S S. Bon Voyage Reviews, Deckplans & Cruise Schedule Uniworld

Table Of Content

• Cruise News Recap: Carnival Tampering, Dining Changes, Evacuation
• Featured S.S. Bon Voyage Cruises
• Bordeaux Deck
• Expert guidance. No booking fees.
• SS Bon Voyage staterooms review, floor plans, photos

It offers one of the most refined river travel experiences in France, and especially among those leaving from homeport Bordeaux. This vessel also has one of the highest ratio staff-to-passenger on the European inland shipping market. Blue Fox Cafe (added during River Royale's refurbishment in 2014) is a multipurpose lounge, designed as a conservatory. It is glass-enclosed (with retractable roof and glass walls), with live plants for decoration and 14 tables (capacity seats) Depending on the weather, the whole structure can be opened or closed.

Cruise News Recap: Carnival Tampering, Dining Changes, Evacuation

The rooftop lounge in the forward ship was dotted with shaded loungers and multiple hot tubs with a private bar, panoramic views, and nightly happy hour. We spent every afternoon lounging on the rooftop between excursions and watched the sunset during happy hour with an intimate group of cruisers we befriended. On our sea day, when the pool was most packed, the lounge remained an empty reprieve, and we certainly felt like RockStars with our whims catered to at every turn. The swimming pool is infinity-edge type, heated plunge pool at the rear of the cruise ship - the first of its kind on a riverboat.

Inside Uniworld's opulent suites: The best cruise suites - Good Housekeeping uk

Inside Uniworld's opulent suites: The best cruise suites.

Posted: Thu, 04 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Featured S.S. Bon Voyage Cruises

They never tire of going above and beyond to create extraordinary experiences both on board and on shore. We'll keep you up-to-date with our latest news, travel inspiration and special promotions. 2025 | Combine two of Europe’s most spectacular viticultural regions in one trip on this ultimate itinerary for wine lovers.

Bordeaux Deck

The cabins, although smaller than other river ships, offer marble bathrooms and beautiful decor. All-inclusive cruises include daily activities, food and drinks, gratuities, and airport transfers. Passengers can enjoy activities such as trekking, biking, wine tasting, and chateau visits. The ship also has a focus on wellness and active lifestyle, making it ideal for those looking for an elevated standard of service.

Calming our minds and taking in the panoramic views of the Gironde Estruary was the perfect way to start the day. Reborn from the former River Royale, the ship underwent a $14 million transformation to reveal new accommodation, dining venues, pool facilities and decor and a new name – S.S. Of all SS Bon Voyage staterooms (total 62), 4x are Suites, 22x French Balcony, 30x Deluxe (with Picture Window) and 6x Classic (with Porthole Windows). River Royale had a total of 65 cabins in 9 grades (including 1x Suite).

SS Bon Voyage cabins and suites

Alison Earnshaw, Managing Director of RiverVoyages.com, recently stepped aboard to explore the renewed ship and visit Bordeaux in true Uniworld style. With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation. From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help.

Royal Caribbean menus 2024: Main dining room, specialty restaurants & more - Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean menus 2024: Main dining room, specialty restaurants & more.

Posted: Tue, 09 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Expert guidance. No booking fees.

Uniworld offers luxurious sailings across Europe, South East Asia and Egypt. Discover the rich history of cities and towns that lie on the banks of the Yangtze, the Nile and the Rhine. Start planning your amazing luxury river cruise with Uniworld today. Uniworld Royale boat is one of the most expensive river ships ever built.

What Is It Like on a Virgin Voyage?

We had decided to make our vacay a week of self-improvement, promising to partake in the ship’s more than 100 free exercise classes. We also swore we would utilize the open-air track on Deck 17 called The Runway, join the calming morning yoga sessions on The Perch, and visit the ship’s gym, B-Complex. It means that kids are not splashing in the pool and running down the corridors. If you Google Virgin Voyages, you may find earlier articles indicating that adults-only cruises are meant for raunchiness. My friend’s husband read too many comments about “swingers,” “in-cabin toy packages,” and other tales that made him wonder why we chose Virgin. We, and the people we met on board, laughed at those exaggerated stories.

She has cruised with Princess Cruises, Cunard, Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Avalon Waterways and Royal Caribbean and is looking to get something in her diary for 2024! Her favourite things to see on a ship include excellent entertainment, a delicious cocktail menu and extraordinary dining venues. Savor dining aboard Uniworld's boutique river cruises, where chefs use fresh locally-sourced food to prepare spectacular meals. SS Bon Voyage river cruise prices are per person and based on double occupancy.

Journeying through the heart of France, the Seine River unveils a tapestry of history at every bend. Here’s an overview of the cruise ships that sail along the Seine River. See all the fantastic sailings on offer here, and call our Cruise Concierge team to book your cruise today. Experiences on-board and excursions onshore are curated to feature more personal, experiential tours which are not only enriching to be part of, but fond to remember. Visiting Blaye, a commune in France, we headed to an ancient 17th century citadel for a unique yoga session led by a wellbeing coach.

Bon Voyage will debut a completely different look—including a redesigned top deck with an added swimming pool and lounge area, with an adjacent casual dining venue featuring lighter fare with a local spin and chef-led cooking classes. Inside, four new gorgeously-appointed suites will be introduced, as well as marble bathrooms throughout the ship, an enhanced dining room with an added chef demonstration area, and a new bistro inspired by Bouillon Pigalle in Paris. All finished perfectly in the unique and beautiful design aesthetic that Uniworld is known for, and paired with the addition of more crew members for a higher crew-to-guest ratio. The fully remodelled ship has standard cabins sized 14 m2 (150 ft2), while the French Balconies are 13 m2.

Soon after this he shook hands all around and wished them bon voyage in their trip to Lindsleyville. Next morning there were more autograph books and several wireless messages from intimate friends wishing me bon voyage. Each of these will exemplify true artistry, offering the boutique luxury cruise experience to a range of fascinating destinations. There are two standard tours included each day, with a full briefing provided by the Cruise Director each evening beforehand. For those who are active and long for a sense of adventure, there’s even additional choices to include walking or bike tours.

Sharing a room with a friend is always a tricky proposition, but even more so in the tight quarters of a cruise ship. My friend and I shared a 225-square-foot Sea Terrace suite and from the photos, it looked like we’d have some trouble squeezing in clothes for two. But we were pleasantly surprised upon arrival, as the suite was filled with plenty of space to accommodate all of our clothes and toiletries. I’ve sailed a variety of cruise lines throughout the years, beginning with my first voyage as an 18-year-old living in Fort Lauderdale when my mother took me on a nighttime sail. Back in those days (not to date myself), you could get on a ship out of Port Everglades and go into international waters to drink and gamble.

All cabins on deck 1-Beaujolais are with 2x Porthole Windows (non-opening, round-shaped) located at water-level (high-up on the riverside wall). The 2006-built Uniworld SS Bon Voyage cruise ship (formerly River Royale) cruises in France (on Dordogne and Garonne rivers) departing from homeport Bordeaux. UNIWORLD also offers combined B2B (back-to-back) itineraries with departures from Paris France. They additionally include a Seine cruise from Paris City (roundtrip on the UNIWORLD ship River Baroness).

The diversity was evident with and felt by the passengers and crew, and it seemed everyone was simply happy to be together at sea. I miss Valiant Lady and her crew and hope to sail with Virgin Voyages again soon. Honestly, adults-only simply meant “adult time.” To us, that equated to a lot of relaxing, listening to live music, and reading on a lounge chair with a cocktail in hand. I didn’t even notice that children weren’t on board because it just didn’t occur to me that anything should be noticed. Their credo, “No request too large, no detail too small”, comes to life in every interaction they share with their guests.

Bon Voyage (formerly the River Royale), offers enhanced amenities such as an increased number of suites, more dining options, and a higher passenger-to-staff ratio than other ships in its fleet. Exclusively travelling the Bordeaux-Medoc region of France, the ship's French decor immerses passengers in the region from the moment they arrive. The ship's design is courtesy of the company's founder and owner, Bea Tollman, and her daughter, with Murano glass chandeliers, polished brass, marble, and fabric-covered walls at every turn. The top deck features awnings for shade and thickly cushioned lounge chairs for relaxation.

S S. Bon Voyage from Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Table Of Content

• Spa & Fitness
• Grand Suite
• SS Bon Voyage cabins and suites
• Other Uniworld cabins
• SS Bon Voyage - user reviews and comments

Considering the booking window opens 45 days before the sailing date, and that passengers in the know set their alarms to begin booking as soon as the app launches, this first access alone can be worth its weight. Of course, a sea day wouldn’t be a sea day without a visit to the spa, and Valiant Lady offered an easy and inexpensive way to enjoy the spa with its Thermal Suite Pass. For two hours, we could take advantage of Redemption Spa’s steam room, sauna, salt therapy room, mud bath room, hot and cold plunge pools, and heated Turkish marble lounges. La Brasserie (Bordeaux Deck forward) is a French-style restaurant that offers traditional bistro fare and a la carte menu items at dinner. This is the boat's best venue to enjoy a more leisurely dining and a special dinner. All cabins on deck 2-Medoc are same-sized (14 m2) and with a large (wall-to-wall, half-height) non-opening Picture Window.

Spa & Fitness

It features blue and white mosaic tiles imported from South Africa. Cafe seating around the pool includes umbrella-shaded lounge chairs with plump cushions (in white and blue patterns). I can’t believe I am going to say this after years of giving my mother grief for not getting off cruise ships and exploring, but my friend and I loved Valiant Lady so much that we wished we spent more time onboard! Although we didn’t stay in a RockStar suite, which are at least double in size, feature a bottomless in-room bar, and have marble bathrooms with Peek-a-Boo showers (and sometimes a bathtub), we did get RockStar VIP access.

Grand Suite

Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money. Learn about Uniworld's Multi-Generational Programs, sailings designed to accommodate for families with children. Whether it’s a two week cruise, or three week voyage, you’ll be amazed and intrigued by the architectural wonders, culinary delights, and cultural excursions available on a Europe River Cruise. By far, our best Experience was a day sailing to the Pitons in Saint Lucia, where we stopped to snorkel and dropped anchor in a quiet yet colorful bay for local eats and Piton beer.

SS Bon Voyage cabins and suites

The new cruise tour includes wine tasting and walking tour at Saint-Emilion (shore excursion from Libourne, the farmer’s market in Libourne, wine tasting at Chateau de Cazeneuve (in Bordeaux' immediate vicinity), a Medoc vineyards cycling tour. We're here to answer your questions about Uniworld cruises and ships, as well as any of our special offers. We tried a similar excursion in Barbados but were disappointed when the catamaran took us in view of the ship, deposited us on a crowded beach, and then sailed us back after a quick swim, claiming the waves were too rough. We later discovered others who took the same excursion and sailed further afield through the same company. We think our detour was due to being the last excursion of the day.

Other Uniworld cabins

All staterooms were redesigned, completely renovated and upgraded with marble bathrooms. The stunning Soleil Deck, awash in vibrant fabrics, features the only infinity pool on the river and spectacular views of the French countryside. Poolside service at Le Café du Soleil offers casual French cuisine as well as open-air cooking demonstrations from our chefs. The two French Balcony Suites (midship on deck 3-Bordeaux) are with a 2-seater sofa and also with a fixed double bed and larger bathroom (double-sink vanity, separate shower, rain shower, Hermes bath products, no bathtub).

In comparison to River Royale, SS Bon Voyage has a higher staff-passenger ratio (reduced passenger capacity from 128 to 124 and added more staff). Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. One word of caution is that many of the excursions are extremely large and crowded.

A Portrait of Majestic France

Fifteen minutes later he returned with a kettle of his favourite nepenthe and all three adventurers drank to a bon voyage home. Your holiday is ABTA and ATOL protected when you book with ROL Cruise, so you can book with confidence knowing you are fully protected. Whats more, we're here when you need us, 7 days a week for anything you may need. Follow our social media and blog for the latest cruise and travel news, including our best vacation deals. You might feel like Marie Antoinette on Uniworld’s fleet of glamorous ships that take inspiration from the fineries of European monarchs and fine French painters.

Poolside service at Le Café du Soleil offers casual French cuisine as well as open-air cooking demonstrations from our chefs.In addition to the public spaces, the S.S. Bon Voyage features four new spacious suites, and every stateroom has received an exquisite redesign with cool marble bathrooms and unique features. Inspired by the renowned wine and gastronomic expertise of the region, the S.S. Bon Voyage will represent the bountiful destination—from the beautiful design on the ship’s bow to the enhanced culinary opportunities onboard.With her transformation, the S.S.

Cruise Line Offers Free Parking for Passengers at One Homeport

Blue Fox Cafe doubles as an alternative dining venue with waiter service and light lunch menu (pizzas, pasta, burgers, seafood, salads, soups, sandwiches). The only areas that ever felt crowded were the pools at the Aquatic Club and Gym and Tonic, which is pretty typical of any cruise ship, especially on sea days. But besides feeling like we had the ship to ourselves, there was the feeling of inclusion aboard Valiant Lady. The sold-out cruise featuring 1,400 cabins across 16 decks of Valiant Lady could have turned our vacation into a nightmare – trapped on a smaller cruise ship than, say, Oasis of the Seas, at full capacity worried us. But our fears were for naught because even during our one at-sea day, Valiant Lady never felt crowded. RockStars get the first access to book restaurants and experiences and are moved to the front of the line for any shows that do not require reservations.

Before 2019, the ship was operated under the name "River Royale" and had 65 cabins (including 1x Suite). This ship is certainly one which immerses the itinerary into life on-board, with excursions, dining and surrounding views marrying the two perfectly. Learn how Uniworld's impeccable service translates into a truly one-of-a-kind river cruise experience. Virgin Voyages is pretty gung-ho about its scarlet red hammock on the balconies, but having the hammock hanging down made it feel even smaller for both of us to enjoy the space at the same time. It is a petty complaint, considering we were hardly ever in our suite, but the only time we would be in the hammock was when the other was in the shower.

Aft on Upper Deck (Bordeaux) is the circular-shaped Wellness Center, consisting of Fitness Center (modern Gym), Serenity River Spa (massage room for treatments) and Sauna Room. Serenity River Spa (at a fee) has floor-ceiling windows (portside views) and is serviced by a professional masseur/therapist using Ritual spa products. The semicircular Gym Room features floor-ceiling windows and modern equipment.

Sea ya! I'm 80 and I'm selling my NYC apartment to go live on a cruise ship - New York Post

Sea ya! I'm 80 and I'm selling my NYC apartment to go live on a cruise ship.

Posted: Sat, 14 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Guests with special needs, handicaps or disabilities should contact The Cruise Web before considering a river cruise with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises. Uniworld (officially "Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection") is a major river cruise company part of The Travel Corporation group. We didn’t feel like we had to dress to the nines or that meals were completely over the top when dining every evening. The restaurants are very hip, exciting, and social environments. From crispy artichokes with caper aioli and charred lemon aperitivo to the secondo porcini-rubbed New York Strip with Calabrian chili butter, farro and sauteed escarole, we raved about every bite. We weren’t the only ones who loved this spot; every passenger we spoke to said it was their favorite, and we failed to secure a second reservation due to its popularity.

The ship’s food court-styled dining, found on Deck 15, was nothing like a traditional food court. Instead of pizza, burgers, French fries, and chicken fingers, the Galley featured Bento Boxes at Bento Baby, made-to-order salads at Daily Mix, and açai bowls at The Sweet Side. We could even find freshly made juices at Juice Sea on Deck 7 and poke bowls at Sun Club Café on Deck 16. Actually, it was super easy to maintain a healthy lifestyle aboard Valiant Lady. We couldn’t get enough of Rees and his high-energy Spin classes set to Beyonce, Rhianna, and Madonna.

One passenger complained of having 40 people on his sailing excursion, while a kayaking trip in Antigua had more than 60 guests. We wished we had known how many people were booked on each excursion before selecting, as we would have chosen smaller Experiences. Although the menu was experiential, the dishes delivered didn’t wow us, especially when multiple servers lifted individual smoke-filled glass tops to be what seemed like a side dish of fresh peas and egg yolk. It took a decade to discover cruises were so much more than an evening of debauchery, and I’ve since taken my children on cruises, experienced romantic voyages, and gathered the girls for weekend getaways at sea, many in the name of an upcoming wedding. We are a team of global travelers and cruise enthusiasts with several combined decades of experience in providing world-class luxury travel to our clients. Take in Uniworld's onboard spa and fitness options, including the Serenity River Spa, swimming pools, Jacuzzis and saunas.