This was our first Scenic river cruise, which was advertised as a “Christmas Wonderland”. There wasn’t any Christmas wonderment about it. The only decorations were a tree in the entrance, one in the lounge and 2 foam snowflakes on the windows in the lounge. In the dining room a small table decoration per table. That was it, no lights etc. We parked next to a few ships who were beautifully decorated, lights, Santa’s etc. When questioned staff replied that Scenic wanted christmas minimalist! Passengers went out and bought their own decorations including us to decorate their cabin and some made a point of taking them down to the table for lunch and dinner on Christmas Day. On Christmas Day the only Christmas food was a turkey at lunch as the meat option, all other food was as usual. It was the last trip of the season and the crew certainly let people know they didn’t want to be there. Some were rude, surly and forgot how to smile. The daily topping up the mini bar also slackened off towards the end with notes being left for staff requesting specific items. The food got boring, steak, fish and vegetarian every night. Not much imagination and they did start running out of stuff towards the end. But the worst was yet to come somebody began coughing in the lounge that spread like wildfire. By the weekend after Christmas half the boat was sick. By the time we got to Budapest a doctor was called to 3 people with one going off to hospital by ambulance. At no time did we hear an announcement regarding respiratory hygiene or to remind people to clean their hands. They did put extra hand sanitizer stations into the lounge but no accompanying notice. We would not recommend Scenic to anybody and will not be travelling with them again. Read Less

We have done previous Scenic River Cruises and loved them. We wanted to immerse ourselves in all things European Christmas with the luxury of scenic. However Scenic didn’t provide anything Christmas on this cruise. Lacking Christmas decoration, no special Christmas Eve dinner and no special Christmas Day festival. Very disappointing. This cruise was at the end of the season and Scenic Crystal was changed to the Scenic opal but they could have been better prepared. The linens, towels and pillows were worn out but it was the last cruise of the year. Then some of the staff had to leave before the end of the cruise due to visa issues but they were not replaced, so the last couple of days service was disrupted making waiting to be served at dinner unacceptably long but the staff did their best. The ship and staff were lovely but Mr and Mrs Scenic stole Christmas. Dining is ok. Not much variation but of a good standard and any dietary requirements are met if you request them Onboard activities for this cruise was limited unlike the peak season river cruise. Just remember at Christmas most of the shore towns are closed so there are a lot of sailing days I would still recommend a Scenic river cruise just not one at ChristmAs Read Less

We chose this cruise because 10 family members wanted to travel and this cruise let us bring our 14 and 17 year old family members. We all got to enjoy a river cruise. Aunts, Uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, and spouses. No one was left out. Thank you Scenic Amber! We believe in Family First!! And this river cruise did too!! We also liked the stops along the way. We liked the route it was going on. We enjoyed our travel agent, Michelle! We especially enjoyed the dates. We knew we wanted to go this time of year and experience the Christmas markets. It was a great experience. The food on the cruise was superb and at the destinations just as wonderful. The chef made the dinners according to the country and style. Excellent to say the least. We are beyond pleased with Scenic and all the care and respect they have shown us. Read Less

This was our first riverboat cruise. We had checked out some others cruises casually but couldn't get excited about any. We went to a presentation put on by Expedia Cruise in Courtenay, BC, regarding Scenic and the guy with the funny accent caught our excitement regarding the boat, the service onboard, and what we would see on the tour. We immediately started planning our cruise that we just got back from. I'm an old fart and my body shows it. The only part of the whole experience that was terrible had to do with the airlines and Amsterdam airport. I know you have to put up with the 9.5 hour flight from Vancouver, BC, to Amsterdam but I could hardly walk afterwards and it is actually kilometers between the international arrivals to the local carrier section. KLM nor the airport staff would assist me in getting transport over to the other side because I had not prebooked it. Coming back I prebooked assistance and that part went smoothly. Since I had already been up for approximately 30 hours, when we arrived in Prague, I immediately crashed (fell asleep on the lovely, soft bed) while me wife did the short orientation tour. My wife enjoyed Prague while I recuperated. I did go out once and enjoyed a little of the wonder of the city. I was a little concerned with everyone telling us to be careful of pickpockets! Breakfast buffet at our Marriott Hotel was excellent with lots of variety. Yumm! (I'm a foody addict) We got on the Scenic Amber in Nuremberg and I was impressed from the word go. The welcome seemed real and everyone was courteous and, for me, this is where the pleasureable adventure really began. I'm rambling a bit here so I'll try and condense the actual cruise.. I've been on big ship cruises before but not at the level of complete service as we got here. The things I especially like were: Cabin - the soft head and knee raising bed; the cozy balcony; the small fridge for cod drinks, replenished daily; Dining - exception meals with additional selections that you can order. They do cater to special food needs. For those of you that drink, there was a different red and white wine presented each day. You never had to worry about running out of wine, coffee, water. Room service always available; Onboard activities - were fun and relaxed.Richard (Otto?) was very personable and gave pertinent information on what was going on the next day or for that night. The cruise wouldn't have been as great without him. The evening lounge entertainment was fun to watch with local groups coming on board at each port; Ports and excursions - I commend the people that picked out the ports we visited, not too many and not too few. All the tour guides were not just informative but also very passionate about their city and country, nice to see and hear; Service - I have nothing to negatively say about the service. Everyone treated us with courtesy and as a person. We had our own butler who was ours 24/7 If we wanted. He actually complained to us that we weren't using him enough! I watch how staff interact with each other and all that I could see was friendly support and comradery between all levels of staff. They even all chipped in to take out the garbage! That's about all I have to say for now except that we didn't pay an additional penny for anything else except for gifts. So eat, drink as much as you want; go on the tours, see the concerts... all included! Read Less

Having done two previous cruises with Scenic and a Christmas market cruise with their sister company Emerald, I was really looking forward to this cruise. What a disappointment!! While I would consider another cruise with Scenic, I do not recommend their Rhine Christmas Market cruise. 1. No on-board Christmas/holiday ambiance. Meager decorations that included a couple of decorated trees and a few snowflake cutouts on the windows. No lights, no special food, no holiday music, special afternoon Christmas tea. 2. Poor entertainment. During the entire cruise during the day there were only two poorly presented talks by the cruise director. After the first long afternoon onboard with no activities or entertainment, I asked the cruise director about this lack. She seemed baffled by the question. I listed the daytimes activities on the Emerald Christmas Market cruise and she informed me that Scenic is a higher end cruise and they don't have activities or entertainment during the day so that "guests can enjoy the ship". There is a small gym and a salt room with three loungers. Other than that I guess you entertain yourself with chatting with other guests, looking out the window, napping, reading, using the internet or taking advantage of the open bar. Quoting the Daily Program, the evening entertainment consisted of: Two nights there was only "Live music with our on-board musician Enzo" (keyboard); Three nights of classical music One night "Norman and his guitar"; and a "Disco night". 3. Poor docking locations. While the docking locations may be determined by the harbor master, the locations can negatively impact the trip. Docking for Basel, Strasbourg and Heidelberg was in industrial areas where it was impossible to get off the ship to do anything on your own. Docking for Baden Baden was in a rural area with only a few houses nearby. Docking for Rudesheim was about 3/4 of mile from the town in a more rural area and we docked after dark. We walked past a couple of empty berths on our way into town where we made a loop through the small town. My Fitbit showed that the walk from the ship and back was 5,500 steps. Depending on your tour choice, there are bus rides of over an hour each way to get to the sights and Christmas markets. 4. There seemed to be a quite a few people on the cruise with mobility issues, and, at times, some people had difficulty with the amount of walking on the tours. For example, in Strasbourg, the walk back to the buses after the tour and free time, was about 1/2 mile. By the time the ship arrived in Heidelberg, better descriptions were given of the amount of walking required and the terrain. A "gentle walkers" group was added. 5. More time could have been spent in some towns. For morning visits, we were taken back to the ship by 13:00. In some places, it would have been nice to have the option for a later bus back to the ship even if we did miss lunch onboard. On the positive side: 1. Our lower level cabin was fine with comfortable beds, robes, nice toiletries, a stocked mini bar, nightly turn down with chocolates. Our cabin attendant was friendly and kept the cabin spotless. We made requests to the butler for the complimentary laundry service and to get a pair of shoes cleaned. These requests were promptly taken care of. 2. The food was good. 3. The local guides in the towns and cities we visited were all good. Read Less

We chose this cruise due to the Switzerland extension before hand and the great reviews of Scenic. The extension was amazing. We eventually got on the Scenic Opal in Basal and began our cruise down the Rhine. The ship was perfect. Very clean, modern, and welcoming. The cruise director (Andreea) was waiting to welcome us aboard and was always available to answer any question or solve any problem. We were escorted to our cabin by Milanka (Mila) the ship masseuse and fitness coach. The Hotel manager (Georgi) was very friendly and always checking to see if we were happy. The Captain of the ship was very approachable and always happy to answer any questions. He allowed any passenger to visit his wheelhouse at any time to see how the ship was operated. Our butler (Ratko) made sure we were always happy and cared for. The young lady that did our housekeeping (Timea) was outstanding. Our room was always perfectly clean and inviting. We had the Royal Panoramic Suite. It was fit for royalty. The size of the suite was very nice and the wrap around windows and large balcony was perfect to viewing the sites as we made our way down river. We slept like babies on the large king size bed and the large walk in shower was perfect for us. All the meals were exceptional. The thing that made the cruise stand out for us was the crew. From the Captain to the Hotel Manage, to the cruise director, to the lowest sailor on deck we never passed a crew member that did not say hello and ask if we were happy and could they do anything for us. We really hated for the cruise to end. Read Less

We've been on a Scenic river cruise before, but this one exceeded the last. Of course, with it being a Christmas Markets river cruise - that helped, but the staff on board just seemed to go the extra mile. Richard, the Tour Director was just incredible. He made everything seem like such an adventure - his descriptions of each stop and the optional excursions were just outstanding. He definitely needs to have his own TV travel show. The food on board was pretty good and they tried to fit the meals to the ports - had everything from brats & sauerkraut to Hungarian Langos. The wine parings were outstanding. We upgraded to a Jr. Suite this trip and definitely enjoyed the extra space. Wish we'd had more stops at smaller towns - they aren't as hectic and seem more genuine in their craft markets. Loved Melk and Durnstein - would love to visit both again. Vienna is just a bit too hectic but the Shonbrunn Palace was amazing and the upscale Christmas Market there was fantastic. Wish I'd bought more there instead of waiting for the famed Nurmberg Market - it was a bit disappointing in that everything seemed to be the same commercial items. Scenic goes above and beyond. Will continue to sail with them - especially if Richard is our Tour Director! Read Less

Very disappointed in this Christmas river cruise. Very disappointed in the ship. 2 Christmas trees and small table ornaments on the tables does not make a themed Christmas cruise. We saw other companies ships that had Christmas lights and decorated balconies on the top decks that looked amazing. Some of the markets we stopped at were only average and the one village and market that was amazing (from previous experience) we got in too late to see it. Maybe we could have had a Christmas dinner towards the end of "the Christmas cruise". Just a thought. The food onboard was very average and the breakfast buffet was usually cold. Didn't compare even to Evergreen which is the cheaper sister company. Scenic also seems to have forgotten their roots and appear to cater to a particular group instead of everyone equally. Having travelled on the rivers before with different companys this one was found to be lacking. Wouldn't travel with Scenic again. Save your money and go Evergreen or APT for luxury. Read Less

For the most part, I have good words and praise for the actual cruise ship staff. They could not fix or be held accountable for things beyond their control, chiefly the marketing of what this cruise was supposed to deliver. The cruise is billed as a Christmas market tour. But let’s put this promise to test. Day 2 involved a departure from AMS at 13.00, so what do you really see of Amsterdam Christmas markets? Essentially nothing. The main Christmas market does not yet open until mid December, plus the ship leaves mid day so you barely have time to either do the bus ride, spend maybe an hour and half “discovering” Volendam/ Edam, or take a one hour canal ride so you can be back on the ship in time for departure. Day 3. We didn’t arrive to Cologne until 13.00 but can’t disembark until well after 15.00. We are a good distance, at least 45 min walk, to the first Christmas markets by the cathedral. And these markets are not nearly the better ones truly worth seeing. The time is limited because of the need to get back on before 22.00 departure, but I will be generous and say that this opportunity represents the only decent opportunity to see a Christmas market without needing to strap on skates. By the way, cruising through the Rhine during the section loaded with castles sounds lovely until you understand that you will miss most of them due to the “surprise” that the sunset is about 16.00 hours. Must not be a well- known fact, that it gets dark, for the Scenic schedulers. So this part of the trip was not very interesting. Day 4 Kolblenz/ Cochem. I did not go to the Kolbenz, preferring not to spend the majority of my day on bus. I left the boat at Cochem, after the ship arrived, and had barely an hour and a half before needing to be back on the boat. So much for seeing anything. Day 5 Heidelberg – We probably had about 2 hours, by the time you subtract bus travel time, to see anything in this town. When we arrived, the Christmas markets did not open for at least another half hour. Plus, it is Sunday and if anyone in your company knows anything about Germany, then they will know that pretty much EVERYTHING is closed on a Sunday. So, we got to see a lot of closed stores. By the way, we were in the “slow walk” group and our tour guide just motors along at a speed not suitable for a slow walk group. Day 6: Skipped this one because again, it was not worth it. Didn’t fly half way around the world just to get stuffed in a tour bus and see nothing. The time allocated for Baden-Baden was very small, especially compared to the bus time. Day 7. Ironically, and by accident, I managed to get about 4 hours in Strasbourg. To the cruise director Alex’s credit, did organize 2 outbound shuttles and 2 return shuttles to a tour bus area within a 20 minute walk to the city center and the Christmas markets on the night between day 6 and 7. It was a very nice evening, even if organized on the fly, with many people from the ship taking advantage of the opportunity. What happened next was yet another failure by Scenic. This was supposed to be the official day in Strasbourg, the home of Christmas markets for Europe. Cruise director Alex explained that because traffic can be bad on the Rhine and some locks can cause delays up to 8 hours, the ship was going to relocate the night between day 6 and day 7. Last I checked, Scenic should know this and not be “surprised” by traffic on the Rhine. So, the results were brutal. By moving the ship, we got on the bus on day 7, spent just over an hour and a half being driven back to Strasbourg. During the drive, the guide said, “Oh, and if we get there before 11, we can go inside the Cathedral.” What time did we arrive? Just after 10. But where we were parked was a good 45 minute walk, if you are fit, to get to the cathedral, which is the center of the markets. The group my wife and I were walking with was chosen specifically as the “slow group” due to the age and mobility of many of the guests. Despite this designation, the guide kept walking too fast, leaving many of the group far behind. At one point, I hustled two blocks to find her, passing many people in our group. I caught up with her and said in French, English, and Spanish that she was going way, way too fast for her group. She said she will slow down, but by the time I got back to me wife, the guide was a ghost. We were to told to meet back at the clock in front of the post office in the center square, opposite of the cathedral at 12.10 exactly or risk missing the bus back to the ship. By the time most people arrived at the cathedral, it was essentially 11 am….so is 1 hour and 10 minutes what you can realistically call a Christmas market visit for Strasbourg? The pickup point for the bus back to the ship was slightly closer and took just over a half hour to walk to in order to board the buses back to the ship. So, we spent 3 hours in bus time, maybe an hour and a half to “see” Strasbourg Christmas market before getting back on the boat. In short, what Scenic advertises as possible for a Christmas market cruise does not reflect reality. The amount of time spent in these markets is a pittance compared to the sales pitch of your cruise. It’s an exercise in misrepresentation. Lastly, and I know I write this from US perspective, Scenic does not advise clients about a reasonable level of physical fitness / agility that will be required in order to enjoy their touring opportunities. The crew tried to make some accommodations but they clearly can’t fix what is on shore. Scenic Cruises has a duty to advise people about mobility issues they might face in order to make an informed purchase decision. The so called day in Strasbourg brought this issue into the sharpest of focus, although the other days were failures too. And even without mobility issues, the possible time to spend in these cities in markets were negligible compared to the way Scenic markets these tours. Read Less

People were generally friendly and staff was first rate.. service and hospitality! I met many international travelers! Interesting discussions and interactions! Guided tours were exceptional... choices allowed for interests as well as level of activity. Sometimes exiting and returning to boat were challenging as double parked boats made exiting long; lus sometimes ramps etc were a bit slippery. Just be mindful of what you are doing. Staff is nearby just in case. Dining allowed for various tastes, choices, and drinks for dinner and lunch! Choice of "light lunch" in another area is worthwhile after you get inundated with too much food! The "invited" dinners at Portabello and Table la Rive were very good... especially the wine pairings. But I think one per cruise is ok, Two seemed redundant. Would prefer Table la Rive. Meals seemed too similar. And make sure you get a massage on board! She is fantastic! And anyone with sinus issues... use the Salt Room!! Read Less

Was recommended by a friend, and we were not disappointed. The staff were always welcoming and friendly and Always helpful. It was nice to come back from one of their excellent tours to be greeted with friendly faces, a nice warm cloth to freshen up and a hot beverage after being out in the cold. It was a real treat. The tours offered were excellent. The bussing to and from the airport, or tours, was well organized. The tour director was funny, welcoming, and knowledgeable. Each evening, when not out on tour there was wonderful entertainment with local talent. The meals were varied and delicious. The wait staff were second to none. The cabin was clean and had everything you could want. It was nice to have a hairdresser and spa services available on board. I cannot think of any detail that was overlooked. I look forward to being able to cruise with Scenic again. Read Less

We had done another Scenic cruise (Bordeaux) and decided to book an area in Europe we hadn’t seen. We chose to travel during the Christmas market season. I have some mobility issues, so feeling safe and secure is important. The wonderful staff and personnel on the Amber were amazingly attentive. If I even hesitated, there was someone at my elbow for buses, gangplanks, stairs, etc. No one hovered or was overly solicitous, but they always seemed to be there when I needed them. We plan to retake this trip in the spring/summer time to be able to see the gardens. The cruise director was a hoot! He was on top of everything. The entertainment was high quality. Service was extraordinary. Our shipmates included families with adult children, siblings, gay/lesbian, and couples from Canada, Australia, USA, and UK. Most had previous cruise experience. All in all, we find river cruising to be relaxing and one of the best ways to see Europe. Read Less

We wanted to experience the magic of Christmas through the Christmas markets and this cruise did not disappoint.The entire crew was welcoming, always at our service and always looking for ways to make our trip spectacular. From the moment we arrived until our departure, we were made to feel at home and our every need was fully met and more. The Christmas markets were delightful and while my husband did a WWII TOUR, I was able to shop the markets for lovely, original gifts. The itinerary has enough things to do for everyone... or nothing at all if you just want to relax. Food was excellent and so was the staff. They took care of all our special dietary needs so we never had to worry about what to eat. Would recommend this trip for anyone who is looking to bring back a little magic to their holidays. A Merry Christmas indeed! Read Less

I first want to mention some statistics about our cruise: There were about 160 people on the ship: 10 people from Canada, 10 people from the US, about 30 people from New Zealand, and the rest were from Australia. The cruise director is from Austria, one waitress is from Poland, and most of the staff is from Serbia. So you'll definitely meet interesting people from around the world! There were *no* kids at all on the cruise- the youngest people were a group of ladies in their late 20's. I'm pretty sure this is by design and is just the way Scenic markets the cruises. We went on the Christmas Market cruise from November to December and usually water levels aren't an issue, but this time, the water was too low north of Passau, which disrupted our schedule. We were stuck in a port for 2 days and when we were finally able to go, we had to wait behind a slow cargo ship and then wait behind ships coming downstream. This meant we didn't get into Regensberg until almost 9:00 at night. Then it would be a 1/2 hour drive into the city, then the Christmas market closes at 10:00. The ship continued on to the next port, which meant people who went into town had to stay out until the ship docked at 12:30 am. Only 8 people did this, so we probably could have skipped this stop and kept going to make up the time. We didn't go, so we missed out on seeing the town. This also meant we didn't get into Nuremberg until late in the day. We also got stuck in traffic while driving into the city, which meant the bus didn't drop us off until 4:30... and it was already dark. This meant we didn't get any good pictures. A similar thing happened in Rudesheim: we left the ship at 3:10 pm, then a 1 hour drive on the bus, then a short train ride into town... which meant it was too dark to see much of anything! This meant we didn't get ANY daytime photos! But according to the cruise director, he'd rather stop in a port and give people a chance to see things, rather than continue on. But this amounts to little more than a tease! To be fair, Scenic offered us alternative options and we could have chosen to continue by bus, but we stayed with the ship. Would I take another European river cruise? I don't know, especially since the low water levels are supposed to happen in the summer, not winter. Would I take another cruise on Scenic? Yes. Dining: Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style, though you can also order from a menu. The omelette station was very good and by the end of the cruise, the chef was practically asking me if I wanted my usual. The breakfast buffet is the standard breakfast fare: scrambled eggs, bacon, cereals, bagels and bread, and juices. Most of the time, a majority of the passengers eat at the same time because of the timing of the excursions. There were a few days when there was a line for the omelettes, but you can get scrambled eggs or something else instead. The dinners in the main dining area approximate a 5-star dining experience: - You're served three courses: appetizer, main, and dessert. - The waiters/ waitresses put the napkin on your lap and take away silverware as it's not needed. - The pacing of the dinner usually takes around 1 1/2 hours, because everyone is in the dining area at the same time and because it's just paced slower. However, the menu options seem a little limited to me: Every night, there's an option for meat (beef, veal, pork, lamb) and an option for fish. I don't eat most fish and some fish give me an allergic reaction. I'm not a big meat eater so I really don't care for beef every night. I'm not sure why they don't have a main course choice of chicken or pasta. They serve pasta for lunch, so they have it on the ship. Plus, pasta with vegetables would be a good vegetarian option. We when ate at Portobello's, the Italian restaurant, the choices were beef tenderloin and fish. Yes, more beef. I was expecting some pasta choices, since it's supposed to be an Italian restaurant, but again, there was no pasta! Also, as a hint: I had read that people needed to make a reservation at Portobello's when they boarded the ship. When we boarded, we were told that the reservation was already made for us and we'd receive an invitation the night before. But they didn't tell us *which* night... though a few days later, I asked and they told me. Tours: We took the guided tour in almost every city and they were mostly very good. Scenic hires local guides who talk about the history and joke around a little. But our time was very limited due to the schedule change because of the low water level. For many stops, we would take a bus for about 1 hour or 1 1/2 hours to the city, then take a 1 hour guided tour, then get 2-3 hours of free time, then a 1 hour drive back to the ship. I was expecting a cruise where the ship arrived in the morning, then we do an excursion in the morning, then go back to the ship for lunch, and then go out on our own after lunch. But our actual schedule turned out to be: cruise most of the day, get into a port after lunch, spend the afternoon in the town, then come back in time for dinner and continue cruising. Needless to say, this didn't leave enough time to visit the Christmas markets and explore the town. Entertainment: There was a Hungarian folk dance on our first night, which was very good. The ship brought in a violinist and zither player on different night and both were excellent. The highlight was a German speaking class hosted by a "Dr Prof Prof" and held at exactly 10:33. Spoiler: it was the cruise director dressed in a traditional German outfit with glasses and a mustache. He was hilarious and we even learned a little German! Staff: Alex, the cruise director, was excellent, especially when it came to rescheduling everything because of the disruption caused by the low water level. Dinner service seemed a little slow at first, but that changed when we mentioned we'd prefer a quicker dinner. By the end of the cruise, our waitress, Ruzica, had our usual drinks waiting for us at our table for breakfast and lunch, which was excellent service! More: The pool wasn't open when we took our cruise. Though I don't think I would have used it since the weather was too cold. We didn't use the spa, massage, or gym. Read Less

This was our second cruise with Scenic. Our first was on Scenic Jewel for 8 days, and we had a blast, so we went with Scenic once again. I had been to Christmas markets before but my wife had not, so I told her our next cruise would be the Christmas market cruise. We started out with the Prague extension first, and the hotel, The Art Deco Imperial Hotel, was outstanding. I had never been in a hotel room that offered 1 1/2 baths with heated flooring. We were met at the airport by a Scenic representative and transferred to the hotel within 15 minutes of getting through customs. Our tour guide, Tomas, was very helpful and very knowledgeable. One of the best I have ever seen. We went by coach from Prague to Budapest and boarded the Scenic Opal. The rest of the cruise was what I expected from Scenic, which was nothing short of outstanding. The only hiccup we had was when there was some low water concerns at one of the locks upstream. We ended up docked at Vilshofen for a little over a day. Every one on board was offered 3 choices, to stay on board the ship, to discontinue the trip and fly home, or to board motor coaches and continue by land. Each was offered with a monetary benefit. Not one person decided to opt to leave the ship. The captain worked his magic and we were able to continue up river. The man was simply amazing. The cruise director, Alex, kept everyone informed and spirits on board high. The rest of the cruise went on without too many more problems, other then a barge who decided to poke along and slow us up for a while. My only complaint about anything is that they serve a five star meal at dinner. I am and always have been the type of person who doesn't see a good meal unless the plate is covered with food. Also I like good German wines, and there were not enough of them on board. One of biggest benefits of Scenic, is that once you are on board, you do not put your hand in to your pocket for anything unless you buy something from the gift shop. All the drinks are free on board. They do not have "sprit packages" that you need to buy. Alex briefed us on debarkation the day before we were to leave the ship. We were told when we were to have our bags out and when we were scheduled to leave the ship. This made everything go smoothly the next day. We had a chance to say good bye to Alex and to thank the Captain for everything before we were put in a car and transported to the airport. Getting off both of our Scenic cruises have been hard. We were treated well both times. My wife is wondering where we will go on our next vacation, but she did not have to ask which cruise line we would use. It will be Scenic. Read Less

We chose this cruise because of the luxurious Scenic cruise spaceship and the wonderful Douro scenery. The Portuguese staff on board were wonderful, their service, knowledge, friendliness and professionalism were the best we have ever had on a Scenic tour! We had a Balcony Suite which was very comfortable and so clean and well appointed it looked brand new! We had a superb Cruise Director and brilliant Tour Guides, Miguel and Inez, exceptional, friendly and knowledgeable. Our waiters and bar staff were great and our Butler, Miguel, so helpful and practical. The food in the Crystal Dining was superb for all meals and the special meal in the Portobello was fantastic. The weather was colder and wetter, than we expect. The excursions were well planned, very interesting and with high quality guides. The best ones were Lamego and Salamanca (don’t miss the Art DecoGallery, Casa Lis). The highlight of the entertainment was the classic concert, with a string quartet, and super quality baritone and soprano singers, in Porto and at the Church of St Francis. Overall we found Scenic to be high quality, relaxing, good value for money and we will definitely be booking with them again. Read Less

We did not stay in Amsterdam before boarding the Ship. We were met at the airport by a Scenic representative which gave us an opportunity to meet and introduce ourselves to other guests. Our cabin was great with enough storage to store away all of our belongings, although our cabin was mainly used for sleeping. Our cruise director, Alex and our hotel manager, Djordje could not do enough for us. The whole crew from bar staff to cabin staff were very professional, friendly and all had a great sense of humour. All of our excursions were amazing, well organised and made easy. We decided to change one scheduled excursion, and even this late change was made easy. Nothing was too much trouble for any staff member. The Salzburg tour and lunch and special concert at Zistelalm was memorable. Thank you for the snow! A special mention to Milan, the wellbeing coach. On the days where an early start was not called for he led a yoga/stretching class which was very welcomed (not only for the bike riders) The gym onboard was available at all times and the salt room was a very welcomed spot on many occasions. The choice of excursions/tours available were very varied and the local tour guides we had were knowledgeable and depending on the tour, made it fun. We were apprehensive at first, being first time cruisers, but we could not have chosen a better trip as our 'first' (not sure how other cruises in the future can measure up to this one) A special thank you to the Hello World representative who organised the cruise for us, the cabin choice was great. We are very happy we chose Scenic and we recommend it to everyone. Great value for money! Read Less

Our first cruise with Scenic was more than I imagined it would be. Friends had travelled and spoken very highly of their experience with Scenic but nothing anyone says can prepare you for the reality. From the second we stepped on-board Scenic Opal we knew we were in for a very special 15 days. Every single detail had been taken care of - there was nothing we had to do except choose our drinks and meals, and occasionally choose which excursion we'd like to do.  This was just the holiday we needed. I cannot speak more highly of the staff - they were amazing. Every staff member on board was professional from start to finish, and always courteous and friendly. Our Cruise Director, Alex, was an absolute hoot! He is the perfect person for this important role.  We loved our cabin, everything we needed was provided for us, down to the space under the bed to stow all our bags!  We unpacked and shoved the bags away for two weeks. Bliss! The joy of cruising so close to stunning landscapes, gorgeous villages, and a misty morning spent gliding gently past a little village - these are priceless memories for me. I could go on and on .. and on, but go do it for yourselves, it really is a most fantastic experience. We are already planning our next Scenic trip Read Less

We were met at the airport by a Scenic representative that got us shuttled to the spaceship and from that point on, we were very well looked after by all of the Scenic staff. All of the staff were wonderful. Our cabin and its amenities was great. We loved how the balcony became part of the room by folding back the glass partitions and lowering the top glass on the balcony rail. It was a wonderful addition to the room on the sunny days were were travelling in November! Alex, our Cruise Director was the best. He was attentive to all of the passengers, he was innovative with his talks, he was very organized, he was able to deal with all of the different passengers with ease and he made our trip fun! All of our excursions were amazing! It was great that we could choose how we wanted to travel ie. coach with guide, walking with guide or without or biking. A mix for all! The enriched excursions for everyone were a "once in a lifetime" experience like the Viennese Orchestral concert and the Salsburg dinner and musical. Wonderful!!!! The itinerary was very good. We loved travelling and seeing 5 different countries. We have often heard how wonderful river cruises are and now that we have experienced one, we would absolutely encourage anyone to go on it and we are very happy that we chose Scenic! Read Less

Having enjoyed a smaller canal cruise in Alsace, we were ready to try a cruise on the Rhone river. Reviews of various river cruise lines consistently pointed to Scenic as a quality choice. Although the Sapphire is not new, we found it to be sparkling in both design and maintenance. We were welcomed on board by the captain and his staff and assigned to a lovely balcony cabin, newly serviced and polished. When I found the young women in the hallway who I suspected had cleaned our room, she actually jumped and clapped her hands saying "Oh, that's one of my rooms", when I expressed my appreciation for her work. (That gesture of appreciation on my part was not wasted, since I think I got extra chocolates on turndown every evening.) However we found that degree of pride and ownership expressed uniformly throughout the cruise staff, no matter the occupation. The availability of friendly and accommodating staff and attention to detail was a hallmark of our cruise. The business of serving delicious and varied meals, as well as the chore of getting 130 people to and from land tours on schedule was handled efficiently and pleasantly. Although our final docking was unavailable due to water conditions in the river, that too was handled smoothly and in a friendly manner. From the lovely meals, the wine tasting and cooking demonstration to the afternoon cappuccinos in the lounge and the music and dancing in the evenings, to the time spent on our private balcony listening to music and watching the scenery go by, we considered our Rhone river cruise on the Scenic Sapphire a splendid success. Read Less

My husband and I splurged on a Scenic cruise to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We enjoyed the location and ship but most of all we found the staff, service and ship atmosphere to be amazing. We really enjoyed that the emphasis was on having fun and enjoying the trip instead of dressing up for dinner. We found that the food was excellent and the cruise director was extremely organized in keeping everything moving. The many excursions offered were very well organized and interesting. Each excursion was unique. We particularly enjoyed the Budapest Jewish Quarter excursion and the Weltenburg Abbey. I am sending many thanks to the exceptional staff who went out of their way to make the experience so unique and enjoyable. I really enjoyed that speaking with many of the staff and did not get the sense that they were giving scripted answers. We would highly recommend to adults looking for a relaxed but informative experience. Read Less

The most beautiful lifetime expirience! First time on a river cruiser and we had a lovely time on board and on excursions. Everything went perfect from beginning till the end, we have met wonderful people for all over the world. Very pleasent and friendly crew, always with a smile on their faces. Excursions were organised perfectly and everything went smooth. We enjoyed every single guided tour, specially e-bike tour Durnstein - Melk, highly recomended. Cruise director Richard was just amazing and helpful for every question that was asked, the man really knows his job! Mario the Hotel manager was amazing and really we felt like home. Our batler Ratko was so lovely and he has been there for everything that we requested. Restoran waitress Ruzica put a lot of magic in her service, so professional and just perfect! We are very thankful to all the crew, great service, wonderful and tasty food and most important to mention THANK YOU SCENIC - WE'LL BE BACK! Read Less

No better way to visit the South of France, than in a floating 5 star boutique hotel. Difficult to find fault with any aspect of the cruise. The staff is attentive, enthusiastic and oh so professional. The food is first rate and reflects the cuisine of the regions visited. The excursions are plentiful, varied and enriching. Despite a slight complication due to high water levels on the Saône River, the staff managed to ensure we benefited completely and safely from all the events planned. The rain stopped shortly after boarding and the late October weather could not have been better. In most cases the ship docks very close to the towns and villages and it is easy to wander off on your own to see the sights on your free time. This is our second cruise with Scenic and it proved to be as enriching as our first which brought us from Budapest to Amsterdam. Read Less

I'm in my early 30s and most on this cruise were late 50s and above. We wanted to take one for it's ease of getting from City to city. Plus it included amazing food, premium beverages, excursions and tips. The service was great. I booked the cheapest fair room but was still treated on par as all other passengers. Not all of the excursions started in the morning there were a few days that started in the afternoon so was nice not to get up super early the guided tours were just long enough and gave ample time to look around ur self afterwards with multiple coach pick ups. The enrich experice was very nice as well. I like the most popular classical songs and my husband also in his 30s does not like it at all. We had opera singers and a pianist play for us in palace. We both enjoyed the experience. I'd definitely do another trip using Scenic or another cruise line that is all inclusive. Read Less

We went with family, No children. Children would be board but it was great for adults. Our travel agent was amazing and helped us with the booking. Scenic looked after everything else. Hotel/airport transfers were done with high end buses and professionals. We stayed at the hotels recommended by scenic and were not disappointed. The meals were amazing. It sucks to be home and try to figure out what to cook after having everything done for us. The quality was fantastic. The entertainment was great. Our cruise director was fantastic. After cruising many times before it was nice doing a small boat. If you worry about getting sea sick, dont. The rivers are very calm. We live in a city with locks so it was a different experience being in a ship going through the locks. Overall an amazing trip. I would recommend Scenic to anyone. I would defiitely go again. I would only suggest not the last cruise of the season. Read Less