I just had a dream vacation with Uniworld – here’s how you can, too
My companion and I are sitting in Le Salon Champagne, the stylish art nouveau lounge on Uniworld Boutique River Cruises' S.S. Bon Voyage, toasting a magical day.
It started in the morning with a Uniworld-organized oyster tasting at Fort Medoc, a 300-year-old French fortification guarding a key waterway in France's famed Bordeaux wine region.
In Bordeaux, unbeknownst to many first-time visitors, oysters are almost as big a deal as the wine.
But the oyster tasting, which was about as exclusive an experience as could be — thanks to Uniworld, we had the fort entirely to ourselves — was just the appetizer for a main course of touring through what is indisputably the Bordeaux region's top attraction: the vineyards that sprawl for miles in every direction.
In my case, that meant an adventurous Uniworld-organized bike tour through the vineyards. For some of my traveling companions, it meant a gentler motorcoach tour. Both options were available. But whichever tour we chose, we were treated to a tasting stop at one of the thousands of wine-producing "chateaux," or wine houses, that have made the region so famous.
As dreamy as this sounds, it's just a typical day on a Uniworld river cruise — in this case, a seven-night "Brilliant Bordeaux" sailing through the Bordeaux wine region. And it's one that didn't end with the touring. The evening brought more magic as we watched the sunset from the top deck of the vessel as it sailed for its next destination, enjoyed a beautiful gourmet dinner in the main dining room and danced the night away to a Parisian singer in the lounge.
A leader in luxury river cruising, Uniworld is particularly known for its expertly curated experiences both on and off its ships, with an onboard experience that is elegant, welcoming and relaxing.
An expertly curated experience
I've sailed with Uniworld many times over the years, from Europe to India, and I've seen firsthand how the brand stands apart in the way it expertly curates the touring experience — just one of the many ways it delivers luxury to its guests.
Notably, the brand meticulously crafts a lineup of included and optional excursions during its trips that are designed to immerse guests in the authentic culture, sights and cuisine of the places they visit — and deliver an experience you won't find anywhere else.
These include:
- Private tour experiences that are unique to its sailings. On my "Brilliant Bordeaux" sailing, for instance, we enjoyed a private tour of the region's well-known Chateau Royal de Cazeneuve, a 14th-century fortress that has been owned by the same family for centuries. When we arrived, the matriarch of the family, Caroline de Sabran-Pontevès, came out to greet us, and our visit ended with a sauternes wine toast.
- Active tour options, such as my biking tour through the Bordeaux vineyards.
- "Village day" outings that bring interactions with locals. On my Bordeaux sailing, it was a guided walk through a farmers market that happens several times a week in Libourne, a riverfront town where we docked for two nights. We joined the town's residents who were out for their morning shopping as we strolled between stalls of locally made cheeses, fruits, vegetables, meats and more.
- "Nights out" experiences that let you experience another side of a destination. On our Bordeaux trip, this was a special light show performance at Bordeaux's world-renowned Bassins des Lumieres, billed as the world's largest digital art center. Located within the repurposed pens of a World War II submarine base, it was opened just for us for the evening event.
For the most part, such tours are included in the fare, but the line also offers a handful of optional, extra-charge "Masterpiece Collection" experiences on its sailings. On my trip, this included a private guided tour of Bordeaux by sidecar and an excursion to the nearby town of Cognac to see where the famed drink is made.
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Being a cognac fan, I signed up for the latter excursion, and I wasn't disappointed. Called "Rendez-vous Chez Remy Martin," the half-day trip brought a tour and tasting at well-known cognac maker Remy Martin's headquarters and cognac aging warehouses in the center of town (which, I was interested to learn, is just down the road from Hennessy's production facility).
For just 80 euros (about $93), I thought it was a great value, particularly because we got to taste the brand's top-shelf Remy Martin XO cognac as part of the outing.
A luxury boutique hotel that floats
One key thing that sets Uniworld apart from other river cruise lines is the lovely and luxurious onboard experience.
For starters, as I have seen on multiple Uniworld sailings over the years, the design of Uniworld vessels is elegant and refined, with the feel of a luxury boutique hotel, just one that happens to float.
Each Uniworld vessel is not only stylish but, notably, one of a kind, with its design inspired by the countries in which it sails. On S.S. Bon Voyage, that meant a quintessentially French-looking main lounge — Le Salon Champagne — with herringbone wood floors and elegant green, blue and gray art nouveau furnishings inspired by Yves Saint Laurent's personal abode, Villa Majorelle. The adjacent La Brasserie eatery has a classic bistro look that mimics the famed Paris bistro Bouillon Pigalle.
When I sailed Uniworld's ship in India, Ganges Voyager II, the decor evoked the era of the British Raj. A Uniworld ship in Italy that I sailed, S.S. La Venezia, drew its inspiration from handmade Venetian Fortuny fabrics displayed on board, with Murano glass, gilded accents and artistic etched elements that pay homage to early 20th-century Venetian aesthetics.
Unlike most river cruise ships, Uniworld vessels feature personally selected original artwork (I loved the original French oil paintings along the walls of the hallway to my room on S.S. Bon Voyage) and antiques peppered throughout the decor, often with a tie-in to the local destination. This gives the ships a distinctive "home away from home" feel.
It's an elegant residential feel driven, in part, by the intimacy of the vessels. Designed to carry just 120 passengers per sailing on average (fewer than most river ships), they are intimate at a level where you can get to know your fellow travelers.
They're also upscale and elegant while also being welcoming, fun and relaxing. On Uniworld vessels, you can expect:
- Gourmet onboard dining that revolves around fresh, locally sourced ingredients from the region where the ships are traveling, with dishes that are regionally inspired. On my Bordeaux sailing, this meant local specialties such as entrecote bordelaise and local black mussels in a white wine cream sauce — served up with some delicious local wines.
- Wonderful wellness offerings that are included in the fare, from sunrise yoga on the top deck to dedicated fitness rooms.
- A small spa for the ultimate in pampering, with treatments available at an extra cost — something not every river cruise ship has.
- A full schedule of onboard activities and entertainment, from cooking demonstrations to live music with dancing in the evenings (in short, you'll never be bored).
But perhaps the most notable feature of Uniworld ships is their onboard staff. As I have seen over the years on multiple trips, it is the personalized service that you get on a Uniworld sailing that really makes the brand shine. Uniworld ships sail with a higher crew-to-passenger ratio than is typical in the industry — on my S.S. Bon Voyage sailing, there were 51 crew members on board to service just 104 passengers. And they are a seasoned crew with some of the longest tenures in the industry.
That results in outstanding service, as I saw repeatedly during my sailing.
The driving philosophy is "no detail too small, no request too large," with a goal of exceeding guest expectations with every voyage.
A highly inclusive trip
One of the things that I love most about Uniworld voyages is the all-inclusiveness of its sailings. It's another thing that sets the brand apart from most other river lines.
Like many river cruise brands, Uniworld includes shore excursions during every stop — a significant value. But as I saw during my trip on S.S. Bon Voyage, Uniworld also includes unlimited beverages, such as fine wines and premium spirits, available at any time of the day — something you don't often see in river cruising.
Whether it was my favorite drink for cocktail hour — a gin martini made with Bombay Sapphire — or an after-dinner Maker's Mark bourbon served neat, I freely ordered whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, for no extra charge.
Among other inclusions that I was able to enjoy without paying any extra fees:
- Daily fitness classes, such as yoga on the ship's top deck
- Complimentary airport transfers with Uniworld air purchase
- Wi-Fi on the ship for all my devices
- 24-hour room service (with a limited menu always available)
- Gratuities for onboard personnel
The latter is something that is particularly unusual in the river cruise world. Many lines add hefty service charges to customer bills.
Additionally, passengers in suites and past passengers (members of the line's River Heritage Club loyalty program) receive included laundry service (one bag for past passengers, unlimited for suite guests), a wonderful little extra that isn't standard on river ships. Passengers in suites also get butler service and a fully stocked minibar.
In short, just about everything is included in the fare on Uniworld sailings, so much so that the line's ships don't bother taking your credit card when you walk on board. They're not expecting you to charge much of anything to your room while there.
When I checked out on the final day of my cruise, notably, the only bill I had was for the 80-euro cognac excursion that I mentioned above. If I hadn't done that, I would have walked off without a single charge.
One of many unique itineraries
Uniworld's "Brilliant Bordeaux" itinerary is just one of many that the line offers across Europe, where it is known for some of the most unusual river cruise itineraries. Uniworld's range of offerings in the region includes sailings on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers in Central Europe, the Seine and Rhone rivers in France, the Douro in Portugal and the Venetian Lagoon in Italy — the latter a waterway that almost no other river cruise line visits.
Uniworld's Venetian Lagoon trips, notably, include a multiday visit to Venice, with docking locations just steps away from some of the destination's most famous sights.
Uniworld also offers a broad range of voyages beyond Europe, including sailings on the Nile in Egypt (where it operates two vessels), the Mekong in Southeast Asia, the Amazon in Peru and the Ganges in India. The latter is another waterway that you can't visit with most other major river cruise lines.
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Additionally, Uniworld is known for its unique collection of specialty cruises where the entire itinerary is crafted to enhance a particular aspect of the destination's culture and guest interest — a key differentiator for the brand.
These include:
- "Jewish Heritage"-designated trips on European rivers that focus on Jewish history and culture with visits to museums, memorials and synagogues — something no other river cruise line offers
- Family-focused "Generations Collection" sailings with dedicated "family hosts" who lead onboard activities just for kids, family-friendly shore excursions, kid-friendly menus and other offerings aimed at families with younger children
- Special "Holiday Season" sailings, including voyages around Christmas and New Year's Day, that include visits to Christmas markets in Europe and other festive destinations
Uniworld's range of specialty cruises also includes a "Limited-Edition Collection" of rare sailings that only happen occasionally, such as LGBTQ+ cruises, "Mystery Cruises" where you don't know where you're going in advance and 50-night "Rivers of the World" cruises.
New as of this year are women-only cruises, music-focused departures on the Danube River, and cruises with premium golf package add-ons that, for an extra charge, bring the chance to play top courses in the regions you visit.
A great time to book
Thinking of booking a Uniworld sailing for the coming year? Now's a great time to do it. For a limited time, Uniworld is offering up to 20% savings on select 2026 voyages.
Be sure to act fast, as this limited-time offer will only be available through Oct. 31.
The 2026 Early Booking Savings offer, as it's being called, is valid for new individual bookings, only applies to full-fare bookings and is capacity-controlled. Other restrictions apply.
For more information on the offer, visit the Uniworld site.