Luxury is All-Inclusive with Scenic Cruises

When it comes to cruises, luxury is a floating concept. Many lines claim the title, but not all make the grade. It's easy to agree, however, on the luxury of an all-inclusive cruise experience.

Scenic fits that bill nicely.

Scenic Luxury Rivers offers five-star cruising that is all-inclusive and then some. Guests enjoy the luxury of butler service; unlimited drinks and spirits; 24-hour room service; in-suite minibars that are restocked daily and in-suite Apple infotainment systems. They can make use of complimentary eBikes, a Scenic Tailormade GPS-driven self-touring device as well as complimentary WiFi on board.

Scenic guests travel with all the luxuries of home (or more). Bathrooms are stocked with thick cotton towels, plush bathrobes and l'Occitane toiletries. Queen-size Scenic Slumber Beds are encased in high-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets. And a pillow menu provides options for the best night's sleep. Additionally, nearly all Scenic suites feature the Scenic Sun-Lounge. Guests simply push a button to lower the wall of glass to let light and fresh air into the room.

Many river cruise lines offer complimentary shore excursions. Scenic goes a step beyond, with exclusive Scenic Sundowners and Enrich events. What's more, a Scenic river cruise offers the luxury of included airport transfers to and from the ship, as well as included tips and gratuities.

The fact is, more than 95 percent of Scenic guests disembark with no additional charges to their credit cards.

All 15 Scenic Space Ships have all been built or refurbished since 2012. In 2017, Scenic Sapphire and Scenic Diamond were reconfigured to add new luxurious features. Among them: a vitality pool; larger gym and spa area; a cooking emporium, Scenic Culinaire; and the Salt Therapy Lounge, an industry first.

Scenic guests enjoy the luxury of options in every port, with Scenic Enrich, Freechoice and Tailormade excursions. They can venture out on their own or with local guides. They may decide to explore local markets with the onboard chef or enjoy a gala performance at the Pope's Palace in Avignon. Back on board, Scenic Sundowner cocktail receptions showcase special settings on every river.

Dining options aboard Scenic ships truly set the line apart. The ship's main restaurant is the open-seating Crystal Dining Room, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The River Café is the place to go for an early-riser breakfast, casual meal or small bite sweets. Specialty dining is available at Portobello's restaurant (L'Amour on French river cruises), offering a five-course tasting menu paired with local wines. And, of course, room service is available round-the-clock.

Guests booked on the Diamond Deck receive an invitation from the ship's Executive Chef to Table La Rive. An intimate, six-course dining experience with fine wines awaits.

And, cruises on the rivers of Bordeaux and southern France offer an additional culinary experience. Guests can take part in the Scenic Culinaire onboard cooking class. If the itinerary coincides with a local market day, the class will join the chef to shop for farm-fresh ingredients.

Scenic cruises travel through the heart of Europe on her greatest waterways, including the Rhine, Main and Danube. Popular itineraries, such as the 14-night Jewels of Europe, features Amsterdam, Cologne, Nuremberg, Passau, Vienna and Budapest. Scenic also offers cruises in France, Portugal, as well as Southeast Asia and Egypt.

The line's expertise in delivering luxury comes from its origins. It's part of Scenic Luxury Crusies & Tours, a company with three decades of success in the escorted tour business. And, beginning in January 2019, the Scenic cruise experience expands to the oceans. Scenic will launch the Discovery Yacht Scenic Eclipse, as well as a sister ship in 2020.

Scenic Eclipse promises to redefine luxury standards in expedition yacht cruising. She'll offer cruises in the Mediterranean, Chilean Fjords and Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands; the Russian and Canadian Arctic and the East Coast of North America.

Scenic Eclipse features 114 all-veranda suites, measuring from 345 to more than 2600 square feet. Ten different dining options include Asian fusion and French. Guests can relax in the 6,000 square foot spa; work out in the gym, yoga and Pilates studio; enjoy entertainment in the 240-seat theater and take a dip in the indoor and outdoor plunge pools.

For the truly adventurous, Scenic Eclipse will also feature a seven-seat submarine and two state-of-the-art Airbus H130 helicopters. Incredible access to nature's most beautiful sights, both above and beneath the sea. That's true Scenic luxury.

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