is to travel on a Uniworld cruise. We had no idea that it would be so fabulous, so relaxing and so fulfilling. We have traveled in Europe for many years, but we were totally unprepared for the sheer breathtaking beauty of the cruise. The ship is luxurious, the crew friendly and helpful and very professional. The food and dining experiences are five star and the accommodations are equal to any five star hotel - except you wake up to a new view and a new experience every day. Our side trips were well managed with ... excellent guides and took in some of the best that Europe has to offer. A fantastic and memorable experience. We cant wait to go on our next cruise. John Butler Read More...

Sailing on the River Beatrice in July was so enjoyable! We cruised the Danube from Budapest-Passau. Outstanding service and wonderful camaraderie with other passengers. Our first river cruise, but it won't be the last! A perfect way to see towns up close and experience the local atmosphere.

I just returned from the 20th of September "Castles on the Rhine" cruise which was exceptional in every respect. The ship, service, staff and food were fabulous. Markus, our cruise director was both highly competent and accommodating and our waiter, Galin, was world class. Uniword even arranged for great weather throughout! Kudos to First Captain Bakker for a seamless journey and very enjoyable experience.

The September 20th cruise was incomparable. The ship, staff, services, and food were all exceptional. Our cruise director, Markus, was both competent and accommodating while our waiter, Galin, was world class. Uniworld even ordered up fantastic weather. Kudos to Captain Bakker for a seamless journey. He now has a fan club in Tennessee.

My husband and I just returned from Uniworld's Budapest to Amsterdam European Jewels trip on September 15th. We had never been on a river cruise before and did not know what to expect. This trip exceeded our expectations in every category. Uniworld really knows how to wine and dine you. From the very first moment we arrived on board, our every need was met. The crew was fabulous. Even Captain Anton dances with the passengers in the lounge in the evenings. At the end of the two weeks, you feel like family. ... It was very hard to say goodbye to all our new found friends and especially the crew who had worked so hard to make this trip so special for each and everyone of us. Everything was top notch from the food and accommodations to the shore excursions and shipboard entertainment. We would highly recommend Uniworld. In fact, we are seriously thinking of taking their Paris/Normandy cruise next year. I don't know if we will ever want to get on another big ship again. This was so much more intimate and rewarding. Thank you crew of the River Empress for the trip of a lifetime. Read More...

This trip was outstanding in every way. Service, quality of food, included city tours and accommodations. To say the least the trip exceeded our expectations. Thank-you Uniworld for an experience of a lifetime.

The ship itself was incredible, very stylish decor, simply beautiful with spacious and comfortable common areas. We truly enjoyed the displayed art. The staterooms were awesome, beyond our expectations. Comfortable bedding package, design of room itself was fantastic, including the regular sized shower and bathroom which featured L'Occitane products. Even thought went into storage under the bed for luggage. The crew was excellent, captain, concierge, cruise director & entire staff made the trip very special for our group of 6. Destinations were great, we had numerous opportunities for late afternoon/evening events as our departure times were very accommodating. While underway, ... the scenery was absolutely beautiful, very enjoyable. Read More...

We have been on 5 river cruises and this trip starting on Sept 8 at Nuremberg Germany was the most enjoyable. The crew especially the 1st.Capt. Anton van den Boom was outstanding. We have never experienced as friendly a group. The cruise director Walter?? was also outstanding. Thanks for a great time.

Now that we are home and have had time to think back over our cruise, it was one of the most well-run, information packed cruise we have taken. Our first river cruise and hopefully NOT our last. Forget the big ocean liners, we really like the intimacy of the small groups. All the staff could not be more helpful. My husband has not traveled for the past two years due to back, hip and knee problems. The size of the boat, River Baroness, worked for him and he picked and chose his excursions ... and used a rollator. The cruise manager, bus driver and guides could not have been more encouraging for him and he came home with a vitality that I was so delighted to see. Thank you to all the wonderful crew and passengers on this particular sailing. We had a great time. Read More...

We decided to try a river cruise figuring that it would give us the opportunity to experience water travel without the crowds of the large cruise ships. We had no real expectations regarding food or cabin comfort, figuring that the scenery would make up for ship shortfalls. Wow were we surprised. We arrived a day early and stayed in Antwerp to allow me time to recover from my jet lag so we took a taxi to the ship. We were met by several crew members who took our bags to our room as we quickly were registered. The cabin was wonderful. The ... comfortable bed covered with soft luxurious linens and the most wonderful bed cover. The bathroom was more spacious than we expected and a roomy shower with wonderful hot water and quality hair and body products was a total surprise. We had a wonderful water-level view that started each day with us smiling at the antics of the ducks outside our window. The food. What can you say? Every morning we were greeted by a well-stocked buffet and omelets made to order that melted in your mouth. We chose to eat out for lunches, enjoying the local cuisine and beer, but lunch was served onboard. Dinner was a 5-star event every night. The choices were varied and I found something delicious every night in spite of my diet limitations. My partner raved about his choices as well. There was always plenty to eat but not overwhelming amount, the freshest ingredients served in the most delicious formats. The service was perfect, with friendly and entertaining waitstaff, our wine glass was always filled with our choice of red or white, all served in a lounge with floor to ceiling windows. The tours were informative, entertaining and educational without being dry and the evening entertainment was always enjoyable. There were nightly evening meetings to discuss the following day's schedule which was also posted in the ship's lobby keeping us all fully informed. We had the opportunity to see a ship of another river cruise company as well as speak to people who had experienced Uniworld in addition to other companies and everyone felt that Uniworld was by far the better company. This was due to the modern, quality ships; the high quality, local and fresh food and wine; the multilingual, amazing staff who will leave no stone unturned to make you happy; the size and layout of the cabins and the tours. We are excited to be planning our next Uniworld cruise which we know will be our second Trip of a Lifetime. Read More...

My husband & I recently returned from our honeymoon, which included a Danube cruise, from Nuremberg to Vienna. Though this type of cruise may not be considered a typical honeymoon excursion, it was everything (and more) that we hoped for. We absolutely LOVED it! The Uniworld staff was simply wonderful, going above and beyond at every juncture. Not only were they courteous & professional, but they were also FUN. Beyond the crew, we loved the excursions: very low-key options of taking the tour, staying on the boat or going your own way. No pressure, beyond your ... own interests. Our greatest memories, however, will be the wonderful couples we met on the cruise. Amazing, beautiful people from all over the world. We hope to stay in touch ... Read More...

Every aspect of our trip was outstanding from the scenery, the ship, the tour director and the staff. The local tour guides were excellent and the quiet vox system was a great help. I can't tell you how much we enjoyed this trip without sounding like I am exaggerating! Thank You so Much.

Dear Mr. Young,

My mother and I just completed the 9-day "Castles Along the Rhine" river tour from Amsterdam to Basel (June 6 ­ - 14), and I couldn't have been more pleased.

To begin, although I had traveled internationally, a river cruise vacation was entirely new to me. I was trying to plan a trip to Germany for my mother (who is 84 years old) and myself and I didn't think a bus tour would be suitable for her, so I researched river cruising. I attended a Travel Expo sponsored by AAA in Foxboro, Massachusetts and enjoyed an audio/visual presentation about ... Uniworld and its travel destinations that offered me the opportunity to ask questions about the experience. The concept of visiting Germany and touring some of its beautiful cities and towns without packing and unpacking at different hotels was very attractive.

This is the first trip I have planned that absolutely exceeded my expectations and lived up to its glowing marketing description. There isn't space here to list all the ways that Uniworld made our trip unforgettable, but I'd like to very briefly list the areas in which our tour on the River Ambassador excelled.

The staff: All staff members were professional, courteous, helpful and cheerful. The ship was immaculate and all services performed were of the highest caliber. The cruise manager, Rick Sprengers saw to it that all passengers fully enjoyed their tours every day. He attended to every detail and was very kind to the passengers who had some physical challenges (not my mother, who gets around just fine). The communication of each day's schedule and who to expect on tour was excellent. In short, the combination of capable and pleasant service made for a very relaxing vacation. Bonus: attentive but no intrusive service at all levels.

The food: My family is made up of true "foodies" ­ we are all gourmet cooks and in fact my brother is a professional chef. The meal selection, preparation and presentation were outstanding. The service was excellent, and the minimally decorated white dining room with scenery at every window was calming and elegant. I was glad we were given a copy of the week's menus, and I admit that did take a few pictures of the meals at the table, they were so beautiful and appetizing. We fully enjoyed the complimentary wine with dinner. No four-star restaurant could have done better. Bonus: hot dishes (warm plates for buffet!) and cold ones cold.

Tours: The local guides were excellent and knowledgeable, interesting and eager to share the history of their towns. The AudioVox system is just the best invention! Everyone on the tour was able to hear equally well, and the tour guide could quietly point out features in churches without being disrespectfully noisy. The ways we toured: on foot, on a canal boat and on a bus enabled us to enjoy he best of the areas we toured and gave our legs and feet a break. The description of the tours as "active" is indeed accurate, though they are not unrealistically exhausting. We were tired enough each day to feel we'd earned our fantastic dinner but had enough energy to tour again the next day perfect! The optional dinner in Rudesheim was especially nice for my mother and me since we are of German descent and fully enjoyed the regional menu and the familiar band music. Bonus: My mom cried when she recognized tunes her grandparents had danced to when she was a little child (priceless).

The onboard entertainment: My mother and I took this river cruise for its focus on scenery, tours of history and culture, and cuisine. We were not looking for "night life." However, we very much enjoyed the local entertainers from Germany and France since they augmented the day's tours and offered further exposure to the art of the region. Charlie did a fine job also, making his keyboard sound like a full German "oompah" band for our day of castle gazing up on deck. Bonus: inviting, entertaining evenings with opportunity (but no pressure) for bar drinks.

Again, there is not enough room to detail all the ways that Uniworld and the River Ambassador staff delighted us on our trip down the Rhine River.

Overall, I think the most impressive thing is how relaxing the trip was, not because it was dull, but because there were "no worries". The smallest details were prepared for and addressed. Communication was such that we didn't have to figure anything out.

There was flexibility so we could explore towns and cafes on our own. The ship and its staff became familiar to us quickly so all we had to do was enjoy our travel and the local experiences. We never had to wait for anything.

Sincerely,

Mary S. Schreitmueller Read More...

Kevin and I have just returned home after one of the most memorable holidays that we have experienced. From the moment we boarded River Queen, we were made to feel part of a special family. All of the ships compliment, without exception, had a cheery smile and hello no matter how many times during the day you saw them. We felt that this was genuine devotion to their caring for all passengers. Of special note Luca the Restaurant Manager and his dining room staff for their ensuring we were well fed and watered. A special thanks and a big bouquet ... to every member of the staff from the Captain down to the seamen.
Ronald Blair - Kevin Hubbard
p.s. we are already looking at a return cruise next year Read More...

My husband and I have now traveled twice on the River Countess, in the past year, and it will be very difficult for any other vessel or cruise line to meet our expectations based on the standard set during the tour which began in Bucharest on April 15, 2009. The Bucharest local host was excellent, everything went smoothly, and we were so pleased at the substitution of Peles Castle for the tour of Bran Castle; it saved us having to make those arrangements for ourselves! The greatest pleasures of this tour were threefold: returning to the River Countess and our same ... stateroom; being greeted once again by the friendly faces of Captain Jord Zwaal and his bride Julie; and the superlative services of cruise director Mirela Varga! The tour was excellent; perhaps we were overly spoiled by the small group size, but this trip has certainly set the bar very high. We are looking forward to traveling with Uniworld again in the future. Kevin & Leanne Hayes, NS, Canada Read More...

I want to tell you what a wonderful experience we had on the River Beatrice sailing of June 28, 2009.
 
From the moment we arrived at Munich airport, we were greeted by a smiling, friendly Uniworld representative who was willing to wait while we reported our lost suitcase to Air France.  
 
We boarded your beautiful gem - the River Beatrice in Passau. It was more than we expected.  The public areas were all tastefully done-lovely fabrics and the artwork phenomenal.  Our cabin was impressive – as nice as any ocean liner if not nicer.   The ship was kept immaculate at all ... times.
 
Your staff was very friendly and accommodating. Liliana Lazar, Captain Tom Buining, and Hildegarde Peiker were always  knowledgeable,  available and helpful. 
 
My favorite was Alina Marian, the Concierge, who went above and beyond to be of assistance in all instances. One  example, she single handedly followed up with Air France to search for my piece of lost luggage. She did not give up until it was delivered to the ship three days after arriving in Munich. Without her I might never have received my suitcase. I really appreciated her help.

Joyce Gelfand
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We just completed a wonderful holiday on the River Beatrice. We encountered floods, rain and cruising challenges, but the River Beatrice captain and crew ensured we had a wonderful and safe holiday. The cruise manager, Hildegard, was exceptional at problem solving and creating remarkable options when the Danube would not allow us to sail according to the schedule. I would highly recommend the cruise, the ship and the Uniworld corporate team who obviously worked hourly with the River Beatrice to make our holiday a one to remember and cherish.

Our Eastern Europe Explorer cruise was a great success ... and have had no negative comments at all!!!  I think the highlight for all of us was in Croatia, where we had the visit to a school, and a home-hosted lunch.  That really was a wonderful day.

... We had one more dinner together, the night we were leaving Budapest.  This was one of the nights they offered Sun Deck dining .. and what could have been nicer than sailing away in a beautiful sunset … with your friends !!  One of the other 2 tables up there was a group ... of 4 people from Boston... so, as a finale,  one of those fellows suddenly broke out into “O CANADA” .. and of course we all joined in.  He had a magnificent voice and, believe it or not, even knew all the “new” lines ……..  said it was because he goes to all the hockey games !!!    Both the Hotel Manager and the Restaurant Manager came rushing up the stairs to see what was going on and to join in.  What fun.
 
Thank you also for all your help in planning / “implementing” the trip. It was a pleasure working with you. Ulrike, in your Group Department, was also a great help throughout, and did a wonderful job of coordination…. Always friendly, always helpful, and always patient.
 
In looking over the 2010 list, I think I would like to try the 17-day “Paris and the Heart of Europe” .. from Vienna to Paris, on the Princess….  August 15, 2010. 

Look forward to talking to you ……. 
Regards,
Barbara Broadbent Read More...

Just returned from a wonderful trip on the Rhine. The level of service provided by the crew was just top notch, from the friendly housekeeping staff to the very versatile musician. I am a vegetarian, and had no problems finding great choices at every meal. Would recommend this trip, highly.

My wife and I had a wonderful time on the "River Royale."  All of our expectations were exceeded. The service, food, tours and accommodations were of an exceptional quality.  Your commitment to customer service was fully demonstrated when I left ALL of my prescriptions on the taxi that took us to the airport at Marseilles. The help you provided in locating our taxi driver and having my medications delivered to me at the airport brought a perfect end to a grand experience.  

My words are inadequate and do not fully represent my appreciation.

Merci,
Irv Rollins

Thank you so much for providing such wonderful memories. The entire staff went beyond expectations to give us a most memorable experience, impeccable accommodations, dining, tours, and all over presentations for the first Presidential Cruise.
And Guy Young takes pretty good pictures.
Thanks, Joe & Maggie Tuzikowski

Two weeks after debarking I am still smiling about the Castles along the Rhine Cruise. We had a lovely time. The best part of being on a small ship is that you actually meet your fellow passengers and get to know them. On a regular, big ship cruise, you could say hello to someone and never see them again. Not so on the River Ambassador - we meet at least half the passengers and befriended many of them. The ship itself is merely in Okay condition and hopefully Uniworld will replace it with a newer ship. ... We heard complaints about the plumbing system, but only had minor problems ourselves. But the crew were wonderful - friendly, helpful and always willing to go the extra mile to assist a passenger. The wait-staff always remembered our preferences, the bar-tender always knew our favorite drinks and the cabin-crew knew each of our quirks. I have bad knees and they always had a bag of ice for me to ice them down at the end of the day. The food at dinner was simply amazing, although we dined in the slow French style. The food at lunch and breakfast wasn't as imaginative and delicious, but was still good. The chef had quite a variety of dishes and they all looked as good as they tasted. I'd go back for the food alone! I'd recommend the Basel to Amsterdam route - we took the opposite and visited Cologne on a Monday - and all the museums were closed! If you have a chance visit the Historical Museum in Speyer, though - go, it was wonderful. And the section of the Rhine with all the castles, a UNESCO Historical Site, is probably the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Our Cruise director was simply terrific - the best I've ever encountered and better even than I imaged a Cruise director could be. He was alays available, always knew every detail of every city, always was ready with a personalized suggestion of what to see or where to shop. I don't know if all the Cruise Managers on Uniworld ships are this good, but he was amazing! The passengers ranged from their 50s to their 80s. There was nothing to interest a teen or a child on board, so if you want a family vacation, take another ship. Some of the walking tours were difficult, as most of the streets were cobblestone and uneven. Cobblestone is tiring to walk over. The optional Castle Marksburg tour was especially strenuous - although I highly recommend taking this tour, it would be almost impossible for anyone with mobility issues. I walk with a cane and was able to get around okay [although I needed that ice every night], but people who use walkers or are confined to wheelchairs will find that most places are not handicapped accessible. Overall I would rate this vacation with a five out of five stars. Whatever minor drawbacks were completely negated by the excellent service and locations. This cruise exceeded my admittedly high expectations. I highly recommend it! Read More...

I wanted to tell you about the great experience we had on our recent Uniworld Cruise. It was the Grand France cruise that began for us in Paris on May 1. My wife had never been to France and I could think of no better way to thank her for thirty years of putting up with me than to try this river cruising experience. I admit it was a gamble. I did some research as a teacher would do and found your site. It contained a great combination of good scenery, relaxed yet informative locations, and an attention to details ... so I decided to book.

I must say the I was extremely pleased and satisfied with the experience. The cruise more than exceeded my expectations and my wife was absolutely enthralled by the entire experience. From the moment we landed in Paris to the departure from Marseille, the smile never left my face. The staff of both boats did their very best to make sure our stay was comfortable and friendly. I think you should continue the efforts you've made to keep the staff relaxed and friendly. On the cruise to Normandy our breakfasts and lunch were enhanced by the dining room "relaxed professionalism" of Miroslov who placed a turkey breast on my plate after I said I was hungry to which he responded "Not enough?"

On the "Epicurean" Cruise we were treated and pampered by waiters and waitresses like Zoltan, Anna, Daniella, and Luigi who who did a fantastic job day after day of providing impeccable service and enjoyable company. Zoltan and I (being the history teacher) quizzed each other daily on important historical events.
I'm sure I could go on and on ad nauseum but I wanted you to know that you and your staff provided a perfect anniversary to us and it was a five star hit. I'm sure you can't please everone but you sure did to us and our friends, the Sterns, the McGorrys, and Karen Deegan. We look forward to another cruise soon – we're now officially spoiled. Thank you so much and please convey our gratitude to the entire staff for a job well done.

Sincerely,

George and Bonnie O'Brien
Southport, North Carolina Read More...

I just wanted to say a proper and huge "Thank You" for all you (and the entire River Beatrice staff!) did to make our Uniworld River Cruise experience so wonderful. Both Byron and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and it exceeded my expectations by a long way.

There were so many highlights on the trip that I hardly know where to begin, and all the extra touches too, like the clocks and the pillow gifts on the last evening, and having dinner with the Captain! The ship is really lovely and it was terrific to see all the various ... cabin categories. It was also great to see River Countess - I feel I have a more complete picture of Uniworld since all your ships aren't as new as River Beatrice.

I don't think there is a single thing that I could criticize about the ship, the crew or the itinerary, and of course the food was amazing. Without exception, everyone was great and with people like Captain Tom, Siggy, Gyongi, Alina and the other front desk people, we really were in good hands.

Anyway, thank you so much again...

Ellie Hender, CTC, MCC
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As recent guests on the River Empress cruise on the 26th April from Amsterdam to Budapest. We would like to pass on some comments about the cruise.

The cruise itself was a holiday of a lifetime and was made more special by the efforts of a fantastic crew and cruise manager Markus Schindelegger. He was outstanding in knowledge of the area and went out of his way to ensure all guests had a pleasurable and informative cruise. As you can appreciate, to meet the requirements of 138 guests is a huge task, but was achieved with aplomb by an attentive ... Captain and crew.

The service on board was first class, very efficient and friendly. The range of the menu was five star.

Comments of other guests on the cruise who have traveled extensively, were that this cruise surpassed anything they have been on.

We would be  pleased if you could pass on these comments to Captain and crew.

Yours sincerely,

Beverley Jensen and Barry Hill Read More...

Ni Hao,
Hubert (HE HUI) was our tour manager for the "Grand China and Yangtze River" tour (April 21-May 10, 2009).  We want you to know what a wonderful job he did.  Hubert made our time in China so much more interesting and every detail was taken care of to perfection. He is a born teacher, brilliant, and he knows how to make learning fun and fascinating. What a great ambassador for China. We have been on other tours and Hubert is the best. He is tops!
Xie Xie,
Janet and Neil Thompson

"The cruise that Michael and I just took was excellent. Uniworld did a great job of everything. The people were very attentive, the ship was immaculate, our room was great, the food was excellent and the day tours were very informative and well done. This is well worth recommending." -- Suzanne

The cruise that Michael and I just took was excellent. Uniworld did a great job of everything. The people were very attentive, the ship was immaculate, our room was great, the food was excellent and the day tours were very informative and well done. This is well worth recommending." -- Suzanne

Well, we are back. And it was a super trip. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Uniworld, and the River Beatice! Everything was ship shape. Everyone was extremely professional and top of the line. The service was so personal and friendly from everyone of your staff, I could commend them all. Robert was wonderful as well, and I would like his email so I can thank him as well. I did write a lengthy survey on the ship, and now I am trying to think about what specifics I relayed. Suffice it to say that ... the overall experience was so very positive, that nothing that I could suggest really stands out now.  The other guests that I met that were not in the industry were equally as pleased and are planning to go once again and select Uniworld as their host. The ship was a beauty, and everything was glorious. I can’t believe the storage room for all our things.
 
The captain was a wonderful person, and was so accessible and helpful. Everyone had his attention and concern. You will want to keep him!
 
I met a writer for USA today on board, and she apparently quoted me on her blog about river cruising.  Her article will come out soon. She was very positive, as well. Not only about river cruising in general, but about Uniworld. I certainly did my best to support you.
 
It was a very special experience, and a very special trip, and everyone was wonderful.
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you
Paula Wagner Read More...

My wife and I have just returned from The Grand China and Yangtze tour with your company and wanted to express how happy we were with the tour.  We felt that the destinations selected were all most worthwhile and the accommodations were above expectations.  We also both felt, as did everyone in our small group, that the tour was made much better by the fact that it was lead by Hubert whose knowledge and insight added immeasurable. He also made the tour fun.
 
Because of these factors I would recommend, without hesitation, your tour.
 
Regards,
Tom and Jane Chisholm