We just returned from another perfect cruise with Uniworld but it’s what we expected being return customers. Every time we get on board it’s like coming home again, we always see some cruise members from a previous cruise on other boats. This time it was the head chef and our waiter Alexander. This particular cruise pays special attention to the D-Day landing sites in Normandy. For those of you interested in history and the sacrifices our young men made to free the world of terror, this is the cruise to take. Being there in person gives you a whole different perspective than what you got from the history books. On board we enjoyed a plethora of gourmet meals accompanied by a superb selection of quality wines. Try the La Cave du Vin for cozy, hands on, fine dining in the boat’s wine cellar. Book as soon you get on board because it fills up quickly. There is an extra charge for this but worth it. And the bar in the Salon Toulouse will amaze you with the selection of fine beverages from all over the world. Cleanliness on board is beyond reproach as is the friendliness and the service of the entire crew. Special thanks for service above and beyond go to our Hotel Manager Maria and our waiters Nikolay and Alexander. And the shore excursions are always well orchestrated and professionally guided through interesting places. But as with everything in life there are always some glitches, minor in this case but annoying. This boat was just refurbished so they added some “improvements”. The faucet in the bathroom sink has separate hot and cold water controls. The hot water is scolding hot so it takes you a while to temper it to a usable temperature with the two handles. But the bigger problem is the water spout which comes out from the wall and almost to the outside edge of the sink. It makes it impossible to bring your face over the sink and to bring the water to your face to wash it. You have to stand back and the water goes over your feet and the floor. Hint to the designers; shorten the spout by at least six inches. The other goof is the new “Do not disturb” notification. They’ve done away with the door handle sign and replaced it with an electronic touch pad inside the cabin. However, this very sensitive unit is just below the wall slot where you insert the key card to turn on the room utilities. It is almost certain that you will touch it inadvertently and alter the setting when you insert and remove the key card. And when the card is in the slot it hides the indicator light. So when we didn’t get our cabin made up for two days I went to the reception desk for an explanation. They knew immediately what was going on because it has happened to others and they very kindly explained how this new system functions. And lastly, the room thermostat control is another touch pad unit. It is preset to 23 degrees Celsius and has a wide range of temperature settings. But regardless of what temperature you change it to the room temperature never changes from the preset temp. But these minor glitches will not deter us from sailing on Uniworld again. As a matter of fact, while on board we booked the Bordeaux cruise for May 2020. Read Less

The Parisian Royal Holiday cruise travels from Paris to Rouen and back, spending more days in Paris than a similar cruise that goes from Paris to Normandy. We chose it because of the length of the Paris stay and a big plus was the ship's berth on the Seine with a view of the Eifel Tower. We also prefer river cruising because the ships are more intimate and generally have fewer than 200 passengers. Getting to know new people and building relationships is much easier in a smaller venue. Our airfare package include transfers to/from Charles de Gaul (CDG) airport which is a good distance from the ship berth, but was accomplished with speed and comfort. The cruise includes visits to Christmas markets in Paris and Rouen, although the Paris markets were somewhat disappointing. The local tours included visits to 3 different chateaus with an evening concert at one and a private reception at another. The highlight tour was the Versailles Palace with a tour of the private royal apartments as well as the rooms open to the general public. We were also able to enter the Palace through a group tour door that bypassed the long entrance line. The ship was decorated for the holidays, the cabins were comfortable and the bathroom fairly spacious. The ship's crew was very friendly and helpful and all living areas could be reached by elevator, which was especially helpful since one member of our party had a broken foot. The injury did create some issues with tours that involved cobbles and long walks since this cruise, unlike others we have made, did not have tours to accommodate "gentle walkers". Using a wheel chair to improve mobility was not an option. The local tour guides were knowledgeable and most were fluent in English. Most days there was free time to pursue your own interests, especially in Paris, and the ship offered optional tours at additional cost including a Rolls Royce night time tour of Paris (if you were so inclined). For us, the tour highlights, in addition to Versailles, were the Rouen Christmas Market, the tour of Notre Dame de Paris, the Paris Opera House, and a night tour of Paris holiday lights in the major shopping areas concluding with the Eifel Tower light show. We also considered it a plus that the cruise was "all inclusive" so we didn't have to keep money on hand to tip the tour guides, bus drivers or ship's crew. In addition to the wine and beer served at lunch and dinner, mixed drinks were also covered making the trip more enjoyable. Most evenings there was entertainment in the lounge and before dinner the cruise director gave an overview of the next days tours. The food on board was somewhat a mixed bag. Breakfast had similar offerings each day that included eggs, meat, potatoes, cereal and a variety of breads. The food offered at dinner was generally unique and even included frogs legs and escargot on one occasion. The non-meat or fish dinner option was usually pasta which got a little monotonous. If I had to criticize anything it would be some of the lunches. It became obvious that a part of the lunch offering was recycled from the previous evening dinner. While I understand the economy of this it did get a little predictable. Read Less

This was our first Uniworld Riverboat Cruise and boy were we surprised at the experience. Totally different than a larger cruise. The boat was absolutely beautiful and the staff provided nothing short of five stars service! We never heard the engines on this electric boat and our cabin was decorated nicely. The menu items and food was great. Loved the selection of wines and top shelve liqueur. In fact the food was so good and the wine so delicious I had a gout attack when I got back to the states. Just to easy to over indulge on a Uniworld trip, so be prepared to pace yourself. We used the laundry service twice and our cloths came back fresh and clean. The spa service on this ship is so popular that we could never book an appointment but I heard they were wonderful. We enjoyed all the excursions. We really enjoyed Normandy and all the monuments. Omaha Beach was a site to behold. The yellow canola fields were beautiful along the ride to Normandy. Standing at Point du Hoc and looking at the vertical cliffs made me better appreciate the difficulty and challenge our troops had climbing them. We enjoyed finally seeing the Sainte-Mere_Eglise church where John Steele parachute got entangled. The military museum there was full of WWII artifacts including a glider. We opted for the early morning Mount Saint Michel island excursion and was not disappointed at the beauty of the architecture and all the panoramic views. Honfleur was another surprise where my wife went nuts shopping.The spring is a wonderful time to visit Monet's garden, and the colorful flowers will make you pull out a paint brush or use up a 32 gig memory card fast. What we enjoyed most was our fellow passengers. Many had been on several Uniworld cruises and were ready to take more. Lots of professional and business owners were in the mix. We really enjoyed the onboard entertainment. Impossible to go to Paris and not have a good time. We stayed an extra day to take in the museums and take in some of the optional tours. We highly recommend this Uniworld cruise to anyone who enjoys great food & wine, good conversation and lots of history. Read Less

Cruising on Uniworld Joi de Vivre was a pleasure almost beyond description. This small boat had an outstanding staff in every way. Open seating for the meals made dining a pleasure rather than the usual hassle of "cruise food". All inclusive really meant all inclusive. I had a 60.00 Euro bill when I checked out because of laundry and one extra excursion. (A great wine tasting). Our staff called us all by name after the first evening's dinner. The excursions were extremely well planned and all went off without a hitch. The highlight of the trip was the Beaches of Normandy. Our French guide provided an excellent narrative of the days events. Highly recommend this as a trip for everyone. Be prepared for a full schedule on the excursion days. Lots of walking, particularly Richard The Lion Hearts castle. That might not be for everyone. Versailles was also a great excursion but had a lot of steps, so also might not be great for people with mobility issues. Read Less

From the moment i stepped aboard the beautiful ship, i felt completely at home. The personnel at uniworld are simply magnificent and helpful. They eased my mind about going solo for the first time to europe and were completely correct. I requested a special bread at dinner thinking it wouldn't be noticed or fulfilled, never even mentioned it to the restaurant manager and lo and behold, he brought it to my table without even being asked, even calling me by name! How in the world did he know, i never gave him or the staff my name. That is one example of the superior royal treatment the passengers receive every day. The front desk was warm and helpful and allowed me to borrow a phone to call my husband to let me know id arrived safely on the ship(my verizon phone didn't work in paris). That was just another example. The fitness director, elena, found out i was up for a walking hike to the eiffel tower and personally escorted me, giving me tips all along the way. We not only saw the beautiful tower but also took a river cruise tour afterwards (her treat and idea) It was a fabulous start to the trip of a lifetime even before i got to my room. Once in the cabin i almost fainted at the beautiful savoy bed (made in england), the picture window, the heated marble floors in the bathroom and best of all, the gorgeous bouquet my uniworld advisor sent me welcoming me to the ship, it was simply stunning and a complete surprise, her name is eileen too. Laila at uniworld also eased my butterflies about traveling to europe and was so encouraging and helpful, she also made me feel completely comfortable about going solo. i cannot say enough great things about the Uniworld group, the ships, the staff and the royal treatment they provide, all with a big smile, each and every day, Thanks so much for giving me the dream trip of a lifetime. I"ll book another as soon as i get the money together for another. Read Less

This was my husband's and my second Uniworld Cruise (we cruised the "Castles along the Rhine" itinerary several years ago), but the first with our children (ages 12 and 16). Our first river cruise experience was amazing--attentive staff, excellent dining, sumptuous decor, comprehensive guided tours--so we enthusiastically rebooked with Uniworld. This itinerary of "Paris and Normandy" on the new Joie de Vivre was a Generations cruise. My review will focus on our experience on this family cruise; since I found very few reviews that focused on Generations when I was researching, I want to provide insights that may be helpful for other families. As Uniworld caters to mature guests (with fine dining and minimal on-board entertainment), we weren't sure what to expect with the Generations itinerary. However, we were pleasantly surprised to see many families on-board (including middle-aged parents, children, and grandparents). There were approximately 30 children on ship, and throughout the week, our children--especially our 12-year-old--had many opportunities to interact and make friends. There were two youth counselors assigned to our ship, and they supervised kid-friendly activities and tours. On-board activities included a movie night (with popcorn and snacks) and a crepe-making session with the ship's pastry chef. Often there were kid-friendly tours (parents were welcome), where the tour guide focused on information that would appeal to a younger crowd. Children/families could join these designated tours at will. There were also bonus kid-only activities after the regularly scheduled tours, such as visit to a clock tower and a round of miniature golf. (No additional charges for these activities.) Sometimes, my husband and I had both children tour with us, such as when we toured the Normandy WWII sites (as there was no kid-designated tour that day); other times, they stayed with the children's group. For instance, at Versailles our youngest son joined the children's tour that visited just a few highlights inside and focused more on the gardens (the adult tour covered the small and large apartments, not the gardens). These added kid-friendly touches truly appealed to our 12-year-old, but our 16-year-old usually felt he was a bit too old (as seemed the consensus of other teens over 14). My recommendation to Uniworld would be to provide more of a teen component to the Generations itinerary. Although I would agree that older teens can comfortably join their parents on the "adult" tours, I do think additional on-board entertainment that appeals to teens would be welcomed. For instance, one night a guest singer performed dance hits (from "YMCA" to "Uptown Funk"), which brought most of the teens to the dance floor. But this was really the only teen-friendly nightly entertainment. I wonder if karaoke would be a hit? (Sometimes it's hard to predict with teens.) On our cruise, the children's activities were not listed on the daily itinerary sheet or discussed at the port talk before dinner each night. We had to directly ask the youth counselors what would be happening that day. Usually, it was easy to find the counselors to ask. But a few times we noticed that parents less "in the know" didn't realize there was a children’s activity until it was too late. Fortunately for us, we found that our 12-year-old usually knew what was going on and was ready to join his friends at the designated time and place. Since staterooms are designed for two guests, many children/teens had separate rooms from their parents. There were only a few adjoining rooms--and we did not have one. Actually, our children's room was directly below ours. However, we did not feel it was a problem to be separated since the ship was very intimate and secure, and our children could call our room and then be at our door in under one minute. One stateroom on the 3rd floor was reserved as the "kid's room." It was filled with treats/snacks and video games. Several of the children (generally ages 9-13) hung out together during on-board free time. This room became a "meeting spot," which was great because it kept children out of one another's cabins. The room was locked at 10 pm, so there weren't any issues with late-night noise or ruckus. The only slightly awkward part was that the bed (with white duvet cover) hadn't been removed from the room (I'm guessing because of logistics)--a couch or chairs would have been more appropriate in the space. However, kids just sat together on the bed and seemed fine with the arrangement. Other on-board gathering spots: The Joie de Vivre has a small indoor swimming pool, where our children spent just a little time. The pool was too small to do more than cool off. They also spent time on the top deck sitting on the lounge chairs. Sometimes, we went up top to watch the locks and/or to see the scenery. After dinner, we often gathered in the lounge and played card games (we brought several card games with us). As they got to know other families, our children invited them to play with us. By the end of the week, there were spirited games among the teens. I suppose the disadvantage of limited on-board entertainment allows families to create their own fun. Uniworld's gourmet dining is top-notch. Children had the flexibility to eat from this adult menu and/or from a dedicated kid's menu, which offered standards like pizza, but also more sophisticated things like chicken Caesar salad. Often, our children would order from both menus (such as a soup from the kid's menu but the entree from the adult menu). They tended to be adventurous (trying frog legs and escargot) because they knew they could always order something more familiar. Since drinks are included in the all-inclusive pricing, our children took advantage of the opportunity to order Shirley Temple's or smoothies with their meals. The wait staff was always extremely accommodating and quickly learned their preferences. We usually ate together as a family for dinner, but during lunch (which is a buffet) our children often sat with other kids/teens. From what we could tell, all the children/teens behaved; for instance, we never witnessed kids running down the hall at night or using their fingers at the salad bar. I suppose when parents invest in a luxury river cruise, they bring children mature enough to appreciate the experience. (This was our mindset when we decided to book our family.) However, despite children behaving as ladies and gentleman, I do think some older solo couples on our cruise may have been a bit on edge when they saw so many children on-board. However, I think we families proved to them that there was nothing to worry about--and hopefully they enjoyed a more vibrant cruising experience. Highlights: We will forever remember riding bikes along a paved path to Giverny, which was dotted with ivy-covered stone cottages and inns. It was adventurous and scenic--and the early July weather was perfect. Our children were as impressed as we were with Monet's gardens. I have taken (not drug!) them to art museums all their lives. They can identify Monet's paintings of water lilies--and now they have experienced the lush landscape first-hand. The D-day beaches were especially moving, and our children recognized the significance of these hallowed sites. It did help that I required them to do research and presentations BEFORE our trip (on WWII, Monet, Joan of Arc, etc.), so that they would have a context for our tours. I do wish that the Rouen tour had focused more on Joan of Arc. Maybe an on-board lecture or a children’s scavenger hunt that would bring her story alive? I also felt that our tour of the Latin Quarter/Notre Dame in Paris was a bit dull. The children's "rooftop vistas” tour, which our youngest son attended, sounded much more interesting. I'd love to see Uniworld incorporate some uniquely Parisian options--like a cooking glass or an art lesson at Montmartre. But, really, this cruise exceeded our expectations in so many ways, these suggestions would just bring us one step closer to perfect. Would we go on another Uniworld Generation's cruise? Absolutely. If money were no object, I'd love to travel more-generationally, i.e., with my parents and siblings and their children. The Uniworld experience is just too great not to share it with loved ones. Read Less

Our cruise on Joie de Vivre originating in Paris was truly superb!! From the omlet chef at breakfast to the head matre de in the dining room truly a white glove service experience. We were celebrating my sister's 60th b'day and had a wonderful time. The itinerary may seem somewhat boring, but we had an excursion guide, Barbara ,that made for a memorable and interesting time in both the gardens of Monet and the beaches of Normandy. The other stops on the itinaray are Ruen, Place of Versailais and Honfleur all make for interesting excursions. The service on board the ship is 1st class. Anna the bartender had special drinks ready for us after a long day of site seeing . Sevin the head matre de had a special b'day cake ready for our b'day celebration. The omlet chef at breakfast had my special omlet delivered to my table everyday. The bartender in the rear of the ship had my special Normandy brandy ready for me every night for my night cap. We ate at the Bistro on board ship one night and a couple of lunches. Food on board the ship in both the dining room and Bistro is excellent. I would definitely recommend Uniworld and Joie de Vivre ( a brand new ship) for seeing Paris and its stops along the Seine. Read Less

The Joie de Vivre lives up to its name. From the luxurious bedding to the push-button draperies and windows and the marble bathroom, the cabin exemplifies the joy of living well. The whole is beautifully decorated with the comfort of the passengers always considered. There were a couple of small glitches, the bathroom floor warmer did not work and the entry waterfall gave out after the first day; but there was less than might be anticipated with such a new ship. The crew could not have been more attentive and pleasant. At first we were a little disappointed because, as retired language teachers, we were looking forward to using our French on board, and the hotel crew was mostly from eastern Europe; however, they were so delightful and efficient that our disappointment quickly faded. Moreover, the cruise manager, chef, and marine staff were all French and were happy to communicate with us en francais. The daily excursions also gave us ample opportunity to immerse ourselves in the culture. As frequent travelers to France, we were familiar with most of the excursion sites. Still we enjoyed and learned a great deal from the excellent local guides, some of whom followed the ship and met us on successive days. Even the long, almost three hour, bus ride to the beaches at Normandy was made less onerous by the introduction and history given by the guide on the bus. Every day brought another positive experience; the beauty of Giverny, the Cathedral of Rouen, the picturesque harbor of Honfleur, the tapestry at Bayeux, the Chateau of Malmaison, and more. As Uniworld offers less strenuous and more active options, we were always able to find a suitable choice. As for the dining, the food was excellent. What we particularly appreciated was the possibility of lighter fare in the small bistro behind the bar and famlly-style shared tasting menu at another dining area in the spa area. We were so tired most days that we hardly saw the entertainment, but we absolutely loved the keyboardist and chanteuse the last night docked in Paris. She and I even sang a duet to "La Vie en Rose." More could have been done to make the tour groups more equally divided. I should have mentioned that this cruise was offered to us after Uniworld cancelled a 10-day Impression Cruise on the Seine which we had booked and for which, we had already bought our airline tickets. For this shorter 8-day cruise, they gave us our first night in their pre-tour hotel and transfers from the hotel to the ship and from the ship to our hotel at the end. We might not have accepted their offer if we had not already gone on their Venice cruise and loved it. We celebrate our decision to travel once more with Uniworld because we had such a great time Read Less

Normandy has been on list for quite some time and we decided to take advantage of a Uniworld offer on their newest ship and visited Normandy in mid April. We began our trip in Lyon and then spent a few nights in Paris before taking a taxi to the ship from our hotel in the 9th. All in all, we had a very pleasant experience, with a few missteps. Itinerary highlights: - Giverney was just lovely! The town was very small with a few galleries and an inn or two. Monet's gardens were in bloom and beautiful! - The day at the Landing Beaches was very moving and this is an area we will return for a stay as we did not see enough or have adequate time to experience what this part of France has to offer. It was a very long day with lots of bus time and not much time in any of our stops. It would have been nice to have museum entrance fees included as well as a box lunch provided to save time. We stopped at a small town for about 90 minutes to grab a bite and we would have much preferred a quick bite and more time to spend at the landing beaches. - Rouen was a nice, medium sized city and we spent a few hours in the morning exploring and then went back in to do some shopping. - On our last full day in Paris we took the advice of our Cruise Manager, Thierry, and went to Chartres for the day. It was a fast train ride and the cathedral alone was well worth the trip! - My husband took advantage of the golf program offered to play at Étretat and said the experience was spectacular! Our overall impressions of the SS Joie de Vivre: - Ship itself is lovely and very French.  Loved the red and white awnings, which are charming and make her easier to spot.  Convenient docking location in central Paris. - Main lounge is bright and spacious and feels larger than many we have experienced on larger ships.  Seating was very comfortable. - There are too few public restrooms aboard the ship. - The use of fabric on the ceilings in the MDR made a big difference in the quality of acoustics as compared to other ships. - Staff and crew were delightful and it was great to see Martin, our concierge from our cruise on the SS Catherine, aboard.  Uniworld has a top notch team on this ship. - The ship was very quiet, and onboard technology advanced, though the internet has the same issues as we encountered on the Catherine. This can be very easily fixed and should be as the internet quality was a real issue for me. Uniworld must use a blocking scheme to control what can be sent and that was a hassle for me. - Soundproofing on this vessel was superb. We never even heard a blow dyer or a toilet flush from an adjacent stateroom. - Rooms were very nicely appointed and comfortable.  Great beds, linens and towels. Blue night light along the floor in bathrooms was a nice enhancement. - Included wines and spirits were very good. - We were very happy to see that Uniworld stepped up the entertainment for one great evening. The dance band, Shine, was amazing and everyone loved them! The other nights were the usual duet in the main lounge most nights. One night there was a vocalist but we did not stay long. - Sommelier was very good and always remembered our preferences. - The Bistro was a charming and enjoyable venue.  This would be a nice venue to have a light continental breakfast available there for those who prefer it. - Cruise manager, Thierry, was great!  He was very visible, approachable and thorough. To a person, the staff and crew were top notch and very well managed. Hotel Manager was also excellent. - We were not fans of the new design of Claude’s. The indoor pool made the room humid and the smell of chlorine was always present. Plastic seat covers also took away from what could otherwise be a very chic, intimate and popular venue. I actually never saw anyone there other than people in robes waiting for a massage. On the Catherine, the Leopard Lounge was our favorite spot. Claude's is under utilized on this ship. - Breakfast and lunch were good, with ample choices.  Dinners were underwhelming, with just a few exceptions. Dishes were not served hot and had to be sent back several times over the course of the cruise. Soups were bland. Meat dishes were disappointing. Desserts were also not a strong suit. Breads, on the other hand, were baked on board and there was a great variety to choose from, all of excellent quality. Food in the Bistro was good and the area pleasant and service very good. All in all, SS Joie de Vivre is an elegant lady and we enjoyed our time aboard. Read Less

This was our second Uniworld river cruise. The Joie de Vivre is as beautiful as the pictures! Of interest to many are the beautiful fabrics used throughout the boat. Would love to go again after the new furniture is broken in. Thinking squishy, soft seating where one could curl up with a book. A favorite activity when we were on the SS Antoinette. Highlights were the Normandy and the Monet's garden excursions. The different walking abilities, gentle walkers to very active, including bicycles, are addressed in each outing. Guides and headsets are top notch. Onboard, service is as close to perfection as humanly possible. It was fun to run in to at least eight of the staff from our previous cruise who recognized us! We very much enjoyed our intimate dinner and cooking lesson in the Cave de Vin. Our special place was the small deck just past the pool/Claude's on the fan tail...don't tell anyone! Read Less