Aboard Scenic Crystal with Scenic
Cruise Overview
Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere.
It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world.
Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory.
Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church.
Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters.
It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one.
Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination.
There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene.
It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms.
With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe.
Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city’s Golden Age.
This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh.
Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings.
And don’t forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner.
Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation.
They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St.
Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence.
The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.
Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere.
It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world.
Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory.
Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church.
Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters.
It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one.
Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination.
There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene.
It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms.
With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe.
Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city’s Golden Age.
This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh.
Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings.
And don’t forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner.
Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation.
They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St.
Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence.
The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.
Cologne is a city in western Germany located across the Rhine river.
It is the oldest in Germany, dating back 2000 years and is considered the region’s cultural hub.
The city is known for its iconic landmark of the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral set against the reconstructed Old Town buildings.
When in Old Town, visit the historic Old Town Hall and the Roman Church Great St Martin, or take time out and sit at one of the traditional breweries and enjoy the scenery around you.
Historical sites such as the Roman Dionysus mosaic and the medieval Overstolzenhaus are worth a visit too.
Another iconic sight in Cologne is at Hohenzollern Bridge.
Here, local and tourist couples affix padlocks to the railings of the bridge and swear their loyalty to each other, they then throw the key into the Rhein to ensure everlasting love.
Cologne is home to over 30 stages providing cabaret, free ensembles, theatre and dance and also celebrates its openly gay culture.
It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world.
Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory.
Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church.
Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters.
It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one.
Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination.
There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene.
It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms.
With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe.
Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city’s Golden Age.
This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh.
Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings.
And don’t forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner.
Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation.
They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St.
Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence.
The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.
Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere.
It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world.
Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory.
Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church.
Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters.
It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one.
Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination.
There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene.
It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms.
With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe.
Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city’s Golden Age.
This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh.
Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings.
And don’t forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner.
Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation.
They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St.
Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence.
The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.
Cologne is a city in western Germany located across the Rhine river.
It is the oldest in Germany, dating back 2000 years and is considered the region’s cultural hub.
The city is known for its iconic landmark of the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral set against the reconstructed Old Town buildings.
When in Old Town, visit the historic Old Town Hall and the Roman Church Great St Martin, or take time out and sit at one of the traditional breweries and enjoy the scenery around you.
Historical sites such as the Roman Dionysus mosaic and the medieval Overstolzenhaus are worth a visit too.
Another iconic sight in Cologne is at Hohenzollern Bridge.
Here, local and tourist couples affix padlocks to the railings of the bridge and swear their loyalty to each other, they then throw the key into the Rhein to ensure everlasting love.
Cologne is home to over 30 stages providing cabaret, free ensembles, theatre and dance and also celebrates its openly gay culture.
Cruise Itinerary
Aboard Scenic Crystal
Launch Year: 2012 Length: 135 Width: Currency: EUR Capacity: 163 Crew Count: 59 Deck Count: 4 Cabin Count: 85
Scenic Crystal, Jade & Jewel were the sixth, seventh, and eighth ships to join our fleet of luxury Space-Ships respectively. All three river cruise ships feature our signature Scenic Sun Lounges, as well as newly designed cabins and suites.
With four sumptuous decks boasting a selection of private suites and public lounge and dining venues, every aspect of Scenic Crystal, Jade & Jewel has been carefully considered to be easily navigable and wonderfully luxurious.
Measuring 135 metres in length, these sister Space-Ships are perfectly proportioned for navigating the preeminent waterways of Europe, and all without forfeiting your comfort, space and enjoyment.
Each generously appointed vessel features just 85 cabins, giving them a maximum guest capacity of 169. This affords our guests a real appreciation of space and freedom, as well as complete intimacy and comfort. Couple this with a 1:3 crew-to-guest ratio, and you can look forward to the very best service from the moment you set foot aboard Scenic Crystal, Jade & Jewel.
As you’d expect from three valued members of the luxury Scenic Space-Ship fleet, comfort, refinement and luxury are second to none aboard Scenic Crystal, Jade & Jewel. The sister ships offer a number of different suite classes spanning three decks, so you have plenty of choice and flexibility depending on your individual travel preferences.
Scenic Crystal Facilities
Scenic Crystal Includes
Cabin Details
Step into your suite and enjoy a spacious and peaceful haven complete with lavish touches throughout; exquisite L’Occitane toiletries and soft, luxurious bathrobes. The superior queen-size Scenic ‘Slumber Beds’ with fresh, crisp Egyptian cotton linen are a dream, while individual climate control and a pillow menu offer absolute comfort. Your suite or stateroom includes a flat-screen HDTV and Mac mini system, plus complimentary mini-bar and WiFi internet access. There’s also a personal safe for your valuables and a nightly turndown service.
