Europe: Checkout time is no later than 8:30am. If your flight is later in the day, please check with your Travel Advisor or Scenic reservations consultant if you can relax in the lounge until your time of departure. 

South East Asia: Generally, you will disembark Scenic Spirit and join your bus to Ho Chi Minh City or Siem Reap around 8:30am.

Due to Europe’s port logistics, unfortunately the exact pier location will only be confirmed until 24-48 hours prior to docking. Below is a list of ports generally used for each cruise.

Rhine, Main, Moselle & Danube Rivers, Central Europe

Amsterdam - We use a range of ports. Port information will be available 24-48 hours before embarkation. 

Budapest - Budapest am Infopark, 1117 Budapest Henryk Slawik rakpart, 1117

Nuremberg - Nurnberg/Nuremberg Hafenstraße, Europakai, Nuremberg, 90455

Regensburg - We use a range of ports. Port information will be available 24-48 hours before embarkation. 

Bordeaux Rivers, France

Bordeaux - Quai des Chartrons/Quai de Bacalan, 33300

Seine River, France

Paris - Paris Grenelle, Port de Grenelle, 75015

Paris - Paris Javel Bas, Quai André Citroën, 75015

Saone & Rhone Rivers, France

Arles - We use a range of ports. Port information will be available 24-48 before embarkation. 

Lyon - We use a range of ports. Port information will be available 24-48 before embarkation.

Douro River, Portugal

Porto - Alfandega Car Parking, Rua Nova da Alfandega, 4050-431

Early transfers can be organised in select cases. Please contact your local Travel Advisor or Scenic reservations consultant to discuss your specific transfer needs.

Return airport and hotel transfers in Europe and Asia are included when flights are booked with Scenic. If booking your own flights and pre or post stay accommodation, transfers are not included.

On selected fares, flights are included from your closest capital city to the capital city closest to your embarkation port. 

On selected cruise combinations internal flights between cruises or cruise and land journeys are included.  

Please visit our River Cruising Combined Journeys page to explore itinerary options and find out more.

For the evening meal there is no requirement for formal jackets or ties and casual evening attire is welcomed such as open-neck shirt and trousers/dresses. Please note, shorts and thongs are not appropriate for the evening meal on all of our river cruises.

Scenic Enrich events are usually located in grand, historic venues. As such, they can be more formal occasions, and you may wish to dress accordingly. There will also be some entertainment nights that you may wish to dress up for.

Comfortable walking shoes, particularly slip on varieties are recommended as you will need these daily whilst sightseeing, which includes climbing through ruins and crossing rough ground. Closed-in shoes are better than sandals as they keep out the dust and sand.  

Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot Asian climate.

Europe: We recommend casual and comfortable clothing. Please bring comfortable walking shoes as you will need these daily whilst sightseeing, which includes walking over rough and uneven ground. Closed-in shoes are recommended to keep out the dust and sand. Dinner attire is smart casual including open-neck shirts, slacks/shorts and dresses. Coats and ties may be worn if you prefer but are not required. For winter months we recommend a warm coat, gloves, water-resistant footwear and an umbrella. If you want more packing advice, visit our Guide to Europe River Cruising. 

Southeast Asia: The weather year-round is warm and tropical. Breathable, natural and lighter fabrics such as cotton, linen or moisture-wicking are advisable. Most guests opt for casual pants and a top. Dress respectfully when visiting temples – cover the knees and shoulders with longer skirts, shorts or dresses. Sometimes head coverings are required so also pack a scarf or sarong. In the evening, some dress in smarter attire. Male guests may pack lightweight, collared shirts; and women smart dresses or slacks – especially for Scenic Enrich events or if dining at the Chef’s Table for Diamond Deck guests. While it’s not expected, if you like to dress-up a little to dine, then please do. Learn more about what to pack in our Guide to South East Asia River Cruising.

On our Europe cruises, depending on your suite, a range of laundry services are included. All guests receive a complimentary laundry concierge once per cruise. For those staying on the Diamond Deck, you also receive complimentary pressing of two items of clothes daily or, if staying in a Royal Suite, you receive unlimited laundry service for the duration of your cruise. 

In Southeast Asia, unlimited self-service laundry is also available throughout whilst on board Scenic Spirit.

Guests are entitled to one suitcase per person which must not exceed 76 x 53 x 28cms (30" x 21 x11") and must not weigh more than 23kgs (50lbs).

Vitality Pools are available on selected Scenic Space-Ships , including Scenic Sapphire and Diamond in Bordeaux and the South of France, Scenic Azure in Portugal, and Scenic Jasper, Opal, and Amber cruising Central Europe. However, they are not available on Scenic Gem cruising the Seine in Normandy or on Scenic Ruby, Pearl, Crystal, Jewel, and Jade cruising Central Europe.

A resort style Vitality Pool is also available on Scenic Spirit in Southeast Asia.

The equipment will differ according to which ship our guests are travelling on, however generally, the following equipment may be featured in the Fitness Centres on board:

• Treadmill
• Stationary bike
• Elliptical trainer
• Rowing machine
• A small set of weights
• Fitness mats
• Towels and bottled water

You can enjoy a diverse range of on board activities, including stretching classes, musical entertainment, games, trivia, cultural activities, and informative talks. For more details, connect with your on board Enrichment Manager upon embarking on your river cruise.

Generally, the first few days of Scenic Freechoice excursions are recommended to be selected pre-cruise. Depending on your cruise, a number of Scenic Freechoice activities are bookable only whilst on board.

In order to offer you a personalised river cruise, we offer a range of Scenic Freechoice excursions, some of which run simultaneously. Due to this, only one excursion can be selected during any given time period.

All beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are included for our guests with the exception of a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, champagnes and spirits. This also includes your fully restocked mini-bar daily and an extensive range of specialty teas and coffee. There is a coffee machine in the lounge area which offers specialty coffee, decaf coffee and hot chocolate.

Yes, absolutely. Please contact your local Travel Advisor or Scenic if you booked directly to add your dietary requirements to your reservation. Whilst most dietary requirements can be catered too, Halal and Kosher meals are, unfortunately, not possible.

Guests will need to advise their Travel Advisor of their dietary requests prior to departure. It is also advised that guests notify the restaurant manager upon boarding their cruise.

Table La Rive/Table d’Or is a six-course degustation with a molecular touch and paired wines for 10 guests an evening. This experience is exclusively for Diamond Deck and Junior Suite guests cruising for 10 nights or more, or Royal and Junior Suite guests for cruises nine nights or fewer.

Scenic Culinaire, exclusively available on ships in the South of France and Bordeaux regions, allows guests to participate in an on board cooking school which is included in the price of your cruise. These French cooking classes are inspired by the regions we cruise through and are taught by expert chefs, featuring the finest local ingredients that you will source from a local market when you shop with the chef and designed to immerse guests even further into the delights of French gastronomy. 

Classes are limited to a maximum of 10 guests. If you would like to attend, please register your interest at reception on board.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of port infrastructure in Southeast Asia it is not safe for wheelchairs and therefore not recommended. 

Due to the nature of some of our touring programs, transfers and accommodation may not be possible for us to adequately provide the level of assistance required for guests who have mobility issues and/or are fully wheelchair bound across all Scenic river cruises.

Wheelchairs and mobility scooters, when folded are able to be taken and stored on board in your suite, however, unfortunately are not permitted to be used when on board or on the gangway while boarding. Due to narrow gangways and historic laneways and cobbled stone streets of Europe and infrastructure in Asia, some excursions are not suitable.

We aim to cater to our guests’ varying levels of fitness. Our Scenic Freechoice excursions are designed to accommodate a range of activity levels, ensuring there is something suitable for everyone. Please refer to the Scenic Freechoice listing in your brochure for more information on the fitness levels required for any excursion.

Whilst hotels are subject to change due to availability, Scenic usually uses the below hotels:

Europe:

• Austria, Vienna: Hilton Vienna Park (Almanac Palais from 2025)
• United Kingdom, London: Great Scotland Yard
• Croatia, Zagreb: Esplanade Hotel
• Czech Republic, Prague: NH Collection Prague Carlo IV
• France, Bordeaux: Intercontinental Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel
• France, Lyon: Intercontinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu
• France, Paris: Marriott Opera Ambassador Hotel (Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opera from 2025)
• Hungary, Budapest: Marriott Budapest
• Ireland, Dublin: The Shelbourne
• Portugal, Lisbon: Epic Sana Marques Lisbon
• Portugal, Porto: InterContinental Porto - Palacio Das Cardosas
• Romania, Bucharest: JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel
• Spain, Madrid: Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques
• Switzerland, Zurich: Hotel Schweizerhof
• The Netherlands, Amsterdam: Double Tree by Hilton Centraal Station (Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky OR NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace from 2025)

South East Asia:

• Hanoi, Vietnam: Sofitel Legend Metropole
• Hue, Vietnam: Seena Hue Hotel
• Hoi An, Vietnam: Almanity Hoi An Resort and Spa
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Caravelle Saigon
• Sapa, Vietnam: Silk Path Grand Sapa Resort & Spa
• Luang Prabang, Laos: Luangsay Residence
• Vang Vieng, Laos: Riverside Boutique Resort
• Vientiane, Laos: Crowne Plaza Vientiane, an IHG Hotel
• Siem Reap, Cambodia: Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

Having peace of mind knowing everything is taken care of is core to our all-inclusive philosophy at Scenic. All tipping and gratuities are included for our guests both on board and onshore.

We are proud to be the only river cruise line that includes tipping and gratuities of local guides included in your cruise price. If you receive exceptional service and would like to show your appreciation you are welcome to, however please know this is in no way expected.

Scenic City Stays and Extensions are more than accommodation. Your experience includes luxury hotel accommodation, guided excursions and transfers from your accommodation to your cruise and from your accommodation to the airport on departure, all organised under one booking with Scenic.

Visit stunning destinations like Istanbul, Lisbon, Ljubljana and Zagreb, Madrid, Munich, Nuremburg, Paris, Prague, Switzerland, Transylvania and Vienna, and explore their unique charms at your own pace. View journey extensions for Europe.

Varying from 11 to 27 days, you can customise your perfect Southeast Asia experience. The first step is to select either a seven or nine-night Mekong River cruise depending on the season you are travelling in. The second is to choose from 15 different journeys to experience the iconic destinations in South East Asia by land either side of your cruise. Explore beyond the Mekong into Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos across World Heritage-listed sites and cultural experiences. Learn more about Southeast Asia river cruises.

In Europe, Scenic’s range of luxurious hotels will complement your surrounds during your city stay or extension. Depending on your itinerary, your city stay will include accommodation in a city central hotel for the number of nights included, with selected meals, as well as transfers*, the services of a Scenic Tour Director, a guided city tour or Scenic Freechoice touring. Learn more about Europe hotels. 

In Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos, your accommodation will range from grand city center properties to idyllic hideaways, all carefully selected by our expert Journey Designer. A selection of handpicked hotels considered iconic for their location, character or heritage, aptly named Scenic Special Stays are available to complement your Southeast Asia river cruise. You’ll also enjoy selected meals with beverages^, transfers*, Scenic Freechoice experiences and the services of the same Scenic Tour Director for your entire trip.

Whether you’re contemplating more than one destination or would simply like to spend more time on board our Scenic Space-Ships, we have joined some of our most popular itineraries to create your dream cruise combinations. You might like to visit beautiful Bordeaux before cruising along the renowned Seine River or enjoy the wonders of the Rhine and Moselle before visiting the treasures of the Douro Valley, creating a fusion of experiences that unlock the hidden gems throughout Europe. Start planning with our river cruising combined offers.

You can explore even further by adding an ocean voyage to your river cruise on board Scenic Eclipse, The World’s First Discovery Yachts™. Our reservations team or your local Travel Advisor can help you plan the perfect river and ocean cruise combination journey. Contact us to find out more.

Whilst we don’t have specific solo traveller meet-ups, we pride ourselves on the friendly and welcoming experience on board our river cruises. We often hear stories of new lifelong friends made on a Scenic river cruise. Our lounge is the perfect place to make new connections with like-minded travellers.

As a solo traveller, you have access to up to five dining options on board your Scenic Space-Ship in Europe or up to four on board Scenic Spirit in Southeast Asia. Each meal is curated by Scenic’s creative chefs in honour of the tradition-rich regions you pass through.  

Due to our restaurant’s open seating policy, you are not able to make a reservation prior to embarkation or while on board. Some of our dining venues offer shared experiences. Table La Rive/Table d’Or is a six-course dégustation with a molecular touch and paired wines for 10 guests an evening. This experience is exclusively for Diamond Deck and Junior Suite guests cruising for 10 nights or more, or Royal and Junior Suite guests for cruises nine nights or fewer.