kruzaddict

Thanks Pete. I have booked for Paris to Barcelona next year knowing that the ship, the Emerald, will not be retrofitted. Doing Amsterdam to Budapest this fall with Scenic as well. They had the best itineraries.

Sorry - I meant including France. The only thing missing in France is the new ship concept (sealable balconies) and the chef's table.

According to the brochures, the River Cafe is not available either, I believe it is part of the retrofit which the Emerald will not get for next year.

It would take half a page to explain all the smoke and mirrors but may I suggest you read the Scenic "fine print". For example in their latest "Scenic News" Winter 2012 edition the pages are dotted with * and ^ highlighting what is included and where. Nor every type of drink is complimentary. The butler service is incremented on what cabin you select. The new River Cafe and Table La Rive are not included on French cruises to name just some of what I consider Smoke and Mirrors.

 

I'm not saying Scenic is doing anything wrong. It's just a marketing ploy like Vikings 2 for 1 deals but like all things it pays to read carefully and if a Scenic Rep comes to your area ask them questions. You would never know from their fine brochures that Russia is excluded until you find a * or ^ and follow the clues.

Scenic is outfitting all their existing ships with the exception of the Emerald, with the River Cafe and Table La Rive to bring them all up to the same standard as the Crystal (at least that is what I have come to understand). The Emerald is being redeployed in 2013 to France on the Saone and Rhone and there was not enough time to retrofit that ship and move it (I guess they had to pick one ship to move and not retrofit). Perhaps they will retrofit over the 2013/2014 winter. All the other 'inclusions' are applicable. With respect to the Butler service, it only makes sense that the high priced suites get better service than those of us in acquarium class, after all a substantial premium has been paid. I personally found the 'fine print' no more difficult to understand than that of the other cruise lines.