A cruise connoisseur's time aboard Uniworld's S.S. Victoria

Recently I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to go on board with Uniworld to experience true luxury on their new river cruising ship, SS. Victoria. Though I was only on board for 2 nights whilst the ship repositioned itself on the Rhine, I was able to learn so much about the cruise line and indulge in the Uniworld way.

This was also my first ever river cruise, and it exceeded all my expectations. As soon as I arrived in Frankfurt and made my way to the port, there she was! The crew were waiting at the port ready to welcome me on board and guide me into the incredible lounge area on board, where we had a champagne reception before a ship tour.

One of the common misconceptions about river cruising is that the ships are not large enough and they will feel cramped, well after spending a few days on board I can assure you that this is not the case as the fleet was incredibly spacious.

The heart of the ship was definitely the lounge, it had lots of space for guests on board to unwind and relax. The lounge featured the main bar and a grand piano, it created a wonderful environment to relax in during the evenings and in the day. It was the perfect place to sit and watch the beautiful landscapes along the river as they constantly change in the frame of the floor to ceiling windows.

The lounge was not the only place to get a drink and relax, just next door was the Bistro, located at the centre of the ship, this features a small coffee bar where you can grab a drink and a snack.

If you have better luck than myself when it comes to the weather, you may even be able to enjoy the sun up on the sun deck and grab a drink at the Vista Bar before sitting on one of the sofa’s under the canopies, or even reclining on sun lounger. The sun deck stretches the length of the ship and has lots of seating but even with lots of people up there due to the well organised furnishings, it never felt cramped.

Besides places to get a drink, there are also many other communal spaces on board that are very impressive. For example SS. Victoria features a small pool at the rear of the ship which was perfect for a quick dip. The tranquil pool also has a wave setting if you wish to swim against a current and get some exercise in. Partnered well with this room is the access to the spa facilities, for an additional cost the on board masseuse can offer a range of relaxation therapies and it makes for a great way to spend some time on the ship.

There is also a small gym fitted with basic fitness equipment towards the rear of the ship for those that wish to use it.

Overall, I had the most incredible time on board, and I have definitely got the cruising bug now and I cannot wait to get on board again!