Scenic: Getting the Royal Treatment

[mapsd]

After rebooking our cancelled 2020 river cruise we were able to upgrade to a  Royal Balcony Suite.

Along with some nice additions (unlimited laundry, a nice bottle of champagne, etc.)  they also list:

1) A 200 euro on-board credit.

With everything being included, what can we use this credit for?  

Upgraded wine list?, gift shop?, spa services? anything else?

2) Private transfers in Europe.

Does this just mean we get a personal transfer to/from the ship (don't have to ride with other passengers?

 

 

[Canal archive]

mapsd, private transfer is just what it says your trip to and from the airport to the boat so you don’t have to mix with the hoy paloy. Onboard credit you can use for shop or hairdressers, manicure, pedicure or massage, all the rest is included maybe a few very high end beverages. After eight cruises with Scenic I have yet to pay extra for any drink and I enjoy excellent wines, have not been let down yet and excellent whiskey a group of us drunk the boat dry of Laphroaig it was replaced the next day. Which cruise are you doing? CA

[mapsd]

14 hours ago, Canal archive said:

mapsd, private transfer is just what it says your trip to and from the airport to the boat so you don’t have to mix with the hoy paloy. Onboard credit you can use for shop or hairdressers, manicure, pedicure or massage, all the rest is included maybe a few very high end beverages. After eight cruises with Scenic I have yet to pay extra for any drink and I enjoy excellent wines, have not been let down yet and excellent whiskey a group of us drunk the boat dry of Laphroaig it was replaced the next day. Which cruise are you doing? CA

We're doing the Rhine in September.

We usually enjoy meeting other travelers on the hotel transfer, but like the idea of not having to wait for others after a transatlantic flight.

We're doing a few pre-days in Switzerland and post-days exploring N Europe, so not sure if our transfers will just include our Zurich hotel to the dock & to  Centraal station?

 

Like you, the standard wine list is good enough, so it looks like my wife will get some spa service!

[sbjornda]

In our two experiences with the Royal Balcony Suites, we were met at the airport by a limo driver holding a sign with our name on it. It felt really good after navigating airports for so many hours.

 

Don't forget to make good use of the butler. Technically all the cabins get butler service, but they are supposed to take more initiative with the Royal Suite passengers. I liked having coffee brought to the cabin as I was waking up in the morning. Daily laundry service. In-room dining on occasion, especially if one of us wasn't feeling 100% well. They are there to pamper you, so make the most of it. 🙂

[Canal archive]

When you get your paperwork included will be the ships contact details, phone and email so if your unsure or held up just contact them. Don’t forget your in suite mini bar can be loaded with your preference either your butler or cabin steward will sort that for you. I have yet to fault a butler they are simply superb. We haven’t always had higher end cabins but have always had early morning tea, coffee and croissants delivered wonderfully decadent. CA

[djh1959]

We certainly didn't have a Royal Suite, but a Junior Suite on Scenic, which had a butler.

 

One butler that served us was terrific, the other one not so much unfortunately.

 

There were some very disappointing things though with the extra "perks".  We were told that we got pre-dinner nibbles each day but nothing happened.  After two days, I enquired and was told that we had to pre-order each day with 24 hours notice!  How on earth would we know if were were going to be hungry enough the next day?  We weren't even sure if we would be back from our excursions in time.

 

We also had room service available, but in a junior suite, there was nowhere to eat except for the balcony.  One would hope a royal suite would be considerably better than that.

 

Overall I would never get a suite with Scenic again as the service did not match the expense.

 

As for wine, we found that there were some good ones, but you had to persist and ask for them otherwise only the very average house wines were served.

[mapsd]

6 hours ago, djh1959 said:

We certainly didn't have a Royal Suite, but a Junior Suite on Scenic, which had a butler.

 

One butler that served us was terrific, the other one not so much unfortunately.

 

There were some very disappointing things though with the extra "perks".  We were told that we got pre-dinner nibbles each day but nothing happened.  After two days, I enquired and was told that we had to pre-order each day with 24 hours notice!  How on earth would we know if were were going to be hungry enough the next day?  We weren't even sure if we would be back from our excursions in time.

 

We also had room service available, but in a junior suite, there was nowhere to eat except for the balcony.  One would hope a royal suite would be considerably better than that.

 

Overall I would never get a suite with Scenic again as the service did not match the expense.

 

As for wine, we found that there were some good ones, but you had to persist and ask for them otherwise only the very average house wines were served.

Good tips!

Do you think it would be enough to ask for the included wine list?

Maybe have a standing order for an afternoon fruit plate?

 

Personally, I don't always need all the butler services (I'd rather unpack my own bag), but hope  to take full advantage of the room service, laundry service, and morning coffee/pastry delivery!

 

We got lucky in that our 125% cancellation credit from 2020 covered the room upgrade along with pre-night hotel in Zurich.

[Canal archive]

Just chat with your butler when you board, he/she will most probably escort you to your cabin. They will get to know you and you can get to know them. Within reason anything is possible. The majority of the butlers are Eastern European and lovely people. Enjoy. CA

[mapsd]

Our TA is now telling us that Scenic telling her that it is not offering the 200 euro on-board credit for the premium cabins, .....but their website is still listing it even today.

 

Not a big deal, but at least remove it from the website if you're not going to honor it, snice it was one of the factors that made us choose them over a couple other lines.

[Canal archive]

Mapsd double check that with your TA I received their latest brochure late last week and I know I’m in the U.K. but I cannot see them offering different nationalities different features. It actually says ‘Euro 200 per suite on board credit for use in the wellness centre’. CA 

Also you had already paid the deposit I’d really be miffed.

Edited June 16, 2021 by Canal archive

[mapsd]

25 minutes ago, Canal archive said:

Mapsd double check that with your TA I received their latest brochure late last week and I know I’m in the U.K. but I cannot see them offering different nationalities different features. It actually says ‘Euro 200 per suite on board credit for use in the wellness centre’. CA 

Also you had already paid the deposit I’d really be miffed.

I see the same thing.   I even sent a screenshot.  My TA is still working on it.

It will be a great trip either way, but I do hope they abide by their own listing, since it will cause me to wonder what other perks will be pulled out from under me?

(My wife will probably use up the credit on spa services, so my trip will be the same regardless!)

[mapsd]

On 6/16/2021 at 12:30 PM, mapsd said:

I see the same thing.   I even sent a screenshot.  My TA is still working on it.

It will be a great trip either way, but I do hope they abide by their own listing, since it will cause me to wonder what other perks will be pulled out from under me?

(My wife will probably use up the credit on spa services, so my trip will be the same regardless!)

Just got word from my TA.

Scenic will not only honor the 200 euro on-baord credit per cabin, but will make it 200 per person!

 

Now, back to the dilemma on how to spend it!

[Daisi]

12 minutes ago, mapsd said:

Just got word from my TA.

Scenic will not only honor the 200 euro on-baord credit per cabin, but will make it 200 per person!

 

Now, back to the dilemma on how to spend it!

 

Now your wife can do double spa treatments.... 😉  Glad you got it sorted.

 

[Canal archive]

I am so glad, there’s a result, what a good dilemma. I’d buy another Steiff teddy bear, or maybe some jewellery or try the salt therapy! Have a great cruise I am so green. CA

[mapsd]

17 hours ago, Canal archive said:

I am so glad, there’s a result, what a good dilemma. I’d buy another Steiff teddy bear, or maybe some jewelry or try the salt therapy! Have a great cruise I am so green. CA

What kind of items do that have in the gift shop?  

We've seen on-board shops that vary from a mini-convenience store to some with just a few overpriced apparel items with the logo stitched on.

We're not big collectors, but I do have coffee mugs from a lot of our past adventures.

[Canal archive]

Yes some garments excellent quality actually quite understated. I’ve got two Steiff  teddy bears (but I collect bears) there’s  also swarovski crystal jewellery and other makes. There’s not a lot it’s quite select and they do change from year to year. CA