There is a reason Scenic's river cruises have a high rate of returning customers. Travel Associates advisor Marlena Holden recently discovered why: It’s the level of service, the elegance and style of the Scenic Space-Ships, and the experience gained over 15 years of cruising Europe’s rivers.
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Pulling up beside the luxurious Scenic Sapphire in Lyon, I had barely opened my taxi door before realising this would be a cruise like nothing I had ever experienced.
Our ship captain, Franck, welcomed me with a glass of champagne and personally escorted me up the ship's stairs. Meanwhile, my personal butler had discreetly grabbed my bags and taken them inside our balcony suite.
While my butler Alina was preparing the suite (who may I add, was available 24/7 for whatever we needed), I was whisked away to the floor-to-ceiling-window Panorama Lounge and handed a ten-page-long cocktail list to browse, ready to make a dent in my truly all-inclusive experience.
It took all but minutes to get settled from cab to ship, a stark contrast to the long lines and waiting I was used to with ocean cruising.
River Cruising vs Ocean Cruising
River cruising offers a more intimate and immersive experience compared to ocean cruising. With smaller ships and fewer guests, river cruising allows for more personal space and personalised service.
The true magic of a river cruise lies in its ability to navigate through small towns and villages, docking right in the heart of town so you can step off the boat and start exploring immediately—no long lines for disembarkation!
For many travellers, the slow, steady pace along the river is just right for truly getting to know the landscapes and cultures of the regions they’re exploring.
I was onboard Scenic Sapphire for six nights, gently drifting down the Rhone River from Lyon to Arles, and it only took me a a couple of days onboard Scenic to switch from a ocean-cruise-veteran to river-cruise-adorer.
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Scenic Sapphire
Scenic, an Australian-owned cruise line that began as a coach tour operator in 1986, is the crème-de-la-crème when it comes to river cruising. The ship I sailed on, Scenic Sapphire, felt more like a floating luxury hotel than a traditional river cruise, with truly exceptional world-class dining, skilled mixologists, unique spa facilities (including a salt therapy lounge), and an abundance of space to enjoy it all.
Entering our balcony suite continued my suspicions I was in fact in a luxury hotel and not a river cruise, with crisp Egyptian linens on slumber beds (and a pillow menu to boot), plush bathrobes, marble bathrooms, luxurious ESPA toiletries, and a complimentary mini-bar (restocked daily).
Each suite had a step-out balcony with a small table, chairs, and an open-air system which felt like the balcony became an extension of your suite.
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Some of my favourite moments were spent sitting on the balcony, enjoying the ever-changing views with a bottle of champagne, or early morning coffee—brought to our room on request by our personal butler, of course.
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Destination: Immersion
A huge factor in my new found love of river cruising was Scenic's dedication to immersing their guests in the destinations they are visiting.
Onboard, the culinary offerings are thoughtfully themed around the excursion or region you're in (lucky me, opting for a France itinerary), ensuring that every meal is a reflection of the local culture and flavours. The wine list is carefully curated and changed daily to feature selections from the region, allowing you to sip on the essence of the landscapes you’re drifting through. This is in addition to an all-included premium beverage menu featuring cocktails, spirits, champagne, and mocktails.
A key immersion experience is Scenic's Freechoice shore excursion programme, which offers guests a range of options to choose from each day, allowing you to tailor your cruise based on your interests, free of charge.
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Across the six-night itinerary, our excursions saw us sipping red wine amongst the vineyards of Chateauneuf du-Pape, exploring ancient medieval villages while learning their history, buying produce at local markets with the ship's chefs to be used as ingredients for later cooking classes, and attending a one of a kind classical concert at the prestigious Palais des Papes in Avignon, after the doors were closed to the public.
Excursions began between 8:00am-9:00am and we were back on the ship by 12-1pm, meaning our afternoons were free to spend at our leisure. After a delicious spot of lunch, we could choose to soak up the sun with a book and cocktail on the sundeck, hop in the spa or wander off the ship for a stroll around the local town. This is river cruising at its finest, and an experience I struggled to have on an ocean cruise.
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Scenic truly shines in the world of luxury river cruising.
With a maximum of only 163 guests, Scenic offers luxury to the nth degree, and the staff's attention to detail is exceptional, creating an experience that feels both exclusive and incredibly personal.
I'm a total river cruise convert, and have already started dreaming up my next one (Scenic's Unforgettable Douro and Christmas Markets itineraries are calling my name).
