My cruise on Scenic Jade

I was very lucky to have been invited on the brand new Scenic Jade which belongs to Australian based company  Scenic Tours river .

I joined in Vienna on Sunday for the last 3 nights of the inaugural sailing on the Danube from Vienna to Budapest.

I was given the choice of an indirect flight from Birmingham or direct from Heathrow with BA and I chose the direct flight from Heathrow because even though it is further to travel from home I prefer to fly direct. The flight was very good and we arrived into Vienna on time.

We were met on arrival and taken straight to the Jade which is about a 30 minute transfer from the airport. On arrival we were greeted by the very friendly staff with a welcome drink and were taken straight to our cabins. The embarkation was so much nicer than ocean cruises and we were in our cabins with our luggage within minutes.

My cabin was a balcony suite which did have a balcony that you can sit out on rather than the french balcony that many river cruise lines have. I am told this takes space from your cabin but I think I would prefer that to having additional space inside because it was so lovely to sit outside in the fresh air and watch the world go by. The window at the top of the balcony can be closed in the event of bad weather which means the balcony can be used at all times.

The cabin facilities were excellent with free WIFI, fully stocked complimentary mini bar stocked twice daily, a safe, smart TV amongst other things and the beds were very comfortable.

The bathroom was spacious and you can even change the colour of the shower if you want to and there were a choice of colours to choose to from. The toiletries were L’Occitane and replaced when necessary and if this isn’t enough every cabin on this ship has its own butler to attend to your needs. The services they provide vary depending on the cabin you have booked but there is a list in your suite which tells you exactly what you can expect from your butler. I didn’t really use mine as my time on board was limited but I did have tea brought to my cabin one morning to enjoy on my balcony before meeting for breakfast.

Dinner tonight was very early as everyone was going to the concert in Vienna so they provided an early buffet dinner with an Austrian theme. Dinner was good but not what they would usually offer in the main dining room.

After dinner we were taken to the Palais Lichtenstein for an exclusive concert with music of Mozart & Strauss . I am not a fan of classical music but this was an amazing experience. The surroundings were stunning and the opera and ballet performances were brilliant. This is part of the Scenic Enrich programme which offers exclusive tours designed to give you an unforgettable experience of local culture. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Vienna.

Monday morning was an early start and myself and my colleague Tamir had chosen the tour to Bratislava which is the capital of Slovakia. The transfer left at 8am and was about 1 hour 15 minutes including a short break. The guide was very informative and we did a walking tour through the city which was suitable for all walking levels. Bratislava is really lovely, the buildings are beautiful and there are lots of narrow winding streets which give the place a lot of character. It was very clean and also very quiet considering it was a Monday morning. Life over here is much more relaxed then in the UK. I thought if I pretend to do some exercise I might feel better about over indulging !!

There was a little bit of free time at the end so we had a wander round and stopped for tea and coffee before returning back to the coach for our transfer back to the ship. After lunch we had a few hours to wander round Vienna.

Dinner tonight was the captains farewell meal so the menu was very nice indeed. The main course was a choice of lobster tails or Chateaubriand.

On Tuesday I enjoyed a champagne breakfast in the main dining room before setting off on a tour of Budapest. There are 2 sides to this city one being Buda and the other is Pest which are separated by the Danube.

The tour took us to both sides of the city. The churches are very similar to what we have seen in Vienna. The main tourist area is on the Pest side which is where the main hotel chains and shopping areas are. At the end of our tour we were treated to a piano concert in an old school building. The pianist was very passionate about his music and everyone very much enjoyed this. He played music by Franz Liszt and this was also part of the Enrich tours they offer which are completely exclusive.

During the afternoon we were invited to the bridge and the captain explained a few of the technicalities to us which was interesting and very kind of him to spare the time with us.

This evening we were invited to Table La Rive. This is usually reserved for guests in suites and those on the Danube deck. This is the fine dining option and is the same concept as chef’s table. It is part of the main restaurant but in a secluded area. We were met at the main doors and escorted to our table where we were given a set menu and were served a different wine to compliment each course. I can honestly say this this was one of the most fantastic meals I have ever had and was a perfect end to our cruise.

The following day our flight home was at 14.10 so we were taken to the Marriott hotel where our luggage was stored and complimentary tea and coffee and pastries were provided.

Scenic Tours were excellent throughout from the moment we arrived until we checked in at Budapest airport. They leave nothing to chance and completely take care of every aspect of your holiday. Ocean cruise lines tend to drop you back at the airport after breakfast so for late flights this can mean a long day at the airport but with Scenic this does not happen. They even had staff at a hospitality desk in the hotel to assist and make sure all went smoothly.

Everything on board is included in the price so if you don’t want to spend any more money you really don’t need to. All drinks, butler service, tips, tours,WIFI etc is included in the price. There is a small hair salon which is the only additional charge if you wish to use this.

Entertainment is obviously limited on a river cruise but they did have musicians and local entertainment on board at certain ports and the staff on board also did their own show towards the end of the cruise. It wasn’t the best show I have ever seen but it was just a bit of fun as the staff and passengers have spent 2 weeks together and you can see they have bonded so the show was very amusing for them.

They do also have a disabled cabin which is very unusual for river cruises and a lift that will take you as far as the lounge and bar area. There is a small outdoor area at the front of this deck but obviously it cannot take you up to the top deck.

The Panorama Suites have amazing views so if they are within your budget I would recommend these and as there are only two you will need to book early.

There were a mix of nationalities on board which were mostly Australian but also include American, Canadians and a few British. They were very friendly and welcoming to us and every single person I spoke with were full of praise for their cruise. They all said it was by far the most superior river cruise they had been on which really speaks for itself.