The River Queen: Uniworld Cruises

Long had I coveted taking a river cruise, and this autumn, my dream was realized when we sailed the Legendary Rhine & Moselle (Mosel) with the top-ranked UNIWORLD Boutique River Cruise Collection. The 13-day itinerary was aboard the River Queen, one of UNIWORLD’s fleet of luxurious ships that ply the rivers and waterways of the world. Their fleet covers 22 rivers in 26 countries. 

Our cruise departed from Amsterdam and ended in Basel, Switzerland, so SWISS Air International provided the best connections for us.

UNIWORLD offers transfer services from the airport to the ship, but we arrived a few days early to revisit the city. So instead, on the day of departure, we were picked up promptly at our hotel, the Radisson Blu Hotel Amsterdam, and driven to the dock.

Waiting for us was a long, sleek, white ship detailed with blue accents and a warm and very welcoming staff. We entered into a handsome reception hall and were greeted by our personal butler, Valentin, outfitted in a traditional dove grey morning coat, striped trousers, and gloves.

Valentin ushered us to our suite, but not before we had a chance to take in the lovely delft blue and white interiors and notice that they were well-maintained and beautifully decorated with handsome color-coordinated fabrics and furnishings.

Valentin explained the layout of the ship. There are three levels of accommodations, and we were situated in one of the four suites located at the top level. Our suite was decorated in the delft blue and white featured throughout the ship, with a wonderfully comfortable king-sized bed, fabric walls, and matching headboard. There was plenty of closet space and lots of drawers.

There was an ensuite safe, refrigerator, digital clock radio, and flatscreen TV, although we had no time or interest in watching television when there was so much to see and so many new people to become acquainted with. Our suite was also dressed with a Nespresso machine, supplies of coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, plus bowls of sweet treats and fruits. Every evening, a supply of just-baked cookies and fresh fruits were delivered while we were at dinner.

Our suite had crystal carafes of whiskey, vodka, brandy, and a bottle of wine, but since there was an open bar in the lounge, we didn’t feel the need to imbibe in the privacy of our cabin. After all, cruising is very much a social enterprise.

Conveniently, WiFi was available throughout the ship, and there was a computer station located in an alcove near the reception desk. A gift shop was located behind the reception for on-board shopping or forgotten personal items.

Our bathroom was large and well-appointed with a heated towel rack, English rainmaker showerhead, hair dryer, lighted magnifying mirror, and Hermes amenities. Monogrammed towels were large and fluffy and refreshed every time we left the cabin.

The service was outstanding. From the attention of Valentin to the housekeeping staff (Ioana was our stateroom steward), every need was anticipated and promptly attended to, including same-day laundry service, which was a blessing on a long trip.

The suite had large, clean, full-length windows, offering an unobstructed view of the passing scene. Digital controls opened the windows when the weather was nice and had the very important feature of movable screens to keep out bugs. But with the large lounge featuring an open, manned, liquor bar and a 24/7 supply of treats and soft beverages, we spent little downtime in the cabin.

An automatic hot beverage machine in the lounge made wonderful hot chocolate, and I became addicted to adding two plump marshmallows to my cup before filling it with the delicious brew. One day, after returning from our daily city or castle tour, I headed for the marshmallow bowl and then to the beverage machine. By accident, I hit the cappuccino button, and voila! A new taste treat was born. Give it a try – it’s delicious!

A UNIWORLD cruise is cash-free, 5-star-resort style with an all-inclusive philosophy. Upon booking, you are sent a welcoming introduction package containing needed travel documents and ship layout plus a detailed itinerary and highlights on ports of call. It also includes daily excursions with the level of difficulty for each, tips on weather, what to wear, customs, and other bits of knowledge that will aid in making the journey as carefree and enjoyable as possible.

UNIWORLD  offers a one-stop full-service travel facility and can arrange for air, hotels, transfers, tours, land extensions, etc. Literally everything that you require in addition to the cruise package.

Getting on and off the ship is made easy with an electronic card ensuring that you can come and go as you please when docked and that the ship will not depart without you. Plus, no one can board who is not authorized.

Printed maps and daily schedules were placed on the reception desk to grab before each tour, and wireless communicators were given out on the first excursion to make receiving the guide’s commentary available to everyone.

Waiting to receive us back to the ship was our lovely Hotel Manager, Silvia Anghelescu, usually stationed behind the reception desk but always approachable when a question or special service needed attention. Silvia and the entire crew had worked together for many years, so they operated seamlessly like a family welcoming you into their home. The staff hailed from middle-European countries and spoke fluent English with slightly different accents but with universal smiles.

The size of UNIWORLD ships allow them to dock within walking distance of the myriad towns where we stopped along  the river. In addition to the daily guided walking tours, there was  access to bicycles and Nordic walking sticks for exploring on our own. On the lower deck of the River Queen was an exercise room for those who preferred their bicycles stationary and a spa with Tihomir, a highly trained masseuse and well-being coach.

Afternoon tea with the talented Brendan on the piano singing all of our favorites was offered in the lounge daily and every evening. Prior to dinner and after the cocktail hour, our effusive and highly knowledgeable Cruise Manager, Preston Coe, held sway, outlining the program for the following day.

Some days, in addition to the included tour, there was an alternative special excursion for a fee, and Preston covered all the bases. Tours were always organized in small groups with one group “slow and easy” for those who had difficulty with those pesky cobblestone streets and hills winding up and away from the river.

Breakfast was part buffet, part service, with hot and cold dishes and always an egg station for freshly cooked the way you like them. Each morning, I had to make a decision to go for the thick, creamy oatmeal or the smoked salmon with caper fruit on cream cheese bagels or the eggs Benedict or . . . well, there was so much to choose from, including fresh fruits, pastries, meats, and cheeses.

Every morning, I promised myself if I went heavy on breakfast, I would go light on lunch . . . until I saw what lunch consisted of.

Lunch also was part buffet and part service always with a cooked meat offering, as well as soup, pasta, fish, and other hot dishes. I could not help myself from tasting the local specialties in addition to a big salad from the always fresh ingredients. I did manage not to have dessert for lunch, although it was a hard decision.

Every night, dinner was a leisurely event with multiple gourmet offerings cooked to special order. A number of house wines were paired with the different dishes, and of course, selections from the bar were always available. All the produce was sourced locally, and selections were based on season and availability.

One morning when leaving the ship, we saw crates of mushrooms being loaded, and at lunchtime, just-made mushroom soup was on the menu.

UNIWORLD is family-owned and constantly upgrading its ships, décor, itineraries, and menus, which likely accounts for them often being named the Best Luxury River Cruise Line by the prestigious Cruise International Awards and ranked top river cruise line by Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2016.

So many of the guests we spoke with were multiple repeaters, having sailed all over the world with UNIWORLD, and were still looking forward to future cruises. This is testimony to the attention to detail, the welcoming attitude, and the small intimate size of the ships, making each guest feel like a part of the UNIWORLD family.