Uniworld Ganges Voyager II review: Visit India in style
India has always been on my bucket list and not only did I get to visit, but I visited in style!
Uniworld Ganges Voyager II is a beautiful ship that sets itself perfectly with its surroundings on the Ganges. The décor both inside and outside is carefully designed to match the destination, from dark wooden floors to the hand-painted designs in your stateroom.
From the start of the trip, Uniworld took care of everything. The only thing I had to worry about was what I was going to wear on the day, and the weather saw to that though: shorts and t-shirt. It was absolutely boiling!
The ship itself feels very grand, yet homely at the same time. Open staircases make it feel spacious as you are walking around and taking in the amazing scenery.
Each suite is complete with all amenities, including smart TVs and a complementary minibar. A good tip is that all the plugs in the room are UK adapted, so there is no need to use your travel adapter.
On the top deck of the ship you can choose to relax and watch the world go by. There’s plenty of open space and seating, from sun loungers to sofas outside you are never going to miss any of the action.
Uniworld set themselves apart from anyone else with the service both on board and while on the excursions. The tour guides are with you during your whole trip even on the ship. There is so much to see when you are cruising down the Ganges that the tour coordinators are on hand to talk about what you are seeing as you're sailing by.
Believe it or not, one of the days we saw dolphins in the Ganges! Yes it's true! The team were quick to spot them and slow the ship to ensure everyone got the chance to take pictures and witness the South Asian river dolphin in its natural habitat.
My personal favourite excursion was in Kolkata.
In the morning we got taken to the local flower market, but these are not like any market you will find here in the UK. After the market, we were taken to a local school for underprivileged children living in Kolkata.
To say this was a humbling experience would be an understatement. The school was founded by UK doctor Jack Preger MBE and opened in January 2019. As you enter you are greeted by paintings and murals on the walls that the children have helped paint themselves. They are so excited to meet new people that you can't help but feel the joy on their faces and have an overwhelming amount of emotion.
Uniworld contributes to the Calcutta Rescue Fund, making this a truly unique experience that the Uniworld client gets to experience.
If that wasn’t enough, our final stop was to visit the home of Mother Theresa and her final resting place. You visit her grave and the room she called home, and it’s still kept the same way she left it until the day she passed away.
After a truly memorable day we were taken back to our luxurious ship. We were greeted as we arrived with a very welcome cold towel and refreshment. We popped our sandals on so that our shoes could be cleaned before being sent back up to our rooms—a nice touch from Uniworld after exploring all day. No task is too big or small for the crew and someone is always on hand to help. They even let me have a go of the Captain's hat and walkie-talkie for a photo on the Bridge.
Actually, it’s the best service I’ve ever had on a cruise ship.
Another example is after arriving on the ship, and after quite a long land tour, I needed my clothes pressed because they were all scrunched up in my suitcase! Our cabin steward was very quick to recognise this and offered for everything to be ironed. It was done within an hour, to a very high standard, and you never even saw them do it.
All these little touches make Uniworld the best when it comes to India and the Golden Triangle.
The unique excursions and the first-hand knowledge of the local tour guide truly make Uniworld perfect for India!
If you would like to learn more about a Ganges river cruise with Uniworld, call the number in the top right corner of this page!
