UNIWORLD’S NEW S.S. BON VOYAGE

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has announced plans to unveil their newest Super Ship next spring - the S.S. Bon Voyage. The River Royale will come out of service in late October and undergo an extensive transformation to become S.S. Bon Voyage, resuming service on the Dordogne and Garonne rivers as Uniworld’s sixth Super Ship on 14 April 2019. 

Two new onboard dining venues will be introduced: the space formally known as the Blue Fox Café will be converted into a casual dining venue that opens up onto a new pool serving lighter fare with a local spin. In the evening, this space will become an alternative bar location and will also be used for immersive culinary experiences, including intimate French cooking classes with the chef.  A bistro inspired by Bouillon Pigalle in Paris will be added at the bow of the ship, offering guests shared plates at dinner, reflective of the local cuisine onshore - from beef bourguignon to rich pâtés and escargot. 

“Food and beverage is a consistently high priority,” says Ellen Bettridge, President and CEO of Uniworld. “Our guests want to know where their food is sourced, about the local producers and to understand how a dish is prepared; with this river we have one of the best inspirations in the world.” 

Other enhancements include a new buffet in the ship’s main dining room with chef demonstration area, plus a redesigned Claret’s - the ship’s stunning private dining and wine tasting room adjacent to the main restaurant. Weaved throughout the itinerary, guests will also enjoy new dining excursions offshore, where they can eat out at local restaurants and take in the beautiful surroundings of the Bordeaux region.  

One of Uniworld’s most intimate ships, S.S. Bon Voyage have four new luxury suites added, and will increase its already high staff-to-guest ratio when the capacity is reduced from 128 passengers to 124 and adds more staff. Other improvements include an upgrade to all bathrooms from tile to marble; reconfiguration of the gym and spa facilities; a reimagined top deck with a new outdoor swimming pool, plus relaxed outdoor lounge and banquette seating with lighting designed to enhance the space in the evening. 

Uniworld is often claimed to be the world’s most luxurious all-inclusive river cruise line and it’s easy to see why as their ships interiors defy convention and boast opulent exuberance with signature decor that’s daring and colourful. Their fleet of 13 boutique vessels sail through some of Europe’s most spectacular cities and towns along the Rhine, Danube, Douro, Rhône, Seine, Gironde, Garonne and Dordogne rivers; as well as exploring the waterways of Russia, Egypt, India and Asia. S.S. Bon Voyage will sail Uniworld’s eight-day ‘Brilliant Bordeaux’, 15-day ‘A portrait of Majestic France’ as well as 22-day ‘Ultimate France’ itineraries. If you want to experience Europe’s rivers from a different tangent, speak to our experienced team on 0800 484 0370.