Uniworld has a fantastic product! We went on the Bordeaux Chateaux and Vineyards cruise and though we have cruised on Seabourn, HAL, Princess and Regent in the past., this was our first river cruise. The River Royale is a very lovely and comfortable ship. There is a large lounge, a smaller library area, gym, sauna, hot tub and a full seating area on the top deck where one can enjoy the great weather. The crew is absolutely wonderfulc. The cruise director, Sharon, was just a really nice person who was always focused on making sure everyone had a great time, did what they wanted to do and just enjoyed themselves. The hotel manager, Ivana, also did a great l job (as did our room steward Ivan). All of the staff were pleasant, professional and courteous, no request was too big.

The food was outstanding due to its high quality and variety. The meals reflected the local specialties with an emphasis on fresh local products. We visited the local markets so we saw firsthand the local foods. Breakfast and lunch is buffet, with breakfast one could order specials of the day. Lunch was a buffet with a carving station for the special of the day. Did I mention the fabulous deserts and cheeses? Well, they are fantastic.

Every day there was an excursion (these are included in the cost of the cruise, though there are additional excursions one could take for an additional fee). This was the Bordeaux wine cruise, so we went on visits to vineyards including wine tastings, local towns and historic sites. We also visited some local markets and had a surprise visit to a local industry. Read more