candf

Candf, thanks for keeping us informed of Scenic Jewel's progress. I hope your were able to navigate the Rhine Gorge today, and look forward to any future posts.

 

We will be boarding the Jewel on 9/10 in Amsterdam.

Successfully cruised the Rhine Gorge yesterday. Had a beautiful sunny day seeing the sights of Rüdesheim and amazing view riding the cable car. You’re able to walk back to the ship from Rüdesheim if you like or take the little train. There was a bbq on our return on outside deck. It did rain as we were passing the gorge, but non the less was quite lovely. Outside of a couple hiccups (see my previous posts), all is going well. Off to see Cochem this morning which is an hour coach ride from Koblenz. Overcast - but no rain at the moment.

Hi. We’re on Jewel at the moment. The electricity current on board is 220 volts. The cabin is equipped with European power points in both the cabin and bathroom, plus one international power point, located in the cabin in front of the mirror. If you’d like to use a 110 volt appliance that doesn’t have a dual-outage option, you’ll need a converter and an adapter plug. They are available at reception. Unfortunately, I don’t see a USB port.

Enjoy your cruise.

Just a little update. We had to dock in Worms rather than Mannheim as the water levels were too low. Excursions were to Heidelberg during the day and concert at Schwetzingen Palace during evening. Both were well done. Captain says we should be able to go thru the Rhine Gorge. Fingers crossed.....

So sorry to see this. You would think a phone call would for this type of information would have happened. We are flying out today to catch the cruise in Basel on the 5th. I did check spam...nothing yet. BUT, for those that had not a chance to check email, thinking it is is Basel, will miss all information. Thanks for the update

Well, unfortunately we only left our home phone number with Scenic and by the time they sent their email we were already at the airport and didn’t check emails for junk until a couple days later. It wouldn’t have made any difference with flight anyway. We had a lovely time in Zurich and look forward to our time on the Jewel. Hopefully by the 5th all will be good with the locks. Hope you and others have a wonderful time on your vacation.

Arrived in Strasbourg rather than Basel. Not a bad journey at all. Only took an additional 1-1/2 hours. Apparently the locks were very backed up and this worked out to be the most prompt way to get us onboard. We are staying overnight in Strasbourg. Unfortunately, we are in an industrial area, but we have beautiful swans as we look out of the balcony and no ship docked beside us. No rain insight as the sun is shining at the moment. The Jewel is beautiful and the staff are looking after us royally. Apparently the cruise from Amsterdam the week before us went well except for having to get off at Strasbourg rather than Basel. Ran into someone who was on the cruise prior to us and said we are going to love it! Will know more info after port talk with the cruise director tonight.

Just thought I would mention to those travelling soon to check your junk email. What prompted me to check ours this morning, (Sept 3), is when I was checking to see how the Jewel was doing on the following website http://www.anyoverip.de/scenic/index.php?ship=Jewel&d=03&m=9&y=2018, Jewel was showing that it was still in Strasbourg.

Here is an excerpt of our email from Scenic that we received on July 1st late afternoon.

“Due to lock delays on the Rhine, Scenic Jewel will be unable to reach Basel in time for embarkation of guests 3 September Rhine Highlights River Cruise.

Due to this delay it will be necessary to alter our guests embarkation and sailing schedule.

Guests joining our Rhine Highlights River Cruise, will join Scenic Jewel in Strasbourg, not Basel as scheduled.”

It certainly was not Scenic’s fault that their email went into our junk email, but it was interesting that nothing was mentioned to us from the Scenic rep that picked us up at Zurich airport to take us to the hotel that there was a deviation for embarkation.

Thank you Tidalmist. Have a wonderful vacation too....

We are currently in Vienna it has been raining most of today and looks like it will tomorrow as well. I have no idea how much, but it has to be good news for the Danube. We saw the Scenic Crystal docked here today. It does appear that the river conditions can change rapidly meaning that Scenic likely can’t tell you more than a couple of days in advance what the conditions likely will be. This doesn’t excuse their horrid lack of communication and inconsistency of answers. Scenic, don’t make stuff up!!! Make sure everyone who communicates with the guests have the same facts. If you don’t know say so. If you know a ship can’t make it to the point of embarkation say so. If there is a possibility of a ship swap or a bus say so. Your guests are paying a lot of money for these trips and for many the planning and investment is extensive. Scenic, put yourselves in your customers shoes and act like you really care!!

tou·ché

Posted this on the Rhine thread, but thought I would post here too. We will hopefully be boarding Scenic Jewel on Sept. 3rd Basel to Amsterdam. Leaving shortly for the airport in Toronto to Zurich. I’ll report on conditions once we board. Thanks again to all for your helpful posts.

Colleen

Wannawander

I love your story too. Have a wonderful time on your trip. We will hopefully be boarding Scenic Jewel on Sept. 3rd Basel to Amsterdam. Leaving shortly for the airport in Toronto to Zurich. I’ll report on conditions once we board. Thanks again to all for your helpful posts.

Colleen

Thank you Jupiter14 and cruising denise for your encouraging updates. Enjoy your cruises.

Notamermaid, as always your posts are most helpful. Thanks.

Sunday 26: We left Jade at Regensburg this morning and after bus trips today we were transferred to Pearl at Linz this afternoon.

Pearl was at Passau this morning before returning downstream to Linz. I understand that passengers from Pearl were transferred to Jade. I assume our luggage was loaded onto Pearl when it was in Passau.

Hoping we can get to Budapest!

Thanks for the update. Hope you make it to Budapest too.

I was on a cruise when you were speaking to the Scenic rep in Vancouver and I can tell you that his information was completely wrong.

 

To go through the Rhine Gorge, one of the rel highlights of the cruise we were bused and ended up on the Boppard ferry boat becasue our ship could not make it. We were very crowded on this small ferry and there were a lot of local commuters that we upset as well.

What a huge disappointment that Scenic is not transparent with the situation. What should have been an amazing vacation for you and others certainly was not the case. Of course Scenic cannot control the weather and low water levels (and who could have predicted that they would be so low), but what they can do is be upfront with their clients and maintain a good relationship. This certainly does not seem the case. We knew when we booked the vacation that there could possibly be a boat swap and perhaps some time on buses, but what you had to go thru is ridiculious. They should amend the itinerary or give the clients a chance to cancel. We booked this holiday for a significant birthday. Planned close to a year in advance, booked pre and post cruise trains and hotels and it's really frustrating that instead of being excited and looking forward to our vacation, we're up on the air. On their website our vacation is on watch.....whatever that means.... trying to remain optimistic is becoming more difficult.

Thanks all for your updates. Really appreciate you taking the time.

Just got off the phone with Scenic and unfortunately they couldn’t tell me anything except that our cruise is on watch. (We’re on Rhine Highlights Sept 3). When I pressed her for some answers she did say that one cruise was cancelled, but it was with their other cruise line Emerald.

Here is and updated blurb from the Scenic USA website, in case you haven’t seen it. She couldn’t even find anything on the Canadian website so told me to refer to the US website.

Danube River

The Danube River is currently experiencing low water levels. Guests will be contacted individually if deviations from the standard itinerary become necessary. The following cruises may be affected:

Gems of the Danube: August 30 and September 6, 2018

Jewels of Europe: August 27, 29; September 3, 2018

Rhine River

The Rhine River is currently experiencing low water levels. Guests will be contacted individually if deviations from the standard itinerary become necessary.

Rhine Highlights: August 27, 29; September 3, 5, 2018

Romantic Rhine and Moselle: September 5, 2018

Thank you TashiChino. Really appreciate your feedback and so sorry your vacation turned out the way it did.

Well I was afraid that my hoping was in vain....

I just got off the phone with the Scenic rep in Vancouver, BC and was told that all boats are presently functioning but there may be some small delays out of certain ports as things are moving slowly. He said that Scenic boats have a shallow draft so are able to get thru. There were some problems earlier in the season, but all boats are now cruising as usual. This applies to the Rhine.

Hopefully this is accurate info....

Thanks taxare. Look forward to your reports. We’re on Scenic Jewel departing Basel Sept. 3, but leaving Toronto Sept. 1 for a prenight in Zurich at a hotel that we booked personally. Luckily, we can cancel the hotel, if we need to, with 48 hrs. notice. We also have other train and various hotels booked. Trying to stay optimistic too.

Norvig

Good luck with your cruise and hopefully the conditions will get better soon.

Linda and Jeff

Couldn't find any updates on the Canadian site, so this will be helpful. Thank you.

I see that a thread was started for Crystal, so I thought I would start one for Scenic. I have found little information as to what Scenic is planning to do if the Rhine levels remains low. What I have found on other Cruise Critic threads regarding how the passengers have been rerouted/compensated has me somewhat concerned. Any other info would be greatly welcomed.

cruising denise

Look forward to your updates when you get a chance. Have a wonderful time on your vacation.

TashiChino

We are also on the Diamond Deck on Scenic Jewel boarding Sept 3 from Basel. I called Scenic yesterday voicing my concern, but still being 2 weeks out I didn’t expect that they would be able to tell me about our particular voyage, but wanted to get some idea as to what they are doing for the passengers that are presently travelling that have interruptions to their planned cruise. While the Scenic rep was very sympathetic and did say that there was another department that would handle these situations she certainly made it sound much better than 300.00 pp compensation. I’m so sorry for your huge disappointment and lack of satisfaction from Scenic for a cruise that was nothing like what you had booked.

thp

I’ll certainly try to keep you posted once onboard.

dhl1959

Yes. It certainly has been challenging to find any info on Scenic. Feel free to ask any questions on my return and hopefully I’ll be able to answer.

notamermaid

Thanks so much for your input which has been invaluable.

I hope that all of you that are travelling now and in the near future have a wonderful vacation and that you see most of the sights you were hoping to. We’re travelling on Scenic Jewel on Sept. 2 from Basel to Amsterdam and I’ve been reading this thread with great interest so thank you.