One of our Tour + Cruise consultants, Kristy, had a famil opportunity on one of the Scenic river cruises for a 5-day voyage from Budapest return. Since it was only agents, it was a shorter cruise than the ones offered to passengers. However, she was able to experience the Scenic Jade and all that it had to offer.
We tend to advise clients that March might be a little cool, as it’s right at the beginning of the season. But Kristy actually found it was the perfect time to be on the river. Days were warmish and then nights tended to become chilly. However, it is a great time to travel to avoid crowds, and the cooler weather still works well with river cruises, especially on ships with no pool.
Scenic boasts great river voyages throughout Europe. View our top Scenic river cruises here.
Keep on reading to discover Kristy’s experience on the Scenic Jade.
Scenic Jade Boarding and Welcome
The boarding felt a little disorganised, due to the lack of communication between Scenic and us. My transfer from the Marriott was seamless, yet I didn’t know that we were actually able to board the ship a little earlier. For those who arrived early, they were welcomed with a great lunch and the opportunity to mingle. The ship was easy to find, and the staff were very professional on arrival.
Scenic River Cruises First Impressions
I was very impressed with the Scenic Jade upon arrival. All of the common areas were spotless and modern, plus the staff were friendly and professional. I was greeted with a glass of champagne and a warm towel, and then directed into the lounge where I could rest and relax while I waited for check in.
Once checked in I was shown to my room and directed about all of the different aspects of each of the Suites (all Scenic ships are all suites, even the Standard cabins are classed as suites). My Butler went through the daily schedule which would be available on my TV, as well as butler services (in my suite it was early morning tea & coffee, in-suite breakfast service, daily minibar refill, shoeshine service, valet service: ie arranging of theatre tickets, shore arrangements, salon services etc). They also went through the regular Suite amenities which included 1 x 1kg complimentary laundry service, personal and refillable water bottles, ESPA amenities, complimentary Wi-Fi, 5-star all-inclusive dining, and a dining experience at Portabellos.
Scenic Jade Cabin and Suites
The cabin itself was very spacious for a lead-in Balcony Suite. I found I had plenty of room and the suitcases fit under the bed which is a plus, even my massive suitcase. The cupboard was a little confusing as it’s a pocket design and I actually had to get my butler to come back and explain it to me. The beds were made up together, but with linen as if it was two singles which was a little strange. The mini bar had a selection of local wine, as well as the usual spirits and mixes, plus some pringles and chocolates. This was replaced every day, even on the last night, and it was a great bonus to have.
The ESPA amenities were lovely and were accompanied by beautiful soft bathrobes and towels. I want to especially mention the shower which had changing light patterns. It was like a disco party in your own bathroom- amazing!
The TV had movies and TV channels that I didn’t take advantage of, but other passangers mentioned it had a good selection. The air-con was really responsive, I loved being able to have the window open and loved sitting on the balcony with a glass of wine. Another thing to note is that the lights were very well located and the beds were very comfortable.
Scenic Jade Onboard Facilities and Entertainment
The main lounge in the ship, while it looked amazing, was not very practical. The seats were modern and trendy but so low that they were difficult to get in and out of. Even for myself (a 40 year old), and so I can’t imagine how a 60 or 70 year old would go.
The Portabello area at the end of the bar was lovely and a nice place to sit with a drink while you are underway. Although we did get locked out a few times as the door wasn’t working but the staff sorted that out really quickly.
I had a massage with the onboard masseuse and it was amazing. Other agents informed me they had an additional head and face massage with their treatment and loved it! Unfortunately, my masseuse missed this part of my treatment but I still enjoyed the massage that I received.
The spa area also had a Salt Room, which was quite lovely and came with some great seating too. I’d like to have seen some information or a plaque explaining more about what it is and the health benefits the room holds.
It is also worth noting that the lift doesn’t go to the Jewel Deck or the Sun Deck. I always try to advise clients about mobility on ships, but it was interesting to see this in person. The gangplank was a lot more angled than I had realised. I’d say that passengers on this ship should have decent mobility. However, feel free to contact us and we can discuss further about other options.
The onboard entertainment was great, being a shorter cruise there was only one outside entertainment with the Hungarian dancers and music. This was great! On a longer cruise I’m sure there would be more entertainment options.
Scenic Jade Dining and Beverages
While Scenic boasts 5 dining experiences (Crystal Restaurant, River cafe, Portobello, in-room dining and Table La Rive), I feel that’s a bit of a stretch. The main dining room, Crystal, was great, with local delicacies and alternatives for people who wanted to eat a more basic meal, like steak or chicken with chips and/or salad.
I found the portions far too big when eating three courses, which was what was on offer. I feel like if they did half sizes, there would be less food wastage and people would still be able to try all three courses. There was always the opportunity to be able to order more if needed/wanted, so smaller portions to start would be a good idea. I very much liked that the wine changed depending on where we were, but you have the option to change back to previous options if you liked them better.
Crystal could seat the whole ship if needed, so even at breakfast time, I didn’t find it crowded at all. I particularly noticed how much the staff were involved during meal times, being totally at my service, professional and friendly.
Portobellos is a signature Italian restaurant that is featured on most of the Scenic river cruises. This was a very pleasant experience. I found that the food was overall very good, but I think Crystal was equally as delicious.
I ordered breakfast to my room one morning and it was great. On offer, there was the normal buffet and an a la carte menu, of which I tried quite a few of the items and found them super tasty. The coffee was an automatic machine, not barista coffee, but it was still pretty decent.
Scenic River Cruises Excursions
The Scenic River Cruises Freechoice options were limited on this cruise due to it being a short famil/agency only voyage.
I chose to do the Thermal Baths in Budapest, the bike ride in Vienna and the “Wines of Slovakia” in Bratislava. In Budapest, I really liked that they went to the more traditional baths like Gellert. The bike ride in Vienna was amazing and informative, and I really enjoyed the e-bikes.
The Bratislava “wine tasting” was not ideal, especially being from South Australia where we have amazing wine! The guide was great and very knowledgeable, and the quiet Vox systems were handy and informative.
Scenic River Cruises Final Thoughts
Overall, I had an amazing time onboard the Scenic Jade. I was utterly impressed with how modern and clean the ship was, plus how professional the staff were onboard. The Balcony Suite as a lead-in is an optimal balance between value and comfort, so I would highly recommend that suite. I found that any issues were fixed really seamlessly. I very much enjoyed all aspects of the cruise and would definitely continue to recommend it to clients.
View all our Scenic river cruises to see which one piques your interest! Or, chat with a Tour + Cruise specialist for more information about their cruises.
