Canal archive

Thank goodness for that, when I phoned to book the cruise the guy called it the wine cruise and there was me thinking our cruise on the Soane & Rhone was a wine cruise. I will just have to get fit to follow all that tasting through. Only six weeks to go. CA

Try these sights okay not apps but may be of help.

anyoverip.de/scenic shows the positions of all Europe based Scenic ships.

marine traffic.com and vessel finder.com by which you can track virtually any vessel. Enjoy your cruise we go on our fifth with Scenic in June. CA

On the Rhone with Scenic last year the cruises two weeks prior to ours had to do a ship swap but we were fine the clearance under said bridge is just about a whisker, we had to wait for I think an Avalon ship coming upstream so we had a close up view of what was happening very good crewing and interesting.

The Gironde estuary, Bordeaux may be experiencing tidal bores, or the rivers may be a bit high as we have had quite a bit of rain. Will be interesting to find out as we go in about 6weeks time. CA 🇬🇧

Hi heavchev, if you look on page 26, 23rd Aug. 2014 of the All Scenic River Cruises Roll Call, I did a report on our Seine cruise with Scenic on their first cruise of the Scenic Gem. Apart from a few hiccups being the first cruise it was wonderful. We leave on our fifth Scenic cruise in June. Whatever cruise company you decide on I am sure you will enjoy yourself.

CA

Hi Marlstar, I read somewhere that Scenic had some binoculars at reception but cannot find that again, we take a small pair of quite powerful Tasco's with us and I have my paparazzie lens, very useful. Maybe phone or email Scenic and ask.

CA

It does not look that up to date to me. It's most probably best to look at local country news. Some of these so called strikes stoppages where resolved before the happened.

CA

Hi Nancyevans, I'm always a tad wary of advising to the USA as I get the impression that Scenic sometimes does things slightly differently than in the UK. Most probably to something to do with the sheer size of your country compared with ours. We have always dealt directly with Scenic and okay occasionaly have a bit of a wait on the phone but it works. We once arranged to fly out and back to Bristol direct on Air France who then decided to stop the return direct filight and re-routed us to return to Birmingham not a great distance US wise but for us it was as well as our car not being there. Discussing with Scenic we re-routed to Eurostar and have traveled to Europe each year until this when we fly BA direct both ways out of Gatwick, now if BA try the same trick I will be vey ticked off. I worked out that Itchtocruz will be cruising about 20th so that's why I suspect the trip personaliser has closed. Mind you we are now curious as to how we will be treated by the French if the UK referendum on do we stay or do we leave the European Union comes out as a leave, life always has a trick up its sleeve, hey ho. Happy cruising CA

Itchtocruz I see you are leaving in a few days time, in that case the trip personaliser most probably has been closed I think your TA should have told you about it when you booked. Just a suggestion talk to your cruise director a.s.a.p. and see what he or she can do for you. Have a great time. CA

Hi itchtocruz try this - tp.scenicglobal.com and follow the instructions it may work. CA

We are going on our fifth Scenic cruise this year and I have never heard of anyone not being able to go on a tour of their choice. Scenic go over and beyond to ensure that their customers are happy. On our Scenic Gem cruise two years ago we were the only ones going on one tour we had a car plus tour guide to ourselves, wonderful. You usually choose two or three tours prior to you cruise on your trip personaliser the others on board, the cruise director holds a port talk each day, usually early evening before dinner they explain the different tours and ask you to choose the next couple of days tours. It would be interesting to find out where your TA got this information from.

Enjoy your cruise CA

Hi not-so-ancient-mariner, good question, yes two robes and two pairs of slippers, as we have never, yet had to use the walking poles and umbrella from memory I think one umbrella and two walking poles but as you are in a Royal Panorama Suite I am sure your butler will magic up more if you require. As for binoculars I read somewhere last year that they would be available to borrow from reception but I don't know if that is correct, we always take a small but quite powerful Tasco pair with us and I have my paperazzie Canon lens, very useful. Happy cruising CA

Towling bathrobes, towling slippers, large bottles of still & fizzy water replaced every day if needed, l'occtaine shower gel, body cream, soap, shampoo, conditioner just a pity they don't supply their hand cream it's really nice. Your butler will also stock your fridge with different drinks if you don't like what is supplied he or she will also supply you with ice. There is red wine as well obviously not in the fridge. Just don't forget to put water in your vase for your rose, I did one year and it didn't last very long, it's about the only thing to do unless you are in a suite that your butler unpacks for you that's about the hardest thing you will have to do and there is loads of storage then put your empty cases under the bed. All done enjoy your cruise. CA

Hello Solant Richard, how is my old part of the U.K? We are on our 5th Scenic cruise this June and it's the Bordaux one, we have been on Diamond before she was moved to Bordaux. The butlers are wonderful in fact all the crew are, once your on board you can relax all you have to worry about is what to eat, drink and what excursion to choose. There is a huge Scenic thread on the River Cruising Roll Calls section. There are far more Americans and Australians on these forums but there are more and more of us Brits chipping in. Any particular questions just ask on the whole were a friendly bunch.

CA

Depending on your internet connection of course you should be able to get a US news channel with more home team info. In port it will be easier but more difficult through for example the Rhine gorge. We had vast problems a couple of years ago because so many were evidently using scipe. CA

No problem, as I have discovered on Scenic you can taste as many as you like to find your favourite and especially at dinner they do tend to offer wines parred with the menus on offer that evening. The only problem I have is an intolerance to the Merlot grape, no joke one sip and 10 minutes later a thumping headache, why I don't know but a friend has a similar problem but not quite so bad. So a full Merlot is out of the question I can tolerate a blend as long as the Merlot grape is not predominate. So Bordeaux will be a bit of a challenge but I may find something spectacular. CA

Yes Pintolover is correct about the luggage restrictions, the river cruise restrictions in most cases are as the airlines if you don't pay for excess baggage. There is plenty of under the bed storage for your empty luggage during the cruise. At least there is no restrictions such as on the Orient Express for cabin luggage we were next to a couple who ignored the guidance, as the carriage walls are extremely thin the reprocusions of having two large suitcases they had to negotiate in a small space had to be heard to be believed, trying to keep straight faces when we met was somewhat difficult.

Hope all packing fits and non gets lost in transit. CA

Had to talk to the Scenic UK office on Friday so asked the question and no they are very sorry but could not supply me with a wine list as each river, area and country has a different wine selection, so it's going to be a wine adventure, yippee! Did find out though that although we will be arriving in Bordaux and on the ship mid morning there is no problem boarding at that time. CA

From this year 2016 Scenic include 1kg of laundry for each cabin. Some cabins depending on deck and size include more amenities of course this does mean more cost. CA

Try a Spanish Rioja, some are somewhat on the oky side but most have that depth of flavour that really kicks. To me it's sunshine in a glass.

CA

Hi 41rainbow, the Shiraz grape is the new world name for the Syrah grape which comes from the Rhone valley so you should have a great time comparing the new and old world versions. I had the wine list but I think it's on my old emai so will try to find it. Scenic has a great wine selection usually made up of local varieties. Last year on the south of France cruise there was a delicious Chateau neuf de Pap from one of the tastings we went to. Mind you my husband maintains that there are no bad wines only that some are very much better than others. It's an aim to taste, just a few to find that especial one you realy enjoy. On board you will find they offer about five different at lunch and dinner if non tempt you just ask for the wine list, the staff will always remember your preference.

Enjoy your cruise and I hope you find a wine to your taste. CA

We had already seen the tapestry and I don't think it was one of the choices and it seems from the brochure that there have been some changes to the itinerary for some of the excursions. As our cruise was the first there were a couple of Scenic guys on board evaluating the cruise so we were able to chat first hand on the pluses (there were many) and the minuses (only a few) and it looks like they have taken notice. The textile museum at Bolbec was very interesting even my other half enjoyed it. This was the trip that only us took, just us our guide a trainee from Scenic our driver and a Mercedes Limo it was fascinating.

CA

We did the first Scenic Gem cruise in 2014, it was superb, although then the required approval for mooring in Honfuer had not been signed, it has now, I think I would even do the cruise again just for that. Due to the shorter lock lengths on the Seine Gem is smaller than most of the Scenic fleet so less passengers and it is noticeable. The 1st WW trip is a long day but so worth it the 2nd WW day won't be so long for you due to docking in Honfluer, Scenic gives every passenger poppies to place on war graves if they wish. A few people for various reasons could not make these trips so I ended up with several poppies. Just makes sure you have plenty of tissues. Giverney is wonderful, don't complain about getting there early there was no one else there when we arrived, when we left it was packed with long queues to get in. The Van Gough trip was well worth it, I am a bit of an art history buff and the insight into his life was very interesting the short film is not to be missed.

Enjoy your cruise and any other questions just ask. CA

My Girl Guide Company was on an army base during the Irish troubles I've had my car searched more times than I can count. We were in Paris at a very nice restraunt when the French football team got through to an important soccer semi final the staff were great but more interested in the score etc so got talking to some American customers who declared that Paris was the closest they would get to the UK whilst the troubles were on. We were in Berlin when the wall came down, what a buzz, in South Africa when Mandela was elected President. This lot are not going to stop us going anywhere. We need to be strong and supportive. Okay British stiff upper lip and all that but all for one and one for all.

If you decide to go really enjoy your cruise but don't feel bad if you can't it's not the end of the world.

CA

I am not surprised that you were wary, what a strange way to do business. Whether it's a full or partial charter I don't think Emerald would be very impressed as it may reflect on them as a company.

Do enjoy whatever cruise you take with whatever company. CA

Your right very strange, security with your CC is paramount and I have not seen anywhere on Cruise Critic this mentioned before in conjunction with any river cruise company. Scenic the parent company certainly doesn't, well not in the UK I can't think it would be different elsewhere. Was it the TA?

CA