Stunning cabins, fabulous food and 6-star service levels means Uniworld's recently launched SS Victoria sets a very high bar for the river cruise line. Here, loveEXPLORING's Editor-in-Chief and cruise expert Dom Eames gives his verdict on a week-long Rhine river cruise from Basel in Switzerland to Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Click through this gallery to discover what it’s really like onboard a week-long Uniworld river cruise...
Unlike the ocean-based lines, river cruising offers smaller ships, more regular stops and almost always a dock far closer to towns and cities (making exploration easier). These cruises are focused on life in the slow lane, with time aboard spent drifting dreamily past castles, meadows, vineyards and villages. The lower passenger numbers mean you are more likely to make new friends, have a more highly personalised service and gain easy access to smaller attractions. Destinations don’t get swamped with thousands of tourists overwhelming them all in one go and you won't need to worry about seasickness.
A Rhine river cruise is the perfect antidote to the stresses and strains of modern life. Aimed primarily at silver surfers, Uniworld’s luxury cruise offers an unhurried slow travel approach where passengers can comfortably enjoy the sights and culinary riches of four countries. It’s a fabulous way to spend a week enjoying the visual beauty of the Rhine river. Littered with castles, churches, almost vertical vineyards and enchanting villages, the stunning stretch between Rüdesheim and Koblenz is a particular highlight. Almost every day, the ship docks in the middle of a town or city. This makes excursions easy.
I sailed on a new Uniworld ship, the SS Victoria, launched in 2024 with a maximum capacity of 110 passengers. It’s light, spacious and modern with a large and informal restaurant, a private dining venue for smaller groups, a bistro for coffee and a large lounge. The welcoming bar upstairs, meanwhile, is ideal for enjoying the views while sipping a cocktail. Service levels are impeccable and the fact there is over one staff member for every two guests means the ship can deliver a personalised approach that is hard to find on ships with more passengers. An informal and relaxing place to be, there's also a small indoor pool, gym and wellness coach onboard.
Whichever option you choose, cabins are seriously spacious and significantly larger than what many other river cruise ships offer. You can, if funds allow, even opt for the 759-square-foot (71sqm) Royal Suite with two bedrooms and a separate living room. Beds are ultra-comfortable, handmade and adorned with fine thread linens, allowing you to lie back and enjoy the views as you glide down the river. Ensuite bathrooms are beautiful marble affairs with powerful showers and soothing cosmetics. The feel is very much that of a floating luxury boutique hotel.
Comfortable transfers to the ship, free fast and reliable wifi and three delicious meals a day, consisting of buffet breakfasts and lunches and four course a-la-carte waiter service dinners, are all included. Premium drinks are part of the package and if you’re feeling peckish, snacks and hot drinks are available throughout the day. Most excursions are also included. Be driven in luxury Uniworld coaches or simply walk to nearby destinations, accompanied by knowledgeable local tour guides. With gratuities and entertainment also part of the offering, you'll be tempted to leave your wallet at home as this is genuinely all-inclusive.
In a word, incredible. Although you can obviously get a great deal more choice on ocean cruise ships, this was probably the best food quality I've experienced on any cruise. Passengers are treated to an attention to detail normally reserved for Michelin star restaurants – with fresh ingredients locally sourced from the destinations helping to create locally-inspired dishes. There was plenty of variety across the week with meat, fish and vegetarian options. Meal choices could also be highly personalised without any fuss. Dinners were paired with decent local wines sourced and introduced by the onboard sommelier. It was also good to see a significant commitment by Uniworld to sustainability and reducing food waste.
While there are plenty of healthy food options onboard throughout the day, for those with a sweeter tooth, desserts were also freshly made onboard – again with a focus on local specialities as you cruise along the Rhine. This cherry-laden chocolate cake celebrated the journey on the final day and didn’t stay intact for long.
As the cruise is primarily aimed at people to have a relaxing time, the excursions are mainly gentle walks or coach trips to see castles, pretty towns and villages. For the more adventurous, there are opportunities to go cycling or hiking to see epic views like this. Most excursions are part of the package. Highlights of the trip include the fairytale medieval Alsatian villages of Eguisheim and Kaysersberg, the abandoned Heidelberg Castle, the restored family-owned Burg RheinStein castle and seeing the German cities of Koblenz and Cologne. What sets a river cruise like this apart, though, is being able to sit and enjoy the stunning scenery as you glide by in the comfort of a luxury ship.
This is a fantastic way to travel and probably the most relaxing way to spend a week seeing the beautiful villages, towns and cities of the Rhine. The Uniworld river cruise is an immersive experience through gorgeous ever-changing scenery with carefully planned excursions, delicious meals and wines showcasing the best of the region. Want to take the hassle out of exploring a fascinating part of Europe? Look no further than this luxurious way to travel.
Dom Eames travelled onboard the Uniworld SS Victoria from Basel to Amsterdam in October 2024. For details on the latest offers for this cruise and beyond, visit uniworld.com for prices and more info.
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