PARIS -- Actress Joan Collins christened Uniworld Boutique
River Cruise Collection's new river cruise ship, the S.S. Joie de Vivre, here
on Monday, signaling the company's confidence in the enduring allure of Paris.
"Like so many places in the world, [Paris has] had
problems in the last couple of years, and like everything else in life and
history, that too shall come to pass," Stanley Tollman, founder and
chairman of The Travel Corporation, Uniworld's parent company, said during the
christening ceremony to the backdrop of one of Paris' most iconic landmarks,
the Eiffel Tower.
"Paris is coming back. It's coming back strongly, "
he said, adding that the Joie de Vivre is nearly 90% booked for 2017,
indicating that the $26 million investment The Travel Corporation made in the
Joie de Vivre is paying off, despite some initial hesitation about whether to
go forward with the launch following the November 2015 attacks in Paris,
Dressed head-to-toe in white, Collins on Monday morning
officially named the ship, which set sail on its maiden voyage along France's
Seine River toward Normandy shortly after the ceremony.
The 128-passenger Joie de Vivre is the latest of Uniworld's
Super Ship class of vessels and is a floating ode to Parisian aesthetic and
charm, including an impressive collection of unabashedly French artwork
throughout the vessel. The entire ship combines rich wood finishings with
intricate upholstery, resulting in vintage-looking details that are at once
both classic and clean.
The Joie de Vivre houses several new spaces and features for
Uniworld, namely a greater variety of onboard dining experiences, including Le
Bistrot, an endearing eatery with red banquette seats situated adjacent to the
lounge that serves traditional bistro fare throughout the day.
At the aft of the vessel is Club L'Esprit, a pool and juice
bar by day that transforms into Claude's, a lively supper club and live music
venue by night with a dance floor atop a retractable pool cover. Here, a
covered patio also allows guests to sip their beverages and nosh on small bites
either al fresco, weather permitting, or enclosed behind a glass roof and
windows. Claude's will be open about three nights on any given one-week
sailing, and will become a small cinema that will show movieson two nights of
each sailing.
Passengers on the Joie de Vivre will also be able to reserve
a seven-course wine-pairing dinner at La Cave du Vin, a 12-person venue on the
lowest deck of the ship where a cooking demonstration will be followed by a
menu that incorporates the resulting dishes. While all the other dining
experiences are included, this one costs an additional 92 euros per person.
The Joie de Vivre also has a fitness and a spa room, two
24-hour tea and coffee stations and a guest laundry room.
There are five categories of staterooms, ranging from
162-square-foot lower-deck cabins to 410-square-foot suites. Most staterooms
range from 180 square feet to 260 square feet. All suites and staterooms on the
upper two decks have wall-to-wall retractable windows that drop down with the
flip of a switch, converting into French balconies. Some suites can accommodate
up to three people and there are adjoining staterooms available, too. There are
USB ports in the cabins and the lounge and free WiFi is available to guests
onboard.
The christening was attended by numerous Travel Corporation
executives, including Uniworld CEO Ellen Bettridge; Beatrice Tollman, president
and founder of Red Carnation Hotels, Uniworld's sister company; Brett Tollman,
The Travel Corporation's chief executive; and Gavin Tollman, CEO of Trafalgar,
The Travel Corporation's guided vacation brand.