Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Reviews 18

Ship lost its anchor midway through our cruise and that ended the cruising - we spent the remainder of the time on long bus rides (or waiting for buses to pick us up). Excursions were dramatically impacted (no more walking on-off), our upgraded French Balcony was worthless, we waited for updates daily, being given false hope and then shamed into praising our crew for finding us a bus. The worst thing - Uniworld's response. First, there was none (other than daily advertisements for future cruises) and then, after we requested feedback/acknowledgment, they offered us $400 for a future cruise (we paid $13,000 for this cruise). They actually called the lost anchor incident "bizarre" - meaning it is rare AND their own fault. The lost anchor was sad and disappointing, but their response has been disrespectful and indifferent.

Date of experience: May 29, 2025

I am writing to formally document my extremely negative experience while employed with Uniworld, where I was subjected to consistent bullying, harassment, and unprofessional treatment by both crew members and management, including the hotel manager.

Throughout my time on board, I was frequently shouted at and mistreated by several restaurant staff members, particularly a group of Romanian colleagues. Their behavior included inappropriate and demeaning comments such as, “Do you even remember what we did today?”—spoken in a tone meant to humiliate rather than instruct—and frequent direct shouting in front of others. This created a hostile work environment and made it difficult to perform my duties with dignity.

When I attempted to address this behavior and speak up for myself, I was not supported. Instead, I was immediately labeled as “arrogant” by the hotel manager, and within the same day, I received two official warnings without fair discussion or mediation. It was clear that my concerns were not taken seriously. The situation escalated to the point where I decided to leave the ship in Budapest.

This experience was deeply disappointing and has left me disillusioned with the work culture at Uniworld. No employee should be made to feel unsafe or unsupported, especially when raising valid concerns about workplace harassment. I hope this feedback is taken seriously and that appropriate steps are taken to ensure no other employee is subjected to similar treatment in the future.

Apart to that, Uniworld has a policy of ONLY English to be spoken on duty, but in reality Romanian and Bulgarian is spoken.

Date of experience: March 01, 2025

We did an Egypt River Cruise Tour on Uniworld's SS Sphinx in May 2025. It's important to know that this is not a Uniworld owned ship and staff employed by them. Uniworld is not transparent about this. The cruise operator and all staff onboard are with Spring Tours in Cairo. The ship was beautifully appointed and the staff was friendly and service oriented. While most Tours were included, they strong arm you to sign up for many expensive extra Tours after they assemble you in the Four Seasons Cairo meeting room. The Egyptologist was knowledgeable but talked way to much, especially in hot sun in over 100 degree weather. The food onboard was horrible. Very poor quality and primarily Egyptian, not fine continental cuisine Uniworld is known for. I and many passengers got very ill from the food, requiring a medical doctor. Uniworld Corporate has denied everything claiming there are no reports about sickness onboard or in the hotels provided for us. Shame on Uniworld for failing to do the right thing. We will never cruise with them again. Potential Cruisers beware! Do not sail Uniworld in Egypt

Date of experience: May 21, 2025

this company is full of toxic staff, be aware of their fake mask, bad behaviour of the lady manager , i heard many of their old staff all the dark side of this company, the treat human like garbage and have high ego. Price are expensive too do not be bait by this company.

Date of experience: January 10, 2025

We toured Vietnam and Cambodia with Uniworld. The itinerary, hotels, boat, catering and entertainment were all excellent. The staff were all excellent except for two individuals, the tour guide assigned to our group and the tour manager. Both were outwardly great guys but made us feel like we were inmates of a care home with rigid timings and were unkind to us. Stories too long to recite but we felt bullied over being literally 3 minutes late to a rendezvous and then not forgiven but cold shouldered all tour. Frog-marched at speed round fascinating temple sites. Unnecessary rudeness and adherence to deadlines. We're talking 3 minutes . Not for us again thanks.

Date of experience: November 26, 2024

Their website states "NEVER [emphasis added] restricted to mealtimes or happy hour, you'll find that fine wines, local beers and premium spirits flow freely through the cruise....[more verbiage on this point]". A week before the cruise departs, you get paperwork that indicates that this is up to the local cruise contracting company which, at least in Egypt, restricts complimentary beverages (including soft drinks til we raise h*ll) to meals and a one-hour pre-dinner happy hour. Too late to cancel, and our protest has gone unanswered for 48 hours and counting.

I don't blame the contracting local company: they have their rules and Uniworld knows them. And I'm not such a drinker that this is a major problem. BUT Uniworld prefers to LIE about services that are variably available depending upon the route you have chosen

This is supposed to be a high-end cruise line
Instead it's a dishonest operation that does bait and switch on promised services.

This was our second Uniworld cruise; it will be our last, and we certainly can't recommend it to fellow travelers.

You should get what is advertised and if it's not going to be provided, you should know that before you pay top dollar for the product. Period, end of sentence. Dishonest company. Don't trust it.

Date of experience: January 27, 2025

Very unorganized for excursions. When you need to cancel and they tell you that you can and that you owe nothing. Then they chase you down in the last day to pay for an excursion you didn’t take and that they told you several times you don nut owe

Date of experience: October 13, 2024

The fact that anyone reviews them badly is insane to me.

The staff on the SS La Venezia waited on us hand and foot, we were denied literally no request we made. Wait staff, cleaning staff, bar staff, cooks, desk staff, every person seemed happy to be there and sincere in their efforts to make your stay enjoyable. The tours and events are top notch, the people conducting them were entertaining and knowledgeable.
What a killer vacation—if you’re on the fence about doing this, just stop thinking and do it. I really can’t imagine a world where I took issue with a single thing that has happened on this cruise.

The food spread is excellent and diverse, every dish felt gourmet, and the vegetarian options were great.

The cleaning staff is very attentive and hits your room twice a day if you don’t declare ‘do not disturb.’

Would do this many more times.

Date of experience: July 28, 2024

My fiance and I just returned (like within the last 24 hours) from our first river cruise and it was dreamy. We traveled on the Burgundy & Provence itinerary starting in Lyon and ending in Arles. The staff onboard were phenomenal and took such great care of everyone. We met several other couples during our meals and excursions that we really bonded with. Food exceeded expectations and how nice for it to be all-inclusive.
The French Balcony rooms were beautiful and had lots of storage space. Although I think the next category up has bigger bathrooms with tubs, so that might be worth the splurge.
Cities/villages visited each had their own 'personality' and we spent a lot of time exploring. Most of the docking locations were within easy walking distance of the city center.
They had umbrellas for use on rainy days, plus hiking sticks and bikes that you could check-out for the day. Probably should have used the bike in Arles, but live and learn!
We'd absolutely book another one and now understand why others we met had done 5+ before this trip. Only regret is not booking the pre-cruise option in Paris, but that's on me.

Date of experience: June 16, 2024

Despite the way this review probably sounds like a lot of complaints, we really did have a wonderful time and Uniworld staff did a great job!!! Except for the issues I will discuss in what I hope is a helpful manner to future cruisers, everything was awesome! Food was fresh, plentiful, creative and delicious. Ship was very comfortable and kept very clean. Staff was kind, courteous, patient and very hard working.

I would highly recommend Leaving the dinner clothes and any attempt at European fashion at home, Everyone everywhere just looks like a very casual American with logos and ball caps etc. Dinner was casual, just wear your respectable regular clothes. I could have saved a lot of space in my suitcase as I had a lot of fun anticipating our trip and planning and reading a lot of articles and maybe fake reviews that talked about dress code…especially Uniworld being dressier than other ship lines and how to blend in in Europe and not look like a tourist. (I think I am very naïve, we have not traveled in quite awhile) I was happy to anticipate "dressing up". The first night at dinner my view was of a hairy guy in a tank top! Thank goodness I did not have to see that again I should have listened to the reviews that said DO NOT OVERPACK!

Again Staff, food, ship, room all excellent!.

Too many excursions were centered on always ending up in shops and shopping areas. Now don’t get me wrong, we are shoppers and shopped so much we had to buy an extra suitcase for the way home. Needless to say our family loves us . With so little time though we wanted more time spent on local culture and less on making sure we had plenty of time for shops. We had a much better time looking up local things to do and also asking the staff what they recommended and then going out on our own.

This is what happened on one of the only excursions we did go on: this is the description of one stop on the (extra fee) Black Forest Trip: “stop at the family-owned House of Black Forest Clocks, where you will learn how cuckoo clocks are made-and savor a slice of Black Forest cake, too.” The reality: This is a shop with a restaurant upstairs. Just a shop, not a museum, there is no presentation or explanation of the process of making the admittedly beautiful clocks. A shop filled with cuckoo clocks and aisles of the same touristy items we saw everywhere else, INLCUDING the next stop. The very adorable and charming owner and clock maker mingles a little and has a table where he does a little (just for show) carving while there are people in the shop. I expected more. Possibly to learn how cuckoo clocks are made per the description?????? The whole point of us going was to learn how they are made and then buy our clock. Maybe it’s us and we read more into the excursion explanations than is actually there? We did buy a Cuckoo Clock as we had planned, we both wanted one badly and we did find a gorgeous one along with a very rushed employee to sell it to us. The Black Forest Cake was delicious. At the next stop there was a shop with the same clocks and same aisles full of touristy items

Now to the big tip! Watch out for sick people!!!!! We were placed in close quarters (excursion bus for example) with people who were obviously ill. Severe wet sounding constant cough (all day on 7 hour excursion) with no attempt at covering the mouth, they also couldn't stay awake. It was disgusting. Two men in particular, their wives refused to sit with them. The group of 4 all took separate seats. I am not sure why these people did not stay in their room as they looked extremely miserable. I can only speculate maybe because the extra excursions had a no refund policy? Also at what point does staff intervene when someone obviously ill is constantly in public areas? To be fair I understand this can be a very touchy issue. We ended up eating dinner in our room each night (the staff was wonderful about our repeated room service!!! We gave no explanation and they just smiled and did a great job) and staying away from organized excursions and onboard activities. We did end up with a pretty hefty case of covid, feels like a bad flu. (didn't know it was covid until we got home, and I know no one makes a big deal out of it anymore). We are still quite ill and are just staying home and resting. I am sure a tremendous amount of people that were on board our cruise are ill.

One last thing, get the biggest cabin you can afford. We had the largest except for the suite. With the amount of time we spent in it trying to keep away from the sickies it was just big enough. The cabin was very nice, kept very clean by sweet staff.

We would like to go on another Uniworld cruise, specifically Egypt. I will book differently as we paid full price and then kept getting offers for our same cruise with up to half off! I will take THAT as a learning experience!!!!!!!

Date of experience: May 12, 2024

After a bike accident on my first day of a Uniworld 22 day Ultimate France River Cruise I was virtually confined to my cabin and, my life was in serious jeopardy, mainly from the cellulitis that developed in my knee a few days after the incident with Uniworld’s faulty bicycle. I was attended by three doctors and had three hospital visits during the 21 days. But had it not been for my own doctor in Australia, it was conceivable I may not have survived.

Immediately on my return I briefed specialist Personal Injury Lawyers to make a claim on Uniworld for pain, suffering and medical expenses.

I can only say that Uniworld’s response was appalling beyond belief. Apparently all the staff who had seen me three times a day, struggling to 50 or so metres to the dining room on my crutches had developed amnesia!

I have since had to have a total knee replacement.

Uniworld's ducking & weaving was astonishing. Here’s one quote from Marcelle Heimdal, Manager of Guest Relations & Reservation Services from Uniworld’s headquarters in Los Angeles:

"The waiver also stipulates that guests assume all responsibility for any accidents or injury, and advises (in bold text) that Uniworld cannot be held responsible for any mechanical defects,
and that the guest releases Uniworld for all liability. This is the same waiver you signed on board."

Uniworld not only relied on the waver but on some of the dismissive fine print of our actual ‘Tickets’.

They have many ways of fending off legal action, ultimately stipulating that, if you were crazy enough to initiate legal action against them, the claim could only be lodged in a Swiss court.

These are not honest people to deal with. Let alone nice!

If you do decide to book a trip with Uniworld, read the fine print on your ticket. And don’t borrow any of their equipment. It maybe safest not to eat any prawns or anything that could give you food poisoning. And, for God’s sake, don’t trip & fall.
It could cost you your house (or your life).

Date of experience: August 20, 2023

Been on 17 Uniworld cruises now and they are all absolutely perfect. The boat are lovely, the staff are great and the trips out everyday are very very enjoyable.
Sophie, who works in the Guernsey office, is especially helpful and knows a great deal about the cruises if you want any help.
I can not recommend these cruises enough.
The only downside I feel is their pricing structure as the prices change a lot and so it feels a little bit like a lottery when you book as you might find 2 weeks later the same cruise is lots cheaper and that can be a bit frustrating especially when your budget is quite tight as mine is.

Date of experience: September 09, 2023

I booked a cruise to travel this November, for my birthday. I booked my airfare thru Uniworld also. Thinking it would be best, just in case anything happens one stop to better help me to the cruise and back home. My flight got canceled/changed going to paris. I saw this as a Hiccup at first. I reach out to Uniworld, hoping they could help. Much to my surprise they have had attitude: we have no control on the air. I will not go in details. its sad I was very excited a week ago to go, and now i still going because its paid for and I will hope the for the best on getting there. Their customer service before were great, of course that was before I paid them, now they are awful. If looking for River Cruise Company look for another one. I wish I had.

Date of experience: August 14, 2023

Top quality river cruises. We have done the Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Rhine and Danube cruises - all different but of excellent standard. Met some great people to share unique travel experiences with. Nothing too much trouble! Highly recommended

Date of experience: May 02, 2023

Outstanding top-of-the-line river cruises internationally. They set the standard! The food, tours, and accommodations are truly superb!

Date of experience: July 02, 2022

Be very cautious in using this Travel Company. Booked a cruise through AAA during the pandemic with every intention of going on the trip. Just before travel date our doctor advised not to travel based on our age and the US State Department had travel warnings out for travel to Europe. Consequently we were forced to cancel. When AAA and I both tried to get back the one half cost of the trip penalty, Uniworld basically told us that 's too bad. Meanwhile our agent at AAA said she had used other travel companies and were able to attain full refunds for her customers during the Pandemic. I still might consider travel abroad but I definitely will not be using Uniworld.

Date of experience: May 20, 2022

My wife and I have been on 40+ ocean cruises but this was our first river cruise. We booked with Uniworld as part of the Red Carnation group, a hotel group that we frequent on a regular basis. We booked a Douro River cruise from Porto but was disappointed even before we stepped on the boat. Communication was poor regarding embarkation times and cruise itinerary, the information in our suite was from the previous week. Our main issue was the poor service in the restaurant, lack of organisation and lack of experienced staff. The food was ok but not great, but everything was hard work. At breakfast, if you asked for toast you need to ask for butter or you receive dry bread. If you ask for tea and coffee you must ask for milk and sugar if not you go without. The same for dinner, we were offered wine but no wine glasses on the table and that was the same every night. The restaurant staff were a new team and it showed. After a few days we finally found out the reason for the poor service, the cruise is not a Uniworld Cruise, it’s operated by a local contractor who has the license to operate on the Douro River. The boat and 2 butlers are supplied by Uniworld, everyone else is a local contractor. I did email the CEO of Uniworld with my comments but no reply. This is our first and last Uniworld Cruise.

Date of experience: December 09, 2021

Times change.
We have been on a Uniworld cruise and it was wonderful. Beautiful boats and excellent crew. Sadly, behind the scenes is a different story.
Once we saw an excellent promotional presentation, then the last one was truly amateur. We had two Sales Managers reminiscent of the "Judith Chalmers" character played by Victoria Wood and the promised word from the CEO was a poorly presented video.
But it gets worse.
In spite of covid and the impact it has had on the travel industry, Uniworld has turned into what looks like a money grabbing holiday bucket shop.
We were booked on a Christmas Cruise. When the final payment was due, Hungary and Austria (the bulk of the cruise) were not accepting UK travellers. I asked if we could delay payment until the situation was cleared up. I was told no, and that my only option was to cancel. As a gesture of goodwill (a phrase I hate) Uniworld agreed to hold my deposit as a Future Cruise Credit. No problem there.
Now, with there being no tourist access to Austria, the cruise cannot be going ahead. I asked if this meant I could now have my deposit refunded and again was told no. Another cruise company I booked with, not only refunded all my money but gave us a substantial credit by way of apology.
The other irritation with Uniworld is the way their pricing is all over the place. We found, after we'd cancelled, that they were offering the cruise for half price. No issue for us, but imagine how those that had paid full price must have been feeling.
There are other pricing practices I find unacceptable, but not for here.
I have told Uniworld I will book something to use the FCC, but it will be the last holiday I book with them.
There are T's and C's, but there is also consideration for the customer.

Date of experience: November 24, 2021