Canal archive

Well done Stratheden I remembered seeing it but could not remember where. The Asia cruises are not advertised on the UK website, I would be very interested maybe if I could persuade my other half I would phone the UK office and give it a try.

It's 90 days for Scenic in the UK ours is due in the next week (tye knot must remember) Maybe soon the companies will realise that we all talk to each other many miles apart and compare via the wonders of the web. It is difficult though when companies sometimes seem to offer what at first glance is the same product but then your realise the differences with what is offered around the globe. I can understand though when for example a cruise in Europe offered in Australia and North America includes days before and after and that cruise in the UK does not the traveling time is so much greater and jet lag is a piglet.

You are absolutely right a lot if advertising, TV, papers magazines etc. mind you with the number of ships they have to advertise a lot to fill and pay for them.

LHT28 as you have posed that here did you complain to Scenic or at least advise them that this had happened after your cruise?

I agree, Marty 156 please get your facts correct before posting as it does not help your credibility one little bit.

A little trolling around the internet will tell you if a company owns a ship or not, some countries don't let foreign companies own vessels sailing on their waters so they have to partner up or hire. Scenic does not offer their Asian cruises on their UK site but I would not be surprised that if I phoned their UK office that they would try to sort out something for me.

I must admit that although I sympathise with you in that you did not read the small print and did not appreciate what sounds like at least Evergreen tried to give you your holiday I am getting just a tad tired of your going on about it and blaming the parent company rather than the company that you actually paid your money to.

Hopefully you have achieved something and that is to encourage everyone to read the small print.

Not that I have used Viking but they do not say or imply 2 for 1 in their UK advertising that I have seen, I must say though if I had to pay up front a year in advance I would not travel with them regardless of their itinerary.

Hi LHT28 which Scenic boat and cruise where you on? We have been told by Scenic themselves and by crew members, CD's Hotel managers and Captains that it a complete no! no! Now I do know that the odd tip was slipped to staff very carefully and we even tried it with our butler once but it was very politely declined. If anyone is interested there are some YouTube clips about river cruise staff training and recruitment which will give some in site. Actually observing the staff and crew at work, relaxing or when they think they are not on view I have yet to see a glum look or even a raised eyebrow, well maybe one girl last year who nearly completely lost it with one of her co-workers behind the bar, we didn't know who to feel most sorry for her or him. I am in full approval of tips being included in the cost, apart from anything else it saves the original theme of this thread. Happy cruising.

I know in this thread I used the expression 'lowest common denominator' but I definitely was not allocating this description to Americans I am sure that at one time or another we have all cringed at one of our own nationalities dress sense or behaviour. Packing is all about making a decision and how many times have we said 'expletive deleted' why did I leave that at home or why on earth did I pack that.

Someone once said beauty is from within so wear what is comfortable and fit for the occasion.

Happy packing because that means you will be cruising soon.:)

Love the NYDJ will have to pass that one on. I must admit to going to the limit with packing even to the extent of wearing my walking boots to save weight and space in the case, it's a bit of a pain when flying, having to take of your shoes but hey ho it has to be done. Traveling by Eurostar this year so don't know if one has to remove shoes. Carry on or other halves luggage is for any extras purchased on route especially teddy bears, Scenic usually has some really tempting Stif ones, I just collect teddy bears. Layering is the way to go and yes scarves can lift an outfit don't take up room or weight and it's always nice to find an extra one when browsing local shops, not that I shop, much! What I do love is noting the different styles across Europe or the world for that matter so many ideas, good job we are not all the same.

Happy cruising all regardless of what you wear.

After Franonards post I did a little chasing round the internet. I found that Evergreen has no UK website but Emerald has and is being launched as the first new river cruise line for a few years so this is most probably a marketing tool for other parts of the world other than Australia. There has been some chatter about The Scenic boss starting or purchasing a company named Riva and that two new ships are being built. Another interesting point is that on the Emerald website it states that they are exclusively chartering A-ROSA ships for French cruises. Oh the joys of the internet, we would not be here without it!

With narrow boats on the English canals it's referred to as breasting up. Each time in Europe that we have breasted up it has only been for very short period of time and then only once or twice. Some cruise companies seem to have there own moorings such as Viking so maybe they would be more likely to breast up than other companies, you never know.

The new enclosed when you want balconies are fantastic okay so you may not use them a lot but coffee in the morning when other half is hogging the bathroom or five minutes peace and quiet at odd times is wonderful. We are on the Seine Paris to Honfleur and back in July this year, second cruise on the Seine for Scenic Gem I think it will be quite busy being the time of year but we are prepared for that, last year we did Amsterdam to Basil in April it was so'oo cold but lovely and warm aboard ship. Now trying to decide where to go next year so many tempting choices.

Hi Alexandra cruiser, Scenic's brochure pictures are certainly good the way to look at any brochure picture like these is as if you are using a telephoto lens, note there are no extraneous objects just what is required to show what is required I suspect this is most probably where some of the digital editing comes in, along with no red eye or skin blemishes, we all wish.

First I will say I have not traveled with any other river cruise company but Scenic. On three different cruises they have never failed to impress on every point and have delivered more than expressed in their brochures. I would seriously be worried if any travel company did not state that any part of their brochure was not digitally enhanced that is the beauty of the digital age no more air brushing etc much faster no waiting for that magical weather window for exterior shots for instance. At no point have I had issue with what is depicted in the brochure compared with reality. Any company must also ensure that through no fault of their own there is no comeback if an excursion for example has to be changed. In fact I have seen on other threads that other companies if there is not enough interest the excursion is cancelled not so on Scenic on one of our trips there were only four on one excursion so they had a very exclusive tour.

It's the little thoughtful surprising bits that I enjoy, maybe other cruise companies do it as well but they do watch each other and what one company does today another will not be far behind e.g. being greeted when arriving on board with a rose, arriving back from an excursion to be offered a choice of hot drink, if it's cold or cold drink if it's hot, nibbles tasters in the lounge whilst cruising, different entertainment on board in the evening, cooking demos by the chef, towel folding demo by one of the hotel staff really good fun. On our last cruise the cruise director asked if we were willing to let here have photographs we had taken then if we later gave her a memory card she loaded all the pictures on to them this meant we had a comprehensive memory of our cruise through many passengers eyes as well as our own a super idea.

Whoever you cruise with have a lovely time with many happy memories.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office are advising strongly against travel to Crimea and advising all Brits to leave the country. They advise that travellers to the Ukraine be extra vigilant and that there are consular facilities in Kiev. At the moment there is no requirement for visas to the Ukraine but there is for Russia and these need to be applied for some time in advance. There should I would have thought be the same system both in Australia and the US but I am not to sure if a government statement about not traveling to a certain country would be constituted an eligible reason for changing travel plans by an insurance company although in my opinion it should be and the travel companies themselves should be more upfront with their intentions. The situation is a bit on a knife edge at the moment and maybe if only a small thing a decision by tourists to by pass the area until things settle would be helpful in the long run.

Such a pity we were considering a Russian cruise next year.

There is an Emerald website with all the information on it. It would seem that they are aiming for a younger market, it is not all inclusive and the after end of the ship has an area that converts from a pool during the day to a cinema in the evening that's as far as I can remember without looking again. As far as I have discovered this will be a different set up with different ships Scenic are building at least 2 other new ships for Scenic. If you look at the Australian Scenic website it has more info about their new ships.

If you want a flavour of boating on the canals of the UK there are several examples on YouTube including a Moonraker one, there are also examples of how you can get 'stemmed up, or messed up but the one thing about a canal holiday is it slows you down, no faster than 3-4 miles an hour so plenty of time to see the scenery.

Sounds like the UK got most of Europe's rainfall this winter we are still drying out! We will most probably have a hose-pipe ban next. Maybe we could export some.

I have just checked and Scenic does not have a dress code as such but they do request 'no shorts at dinner' and I must admit as far as I have seen everyone has been nicely dressed. There is a good definition of 'evening casual' on ehow.com. It might be easier to take the two words separately as in evening and casual. It sounds like the majority of us don't want shabby, untidy or haute couture just a happy medium. I hope that does not sound to bland or to British as we are all going on amazing river cruises that we have looked forward to for ages and don't want the added angst of worrying about anything just enjoying ourselves.

Check out Scenic they have bikes available for anyone to use plus organised bike excursions some of the bikes are also electronically assisted both are very popular.

We cruised passed the bridge at Remagen last April with Scenic and the captain slowed the boat down so we could take pictures and reflect on what happened there, that and the bridge at Nijmagen are really worth seeing. Enjoy your cruise hope the weather is fine.

I quite like the fact that there is a dress code for cruising at least you then have a starting point and no one suggests that we wear national costume! Though that would be quite interesting. It sounds like nobody wants sloppy or untidy. Jeans started off as work wear but they in the right circumstances can be realy high end, although any serious walker or trekker will tell you they can cause real problems if worn for any length of time if it's hot or wet especially. I for one am glad we are not asked to wear high fashion tottering along in killer heels for instance on cobbles or even around the ship, no way. What we wear should not be a competition but being relaxed about it is a must as we are on holiday. Just one last thought the French have the chic the Italians the flair that leaves us with the smart casual which should hopefully be a happy medium.

Don't forget you are the customer, you can always ask, you may not get the reply you would want but remember in the future what happened, there again you may be pleasantly surprised but you will not know if you don't ask. My dad always said if you don't ask you don't get, my dad was brill!

I don't know about Viking but I would hope that we do not in river cruising resort to the lowest common denominator. smart casual please because I for one like to see fashion as interpreted by many different nationalities.

I may only have traveled with Scenic but I know fellow passengers have at times asked for a table for two for something special and have been accommodated. So why not try asking there can only be one of two answers and as most companies seem to be falling over themselves to outdo each other I should think most would be only to pleased to help. You could of course try a bit of subterfuge i.e. I have the snuffles and don't want to infect everyone else. Although none of us would do that would we?

On another tack our cruise director last year was married to the captain of an Arosa boat and we moored side by side or 'breasted up' as we say on the English canals nice looking boat but you can imagine the teasing she got from her passengers.

By the way is anyone going Paris to Honfluer with Scenic 18/07/2014?