A couple of questions for Scenic peeps!

[Reader in chief]

It will be our first time on a Scenic river cruise. We had planned to have a checked bag, a carry-on bag and a personal item each but it seems that we are only allowed one bag plus a personal item - are they really serious about this? What if we show up with the bags we had planned? Also, we will be arriving a few days early in Amsterdam and will have to make our own way to the ship on May 4th. The docs state that embarkation time is after 3 pm - do you know if we would be able to drop our bags earlier since we have to be out of our accommodation by 11 am and it is pretty far from the cruise port. 

Thanks!

[BellsRUs]

We are also on the May 4th sailing of the Jade (assuming she gets our of drydock before our cruise! I'm a bit worried about that). Have you received any documents? We leave next Saturday and haven't gotten out documents yet. Our TA said they are running behind and will email the docs. 

 

I don't know the answers to your questions as it is our first time on Scenic also. 

[Reader in chief]

Hi BellsRUs, we just received our documents late Friday evening by email from our TA, and the backpacks etc. arrived in the mail Saturday morning. I was relieved since we leave on Wednesday!

[Canal archive]

By one bag they mean main suitcase these when unpacked will fit under your beds. In your paperwork will be the contact details of your vessel use this to ascertain the time you can board or drop off your luggage I’m sure this is possible just make sure your cabin details are on your luggage labels. We’ve always found Scenic to be very accommodating we’re their guests are concerned. Have a great cruise enjoy 😊 

[BellsRUs]

2 hours ago, Reader in chief said:

Hi BellsRUs, we just received our documents late Friday evening by email from our TA, and the backpacks etc. arrived in the mail Saturday morning. I was relieved since we leave on Wednesday!

Thank you for this info! If it is coming through our TA, we will probably get it tomorrow as he doesn’t work Fridays, or weekends. 

[loriva]

1 hour ago, Canal archive said:

By one bag they mean main suitcase these when unpacked will fit under your beds. In your paperwork will be the contact details of your vessel use this to ascertain the time you can board or drop off your luggage I’m sure this is possible just make sure your cabin details are on your luggage labels. We’ve always found Scenic to be very accommodating we’re their guests are concerned. Have a great cruise enjoy 😊 

 

I've had the same baggage question.  For a cruise, we'd normally travel with one checked bag apiece plus a garment bag plus our roller boards (carry-ons).  They have all always fit under the beds and we can strap the garment bag onto one of the roller bags so we can handle all the pieces by ourselves.  Is that going to be TOO much for Scenic?  We have a 15-day trip with them, half of which is a land tour and then seven nights on the Jade.  Trying to figure out how to pack for that in just one checked bag each would be a challenge--and neither of us are clothes horses.  Just need to figure out how to have enough clean clothing to last--since we'll have been on the road (or in the air) for nine days before we reach the ship.

[Canal archive]

Loriva I would be absolutely horrified if anyone on a Scenic crew even remarked on your luggage I’m certain that the written restrictions are to discourage lots of over-heavy baggage for the crew to handle. My suitcase always borders on the edge of weight acceptance for the airline, whoops. Scenics restrictions are not on a par with the ‘Orient Express’ many moons ago our cabin was next to a couple who had taken no notice of the requirements, let’s just say the walls are very thin and the space ‘not a lot’ and they had to cope with two large suitcases, in this instance it was people hearing not watching.

We’ve done more 15 days with Scenic than 8s and I’m an over- packer so you’ll be okay.

Edited April 25, 2022 by Canal archive

[Host Jazzbeau]

They’d better not complain. We have one big checked bag plus one carry-on each. They were so late sending out docs that we never got backpacks or luggage tags. So what they see is what they get. 

[loriva]

1 hour ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

They’d better not complain. We have one big checked bag plus one carry-on each. They were so late sending out docs that we never got backpacks or luggage tags. So what they see is what they get. 

 

Again, have a great cruise Host Jazzbeau!

 

If you have a chance, please update on how Scenic is handling laundry.  How strict are they on their printed limitations of one bag, no more than 1 kilo, per cabin at a day of Scenic's choosing?  Ideally, we'd like to hand them a bag of laundry as soon as we unpack on board given our land journey with Scenic preceding.

 

Happy sailing!

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

12 minutes ago, loriva said:

 

Again, have a great cruise Host Jazzbeau!

 

If you have a chance, please update on how Scenic is handling laundry.  How strict are they on their printed limitations of one bag, no more than 1 kilo, per cabin at a day of Scenic's choosing?  Ideally, we'd like to hand them a bag of laundry as soon as we unpack on board given our land journey with Scenic preceding.

 

Happy sailing!

 

We will give it a good test —for quality— because we have a week’s worth of dirty laundry!  But I won’t be able to verify limits, because our cabin comes with unlimited. 

[sbjornda]

One large suitcase each (i.e. "checked") that you can empty out into the drawers & closets and store the suitcases under the bed. Plus one backpack-sized (i.e. "carry on") item each; if you choose to use the backpacks supplied by Scenic you'll know they aren't too big. Plus one "personal item" each. I've never needed more than that, but they are very hospitality-oriented so if you do happen to have one or two extra small things, as long as they fit in your cabin, they won't complain. I think if you were both going to have large suitcases AND large aluminum-framed back-country hiking backpacks, you would have a problem. I don't think it would be easy to create a vacation that combines river cruising and hiking/tenting. 🙂

 

Depending on where you are staying pre-cruise, it might be best to ask the hotel to check your bags until you're ready to head out to the docks. Even if Scenic were able to store the luggage (they're busing cleaning like mad to get ready for you to board), you may waste a lot of time simply getting to and from the docks - I've read here that the main tourist docks in Amsterdam are undergoing renovations so Scenic and other ships are having to use more remote docks right now.

 

I've always booked my pre-cruise hotel stays through Scenic, so there ends up being a bunch of passengers at a single hotel and it's worth their while to send a bus for everyone and their luggage to get to the dock. It's maybe a bit more expensive, but it's worth it to me, to reduce stress by that extra bit. 

 

Best wishes,

Sterling

[Host Jazzbeau]

I can now report back that there is no baggage limitation on Scenic.  The limo driver who picked us up at the train station said not a word about our 2 checked plus 2 roll aboard plus 2 person items.  Nor did the staff on the ship.  And our Butler showed us how to remove the side panels under the bed, revealing plenty of room to store all the empty baggage and more.  We also found plenty of storage spaces in the cabin to hold all the contents of that baggage.  Ignore the statements in the documents.

[Canal archive]

I won’t say it! Enjoy jazz.

[loriva]

Thanks for the update, Jazzbeau!

 

Another thing listed in the fine print on the Scenic website is a requirement for passengers over 70 to bring a letter from his/her doctor "confirming you are fit and healthy enough to take part in the specified tour including reference to the itinerary, destinations, and tour departure date."  If you have time, could you ask Reception if this is a real requirement for a river cruise?  (For something more-adventurous, I could see it.)

 

Also, not sure if you saw or not but someone asked about whether you needed to provide results of a negative COVID-19 test to board or if Scenic was testing before boarding.

 

Many thanks and hope your first dinner on the Gem was fabulous!

   

[Reader in chief]

Excellent news about the amount of luggage allowed. Thanks Jazzbeau. Enjoy your cruise!

Now all I need to do is figure out what to do with the luggage before we are allowed to board.

[texasstar]

Jazzbeau, what time did you board the boat?  How did you manage all that luggage on the train?  We will be traveling a week in Brittany prior to our cruise and are taking the train from Caen.  Hope you have a marvelous trip.

 

[Canal archive]

Loriva I’ve trolled through the small print of the U.K. brochure and although there are plenty of references to an individual’s capability to take on an excursion as far as I can see no requirement for a letter. Does this apply to a specific activity for instance. I know full well that my health situation has changed to such a degree from when I first cruised with Scenic, your input got me thinking and I’m horrified as to how infirm I’ve become.

[Host Jazzbeau]

14 hours ago, loriva said:

Thanks for the update, Jazzbeau!

 

Another thing listed in the fine print on the Scenic website is a requirement for passengers over 70 to bring a letter from his/her doctor "confirming you are fit and healthy enough to take part in the specified tour including reference to the itinerary, destinations, and tour departure date."  If you have time, could you ask Reception if this is a real requirement for a river cruise?  (For something more-adventurous, I could see it.)

 

Also, not sure if you saw or not but someone asked about whether you needed to provide results of a negative COVID-19 test to board or if Scenic was testing before boarding.

 

Many thanks and hope your first dinner on the Gem was fabulous!

   

We are over 70 and we were not asked for a letter.  We were also not asked to provide test results or even vaccine proof.  No testing before boarding.  They did firmly stress the mask requirement, but it was described as 'when you are standing' – i.e. there is no enforcement if you are sitting in the lounge, with or without a drink.

[Host Jazzbeau]

13 hours ago, Reader in chief said:

Excellent news about the amount of luggage allowed. Thanks Jazzbeau. Enjoy your cruise!

Now all I need to do is figure out what to do with the luggage before we are allowed to board.

We took a cab from the AMA ship to the Centraal Station [not included in cruise fare but worth it because it was raining that morning].  From the cab drop-off it is flat into the station, then there is an elevator to each platform.  The train is about two steps higher than the platform, so that was the only 'lug' in luggage.  The storage area is right near the entrance, but the shelves filled up almost immediately we rolled our big cases just inside the cabin where there is a clear area and they were soon wedged in by other luggage.  Getting off the train [one more 'lug'] it was level out to the station lobby, where we saw the driver with a 'Scenic' sign waiting for us.  So it was easy enough – and I'm sure some other passenger would have helped lifting the bags onto the train [if only to stop us from blocking the entrance...]

[Host Jazzbeau]

Our train got in on schedule at 2:30.  The drive from Paris Nord to the ship took longer than I expected [and the traffic was crazy – even to a couple of native New Yorkers used to driving in Manhattan!].  We boarded around 3:30 and were escorted to the lounge to sip Champagne [Drappier Carte d'Or – 80% Pinot Noir, my favorite type of champagne!].  We stayed in the lounge longer than necessary because we didn't realize it was up to us to go to Reception and complete our registration.  Once we did that our Butler was at my elbow to escort us to the cabin, where our luggage was already on the bed ready for unpacking.  [And a bottle of Drappier on ice plus a half bottle in the cabin fridge along with various beers and soft drinks; also 1 1/2 bottles of red wine; also an assortment of chocolates].  I am really blown away at the quality of Scenic!

[Host Jazzbeau]

We are off shortly for our first excursion – we signed up for the hike to the ruins of Chateau Galliard [rated strenuous], and nobody asked if we were up to it.

[loriva]

Thanks so much, Jazzbeau, for your responses!  And description of what appears to be a wonderful start to your cruise.

 

The language on the letter for over 70s used to be in 13.3.C in the T&C in Scenic's river cruise brochure.  I just looked based on Canal archive's comment and it no longer appears.  It seems it has been dropped--yay!

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 minute ago, loriva said:

Thanks so much, Jazzbeau, for your responses!  And description of what appears to be a wonderful start to your cruise.

 

The language on the letter for over 70s used to be in 13.3.C in the T&C in Scenic's river cruise brochure.  I just looked based on Canal archive's comment and it no longer appears.  It seems it has been dropped--yay!

If they limited activities for over 70s on this cruise, there is only 1 couple who could do things!

[notamermaid]

Great to read your enthusiasm. The ship was docked at Quai de Grenelle near the Eiffel Tower?

 

Enjoy the castle, it looks amazing.

 

notamermaid

 

Edited April 26, 2022 by notamermaid

[Host Jazzbeau]

9 hours ago, notamermaid said:

Great to read your enthusiasm. The ship was docked at Quai de Grenelle near the Eiffel Tower?

 

Enjoy the castle, it looks amazing.

 

notamermaid

 

Yes, and our departure was timed for the 10 pm Eiffel Tower light show.

 

The castle is amazing.  We joined the hiking group [JP and Chris would be proud of us] and the first Scenic surprise was that our guide was none other than Richard the Lionheart himself.  O how the mighty have fallen, that a King has to hire out giving tours!  But he was a great tour guide, and we will have him again tomorrow [as Rollo the Viking in Rouen].