Scenic Diamond

Drinks included

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Shore Excursions

One of the most welcome trends in river cruising is the chance to be more active and get away from the standard coach-and-walking-tour excursion. We found Scenic to be ahead of the curve with its active options, particularly when it comes to cycling. The ship has a fleet of electric bikes, and employed them in nearly every port as a guided option. (You could also take them out on your own, if you wished.) We found these bike tours among the highlights of our trip. On some excursions, you're given the option to bike one-way and take a coach back (a particularly good setup if you're visiting wineries).

Otherwise, the excursions were mostly walking or coach tours.

Scenic holds two events on every river cruise that are special to the line. The Scenic Sundowner takes passengers off the ship to a beautiful locale for canapes and drinks. While these can change, depending on the cruise, our Bordeaux Sundowner took place at Chateâu Siaurac, a 17th-century vineyard and home in Saint-Émilion. There, passengers sampled foie gras, gougère (French cheese puffs) and other appetizers while tasting three of the chateâu's wines. As a bonus, you could also tour the home, which has an outstanding collection of Jules Vieillard porcelain; the tablescapes inspired many oohs and aahs.

All passengers receive a special GPS system called a Scenic TailorMade device. They are the next generation of the QuietVox systems many other river lines use. The devices function in three ways. First, they work like a QuietVox in that you can turn yours to your guide's channel so you can hear her explanations through your headset and don't need to stand directly next to her (great when you're walking down crowded streets in Europe and your group spreads out). Second, they contain walking tours for select cities, with maps that indicate key attractions and show your position; when you reach the highlighted places, pre-recorded commentary begins to play, often with photos of that attraction. Finally, the devices serve as commentary during scenic cruising; as you sail by places of interest, the commentary will come on, explaining what you're looking at. This frees the cruise director from having to narrate and allows people who wish to snooze or read during sailing times to not be bothered by constant explanations on the PA system.

Daytime and Night-time Entertainment

The line has added Scenic Culinaire, a series of cooking demonstrations, for sea day enrichment. Several nights per cruise, the ship brings on local performers. There's an onboard musician keeps passengers entertained in the Panorama Lounge.

Enrichment

The most heralded addition to Scenic Diamond, added in 2017, is Scenic Culinaire, a series of cooking demonstrations available at no extra charge while the ship is sailing between ports. Located in the dining room (where it's used as an omelette/crepe making station during meals), Scenic Culinaire is essentially a large cooking island, where up to 10 passengers can sit and watch the chef make French dishes like merveilles provençales (beignets) with strawberries and dried apricot jam or coq au vin. There's a TV monitor and eventually the line plans to broadcast the classes into the cabins.

We attended the beignets session. The ship's French chef, Jerome, is fast talking, and we enjoyed watching him at work.

Scenic Culinaire sessions fill up quickly and since they are the primary enrichment activity on the ship during cruising times, it's a worthwhile diversion for those who love to cook (and eat -- you do get a sample at the end).

Scenic Diamond Bars and Lounges

Scenic Diamond has one lounge, although on nice summer nights, a lot of people take after-dinner drinks upstairs to the sun deck where there is also prompt bar service. In general, the level of after-dinner socializing depends on how strenuous the day was and whether or not the specialty restaurants L'Amour and Table La Rive have been open. On the nights when the latter meals took place, we saw a marked increase in congeniality (probably because of the frequent wine pourings!).

Panorama Lounge (Diamond Deck). Scenic Diamond's sole lounge has an uncluttered, modern look with floor-to-ceiling windows; black-and-white carpeting; and blue, grey, brown and orange couches and chairs. In the centre of the room is a rectangular bar where passengers can order complimentary cocktails, fancy coffee drinks and other beverages, including a changing roster of cocktails, mocktails and martinis of the day. Order at the bar, or wait for the circulating bar staff to come to you.

Flanking the entrance is an espresso machine (with lattes, hot chocolate and the like) and a tea station with several choices of loose-leaf and fine bagged teas. You can get your own drinks 24/7. Large flat-screen TVs are employed for cruise director presentations, and shelves on the walls and under glass tables house tour guides and other books for onboard perusing. The lounge is where the cruise director will give his or her daily port talks and make any announcements. It's also where people hang out to read, snack, drink, meet for pre- or post-dinner cocktails, or watch the river go by.

Evening entertainment -- performed by both outside acts brought onboard and a resident onboard keyboardist/singer -- is also held in the lounge.

Scenic Diamond Outdoor Recreation

Scenic Diamond's top deck is a fabulous perch during nice weather. The front of the ship has banks of chairs and sofas to sit and watch the sites. Toward the back, you'll find more loungers and picnic-style tables, along with artificial grass. Best of all, bar service on the top deck is fairly quick and efficient.

Added in 2017, the Vitality Pool on the sun deck is more of a whirlpool/hot tub than a real pool to swim in. Still, it's a decent size for the ship, seating six. Bar service on the top deck is prompt, and we saw a few people soaking after a day of touring, glass of Champagne in hand.

Scenic Diamond staff encouraged passengers to take out the e-bikes on their own during port if they wished, and this was one river cruise where we noticed passengers actually taking them up on it. The sheer ease of using the e-bikes -- when you crank the power up to 5 or 6, it's almost like riding a moped -- means that biking is accessible to more people; you don't have to be overly fit to use them. We heard many people exclaim that they would be buying an e-bike when they got home.

The sun deck has a walking path. Walking poles are available in all cabins.

Scenic Diamond Services

Reception is located midship on the Diamond Deck. There, you can sign up for bike tours, make spa appointments, borrow electrical converters and ask questions. The cruise director also sits there to answer questions and provide handouts on the various destinations. The receptionists can also lend you binoculars or provide toothbrushes, razors and other toiletries you forgot to pack. Across this lobby area, glass cases serve as the "gift shop," holding jewellery, watches, logo wear and some local items.

Wi-Fi is available gratis throughout the ship. If you don't bring your own laptop, iPad or other digital device, the in-cabin TVs have Apple computer setups with cordless keyboards and mice.

Complimentary laundry is available within 48 hours on the Sapphire Deck and within 24 hours for suite passengers. The latter also receive pressing service.

Part of the 2017 renovation involved an expansion of the spa and beauty salon, as well as the addition of a gym and wellness facility on the bottom deck. There's a check-in desk -- unmanned -- as you walk down the stairs, as well as a table with herbal teas and flavoured water. This deck is not accessible by lift.

Unlike some river ships where the spa is simply a darkened cabin, Scenic Diamond's new facility is larger (two cabins were taken out for it) and more high tech. There's a sofa for you to fill out paperwork, a shower for full body treatments and two tables in case passengers want a couples' massage. Spa treatments are not included in the fare, although they are more reasonable than what you'd find in an European hotel or resort.

Across the hall from the spa room, the gym will definitely please those who want to stay fit when they travel. It's a little bigger than most fitness rooms you find on river ships, with four aerobic machines and some weights. Light streams in from the windows, making it feel open. Yoga classes are held most days early in the morning on the sun deck.

The same person who does spa services also mans the separate hairdressing salon, which was expanded during the 2017 refurb. The menu is simple: cuts, shampoos and blow outs.

Onboard dining

Scenic chefs

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The food on Scenic Diamond is very good, and we found some of the dishes, particularly at the specialty restaurants, among the best we've had on the rivers. Expect regional French fare as the centrepiece for most meals, although you can also order more familiar foods if you like. We were impressed with the cheese choices -- as it should be, if you're in Bordeaux -- and the overall Gallic flare; French staples like crêpes Suzette, rabbit, duck, cassoulet, pâté, foie gras, mussels and oysters all made an appearance.

In addition, we were also impressed with the wines onboard. While you'd hope that a Bordeaux cruise would get this right, a varied wine list that reflects the region isn't always a given, and on Scenic Diamond, we found the chef and staff put a lot of thought into the offerings. All wines are included, and if there's a special bottle that was served at a specialty dinner one night, you can ask for it again and be accommodated, if they still have it.

Crystal Dining Room (Sapphire Deck): The main dining venue is the Crystal Dining Room, which has windows running down both sides, round and rectangular tables, and a permanent, rectangular buffet in the middle. It's got a modern look with blue, purple and grey chairs mirroring the blue and purple accents in the otherwise black and white carpeting. Four-tops and two-tops are pushed together to form tables of six, and it's pretty easy to sit two couples with no one in the middle.

A cooking station that doubles as the site of the Scenic Culinaire cooking demonstrations is set up in the back of the room. During meal service, the space is used for made-to-order dishes such as omelettes, crêpes or seafood pasta. There's also an attractive open refrigerator area that showcases fresh vegetables and cheeses; you have to attend a Culinaire event to really notice it, however.

Dining is always open seating, with breakfast served from 7 to 9 a.m., lunch starting between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. (depending on the day's itinerary and sailing schedule) and dinner at 7 p.m. While breakfast is a show-up-whenever affair, the cruise director on our sailing made a point in one of his daily lectures to remind us that dinner started promptly at 7 p.m., as many passengers had been wandering in after service had begun.

Breakfast and lunch are mainly buffets with a few hot items available for ordering specially off the menu (such as pancakes, poached eggs and eggs Benedict). The breakfast buffet features fruit, cheese, cereal, yogurt, bread and breakfast pastries, scrambled eggs, potatoes, baked beans, breakfast meats and fish. There's also a made-to-order omelette station and a different smoothie each day. For those who want it, you can have Champagne or order a cocktail like a Bloody Mary.

Lunch typically features a salad bar (with a small variety of veggies and a large assortment of nuts and seeds for toppings) and some premade salads (bean salad or egg salad, for example), sandwich fixings, two soups, a regional specialty (such as leg of rabbit or fresh oysters), a pasta station, a carving station or other hot item cooked fresh, cheeses and a selection of desserts (usually one type of cookie, ice cream, a mousse and a cake). You can order hamburgers, Caesar salad or other items from the "always available" menu, but it's not really advertised; you have to ask. The regional items give a standard buffet some flair and interest, and the meats and seafood cooked at the buffet consistently got good reviews.

Dinner is entirely table service with no buffet (with the exception of the first night of arrival). The menu offers two to three choices for an appetizer, soup, entrée (often a meat, a seafood and a vegetarian option) and dessert. A typical menu might include a terrine of goat cheese and spinach; seafood bisque with cognac and whipped cream; beef cheeks braised in Bordeaux with vegetable confit and potatoes Lyonnais; cod with capers and walnut sauce; celeriac cordon bleu with radicchio salad; cannelloni stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes and cottage cheese on basil cream; lemon tart with meringue; chocolate ice cream with chocolate sauce; fruit plate; or cheese. One recommended dish for each course is labelled as a healthy choice, and always-available options include a green or Caesar salad, hamburger or cheeseburger served with fries, chicken breast, salmon steak, fillet steak and a cheese plate for dessert. Special evenings include the Captain's Welcome and Farewell dinners.

At lunch and dinner, waiters come around to offer complimentary red and a white wine, but you can order other vintages, beer or soft drinks, as well. Pro tip: Take a picture of a special wine served at Table La Rive or L'Amour, and ask the server to pour it.

Most dietary restrictions can be handled, but you must let Scenic know before your cruise. The maître d' will speak to you at the beginning of the cruise to sort out what you can and can't eat. We met vegans and gluten-free eaters who were satisfied with their menu options. The ship can't provide kosher meals.

River Café (Diamond Deck): A river cruise industry innovation, Scenic's snack bar in the midst of the lounge is terrific. It is used for early- and late-riser breakfast, as well as a light lunch; there's also a selection of sandwiches, quiches and pastries available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The light lunch offerings might include pasta, a regional hot dish like tarte flambée, a salad bar, soup, cheeses and the tastiest toasted ham and cheese sandwiches. You can either eat inside, at the area that becomes L'Amour at night, or at shaded outdoor tables in the ship's front.

L'Amour (Diamond Deck): L'Amour is the ship's French specialty restaurant, located behind the bar in the forward part of the main lounge; glass walls separate it from the rest of the lounge. There's no surcharge, and every passenger can dine there at least once during each cruise; your butler will arrange it for you. The venue seats 32. Everyone receives a selection of charcuterie, antipasti and caramelized goat cheese as an appetizer; vegetarians will receive an alternative. The soup choices -- a deconstructed onion soup with cheese croutons and a green pea soup with garlic -- were quite good, followed by an absolutely delicious homemade pasta stuffed with sheep cheese and dried tomato. Passengers receive a choice of entrees; either duck breast with Alsace cabbage and Bordeaux jus; red mullet on olive salsa with potato and grilled vegetables; or ratatouille with béchamel sauce. Dessert was a plate of three bites -- profiteroles with cherries, pear and red wine mousse and chocolate opera cake -- as well as a cheese plate.

A meal at L'Amour isn't quick -- there are a lot of courses, and three wines are poured, if you include the opening Champagne. But we found the location extremely pleasant, particularly during scenic cruising. Our advice: Find out when the ship is sailing along the fishing camps and villages of the Gironde and book that night. The food is finished upstairs by one of the ship's chefs, so everything comes hot and fresh. It's a worthwhile caloric splurge.

Table La Rive (Sapphire Deck): Passengers in Deck 3 suites have the exclusive opportunity to dine at Table La Rive, a 10-person Chef's Table-esque experience. A special table is set up at the far end of the dining room by a window into the galley, and passengers are served a seven-course degustation menu that features a different wine with each course. It's a three-hour meal, but the pacing is perfect and the pairings are innovative; we're still raving about a white Châteauneuf-du-Pape that came with homemade foie gras, fig compote and a special salt -- one of our favourite bites ever served on a river cruise ship. Vegetarians are given alternative options, and the ones at our table still appreciated the pairings. Because the portions are small, you'll still have room for dessert when it arrives with a requisite sauternes.

Room Service: A limited room service menu is available after 6 p.m. Contact Reception or your butler to order. Choose from green salads, a club sandwich, hamburger with fries, minute steak with fries, a brownie or a cheese plate. Butlers can also provide an early-morning tea and coffee service, or they can serve breakfast in your cabin, depending on your stateroom level.

Jewel Deck Standard Suite

Sapphire Deck Balcony Suite

Sapphire Deck Junior Balcony Suite

Royal Balcony Suite

Royal Panorama Suite

Royal Owner’s Suite

Single Balcony Suite

Diamond Deck Balcony Suite

Diamond Deck Junior Balcony Suite

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Scenic's "Space-Ships" are aptly named. They feel spacious and pleasant, thanks to a few design choices. First, cabins have different layouts than on most riverboats. Closets face into the room and bathrooms are tucked in a nook along the outside wall rather than the entry. The result is cabins that are cosy yet comfortable, and not at all claustrophobic. The all-white beds are inviting, the storage plentiful and the bathrooms surprisingly large.

All cabins onboard have river views. They're decorated with blonde woods, a black-and-white colour scheme, marble countertops and bathroom accents, white-tiled accent walls and fabric headboards. Each cabin is stocked with still and sparkling water (replaced when used), bathrobes and slippers, a safe, a hair dryer, an umbrella, an iPod docking station with clock and a mini-bar (with juice, soda, liqueur and snacks) that's complimentary and restocked daily.

The Scenic Slumber Beds, made especially for the cruise line, feature white Egyptian cotton sheets and duvets. A pillow menu offers the choice of synthetic soft and medium pillows or "sandwich pillows" with white goose down. Nightstands vary; some are just marble tabletops, while others are wooden with two drawers. The bedside setup is quite good, with both small lamps and directed reading lights. Closets vary in size by cabin category but have plentiful hangers, shelves and drawer space.

There's no real desk -- just a countertop that juts out with a white leather ottoman-style stool and some shelving above. Cabins have European and Australian plugs, using 220 volts.

Bathrooms are attractive and in most categories, large by cruise ship standards, with glass-enclosed showers. Toiletries include L'Occitane shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion and two kinds of bar soap, as well as a nail file and shower cap. A clothesline in the shower makes it easy to hand wash and dry small items, although laundry is included in most room categories.

All passengers are entitled to butler service (there are four butlers onboard), but services increase for the higher-end cabins. Butlers in all cabins will shine your shoes, arrange shore excursions or spa appointments, and bring you drinks. Additionally, passengers in balcony cabins can have butlers bring early-morning tea or coffee. Passengers on Deck 3 -- where the suites are located -- can order room service breakfast and get two pressed items daily. In the Royal suites, the butlers will unpack and repack your bags, offer free laundry and pressing, serve you meals in your cabin whenever you wish, draw you a bath and deliver a morning newspaper. These rooms are also ideal for cocktail parties, which can be arranged.

Standard Suites (Jewel Deck).: The most basic accommodations on the ship are found on the lowest deck and are 160 square feet. These have windows high up on the wall and the smallest closets. Shower-only bathrooms are also compact.

Single Cabin (Sapphire Deck): There's one single cabin (number 224) that's essentially half a balcony suite at 129 square feet, but it still has the full-size closet, balcony and bathroom. With the shades open, it's cute and cosy; pull the blackout curtains, and you might be a bit claustrophobic.

Balcony Suites and Deluxe Balcony Suites (Sapphire and Diamond Deck): These staterooms, at 205 and 225 square feet respectively, are nearly identical, save for the 10 square feet difference. These categories, as well as that of the other suites, have Scenic's Sun Lounge balconies. The "balconies" are actually glass-enclosed portions of the cabin, behind floor-to-ceiling sheers and blackout curtains. They feature two black-and-white wicker chairs and plastic drink tables. This sunroom, if you will, can transform into a balcony at the push of a button. The top half of the exterior glass wall comes down, and voila -- instant balcony. If it's chilly or raining out, bring the glass back up, and you can enjoy the view without the breeze. The design makes the cabins feel more spacious and airy, and the balcony becomes the preferred sitting area, regardless of whether the window is open.

Junior Suites (Sapphire and Diamond Deck): These cabins are 250 square feet, but it's not the extra square footage that counts. The major upgrade in these cabins is the bathrooms, which feature high-sided bathtubs, small showers (likely half the size of the showers in balcony suites in order to squeeze in the tub) and expanded sink/vanity areas with actual mirrored cabinets for extra bathroom storage. The desk area has slightly more space, as well as an extra small table. However, the closets are not as wide as in the Deluxe Balcony cabins. If you have no use for a tub and don't mind a bit of tight bathroom storage, save money and stick with the Deluxe Balcony. The Junior Suites are located toward the front of the ship so you might get noise from reception or the lounge on some nights.

Royal Panorama Suites (Diamond Deck): There are two of these 325 square foot cabins in the aft corners. Each has windows on the aft wall, as well as a sun lounge on the side; a sitting area with a couch across the cabin; and a large bathroom with a larger shower and tub.

Royal Owners Suites (Diamond Deck): These two cabins, added in 2017, bring luxury to another level. With 504 square feet, the staterooms are true suites, with the sitting room and bar near the entryway and a bedroom separated by a hallway. The sunroom, which has two padded papasan-type chairs and a table, is also off the hallway. The living room is big enough for a cocktail party, with four chairs and a sofa, as well as a long bar. The bathroom has both a shower and a tub, as well as dual sinks and a heated floor; you can access it from both the living room and the bedroom's walk-in closet.

A host of perks surround the Royal and Junior Suites. Not only do all these upper-category suite passengers dine at Table La Rive, they receive afternoon fruit skewers, pre-dinner canapes and post-dinner petits fours. Royal Owners Suite passengers also receive airport transfers by private vehicle, upgraded bathroom amenities and 200 euro per couple in onboard credit to use at the spa or salon. They also receive bottles of Champagne, more wine than is in the other suites and can have meals served in their rooms.

Wheelchair-accessible (Diamond Deck): Cabin 302 is the one cabin that's modified for accessibility. It's identical to a junior suite at 250 square feet, but it has a larger entry door and a modified shower with a fold-down seat and a grab bar. (To accommodate this, the tub has been removed.)