Frequently Asked Questions - European River Cruise

Scenic Tours | European River Cruises

Onboard Services
Q. Is tipping included on the cruise and land portions of the tour?
A. Yes, all tipping on the land and cruise portions is included.

Q. Is there a laundry service onboard?
A. There is not a self-serve laundry facility; however passengers can pay for laundry service.

Q. Is there a gym or bicycles onboard?
A. There is no gym onboard, however bicycles will be available to be utilized at each port. There is also a walking track located on the Sun Deck. Please note that on certain parts of the rivers, this top deck will be closed due to low clearance of bridges.

Q. Is there a hairdresser located onboard?
A. There is a hairdresser located in the Wellness Area on the Moselle Deck. In the wellness area, massages, facials, pedicures and manicures will also be offered.

Q. Is there a doctor onboard?
A. There is not a doctor onboard. Ship staff are first-aid trained. In emergencies passengers will be taken to the nearest hospital.

Q. Can passengers get married onboard?
A. Passengers are unable to get married onboard as this union is not recognized and onboard staff are unable to perform marriage ceremonies.

Q. Is wine included at lunch and dinner?
A. Yes, complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks are served with lunch and dinner.

Q. Is internet access available onboard?
A. Internet access is available via satellite and a charge applies. Please note that access may be interrupted while the ship passes through
locks and under bridges.

Q. Is there coffee/tea service available throughout the day onboard?
A. We have self serve tea and coffee 24 hours a day. The coffee is a bean to cup service. Lattes and cappuccinos are also available here. For our tea drinkers we offer a wide selection of loose leaf quality teas.

Q. Is there a dress code for dining?
A. There is no special dress code onboard. A casual atmosphere prevails during the day either on excursion or onboard the ship. For the evening meal there is no requirement for formal jackets or ties and casualevening attire is welcomed. However as the welcome and farewell evenings are more formal occasions you may wish to dress accordingly. There also will be entertainment nights that you may wish to dress up for. Please note shorts are not appropriate for the evening meal.

Q. Is there a specific time or seating arrangements for dining?
A. Dining in the evening is open from one time, seating will be flexible from tables of two to eight guests (Captain’s table may be ten guests on some occasions) and they will be seated by the two maitre d’s just as a fine dining restaurant would offer. Guests may choose their seating preferences each evening or reserve a table during the day with friends. Portobello’s our Exclusive Italian restaurant is also available on selected evenings. This fine dining Italian restaurant seats just 30 guests. Authentic cuisine, premium Italian wines and outstanding views from the front of the ship make this an outstanding experience. No supplement is payable.

Q. What entertainment is there onboard?
A. Every evening in the lounge, a piano player will perform for your enjoyment. We will also welcome special guest performers onboard toentertain you.

Cabins
Q. What are the cabin sizes for each category cabin?
A. Moselle Deck - Category E & D 160 ft2.                                                                                                                                                                 Rhine & Danube Deck – Category C, B, A & P Balcony Suites 200 ft2.
Rhine & Danube Deck – Category BJ, S & RJ Junior Suites 250 ft2.
Danube Deck – Category R Royal Suites 300 ft2.
All sizes except Categories E and D include a full outdoor private balcony.

Q. What are the bathroom sizes for each category cabin?
A. Moselle Deck Category D & E staterooms:1.95 m2 = 7 ft2
Rhine & Danube Decks Category A, B, C & P Balcony Suites:2.53 m2 = 8 ft2
Rhine & Danube Decks Category BJ, RJ & S Junior Suites & Royal suites: 4.02 m2 = 13 ft2

Q. What are the differences between the Suites?
A. Royal Suite(R): Full bath, balcony, butler service, with bath and separate shower.
Junior Suite(S): Wrap-around balcony, butler service, with bath and separate shower.
Junior Suite(RJ & BJ): Butler service, RJ cabins located on the Danube deck and BJ cabins located on the Rhine Deck, with bath, balcony and separate shower. RJ302 is equipped for physically challenged passengers and does not have a bath.
Balcony Suite(P): Balcony cabin, Danube deck, with butler service. (Shower only)
Balcony Suite(C & B): Balcony cabin, Rhine deck, with no butler service. (Shower only)

Q. What are the bed sizes?
A. The following bed sizes have been taken from Internet sites related to US and Canada. Of course beds vary slightly from site to site but
generally this was standard. The Scenic Slumber Bed measurement provided here is ‘mattress only’ and it will be larger with the bed
head and frame, however, on all occasions we are larger than a queen size bed, larger than a king in all countries except the US in width.
We have an exclusive designed pillow top that is much more quilted and supportive than any other River Cruise vessel that we have encountered. International Bed Sizes US and Canada Scenic Slumber Beds!!
Single Bed 90cm x 190cm
Double Size 135cm x 190cm
Queen Size 150 cm x 205 cm 190cm x 200cm
Please note that all beds (except in cabin RJ302) may be separated into two twin beds

Q. What power adaptors are required and what is the voltage?
A. 220 V and international power adaptors required.

Q. Is there a CD player in each cabin?
A. No CD player or radio is located in the cabins. Video and music channels can be accessed on the in-cabin infotainment system.

Q. Is each cabin individually climate controlled?
A. Yes, individual air-conditioning is in each cabin.

Q. Is there a fridge in each cabin?
A. Bar fridge is located in each cabin.

Q. Are there tea/coffee making facilities in each cabin?
A. There is no tea/coffee making facilities within cabins. There is 24 hour tea/coffee making facilities in the common area. Tea/coffee may be
provided in cabins that have butler service.

Q. Do you have adjoining cabins?
A. No

Q. Do you have cabins with a separate bedroom?
A. No

Q. How does the butler service work, how many butlers are onboard?
A. We have 2 full time butlers for the Danube deck and 2 junior suites on the Rhine deck. Services they will provide include: Early morning tea/coffee service, complimentary pressing of 2 articles of clothing per person per day, shoeshine service, concierge services

Q. Will there be an opportunity to change pillows in the cabins, if allergic etc?
A. Pillow menus will be located in the cabins to select the appropriate pillow for the client’s pleasure

Q. Will there be bathrobes in each cabin?
A. Yes, bathrobes will be available in all staterooms and suites

Q. How large are the balconies?
A. Balconies on our Balcony suites are approximately 36 square feet and are furnished with 2 chairs and a table. Our Royal suite balconies are approximately 49 square feet and have 2 sun loungers as well as 2 teak chairs and a table.

Sightseeing and Tours

Q. Can optional onshore excursions be purchased?
A. All excursions are included in tour cost. A choice of excursion is also available in selected ports of call – again included in the tour cost.

Q. On your coach tours, how many passengers fit on the coach?
A. Our coaches seat 40 passengers on all tours of 7 days or more. This is designed for maximum guest comfort.

Q. How do clients get from the ports/docks to the centre of town?
A. Scenic has reserved the very best docking points in our ports of call. Where we do require them, coaches are available for any town sites
requiring transportation. They are waiting for us at the dock with our Meet and Greet staff.

Q. On days when there are Scenic Free Choice options, can you also have time to do something on your own?
A. This is strictly based on the timing of the options you select. Some excursions are one hour; some are half day and others full day. This will
be fully explained by your cruise director when you make the selection onboard.

Q. Do I need to select all these options in advance?
A. No, only the first Scenic FreeChoice needs to be advised at time of booking or at final payment.

Q. Do you have “whisper boxes” for sightseeing excursions?
A. Yes, these are available for all passengers for all land sightseeing excursions.

General
Q. Where is the engine room located?
A. Engine room is located on the Rhine Deck at the stern end of the ship. Engines are sound-proofed for passenger comfort.

Q. Are the cruises wheelchair friendly and do you have a disabled cabin?
A. There is a specially equipped cabin located on the Danube Deck (cabin 302 RJ Suite). This cabin includes a wider door, support rails and a
barrier free shower. Please note that these tours may not suitable for wheelchair-bound passengers as the docks are not conducive to board/
disembark the ship easily. The coaches/attractions in Europe are not equipped and designed for wheelchair bound passengers and many of
the streets are cobblestones.

Q. Is there an elevator onboard to access all levels?
A. There is an elevator onboard which can be used to access the Danube & Rhine Decks. Stairs are used to access the Moselle Deck and the Sun Deck.

Q. What type of weather can I expect throughout each month our cruises depart?
A. June-August is summer throughout Europe and the average temperature ranges from 21 Degrees Celsius (72F) to 26 Degrees Celsius (82F). Layers of clothing should be worn to avoid over-packing. September to November is autumn throughout Europe and average temperatures range from 18 Degrees Celsius (66F) to 8 Degrees Celsius (46F), when warmer clothes are required.

Q. Do we pay cash onboard or use our credit card, if cash - is it Euros or some other currency? Can we use traveler’s checks?
A. All expenses are charged to an onboard account which passengers will pay at the end of the cruise in Euros by cash or credit card only. The credit card company will apply the appropriate currency exchange rate.

Q. Is there a shower in the Royal suite over the bath or is it a separate stall?
A. Royal suites have a separate bath and shower.

 Q. Can the chef accommodate special dietary requests?
A. Yes. It is extremely helpful to have special dietary needs noted at the time of booking, and passengers should also inform the staff upon embarkation of the ship. Kosher meals are regrettably not available.

Q. Why do you need an emergency contact number?
A. Our cruise directors, in the case of an emergency, are required to contact this person. Passengers may be incapacitated and unable to
provide this information if required in an emergency.

Q. What is this medical form that you send me when I make a booking?
A. This is a standard Scenic form, that we kindly request that clients fill out in advance and place in a sealed envelope. In the case of an
emergency, it is provided to a medical professional.

Q. Is afternoon tea offered?
A. Tea and coffee will be served with cake or pastries each day.

Q. Is there a meet and greet person at the airport?
A. Yes there is, and this is the reason why we require passenger flight details, to ensure that our meet and greet staff are there to welcome our guests. We will provide complimentary transfers to and from the airport on the day the cruise starts and finishes. If passengers book pre/post accommodation through us, we will also provide complimentary transfers to and from the airport and to and from pre and/or post tour accommodation.

Q. Are the transfers to and from the airport private?
A. Yes they are exclusive to Scenic. To qualify, private transfer refers to a transfer operated by Scenic; this can be for 2 or more passengers,
based on flight arrivals and departures.

Q. What happens with passports, do we hand them in when you board the river cruise?
A. Be advised that the front desk, will safeguard passports, for the duration of the cruise, as the different countries may require access to
this information.

Q. If clients arrive independently in Amsterdam or Budapest, is there is central transfer point in either city for transfer to the ships?
A. There will be a central meeting point in the city for transfers to the ship in the afternoon.

Q. Are there safes in the cabins?
A. Yes

Q. Is smoking permitted?
A. Smoking is not permitted inside any of the motor coaches or onboard the Scenic River Cruise Ships. Inclusive of the public areas, smoking is not permitted in the cabins or on the private balconies. A small designated area on the Sun Deck is available for those who require this facility.

Q. What is the staff to guest ratio?
A. 3.5 guests to each staff member.

Q. What languages are spoken on the ship?
A. The official language onboard is English. All staff, crew and local guides speak fluent English. All announcements and lectures will be presented in English.

Please note that all information is correct at time of publishing but is subject to change.