Low Prices On All Scenic River Cruises

Core Dining Venues

Crystal Dining — All Ships

• Main restaurant offering buffet and à la carte breakfast and lunch, plus multi-course regional dinners.
• Open seating.

River Café — All Ships

• Casual, all-day dining.
• Offers light breakfasts, sandwiches, wraps, and specialty teas and coffees.

Portobellos / L’Amour — Europe

• Intimate 32-guest venue featuring Italian, French, or Portuguese five-course menus.
• Every guest can dine here at least once.

Table La Rive / Table d’Or — Europe

• Exclusive six-course degustation experience with wine pairings.
• Limited to just 10 guests.

Night Market / Chef’s Table — Southeast Asia

• Available aboard Scenic Spirit on the Mekong.
• Features a 10-course tasting menu focused on authentic local flavors.

Dining Exclusivity & Invitations

Unlike the Ocean fleet where most venues are open to all, the top-tier dining on river cruises is often tied to your cabin category:

• Table La Rive (Europe): This invite-only experience is reserved for guests staying on the Diamond Deck (cruises of 10+ nights) or those in Royal and Junior Suites (cruises of any length).
• Chef’s Table (Mekong): Primarily reserved for Diamond Deck guests.
• In-Suite Dining: Available to all guests 24/7, though the menu variety may be more extensive for higher-tier suites.

Beverages & The Mini-Bar

• Unlimited Premium Drinks: All cocktails, spirits, beers, and regional wines are included all day, every day.
• The “Fine Print”: Only a very small selection of rare vintage champagnes and spirits incur an extra cost.
• Daily Restock: Your in-suite mini-bar is restocked daily with your preferred beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) at no charge.

Dress Code

• Daytime: Casual and comfortable. Walking shoes are a must for cobblestone shore excursions.
• Evening: Smart Casual is the standard. For men, this means slacks and a collared shirt (jackets are optional and ties are rarely seen). For women, dresses or smart slacks.
• The Formal Exception: Dinners at Table La Rive or Scenic Enrich events (like a private concert in a Viennese palace) tend to be slightly dressier, though still not black tie.
• Prohibited: Shorts and flip-flops are not permitted in the dining rooms for dinner.

Dietary Needs

Scenic’s chefs are highly trained in managing allergies and lifestyle diets (Vegan, Gluten-Free, Low Sodium).

Top Tip: Mention your requirements at the time of booking, but also have a quick chat with the Maître d’ on embarkation day. They are famous for going to the Nth degree to ensure you have a variety of custom options beyond just a standard salad.

Similar to the ocean and expedition policies, Scenic River Cruises prioritizes price certainty, but their terms allow for adjustments if global energy costs shift dramatically before you travel.

The Price Guarantee

The most important rule for the 2026/2027 river cruise season is that once you have paid for your journey in full, the price is locked. Scenic will not apply a fuel surcharge to any guest who has settled their final balance, regardless of how much oil prices rise before embarkation.

How Surcharges Work (Before Final Payment)

If you have only paid a deposit, you are technically still subject to price variations. Scenic’s terms and conditions state that they reserve the right to pass on increases in costs related to:

• Fuel Prices: If the cost of marine gas oil (MGO) or diesel spikes significantly.
• Government Taxes: New environmental levies or port taxes introduced by European or SE Asian authorities.
• Airlines: If you booked your flights through Scenic (e.g., as part of a Free Air promotion), the airline may implement its own fuel surcharge which Scenic is required to pass through until the tickets are fully issued and paid.

Protection Strategies

Because the river cruise market in 2026 is seeing increased operational costs due to new environmental regulations in Europe (like the Fit for 55 initiative), there are two ways to shield yourself:

• Early Full Payment: Paying the balance ahead of the 90-to-120-day deadline is the only 100% guarantee against a fuel surcharge.
• Super Earlybird Offers: These promotions often require full payment 10–12 months in advance but come with a Best Price Guarantee, ensuring you aren’t hit with surcharges and that you’ve secured the lowest possible rate.

What Happens if a Surcharge is Added?

If Scenic decides to implement a fuel surcharge:

• Transparency: They must notify you or your travel agent of the specific amount per person, per day.
• The “Right to Withdraw”: If the increase is significant (usually defined in consumer law as exceeding 8–10% of the total holiday price), you typically have the right to cancel the booking with a full refund of your deposit, though minor surcharges do not usually trigger this right.

Note on the Mekong: For river cruises in Vietnam and Cambodia, fuel surcharges are more common because local fuel prices are less stable than in Europe. Always check if your Internal Asia flights (like Hanoi to Siem Reap) already include fuel levies in the quoted price.

Deposits & Payments

• Standard reservations require a flat, non- refundable deposit of $500 USD per person, due within 7 days of booking. Final payment is due exactly 90 days prior to departure.
• Standard deposits serve as a firm guarantee and are strictly non- refundable and non-transferable. Booking amendments (such as name or date changes) are treated legally as cancellations and require new bookings. Reservations created inside standard payment windows require immediate full payment.

Cancellation & Refunds

Cancellation fees scale progressively based on days remaining prior to departure.

90+ Days Prior to Departure

• Cancellation Penalty: Loss of standard non-refundable deposit ($500 per guest).
• Refund Eligibility: 100% of additional fare paid is refunded.

89–61 Days Prior to Departure

• Cancellation Penalty: 35% of total cruise fare.
• Refund Eligibility: 65% of total fare paid is refunded.

60–31 Days Prior to Departure

• Cancellation Penalty: 50% of total cruise fare.
• Refund Eligibility: 50% of total fare paid is refunded.

30 Days or Less Prior to Departure

• Cancellation Penalty: 100% of total cruise fare.
• Refund Eligibility: No refund; 100% of the fare is forfeited.

Consistent with the brand’s luxury focus, Scenic River Cruises maintains a highly restrictive smoking policy to ensure a fresh environment for all guests.

The Non-Smoking Rule

• Interior Spaces: Smoking is strictly prohibited in all indoor areas of the Space-Ships in Europe and the Scenic Spirit on the Mekong. This includes the Panorama Lounge, dining rooms, reception, and hallways.
• Suites & Balconies: You cannot smoke inside your suite or on your balcony (this applies to both full step-out balconies and French balconies).
• Safety & Fines: Smoking in your cabin is considered a serious fire hazard. Violating this policy will result in a significant deep-cleaning fee (typically around $500) charged to your shipboard account and may lead to removal from the ship.

Designated Smoking Areas

• Location: Smoking is permitted only in a specifically designated area on the Sun Deck (the uppermost outdoor deck).
• Markings: This area is clearly marked with signage and equipped with wind-proof ashtrays.
• Vaping & E-Cigarettes: The same rules apply to electronic cigarettes and vaping devices—they are only permitted in the designated outdoor smoking section on the Sun Deck.

Operational Restrictions

• Docking & Fueling: Smoking is strictly forbidden on all outdoor decks while the ship is refueling (bunkering) or if the ship is docked in a high-risk area as determined by local port authorities.
• Lock Transit: When the ship is passing through the many locks of Europe (like those on the Main-Danube Canal), the crew may briefly restrict smoking on the Sun Deck for safety and to prevent smoke from being trapped in the enclosed lock chambers.
• Onshore: Smoking is not permitted on the luxury motorcoaches used for shore excursions.

Scenic offers travel protection options, including the Flexible Booking Plan, Platinum Protection, and an automatic guarantee:

1. Flexible Booking Plan (FBP): Costs $125 per person. Must be paid at deposit. Allows cancellation or deferral up to 90 days (river) or 120 days (ocean) prior, with the non-refundable deposit issued as a Future Travel Credit (FTC) valid for 24 months.
2. Platinum Protection Plan (PPP): Flat fee cancellation waiver ($395 river, $595 Scenic Eclipse) paid at deposit. Cancel for documented medical emergency: 100% cash refund at 31+ days; 70% cash refund at 15-30 days; 0% inside 14 days.
3. River Cruise Travel Guarantee: European/Asian river trips automatically include free Chubb coverage, providing cash refunds of up to $750 USD per person, per day for disruptions (max 7 days, up to $5,250).
4. Allianz Partners Travel Protection: Covers Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Medical ($100k), and Evacuation ($500k).

Scenic enforces a strict 100% all-inclusive tipping policy. All gratuities onboard and ashore are fully included in the cruise fare (covers hotel crew, waitstaff, bartenders, butlers, local shore guides, drivers, and porters). No daily service charges are added to accounts; the daily auto-charge is strictly $0. Prepayment is not available or required, and gratuities cannot be adjusted, removed, or refunded on board. Onboard crew are compensated under professional contracts and are trained to politely decline additional cash tips. The tipping policy is completely uniform across all cabin classes and itineraries.

Daytime wear is casual and comfortable with sturdy walking shoes strongly recommended for shore excursions. Evening dress in the Crystal Dining Room is smart casual (open-neck shirts, slacks, dresses, or skirts).

Formal Nights

• Scenic maintains a relaxed and ultra-luxurious atmosphere with no formal nights across its river fleet.

• Daily shore excursions are fully included in your cruise fare, such as hosted city walking tours with a certified local guide and narrated city orientation drives.
• Optional specialty excursions are available to book in advance (recommended) or while on your crui

• Truly all-inclusive 6-star river cruising
• Spacious suites with private balconies or Scenic Sun Lounges
• Personalized butler service
• Included immersive shore excursions
• Unlimited premium beverages
• High staff-to-guest ratio
• Elegant, adults-focused atmosphere
• Iconic European river itineraries and select global rivers

What is included in a Scenic River Cruise fare?
Luxury accommodations, all dining, premium beverages, gratuities, and a wide range of shore excursions.

Are gratuities included?
Yes, gratuities are included.

Is Scenic River Cruises considered luxury?
Yes, Scenic is recognized as a 6-star luxury river cruise brand.

Do Scenic river ships have elevators?
Most Scenic river ships feature elevators serving multiple decks, though some stairs may still be required.

Is Scenic suitable for solo travelers?
Yes, Scenic welcomes solo travelers and occasionally offers reduced single supplements.