been on prior scenic cruises twice before..though they could never exceed previous levels but they did..ship completely updated with hot tub, gym, masseuse, hairdresser, manicurist...staff attentive to all our quirky requests and needs..doing our laundry was huge. food is gourmet and plentiful. always have special needs food for vegetarians, gluten free diets..staff actually learns your names and constantly asks if there is anything they can do for you..bar variety is extensive with top shelf liquors and amazingly interesting cocktails beyond the usual..side trips and all transportation so well planned that it is effortless to travel with scenic..would have like the gift shop to be a little more extensive as the cruise line extends a 100 euro credit per person..no better place to spend it than on presents for the grandchildren but selection not extensive..needless to say we are looking forward to a fourth cruise with scenic as the exceeded all our expectations Read Less

I wanted to try Scenic because I wanted an all inclusive vacation where I did not have to worry about anything. We had first class food and service all the way. The crew and passengers were friendly. The excursions were well done with no detail left unturned. I liked the electric bike option and we used them several times. I had a medical problem while docked in a small German town. Every effort was made to make my situation easier, and we were back on the ship within a short amount of time. The tour director was funny but very detailed oriented. The cabin was very comfortable and decorated nicely. Bedding was luxurious and the bed was extremely comfortable. The pace of the cruise was just right. My only downside was when the cruise was done, I didn’t want to leave. I could have traveled another two weeks with them. Read Less

American's have not really discovered this Austrailian based cruise company, but we were lucky to find this river cruise while searching for last minute deals on line. We are experienced cruisers and thought why not try something different. We ended up having the experience of a lifetime and enjoyed all the benefits of a first class all-inclusive cruise. Yes, we were in the minority (we were only two of 14 Americans on board, versus about 75 Austrailians and 60 Canadians) but that proved to be an advantage. It was nice to escape the political noise in our country and get some other perspectives from those outside the daily fray. We ended up sailing on a 15 day itinerary from Budapest, Hungary to Amsterdam and were given first class treatment all the way. Even though we elected to arrive in Budapest several days before embarkation without buying Scenic's pre-departure package - they still picked us up at the Airport and drove us to our chosen hotel for no extra charge. Very few cruise lines do that for you. Our embarkation in Budapest was seamless and Scenic had the premier docking position in Budapest so we could enjoy beautiful nighttime views of the Hungarian Parliament building and several beautiful bridges our first night on the river boat. Disembarkation was also a snap and Scenic even had someone meet us at the Amsterdam airport to guide us to our airline's check-in area. So nice. Food and drinks flowed freely on board with no restrictions whatsoever. We had specialty coffees and drinks at our disposal night and day and a fully stockied mini-bar that was replenished immediately. The wine selections for dinner and lunch were truly memorable and designed to complement the deliciously prepared meals. I was very impressed by the freshness of the fruit, vegetables and salads - not always the case on many cruises. The included excursions and enrichment activities were first class and I feel they had the connections to get us into some of the best places to visit. For example, our private concert at Palais Lichtenstein in Vienna was just beautiful. Another highlight was attending a performance at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna as well as an evening tour and dinner at Marksburg Castle in the beautiful Rhine Gorge. E-bikes were available for each port and we totally enjoyed touring various cities using them. We often saw Viking Ships docking at the same ports and doing some of the same tours, but I often felt sorry for them as we seemed to have the preferred times and better guides. I don't know how Scenic does it - but they do. My only caveat would be in regard to cabins. Because we did a last minute lower-priced booking, we were only able to book one of the smallest cabins with no balcony. Although the room was very clean and well appointed, for such a lengthy cruise, we wished we had been in one of the larger balcony suites. I wouldn't have minded the small cabin for a five to seven day cruise, but after 15 days I was tired of our small shower and the minimal room in our cabin. But that was a choice we made and of course we saved over $3,000 a person in the process. Just be warned - small cabins are small!!! One final point - our on-board tour director was fabulous. Very organized, clear and well versed about all our destinations. I know that my husband will never sail any other way than all inclusive going forward and we would definitely choose Scenic for our next cruise. Read Less

This was our second cruise with Scenic, chosen because it was one of the least expensive options to be honest. It also appealed that we could travel there by train, which seemed like a very civilised way to start a holiday! When the train times came through from the agent, I queried them, as we had to cross Paris from Gare du Nord to Montparnasse in about an hour - which seemed tight. She assured me that other passengers were doing the same, but I am very glad that I insisted on an earlier Eurostar, as I know that the other passengers only just made it! That first evening, I met with the chef and restaurant manager to talk about dietary requirements (I'm vegetarian) - although I needn't have done as there were always plenty of vegetarian options. However they delivered the menu to me each evening for the next day, saying that if I didn't fancy the veggie option, I could ask for something else - which was a lovely touch. They also both kept checking in on me throughout the cruise to see if I was happy with the food. Can't fault it! We were booked into the L'Amour restaurant that first night (it was my husband's birthday), and they made an appropriate fuss of him, with birthday cake and champagne to finish the meal. Great food and good company too (you are given the option of a table for 2 or to be sociable, and we were always sociable - except at breakfast as I am a grumpy morning person!). The food and wine throughout the cruise was great (I put on nearly half a stone in a week!), and the service was incredible - those people work so hard! I wasn't keen on the mocktails (too sweet), so I just drank champagne instead - the hardship! Great selection of drinks available, but if you are a gin-drinker, be aware that although they have some decent gins, they don't have premium tonics to go with them. The excursions were mostly excellent too. Despite booking on a cruise in Bordeaux, we have limited knowledge of wine, and so mostly chose non-wine-tasting excursions, and a couple were a touch disappointing (Libourne, nice enough, but not much to it, Cadillac was lovely, but an hour's coach trip away). Others places visited were really lovely though - I would definitely visit Bordeaux itself again, loved Blaye, and even went to visit the medieval festival in Bourg. Oh, I nearly forgot - Gregg Wallace and Steve Groves (MasterChef) were also there for some of it - which was interesting, but not the reason for choosing the cruise! The cooking experience with the chef was probably more interesting (though I was surprised at how limited the places were on this, I would have though everyone would have got to participate), and this was more demonstration than cookery class, but very enjoyable. One word of caution, if you want a river cruise that actually travels much, don't do this one. I had looked carefully at the itinerary before we booked, and was happy that we weren't going far, and (unlike other river cruises) we weren't visiting many big cultural cities, but I know others on the cruise seemed disappointed. Read Less

The scenery everyday is awesome. Going through the locks was very interesting. Butlers and bartenders were friendly knowledgeable and attentive. Food was delicious and varied. I am allergic to shellfish and felt they could have done a better job of ensuring that there was options when shellfish was on the menu. Portobellos the Portuguese restaurant was excellent with magnificent service. The evening Crystal dining room had a varied menu. We found the service very slow on the nights that the speciality service/restaurants were open. Loved the butler service for morning coffee! Relaxed before breakfast and enjoyed the scenery. The Portugese bar b que up on the sun deck was very good. Ribs were amazing! The musician was entertaining and engaged the crowd. One night there was local entertainment which was also very good and engaging! Cabins were efficient but small. Bathrooms were well appointed. The tours were good but some required too long a bus ride. A few were sick and not enough was done to find out why. Probably the heat as it was very hot Throughly enjoyed the trip though. Cruise directors were very knowledgeable. We took the three days in Lisbon prior which very worth the extra days. Porto was beautiful with great tours. Enjoyed the cooking class tour of the galley and being able to interact with the chef Very efficient boarding. A little confusion on the embarking as they moved us to a hotel. The lunch at the hotel was not very good compared to the ship Read Less

We chose this cruise at the last minute and did not really know what to expect. After a long flight we embarked the ship in Amsterdam with a minimum of fuss and found what should have been a hectic experience very smooth and welcoming. The staff aboard “The Pearl” were nothing short of fantastic and really made our cruise the experience of a lifetime. The cabin is small but very comfortable and the onboard amenities plentiful. We really enjoyed the the small ship experience especially the all inclusiveness. Our every need was catered for. The itinerary was extensive and we found that the experiences included of the highest quality. The food was of a high standard and plentiful, we wanted for nothing In that regard. The staff really were exceptional on our cruise and my praise really doesn’t do justice to their hard work and motivation. I can recommend Scenic enough for introducing us to the wonders of Europe. Read Less

This is our fifth cruise with Scenic and it has been impossible to find fault with any of them. We have found on this cruise, as with the other cruises, that all of the staff go “the extra mile” to ensure that you have an enjoyable voyage. There is a variable and high standard of cuisine with quality wines and a large variety of alcoholic beverages. There is also a 24/7 self service machine for coffee and other hot drinks. Transfers at both the start and end of the voyage are arranged and carried out efficiently with the occasional chauffeured pick up and return to home on some voyages. The guides on the various inclusive tours are also friendly, knowledgable and fully fluent in English as well as other languages. We believe that Scenic “all inclusive “ prices give the best value for money. We chose this cruise because it was in a part of France that we had not visited before. Read Less

Wow! I have never been so spoiled! It was amazing, I truly believe that every staff member wants you to have the absolute best time are there to make sure it happens. From the initial greeting when we got to the boat to the time we left. One of the highlights was When the chef would come out after each port talk and let you know the culinary masterpiece that he had prepared for you that evening. We were never hungry... The wait staff were always very attentive and polite and never left you wanting for anything (my husband may have had a couple of 2 dessert nights). The wine glasses were never empty. The excursions were top notch with really great guides. The cruise director JJ did such a great job of explaining all the possible excursions the first night that we actually ended up changing a couple of our choices and were not disappointed. The room and ship were luxurious and tastefully decorated. It was worth every dollar spent and I would definitely go on another scenic cruise. Read Less

We have friends who told us the river cruises were a great way to see an area. So we decided Europe. Our travel agent recommended Scenic as a choice for an all inclusive trip for the price. From the time Scenic picked us up in Amsterdam to the time they shuttled us to the airport in Budapest everything was first class. In fact they even let us upgrade our airline tickets to business class (highly recommended for international travel) for a very reasonable fee. The trip was so well organized all the stress was removed which travel often brings. The service was exemplary. Food excellent at every venue. Cabin was spacious with all the comforts. Our cruise director, Richard, worked tirelessly to insure all aspects of our tours and free time went smoothly. Never a dull moment but somehow with time to just relax and "vacation". This was my first introduction to Europe and Scenic did it well. I told our "new friends" we met on the cruise, I have never been so far from home but never felt so much at home. Still trying to process all we've seen and experienced. I will definitely recommend Scenic. Thank you Scenic for a memorable trip of a lifetime. Read Less

Essentially took this tour with another couple who where wanting to celebrate their 30th Wedding Anniversary. Despite the fact our airplane arrived well over an hour late in Prague the very approachable Scenic representative was their to greet us and take us to the local hotel. Likewise for the balance of the trip all the services from presentations by the Cruise Director, departure for excursions to opening of the restaurants were completely on time and very timely. The Chef on our cruise provided an excellent array of culinary delights both on the buffet and a la carte services. The cut on everything from slices meats to vegetables and dessert items was flawless. I inquired with the Chef who frequently made table checks about the "secrets" about a "Clear Tomato" that was being served for lunch. Chef Broccoli was most generous and provided a recipe for this exceptional soup. The effort put in by the entire staff of our trip was 110%. They worked well as a team and professional ignored the occasional unthinking and too casual guest. My only concern would be that the dining room was a slight bit noisy and congested and that for "older" folks (70 +) might find it tiring after more than a week. Likewise the rooms will be a tad small for those on the "heavier or tall" side. The Tailormade Scenic software very innovative and highly effective. I only recently have been using a smart phone but found it enhanced the trip. The system was occasionally nonfunctional when listening to the tour guides in large congested areas. However the information and pictures while sailing down the picturesque Danube River very complementary. Did find the survey questionare at the end of the tour rather long and time consuming. I thought it might take 20 minutes to complete but it had so many questions that I ran out of time and had to omit the last quarter of the survey. Cabin balcony excellent. Really liked the size, the glass, even the comfortable chairs. Read Less

Returning travellers with loyalty to Scenic due to excellent past experiences. This was the 2nd leg of our two cruises having come straight off the Scenic Gem on the Sceine. This cruise in Bordeaux was a concentration on the French wine a food experiences. The uniform specification and layout of the ship makes you immediately feel at home. The consistently high level of attention from all the staff - butlers, room staff, bar staff and wait staff the dining areas - meant that the overall experience was the same as any previous Scenic cruise. The experience was enhanced by the excellent local guides for all the off ship excursions. Scenic offered a range of excursions that were always to a high quality location. We travelled out and back from the buitiful city of Bordeaux which really was a highlight of our visit to France. We will certainly be returning to Scenic in the future. Read Less

This is a very hard review to write, because the ship has been designed to be to many things that are so different, which is difficult to achieve. The design has certainly tried to incorporate a high degree of luxury and speciality gourmet dinning venues in an expedition vessel with many unique features. So from my point of view, I really have to review it on the basis that it is an expedition ship or discovery yacht (as Scenic like to call it) with the ability to view the landscape and nature from the ship as well as from the air and below the surface of the water. It was for these features and the region it was to travel that I chose this cruise, even long before building of the ship had even started. The ship certainly looks the part from the outside with modern lines and a purposeful structure. However on in the inside the design deficiencies of trying to be too many things, become much more apparent. It seems as though there has been too much effort put into making it modern and futuristic with little or no thought into making it practical or functional. The Eclipse is a paperless ship, so there is an overuse of electronics which as we all know do not always work as they should and in many instances are confusing or complicated to operate. And when they go wrong, no manual or conventional system is able to take it place. From a safety point of view the hand rails which are square in profile have sharp edges and corners as do many handles, taps and tables. These may be in fashion at the moment and look good, but can catch you or your clothing which may be dangerous on a moving ship. The dark colours which prevail throughout the ship together with mirrored surfaces everywhere are not conducive to an older generation of passengers, which I would assume will be a large part of the Eclipse future income. Most modern expedition ships have forward and aft lifts or stairs, the Eclipse only has only has one set which are situated more towards the stern of the ship. This means easy access to the outer decks is very limiting and certainly can take a lot longer. It is important on a true expedition cruise, to have quick and easy access to outer decks and indoor observation areas to view nature and wildlife as soon as possible after sighting. Unfortunately the observation lounge has very limited forward vision but at least allows good access to the large outer bow deck. Also this lounge only has self-serve tea and coffee and no bar, while the restrooms are along way a way at the stern. The outside observation deck is good for viewing nature and wild life but deck 10 which is all outside, is a really good area for viewing as it give a 360 degree view. Mind you a part of this deck is set aside for smoking. This deck like most deck has a very large protruding roof structure which is a benefit in raining conditions but can be a hindrance to viewing birds and mountains from certain areas such as the observation lounge. The main lounge is very open with the reception at one end and the main bar at the other which makes it very open and probably less personal. The seating layout and design does not help in making the area as friendly as other expedition ships. Dinning venues are generally good but all with limited seating. There is no buffet option for dinner which is not ideal for a true expedition ship either. Some passengers just want a quick meal and get to bed early after a long days adventure. The main theatre is round and has very comfortable seating, unfortunately a couple of large pillars block vision from some of the seats. With a full complement of passengers the theatre would be very hard pressed to fit them all in, which will be a problem sometimes. The use of plain dark carpet in areas of the ship was probably not a good decision, as it almost always looked dirty as did some of the dark glass tables. Suites are generally dark and bland with reflective surfaces everywhere. Almost no warmth has been added. Our suite had one blueish toned painting, which only made the room feel even colder. Although the TV is very modern, it was set behind glass which meant you could not view it from any reasonable angle, even in bed, because of reflections. If you sat directly in front of the TV for viewing, you had the pleasure of seeing yourself reflected in the glass. As well the TV menu and remote control was more confusing than normal, and very slow to respond to button control, quite frustrating in fact. The cabin itself has a very thin curtain to the balcony and an electronic blind which lowers to darken the room at night. The problem with this setup is that, not only was it noisy to operate but also if you wanted to look out at night while your partner slept, the noise and possible additional night would wake them up anyway. The suite we were in was a deluxe verandah which was good in size but had limited drawer and wardrobe space. The wardrobe doors block access in and out of the bathroom when opened and there are no additional hooks in the suite to hang expedition clothing such as hats or jackets. Suite bathrooms do not have a conventional hand basin. Instead they have a sloping flat surface to take water away, so there is no plug. This not only means it cannot be used for washing personal clothing but the design also tend to splash much more water everywhere, including over oneself. As mentioned before, handles are square and on the shower door they are really sharp, certainly an accident waiting to happen. The bed was very comfortable and the air conditioning, which covers a good temperature range, is effective and easy to adjust. The internet throughout the ship is generally very good and seems to have a higher capacity with less dropouts than other ships we have travelled on. Staff to passenger ratio is very favourable, however it is my understanding that staff quarters have been built to the very minimum standard, which is small. Only time will tell if that is the case, and that will be through staff turnover. I know a number of staff left the ship in Quebec. The ship itself is very smooth and relative quite. It certainly handles rougher conditions better than most other expedition ships and its dynamic positioning system is brilliant. This system means it does not have to drop anchor but can stay in the one position with almost no movement. However the side thrusters, which keep the ship in position, do create some problems for zodiac drivers as they approach the ship. The idea of having helicopters and a submarine to enhance the experience is certainly very appealing and the experience is certainly worth while. Unfortunately there will be many instances where they will be unable to be used due to local restrictions or weather conditions. With passenger expectations high for these experiences, the Eclipse could have some very unhappy customers at times. Local restrictions may become a bigger issue in certain regions in the future for both the helicopters and submarine. In summary the ship itself is very good but it certainly could have been better, in fact world class, had there been much more functionality designed into its main purpose, which I assume is a discovery yacht. Although I did not chose to sail on a maiden voyage, unfortunately that is the way it turned out. So how did this inaugural voyage from Reykjavik to Quebec, on the Scenic Eclipse go. It certainly did not start well. Three days prior departure we were advised that boarding the time would be delayed by three hours from midday. Instead a room at a local hotel near the port was made available for meeting, and a light lunch was provided. We all waited until around 3pm the revised boarding time, when we were advised that boarding would not take place for another 24 hours. Scenic staff then spent several hours arranging accommodation at various hotels all around Reykjavik. The whole process was handled so badly that passengers became extremely unhappy. Scenic also offered us to board the ship for drinks that evening. Many passengers took up the opportunity to view the ship, which may have been a mistake as we were able to see just how unready the ship really was for the cruise. To fill in the following day Scenic offered a full day, which turned out to be very good. After the tour we did board the ship, and saw just how tired and wore out the staff really were from preparing the ship for us to board. They must have worked day and night without much sleep, never-the-less to their credit they still had a smile for some very unhappy passengers. Realistically the ship was several weeks from being ready for sailing with passengers. To highlight how unprepared they were for passengers at the safety drill there was no check list to make sure everyone attended and when they did try to do a roll call too many were not present so they gave up and said it was all over. During the first few days there were many issues, certainly far to many to mention here, but overtime everything started to improve and by the time we reached Canada things were running quite smoothly and everyone seemed to be enjoy the cruise even with issues remaining. Food quality varied from average all the way up to exceptional. Hotel staff were friendly and generally good to excellent while the expedition staff were very competent and did a great job in making the experience more enjoyable. Over time I’m sure the ship will become a top quality product, but its design issues will remain, which is ashame. Read Less

Never heard of Scenic but travel agent recommended because of balcony, dates and itinerary. Spotlessly clean and outstanding service! Beds are so comfortable and balcony is so enjoyable. We had the perfect view of Parliament in Budapest when we entered our room and the view at night was spectacular! Enjoyed meeting and spending time with like minded passengers who appreciate high quality and service. We enjoyed taking the bikes on our own in Vienna so having some free time was appreciated. We were pleasantly surprised to find we could board ship early and have lunch before embarkation so we didn’t have to walk around Budapest with our luggage. Early morning coffee in our rooms was delightful from our butler who also provided ice and snacks every afternoon in a timely manner. Entering locks was a new experience especially from the outside deck on top of ship. We even visited the Captain in the wheelhouse. Read Less

Met at the airport for transport to the ship. Getting to the ship and into our cabin went very smoothly, Cabin was sparking, and we had plenty of room to stow things away. Staff were more than welcoming. We were booked to sail on Crystal, but there was a change of ship earlier due to water levels. Fortunately we had no issues with high or low water and were able to complete the entire voyage on the Jasper. Staff were exemplary - couldn't do enough to make us happy. Bartenders were a little heavy handed with alcohol in the mixed drinks. Food ranged from average to brilliant, however, we never went hungry or thirsty. Range of tours was varied. Some of the "easy walking" tours were an effort for some guests. We were pleased to be traveling with a mostly Australian group. The atmosphere was relaxed and happy, and I believe our traveling companions helped to make it so. We sailed from Amsterdam to Budapest and then went on to Prague. The bus to Prague took 9 hours, however the Cosmopolitan hotel was a delight, and Prague was fun to explore. Read Less

Wanted to visit Amsterdam and Germany and it was the perfect way to do it. We chose the Scenic Ruby as the ship and decor was very modern. We had the room at the rear of the ship. The rear window was wide that we didn’t have to leave our room to see the beautiful river scenery especially the castles. The food and service was five star, all our needs were met by our wonderful butler with early morning coffee and breakfast in our room. There was a also a full buffet breakfast in the dining room with a great selection of cold and hot food. Evening meals were five star. The daily soups are to die for. As you cruise through the towns and past the vineyards you get to try the lovely wines and beers in that area with you meals. It seemed happy hour all day. The bar staff would were very attentive and ready to mix your favourite cocktails. The musical entertainment on board was excellent. There was a good selection of shore excursions. Our Cruise Director was informative advising us of the next days’ tours and departure times. Comfortable coaches and guides were ready each day to take us on our guided tours. This was certainly a five star cruise. Read Less

Had always wanted to visit Vietnam / Cambodia but wanted to do it guided. had never been on a Scenic Cruise before but the “all inclusive” Scenic package really appealed. To be truthful I had no idea how all inclusive it would be but if you chose not to buy souvenirs or a drink in a bar when off ship then there was very little need to take cash. We budgeted for some spending but returned home spending very little at all. They say inclusive but I did not expect top shelf drinks including a gin menu, yes a menu there were that many to choose from. Food allergies were no problem either with a super attentive and highly skilled chef ensuring wonderful food. The level of service from all staff was exceptional, every cabin has its own butler, unpacking and room service drinks ....you don’t have to lift a finger. Great excursions and truly caring and memorable guides. In one word.....FAULTLESS......highly recommend Read Less

We chose Scenic as we had travelled with them once before. We were not disappointed. The whole time we felt cared for and nurtured. The cabin was beautifully appointed with an airy balcony and plenty of space. Dining options were numerous and all food and drink was fantastic quality. Entertainment included an onboard pianist, in addition to performers being brought aboard from various ports. We were even treated to a recital by a classical quartet in a Château, where Scenic docked just for the evening performance, then sailed on. Very special! Most of all, the staff were welcoming, attentive, competent and caring, which always makes a trip. There was always a personal touch. The cruise director was amazing - a French national who was full of wonderful insights into her native country. Hotel Manager ensured all F&B ran seamlessly. Food and drink choices were incredibly varied and top quality. Highly recommend! Read Less

We choose this cruise for a birthday celebration, and it was fabulous. We did stay before the cruise and Scenic still provided transportation to the ship. The rivers were at a good level and we did not have to transfer ships as some have had to. All the excursions were well thought out, with at least 3 options to choose from. The cruise director had daily port talks explaining what would happen the next day and announce any additional entertainment. We had Hungarian dancers, Viennese dancers, violinists, zitar player, and the lounge singer/piano player. There were more but I cant recall all of them. The chef would give his menu recommendations and the food was very good. The restaurant manager/sommelier introduced the wine pairings. The service was first rate from the bus boys to the bartenders everyone was upbeat, and positive. The housekeepers were constantly cleaning nothing ever got dirty. Another plus was the free laundry, once during the cruise. Everything was just amazing. Sad to leave the ship, saying good bye to some incredible people. Scenic transferred our luggage to our hotel free of charge as we were staying a few extra days. Read Less

As two female friends travelling together for the first time we initially chose this cruise because it was all inclusive and therefore we didn't have the stress or worries about excursion choices, costs and tipping but the clincher was French Champagne available whenever the need arose!! We chose this particular cruise ship because of the plunge pool, which was excellent. How lovely to be able to refresh after a day's sightseeing. We arrived in Budapest one day before departure and stayed at the Marriott that Scenic use and we were very pleased with our room and the lovely views of the Chain Bridge and the lights along the Danube. Before boarding the Scenic Opal we walked to the Gallert Baths and enjoyed a relaxing swim before later returning to explore the Food Markets. We had no problems with touching base with the Scenic Rep in the Marriott and all went smoothly with organising our luggage to be transferred to the ship. The staff on the Scenic Opal were very welcoming and we were personally shown to our cabin on the Diamond deck - which had everything we could possibly need. We loved that we could put the window on the Sundeck down and enjoy the fresh air. It was a wonderful place to enjoy breakfast and Salvatore's special pancakes with Moet. Our cruise director Alex was amazing, creative, funny, organised and a great disco dancer (Australian Sense of Humour!!). We appreciated how he made our trip run so smoothly plus the extreme sacrifice he made to take us shopping for disco outfits in Cologne! The crew were exceptional - the bar team Robert, Stevan, Alex and Monika were entertaining and attentive. Our butler Putro was delightful and we so appreciated his great dance moves. The food and service was 10 star - every request was catered for. So if you are looking for a cruise that offers great sightseeing, beautiful cruising scenery and a fun on-board experience then the Scenic Opal - Jewels of Europe - Budapest to Amsterdam is for you. Read Less

We are Scenic tragics, and love the levels of extras that come with the luxuries. Having completed all the French river cruises, it was time to branch out to Portugal. We booked the big cabin down the back, and never regretted it. Flew in via Barcelona, where we stayed a night to recuperate from the 24hrs of flights from Sydney, and then flew direct to Porto and Azure. Embarkation on a rainy day was slightly tricky down a long slippery gangway to the Douro River level, and then back up one deck to get onboard - Scenic might like to review this one. But that was the only difficulty that arose during our 11 days. The cabin is excellent (see separate comments) and comes with a dedicated butler. We used him to replenish the bubbly as often as possible, and to run a small soiree for 8 of us one afternoon - including an impressive range of canapes. Alocohol is provided as part of your package, all the way up to top tier items, and the bartender Therese was outstanding in meeting our requirements. The dining room downstairs is a wonderful place, with excellent views, seating for as many as you want (2,4,6,8+) depending on who you meet, and includes buffet items for breakfast and lunch, as well as a la carte items, and fully a la carte for dinner. Upstairs is the bar, an entertainer, and a quick menu lunch option should you need that. Shore excursions were excellent, tailored for the area the ship was located, and included at least 2 options - there is always a dedicated and luxurious Scenic bus available to transport passengers, so little walking required. The only excusion off river was to Salamanca in Spain. But all excursions were good. We think this is the best of the Scenic river adventures, and we will probably go again. Read Less

Day 1 - Flew by Air Portugal from Toronto to Lisbon then to Porto. TAP did not allow us to change or select seats online, but we were able to do so at airport. Flight to Lisbon was cramped and uncomfortable. Flight to Porto was delayed 45 min. This flight had much more legroom. Arrived around 5 pm at the Scenic Azure just as the Port Talk was starting in the lounge. Butler did not take us to our room after and we never met him for entire trip. Our room was on the cheapest floor, room 102. It was spacious and well organized and organized very nicely, with lots of storage and clothes closet space. This contrasted big time with our Scenic Moselle cruise last year on the Scenic Jewel. Day 2 -Porto > Entre-os-Rios. Highlights: Historic Porto. discover the unique historic treasures of Porto, including a visit to Palacio da Bolsa. Then enjoy a relaxing afternoon of cruising as your luxury Scenic Space-Ship meanders its way to Entre-os-Rios. Tour of the Stock Exchange Palace was very interesting. Local guide did not appear to like her job. Later toured the train station to see all the tiles on the walls. Very unique. Guide was from the Scenic Azure and she was good. Day 3 -Entre-os-Rios. Highlights: Quinta Aveleda. This afternoon, enjoy a blissful cruise to Regua where you have the chance to explore the Douro Museum at your leisure. Learn about the culture, history and identity of the people living in this wine growing region of the Douro Valley. Freechoice: Guimarães was the seat of the first King of Portugal and is dominated by the impressive Ducal Palace, which dates back to medieval times. It’s a great tour to kickstart your interest in this fascinating region. Alternatively, you could choose a tasting at the fairytale property of Quinta Aveleda. Located in the famous Vino Verde region and a renowned regional sparkling wine producer, the incredible gardens alone make the excursion worthwhile. We chose the tour of Guimarães. We toured the Ducal Palace and ancient town. Grapes were grown on fence borders. Our guide was the ship’s cruise director Filipe. He was very good and interesting. Later we left the ship again and walked over to the Douro museum and learned the evolution of port wine industry on the Douro. It was very interesting. Local guide was OK. Day 4 -Regua. Highlights: Ucanha and Varosa Valley. his afternoon, you’ll discover the captivating Varosa Valley and visit the charming village of Tarouca where you’ll get to explore the restored Monastery of Saint John of Tarouca. En route walk the fortified bridge of Ucanha, Portugal’s first toll bridge, spanning the crystal clear waters of the Varosa River. Freechoice: Tour the elegant town of Lamego, with its many fine Baroque structures, or enjoy a guided visit of Mateus Palace, the historic icon depicted on the labels of Portugal’s famous Mateus rosé wine. Our tour guide was Miguel from our ship, who was very good. The fortified bridge of Ucanha was very scenic and interesting. The Monastery of Saint John of Tarouca was not interesting to us as all that was there was foundations of buildings. Our Freechoice selection was the town of Lamego with our cruise director Filipe as guide. He was very good. There we toured the Sanctuary dos Nossa Sanhora dos Remedios and 365 steps. This was very scenic and a highlight of our trip. After walking down the 365 scenic steps there was an option of touring the Lamego Museum. This was a waste of time and we exited as soon as we could. Day 5 - Regua > Vega de Terron. Highlights: Cruising Vinhateiro. Today, enjoy a full day cruising the Douro Valley’s Vinhateiro wine growing region. Classified a World Heritage-listed Site, Vinhateiro has a history of wine production that stretches back for 2000 years. We spent most of the day on top of the ship enjoying the spectacular scenery. Our Tailormades explained what we were looking at. Day 6 -Salamanca Spain. Highlights: Spanish dining and Flamenco. Take your time absorbing the sheer architectural splendour of Salamanca, a city as visually striking as it is historically intriguing. Explore the city on a guided tour before some time at leisure followed by a delicious lunch accompanied by an energetic Flamenco dance performance. It was a 2-hour bus ride to Salamanca. Our guide on the bus was our cruise director Filipe who provided commentary for the entire 2 hours. He made the trip very interesting and enjoyable. Countryside was very dry. It was very hilly at the beginning and then much flatter once up on the plateau with crops to view. Had a local guide in Salamanca who was good. Restaurant meal was very good and Flamenco dance was enjoyable. Salamanca was very scenic. Day 7 -Pocinho > Pinhão. Highlights: Côa Valley. Over breakfast, you’ll enjoy a leisurely cruise to nearby Pocinho for our Côa Valley discovery. This afternoon, enjoy your picturesque cruise to Pinhão and tonight be entertained by a traditional Portuguese musical performance on board. Freechoice: Visit the award-winning Côa Valley Museum and enjoy a pre-historic workshop. If you’re more adventurous at heart, take a canoeing excursion on the Sabor River. Alternatively, you could join the ‘Tastes of the Côa Valley’ excursion and visit Casa Painova for a sweet almond workshop and a tasting of their almond, olive and fruit products. For our Freechoice we took a Scenic bus to the village of Freixd de Numao to house of Casa Painova with our excellent tour director Filipe. We toured the house and had an almond cooking and tasting demo. Local guide had a booming voice, so we did not need our Tailormades. A very enjoyable, scenic and interesting trip. Day 8 -Pinhão. Highlights: Scenic village experience. Today you’ll visit the remarkable village of Provesende, showcasing the Portugal of yesteryear. Wander the atmospheric streets of this quaint village with the locals as they proudly introduce you to their way of life – including their local bakery. This is a specially choreographed experience only open to Scenic guests. You’ll also visit the church for a special recital, and enjoy wine tasting at the restored manor house of Morgadio da Calçada. What better way to immerse yourself in the local culture. Freechoice: Top off a truly unforgettable day with a visit to the estate of Quinta Roeda for a tasting of their famous export. Or, if you’re feeling energetic, you could choose a walk through the hillside vineyard for a unique tasting among the vines. Our guide was Carla from the ship. She was very good. Tour of the bakery was a waste. We had an interesting tour of a port winery called Morgadio Da Calcada Manor House who served us the best port we had on the entire trip. Our Freechoice was a visit to the estate of Quinta Roeda. We chose a walk through the vineyard. Our local guide was in a hurry to get the tour over with and rushed through the vineyard, so if you stopped to take a picture, you had to run to catch up. It was very interesting and very scenic. Day 9 -Pinhão > Porto. Highlights: Scenic Enrich at São Francisco Church. Having spent the previous eight days discovering the treasures of the Douro, Varosa and Côa Valleys, enjoy an exclusive Douro Valley Wine Review, as well as on board activities, including a cork jewellery workshop. Otherwise, simply enjoy the beauty of the region as you cruise back into Porto. Enrich: The sheer beauty of São Francisco Church is sure to impress. From the outside the facade is a mixture of Gothic and Baroque architecture and inside the interior glows with its intricate wood carvings swathed in gold. Immerse yourself in the heart and soul of Portuguese music as you witness a spectacular private concert in this wondrous surrounding. This was a very enjoyable cruising day seeing the locks and scenery from the opposite direction. The evening Enrich was very enjoyable. Day 10 -Porto. Our Freechoice was a visit to Santa Maria Da Feira Paper Museum. This was a very interesting place. They demonstrated many of the old ways paper was made. Day 11 - Trip home to Toronto. Our flight to Lisbon was not till evening, so Scenic let us stay on the ship for the day then took us to the airport at the appropriate time, You don’t get this perk on ocean cruises as they just take you straight to the airport and leave you there all day. Our friends who travelled with us were told that the flight was oversold and they had no seats for them. Our friends explained that we drove them to the airport in Toronto and if they do not travel with us, they cannot get home. Air Portugal then agreed to let them on and bump someone else. Our flight to Lisbon was on time and on the same comfortable plane we came on. Our flight to Toronto was not on the same uncomfortable plane we came on thank goodness. It was on a new Airbus with lots of legroom and very comfortable and modern entertainment system. The Ship Scenic Azure This was our 4th Scenic cruise. Our first was from Budapest to Amsterdam on the Scenic Saphire. Our 2nd cruise was Vietnam and Cambodia on the Scenic Spirit. Our third was from Amsterdam to Basel on the Scenic Jewel. Everything was top notch on the Saphire and Spirit. Vietnam and Cambodia were full of spectacular things to see compared to what you can see in Europe. The Jewel was a disappointment as far as food and service and the tiny room. This cruise on the Scenic Azure was over the top for food and service. Every meal seemed like it was the best meal we had ever had. The service was exceptional and not only in the restaurant and lounge. The TV in the bedroom was also a computer. Wi-Fi was all through the ship. The Tailormades are so useful for tours and cruising on the river. The new ones do not have the range that the old ones did, so you cannot get far from the guide. The buses had beautiful Scenic murals and had Wi-Fi and were very comfortable. They also had USB charges at your seat for your phones and tablets. All the guides from the ship were very knowledgeable and made tours very interesting and enjoyable. Another feature we liked is you did not hear people hacking and coughing like you do on most ocean cruises. We really liked the choices we had for tours. Other cruise lines don’t seem to have any choice at stops. Read Less

I have enjoyed it thoroughly. The cruise members are so great.I enjoyed the cruise director jokes. Loved the way she give us informations. Loved our tour guide Virginia, such a funny ,lovely,personality.Christian, the manager is such a nice person. The bar cruise are very nice, they spoiled us. Non stop service,very cheerful personality.The dining staff are so lovely, tried there best to please everyone. We where spoiled by the room attendant,very clean room. They are very attentive. Entertainment is great. Great pianist. I loved the duo.I particularly enjoyed the cruise member who sung. She should sing regularly, in my opinion. I have enjoyed the concert in one of the chateau,what a magnificent musician. One of the best experience is Dune du Pilat, what a magnificent place. In my opinion, should spend more time in this excursion.I recommend to see more places in Bordeaux city. It seems it has more to offer. Over all it is a great trip. Read Less

This trip was recommended by a friend and we were more than pleased with everything. It was simply our best vacation ever. Scenic spoiled us royally with every experience. The cruise director personally looked after everything. The crew were amazing, the food, the excursions were personalized for our group only. There were 153 passengers, just the right size and we met people from around the world. On board for 15 days and had spent time with at least 75% of a great group of travellers. The most important was that everything was included, including our shore excursions. The value was evident. We covered 4 countries and had personal guides with our group everywhere we went. Never at anytime felt rushed and lots of pleasant rest time and shopping time. Probably the most time spent with other people in our group than any other vacation, but quite enjoyable. I would highly recommend Scenic cruise line. We will be booking another trip with them soon. The entertainment was excellent. Our rooms very clean and comfortable. The food was exceptional. Read Less

We were celebrating our honeymoon, the moment we set foot on the ship, we were transported into a world of utter luxury. We were doted upon and treated like royalty. George, the cruise manager, always greeted everyone with a friendly smile and answered all our questions. I am sure he would have also been quick to solve any issues but there were none. He was on top of everything. Everything was done effortlessly, or so it seemed, from my perspective. The staff was friendly, upbeat and Costi our restaurant server made me laugh, a discreet comedian, suggested food and drink, made me a toddy in the evening. He was a true delight. Vlad our attentive and intuitive butler knew or seemed to know what we wanted before we even expressed our thoughts. We was extremely professional and incredibly helpful. The food was stupendous! The chef came around and wanted our feedback. No wonder! The baked goods are to die for. The lamb, wow. The soups yummy. We loved everything about our trip! What a grand adventure. Sylvia the tour organizers took very good care of us. She took great pains to explain and plan the wonderful outings we enjoyed. Our suite was wonderful, ours was the Royal Panorama. It was spacious, kept spotless and generously supplied with anything one could possibly need. Our laundry was taken care of and returned promptly. The salt room felt wonderful after our massage. I could go on, but will stop here before I write a book. I am still suffering from Vlad ( our butler) withdrawal. If you enjoy a phenomenal adventure and want to feel coddled in luxury, then sign up. You will love it! Guaranteed. Read Less

As a past Scenic traveller this was on my bucket list. This lived up to my expectations, I was part of a land/cruise tour of Vietnam & Cambodia over 22 Nights, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) & Siem Reap. This included the 7N cruise. We were a land content group of only 11 (9 aussie,2 Kiwis) due to early tour, 33 on the cruise. Low numbers meant that we were treated as celebrities by the enthusiastic staff who could not do enough for us. We all became friends early on the tour. Beautiful food & open bar made waistlines expand but there was no complaints Special thanks to Cruise Director Sven (he was always there to welcome us back from shore excursions) & all the crew & staff for making it a memorable experience. My recommendation...easy...Do it if you never get to do another one. Read Less