Sailing up the Rhone River - Burgundy & Provence
Uniworld’s Beautiful S.S. Catherine
Many river cruise ships, in Europe, are designed similarly. They are long, short (in height), and fairly skinny due to the physical constraints along the rivers they sail. It is common for them to have just a few public spaces that are used in multiple ways throughout the day. Guest capacity is usually between 120 - 180, depending on the ship, with almost all cabins accommodating a maximum of 2 guests, and most having river views.
Uniworld sets itself apart from others on the river through its unique interior design and theming. The ships are floating boutique hotels, all finished to transport guests to a particular historical period. From the intricacy of the Hapsburgs, to the majesty of a French royal court, the decor and detail transport you to an elegant bygone era.
Cabins have extremely comfortable king sized beds, large bathroom, and adequate wardrobe space. We had a French Balcony stateroom, which means the window can slide open. We could lie in bed, hear the river, see the shore, and feel the gentle breeze. I prefer it to a normal style balcony, at least in this instance. It was perfect!
There is one main dining room onboard the S.S. Catherine (and most river cruise ships, in general). Additional popular spaces include the Van Gough Lounge - a spacious parlor with lovely, period furnishings - and the Bar du Leopard, which is a smaller lounge with exterior seating. The top deck offers ample seating, as well as open space to perform yoga, walk, and exercise.
Service onboard was absolutely top notch. It should be no surprise that the crew got to know each guest quite quickly - always anticipating drink requests, or saving favorite tables. Our cabin was always returned to an immaculate state by our stateroom attendant. The Cruise Manager - who is responsible for the entertainment, excursions, and overall guests satisfaction - was very friendly, helpful, and flexible. Due to the nature of river cruising (currents, water levels, traffic), a detailed itinerary was not available prior to boarding. This meant that we did not really know specific port arrival/departure times. We had arranged a few of our own excursions (not through the ship), so we communicated that to the Cruise Manager. She made sure they would work with the ship’s schedule & provided all necessary contact information just in case!
To Our Surprise!
Our ship was often tied ‘alongside’ another river cruise ship while in port. This meant that, in order to get ashore, we would either walk through another ship, or guests from another ship would walk through ours (there was ample security and signage posted). It is a good way to see the different styles of other cruise lines!
Onboard Experience - Food, Drink, and Entertainment
Breakfast and lunch were served buffet style in the Cezanne Restaurant within a specified timeframe. Many staples, such as breads, cheese, salad, and cold cuts, were available daily. Items that changed from day to day included the feature carving station, soup, hot items (protein, pasta, vegetables, etc.), and Kasey’s favorite - hand scooped ice cream.
Dinners, which began at a specific time (time varied daily, but was always posted outside the restaurant earlier that day), were fully serviced, offering multiple delicious courses. The menu changed nightly, often featuring local specialties, ingredients, and wine. On a few nights, the ship offered the chance for about a dozen guests to take part in a special, paid dining experience. We participated in one of these, though it was not something we feel we need to do again given the cost and quality available at Cezanne.
There were two 24-hour self-serve coffee/tea/water stations onboard. These also offered quick bites, fruits, and cookies throughout the day.
One large benefit of cruising with Uniworld is the true inclusion of all drinks, regardless of time of day. Many competitors on the river only offer free drinks during seated meals at the main restaurant. We were able to have a draft beer, glass of champagne, or craft cocktail at any time - and anywhere! Seriously, we sometimes called the front desk from our room to order a drink, and it would promptly arrive so that we could enjoy the scenery pass by in the privacy and comfort of our cabin.
The bar offers top shelf spirits, quality wines from the region, as well as a handful of beer choices. A guest favorites is the craft cocktail of the day, each designed on, and representing a ship in the Uniworld fleet across Europe.
As mentioned above, everything is quite intimate, cozy, and welcoming. The two main lounges were great settings to meet and mingle with guests and crew alike - one of our favorite things to do on any trip! The Van Gough Lounge also hosted organized local entertainment events. One night, an energetic Flamenco troupe performed passionately, another night we were serenaded by a silky French version of Michael Buble.
Onboard health and wellness is available in the fitness center, pool, as well as spa treatment room.
To Our Surprise!
I also have to mention that Uniworld hosts a themed night once per cruise, typically “the 70s” (though this may change, but you can find out prior to the cruise… if you know where to look). It just so happened 70s night coincided with Halloween on our cruise - it was a great time!
Our Itinerary and Excursions
We sailed on a northbound voyage, along the Rhone River, from Arles to Lyon, France. This is a region of France that Kasey and I had been to before, and loved. It is rich in natural beauty, history, manmade marvels from the Romans, and viticulture, so it was a natural fit to return with Jim.
In addition to embarking from Arles, our stops included : Avignon, the former medieval papal town; Viviers, a quaint hilltop village; Tain L’Hermitage, nestled beneath the steep vineyard cliffs; Lyon, France’s second city, buzzing with trendy eateries & Roman ruins; and Beaune, a small town with winding streets and famous hospital.
Uniworld offers several included excursions in each destination, as well as select more in immersive, paid options. We did a mixture of included, paid, and our own activities, and enjoyed them all. Kasey and I really loved the hiking day in Viviers, wherein we joined a small group and local, knowledgeable guide, and climbed to great panoramas of the village. At the conclusion of the hike, we stopped into a working pottery for a quick demonstration & also played the regional “yard game” with locals. It was super cool - showing Uniworld’s commitment to partnering with real, working villagers. Other excursions involved lots of terrific wine tastings, a food tour while in Lyon, and trip to a working Olive farm in Provence.
Simply sailing along the river is a highlight of the journey as well. You will pass by beautiful landscapes and historic architecture. You will feel the weather change and witness culture shift.
While there may be some exceptions, most river cruises (no matter the river or brand) will follow a similar experience. They all strive to give the guest a true slice of the area by stopping at major cities, but also working towns and quintessential villages.
To Our Surprise!
I knew we would be traversing many locks. Kasey and I have even passed through a lock or two in our own boat. We were not prepared for just how tightly the ship would fit into the locks - you could easily touch the concrete wall from the ship as we rose up. Additionally, everything on the top deck is designed to collapse (even the wheelhouse lowers). We went through about 15 in our journey upriver!
If you have ever considered taking a river cruise, do it! They really are a wonderful way to intimately explore a region with efficiency, comfort, and ease! Reach out if you have any questions or would like to learn more!