Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Scenic reduces occupancy, adds cooking school to France-based ships

3ba4384f940f820a227a2a80b959a8be_XL
Scenic Diamond and Scenic Sapphire's capacity will go from 167 to 155 passengers each
Scenic is redesigning its France-based Space-Ships for 2017, reducing their passenger occupancy while keeping the same crew count, and adding features including a cooking emporium for classes.

The number of cabins will go from 84 to 78, and passenger capacity from 167 to 155. Two new 510-square-foot Royal Owners Suites will be installed, along with larger wellness centers and a vitality pool.

The Scenic Culinaire cooking school will offer immersive courses in the culinary wonders of the Rhône, Saône and Bordeaux regions. The dedicated space will feature cooking stations and a cheese and wine cellar as well as cameras and screens to ensure each participant can see every cooking move in detail.

Fresh ingredients will be sourced from local markets and the instructors will introduce travelers to regional recipes based on the itinerary. Plenty of sessions are scheduled throughout the cruise but as class sizes are limited, passengers are encouraged to register their interest early. There is no extra charge for the classes.

The ships are Scenic Diamond, plying the rivers of Bordeaux, and Scenic Sapphire, which cruises the Rhône and Saône in the south of France.

Plus, new Scenic Enrich experiences include 'Scenic Rouge,' a traditional French cabaret performance with the famous can-can, under a big-top in Lyon. A four-course dining experiences with matched vintages will be offered at the Mumm Champagne house in Riems.

New Scenic Freechoice activities include a Tournon vineyard hike and wine tasting and, for the more active, three new cycling options in Caudebec, Arnhem and Bordeaux.

Scenic has designed its France programs to seamlessly connect across diverse regions by air, rail or road. The Seine and Bordeaux and Seine and Rhône have been the most popular combination cruises while the new 10-day Douro River cruise combines easily with the French itineraries.