Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Is This Your Business?4.0
Author: Kalicia Bateman
LAST UPDATED: November 20th, 2019
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The Good
- Dining options
- Unique activities and entertainment
- Great amenities
Dining Options
Uniworld offers exquisite cuisine prepared by a classically-trained culinary team with an al-fresco dining experience. All meals are prepared with fresh ingredients sourced from local suppliers and farmers' markets. The company offers a distinctive wine program where travelers can sample various wines and other alcoholic beverages from around the globe.Activities and Entertainment
Various onboard entertainment and cultural activity options are available for passengers to enjoy. Most focus on rest and relaxation rather than robust physical activity. The ships feature cozy libraries, luxurious shopping boutique, sundeck, pool, spa, fitness center, and lounge with a bar. Exquisite antiques and fine art adorn the ship. Panoramic restaurants offer guests sumptuous cuisine with both a local and international flair.Amenities
Luxurious riverview staterooms and suites feature handcrafted beds, flat-screen televisions, and marble bathrooms stocked with fine amenities, plush towels, comfy robes, and slippers. Many suites also feature French balconies. Exclusive offshore excursions are hosted by local experts with personalization options. Standard amenities found on all Uniworld cruise ships include:- Exquisite Cuisine
- Al-Fresco Dining
- Distinctive Wine Program
- Classically-Trained Culinary Team
- Meals and Unlimited Beverages Included in Fare
- Gratuities and Airport Transfers Included in Fare
- Luxurious Riverview Staterooms and Suites- Many with French Balconies
The Bad
- Limited meal options
- Limited shore excursion options
- Issues with services
Limited Meal Options
Menu options are limited at dinner time, and some guests have reported that the food is not up to par. Guests have reported that at times the food is inedible. The company will prepare alternatives for guests, but the overall experience does not measure up to the price paid for the cruise. Guests are given three meal times, with no options available any other time.Limited Shore Excursion Options
Guests were also disappointed regarding the options available for shore excursions. Many of these excursions include visiting museums and local architecture, and leave little room for experiencing the true culture of the region. The excursions are optional, but guests would prefer more choices made available to them from the company. If a guest chooses not to go on the excursion, they are required to stay onboard the ship. Evening entertainment choices are limited to cocktail parties and small music trios aboard the ship. The pricing is also somewhat expensive despite the limitations. The pricing breaks down as follows:- Delightful Danube & Prague: 10 Days: $3,199-$4,799 per person. Experience dynamic Budapest and imperial Vienna. Marvel at ravishing scenery as your luxurious ship glides through the Wachau Valley, celebrated as one of the world's most beautiful landscapes, into Germany and past charming Bavarian villages. This enchanting voyage provides a variety of ways to enjoy captivating destinations as well as plenty of time to relax onboard as you sail from Budapest to Nuremberg. Two nights in exquisitely preserved Prague serve as a fitting end to this remarkable journey.
- Ultimate France: 22 days: $10,899-$13,999 per person. You'll tour glamorous capital cities in leisure and style; explore ancient villages still unspoiled by modern life; and walk in the footsteps of famous artists like Monet and Van Gogh. With Uniworld's extraordinary exclusive excursions, you'll visit the Palace of the Popes in Avignon; enjoy local wine tastings; stroll the charming medieval lanes of Viviers; and peruse the famed farmers' market in Lyon and see the city spectacularly illuminated at night. All the while, savor the renowned wines and cooking traditions that have made French cuisine the most revered in the world.
Issues with Services
The air-conditioning and Internet service has been known to go out of service several times. The staff is exceptional at trying to overcome this obstacles and make guests comfortable, but be prepared for these events to occur. The Internet provided is on an overloaded network and has a two-hour log-in limit. If you plan on conducting business aboard the ship via the Internet, you may want to consider traveling on another cruise line.Limited Space
Cabin spaces are small but adequate. There is limited space for hanging clothes. Guests have been able to hear toilets flushing from other guests in the middle of the night, making it hard to get sufficient rest. The hot water in the showers is sometimes unreliable as well. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises are not a good fit for passengers with limited mobility issues. The ships do not have wheelchair-accessible cabins. There are elevators on five of the cabins, but one ship has an elevator that does not reach all the decks.Currency
The currency aboard the cruise line is the Euro. The only exception is for the Egypt and China cruises, where the currency aboard is the U.S. Dollar. All tips must be paid in cash, so plan on carrying the suggested daily gratuity amount while onboard. Contact the company directly for more information.The Bottom Line
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise is an authentic boutique river cruise line that go to exotic destinations in Europe, Russia, China, India, Egypt, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The company attracts 40+ year-old passengers with year-round cruises lasting from 7-15+ days. The travel company offers all-inclusive packages, spectacular customer service, and superb cuisine from classically-trained chefs. The company has a high customer satisfaction rate with many positive online customer reviews. However, shore excursions and meal choices are limited. The cruise line is not a good fit for passengers with mobility issues due to its lack of wheelchair accessible rooms and limited elevator availability. Air-conditioning and Internet service is unreliable, and cabins sizes are small. The cruise line appears to be the best fit for older couples with a middle-class income or higher. Overall, we would recommend using another cruise line for your travel needs. Visit our recommended cruise lines.
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Review Source
Tom Gourley Pleasant Grove, UT
Uniworld is not the least expensive provider but they are worth the extra money you will spend.
Their ships are well maintained and they don't have a lot of "add-ons" to their pricing. Their customer service is also top quality. I particularly like their shore excursions which are included in their pricing and which offer some nice options once on shore.
6 years ago
