Scenic -- Rhine with Alpine Highlights and Oberammergau -- Semi-live

[loriva]

Here are the daily programs for the final two days of our land extension prior to our cruise.  We have always traveled independently, never done a bus tour package like this, but our travel companions primarily travel via cruises and like to have the convenience of someone else arranging the details.

Edited June 21, 2022 by loriva
Added text.

[loriva]

20 June, Munich, continued:

 

Le Meridien had another lovely, European buffet breakfast including self-service espresso machines.

 

We had a three-hour city tour starting at 0900 hours, including a coach tour around the ring road (built on the site of the old city walls), a stop at Nymphenbourg Palace, by the Olympic park and BMW complex, and the English Garden prior to parking behind the Opera House.  Then we walked to Rathaus (Old Town Hall) to see the glockenspiel at noon.  Then we had free time in the city.  The group had an option to rejoin the TD by the Rathaus for a return to the bus and a trip to BWM World.  They returned to the hotel at about 1600 hours.  (Most museums in Munich are closed on Mondays, so options somewhat limited.). We’re not car people, so elected to walk around the food market, old town, and back to the hotel (about a mile) on our own.

 

At 1845 we met the group in the lobby where we rode the bus back to the Opera parking lot and walked to the Ratskeller restaurant under the town hall.  It is a huge place and usually crowded (we’d been there in the 1990s) but found we were the only guests as they were also catering an event for the Mayor and decided to leave the restaurant free to host those 500 guests as rain was predicted (passed before the event started.). Salad starter, choice of sauerbraten, pork knuckle, or chicken entree, and apple strudel with vanilla ice cream for dessert. Plus seemingly unlimited drinks from the small list of beers, red or white wine, or nonalcoholic drinks.  Dinner wrapped about 2100 hours and we toured around the empty restaurant before the return to the hotel (around 2200 hours).

On the bus to Zurich.  TD just handed out surveys for his portion of the trip/

 

More tomorrow.  Please feel free to ask any questions and I’ll try to answer (or find an answer).

[loriva]

BTW, if you decide to try to get a European SIM, be advised they will only work if your cell phone is unlocked.  (It may not be if you did not purchase your phone and are still paying your carrier for it on an installment plan.  You also need to submit a request to the carrier to unlock it and, with AT&T at least, it will take 48 hours for this to happen.  Best to check before you leave home—and then ask the shop selling to check again before they activate the SIM.). Also be advised the SIMs are only good for a limited period of time—2 to 4 weeks.  You can buy data-only or data plus calling plans.  Prices ranged from 15-60 euros.

[jimmymac613]

1 hour ago, loriva said:

Whispers is the QuietVox system.  Scenic uses them for their land tours.  We’ll turn them into the Tour Director tonight after our walking tour in Zurich.  We’ll switch to the Scenic Tailormade app on the ship.

 

Speaking of which, two days ago the TD told us we would not be boarding the Jade, but he didn’t know which ship Scenic would be using instead—he thought the Amber.  But CruiseMapper shows that ship in Vienna today,  so don’t think so.  The Jade and the Pearl are both in Strasbourg, and I received an email today from the CD of the Jade, so think we will be boarding it.  (So, don’t take lack of communication or miscommunication from Scenic personally—they seem to do the same with their own personnel (independent contractors, in the case of the TDs.)

 

The TD did notify us yesterday we would NOT be boarding in Basel.  He said it was due to a strike yesterday (20 June) in Strasbourg.  As I noted, the CD for the Jade sent me an email this morning asking if we’d been advised of the change of boarding port due to a strike by lock workers in Basel (not sure if they are Swiss, German, or French workers or a combination.). 
 

So, we’ll miss Basel tomorrow and will drive instead from Zurich to Breisach am Rhein.  We’ll be sharing a bus for the transfer with a group also joining the Jade.  We’ll lose our bus, driver, and TD tomorrow morning In Zurich—which explains why our documents from Scenic included a separate transfer.

 

To close out a previous topic, the TD did reimburse us in cash (euros) for the transfer from the airport to the hotel Scenic.

 

Currently on the Scenic Pearl and we’re rafting with the Scenic Jade in Strasbourg. We’re stuck here due to the lock strike.  There’s also 3 more cruise ships (there may be more but the 5 is all I can see).  The Pearl and Jade will move to Breisach later this afternoon and that’s where we’ll disembark from in the morning.  We will not be going to Basel.  Scenic is too concerned that once the lock opens up there will be too many ships trying to get through and we would miss our flights tomorrow.

 

From what we’ve heard the Jade returns to its regular schedule starting tomorrow.

[Canal archive]

Interesting as I was always given to believe that the CD on Scenic was employed directly by them and the hotel and maritime crew through an agency.

 

Although good to hear Jade is back in the fold.

Edited June 21, 2022 by Canal archive

[Fouremco]

7 hours ago, loriva said:

BTW, if you decide to try to get a European SIM, be advised they will only work if your cell phone is unlocked.  (It may not be if you did not purchase your phone and are still paying your carrier for it on an installment plan.  You also need to submit a request to the carrier to unlock it and, with AT&T at least, it will take 48 hours for this to happen.  Best to check before you leave home—and then ask the shop selling to check again before they activate the SIM.). Also be advised the SIMs are only good for a limited period of time—2 to 4 weeks.  You can buy data-only or data plus calling plans.  Prices ranged from 15-60 euros.

In Canada, all cell phones sold since 2017 have been unlocked, and older phones have to be unlocked upon request. One less issue to worry about when purchasing a SIM.

[loriva]

Thursday, 21 June, continued:

 

Bus arrived in Zurich around 1530 hours and checked into the Schweizerhof Hotel.  Great location at the end of the main shopping street, Bahnhofstrasse.  Greeted with a glass of Prosecco.  Rooms of greatly varying size—some received large rooms and some tiny.  No system we could figure.  Five-star hotel with lots of amenities.  Excellent soundproofing—did not hear any noise from the street eve though our room faced the train station.

 

Our Tour Director gave an excellent, 90-minute tour of central Zurich at 1700 hours.  For some reason, Scenic only rents the Whispers until the evening, which met we were too late to go into any of the churches.  But that’s not the fault of the TD.  Despite being his first tour for Scenic in two years and issues in the travel industry in restarting since the pandemic, he did a great job.

 

We were on our own for dinner and went to a place in the 1,000 Places to See Before You Die book, Kronnenhalle.  The founder collected masses of art, befriending Matisse and others.  You can ask for a binder describing the art in each room.  Go early—fewer people and easier to explore.  Not cheap, but nothing in Zurich is.

[loriva]

Wednesday, 22 June:

 

Our first rainy day.

 

Nice breakfast in hotel and had to have luggage out by 1000 (a change from the schedule).  On our own, we walked down to Lake Zurich and did the 55-minute, mini-tour on the boat.  Not great visibly due to the rain, but still fun.  Download their app beforehand for commentary or follow along on Google maps.

 

Back to hotel for checkout at noon.  Now waiting for the bus to the ship.  Everyone crowded into the hotel lobby but there is a cafe on the street where the bus pulls up.  We’re unloading from Pearl and Jade (surprise!) and now loading the Pearl’s Mosel and Rhine first and now waiting for a second bus (we think) for Jade.  Running slightly late.
 

Will report from the ship!

[CJANDH]

Where are you bording the ship? We disembarked this morning in Breisach as the lock strike prevented us getting to Basel. Over two hours drive to Zurich airport.  

[loriva]

22 June, boarding day, continued:

 

Boarded our bus about 20 minutes later than the scheduled time.  An uneventful ride of about two hours with commentary by another Scenic Tour Director (ours was catching a flight home—he’s only doing the Oberammergau extensions) and arrived at Breisach around 1530 hours.  Jade was rafted with the Pearl on the outside—we switched places around 1900 as Pearl was remaining in Breisach as the first stop of their Romantic Rhine and Mosel itinerary.

 

It was pouring rain when we arrived.  Scenic had set up canopies to keep the luggage dry, but nothing for passengers.  All we’re pretty wet by the time we crossed the parking area to the ship and climbed the steps to board.  (Crystal greeted you at the door of the bus with an opened umbrella when it rained.).
 

Greeted by CD Tadej and crew and directed to the lounge. Staff was then to invite you by party to go to Reception to check-in, but there was a scrum at the desk of previous cruisers.

 

In the lounge we had a trochen and a short talk by the CD then proceeded to Reception for check-in.  That consisted of turning in our medical forms and having our photo taken.

 

Our butler escorted us from Reception to our cabin, where the luggage was waiting.  We unpacked, trying to find space for things.  

The cabin is nicely designed from an aesthetics point of view, but lacks in functionality. To conserve floor space, the closet doors slide over each other so only half of the closet is available at anytime.  There is only about 6 inches of hanging space for long clothes as the back of the closet is pushed out on one side so the coat hangers will not fit in.  That side of the closet has a small and a medium drawer on the bottom (substituting for the drawers on the nightstand on the right of the bed, which is just a table).  The minibar is also here with a shelf above for glasses.  The other (left) side of the closet has about a foot of short hanging space plus shelves.  One of the shelves had two electrical outlets (European two-pin) so you could use it for a charging center.

 

The desk/vanity area also has outlets (all Euro) and three lit shallow shelves above.  It has no drawer.  It has a small, stubby chair and there is another small arm chair and an oddly placed small table.  An ice bucket on a stand completes the furniture.  The bed is an oversized queen with a duvet and is quite comfortable.  There is a pillow menu available on the TV, which has a lot of information about the cruise as well.  And the “balcony” with two wicker chairs and a small, round table.

 

Our room has a bathtub and a shower.  There is a clothesline in the small shower cabinet.  It would be better for drying over the tub.  There are only two towel bars by the end of the tub/vanity, so you can either hang the bath towels so they can dry or double them up to leave space for the hand towels.  There are two hooks on the door, but if you hang the robes there it covers up the only full-length mirror in the room.  The bath should have more hooks and room for towels.  There is great storage space behind the mirrors and under the vanity.

[loriva]

Here are tour descriptions.  The first three days we preselected via the Scenic trip personalizer.  The rest we are selecting on board.

[loriva]

22 June, continued:

 

A small briefing by the CD at 1815 hours in the lounge, including introductions and remarks by the captain, hotel director, chef, and sommelier.  The bar is understaffed and getting a drink was challenging.  Arrive at least 30 minutes early.

 

Then everyone moved to dinner in a group.  Waitstaff is also short it appears.  I forgot to take a photo of the menu and wine list, but will do so tonight.  Dinners are themed for each port and a white and red wine selected to compliment.  Food was good and portions not too big (a good thing).  There is a choice of still or sparkling water during the meal and coffee afterwards.  (There is a self-service coffee station as well as a tea station in the lounge.). The pistachio ice cream was the highlight of the meal.

 

Because we were already downstream in Breisach, we did not sail until 0300 hours the next day.

[Canal archive]

I’m so glad I’m not sailing with you!

[loriva]

Thursday, 23 June — Kehl for Strasbourg

 

We awoke to a lovely, sunny day—rain had been forecast—and sailing the Rhine along the Black Forest to the east and Alsace to the west (port).  Called the Butler for some coffee, which we enjoyed with the window down.  (I forgot to mention that he retuned after greeting all his passengers to brief us on the features of the room, gather our bag of laundry, and offered to bring ice and open the champagne.  The steward also came by to introduce himself and personalize the minibar.)

 

Buffet breakfast in the dining room, a safety briefing (stay in your cabin until the captain tells you to go to the muster station on the sun deck—bring hat and sunglasses, if needed.  After that, CD briefed on the itinerary and the available tours.  I’ll post the daily program (digital only, but they put a hard copy at Reception you can take a photo of.)

[loriva]

 

Daily program for first full day:  sorry for the glare

 

[notamermaid]

Thank you for all those details. I remember that you were planning something special in Baden-Baden. Have you been able to figure this out yet with the CD? I so hope it works. By the way, nice choices in Koblenz. If one is up to it in heat and managing the inclines I would go for the long trip to Cochem. But then, I know Koblenz so well I would not find it that new and interesting.

 

Have a great time in Strasbourg today (I assume you are going there).

 

notamermaid

 

Edited June 23, 2022 by notamermaid

[Fouremco]

I really appreciate all of the detailed information. Please keep it coming!

[loriva]

Kehl for Strasbourg, continued:

 

We set off for Strasbourg at 1330 hours.  It was a little confusing as the CD had told people to wait in the lounge and they would be called for their tours, but everyone just lined up to get off the ship instead.

 

The tour was very nice, with some good history of Alsace and the city.  The bus had to park about a 10-minute walk from the historic area, but the guide made the walk interesting.  We ended at the cathedral at about 1645 hours  and then had free time until 1720 hours.  We stopped and had a local beer and a Cremant d’Alsace rose at the famous Maison Kammerzell.

 

We were back on board a little after 1800 hours and cleaned up and changed for the CD’s evening briefing followed by Captain’s Welcome with a glass of the German sparkling wine and a couple of hors d’ouerves passed by the wait staff.  The captain introduced his deputy captains (except the one manning the wheelhouse, of course!) and heads of housekeeping and security as well as the purser, wellness consultant, the hotel manager,      sommelier, and head chef.  
 

Scenic tries to avoid announcements on board except for the first CD briefing after boarding and for the safety muster, but the CD had made an announcement throughout the ship prior to briefing as he wanted at least one member from every cabin present as he had a itinerary change to provide.  For what he described as “technical reasons,” our concert in Rastatt on Friday was being changed from an evening performance to an afternoon one (1700 hours).  We would need to board the buses at 1600 and would return at 2000 hours.    The longer bus ride is due to a change of location from Rastatt Palace to Bruchsal.

 

Our dinner was in Portobello’s.  They have a set menu with a choice between two entrees accompanied by wines.  It started with focaccia and olives along with a glass of Prosecco.  An antipasti plate followed along with a choice of an Italian white or red (most people chose a little of each), then minestrone.  A risotto with a prawn followed.  For an entree, you chose between pasta (a tortellini) or saltimbocca.  Then either tiramisu or a cheese plate.  Portions were somewhat large, but I realize that is subjective.  The butlers served as the waiters.  On our sailing, all three are from Serbia.

 

Speaking of staffing, those who’ve sailed with Scenic before have commented they notice fewer staff than prior to the pandemic.  They also say the staff is new and still learning their jobs.  (In talking to the omelet chef at breakfast, he told me this was his first contract with Scenic, having previously worked on NCL ships.). All of the staff we’ve met have had wonderful attitudes, so with time I believe they will figure out their roles and jell as a team.

 

This is only the second sailing on the Rhine for the Jade, following its return to service after its engine breakdown during its sailing in the Netherlands.  The sailing last week from Amsterdam was at half capacity per the CD.  We have 130 passengers—about 75-percent capacity.  It was supposed 140ish, but a group of 10 or so has to cancel at the last minute due to COVID.

 

[loriva]

Friday, 24 June — Rastatt (actually Plittersdorf) for Baden-Baden 

 

Another nice breakfast from the buffet, then we gathered for tours.  Choice of city tour,

hike and fortress ruin visit, Mercedes-Benz factory visit, or time at the Caracalla spa.  We did the first, but talked to those on the hike (strenuous but a great view) and MB (saw production start to finish—it’s also the shortest tour as the factory is very close to the dock).

 

Baden-Baden is about 30 minutes by bus from the dock.  We did a small circle (someone in the group said we covered two miles) around the central city, visiting the Roman bath ruins, then crossing the river zoos to see the drink hall (where you drink the waters instead of bathing in them) and the casino.  Then we had about an hour of free time.  The guide told us Scenic asked her to make the tour a little shorter due to the change in schedule.  We lost a visit to the church.

 

Back to the ship for lunch.  The wait staff seemed especially harried.  Our waitress returned twice because she’d forgotten what we’d ordered, had to be asked three times to bring water, and then kept asking if someone else had brought orders.  Not yet working as a team.

 

Some down time before we go off to our concert at 1600 hours.

[loriva]

Daily program 

[loriva]

Dock

[loriva]

[loriva]

Just lost post in trying to attach the concert program, will try to reconstruct…

 

Friday, 24 June, continued:

 

We boarded the buses to Bruschsal Palace at 1600 hours.  Scenic had five buses with drivers and guides on hand, but only about half the ship opted to participate so only three were needed.  Regarding the buses, they are all local leases—nice but no Wi-Fi as we had during the land extension.

 

After an hour-plus ride (rush hour), we arrived and enjoyed a small reception with the same sparkling wine as onboard, rose or white wine, or water.  It was accompanied, oddly, by cinnamon and other sweet rolls.  Then a brief tour of the main building and then odd to a room in a wing for the concert.  Program above.

 

Then the hour return to the ship.  The tour guide told us our group had been bumped from the nearby Rastatt Palace normally used by a group from an Emerald ship.  Passengers at dinner told us the change in the timing and long drive turned them off from attending.

[loriva]

Here is the wine list for our sailing:

[loriva]

And the menu from last night.  Portobello’s was closed due to the later-than-usual dinner time after the concert, so the butlers were helping out the wait staff.  Full service still took over two hours.