LYON, France — Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has been gradually building up a fleet of vessels that stands out for the company’s near-obsessive investment in lavish details.
And the S.S. Catherine, christened last week by French actress Catherine Deneuve, is no exception.
The launch of the 159-passenger S.S. Catherine marks Uniworld’s first expansion of its European fleet since 2011, when the S.S. Antoinette set sail.
The company has adopted a slow-and-steady shipbuilding strategy quite different from some of its competitors, most notably Viking Cruises, which, just one week prior, named 18 new river vessels in Europe.
During a welcoming speech onboard the S.S. Catherine, Brett Tollman, president and CEO of Uniworld’s parent, the Travel Corp., alluded to that difference in strategies, saying Uniworld was not churning out river cruise ships on a conveyer belt like some other lines were.
Instead, the company has clearly invested a handsome sum into a single new vessel that is flush with elaborate interior design elements, including endless mirrored walls reminiscent of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles and an over-the-top atrium complete with a Murano chandelier, a horse statue and a water feature running down the side of the elevator.
From the patterned carpets to the motif-filled wallpapers, from the lush upholstery fabrics to the elaborate floral arrangements, the vessel is indeed a bit like a floating Versailles, seemingly trying to encapsulate a Louis XIV style — a fitting feel for a river cruise ship that will sail through France’s Burgundy and Provence regions along the Rhone and Saone rivers.
The French theme abounds in the wealth of artwork adorning the walls as well as in the cuisine and wines served onboard. Less than 24 hours in, I had already sampled frog legs, foie gras, regional French wines and an abundance of French cheese.
The S.S. Catherine features a 410-square-foot royal suite; five suites at 305 square feet each; 61 cabins at 194 square feet; and 13 cabins at 162 square feet.
In addition to the main dining room and lounge, both of which are a feast for the senses unto themselves with their rich color palettes, the Leopard Lounge at the aft of the vessel, with its safari-themed touches and an adjacent mosaic-tiled pool area, is a unique feature for a river cruise ship. There is also a spa and fitness room, as well as several alfresco areas.
The S.S. Catherine, the newest of Uniworld’s Super Ship class of vessels, is the oeuvre of Beatrice Tollman, president and founder of Uniworld’s sister company the Red Carnation Hotel Collection; her daughter Toni Tollman; and Brian Brennan, projects director for Red Carnation.
The S.S. Catherine replaces the River Royale in the South of France. The River Royale has been repositioned to Bordeaux, where Uniworld has introduced a new itinerary for 2014.
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Follow Michelle Baran on Twitter @mbtravelweekly.