reviews ED
Bon Voyage Uniworld
OVERVIEW: Uniworld spent $14 million “elevating” its River Royale ship into the Bon Voyage over an eight-month period. Three suites, new dining venues and a heated infinity pool were added – not to mention the lavish blue and green decor. The luxury line is calling Bon Voyage “a transformed super-ship”, putting it on a par with other soon-to-launch vessels in its fleet: Mekong Jewel, Sphinx and Sao Gabriel. It’s easy to see why – during its revamp, River Royale was stripped right back to the steel, so it feels like new hardware. Company owner and founder Bea Tollman and her daughter are said to have painstakingly agonised over the details of the ship’s overhaul, and it shows.
CABINS: No two cabins are the same. The 124-passenger Bon Voyage has two Grand Suites and two Suites – both new – plus 58 staterooms (French Balcony, Deluxe and Classic categories), all of which have been redesigned. Top-end UK manufacturer Savoir has hand-crafted beds, and the quality of the bed linen is second to none. Although the rooms might not match those of other river lines in terms of size, their quality trumps many.
FOOD AND DRINK: Two new dining venues have been added. On the top deck you’ll find Café du Soleil, which provides poolside service and cooking demonstrations. Towards the bow of the ship there’s La Brasserie, where diners can enjoy traditional French dishes such as escargots au beurre and boeuf bourguignon, in a restaurant modelled on Paris’s renowned Bouillon Pigalle.
travelweekly.co.uk/cruise
There’s also Le Grand Fromage, which focuses on locally sourced ingredients, and private-dining restaurant La Cave des Vins, which serves a seasonal tasting menu for €155 including wine pairings. It’s worth every penny; pan-fried foie gras, lobster tail and oysters were among the exquisite dishes on the menu when I dined there.
FACILITIES: The ship might not have as many facilities as some river vessels, but Uniworld knows its strengths: dining and comfort. Extra suites have been added without reducing its passenger-to-staff ratio, which is higher than on other vessels in the Uniworld fleet. There’s a fitness centre, spa and sauna, plus a new infinity pool on the top deck. Passengers convene in La Salon Champagne before dinner to have an aperitif, and return afterwards to take in the evening’s entertainment.
USP: The eye-catching decor feels unique to the ship, transporting passengers into the region they’re sailing through. Uniworld has done an excellent job of making Bon Voyage’s passengers feel as if they’re on board a French boutique hotel, where every whim is catered for.
BOOK IT: Bon Voyage will be sailing the Brilliant Bordeaux itinerary on the Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde in late 2019 and 2020. The eight-day round-trip from Bordeaux
starts at £2,499, including flights or travel by Eurostar.
uniworld.com Reviewed by Harry Kemble
November 2019 41
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