Going Live on Scenic "Chef's Culinary Adventure of Belgium and the Netherlands with Lynn Crawford and Lora Kirk"

[Canal archive]

Were those who went to the Commonwealth Cemetery given poppies? Each year in the past we have been especially on our first Seine Cruise. In each instance we’ve had people on board who for whatever reason could not make the tour so we ended up with quite a few poppies which we placed them on the memorials of those ‘known only unto God’ these places a so special. I lost two grand uncles in WW1 and my dad was on HMS Rodney WW2.

Your last pictures bring back memories but I’m kicking myself as somehow I missed the Chocolate!

[pontac]

15 hours ago, notamermaid said:

You mean Kinderdijk is not on a river but at a canal or rather low lying ground that fills with ground water if the windmills did not do the pumping?

 

Well, the dike protects the polder from the  Lek river, so yes it is on a river that goes through Rotterdam and that's how river boats get to it.

 

The windmills are below the dike on the polder and pump low lying water up to a higher holding oblong pond, and from that to another before the water is pumped out into the river.

 

The windmills aren't at the edge of the river, but at the holding ponds, so the photographs you commented on weren't showing the river.

 

Not that the rivers have large waves either or Mrs P wouldn't go on a river cruise.

[1of4]

6 hours ago, Canal archive said:

Were those who went to the Commonwealth Cemetery given poppies? Each year in the past we have been especially on our first Seine Cruise. In each instance we’ve had people on board who for whatever reason could not make the tour so we ended up with quite a few poppies which we placed them on the memorials of those ‘known only unto God’ these places a so special. I lost two grand uncles in WW1 and my dad was on HMS Rodney WW2.

Your last pictures bring back memories but I’m kicking myself as somehow I missed the Chocolate!

We were given poppies on our Seine cruise but not this one. In fact, when I knew we were going to France I contacted the Royal Canadian Legion and got a number of small fabric flags and brought poppies from home. We placed them at various cemeteries in Normandy.  

[1of4]

Regarding dress code. During the day it is casual. At dinners most change but not all. During the 3 more formal dinners we had (Portobellos, Table La Rive, and the dinner cooked by Chefs Lynn and Laura) only noticed a few blazers on men, one tie. Most men wore dress shirts or short sleeve button up shirts. Women wore everything from pants and sweater/blouse to yoga pants and sweater. Dresses would not be out of place. I only saw one sequin top. 

Edited April 15 by 1of4
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[cbr663]

Thanks for providing clarity around the dress on board.  We attended a Scenic information seminar and the marketing materials all showed men dressed in jackets/ties/suites and women in dresses/dressy clothes.  There was also a lot of emphasis on the "ultra luxury" aspect of Scenic and its Enriching Experiences where they highlighted excursions to private symphonies and orchestras.  We left the seminar thinking that Scenic is not the cruise line for us as it really presented a formal experience.

[1of4]

1 hour ago, cbr663 said:

Thanks for providing clarity around the dress on board.  We attended a Scenic information seminar and the marketing materials all showed men dressed in jackets/ties/suites and women in dresses/dressy clothes.  There was also a lot of emphasis on the "ultra luxury" aspect of Scenic and its Enriching Experiences where they highlighted excursions to private symphonies and orchestras.  We left the seminar thinking that Scenic is not the cruise line for us as it really presented a formal experience.

Even reading our information sent by email a month before departure, Scenic pushes the suites and ties and cocktail outfits. Seasons may have some effect but on this cruise I would say nobody went by Scenic’s dress guidelines for dinner attire..

Edited April 15 by 1of4

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, cbr663 said:

We attended a Scenic information seminar and the marketing materials all showed men dressed in jackets/ties/suites and women in dresses/dressy clothes.  

Those were models, not passengers.  [This was the advice I got from my travel agent before my first river cruise, and she was right!]

[Canal archive]

They appear in most of the adverts and brochures.

[gnome12]

3 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Those were models, not passengers.  [This was the advice I got from my travel agent before my first river cruise, and she was right!]

Uniworld and Ama do the same thing in their brochures. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

35 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

Uniworld and Ama do the same thing in their brochures. 

It was AMA (back in 2013) that I was referring to.  Yes, this is all cruise lines and has been the case for a long time.  [Where I got caught out recently was with Silversea, which actually meant it when they showed people in formal wear!  Thankfully they have recently relaxed a bit – but still way more formal than any river cruise line!]

[1of4]

I get to get off the boat today! Woohoo!  It is wet, windy and cold but hopefully the rain will stop by the time we get to Keukenhof Gardens. It’s 7.9 C or 46.2 F at the moment. Brrr

[Canal archive]

I hope you don’t get a speeding ticket in your mobility vehicle, mind there is something about a man in uniform!

[pontac]

14 hours ago, cbr663 said:

There was also a lot of emphasis on the "ultra luxury" aspect of Scenic

 

It's hot air. I'd like an explanation of what "ultra luxury" actually means and how Scenic delivers it.

 

[ontheweb]

6 hours ago, 1of4 said:

I get to get off the boat today! Woohoo!  It is wet, windy and cold but hopefully the rain will stop by the time we get to Keukenhof Gardens. It’s 7.9 C or 46.2 F at the moment. Brrr

Good luck with the weather. We lucked out that that was probably our nicest weather day.

 

Keukenhof is incredibly beautiful. I hope you get to post many, many pictures. Please let us all know how you do with the wheelchair there. There are paths, but to really cover it, there is a lot of walking.

[cbr663]

16 hours ago, 1of4 said:

Even reading our information sent by email a month before departure, Scenic pushes the suites and ties and cocktail outfits. Seasons may have some effect but on this cruise I would say nobody went by Scenic’s dress guidelines for dinner attire..

 

Yes, that was the impression we gathered from the seminar that Scenic pushes the dressy environment.  

 

Many years ago when we sailed in our first Neptune Suite on HAL we decided to go all out with its formal nights.  That was back when HAL delivered corsages and boutonnieres to your suite for formal night.  We decided after that cruise that we were one and done with that.  The dark suits and sequins have never travelled with us since.  We are now at the point that we would rather avail of a ship's laundry service than take any bag larger than a carry on.  

[1of4]

We are a bit wet and cold but the gardens were spectacular!  It is a very windy, rainy day below 10 C or about 47 degrees F. 

[catgirl411]

A word on Scenic dress code. A number of years ago, we did the 14 day Amsterdam to Budapest route. It was a wonderful trip. There were almost 100 Aussies on board, about 20 Canadians, 6 Americans and a scattered number of others. The Aussies were so much fun, such lovely people. We got to know one couple quite well. He was a retired senior civil servant . When it came to dress though he came to dinner barefoot almost every night and he wasn’t the only one. For those of us from North America , “no shirt, no shoes, no service” is ingrained in us so it was very strange to see.

[cbr663]

1 hour ago, 1of4 said:

We are a bit wet and cold but the gardens were spectacular!  It is a very windy, rainy day below 10 C or about 47 degrees F. ...

 

 

Beautiful pics.  Tulips are our favourite flower.  We regularly have fresh tulips in our house.  Your post reminded me to check out the dates for the Tulip Festival here in Ottawa.  We still have about 3 weeks to go.  🙂

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, 1of4 said:

We are a bit wet and cold but the gardens were spectacular!  It is a very windy, rainy day below 10 C or about 47 degrees F. 

Glad you made it there! And your pictures are beautiful!

[Canal archive]

Beautiful beautiful flowers maybe a bit regimented for me but what exceptional colours.

[superoma]

Absolutely gorgeous ! Even better than Holland Michigan. Very glad you were able to go

[ontheweb]

Thank you for sharing the details of your trip with all of us.

[1of4]

Arrived home Wednesday night after a 2.5 hour flight delay. Now real life begins!  But before that emerges from the darkness as it is only 3:45 in the morning, I thought I would include the Scenic Enrich program. I couldn’t go, even if I hadn’t hurt my feet as it was an exclusive viewing of Dutch Masters projected on every surface of the old Gas Works building in Amsterdam. My vestibular issues would have had me on the floor…again!

[Canal archive]

1of4 I completely understand. I would do the Bordeaux cruise again for their similar ex-submarine pens experience. To see these paintings sat down in comfort would be to my mind absolutely the best. Why mess with this. It could be the most amazing immersive art experience ever.

I’m glad you’re home safe and sound and I’ve enjoyed so much your journey with you. Thank you.

[1of4]

3 hours ago, Canal archive said:

1of4 I completely understand. I would do the Bordeaux cruise again for their similar ex-submarine pens experience. To see these paintings sat down in comfort would be to my mind absolutely the best. Why mess with this. It could be the most amazing immersive art experience ever.

I’m glad you’re home safe and sound and I’ve enjoyed so much your journey with you. Thank you.

Thank you for following along and participating. I’m glad that, not only could I enjoy a second river boat vacation, that I could share the experience!