{"id":4639,"date":"2012-04-02T00:00:21","date_gmt":"2012-04-02T06:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/?page_id=4639"},"modified":"2017-06-19T06:48:06","modified_gmt":"2017-06-19T12:48:06","slug":"scenic-sapphire","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/cruise-companies\/scenic-tours\/scenic-sapphire\/","title":{"rendered":"Scenic Sapphire"},"content":{"rendered":"

SCENIC SAPPHIRE Review<\/h1>\n
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The reconfigured Scenic Sapphire operates on the Rhone and Saone rivers. Photo courtesy of Scenic<\/p><\/div>\n

Overview<\/h2>\n

Scenic Sapphire<\/strong> measures 135 meters (442 feet) in length and carries 155 guests who are served by a crew of 53.\u00a0In the spring of 2017, Scenic upgraded and reconfigured\u00a0Scenic Diamond<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and Scenic Sapphire,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>both built in 2008. During an extended drydock, Scenic removed six staterooms on each ship\u00a0<\/strong>to reduce the passenger count from 167 and to add additional features.<\/p>\n

In June of 2017, I sailed on sister ship, Scenic Diamond, in Bordeaux and found the ship (and destination) to be appealing. I particularly enjoyed the multiple dining venues, the ebikes, the excursions (including dinner one evening in a chateau), the all-inclusive offerings (including gratuities onboard and ashore), the staff and the \u20ac15,000 coffee machine (more on that later).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Scenic even includes one bag of laundry in its all-inclusive offerings. Additional laundry can be done for a fee. \u00a9 2017 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

New on Scenic Diamond and Scenic Sapphire: two 47-square-meter (510-square-foot)\u00a0Royal Owner\u2019s Suites<\/strong>, expanded Wellness Centers, including the largest salons, gyms and spa treatment rooms I’ve see on the French rivers, and private cooking demonstration spaces where guests can take part in complimentary cooking classes.<\/p>\n

Scenic\u2019s refit of the two ships\u00a0<\/strong>coincided with the new Scenic Culinaire <\/strong>program that features an onboard cooking school that uses a new dedicated space in order to offer immersive courses that highlight the culinary delights of France\u2019s Rh\u00f4ne, Sa\u00f4ne and Bordeaux regions. Using fresh ingredients sourced from local markets, guests make regional recipes that are itinerary-specific, all under the guidance of experienced chefs.<\/p>\n

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Scenic Culinaire offers complimentary cooking classes focused on regional specialities such as Cr\u00eape Suzette. \u00a9 2017 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

Guests will still be treated to butler service across the board; unlimited complimentary beverages and spirits; and complimentary on-shore options like Scenic FreeChoice<\/strong> excursions and Scenic Tailormade<\/strong>, an interactive system that provides GPS-enabled commentary throughout Bordeaux, making it perfect for independent touring.<\/p>\n

SCENIC SAPPHIRE Staterooms<\/h2>\n

There are 16 different stateroom categories aboard Scenic Sapphire. The majority measure\u00a019 square meters (205 square feet)\u00a0with full-length outdoor balconies featuring Scenic’s exclusive Sun Lounge<\/a> systems. Two Royal Owner’s Suites are among the largest suites on any river cruise vessel operating in Europe, while at the small end of the spectrum stateroom 224 is perfect for single travelers.<\/p>\n

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Scenic Sapphire Owner’s Suite. Photo courtesy of Scenic<\/p><\/div>\n