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S.S. Joie de Vivre brings the “joy of living” to the rivers of France. Step aboard your floating pied-à-terre in France, featuring handcrafted furniture and fine antiques, original artwork, and signature accents inspired by 20th-century Parisian design from the Golden Twenties to the free-spirited Sixties, all blending seamlessly with modern conveniences.
Simply Fabulous! Traveling solo for the first time. This was the perfect cruise for that. It was casual, comfortable. People were all friendly, open seating at all meals made it easy. Every local guide was wonderful. Excursions all ran smoothly. I LOVE that there was free launderette. I have a thing about laundry. Downside, fitness area was too small and did not have adequate equipment. Cabin was comfortable. Good bed. Staff was all friendly and helpful. I found the decor (French 1900’s) a bit over the top gaudy but I know that is their thing. Food was good. Buffet breakfast and lunch and always a Made to Order option available, too. They were generous with wine and liquor at cocktail hour and dinner. Not much “entertainment” but I did not expect much. Tired from touring and happy to cocoon in cabin. Pre-cruise hotel, Hotel de Louvre was super. Great location. They have “private cabins” AKA large private bathrooms so you can freshen up and get organized if you arrive early in the AM before your room is ready. That was a fantastic perq. Loved this itinerary of RT Paris. Included Monet’s place and a day at Normandy. Both had been on my Wish List.
There were plenty of positives about this trip. The tours and tour guides were excellent. The onboard cruise director was fun, enthusiastic and give us good information about up coming ports. We had a deluxe balcony suite. It was a little small but very nicely decorated. The bedding was soft and having a king bed on a ship is always a plus. The bathroom was nice size. Heated flood and heated towel rack made for enjoyable mornings after a wake up shower. The two different entertains that came on board were outstanding. The 70's party music was a lot of fun and had great participation. The bar service was OK, but not as good as we have had on other Uniworld cruises. The food was good and the selection was nice. The service for the buffet at breakfast and lunch was very good. The only real negative from the trip was the dinner service in the dinning room. It was bad every night. We sat in different sections and the results were the same POOR. It was a bad combination of orders not being delivered, dirty dishes left in front of someone for 15-20 minutes, forgetting to bring something that was ordered. Another disturbing factor is that the ship was not even 100% full. This is just not like Uniworld, not sure what the issue was but I am sure they will correct it.
Honestly, we chose this cruise because it fit our dates and we wanted to get to Normandy. That being said, we were extremely impressed with a Uniworld. The ship was extraordinary. The rooms are incredibly comfortable and well designed with every detail thought out completely. The one qualm I would mention about the ship is that it appears that they don’t really care about the top deck. We saw other ships that had much nicer, sitting areas with couches, etc. on the top deck or ship, basically had some chairs and shades. I would urge them to make more of the top deck, because it is such a wonderful part of the ship, as sort of loved an outdoor pool or hot tub. Overall, the tours were very good to excellent with Normandy being outstanding. We got to see all of the major American sites, and I am aware that other cruise lines don’t necessarily do this. Our cruise manager was excellent at coordinating activities and tours, and ran a tight ship. he was definitely warmer speaking in public to the group than he was in person. The food on the ship is excellent with both healthy and less healthy options at every meal. There is truly some thing for everybody. I was a bit disappointed by the wine selections, which seem to be chosen for their inexpensive cost rather than taste. The wine was definitely not up to the same standard as the food, which is a shame when you’re traveling in one of the best wine countries in the world where excellent wine is very affordable. The sommelier was great and very knowledgeable and wine upgrades were available for a cost. The service in the dining rooms was truly outstanding, and the people that worked on the ship, particularly in the dining areas were just wonderful.
Intimately scaled so it can dock in the heart of Paris, the S.S. Joie de Vivre has two Royal Suites, eight Junior Suites and 54 staterooms, all with made-to-order Savoir of England beds, high-thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, a menu of pillow options and marble-lined bathrooms stocked with L’Occitaine and Hermès bath and body products.
Please Note: The category names for our rooms are changing. We are introducing a new naming structure for staterooms and suites (noted in parentheses).
Culinary Excellence
We treat cooking as an art form, a very delicious art form.
Enjoy an Unrivaled Taste of your Destinations
When dining onboard, you’ll be treated to world-class cuisine made from fresh ingredients, locally sourced from the destinations you visit.
From Farm to Ship
Farm-to-table isn’t just a trendy culinary buzzword around here. It’s a governing philosophy and commitment to serving you the very best local dishes created by our master chefs. When in Italy, dinner may consist of Prosciutto di Parma pizza and Osso Buco Milanese, prepared to your liking, with meats and vegetables sourced from just miles away. After a day immersed in Indian culture, your taste buds may do some immersing of their own with Gajar Shorba and Tandoori Chicken Tikka for lunch. Live brilliantly. Dine locally.
Creative Culinary Options
For those interested in healthier dining options, our Traveling Lite menu conveniently highlights the lightest dinner options every evening. We also offer a variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes, as well as gluten-free replacements upon request. If you have a specific meal preference, just ask. Our chefs will be happy to accommodate.
France
Indulgent from first to last
France is the quintessential destination for good reason. Whether you visit romantic Northern France, stunning Bordeaux, or charming Burgundy & Provence, you’ll find yourself enchanted by the best wines and cuisines the world has to offer. Come for the famous Château wineries of Bordeaux and cultural landmarks of Paris, then leave reminiscing about your stroll through Monet’s Giverny gardens and your kayak ride under the Pont du Gard.
Landmarks
Whether it be arts and culture, politics, philosophy, or science, France has found itself at the center of international conversation for centuries. You’ll find monuments to the country’s role in history everywhere you look: the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Normandy Beaches, Avignon’s Palace of the Popes, or the Médoc wine route, occupied by so many of the world’s greatest château wineries. The list goes on, so rest assured that there is a bucket list experience for every kind of traveller.
Cuisine
If you have a passion for great food, French cuisine will not disappoint. Regional differences abound, but at the core of French cooking is a passion for quality, local ingredients. It starts at small farms, of which there are many in the French countryside, where you might find flavorful herbs being grown or fresh milk being made into one of over 400 different varieties of cheeses. Then in the kitchens, it’s all about the craft: a perfectly roasted chicken, ultra-thin layers of pastry folded throughout with butter for a melt-in-your-mouth croissant, or a prime cut of brisket slowly braised for hours in a nice Burgundy red.
Wine
Widely considered the world’s best destination for wine, France is full of distinct wine regions, many of which are highly celebrated in their own rights. One of the finest of all: Bordeaux. Our Brilliant Bordeaux itinerary takes a deep dive into the wine culture here, giving guests endless opportunities to enjoy the artful red blends, sweet sauternes, and more produced here.
Burgundy has the highest number of unique AOC designations of any region in France, in large part due to the highly specific attention paid to the terroir of its vineyards. The most popular varietals grown here? Pinot noir and chardonnay.
While you’ll have no trouble finding truly excellent red and white wines produced from the syrah, cabernet sauvignon, and grenache (both noir and blanc) growing in the vineyards of Provence, another drink reigns supreme here. Ranging from bright pink to a subtle blush, rosé is as good as water in this region. During the warmer months, a chilled glass of rosé becomes the ultimate summer drink.
Landscapes
You’ll witness a range of idyllic landscapes on your French river cruise with Uniworld. Lush green valleys, thick forests, neatly manicured vineyards, and villages carved straight into rocky hilltops—picture-perfect scenes await around every river bend.
UNIQUELY BOUTIQUE
The S.S. Joie de Vivre, our brightly colored, chic, and sophisticated Super ShipTM vessel on the Seine, will completely immerse you in all things French before you ever set foot onshore. Ooh la la!
Wanderlust Meets Wellness
onboard and onshore
All our cruises feature several options to get up, get going and stay fit, both onboard and onshore. Our seasoned wellness experts have an average tenure of ten years with Uniworld and continuously hone their craft with annual Ayurveda yoga and other trainings. They are there to lend their expertise to you.
ALL-INCLUSIVE FAMILY RIVER CRUISES
Every Uniworld Generations cruise includes special programs, events and excursions designed specifically for your world travellers in training.
