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The River Countess underwent a complete design renovation in 2020, debuting as the S.S. La Venezia to bring guests an enhanced luxury experience inspired by Northern Italy. The redesign of the S.S. La Venezia drew influence from the fine Fortuny fabrics displayed prominently onboard. Murano glass, gilded accents, and artistic etched elements pay homage to popular Venetian aesthetics of the early 20th century, creating an onboard atmosphere that is at once elegant and nostalgic.
We took the pre cruise extension to Milan. This gave us the opportunity to view Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper with a knowledgeable guide and sample Milan's shops, bars and restaurants. En route to the ship we visited Verona, then stopped at a wine estate for a really delicious meal. The ship was the usual Uniworld style, i.e. fancy decor. Our cabin was on the lowest deck, but surprisingly roomy for a river cruise, with plenty of storage. The windows were narrow and high up, at water level. The only drawback was the noise of water sloshing against the window, but this could also be soothing. Glad we booked this category - the next level up had bigger windows, but any view would be blocked when the ship was moored if you were on the wrong side. On this particular cruise, there was not much sailing, so the benefit of having a better cabin was reduced. I felt that the dark ceilings on the ship made it feel a little cramped, but got used to this after a few days. The dining room layout was not open plan, which felt strange. The bar / lounge was more open, but the layout made it difficult to see the screen during the daily briefings. All drinks were included, except premium brands. We like an Old Fashioned cocktail, and this was well made. The crew were brilliant. Always smiling, saying hello and being friendly and helpful. Breakfast and lunch were buffet style, dinner was waiter service. Food was absolutely delicious, superb quality. My only complaint was about speed of service at dinner, with long waits between courses, but this seems to be a common problem on river boats. The wait got particularly bad on evenings when a special paid alternative in one of the other rooms on the ship was being offered. I assume this meant there were less crew to work in the main dinning room. The excursions were very good, particularly the private visit to St Mark's with an excellent guide who was an art historian. In addition to being very knowledgeable, she spoke slowly and clearly, a huge benefit to those of us with hearing issues. The visit to the Doge's Palace was scheduled for very early morning, which meant it was not crowded. I also enjoyed visiting the islands in the lagoon. The church at Torcello was stunning, and the art historian guide really helped us to appreciate it. I felt the Bragozzo boat ride and visit to the country estate was disappointing. The boat was not very interesting. A long coach ride to the estate for some fairly ordinary cheeses and cold meat, but nice to be in the countryside. My husband enjoyed the Venetian masks excursion. I went on the Rialto food market tour, which was OK. We had Vox boxes for the excursions so that everyone could hear the guide. The evening entertainment was not particularly interesting. A couple of singers and an opera night. There was the usual Uniworld 70s theme night as well, which gets a bit tedious after a few cruises. Disembarkation was easy. but we were lucky our flight was mid morning. Some people got taken to the airport far too early for their flight, which must have been very boring. Long queues for check in at Marco Polo airport, even if you had checked in online. Only just made the flight.
We had a lovely week on SS La Venezia. The highlghts were the excursions - a private visit of the Doges palace and an after hours visit St Mark's Basilica with a superb guide. The captain was very visible throughout the cruise. Often seen sitting in the bar/lounge on an evening. The food in the restaurant was very good, although not quite as good as we have experienced with other cruise lines. The buffet in particular had a wonderful choice for both breakfast and lunch. The major problem with the restuarant was that it was very cramped and this posed a real problem at buffet times. Smaller chairs may help as the waiters kept falling against/over the chairs which protruded into the walkway. The restaurant manager was first class as were her team who were very attentive and nothing was too much trouble. It was a similar story in the bar/lounge where the size of the chairs down each side made it difficult for the wait staff to get in and out. We were a little disappointed that there is no pool/whirlpool on deck and that the loungers didn't have any cushions. There were fresh beach towels provided though. Small metal flasks were provided for you to take out on excursion and there was a jar of chocolates in the cabin. On that basis choclates were not left on your pillow at turn down. We did get some fairly random items left - a fan which was on the 2nd to last day (might have been more useful early on) and a bookmark which looked more Egyptian. We did try the pizza restaurant one night which was very nice. You need to book beforehand, but it wasn't full when we went. The only problem was that we all got up there and stood looking at each other. There was no one to guide us in what to do. Eventually we asked a waitress and she said we could sit where we wanted. Just seemed a little disorganised. All in all we had a really good cruise. We would probably use Uniworld again if there was a really good offer on. They are at the top end of prices and they certainly provide a quality service, but issues like the small cramped cabins don't make it feel quite so luxurious.
This isn't really a river cruise as we didn't sail on a river but was one of hte best river cruises we have ever experienced. We spent 7 nights on the Venetian lagoon around the area of northern Italy. The ship is absolutely stunning and sleeps around 120 people. The decor is venetian in style and the cabin was compact but very well laid out. I loved the bathroom with marble everywhere. The food is all local so we ate some incredible local seafood and fish. The wine is mostly local too and we tried varieties we had never even heard of. The crew were exceptional, and the service overall was outstanding. The onboard entertainment was very good - one night we had 2 opera singers who were incredible and we would have paid at least 100 euros to see them perform. The shore excursions were very good quality with lots of choice. We loved the late night at St Marks Basilica and early morning at Doges Palace - the ship were the only tourists inside and we didn't have to queue which was wonderful.
Booked 3 years ago after our first fabulous holiday with Uniworld to Provence. Finally getting our holiday. A slightly different ship, with same high standards, friendly staff, comfort and care. Cabins are smallish and bathroom compact. However plenty of storage in both. You want for nothing. Merely ask. We knew water levels on the river Po were low, and did not expect to sail up it. Indeed we did not, but enjoyed the sailing around lagoon, islands and to Chiogga, plus evening sailing around Venice. Different to sailing The Rhine or Danube, this to be expected. Food and drink, as good and free flowing as usual. Staff wore masks, reasurring to travellers. Cleanliness and hygiene to the highest standards. Plenty of choices for days ashore, we picked Ferrara and Padova, Po Delta day cruise. Lectures, wine tasting etc in lounge. Lovely treat for us, as arrived close to midnight, a private water taxi to ship, ! What a start to this long awaited trip. A truly, relaxing holiday. Within 2 days ,we’ve booked another Uniworld trip for this year, it’s that good!
Our team’s passion for design lends Uniworld ships their signature attention to detail and Tiny Noticeable Touches. Each one-of-a-kind ship in our fleet is artfully designed to be an extension of the destinations they sail through. With custom fabrics, unique color palettes and original works by renowned artists, no two ships—or even suites for that matter—are alike.
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. That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.
Creative Culinary Options
For those interested in healthier dining options, our Traveling Lite menu features all of the flavor of our traditional menu, but with fewer calories. We also offer a variety of vegetarian and vegan options, prepared just for you. If you have a specific meal preference, just ask. Our chefs will be happy to accommodate.
The One Thing More Stunning Than Stepping Onboard is Stepping Off
Every Uniworld cruise is meticulously crafted to be an experience you won’t find anywhere else, filled with moments that are each more breathtaking than the last. We’ve gone the extra mile to ensure our included and optional excursions immerse you in the authentic culture, sights and cuisine of the places you’ll visit.
Depending on the itinerary, talented local performers (music, dance, traditional arts, etc.) may come onboard from time to time to provide after-dinner entertainment.
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.
