Pictured left to right outside the new store are: Paul Hardwick, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents Director of Retail; Emma Bailey, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents; Tutti Taylor, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents; Councillor Candy Vaughan, Mayor of Eastbourne; Trevor Ridler, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents Business Development Manager; and Shirley Waters, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents..
Having had no preconceptions of river cruising in general, I was open minded as to what to expect on a river cruise, but I did know that Uniworld are one of the most luxurious operators, so I was excited to experience their first-class service for myself.
Uniworld cruises offer a range of inclusive excursions, which do not need to be pre-booked prior to departure, which is a huge bonus. You can tailor your daily activities as the journey unfolds, based on what you are enjoying, how active or cultural you are feeling, and undoubtedly based on the weather expected! With just 110 guests onboard at full capacity the service is impeccable, and the cruise tour director will help guests select their daily activities, which are offered across four categories:
Village Day - Get an in-depth look into the quaint destinations you’ll visit and the local people who bring them to life.
Let’s Go - These active excursions feature walking, hiking, cycling, kayaking and golfing activities.
Do as the locals do - Experience life like a local, from riding the subway to stopping into a café for a local treat.
Nights Out - Private after-hours tours of popular attractions and fun local nightlife experiences.
A river cruise can be a busy itinerary with lots of excursion opportunities, so I’d recommend guests also ensure that they can take some time to just sit back and enjoy their surroundings, soaking up the ambience of the ship whilst watching the world go by.
Our visit onboard was to reposition the ship from the end of one cruise to the start of another, so we did not have any stops as such, but we were able to enjoy a couple of different presentations by the crew which included strudel making, cocktail making and wine tasting. Evening entertainment is relaxed and consisted of a very talented singer during our trip.
Uniworld provide inclusive airport transfers, so you will arrive in comfort and stress-free style. Each of their ships have their own ‘personality’ and décor, and having only joined the fleet in 2024, offering cruising on the Rhine and Moselle, the SS Victoria is very fresh and modern. I loved the décor of the SS Victoria, it was a neutral and contemporary style with flashes of colour throughout.
The main lounge of the SS Victoria is a really nice space, with a lovely bar area and plentiful seating options, all of which were very comfortable. You are surrounded with floor to ceiling windows and a large part of the roof is glass which allows the area to be filled with natural light allowing you to enjoy your surroundings. There is a large sun deck with another bar area and comfy seating and loungers. There is a gorgeous pool area at the back of the ship where guests can take a dip or enjoy a spa treatment – yoga also takes place here if the weather is bad and it is not possible to take place on deck. There is a gym and guest laundry.
The SS Victoria has one restaurant on the main deck of the ship, offering a mixture of table sizes with the majority lining the floor to ceiling windows. The food was sensational. Breakfast and lunch are buffet style with the option to order certain items a la carte. Dinner is a 4-course menu with a couple of choices but if there is something specific you would like, the chefs will do their best to accommodate. Wine served with lunch and dinner is tailored to your destination and all food is brought onboard fresh each day.
There is a private dining area (Vintage Room) that guests can hire – this is a great space and would be lovely for any special occasion.
There is always something for guests to eat anytime of the day whilst onboard the ship, whether freshly baked cookies and pastries, to afternoon tea sandwiches and cakes. There are self-service coffee stations available and three different bars onboard. Evening drinks are served with nibbles (olives, crisps and nuts) which I thought was a nice touch.
I stayed in a Signature French Balcony Cabin which was beautiful, full of natural light and spacious, with the bed facing towards the river. All cabins feature windows that retract down to create a French balcony, and all bathrooms offer beautiful marble surroundings, with good storage and a large walk-in shower. Dressing gowns and slippers, an expresso coffee machine and Asprey bathroom toiletries are also included.
A Suite offers an open plan layout, and the Royal Suite offers a separate living room and bedroom. Additional suite amenities and services include butler service; packing and unpacking assistance; in-room breakfast; daily fruit and cookie plate, and an evening snack; espresso machine and fine teas; fully stocked mini bar; bottle of wine upon arrival; shoeshine; and free laundry service. I thought all cabins were a good size within their respective categories.
I loved the experience of being on a river cruise and found it very calming. It’s a fantastic way to experience multiple towns and cities with amazing food and wine tailored to your destination. The staff were amazing, very friendly and couldn’t do enough to assist and make you feel welcome. Uniworld offers a fantastic product – the ships themselves, the hospitality and the food were all absolutely 5*.
You can find Annabel at Worldspan Travel
If you would like to book a river cruise contact your local branch