Scenic vs Emerald River Cruises: What’s the difference?

Are you wondering whether to choose Scenic or Emerald for your next river cruise? I’ve enlisted the help of river cruise expert Jenny Cookman from River Cruising with Jen to explain how these two brands differ and help you decide which to choose…

Jenny writes…

Choosing between Scenic and Emerald

Scenic Luxury River Cruises and Emerald River Cruises are sister brands owned by the Scenic Group. Both offer exceptional experiences.

I’ve been lucky enough to sail with both and the ship designs and attention to detail are outstanding. A common factor, with both brands, is the fantastic staff who work hard to create an unforgettable experience for guests. 

So, what is the difference between Scenic and Emerald? In this blog, we’ll delve deeper into the similarities and differences between the two brands to help you make an informed choice for your next river adventure.

Ultra Luxury vs Luxury

Scenic and Emerald both offer beautiful five-star ships. Scenic offers an ultra-luxury, all-inclusive option while Emerald offers a luxury experience with an eye for greater value and with slightly less included. Emerald offers the best of both worlds; with a lower price tag, you’ll still be onboard some of the most luxurious ships on the rivers.

• Emerald = Luxury
• Scenic = Ultra-Luxury

Glen Moroney, the owner of Scenic, told River Cruise Advisor that Emerald is a “four-star product operating on five-star hardware.” Scenic sits in the ultra-luxury space while sailing with Emerald is a luxury experience.

History of the Brands

Providing a high standard of luxury tours for many years, a natural next step for Scenic Tours was to join the world of river cruising. In 2006 they began to charter ships along Europe’s rivers. These itineraries proved very popular with guests and quickly sold out.

With a desire to create ships tailored to the Scenic guests’ needs and expectations, they designed and commissioned the Scenic Space-Ships. In 2008, the first in the new fleet were Scenic Sapphire and Scenic Emerald. Flooded with natural light at every turn, it’s easy to see why the name Space-Ships was chosen.

Emerald, the sister brand of Scenic, was introduced in 2014. The intention was to combine innovative design with the promise of exceptional value for money. Emerald Star-Ships were born. The pioneering swimming pool that converts into a cinema at night is the most impressive pool that I have seen onboard a river ship.

Emerald was the first river cruise line to introduce Activity Managers on board their European Star-Ships. These dedicated team members facilitate the Emerald Active programme, giving guests the opportunity to stay active while on board with fitness classes, including yoga and aqua aerobics. 

In 2017, Scenic became the first and only river cruise operator to feature Salt Therapy Lounges on Scenic Diamond and Scenic Sapphire in France. In 2019, due to popular demand, these were added to the ships on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. 

My experiences

It has been a privilege to sail on the Scenic Azure on the Douro, the Scenic Crystal on the Rhine, and the Emerald Sun on the Danube.

You can read my review of the Scenic Crystal here.

All three ships are beautiful with elegant, contemporary decor and fantastic use of natural light.

I love the innovative Scenic Sun Lounge – a balcony area with a floor-to-ceiling retractable window, opening to allow uninterrupted river views and fresh air.

Dining is an important feature on a river cruise and there is an emphasis on exceptional food, often with a local theme. I can personally confirm that the food was delicious on all three ships. I enjoyed the option of room service from our personal Butler on the Scenic ships, allowing for a relaxed lunch in my room.

A highlight of Scenic Crystal was the speciality Italian restaurant, Portobellos, with all guests invited to dine at no additional cost. We also enjoyed quiet lunches here, with a beautiful river view.

Scenic also provide a mini bar that can be customised with your favourite drinks and is restocked each day. 

You’ll see below that Emerald has a range of more active excursions which is a consideration if you like the idea of more physically challenging options. I found all the tours on each itinerary to be of a very high standard with exceptional local guides. It’s a pleasure to hear their stories and learn about local life. 

Scenic includes all the excursion options and curates incredible, exclusive experiences as part of their Enrich programmes. During the Danube itineraries, guests are treated to a unique private concert in Vienna. With Emerald, the culturally enriching Emerald More excursions are an optional extra at additional cost.

Scenic vs Emerald: Comparison Table

This table shows some of the similarities and differences between the brands:

	Scenic	Emerald
Ships	Sapphire, Diamond, Gem, Ruby, Pearl, Crystal, Jewel, Jade, Opal, Jasper, Amber, Azure and Spirit	Sky, Star, Dawn, Sun, Luna, Destiny, Liberté, Radiance, Harmony
Itineraries	Rhine, Main, Danube, Moselle, Douro, and MekongFrance: Rhône, Saône, Gironde, Dordogne and Garonne and Seine	Rhine, Main, Danube, Moselle, Douro, and Mekong France: Rhône, Saône,
Butler service	Butler service for every suite (including room – service)
In room drinks	Mini bar restocked daily Fresh water daily	Fresh water daily
Meals	All onboard meals included	All on board meals included
Drinks	Complimentary beverages all day (a few premium options are not included)  Complimentary tea and coffee	Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board (drinks package available) Complimentary tea and coffee
Excursions	Expert local guides to lead excursions Included: Scenic Freechoice – a diverse range of activities for guests to select from each day. Scenic Enrich – exclusive experiences handcrafted to immerse guests in the local culture.	Expert local guides to lead excursions Included: Emerald PLUS – excursions providing fascinating insights into the local area.  Emerald ACTIVE programme includes bike rides, yoga and guided hikes. Additional charge: Emerald MORE – explore at a deeper level with unique insights into local life.
Fitness and wellness	Innovative Salt Therapy Lounge   Fitness and wellness area Onboard wellness coach	Innovative indoor pool with retractable roof which transforms into an evening cinema. Fitness and wellness area Activity Managers
Bicycles onboard	Complimentary e-bikes	Bicycles on board
Gratuities	All gratuities included	All gratuities included
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi on board	Wi-Fi on board
Notes: Emerald Radiance and Emerald Harmony do not have bicycles onboard or an indoor pool, they feature pools on the Sun Deck / Pool DeckEmerald ACTIVE excursions not available on Southeast Asia itineraries. Flights and Transfers: Any flights included are up to a set credit amount, when paying in full only. If credit is exceeded, charges will apply. Airport transfers are only available on the first and last day of your journey and at times designated. Transfers outside these times will be at your own expense and must be secured by your own arrangements. Full terms and conditions apply. All the information is correct to the best of my knowledge (October 2023).

Conclusion

In summary, Scenic Luxury River Cruises and Emerald River Cruises each have their unique strengths and cater to different traveller preferences and budgets. If you seek a truly all-inclusive luxury experience and are willing to invest, Scenic may be your choice.

On the other hand, if you prioritise affordability and flexibility, while still enjoying luxurious comfort, Emerald could be the perfect fit.

Jenny can help you book the perfect river cruise. Please get in touch with her here: www.rivercruising.blog or by email: [email protected]

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