Scenic: the upper range from the same house as Emerald

Start with what neither page usually says. Scenic and Emerald belong to the same company. Scenic Group, founded by Glen Moroney and based in Zug, Switzerland, runs both brands: Emerald began in 2013 as a division of Scenic. If you are hesitating between the two, you are not hesitating between two competitors but between two ranges from one house.

What separates Scenic from Emerald

What the fare covers, and it is measurable. Scenic announces drinks all day with a few exceptions, butler service for suites, a restocked minibar, all excursions included and electric bicycles. Emerald announces wine, beer and soft drinks at meals, no butler, and excursions on two tiers of which the second is charged. Gratuities and Wi-Fi are announced as included on both sides. We report what both lines announce; we have not checked it departure by departure.

What we carry, measured

The fleet spreads across the rivers of Europe, the Douro, the Mekong and ocean-going discovery ships. Two boats carry no departure with us at the moment: Scenic Ikon and Scenic Tsar. The number of Scenic cruises currently on sale is shown at the top of this page.

A scattered fleet, and what that changes

This is the most scattered of the group's three fleets — Europe, the Douro, the Mekong, and discovery ships that follow no river at all. The practical consequence: two departures on the same boat are not necessarily alike, and it is better to read the route than the name of the ship. Scenic Spirit, on the Mekong, is one of the two busiest ships in the fleet, along with Scenic Azure, on the Douro. The two busiest ships in this fleet therefore work outside the great rivers of Europe.

The butler, and what he actually does

It is the brand's range argument, so it is worth saying what it covers. On a river boat the butler mostly handles cabin service, pressing and excursion arrangements. If you eat in the dining room and go ashore with the group, you will barely see him. It is not a reason to choose Scenic over Emerald; drinks served all day and excursions all included are better ones. Scenic Amber and Scenic Diamond carry most of the European calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

The fleet spreads across the rivers of Europe, the Douro, the Mekong and ocean-going discovery ships. Two boats carry no dates with us at the moment, Scenic Ikon and Scenic Tsar. The number of Scenic cruises currently on sale is shown at the top of this page.
They belong to the same company. Scenic Group, founded by Glen Moroney and based in Zug, Switzerland, runs both brands: Emerald began in 2013 as a division of Scenic. Comparing the two is not comparing two competitors, it is comparing two ranges from the same house.
On what the fare covers, and it is measurable. Scenic announces drinks all day with a few exceptions, butler service for suites, a restocked minibar, all excursions included and electric bicycles. Emerald announces wine, beer and soft drinks at meals, no butler, and excursions on two tiers of which the second is charged. Gratuities and Wi-Fi are announced as included on both sides. We report what both lines announce; we have not checked it departure by departure.
No, two of the eighteen carry none on our calendar: Scenic Ikon and Scenic Tsar. That is our inventory, not the line's.
Choose the river first, not the boat: Scenic's European vessels are very close to one another, and the itinerary is what makes the difference. Scenic Spirit on the Mekong and Scenic Azure on the Douro are products apart, further from home than the Rhine or the Danube. An advisor will tell you which one matches your dates.
It depends what you expect from it. On a river boat the butler mostly handles cabin service, pressing and excursion arrangements. If you eat in the dining room and go ashore with the group, you will barely see him. It is a range argument, not a necessity.
Yes. This page shows the departures we carry online, and our inventory does not always cover the line's full catalogue. Call us with the date and itinerary you found: in most cases we can book it for you.
It depends on the departure, not on the line. On European rivers French-speaking departures exist but are not the rule. Say so before booking: it is checked departure by departure.
Less than a coach tour, more than a week in a hotel. You unpack once, but you walk a great deal: towns are seen on foot, old centres are cobbled, and the days follow one another without gaps. If walking is a concern, say so before choosing the route.
On boats of one hundred and twenty to one hundred and eighty people, yes. There are few cabins, and the upper decks go first. Booking far ahead fixes a choice but commits money in advance: talk cancellation terms through with your advisor before you decide.
Your agency, and it alone. Voyages AquaTerra operates under a licence from Quebec's Office de la protection du consommateur, your payments pass through a trust account, and the compensation fund for travel agency clients covers your departure. That holds whichever line you choose.