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by Katherine Rodeghier

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Twelve purpose-built ships cruising rivers in Europe are dubbed Space-Ships <CQ>, but when I stepped aboard one of them, Scenic Opal , no Jedi warriors or Vulcans with pointy ears greeted me. Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours didn’t coin the name to create an outer space or sci-fi theme. Instead, it meant to express the spaciousness of its ships.

Opal , and its sister Space-Ships Jasper and Amber , were built in 2015 and 2016 and refurbished in 2019. Each can accommodate up to 163 passengers with a one-to-three  crew-to-passenger ratio. Opal staterooms range from 153 square feet for solo guests to 520 square feet in the Royal Owner’s Suite. Most fall in the 200–250-square-foot range. Those on the second and third decks have balconies with windows that lower horizontally at the push of a button to create what Scenic calls a Sun Lounge.

In addition to spaciousness, Scenic Opal conveys luxury through its amenities and service. A butler assigned to every stateroom sees to guest’s needs and keeps the minibar stocked with drinks and snacks. In high cabin categories, butlers unpack and pack for passengers. Laundry service is complimentary, with one bag in most staterooms and unlimited in the high-end suites.

Luxury also means private, after-hours access to events on shore. These Scenic Enrich experiences might be a concert in Vienna’s Palais Liechtenstein or the Pope’s Palace in Avignon. On my cruise on the Rhine and Moselle rivers, passengers took a motorcoach to the Roman city of Trier, Germany, for a private classical concert in the UNESCO-listed Liebfrauenkirche, completed in 1260.

Although amenities on Scenic Opal are upscale, the atmosphere is relaxed. There are no formal nights. The dress code is casual during the day, smart casual in the evening. Passengers on my cruise were a congenial mix mostly from English-speaking countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

Cruise fares include crew gratuities, all shore excursions, airport transfers, dining in up to five restaurants on board and room service. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are gratis night and day, not just during lunch and dinner. Exceptions are ultra-premium, top-shelf spirits and rare wines. Spa services also are extra.

Scenic Freechoice shore excursions cover a broad range of activities in several fitness levels. In addition to sightseeing in cities where Opal docked on the Rhine and Moselle rivers, passengers could choose side trips to Baden Baden, Germany, and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Those who preferred to explore on their own had free use of Opal ’s fleet of e-bikes. Scenic’s Tailormade app serves as a pocket guide with maps and narration both in port and while cruising. It came in especially handy as Opal navigated through the castle-studded Rhine Gorge, ticking off details as the ship passed each medieval fortress. The app also displays the ship’s daily program and broadcasts the voice of guides through passengers’ headphones during sightseeing tours.

Passengers who want to stay fit on their cruise use a walking track on deck four, the Sun Deck, which also has a small Vitality pool. Deck one has a fitness room, wellness area and Salt Therapy Lounge, a Scenic exclusive.

Decks two and three house Panorama Bar & Lounge — the heart of the ship — as well as four dining areas. The main restaurant, Crystal Dining Room, offers a sumptuous buffet for breakfast and lunch, but passengers also can order off a menu at their table. Dinner is a sit-down affair with international and regional dishes. In the evenings, Table la Rive, a chef’s table with a six-course degustation menu, including wine pairing, is set up in the rear of Crystal. Access is invitation-only for passengers in the higher cabin categories. Upstairs, River Café serves light meals and, at night, becomes the 32-seat Portobello’s with a five-course Italian menu available to all passengers at least once per cruise.

After-dinner entertainment usually means performances in the lounge by the crew or entertainers from on shore. On the Rhine, a violinist came from Frankfurt to play classics and renditions of Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson and The Beatles.

In addition to its dozen European river ships, Australian-owned Scenic has two luxury ocean yachts with itineraries in the Arctic and Antarctic and points between, as well as a river ship cruising in Southeast Asia.

Scenic Opal

Scenic Cruises tel 857 837 0419

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Scenic Opal River Cruise — Writer Terri Colby Reviews Her “Charming Castles and Vineyards Cruise”

Jun 21, 2023 | 0

Scenic Opal River Cruise

By Terri Colby

Cruising smoothly on a crisp but sunny Sunday morning on the Rhine River, church bells ring, birdsong blends with rippling water sounds and passengers on the Scenic Opal river boat cross the top sundeck from side to side to see which castle is coming into view.

The Castle Katz along the Rhine River. * Photo: Terri Colby

Stone gates, turrets and fortress walls on forested hilltops tower over steep green vineyards and terraced gardens, blanketing the hills all the way down to the river. I’m imagining medieval days when knights and maidens traded secret glances and warriors’ metal suits of armor glinted in the sunlight.

It’s like floating through a fairy tale, with an Irish coffee in hand. And definitely a wow travel moment.

This was Day 5 of a weeklong cruise on the Rhine and Moselle rivers aboard the 163-passenger Scenic Opal on its new Charming Castles and Vineyards itinerary.

The majority of passengers were from the United States, but there were also large contingents from Canada and the United Kingdom and a few from Australia and elsewhere.

Scenic Opal passengers on sundeck watching for castles. * Photo: Terri Colby

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Scenic opal sundeck delivers amazing views.

By now my husband and I have made friends with our shipmates, know our way around the decks and realize that even though there’s no bar on the top deck, a friendly bartender will be arriving soon to deliver a spiked (or not) coffee or juice, or even your favorite cocktail, beer or wine.

The Sun Deck on Scenic Opal. * Photo: Scenic

Like others on the ship, I had been looking forward to this time on the top deck sailing along the historic Rhine River, its banks dotted with castles seemingly at every turn.

The 40-mile-long gorge on the upper middle Rhine River is a UNESCO World Heritage site with nearly 40 castles on both sides of the river between the German towns of Koblenz and Rudesheim.

Terri waving hello from a castle on the Moselle River. * Photo: Terri Colby

Scenic’s Tailormade app was a bit balky for me, but make the effort to get it working on your mobile phone. It’s designed to show you exactly what you’re passing in real time, so you can get details about the particular castle or other landmark that you’re seeing.

It was a great tool during this stretch on the river as you could pull up each castle as it came into view and hear information about its history. Earlier, I was able to use the app along the Moselle River to get details about Bischofstein castle, built in the 13th century.

VIDEO: Below is Terri’s short video clip of passing the Bischofstein castle as narrated by Scenic’s Tailormade app.

On the Rhine, the non-stop castle sightings were spectacular.

Scenic Schonburg castle near Overwesel. * Photo: Terri Colby

Among the highlights were Schonburg Castle (now a hotel and youth hostel), built in the 1100s near Oberwesel, and also Castle Rheinstein, near Trechtingshausen.

Castle Rheinstein near Trechtingshausen. * Photo: Terri Colby

Castle Rheinstein is the backdrop for a 13th-century legend of young lovers Gerda and Kuna who beat all odds to be together. But there were so many more castles, all with stories to discover.

For me, that spring morning moving through the castle gorge was a cruise highlight.

RELATED: Heidi tells us more about the Rhine River’s history and evolution.

RELATED: Heidi reviews her family-friendly Rhine River cruise from Basel to Amsterdam.

Scenic Opal River Cruise Itinerary & Excursions

This cruise started in Mainz, Germany, near Frankfurt with its many flight options, and ended eight days later in Basel, Switzerland.

Ports along the way were Koblenz, Bernkastel, Cochem, Rudesheim, Rastatt, Breisach and Basel.

Scenic Opal’s Charming Castles & Vineyards route covered 483 miles, 3 countries and 8 ports. * Image: Scenic

At each stop, passengers had a variety of excursion choices including a mix of rigorous and less-active options.

Notably, it’s kind of amazing on a week-long cruise to have the opportunity to visit three countries.

In addition to Germany, on this cruise, Scenic’s included shore excursions, which they call “free choice” options , ranged from visits to the French towns of Strasbourg and Colmar, to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, one of the smallest countries in Europe.

A pretty canal in Strasbourg. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

We had recently been to Strasbourg so skipped that option. But you must visit that Alsatian city if you get the opportunity. It’s a beautiful and walkable town with a gorgeous Gothic cathedral and picturesque streets filled with timber-framed buildings.

Instead, we headed to Baden-Baden , the famous spa town in the foothills of the Black Forest.

An afternoon in the town of Baden-Baden. * Photo: Terri Colby

Throughout history, Baden-Baden has been a wellness destination for its thermal waters and has been so in more recent centuries, attracting the likes of Mark Twain and Marlena Dietrich, and even more recently, celebrities of all sorts and American presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

Next Stop, Luxembourg

While some passengers did a walking tour (or a more strenuous hike) of the streets and hilltop vineyards in and around the lovely German town of Bernkastel, many in the group jumped at the chance to see another country with a bus ride of not much more than an hour.

Though small, with an area of only 998 square miles and a population of about 650,000, Luxembourg is a world financial center. It’s one of the European Union’s four institutional capitals, and the world’s only remaining sovereign grand duchy .

The few hours we spent in Luxembourg were a fine introduction to a place you might want to visit again.

Scenic Luxembourg is a fairy tail. * Photo: Terri Colby

I’m so glad I got to get a look at this tiny country’s capital city, but it was way too quick. I would have preferred skipping the onboard lunch in order to take a later bus back to the ship to have more time in Luxembourg.

Regardless, the walking tour gave us an overview of the city and we had time for a coffee stop and bookstore visit. But a little more time for shopping and soaking up the atmosphere in town would have been welcome.

Luxembourg landscape. * Photo: Terri Colby

Scenic Opal’s Public Spaces & Suites

The 443-foot-long Opal along with its sisters, Scenic’s Jasper and Amber, have 82 cabins and 56 crew serving up to 163 passengers.

The 163-pax Scenic Opal. * Photo: Terri Colby

The top deck has a small pool, a walking track, the wheelhouse and lots of lounging space.

The pool and sun deck. * Photo: Scenic

One level down is the Diamond Deck with the reception area, the main lounge and bar, with some outdoor eating spaces where I happily enjoyed light breakfasts and lunch.

The main lounge and bar. * Photo: Scenic

Another level down is the Sapphire deck with the main Crystal Dining Room as well as the specialty Table La Rive.

The Crystal Dining Room at lunch time. * Photo: Terri Colby

The lower deck houses a small fitness center and a wellness area where you can get massages or facials. On that level, there’s also a salt therapy lounge, said to have health benefits.

The Salt Therapy Room. * Photo: Terri Colby

Opal’s gym. * Photo: Terri Colby

Our balcony suite, number 227, was a 205-square-foot cabin on the Sapphire deck. It was comfortable and cozy, the drop down window making the room feel more spacious as it allowed in light and sound along with the passing scenery.

For me, a gently rocking boat and fresh air are the ultimate sleep aids. The mattresses were notably comfortable, storage was efficient and bathrooms were relatively large.

The author’s Balcony Suite. * Photo: Terri Colby

Each room has a minibar with spirits like gin, vodka and whiskey, beer, wine, soft drinks and juices. What you use is replenished daily, along with snacks like cookies and chips.

Did You Say Butler?

You first meet your butler when you’re getting situated in your stateroom. Pay attention as he explains how all the light switches and television work. I didn’t expect to call on the butler, but the first night I couldn’t figure out how to turn out the lights on the balcony. A telephone call brought him quickly to the room.

But I really needed the butler one night after a dinner when I spilled blueberries on a new white shirt. I went back to the room to change my clothes and called to ask for help so the shirt wouldn’t be ruined. Marek came to pick it up right away and delivered it to laundry workers who used their magical stain removing powers. The next day my stain-free shirt was returned, good as new.

One small bag of laundry per room is included (a perk I really like) but the small charge for saving my shirt was well worth the cost.

Dining Options on Our Scenic Opal River Cruise

Even in the small space of a river boat, the Opal offers multiple dining venues including the main one, the Crystal Dining Room, where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served.

Table La Rive ( a long table at the back of the Crystal Dining Room with two dedicated waiters) offers a six-course specialty dining experience paired with wine for just 10 people each night.

The Crystal Dining Room. * Photo: Scenic

Portobellos is at the back of the main lounge area and requires reservations for its Italian-themed dinner menu.

Food generally was above average with a few notable highlights (braised beef short ribs, lamb chop breakfast entrée) and a couple of misses (tiramisu).

Braised short ribs and polenta. * Photo: Terri Colby

Steak and fries served on Scenic Opal. * Photo: Terri Colby

I was disappointed that there were few offerings of German or regional specialties during this cruise. I craved weiner schnitzels and bratwursts.

And, as we passed through the area, onshore restaurants were touting the arrival of the spring asparagus crop, a local delicacy. We weren’t served any onboard, nor was there a sampling of the famed Doctor Reisling wine exclusive to Bernkastel , one of our stops along the way. That seems like a missed opportunity, but this is a new itinerary and maybe more regional food/drink specialties will be added.

Otherwise, there was a large variety of drinks options. I ventured out of my gin-and-tonic rut, taking a chance on some of the imaginative cocktail choices.

I really liked a drink called the Emma, a mix of Jameson whiskey, cold brew cacao coffee and shaved coffee beans.

The delicious Emma. * Photo: Terri Colby

The mix of whiskey, coffee and chocolate flavors was smoother than I expected and I’d happily order it again.

It felt deliciously decadent at meals to have so many options on wine pairings, being able to sample the very fine local Reislings (well, except for the Doctor Reisling!), but also reds, whites and sparkling wines from around the world.

The wine-expert passengers on board found options to their liking.

Terraced vineyards along the Moselle River. * Photo: Terri Colby

All Included on Scenic

One of the draws of Scenic food and beverage protocols is that all drinks including premium liquor is included and always available, not just during meals. And there are no upcharges for specialty restaurants.

Excursions and tips for the crew are included as well. Even one small bag of laundry per stateroom is free upon request. There are no charges for wi-fi.

If you’ve cruised before, you know that all of those extras can add up to a pretty hefty price tag.

Naturally, spa services are not included. But my one-hour, hot stone massage with Dragan was well worth the 109 Euros (close to the same in U.S. dollars) for a 60-minute session. Sublime.

Interested in the Scenic Opal’s Castles and Vineyards Cruise?

Check out the itinerary and pricing here. 

For 2023, the Frankfurt to Basel itinerary along the Moselle and Rhine rivers is offered on Aug. 2 and Sept. 6 (2023), and in 2024 on May 1, June 26 and Oct. 2.

Other dates are available on a Basel to Frankfurt return route.

For 2023, rates start at $4,720 per person for a standard cabin and $5,870 for a balcony suite. Promotional discounts are often available at time of booking.

The Scenic Opal in the scenic Rhine River. Valley * Photo: Scenic

I Recommend This Scenic Opal River Cruise

The ship is elegant but comfortable and delivers public spaces that foster camaraderie among passengers and enhance the journey with terrific views. The excursion choices can satisfy a wide range of traveler.

If you swoon at the thought of living a fairy tale, don’t miss this trip.

I give two big thumbs up to this cruise.

View from Terri’s balcony on the Moselle River. * Photo: Terri Colby

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© This article is protected by copyright, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the author. All Rights Reserved. QuirkyCruise.com.

About The Author

QuirkyCruise

Ted & Heidi are long-time travel writers with a penchant for small ship cruising. Between them they've traveled all over the world aboard hundreds and hundreds of small cruise ships of all kinds, from river boats to expedition vessels and sailing ships.

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Scenic Opal review: Spaceships on Earth

Published 6th June 2019 in Trip Reports By Hayley Hogan /cruise-news/trip-report/scenic-opal-review

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I recently had the opportunity to experience a short river cruise along the Rhine aboard Scenic Opal, one of Scenic's newest spaceships.

Thankfully, there is nothing alien about this vessel! Her modern design consists of black, white and chrome decor, floor-to-ceiling windows which offer panoramic views and let in plenty of natural light throughout the ship, and the use of mirrors to create a very spacious feeling inside the ship.

We stayed in a balcony stateroom with windows that descend at the touch of a button, stopping at waist height, for you to enjoy your indoor balcony outdoors. The bathroom features a wet room shower, complete with multiple shower heads, numerous buttons to adjust the power of the water and various coloured lights - to be honest, the shower is the only part of the ship that seems rather extra-terrestrial!

The food was always tasty. My personal favourite was Portobellos, an Italian speciality restaurant offering a 5-course set menu, full of deliciousness, all paired with select wines and finished with your choice of scrumptious sweets from the dessert trolley. Table La Rive is a 7-course degustation menu at a designated table in the Crystal Dining Room, by invitation only, for guests with staterooms and suites on the Diamond Deck.

If fitness is your thing, Scenic Opal features a cleverly designed gym, where each machine appears sunken into the floor, allowing for easy access, or you can soak up the scenery on the Sun Deck whilst listening to the bubbling sounds of the Vitality Pool.

This was the first river cruise ship I've been on with lots of people enjoying themselves in the evenings. The resident musician (who we nicknamed 'Disco Dave') played well known tunes throughout the evening, creating an infectious and enjoyable atmosphere.

We boarded the vessel in the historic city of Koblenz, close to the point where the Rhine meets the Moselle. I took the cable car across the Rhine up to the fort for spectacular views of the connecting rivers and the lush countryside (at €15 it's worth every penny), then meandered through the cobbled streets of this interesting city.

Our next port of call was the gothic city of Cologne. I opted for a tour of nearby Drachenburg Castle, and what an impressive schloss this is! Built in two years, this private palace sits atop Drachenfels Hill, offering spectacular views high above the Rhine. A VW camper van-style train runs every 30 minutes up and down the hill to a panoramic viewpoint with a quirky cafe.

From Amsterdam I took Scenic's excursion to the picture-postcard village of Edam and the coastal town of Volendam. The drive alone is beautiful, as the verdant countryside is broken up by clear streams, teeming with birdlife, and everyone wanted to be the first to spot a windmill. Our walking tour of Edam took us all around this immaculate village, with its mixture of gabled homes, and then to the Henri Willig cheese factory to sample Gouda and various flavours of farmer's and goat's cheeses - when in Holland!

Back in Amsterdam, what quicker, more relaxing way to end the trip than a scenic boat ride through the canals - and let's face it, it saves you needing eyes in the back of your head for all the cyclists zooming about!

If you're looking for an interesting culinary experience, on a spacious ship as you meander through Europe, then you can't go wrong opting for a river cruise with Scenic.

Hayley is a Cruise Consultant at Mundy Cruising, having worked with the company for 7 years and in travel for over 9 years. Most recently she's cruised on Seabourn and has also sailed with Windstar, Hebridean Island Cruises, Ponant, Royal Caribbean, Silversea, SeaDream, Regent, Uniworld, Scenic, AmaWaterways and Tauck. Her favourite destination is South Africa however she's also enjoyed cruises in the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords, Rhine, Main & Moselle, Danube, Southern Africa, North Africa, Indonesia, Australia, Arctic and Svalbard. When she’s not travelling she loves watching football, supporting her favourite team, Newcastle!

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• Enrichment Lectures
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• English ( 13 )

Scenic Opal

One of a pair of third-generation Space-Ships from Scenic — river cruise ships that combine generously sized cabins and public areas with futuristic amenities — 169-passenger  Scenic Opal offers all-inclusive luxury as it plies Europe's waterways. Just like with its sibling, Scenic Jasper , Scenic Opal guests can listen to personal GPS-guided commentary devices while relaxing on the Sun Deck (or soaking in the vitality pool) as they watch the world go by. Another soothing spot is the all-weather sun lounge found in most staterooms; with the push of a button, a picture window rises on the balcony to let passengers enjoy the view even when it’s cold or rainy.

The Lounge:   Comfortable and inviting, with intimate seating areas and big views, the Panorama Lounge offers complimentary cappuccino, yummy snacks, and open bar service.

Electric Bicycles:   Scenic Opal carries a number of e-bikes, which have a small motor to provide a boost when climbing hills as you cycle to explore ports while the ship is docked — or pedal along riverfront paths even while it’s cruising (you rejoin the ship at its next stop).  

All-Inclusive Rates:   Scenic Opal offers a truly all-inclusive experience, with shore excursions, unlimited wines and spirits, in-cabin minibar, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and butler service all covered in the cruise fare. Alas, you will need some euros to buy souvenirs for the grandkids.  

Choices, Choices:   Rather than just one shore excursion in each port, Scenic Opal often offers two or more. On a Danube cruise, for instance, guests can select an excursion to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic or, on the same day, an alternative tour to Salzburg, Austria. And if the ship is on the move that day, passengers can also stay aboard and enjoy the scenery.

Travelers Who Don't Like End-of-Cruise Surprises:  If you don’t want to be “nickel-and-dimed to death,” you'll appreciate  Scenic Opal . Order a drink, and you won’t have to sign for it. Nor will you have to choose shore excursions based on their cost, or fill up tip envelopes.

It’s Expensive:  All that inclusiveness comes at a price —  Scenic Opal is one of the most expensive river cruise ships in Europe.

Clark Norton Deal Expert / Travel Blogger Clark Norton, a longtime contributor to Porthole cruise magazine, has also written numerous cruising features for The Washington Post Magazine, EnCompass, Bridal Guide, the Toronto Globe and Mail, and other publications.

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Scenic Opal

Tours on this Ship

Staterooms / Suites

Ship overview.

With 53 professionally trained crew members and 85 suites ready to accommodate 169 passengers, Scenic Opal can be found flowing through the waters of the Danube River. Luxury and feasibility go hand in hand and accompanied by the unparalleled scenery, any cruise on the Opal will turn into an unforgettable vacation.

• Luxurious dining area
• Table La Rive tasting program
• Lounge area with bar
• Wide sundeck
• Reception desk
• Elevator service
• Souvenir shop
• Hairdressing service
• Walking track
• Outdoor pool
• Panorama deck
• Wheelshouse
• CL CHYE LIAN Romantic Rhine & Moselle - Nijmegen (Start Zurich, End Amsterdam) 4.0 - Good Written on 10th October 2023
• M Michaeljohnson Rhine Highlights with Switzerland (Start Amsterdam, End Zurich) 5.0 - Excellent Written on 24th October 2022
• C CynthiaRoth Jewels of Europe - Miltenberg to Wertheim 5.0 - Excellent Written on 24th October 2022
• DK DAVID Rhine Highlights with Switzerland (Start Zurich, End Amsterdam) 5.0 - Excellent Written on 15th June 2022
• DB David Jewels of Europe - Miltenberg to Wertheim 4.0 - Good Written on 29th May 2022
• A Anonymous Romantic Rhine & Moselle - Nijmegen (Start Amsterdam, End Zurich) 5.0 - Excellent Written on 11th May 2019
• Royal Owner's Suite (RO) (520 ft²)
• Royal Suite with Balcony (RR) (360 ft²)
• Royal Suite (RP) (475 ft²)
• Junior Suite (BJ) (250 ft²)
• Deluxe Suite with Balcony (BD, PD) (225 ft²)
• Suite with Balcony (A, PA, PP, C, BA, BB, C) (205 ft²)
• Standard Suite (E, D) (160 ft²)

• Ensuite Bathroom
• Air-conditioning
• Large windows
• Storage space
• Reading lamp
• Bottled water
• Writing desk
• Extra bedding
• Dressing area
• Mini-fridge
• Lounge area
• Amazing view
• Power Outlets
• Triple bedding
• Outside cabin

Scenic Opal Tours

• CruiseMapper

Scenic Opal deck plans

Deck layouts, review of facilities, activities, amenities.

Scenic Opal deck plan review at CruiseMapper provides newest cruise deck plans (2024-2025-2026 valid floor layouts of the vessel) extracted from the officially issued by Scenic Cruises deckplan pdf (printable version).

Each of the Scenic Opal cruise ship deck plans are conveniently combined with a legend (showing cabin codes) and detailed review of all the deck's venues and passenger-accessible indoor and outdoor areas. A separate link provides an extensive information on Scenic Opal staterooms (cabins and suites), including photos, cabin plans and amenities by room type and category.

Scenic Opal (built 2015) is one of the newest  Scenic Tours ships launched in 2015 – together with its fleet mate sister Jasper . These two, along with 2014 launched Gem and Jade, are part of the line’s rapid fleet expansion, making Scenic Tours one of the major brands on the European river cruise market. All Scenic Tours ships in Europe are ~20% longer and with lower passenger capacity in comparison to standard riverboats. This allows larger accommodations and extra public space. Scenic Tours river cruise deals are with all-inclusive fares.

Scenic Opal cruise ship deck plan has a total of 85 staterooms for 169 passengers served by 53 crew/staff. The ship features 4 passenger decks (incl 2 full decks of Balcony Suites), 2 restaurants, spacious top-deck (with swimming pool, shaded-seating relaxation area, passenger-use bikes station), gourmet dining options, Gym and Spa, 1 elevator (connecting all 3 cabin decks).

Scenic Opal is an all-inclusive riverboat. Scenic Tours cruise deals as prices are inclusive of:

• gratuities (both on board and shore excursions/tours)
• ScenicFreeChoice shore excursions (guided sightseeing tours, walking and biking tours, city tours)
• hotel stays and transfers (to/from the boat)
• beverages (tea, coffee, soft drinks, bottled water) and alcohol (beer and wine by the glass at lunch and dinner)
• Wi-Fi Internet access ((shipwide coverage) – all cabin TVs are with Apple computer setups (cordless keyboard and mouse).
• Scenic Opal itineraries are port intensive. Depending on itinerary/dates, sometimes, Scenic river cruise prices are with included airfare.

Deck layouts

Deck 01 - jewel-spa, deck 02 - sapphire-dining, deck 03 - diamond-lobby-lounge, deck 04 - sun-pool.

Scenic Opal deck plans are property of Scenic Cruises . All deck layouts are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

Providing unique cruise experiences for over 30 years

Call to speak with a worldwide cruise associate (954) 452-8800.

Cruising on the Scenic Opal

Scenic River Cruises and Scenic Tours may not be household brands in the USA but they are in Australia, Canada and the UK. Recently entering the US market with their river ship division, Scenic brings another luxury product to the growing fleet of river ships. Interestingly the owner of Scenic is pausing his river ship fleet at 16 and now concentrating on ocean exploration ships with his first over the top luxury ship currently under construction.

Scenic started concentrating on the Australian tour market and built their first river ship in 2008, she was dubbed a space ship because of all the space she offers compared to other ships. Scenic has one very big company philosophy that sets them apart, everything is included except the spa. And believe me, they do mean everything! Tours, special events ashore with meals and wine or beer, internet, crew gratuities, gratuities for guides and bus drivers, admission fees, bar and mini bar beverages, wines with meals and airport transfers.

The Opal has a total capacity of 169 guest. There are 71 cabins with balconies, 13 cabins with high windows (partially below water line) and 1 single staff cabin.

Scenic was the innovator of the balcony cabin with the electric window. This allows you to open a window to the normal rail height of a balcony, meaning this area can be additional room in the cabin, or it can be made into an entirely separate balcony area by closing the glass partition doors. You have the best of both worlds with more useable cabin space and a balcony on demand.

The vast majority of the cabins are a very generous 205 sq. ft. and suites are 475 sq. ft. All of the cabins and suites are very well designed with marble bathrooms, great showers, bathrobes, slippers, safes, mini bar (suite mini bars are stocked with Moet Champagne along with wines, beer and spirits), interactive TV with recent movies, and ample closet space. The suites are very, very comfortable and will satisfy almost everyone. And now the really BIG PLUS, every suite and cabin comes with a butler. My butler was great and took care of everything I needed. He unpacked and packed me up again, did my laundry and pressing (unlimited in suites and limited service in standard cabins) and polished my shoes. A complete bathroom amenity package is supplied by L’Occitane. Total cabin service was outstanding and the standard bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne for suite guests sets the tone.

The ship has a very appealing contemporary décor. If you are familiar with river ships they are all pretty much the same, except the Mozart my next review, due to demands of the rivers, bridges and locks. The cabins in particular are very bright and airy with great black out curtains, which you’ll need if tied up to another river ship.

Some of the more unique features on the Opal are on the upper deck. The forward most area of the lounge closes off with glass partitions at night to become an alternative Italian Restaurant with an open kitchen. Each guest can eat here one night during the cruise at no charge. For groups this is a great area as you also have private access to the forward deck area as well as a stairway to the upper deck for pre-dinner cocktails. This is for a group of 34 paxs max. A private dinner of this size on a river ship is a rarity and with a private cocktail area as well it is a truly unique feature. Another dining special is Table La Rive for all suite guests with a special Chef’s suggestion 6 course tasting menu and wine pairing. This feature can be made available to all guests by adding 2 similar tables on a charter. On deck dining is also available on all cruises weather permitting.

Dining, as with most river ships, is a mixture of buffet and limited A La Carte entrees for breakfast and lunch with dinner being normal standard A La Carte service. The Opal’s menu selection really focuses on the local and regional cuisine of the area for lunch and dinner along with your always available standbys of chicken, salmon and steak. The menus were very interesting and offered a nice selection of traditional menu items plus something to explore. Service was a bit spotty in the dining room, however this was a startup for the season cruise and we were the soft opening. They also have a 24 hour coffee and tea station in the lounge, as well as a deli case that is stocked from 7 am to 5 pm with all sorts of goodies depending on the time of day.

Evening entertainment, as with most river ships, is a mixture of an in-house musician and local acts brought on the ship. The highlight of this cruise was a private “Enrich Vienna Concert” after dinner in Vienna. This was a very special evening, normally in a palace, with champagne and then a concert with several opera numbers as well as a mandatory waltz. A very special evening which everyone is sure to enjoy.

An area that Scenic really excels in, in my opinion, is their tours. Cruise Critic must agree as they award Scenic with the best river ship tour award for 2016. I must admit, I am not the world’s greatest fan of tours but I truly enjoyed these. First off I could understand every word the guide said. As mentioned earlier, they never hustled or mentioned tips, they were extremely knowledgeable about the sights, the area and local customs, and they gave you a peak into normal day to day life in the area you were exploring. There were a few surprises as well, such as a private piano concert (which was fantastic) at the school for the blind in Budapest. An absolutely great “city tour”. A tour to Salzburg included all the local highlights of the Sound of Music along with a luncheon and the best hits of the Sound of Music with the children singing of course. Heck the lunch and wine (included) were even good. If you did not want to tour you always had bus service into the city center. Last but not least, how about a big bike ride? You would be surprised how many people did this, they had to bring in more Ebikes. The tours were great, maybe the best I have ever had, and that is exactly why you are actually doing this cruise!

This report was prepared by Steve Bloss on April 20, 2017. The views expressed as solely those of the author and not necessarily those of WWTCA.

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Scenic Opal Deck Plans & Reviews

Scenic Opal

Activities & entertainment.

• Enrichment Lectures
• Fitness Centre
• Local Entertainers
• Nightly Briefings
• Nightly Music
• Onboard Bicycles
• Riverview Terrace
• Salt Therapy Lounge
• Swimming Pool
• Walking Track
• Wellness Area *
• River Cafe - Casual Cafe
• Table La Rive - Degustation
• Crystal Dining - International
• Panorama Lounge & Bar - Panoramic Bar
• Portobellos Restaurant - Regional

Reviews We perform checks on reviews. Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines , the review is not published. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines . Learn more about our review moderation.

• Excellent 10
• Very Good 1
• All languages ( 13 )
• English ( 13 )