Scenic Tour & Cruise Reviews

We recently returned from the Scenic Christmas Markets River cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam. The cruise was excellent with visits to many Christmas markets along the route. The markets usually opened around 11.00am until later that evening. Due to the short daylight hours the markets were twinkling with Christmas lights and many stalls to buy your ...read more Christmas decorations. The excursions were also educational and entertaining. Scenic also provided entertainment locally sourced, these were themed on what we had seen or visited that day.

If you are willing to endure the cold temperatures, the highest temperature was a maximum of 7 degrees while the coldest day was maximum 1 degree, this is a cruise that is well worth while especially if you would like to experience how Christmas is celebrated in Europe.

We would like also to send many thanks to Hannah at Global Journeys for her detail to attention, help and support as this trip was booked pre-COVID and Hannah was able to keep us up to date and repeatedly rebooked for us when the cruise between 2019 to 2021 were cancelled. Thanks Hannah and your fellow colleagues. We will definitely book with Global again as we used them for our overseas trips before onset of COVID too.

Booking with Global Journeys was a very good experience, Georgie was always happy to help with queries and assist with changes to flights or itinerary due to events outside of her control. Scenic is a company we have done a lot trips with and the quality of hotel accommodation is always excellent. The coach driver we had in New Zealand was amazing, ...read more as well as being an excellent driver he knew the country backwards and gave us plenty of information. Due to COVID and staff shortages there were several changes to the itinerary. Our Tour Director was Australian, new to the job and not familiar with New Zealand, not the standard we have been used to from Scenic! We would travel with Scenic again.

We have cruised with Scenic twice before (pre COVID) and they were very good. The same cannot be said for Scenic post COVID. On the positive side, the cruise is very good, particularly the Moselle. The room was good and well serviced. The ship (Scenic Jewel) is in good condition but the lounge furniture is showing signs of wear and could do with an ...read more upgrade. The tour director was excellent and the staff were all very friendly and worked hard. Overall the cruise went off very well.

On the negative side, it is apparent that Scenic has cut the budget for food. Breakfast and lunch were OK but dinners are no longer gourmet and 5 star. Dinner is reduced to 3 courses and portion sizes are small. Bread rolls (strictly 1 per person) were the size and shape of my index finger and could barely be cut and buttered. The service was slow and confused on most nights and they appeared to be under staffed. The Chef must have got some feedback from the end of cruise reviews as he went table to table on the last night apologising for the food. A bit of a cringe moment.

As for Scenic's COVID protocols, other than having to prove that we were vaccinated when we boarded, the word COVID was never mentioned for the entire cruise. The staff do not wear masks and there is no requirement for passengers to wear masks but some did. The piano player has been sacked and replaced by an Enrichment Manager who is basically an assistant Tour Director and ran some quiz nights which were actually pretty good. Onboard evening entertainment was mostly not to our taste and we only stayed up for one. We enjoyed the cruise and the destinations we visited but many past Scenic customers were very disgruntled. Scenic has definitely lost its gloss.

Wonderful Tour leader and coach drivers. A mix of ages from 38 plus. All Australian this time around. I am not really a wine drinker and maybe had one too many wineries for my liking. Kangaroo Island was amazing and favourite among most of us. Adelaide, wineries and Victoria Habour all beautiful Scenes and as we drove around. Accommodation was of a ...read more mixed rating, Remembering Kangaroo Island is still recovering from fires was of a lower standard but still quite good and the staff their were more than helpful, Walking distance to small amount of places to get a coffee or a place to eat. Advice if you go in August - layers, coats, beanies, raincoat. Really cold most days but still a wonderful holiday.

Definitely would travel with Scenic again had fun and stress free trip to Canada with an Alaska cruise . Highlight was a helicopter ride in Whistler and landing on a glacier (which was extra $ but well worth it) spectacular! Accommodation was good although it would have been nice to stay in rooms with a view as you are paying top dollar, only one hotel ...read more we had a view was Lake Louise which was amazing!

We had a wonderful tour guide Benjamin who really looked after us and made the trip enjoyable ! Alaska cruise with Holland America was excellent ,and we were lucky to have perfect weather August perfect time of the year to see both Rockies and Alaska. Thank you Georgie at Global Journeys for organizing a wonderful and stress free holiday.

I would highly recommend this Scenic Package. We travelled in August 2022 and had perfect weather the entire trip. Our tour director on the land package was Ben Frances and our driver was Nick - they were both the best tour Director and driver we have ever had any any of our previous 7 bus holidays. The 2-day stays in Victoria, Whistler, Jasper, ...read more Lake Louise and Banff and Vancouver were wonderful and the Fairmont hotels and location were perfect. The Gold Leaf Rocky Mountaineer between Banff and Vancouver was a once in a life time experience and the scenery, particularly the first day was magical. Our entire group remained COVID free so we could all enjoy the Holland America seven night Inside passage cruise. The cruise cabin selection on the Koningsdam that Scenic provided us was perfect - we couldn't fault anything during either the entire land and cruise packages.

We particularly, like the selection of included activities in Victoria, Whistler, Jasper and Banff. We chose the whale watching in Victoria; Zip Lining in Whistler; Rafting in Jasper and the helicopter ride in Banff. We also did the Peak-2-Peak Gondola ride in Whistler. We paid for this ourselves and had plenty of time to fully explore the peaks in the afternoon as we did the Zip lining in the morning. The zip lining is suitable for all ages it is very comfortable and easy to do.

The Holland America Cruise was fantastic - great entertainment at night time - particularly the One Step Dance company, the BB King All Stars Blues band, the two comedians and the BBC Planet Earth shows.

This was our second holiday we have booked through Global Journeys and once again it was hassle free and everything was so easy - despite COVID. I would highly recommend them. Our previous tour was an Albatross tour throughout Ireland which like the Scenic tour had a number of 2 and some 3 nights stays and lots of inclusions. We chose Scenic for this holiday only because Albatross don't offer any packages for Canada and Alaska. It was our first time with Scenic and we were very impressed with them. Overall Global Journeys, Scenic and Holland America all provided quality products and service that made it a superb holiday.

We finally undertook our dream holiday to Egypt. The sheer beauty of this timeless country exceeded all of our expectations. We were initially apprehensive about travelling to Egypt in regard to our safety but it was unfounded. Egypt is as safe as anywhere in Europe. We travelled with Scenic who provided a never to forget experience. The professionalism ...read more of the Scenic staff could not be faulted and their attention to detail was excellent. Our cruise down the Nile was exceptional. My wife and her sister are gluten intolerant and the Chef's on the boat specially prepared separate and exquisite meals, for both of them. We could not praise them enough. As for Cairo, Luxor and Aswan with their museums, temples, tombs and Pyramids you cannot appreciate their beauty and intrigue unless you are there. Their photos in glossy magazines and on the internet do not do them justice. So if you have the opportunity do not miss this once in a lifetime experience.

We totally enjoyed our River Cruise. Booking through Global Journeys was sooo easy. Communication was great and nothing was to much trouble. We found communication with Global Journeys much easier than communicating directly with river cruise company. The cruise was great - we were a bit concerned that the age demographics would be older than us ...read more but that was not the case. There was a great mix of ages on the ship and we have formed some strong friendships. There was a late change of ship which we were disappointed in but Scenic went out of their way to ensure they made up for any disappointment. We would definitely do another river cruise and we certainly will be booking that through Global Journeys. Very happy customers.

Our booking through Global Journeys was all via email and went very smoothly, without any hitches. We would not hesitate to book with them once again and in fact already have!! The Scenic 21 Day Western Discovery Tour was very well organised and all went well. The Bordeaux River cruise varied a little from the original program, but this part of the ...read more tour depends on tides and water levels. We saw everything that was listed in the programme and more, but just not in the same order as listed. Scenic is a very professional team and we have travelled with them several times before and certainly will do again. They may be a little more expensive than some other tour companies, but we would recommend them to everyone.

The scenery was brilliant. The service in the restaurant was just below perfect. The reason for this qualification was due to all the smorgasbords. There was an additional specials menu - twice we ordered from this but the meals didn't turn up. Free beverages were excellent. Another thing mentioned and rectified was all the 'double beds' on the ship ...read more were in reality single beds put together. Put my leg through the centre and could have broken a leg or ankle. Fell out of bed with the mattress. Hello, passenger in danger. They did bind this one up and then I was okay. The Palais Liechtenstein Mozart and Strauss concert was perfect. All transfers were very good and prompt.

Rocky Mountains are an exciting experience. The beauty of the mountains and lakes are everywhere around you. A sight to behold.

The river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest was an excellent way to travel. It was fully catered and the food selection was varied to provide dishes from the country you travel through. It gave us an opportunity to taste food that we may not have ordered from a restaurant elsewhere. We enjoyed the ability to integrate cycling with our sight seeing. ...read more The Scenic river cruise was indeed scenic and the onboard app provided great insights to the various castles, churches and towns as we passed by.

The staff on this Scenic river cruise were friendly and very pleasant to deal with. Our cruise director was the best we have ever had compared to our travels. He was always around to help people with their queries and had a great dry sense of humour. We really enjoyed this cruise and would recommend it to others. Our booking through Global Journeys was simple, easy and without any problems. Anything that was promised was delivered on time and without any need for us to chase. This gave us the opportunity to start our trip in relaxed frame of mind and to enjoy the experience.

We booked this trip because it offered something a bit different from our usual European holidays, and we were not disappointed. The tour operator, Scenic, were excellent. Our trip started in Moscow, where we were met at the airport and driven to our cruise ship, the Scenic Tsar. This is a smaller ship than some others, only taking a maximum of 96 guests, ...read more which meant people mixed well and we met some lovely friends. Three tour directors looked after all our excursions, as well as offering some fun entertainment on board. They were a talented group, and we learnt Russian history, language, cooking and Matryoshka decoration. The ship's crew, all Russian, spoke good English, and catered for our every need.

After the cruise we were accompanied on a train journey to Helsinki, where we continued our tour through the Baltic States, again learning much history and culture, as well as seeing some lovely cities and countryside. Our tour director was wonderful, and we couldn't have been better looked after. On both parts of the tour we experienced some wonderful cultural events, excellent accommodation, comfortable travel and some great meals. We would definitely take another trip with Scenic, and happily use Global Journeys to book, as they were very organised and helpful. We really appreciated being able to log on to our record and check how the planning was progressing.

Firstly, I have nothing but praise for Jemma Rosen and Global Journeys in how our trip was organised. Jemma was always helpful, efficient and considerate in replying to any queries we had. This trip included two river cruises, the first in Bordeaux and the second on the Douro River in Portugal. Compared to other river cruises we have done, the Bordeaux ...read more trip was a little disappointing - the scenery is not as picturesque and the rivers are very muddy.

The cabin on Scenic Diamond was very cramped and smaller than those we have experienced on APT river cruises. Staff on board and meals were excellent. Most excursions were very good but some hot weather at the time spoilt several excursions. We enjoyed the cruise on the Douro River very much and would recommend it. Scenery was beautiful and excursions were excellent. The cabin on Scenic Azure was a better size. At least there was room for a chair but there was still a problem with very limited room between the sides of the bed and the walls.

We had a wonderful time on this tour with a great group of Australians. We stayed in amazing hotels and lodges and ate plenty of delicious food. In total we saw over 40 different mammals and many birds. It got to the stage where we didn't think we could possibly take another photo of an elephant etc but the next day we would be taking yet another photo. ...read more It was in the first game park we saw the big five and we saw them again in some other parks. It was very exciting to see so many animals right beside our vehicle. Our tour director was absolutely amazing. His knowledge was incredible. He was super organised and had a great sense of humour.

We booked our Scenic River Cruise with Paris and Prague extensions through Hannah at Global Journeys and I cannot speak highly enough of the excellent service we received. Hannah was always available to answer our questions and always answered our queries promptly and courteously.

Our Scenic trip through Europe was fantastic and was everything we ...read more imagined. This trip would suit anyone in our age group (+65) looking for an all inclusive, fully organised tour through some of the prettiest places in Europe with the bonus of unpacking just once. The food on board the Scenic ship was first class and Scenic's included experiences and activities made it an unforgettable holiday.

This tour was not stand alone (which was unbeknown to us) it was added onto another tour that started in San Francisco so nearly all the participants had already been together for about 12 days so no welcome meeting.

The Bellagio was very good and all the National Parks were magnificent, just what we hoped for, but with the exception of Las Vegas ...read more and Springdale the quality of service and accommodation was not up to the standard we expected of a Scenic tour and for the price we paid. The accommodation in the Grand Canyon was very disappointing and we had to get a shuttle bus to another hotel to have breakfast each morning. The tour director did this as she felt the breakfasts were better there. We are not so sure it was terrible service as was the food.

The Enrich excursions we rate as follows; Cirque du Soleil's "O" was fantastic. The Grand Canyon Flightseeing was excellent with the exception of the provided lunch which was terrible. The cruise on Lake Powell was very disappointing and over-crowded boat with no bar facilities, not what we expected from a Scenic Enrich excursion. The accommodation and service at the hotel was very unsatisfactory. It would have been better to have had an additional day in Springdale.

On other tours with APT, Trafalgar and Scenic there was a choice on provided Dinners of where you could eat, not on this tour. We also received at least one complimentary drink with dinner and an official group photo was always provided (by a qualified photographer) not a blurred photo taken by the tour director on her iPad.

We wondered, as did other travellers, whether this was a Scenic tour or their sister company Evergreen. In addition the tour bus was uncomfortable compared with other tours we have been on but we were wowed by the natural beauty and awe of the national parks and the glitz and hype of Las Vegas

Thank you to Jemma at Global Journeys and Scenic for organising this once in a lifetime trip for us. Everything was perfect and we thoroughly recommend this tour. The Canadian Rockies are just stunning from the coach trip and Gold Leaf Rocky Mountaineer train trip and the boat trip to Alaska were unforgettable.

We didn't have to worry about a thing ...read more and the scenery, accommodation, food, and service was just wonderful. Our Scenic Tour guide Karen was exceptional. We could not fault a thing and we will definitely be booking again with Jemma and Global Journeys.

The trip started in Prague where the hotel was very good and centrally located. All you get from Scenic here is a walking tour of the old town on the first morning and my only criticism would be that the walking tour was a bit too long. The rest of the time was ours to explore the town.

The river cruise is difficult to fault. Everything was very ...read more well done and totally stress free. A word of advice for those who think river cruising is like the advertisements where you sit on your balcony and watch the world go by. Reality on this cruise is that most cruising is done overnight. The best daytime cruising happens on the day between Passau and Linz but most people miss it because they are off the ship on all day excursions to either Chesky Krumlov or Salzburg. If you don't want to spend 10 hours on either of these excursions with a lot of time spent in the buses getting there and back, stay on the ship for a very nice and quiet day of cruising.

About 20 people stayed on board that day and we enjoyed a nice relaxed lunch while cruising a very nice stretch of river. You also get time to walk around Passau and Linz whereas those on the excursions don't see these places as they leave at 8 am and don't get back until 6 pm. The only other daytime cruising occurs one afternoon through the Wachau Valley and an afternoon between Vienna and Budapest.

Overall we had a great trip and would not hesitate to recommend it.

Throughout our journey we were looked after every step of the way. We came across Global Journeys online and were very impressed with the service right from the beginning and each step of the way. Hannah was very friendly, helpful and kept us well informed.

We were away for a total of three weeks on a Scenic European River Cruise along the Rhine ...read more and Moselle Rivers which also included a 5 day land tour of Switzerland. The ship was very comfortable, well equipped and modern. The staff and local guides were all very knowledgeable and we enjoyed the variety of day tours and activities on offer. The scenery was amazing and it was lovely to sit back, relax and watch the world go by.

We highly recommend this trip and thank you to Global Journeys for all their help. We would definitely use their services in the future.