Dinners are fine dining or room service is available. Service is excellent and the food is very good. Red or white wine was served with every lunch and dinner. Daily wine selections are just okay, nothing exceptional. Most passengers were okay with the wine that was offered. The cruise director was excellent with a great sense of humour. The complimentary Wi-Fi was not very good even when there was apparently strong signal strength. It was so bad that the Scenic cruise surveys could not be completed on board at Amsterdam. Scenic blames the bad Wi-Fi on Europe. Here are the negatives. We started on the Jade and had to switch to the Jasper at Regensburg. The river was too low due to dry conditions. It's the nature of the beast so take it in stride. When you book a year in advance it is impossible to forecast river water levels. On our first cruise we were fortunate and stayed on the same boat from beginning to end. On this occasion it was an 8 hour bus ride from Passau to Regensberg. There was a minimal effect on our schedule. Here is the biggest concern. Passenger illness on the ship. There will always be ill passengers on every cruise typically passing some type of flu virus on to most of the passengers. Five days in to the cruise I became very ill. I did everything to prevent contamination of other passengers. All passengers are in confined spaces therefore good hygiene practices especially by sick passengers are imperative. Controls are never enforced by the ship and are ineffective resulting in most of the passengers getting sick near the end of the cruise as many are coughing out of control. Some our bedridden. On the last same cruise many people were bedridden for days. My wife and I were both very sick on the last cruise and I was very sick on this cruise. Let's just say there is little enjoyment when you are sick on your long awaited lifetime cruise experience. We are of the opinion that the germs are transferred during the buffets and by passengers coughing openly all over the ship. It's really sad to be on a trip of your lifetime and get sick once but twice is too much especially on the same Cruise Line! You need to decide is the risk of illness worth booking the cruise. For my wife and I we are done with cruising. I can stay home and get sick for free. I suggest that passenger illness will eventually bring the cruise industry down as most cruise lines seem oblivious to finding solutions. The ball is now squarely in their court! Read Less

Travel Agent, presentation, word of mouth led us to this choice. Food choices and quality of food reputation were factors.. All inclusive pricing which is a real bonus. No “nickel and diming”. Staff very approachable, friendly, and professional. Cruise Director was fantastic. We took the Budapest-Amsterdam cruise and really appreciated the options. Suggest one varies outings... you see one gold filled cathedral you’re... Same for castles. Do choose the concert and castle dinner experiences; you won’t regret it!!! We also experienced quality entertainment from professionals who excelled! Would definitely travel with Scenic Hints: Landry Service is worth while. First and last dinners were semi-dress up but casual otherwise. Our room was on the lower deck and was small, so might consider an upgrade at another time. But you only sleep there. We had to switch vessels once due to low water. Staff and Cruise Director handled it well. Passengers were a mix of Australian, Canadian and British. We made many friends as a result. Our room was very clean and studiously clean thereafter. Bar and wait staff were/are friendly and efficient. Read Less

The experience was first class.when there was an issue the team made it disappear as best the could, like low water level. The service was second to none from the time we first met the team until the end. Food was fantastic and wine options great. The crew people made the difference and we have already booked our second cruise. The rooms were very good and well thought out as for the best usage of the space. The ship facilities were all there, pool, spa, gym, etc. Nightly entertainment was great with special presentations on some occasions. All the excursion options were good and well planned out. Again, the service of sf the boat was second to none and the cruise director JJ was excellent. The excursions ere great and options very well presented each and every day. The dining options ere good and the food falntastic. Recommend this to anyone. Read Less

This was our first time on a Scenic Cruise. We chose this cruise (Breathtaking Bordeaux) because it had many wine-related excursions and destinations. Scenic was recommended by travel agent, even though she had never sent a client on Scenic previously. The Scenic Diamond ship was lovely and the cruise did not disappoint! We loved the staff and crew. Cruise director was excellent. Nice mix of free time and excursions. Food and wine were very good. (And plentiful!) Bus drivers and guides all very skilled and knowledgeable. Service was excellent and excursions were great. We booked a balcony suite and it was nice to have the extra bit of space, and a place to relax with the view. Cabin was kept absolutely spotless. Scenic’s all-inclusive model is fantastic. Even tipping is included, which is great. Highly recommend and would definitely travel with Scenic again. They have some wonderful itineraries to choose from. Read Less

We chose this cruise because we were going to explore the wine regions of Bordeaux and area. We were also interested in the culinary classes. We were also very interested in the bike tours. We began the trip in Paris. I highly recommend that you start the tour by spending a few extra days in Paris. There is so much to do and see and one day is far from enough time. We rode the train to Bordeaux. The transition went very smoothly because the Scenic team was very organized. We were welcome onto the ship by the friendly and courteous staff. I felt the room was a little smaller (not much) than a previous cruise I had taken, however I was not too concerned because we spent very little time in our room. The rooms (and ship) were always very clean. There was always a variety of entertainment in the evenings ranging from jazz, music trivia and disco nights. The port and shore excursions were excellent. We were able to a visit a variety of chateaus, try a variety of wines from different farms. The excursion to Remy Martin was very enjoyable. The bike tours through the vineyards were breathtaking. The one area I feel was a little disappointing was the culinary cuisine class. I thought it would be hands on participation and it wasn’t. However, I believe that the space limitation wouldn’t allow for that. It still was an enjoyable experience. Finally, I can’t express enough how friendly and courteous the staff were, often going above and beyond to make our stay pleasurable. I definitely feel that I would most likely enjoy a scenic tour in the near future but I would like to explore another area of the world. Read Less

This cruise was highly recommended by several friends who had done many scenic and other cruises. Obviously scenic came out on top and this was the cruise we chose - with absolutely no regrets. The fact that we had to change ships because of low water levels only added to the adventure. The next down side was the comparison of ships. The Jasper was every bit as luxurious as anticipated, but the Jade was older, a little more tired and our wardrobes not as friendly! ( in need of some maintenance!) but overall it was the people on board who made it. The crew on the Jasper spoilt us to the extent that the crew on the Jade needed a day or so to catch up - and they did. Our cruise director Szylvia was an exceptional bonus and an absolute gem. She made our trip the 5 star success it was. The organisation, communication and management of such a large group of people in a situation which was sometimes stressful was amazing. Most of us got sick (colds) and changing boats etc was all managed with smooth seamless efficiency. Szylvia made our trip. Thank you. The food was great and everything supplied in abundance. We are already planning our next cruise. Thank you again. Read Less

Friends had been on this cruise & highly recommended it. Our whole experience was terrific. Our cabin was really comfortable, well-appointed & well serviced. We had lots of great options for shore excursions, most of which were both entertaining & educational, with many “Ah-hah” moments. All but one of our guides were well informed & entertaining. All through the cruise we had a terrific food & drinks service, with very good entertainment. We had to change ships due to low water levels, but our Cruise Director managed this beautifully. We had all the information we needed to make the transfer easily, with no fuss at all. Absolutely everything was taken care of for us, & any questions were either predicted or answered quickly. We had exceptional service from all the ship’s Staff, especially our wonderful Cruise Director. Throughout the cruise we had good access to WiFi for staying on touch with home as well as learning more about what we were seeing. The whole experience was terrific, & we’ve made some great new friends. Highly recommended. Read Less

This was an excellent cruise with superb accommodation, food and helpful and attentive crew. Our Panoramic suite was well fitted out. We could find no fault. Our butler provided extremely good service, nothing was too much trouble. Our fridge was kept well stocked but was little used as drinks were available at all times in the bar. The house manager, George(not the correct spelling), was excellent and most helpful. Every Scenic cruise is totally inclusive. Scenic provide a good choice of excursions at the various stops all well organised and enjoyable. There is very little in the way of entertainment you get on ocean going liners but that suits us. Due to low water levels Jasper could not complete the trip but the brilliant Sylvia, the cruise director, organised a smooth transfer of all guests via coach to the Jade further along the river and our trip continued and we missed nothing. This was most impressive. Well done Scenic! We have already booked our next trip with this company. One fault occurred before we set off when the transport provided to take us to the airport failed to turn up at 2am. After a long call to the providers more was promised but did not arrive. At 3.30am we had just left in our car when a taxi arrived. Not a good start and we have informed Scenic of the problem. Read Less

After searching for cruises we chose this Scenic European river cruise and also speaking with family and friends and we were not disappointed The service and food were.great and our tour director Sylvia was helpful organised and informative even calling us taxi’s when she was very busy We both would like to especially thank Sylvia for her help in details for daily activities We would like to suggest that there are face masks available as there was a virus going around and it may have helped stop the spread of infection We would definitely go on another river cruise to a different destination because we found the variety of activities , choices and food were so adaptable to our needs. There was a good range of age groups of passengers The scenic enrich experiences were truely delightful and we thoroughly enjoyed them as well as the excursions we attended We also liked that everything was included as it made the holiday easy although it was too easy to eat and drink what every your heart desired now need to diet when we are home Read Less

Our opportunity to sail on the christening voyage of the Scenic Eclipse from New York came as a last-minute opportunity due in part to the cancellation of earlier trips when the yacht's completion was delayed through shipyard issues. While our earlier cancellations were disappointing, Scenic and our travel agent always looked after us, refunded our payments promptly and made every effort to provide alternate travel options for us to consider. It was with some trepidation that we booked on the Scenic Eclipse so early in its sailing schedule, particularly given some of the early feedback we had seen. We needn't have been concerned. The quality of the vessel, the service of the staff, the impressive excursions and a most amazing selection of dining options all contributed to a most wondrous and memorable experience. it all started with the Christening ceremony in New York, a classy and intimate experience, appropriately reflecting the grace and charm of the yacht's godmother Dame Helen Mirren. Sailing quietly out of New York harbour that afternoon, past the Statue of Liberty was the start of an amazing two weeks that will be forever etched in our memory. The 12 days we spent on board the Scenic Eclipse were simply not enough to enjoy every amenity this outstanding vessel had to offer. Each meal provided us an opportunity for a different experience, from the exciting theatre of the Chef's Table, the fine dining experience of the French inspired Lumiere restaurant, the incredible taste of Asian at Kokos and so much more. With menus changing every 4 nights, the choices were simply amazing and when all you wanted was something casual for breakfast or lunch there was always the beautifully appointed Yacht Club or Azure. Each venue was tastily decorated reflecting its own particular theme, the artwork was beautiful, and each dining experience was supported perfectly by its own unique cutlery and crockery, a presentation that showed how well the entire experience had been thought through. The common areas of the yacht are spacious and luxuriously appointed with fine art, modern styling and best of all designed so that noise is minimal. One can engage in conversation without shouting and competing with neighbouring guests. Finally, I can hear what is being said without the bang and clatter normally found in the surroundings of other vessels. The major observation areas on Decks 5 and 10 easily accommodate the compliment of guests found on this luxury yacht and together with the spacious balconies available with all suites are a great way to enjoy those remarkable views as you sail across the globe. With all onboard presentations available in cabin through an amazing array of technology ,the theatre may seem unnecessary for some, but the luxury and comfort of your own gold class recliner is well worth being there in person as well. It must be remembered that this is a discovery yacht, an expedition cruise and not a floating entertainment cinema, but there is still quality background music, singing and entertainment provided in the lounge area and theatre, again without it overpowering normal conversation. The expedition team is well educated, with varied experience in all manner of topics, entirely consistent with our expectations of what such a voyage should deliver. The shore excursions are what we expected and more, a great balance between planned and unplanned excursions. It is not a River Cruise, or classic Ocean Cruise, this is a new category of travel, and with it a new standard is being developed. The helicopters, the most spacious we've ever been in, the submarine, an outstanding unique visit to the water world, the kayaks, the Zodiacs, all of these are just the start of our adventure and they deliver in the most amazing and adventurous way. Our onshore visit to Rose Blanche in Newfoundland, we believe, is an example of the future of what discovery yachting will continue to provide. This small village with a stunning landscape and friendly people is off the cruise ship tourist route due to its remoteness and inaccessibility. The Scenic Eclipse is the first vessel in the course of its normal itinerary to visit and with it a truly remarkable set of experiences greet us, the new discovery traveller. We reach the small harbour on our Zodiac, after leaving the Scenic Eclipse offshore and are greeted by the enthusiastic local community who walk with us to the community hall where they provide us with tea, food and entertainment before escorting us around their town. For us this is the essence of what discovery cruising is all about and we know that our time here in Rose Blanche will be the first of many similar amazing and unique opportunities on this wonderful vessel. On returning to the yacht, we retire briefly to our luxurious spacious cabin and prepare for another tasty lunch, looked after so well by the wonderful staff, before sailing south to our next port. We want for nothing on this adventure, bar maybe extra time to fully enjoy the abundant opportunities and features of this amazing discovery yacht. We will return next year for a longer cruise, to enjoy the luxury, hospitality, stunning landscapes and discovery adventures that Scenic Eclipse we know will provide us. This our first voyage on the world’s first six-star discovery yacht is everything and more than we had hoped for and we must thank Scenic and its staff for providing us with so many memories in our travel adventures. Well done - an exceptional experience. Read Less

We started sailing on the Scenic Ruby but due to low water changed to the Scenic Crystal. I didn’t realise there were water level issues and its a lesson for all to note that. We were lucky to have a scenic boat coming the other other way and passengers simply changed. We had an excellent cruise director Alex who managed the lot. The facilities were excellent on every level of accommodation, some complained about smash showers in the lower floors We were on for 15 days and that was my limit. The ruby had better service that the crystal but the Crystal was a better boat My lessons are -Pack light, most people didn’t dress up, and laundry was quick and reliable -Check out water levels before you travel and get insurance -See which boards have Alex as cruise director -DOnt feel obliged to go on every tour, it was exhausting Read Less

Our third time with Scenic Tours, one land tour and two river cruises. They have always been very well organised and the Rhone river cruise was no exception, with cheerful and highly professional staff, beginning with a warm welcome on board. The Free Choice excursions were well chosen with a good selection and everyone got their first choice. All were accompanied by authorised Tour and City guides who were both knowledgeable and entertaining. The food was of an exceptionally high standard with a large range to choose from for every meal, with snacks and drinks (alcohol, soft drinks, tea and coffee) available throughout the day. The staff were always available and nothing seemed too much trouble.The daily Port Talks by the Tour Director were informative and detailed; information on walking distances and number of stairs was especially helpful. Everywhere was kept spotlessly clean and the cabins were serviced twice a day by the friendly stewards. The very complicated disembarkation went like clockwork. Read Less