I went on the first Panache Cruises Founders Cruise (and I loved it!)

Everything about my week onboard Uniworld’s exquisite ship, S.S La Venezia, in the marvelling city of Venice was more than I could have ever imagined and expected. The inaugural Founders cruise was absolutely brilliant!

I travelled to Venice with my parents, some of our closest friends, Panache Cruises ambassadors Helen and Rich (@VisitWithUs) and 60 Panache Cruises customers for the inaugural Founder’s cruise on 9th July. Everyone was excited to embark on the trip of a lifetime on Uniworld’s beautiful ship around the Venetian lagoons.

We were in for a hot week

With the Italian heatwave in full swing, we were in for a very hot week of getting lost down tiny Venetian backstreets, visiting the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark's Basilica, along with sipping true Italian coffee by the grand canal under The Rialto Bridge and sampling the finest cannoli. The opportunity to experience and immerse ourselves in the culture made us fall in love with the romantic city more each day.

For those rising early for yoga on the top deck with the ship's health and wellbeing advisor, pastries and fruit were available in Hari’s Bar. However, this was not only available in the mornings for both the early and late risers, but throughout the day for hungry passengers when coming back to the ship after very hot and immersive excursions. This was coupled with the iced tea and various other cold beverages offered to us as we stepped back onto the ship after exploring the city ourselves, either on foot or using Uniworld’s bikes, or after excursions with our guides.

Of course this was coupled with a huge welcome and smile from the incredible team who were always so happy to see us, and the feeling was definitely reciprocated.

The service was fabulous

This brings me to the service on board S.S La Venezia. The service on board the ship was truly second-to-none and like nothing I have ever experienced anywhere in the world. This followed through to the excursions when exploring Venice and its beautiful islands, thus adding to the magic of Venice and truly bringing this historic city to life.

From our wonderful cruise manager, Gyongyi, to the incredible bar and restaurant staff, I would have to say they truly made our trip what it was. Everything we could have wanted and needed was provided. The little details, such as being welcomed to breakfast by Oana knowing mine and Olivia’s name on the first morning, made our experience one that we wouldn’t get anywhere else.

Under the glow of a beautiful sunset

A dining highlight on the ship would have to be having dinner at Cielo’s pizzeria on the top deck. The restaurant is located on the top deck of the ship and can be suitable for both indoor and outdoor eating with a retractable roof and sides. We enjoyed a selection of freshly cooked authentic Italian pizzas with a variety of toppings… there was certainly something for everybody. On the evening we chose, we were docked in Chioggia with views of a vineyard from the top deck. We were lucky enough to enjoy the most incredible sunset. 

The captain came and opened up the doors and the roof to the restaurant, and we ate our pizza and enjoyed local Italian wines under the warm glow of an orange and pink sunset. The evening was then followed by eating our dessert just further up on the top deck with Helen and Rich. We took many Instagram-worthy pictures of the sunset with our new friends. A wholesome evening was enjoyed by us all and isn’t one we will forget in a hurry.

Due to being a smaller ship, holding just 126 with 44 staff members, breakfast, lunch and dinner were all eaten in the opulent main dining room. With breakfast and lunch being buffet-style, with options for everybody, dinner was a four course a la carte menu. The menu changed every evening using fresh ingredients from the local markets that day. The food was beautiful and like us at Panache Cruises, nothing was too much trouble!

A Riverview stateroom

My friend Olivia and I were in a Riverview stateroom, which was a perfect size for the two of us and presented us with some incredible river level views, particularly as we sailed past St. Mark's Basilica, where we were yet to return for a once in a lifetime opportunity. The detail in the room was taken care of to the highest level, as it was throughout the ship.

Our rooms were equipped with everything we could need and want for our week on board. With bathrobes and Uniworld slippers available for our use, along with the Murano glass mirror and perhaps the comfiest bed I have ever slept in, everything had been carefully thought about for our comfort and enjoyment. I was very grateful after exploring during the day.

Once-in-a-lifetime excursions

From a private Italian wine tasting at the beautiful Dominio Di Bagnoli, to a guided bike tour around Chioggia, to simply sitting on top deck sunbathing whilst sailing past St. Mark's Basilica with new friends and an Aperol in hand, we were treated to opportunities that the average tourist in Venice could only dream of.

Our private evening tour to St. Mark’s was certainly a highlight of the trip. After dinner we took a stroll towards the incredibly iconic St. Mark’s Basilica and Piazza San Marco. As Uniworld passengers we were then taken into the basilica after hours, with no other tourists, and we embarked on a private tour. This included being taken down into the crypt and taken around by our expert guides as they explained the true history of the city, with no stone left unturned. This truly was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we all felt very grateful that we had this experience, something that very few tourists in Venice will ever get to do. It gave us further understanding of the beautiful city which we were visiting. Uniworld did not disappoint with our exclusive excursion!

Of course, no trip to Venice would be complete without a trip on the iconic gondolas, with your own personal gondolier navigating the grand canal and beyond. However the gondola trip was more than sitting and relaxing, it presented us with a fantastic opportunity to be immersed in the tiny streets that the canals wind through. We were picked up by our gondolier just before the Rialto Bridge, which I have to say is incredible to both walk over and view the hustle and bustle of the Grand Canal and of course be taken underneath on the gondola. Although it is costly at around £80 for five people for 25 minutes around the Grand Canal, I would definitely recommend it.

It was a bucket list moment ticked off for me, and I’m sure it will not disappoint you!

Highlights of my experience

It would be nearly impossible for me to choose my favourite moment of our week cruising the Venetian lagoon; however I have two experiences that were the highlight of my holiday.

To have the opportunity to dock in the beautiful town of Burano due to being a small ship and explore like locals once the other tourists had travelled back to the main city for the evening was incredible. The multicoloured houses with the tiny bridges and back streets, and of course the incredibly friendly Italian people, made this town feel like a fairytale. Uniworld were given the go ahead to be able to dock in Burano overnight just last year, and are one of very few ships to do so. This is just another instance of Uniworld’s service that goes above and beyond to give the customers the best possible experiences on their trip. 

And finally, on our final night we once again docked in the Port of Venice. We enjoyed our final meal together, with drinks in Hari’s Bar for the Captain’s farewell dinner, before heading up to the top deck to enjoy our last evening on the Grand Canal. We watched the world go by below, sharing our memories with our new friends of our past week in this exceptional city. This was followed by an incredible 45 minute firework display as it was the Feast of the Redeemer.

As we all gathered at the front of the ship, it was the perfect end to a perfect week, and truly brought together the magic of this marvellous city. 

My trip to Venice on my very first river cruise was incredibly special, as I am sure you can see! Uniworld’s attention to detail was impeccable and it is easy to see why they hold the reputation they do. I could not fault my trip at all and it really was the trip of a lifetime. I would certainly encourage you to take a look at VisitWithUs’s Instagram page for some incredible content from our week in Venice and to see more of what we go up to on the Venetian lagoons. The friendships and memories made on the inaugural Founders cruise are truly ones that will last a lifetime!

I would say if you are thinking of travelling to Venice, this is the way to do it. I would certainly do this itinerary again with Uniworld as it truly was one of the best holidays I have ever been on!

Call the team on 0161 513 8200 to find out more about exclusive Founders Cruises.