SLWW

6 hours ago, Canal archive said:

Have you been offered any perks such as luggage? Very recently in the U.K. it was announced no more luggage or other such perks to be replaced with €50 onc. I will try to find the exact wording. This could be used for extra laundry or spa treatments. Everything else is included, you want to wonder off on your own you can even ask for a picnic for instance.

On our small print details paperwork, 

Loyalty Onboard Credit Inclusion.

Continuing our sustainability journey, guests will now automatically receive 50€ per person on board currency credit in lieu of luggage.

 

It may be different in other parts of the world.

Kristelle which deck are you on?

 

When I contacted Scenic about the luggage, I was told we each would be receiving a 50 Euro on board credit instead, we are in Canada.  Also I had asked about the private transfers, we are out of the mileage limit, here in Canada it was only 25km, so we will each be receiving a $100 credit instead. 

3 hours ago, Kristelle said:

 

yes that's the one!

 

starts in Amsterdam on 6th Sept.

 

PS my name isnt really Kristelle though - just made that up for my user name.

I hope I get to meet you!  This is our fourth Scenic cruise, I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as we do.

Hi Kristelle, my husband and I are booked on the September 6/23 Scenic Amsterdam to Budapest cruise. Is this the one you are booked on?  If so, I hope to meet you onboard.

Thank you Canal archive, I'm glad the laundry allowance hasn't changed.  This will be our first cruise as Platinum members with the private transfers.  I hope we are within the mileage allocation range. 

Thank you TheRampantSnail and Canal archive for the information, our trip isn't until September, so maybe that's why we haven't heard anything.  The 50 Euro/dollar whatever will be handy for laundry.  Will passengers still receive the one free bag of laundry?  It's a pity we won't be able to use the credit in the store.  We are Platinum members, and I have been trying to find out if we qualify for the transfers to and from the airport, I haven't heard back from Scenic.

I was updating our Trip Personalizer the other day, and noticed it appears Scenic has done away with the luggage/backpack options.  It used to show on the bottom left corner of Guest Details section.  I checked the Scenic Club information on the website, and it is gone from there too. A cost cutting measure I guess.

I have contacted Scenic, but haven't heard anything back from them.  

Thank you.

You're welcome.

RJKAJ, on Scenic's Canadian site this is the number for information to call:

Stay up-to-date with the latest information about necessary itinerary alterations.

If you have any questions or need further information please contact Customer Relations at 1(833) 228-8561or email info@scenic.ca

Mon-Fri, 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM, PST

Saturday 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM, PST

So, I am now breathing a big sigh of relief :)

 

According the Reuters link below, the main French air traffic controllers union has now lifted the threat of the strike:

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/france-union-strike-idUSL8N18T5M7

 

Jeff

Thank you for posting this, that is very good news for us also. I had not heard they were not going to strike now.

We are scheduled to leave this Thursday with a change of planes at Heathrow Friday morning. Early afternoon on Friday (June 3) we are scheduled leave heathrow and fly into Marseilles and meet our ship. I see there a quite a few scheduled strikes set for France next week. Air traffic in France is supposed to strike from June3-5. Has anyone experienced this interfering with getting to the ship? We will be on Vantage (our flights booked through them) and I imagine this will effect a lot of the passengers. Can anyone share their experience .. Was your flight rerouted to still get you there? was your trip cancelled? was the trip shortened? Do you just not make it all. This is our first river cruise and I've been very excited counting down the days! I feel a little panic starting!

We are watching the situation also. We are scheduled to fly from Toronto to Heathrow overnight on Saturday, June 4th, and then to Paris on June 5th. Our travel agent was talking to both British Airways and Scenic on Friday, and they just keep saying so far it's business as usual. We are getting nervous too!

You will really enjoy your trip.

If you haven't done it yet, enter your apartment's address in Google maps and do the street view up and down the street. Av de La Lanterne winds around quite a bit. You will get your walking done!

Thank you marazul for the tip about Google street view. I looked up the apartment in Nice, and it looks very nice. It appears there are some sidewalks on some of the streets, so hopefully, my husband and I will be able to do some walking.

I am somewhat familiar with the area. It is very hilly and you might get some really nice views from your apartment. I don't know your building, but it is a nice area with mostly apartment buildings. Not pedestrian friendly.

 

As I recall, there are no restaurants or supermarkets nearby, maybe a bakery. It will be a hike to get to any of them on foot. And if you are thinking of walking to the restaurants in Rue de la Californie, you may also have to cross the tram construction.

 

I am concerned about your plans to depend on buses and public transport to get around, especially if one of you has difficulties walking. You might want to check those bus schedules to see how late they run and how frequently they run. You might spend more time on public transport than sightseeing, and may have to depend a lot on taxis to get to the train station or back home late at night. If you do that, make sure you have a cell phone and the number of a good taxi company.

 

Have you considered renting a car? You should be able to get some very good deals from Europcar, especially this far out from your trip. They have an agency at the airport and another at the train station (don't know how you are coming in from Arles, but I assume it is by train). Parking should not be a problem around your apartment.

Hi marazul, thank you for your suggestions, and for the information. I think we will be renting a car now based on what you said. We will certainly look into Europcar.

I just saw your other post about Avenue de la Lanterne going all the way to Rue de le Californie. We were thinking of walking there to the shops, if possible. My husband and I do a lot of walking where we live.

Thanks again, the information is very much appreciated.

If you are up for it, Cannes can easily be combined with Antibes for a nice long day trip. Both can be done by bus also...disadvantage it's slow, advantage...the bus is cheap and drop off spots in towns are very convenient, with very little walking.

Thank you, buggins0402 for the Cannes/Antibes information. My brother-in-law will like the "very little walking" part as he has a degenerative bone disease in his hips and knees.

The next train stop from Antibes is Juan-les-Pins which has very good sandy beaches, restaurants, etc and not as expensive as Cannes. If you want to do some beach time, visit Antibes in the morning and then go on to Juan.

 

The same train will also take you to Cannes. You can do both Antibes and Cannes in one day if you are not interested in swimming.

 

Where in Fabron are you? Close to the beach or the University? There are also private beaches in front of the Radisson Blu and a little ways over there is Le Miami beach. They both have umbrellas, chairs and restaurant.

 

There are a number of simple restaurants along the Rue de la Californie. I recommend having the "plat du jour" at the restaurants for an inexpensive, freshly made lunch. That is usually the best choice.

 

For the birthday dinner, go to La Merenda in old Nice. They accept reservations, but you have to make them in person because they do not answer the phone. Open Monday to Friday only and no credit cards.

 

You might also enjoy Le Bistrot du Port at the port of Nice for dinner. Good prices and good food. At the Bistrot or at any restaurant in Antibes, try the fish soup.

Marazul, thank you for your very good suggestions. The restaurants you suggested seem like just what we're looking for.

I don't think we're near the University or the beach. I think we're higher in the hills. The apartment is located on Avenue de la Lanterne, if that helps you. It's called Villa Casabianca.

Also thank you for the different suggestions on what to do.

With an entire week, you'll have time to fiddle around with busses to some other great towns. Bus 400 will take you to St. Paul de Vence. Bus 82 will take

you to Eze. The schedules can be found on this website:

 

http://www.lignesdazur.com/index.asp?no_mobile=1

 

You could also visit Antibes - that I would do by train.

Thank you for the information, buggins0402, and for replying back so quickly. Antibes sounds like a great idea; we never even thought of going there.

After our river cruise next June, three couples have rented an apartment in Nice for a week. We are in the Fabron area, and looks like there are several bus route numbers (lines 34, 12 and 65) that run by the apartment. We will be using the bus quite a bit I think.

We are looking for suggestions as to reasonably priced restaurants for dinner and little cafes for the odd breakfast and lunch. One of my sisters-in-law will be celebrating her birthday that week, and we would like to have a birthday dinner without breaking the bank, if possible.

We thought we would take the train to Monaco one day and in a Rick Steves' book, he lists some private guides one can hire for a tour of Nice and surrounding area; we thought we would do that one day also.

Any suggestions on what else to do and where to eat is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Has anyone recently returned from a SCENIC TOURS cruise on the SCENIC EMERALD..... Paris to Nice? Impressions of the ship???

I am curious to know if low water levels were an issue this year. Did anyone take advantage of the cycling options? If so, could you comment on your experience. How difficult was the process of signing up in advance? Thx.

-CordovaBay

Hi CordovaBay, when are you going? There are four of us, my husband, and I, my husband's sister, and her husband, going on the June 5 - 18 cruise.

Two years ago on the Budapest to Amsterdam cruise we met a couple from Australia, and they are joining us on this cruise.

You're welcome, cruisetmc. All the best in whatever you decide.

Hi cruisetmc, we departed from Seattle. I think we embarked around 11:30 or so, and the ship left port at 4:00 pm.

If you are interested in a wedding on board a Princess ship, I have attached a link to their wedding planning brochure. It is: http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/gifts_services/celebrations/wedding/WeddingPlanner-0814.pdf

I'm sure things have changed in the last 6 years, but my daughter had a wedding consultant to help with the planning, and on her wedding day, she was assigned a wedding coordinator and someone from the purser's office to help with the guests.

She had a candlelit ceremony in the chapel, performed by the captain, and at that time, there was a pianist performing the music selections.

Her bouquet was beautiful; she had 18 pink and cream roses, with baby's breath and greenery, and pink ribbons. The mothers had pink rose corsages, and the men had white rose boutonnieres.

I'm sorry, I don't know how to upload pictures to Cruise Critic. If someone could send me instructions, I will try and upload some.

Hi cruisetmc, my daughter got married on the Star Princess in July 2009 on an Alaskan cruise. She got married in the chapel on the first at sea day by the captain, and we had 24 family members from both sides sailing with us. She had her reception in Sabatini's. It was delicious!

If you have any questions, I will try to answer them for you. :)