Reviewed by: Jade Shaw 

Sailed to: Rhine Highlights Cruise from Basel to Amsterdam

Date: 24 June 2019

Cruise line and ship: Scenic Cruises onboard Scenic Jasper  

Size of ship: 135 meters long | 2721 gross tonnage 

Passenger capacity: 169 passengers (53 staff)

Year built (refurbed): Built 2016 & Refurbished 2019 

Currency onboard: Euro

Where the ship cruises:  Currently between Budapest and Amsterdam

Most suited to: Most people onboard were in the 60+ age bracket. However, there are lots of free choices with Scenic so you can be as active or as relaxed as they like. This customisable feature makes Scenic suitable for clients of all ages. I would highly recommend this cruise to clients aged 50+ who would like a taste of local culture, history and who enjoy sitting back and watching the world pass by.            

Embarkation/de-embarkation process: Embarkation and disembarkation was very easy. We were transferred from the airport to ship and walked onboard and into the lounge. We were greeted with cool towels and served drinks by bar staff while waiting to be checked in by the front desk. The disembarkation process was just as smooth. We were able to wait onboard with access to beverage service and light lunch options until our transfer time. The last transfer left the ship at 6pm that evening.    

Atmosphere: Very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The staff were lovely and made you feel at home from the moment you stepped onboard. The ship itself is surprisingly spacious, boasting a modern contemporary design while also being very comfortable.   

Staterooms: I was lucky enough to stay in a private balcony suite onboard, which is the lead-in suite with a balcony. These suites have plenty of room for two people and even come with a butler service. Once you unpack there is enough room to slide your suitcase under your bed so it doesn’t take up any space. The balcony opens and closes with the touch of a button and it was lovely to sit on the sun lounger with a drink in hand from your mini-bar, or ordered through room service, and relax as you pass the villages along the Rhine.

The beds are unbelievably comfortable and you can even choose your pillow preferences from the pillow menu. The bathroom was spacious and well-appointed with luxurious L’occitane bath products that are replenished daily.      

Dining Options & Service: There are three dining options onboard, with the Crystal Dining room being where guests will eat most meals. Breakfast and lunch are set up buffet style with an omelette station and champagne bar, as well as a roast station at lunch. Dinner is a four-course à la carte menu that changes every night. There were lots of options for guests who have dietary requirements. There was even an alternate menu for people who were after something a little less rich which included meals such as steak and chips, salmon and salad etc.

Portobellos Restaurant is a five-course Italian degustation menu. The food in this restaurant is amazing and was a stand out on my cruise with Scenic. During the day this restaurant offers light lunch options. The River Cafe is the last dining option onboard and offers a cafe style menu serving coffee, cakes and sandwiches etc.       

Entertainment: The entertainment onboard Scenic is low key and not in your face. Your cruise director offers an informative port talk before dinner each night which offers you insights into the shore tours for the following day. There is also entertainment after dinner. Most nights the resident pianist will play and serenade the crowd as guests gather for drinks. Other nights performers are brought onboard to entertain guests. We had a local performer onboard in Koblenz who played guitar and sang along with the guests. There was also a violinist who gave a concert another evening.    

Onboard Activities: Being a river cruise ship this product doesn’t offer the public facilities of ocean cruising. However there is a pool, a walking track and sun loungers on deck to use in downtime. There is also a wellness and fitness area featuring a small gym, massage and treatment rooms. There’s even an innovative salt therapy lounge to relax in. Other activities offered onboard include music trivia, cooking demonstrations, galley tour and morning yoga classes.  

Favourite Experiences on the Ship: My favourite experience onboard was the staff entertainment evening. After dinner one night the staff performed a concert for guests and were then free to mingle, drink, dance and enjoy the evening with everyone.  It was a great way to end the cruise enjoying a night with the people who had made your experience so amazing. 

Families: These ships will take families onboard and would always make the little ones feel welcome, however they do not especially cater for children. At the end of the day, it’s probably not the best option for kids.

Self-Service Laundry: There are no self-service laundry facilities onboard however one bag of laundry is offered free of charge per suite per cruise. 

Shore Tours: Every day guests can choose from a range of all-inclusive free choice activities that vary from an active to a relaxed pace. Depending on how much you pack into your day you can sometimes feel the days are fairly full, however, you always have the option to move at a slower pace with Scenic. One thing is for sure, no matter how much you see there is always more to explore. 

Uniqueness: Scenic Enrich – this is definitely a unique experience offered on each river cruise with Scenic. My Scenic Enrich experience was a private concert at the magnificent Baroque Palace of Rastatt. This evening was unlike any other, our group arrived to find that we had the entire place to ourselves. We were greeted with a champagne reception and toured the palace before being seated in the grand ballroom and serenaded by two opera singers. This was a completely unique opportunity that was custom designed by Scenic for their guests onboard this cruise.