3. When you’re onboard, you almost always have an amazing view (unless you’re in a lock, and there are quite a few of them in Europe) as you meander past medieval villages and rolling countryside. And with a river cruiser, you’re more likely to get a room with a view. Scenic’s staterooms and suites all feature a unique retractable balcony (a decked area with a floor-to-ceiling window that drops down with the touch of a button); on Emerald, 84 per cent of its suites feature a retractable balcony.