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- Photo: Judi Cohen
Cruise
Contemporary Luxury on Uniworld’s Newest Ship
by Judi Cohen, photos: UniWorld
I was invited to cruise with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises in late March, 2024, for a seven-night ‘Holland & Belgium at Tulip Time’ itinerary for the debut of a new ship to their fleet, S. S. Victoria.
Before I tell you about the outstanding excursions— some of the best I’ve taken on a European river cruise, let me share some of the S. S. Victoria’s luxurious features.
Contemporary Luxury Interiors
The S.S. Victoria’s contemporary design with accents of marble, velvet and brass, offers a small-ship boutique experience. Plenty of natural and ambient lighting, mixed with the ship’s light palette, made for a serene onboard experience. The style of this ship is quite different from the rest of Uniworld’s fleet with tastefully ornate décor, oozing with old world luxury.
With room for just 110 guests, in 55 suites, the S.S. Victoria never felt busy or crowded. The staterooms are particularly spacious for river ships, each with floor-to-ceiling windows, king sized mattress, espresso machine, rain shower, heated bathroom floor, fine Asprey products, plush towels, and comfy bathrobes.
The S. S. Victoria is the first ship in Uniworld’s fleet to have a two-bedroom Royal Suite which is a whopping 759-square feet. With just one connecting bedroom and a living room it becomes a 506-square foot suite.
Our Spacious Cabin with Floor to Ceiling Openable Window
Our 23.5-square-foot Signature French Balcony cabin (Number 207) felt spacious and my husband and I found it very comfortable. There was something wonderful about having a luxurious king size bed facing a floor to ceiling openable window so we could enjoy the passing scenery and the fresh breeze as we cruised.
Not only was our cabin generously sized, but it also had a walk-in-closet with hangar space and shelving, ample for two guests, a luxurious bathroom with double sinks, heated floors, a shower with a rain shower head and a hand held shower as well. Controlling the water temperature, pressure and shower head preference was well designed, making it easy for technology-challenged folks, like me, to operate everything effortlessly. For phones and laptops there were multiple outlets on the night tables and on the desk and counters, and the cabin lights and curtains could be controlled with the touch buttons beside the bed. Luxury amenities were provided in abundance, and more were available on request if needed.
Unexpected Surprises on the ship
S.S. Victoria’s lovely rooftop bar, with tables and lounge chairs, didn’t have the opportunity to sparkle on our sailing since temperatures averaged 9 degrees Celsius, with clouds and rain most days, however, I would have enjoyed drinks with a view at sunrise and sunset ordinarily. To pass under low bridges, the bar structure is collapsible.
Another surprise was having a small pool in the spa area. Not many European river ships have an indoor pool with access to an outdoor deck.
For entertainment, presentations and enjoying drinks and coffee with other guests, the lounge not only had panoramic floor to ceiling windows, but also a striking glass ceiling.
Dining Above Par
Meals in the Dining Room included impressive breakfast and lunch buffets, and full table service at dinner. With floor to ceiling windows, and colorfully appointed comfortable seating, the room felt warm and welcoming day and night. Private Dining can be arranged for a small group, a Chef’s table dining option is available during the cruise (at an additional cost), in-room dining is available as well as rooftop dining (subject to weather). Beer, wine and soft drinks were included at meals.
The dining room manager, chef, waiters and waitresses knew our names and preferences by the second day which created a meaningful personalized experience at all meals. One of the waiters, Sasha, spoke to me in Hungarian throughout the cruise upon learning that I was fluent in Hungarian. This was charming.
Shore Excursions Highlights- Getting out into communities and cities
As much as we enjoyed the comfort of our stateroom, the culinary feast and relaxing in the magnificent lounge, we welcomed the opportunity to leave the ship for Uniworld’s well-organized excursions in the cities and towns on this itinerary. At least one shore excursion was available at no extra cost in every port. Choosing from among the options proved quite challenging.
Excursion highlights in Belgium included a stop at the Atomium, built for the 1958 Brussels Worlds Fair, passing the Royal Palace, and a walking tour in Brussels through the historic downtown area, with signature chocolate shops and an opportunity to sample traditional Belgian waffles. Cruise Director, Piet, was always on hand to share his passion for the city and the waffles!
In Antwerp, we visited the central train station and the Antwerp Zoo before our excursion to “Chocolate Nation” where we were immersed in the chocolate making history of Belgium. We happily tasted multiple flavors of molten chocolate in large vats before leaving. Rather than returning to the ship, we opted to stay in the city, and explore the diamond district with three diamond exchanges, and where the largest number of uncut diamonds in the world are traded.
One of the more somber, yet enriching excursions was the opportunity to visit the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, where more than 8,000 American soldiers lie under white crosses and Stars of David headstones across the green lawn and rolling hills of Limburg, a short ride from the port in Maastricht. They died here during Allied Operation from September 1944 until the spring of 1945 earning “praise that will never die”. In the cold and rain, we stood quietly at the “Mourning Woman Statue” with three doves and a new shoot rising from a war-destroyed tree, and in the Court of Honor with a reflecting pool that had the names and information of the over 1,700 missing from the Army and Air Force engraved on the wall flanking the reflecting pool. Our Dutch guide, Arie-Jan van Hees, carried photos of the dead soldiers and shared family stories while also explaining that each grave has been adopted by someone in the community. They go twice a year to place flowers and pay respects to their adopted soldier. He proudly showed us the grave of the soldier who his young son adopted and cares for. Although we were chilled and soaking wet, we thought it fitting to put stones on the Jewish grave markers and say Kaddish for the Jewish soldiers who gave their lives. This is a not-to-be-missed excursion.
From the port in Schoonhoven, Holland we drove to Kinderdikt, a UNESCO World Heritage designated site with 19 historic windmills dating back to the 1600’s. All 19 windmills were water-pumping mills used to drain the land. I learned that windmills are passed down from generation to generation and families still live inside them. A 30-minute boat ride provided the opportunity to see the windmills on both sides of the canal. Along the way we passed small farming communities with sheep, pigs and geese on the grassy dike.
Arriving in the port in Amsterdam on Easter weekend, with plans to visit Keukenhof Gardens, Piet pointed out this we had arrived on the busiest day of the year, and indeed the gardens were packed with visitors admiring thousands of tulips in full bloom in the gardens and inside the greenhouses. The cold and rain did not dampen our spirits as we explored the blooms of every colour and pattern during our early morning visit. I learned that people come to Keukenhof Gardens to check out the gardens and purchase tulip bulbs that are shipped all over the world.
On our cruise there were options for the afternoon in Amsterdam to learn about the Red Light District, and to visit the Anne Frank House. Returning to the Anne Frank House was a stark reminder of humankind’s cruelty and intolerance. Climbing the steep narrow stairs in the hidden walls and rooms where the Frank family lived in silence hiding from the Nazis, and then reading passages from Anne Frank’s diary is both chilling and disturbing. When you go on this Uniworld cruise, be certain to visit the Anne Frank House.
Cruising on the canals and the Rhine waterways with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises aboard the S.S. Victoria, was an opportunity to experience onboard luxury and comfort, first-class hospitality, superbly prepared meals on and off the ship, and to experience the villages and cities on the route. While our cruise was early in the spring season, and the weather was less than ideal, our cruise was wonderfully memorable. Just a taste of the Uniworld hospitality has left us wanting to return to do another European river cruise soon.
