Day15 – Sunday 18 August 2024
When we woke we were moored in an industrial complex on the Swiss side of the Rhine on the edge of Basel.
https://what3words.com/zips.imitate.metals
View from front of Scenic Jasper
Although our documentation said the cabins had to be vacated at 09:00, we were told 08:30. Our flight was at 12:20, the taxi for the airport left at 09:15 for the 30 minute drive through Basel to the airport.
Viking passengers were already in the line for checkin, fussed over by a Viking rep in his bright red fleece. When he saw one of our arriving Scenic group had mobility problems he got her a wheelchair, pushed her to the front of checkin, loaded her bags onto the conveyor belt, then pushed her through security. There was no Scenic rep.
And so ended our Romantic Rhine & Moselle cruise. There had been some great parts, there had been some that could have been a lot better.
Summary
This cruise was titled Romantic Rhine & Moselle yet we spent only two nights on the Moselle. If we hadn’t gone to Antwerp, which isn’t on the Rhine, and spent a night there we could, and IMO should, have cruised to and stayed in Trier. Then those that wanted a tour there could walk off the boat, and we could all do so for the evening ‘enrichment’ concert. Instead the plan was to moor at Bernkastel, one hours coach ride away, meaning those who booked the morning excursion to Trier would spend two hours in a coach, only to spend another two hours in a coach to attend the evening concert.
However, that was as advertised. Instead we didn’t stop in Bernkastel but far from it at Schweich. One expects problems causing last minute deviations from plans, but the explanation that Scenic Jasper didn’t have the correct electrical connection for Bernkastel would mean that Scenic knew from the start that the boat couldn’t moor there overnight and still put an unsuitable boat on that route. The on-board team didn’t adjust timings to cater for the change of mooring, and seemed to be making it up on the hoof.
What I liked:
The cabin balcony which was fully glazed and could be opened offered a nice quiet space to read, away from the fierce air-conditioning and intrusive recorded music in the lounge.
Having a butler bring glasses of Champagne and nibbles to the room before dinner.
Buffet self-service at lunchtime so you could see what was on offer and build your own salads.
All tips included, on board and on excursions
All drinks included (except for some)
What I didn’t like:
Stairs to Lounge and Dining Room from all decks.
Lack of handrails on both sides all the way on side stairs to the sundeck.
Front stairs to sundeck were open, metal and very scary. Also it’s in Panorama Lounge so there's a large opening that lets in cold air and rain into the Panorama Lounge.
Clutter on front sun deck: metal bins on sides and in middle.
Soap & shampoo dispensers fixed to wall in bathroom.
Lack of nightlight and heated mirror in bathroom.
Gang plank with slack rope ‘handrails’.
Single public hot drinks machine.
Not having a clearly visible rep at the airport, and the delay getting the taxi-driver.
My ideal would be Viking airport service, and Scenic service on a Viking Longship. The only advantage the ScenicSpace ship has is the cabin balcony that can be fully glazed. Of course Scenic has e-bikes and pools on most boats but we use neither.
No comments:
Post a Comment