Canal archive

Scenic have solved the balcony challenge as you can fold the glass doors back and open up the whole area, the balcony can be opened up or closed off fine for all eventualities. Luckily we’ve only breasted up a few times but one we offered a drink and had a nice chat over a glass of wine with our new found friends.

Looks like we need a cabin size comparison chart. Your challenge for this year is to first find companies with similar itineraries then marry up with the cabin sizes you’ve researched, all I can say is the best of luck. Especially as a lot of companies don’t show sizes. Good luck but I do feel your pain!

Light to pack a wrap looks good keeps the chills of air con at bay and can be quite classy. Also just a little bit of bling tarts everything up.

We’ve just purchased a new plug adapter for our use and, don’t know why our grown up daughters. This is our first new one for many years and the instructions clearly state not to be used for hair dryers, I know some cruise lines do have US sockets but I’d still be wary.

In the early 70s we got to know a Spanish restaurateur in Valencia (wonderful Spanish cuisine) he firmly maintained that the French bought up all the good Spanish wine to bulk up their red wine as they couldn’t produce enough themselves. Sadly he is no longer with us but he is responsible for introducing us to Rioja, lovely man and superb chef.

Walking through a vineyard sounds about right for Bordeaux!

Phew! So glad we’re this side of the pond we’re European river cruising is concerned yes we do have to ponder if our airline will be in existence by the time our holiday is due but for many cruising routes rail is the way to go.

Second seating Bordeaux Marignax airport is really not that far from the river, we had the transport arranged but I would have thought a taxi would be fine.

Lois R I suspect other cruise lines do the same thing but the reasons I’ve kept on using Scenic are - I like their product - and they alter their excursions from year to year. We’ve so far repeated two of their tours and never repeated an excursion, we’re off to the Seine this year same thing. Also my DH feels comfortable in familiar surroundings, for a man who traveled the world for work he’s now got very picky with his travel requirements.

We’ve done Chalon sur Saone to the Mediterranean twice and Bordeaux to Bordeaux once apart from there both being in France and both on rivers there a bit like chalk and cheese. The food specialities differ as does their wine and countryside. We will do the Bordeaux cruise again if only to see the Luminaire's and savouring their superb seafood.

Having now managed to get into and understood the Tauck website, for some reason it didn’t want to work properly, their Seine cruise looks interesting but does not moor up in Honfluer so will stick with Scenic.

What a neat marketing ploy!

It does seem a huge difference well done for realising. Enjoy your cruise.

Cesky Krumlov is worth the longgggg coach trip, pretty, beautiful architecture lovely toy shops selling amazing wooden toys and a lady with a ferret on a lead. I’ll try to find some photos.

Fingers, toes and everything crossed!

Vienna trams are wonderful - underground overground a bit like the Wombles of Wimbledon although there was a big football match on and the police armed with huge guns were very much in evidence (not a site you see much in the U.K.)we ventured outside the city and ended up in a small village outside Vienna where there was an end of season wine festival, altogether a superb day.

Trying to keep up with the vagaries of the weather systems is a full time occupation. We did Amsterdam to Basel one year at the end of April - freezing 🥶 in Amsterdam and warm enough for shorts by the time we got to Basel. The Seine in late July beautiful not to hot and not to chilly. The south of France in May - scorching but a dry heat so even I could cope with it again in June different year amazing hot but acceptable. I have a sneaky feeling there may be a little challenge with low water again this year as the snow fall looks a bit lacking across mainland Europe. The time of year is of no consequence to Scenic they for myself have always provided a superb product. June is always a good time of year, my birthday month, and yes they always do something special for you. Personally I do prefer the Diamond deck but that may be because we started travelling with Scenic before they became ‘all inclusive’.

Never been to Bilbao but loved San Sebastián albeit a few years ago during doing our own thing around Europe on scooters so many many moons ago.

Have you tried the Owners Suite yet? Having your luggage couriered is one of my favourites.

Deluxe are absolutely fine larger than the straight forward balcony suites gives you more room to swing that cat at the end of the bed. On Diamond deck you get almost the same perks but on Sapphire deck you don’t get complimentary daily clothes pressing, in suite breakfast service, or an invitation to table La rive. Enjoy your cruise. The Moselle is beautiful when we went our Captain said if we got up early (6 am) we could get some good photo’s of the confluence of the two rivers so 4 of us did only to get huge apologies from the Captain he’d got a message to leave the river as soon as possible because the water level was rising. It just means that we’ll have to book to go again.

He may have but he also stood in the general election to try to become a member of parliament many times. He had a so called group - Screaming Lord Such and the Savages. Its on YouTube.

We are off to Paris beginning of July DH has worked it so it’s straight off the Eurostar at the Gare du Nord onto the transport and straight to the Scenic Gem, what no shops!

Sorry to but in but the best for cake and coffee is Restaurant Sacha for wonderful Viennese coffee and Sachertorte it may be a bit like sitting in a restaurant in St Marks Square, you know it’s going to be expensive but you only do it once so savour and enjoy.

If you’re only staying one night check out the Ibis hotels they’re not pretentious, clean and straightforward. Don’t go to the Louvre you’ll get lost for the day, yes it’s a must but when you got more time. Try for a tour I know it’s sounds gouache but you will at least see many of the sights of this special city. To get into the flavour of the city walk up at least part of the Champs-Elysees towards the Arc de Triumph (driving around there is bordering on horrific especially on a scooter). Go to Montmartre if you can have lunch or a drink on the pavement and visit the Sacre- Coeur. Parisians are not the most patient of French but enjoy because your next day you’ll be wiped out, don’t forget jet lag. Have a great cruise and enjoy one of the world’s fascinating city’s.

Scenic don’t give you cash for lunch but either provide it or you can request a picnic, we’ve do it and it’s excellent.