Burgundy & Provence (2026, Lyon to Arles)

Traveler Reviews

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  Daphne2.0•February 2026
  Opulent Surroundings Covering a Poor Quality Riverboat Cruise I recently experienced a Uniworld Cruise from...
  Opulent Surroundings Covering a Poor Quality Riverboat Cruise I recently experienced a Uniworld Cruise from Burgundy to Provence on Uniworld’s SS Catherine commencing 2 November 2025 and finishing 9 November 2025. This was sold to me as a 5 star cruise. Unfortunately the cruise failed to deliver what was promised. 1. I had advised Uniworld of my severe mould and dust allergies. My bathroom sink had several centimetres of mould around the rim of the basin. I called the hotel manager Alin and he tried to pass it off as dirt. It was black mould. Eventually the head housekeeper was called and the cleaner came to clean the mould. 2. I became ill on my second night on the boat. Symptoms of a mould allergy include diarrhoea from breathing in mycotoxins produced by the black mould. "The toxins can irritate the digestive system, leading to symptoms like diarrhoea, nausea, and abdominal pain.” It was an extremely uncomfortable and unpleasant experience. I had to self isolate for 24 hours as Alin believed I may have contracted this from germs onboard. I advised him that it was from the black mould in my bathroom. 3. My bedroom curtains were stained. 4. The light switches in my room had black dust on them. They had never been wiped. 5. The seats in the dining room were never cleaned. Most of them had crumbs and dried food on them from the previous nights dinner. 6. The lunch was buffet style with no a la carte options. 7. The tours were often held in towns that were completed closed due to timing or holidays. I was unable to visit museums or galleries in these towns, nor could I shop. Uniworld would have been aware of the closures. 8. The “masterpiece” experience I paid extra for was extremely disappointing. The food was average and the wine poor quality. The dining area was an old stable with sandy floors. The sand and dirt covered my trousers and shoes and was difficult to remove. We sat on plastic chairs and the serving utensils were also plastic. The tour of the Count’s residence was lacking on so many levels. The money spent certainly did not match my expectations of a “masterpiece” experience. I understand that this was the last tour of the season. I paid for a 5 star experience with Uniworld and this cruise very much failed to deliver. I am a seasoned five star traveller who appreciates high end experiences and service. Unfortunately Uniworld did not deliver what was promised. I took photographs that I sent Uniworld Australia on my return. I contacted Alice Ager, Managing Director of Uniworld for Australia and New Zealand. She initially ignored my emails, then passed me onto the USA office that offered me a $350 refund or a $750 credit even though I was emphatic in telling them I was not interested in travelling with them again. I contacted her again and she continues to ignore my emails. Buyer beware! This is definitely not a five star or luxury cruise. Uniworld lacks integrity and accountability.Show more
  Traveled in November 2025
  

  Reply from: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

  Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're sorry to hear about the concerns you experienced during your cruise and appreciate you bringing them to our attention. If you would like to discuss your experience further or provide additional details, please feel free to email us at customerservice@uniworld.com. Thank you again for your feedback.

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  Shelley5.0•October 2019
  I can't think of a better way to enjoy the gorgeous little towns of the Burgundy and Provence area. Our Uniworld...
  I can't think of a better way to enjoy the gorgeous little towns of the Burgundy and Provence area. Our Uniworld ship the SS Catherine was superb. We walked into the stunning entry foyer on day 1 and straight away we could see we were in for something special. This feeling continued throughout, with our extremely comfortable cabins and the lovely lounges and relaxation areas. The food was outstanding, with a huge array of choice. There were always some wonderful local options, plus there was also a healthy eating menu so you didn't have to feel that you were always over-indulging. We loved the itinerary with so much to do and so many tour options. My particular favourites were Viviers where our tour guide Francis was incredible and brought the town alive for us, the Olive Farm and Truffle Farm and of course all the opportunities for wine tasting as well. Staff and crew on board were always friendly, professional and attentive, making this truly a trip we'll remember for a long time.Show more
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  Traveled in August 2019
  

  Reply from: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

  Thank you so much for your review, and we're thrilled that you found your experience to be perfect. I hope we have another opportunity to welcome you aboard again soon.

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  NicoleHunter5.0•September 2019
  The most beautiful ship! I was just taken away with the beauty of the ship which looked like the destination itself....
  The most beautiful ship! I was just taken away with the beauty of the ship which looked like the destination itself. The ship has a swimming pool, two lounges, gorgeous cabins etc. Just wonderful. The itinerary was really wonderful and we loved seeing the beautiful cities along the Rhone River. Avignon is just a beautiful city with lots of shopping, restaurants, history of the Pope's Palace. I would do this itinerary again!Show more
  Traveled in November 2018
  

  Reply from: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

  We are thrilled to have you as part of the Uniworld family! Thank you for sharing your kind words with us. It means the world to us and to our entire team! We look forward to serving you again soon!

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  Andrew5.0•September 2019
  Of all my Uniworld cruises, this itinerary is the best one by far! The S.S. Catherine is absolutely stunning, with a...
  Of all my Uniworld cruises, this itinerary is the best one by far! The S.S. Catherine is absolutely stunning, with a grand entrance that is like no other. That's what I love about Uniworld - not one ship in their fleet looks like the next. Makes the onboard experience just as great as the onshore experience. The kayaking on the Gardon River is perhaps one of my favorite excursions of any vacation I've taken. This sailing had biking, hiking and kayaking, which was great.Show more
  Traveled in July 2017
  

  Reply from: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

  Thank you so much for your review, and we're thrilled that you had such a great experience. I hope we have another opportunity to welcome you aboard again soon.

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  Jason5.0•September 2019
  My friends and I all had an amazing time on this cruise. This was my first River Cruse and I would highly recommend...
  My friends and I all had an amazing time on this cruise. This was my first River Cruse and I would highly recommend it to anyone who would enjoy exploring southern France. The staff, the food, and the ship was the best ever!Show more
  Traveled in March 2016
  

  Reply from: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

  We're happy you had a fantastic time with us! Thanks for your trust, we're thankful for amazing customers like you. We hope to see you again soon!

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  AshleyZaldivar5.0•September 2019
  The Uniworld experience was second to none. From cooking classes offered in port, to intimate dining onboard and a...
  The Uniworld experience was second to none. From cooking classes offered in port, to intimate dining onboard and a wide variety of French cuisine to chose from - the food was definitely a highlight! I also was surprised by the wide variety of excursions available on this itinerary! From hiking in the Tain L’Hermitage region to kayaking through Pont Du Guard’s Roman Aqueduct; whether you are a history buff, an active traveler or a gastronomy nerd - there was something for everyone!Show more
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  Traveled in July 2018
  

  Reply from: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

  Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this amazing review.

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  georgeisabella4.5•June 2019
  The hype: You deserve the best! Cruise Theme: Connoisseur Collection Explore the world of gourmet French...
  The hype: You deserve the best! Cruise Theme: Connoisseur Collection Explore the world of gourmet French cuisine with our Connoisseur Collection Program, which includes an assortment of culinary-inspired excursions and events, featuring visits to vineyards, orchards, restaurants, museums, culinary hot spots and more. Our opinion: The ship was very nice, the staff was amazing and the tours were well organized but the food was lackluster. Breakfast was the usual hotel complimentary buffet offerings like precooked french toast and pancakes, mass cooked scrambled eggs, the ubiquitous sausage and bacon and the same menu offerings, day after day. For lunch there were rotating entrees on the buffet but nothing resembling the local cuisine we saw while walking the city streets. One day there were some small strange tasting oysters on the half shell and 21/25 head on peel and eat shrimp that where overcooked and mushy. In our opinion It was not much better than the Golden Corral. Dinner was ordinary Americanized mostly low cost items, beef, chicken or fish, on an extremely limited menu. Most proteins were way overcooked and the presentations were underwhelming. The soups and deserts were the brunt of many a joke by many diners. The included wines were in the $5 to $10 per bottle range readily available retail in the states with many of the premium offerings over 100 Euros and up, way up. We once had the option of escargot but they appeared to be canned, not in the shell. The steak special one night was rump steak, typically eye of round in France. The porcini ravioli seemed to me like frozen renditions with no discernible flavor of porcini. One night, and only one night, they served filet mignon and lamb chops but judging by the appearance and mushy texture they had been cooked sous vide at 140 degrees for 24 hours and served at room temperature. At the cocktail receptions the hors d'oeuvres were uninspired and low cost such as tuna salad on bread. On the culinary walking tour in Lyon we had a bite of cheese, a revolting trout salad on a piece of bread and a glass of apple cider. Ooh la la. In an area famous for blue lobster, Mediterranean seafood, fois gras and Bresse chicken none were to be found. The cheese selections were limited, ordinary and served chilled. The onion soup was like Lipton served in a small soup cup with a cheesy crouton but no melted gruyere. The Chicken soup had no chicken or flavor. I expressed my opinions and the hotel manager tried to be accommodating. He suggested I try the beef stroganoff that was not on the menu. How very French! It made us sad when we went to the local markets and saw the wonderful ingredients available to the chefs that were never brought on board. The best meals we ate by far were when we were on shore in Bouchons and bistros. At that price level we expected a lot better. In retrospect it was very disappointing. I would not recommend Uniworld to anyone who wants to experience the culture and cuisine of France in what was billed on their web page as a Connoisseur Collection Program.Show more
  Traveled in May 2019
  

  Reply from: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

  Thank you for your feedback. We're glad to hear that you liked our ship, staff and tours. However we're sorry to learn that there were aspects of your cruise that you did not enjoy. Our hope is that all of our guest enjoy a unrivaled taste of their destination while dinning onboard. I've shared your comments with our management team for them to review. We invite you to contact us at customerservice@uniworld.com if you have any additional comments or concerns.

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