Uniworld SS Catherine Review: A Top Pick for Bespoke Itineraries Through France 

But the cruise, for us, was not just about the destination; it was also about the journey. Aboard the sumptuous S.S. Catherine, we enjoyed luxury travel at its finest: a ship filled with art and Old World appointments. 

 “At Uniworld, unique design is a defining part of the experience, grounding each journey in a true sense of place and story,” said Ellen Bettridge, Uniworld’s president and CEO. “Every element was selected to instill a sense of wonder—the same appreciation of beauty that inspired Versailles and dozens of other glamorous chateaux across France. What matters most is how it all comes together in an intimate floating boutique hotel format, so that from the moment guests step onboard, they feel both transported and completely at ease.”

Here’s what luxury travel advisors should know about booking a Uniworld River Cruise aboard the S.S. Catherine: 

Why Travel Advisors Book It

• The 79-stateroom S.S. Catherine launched in 2014 and has an opulent design and original artwork by masters such as Joan Miró, Alexander Calder, and Pablo Picasso, as well as a custom Murano glass chandelier. 
• The cruise offers a mostly inclusive product, with food, wine, spirits, and excursions wrapped into the fare, as well as unlimited Wi-Fi, soft drinks, coffees and teas, bottled water, and crew gratuities. 

Staterooms & Suites

The S.S. Catherine has five stateroom and suite categories, beginning with the entry-level 162-square-foot Classic stateroom and going up to the sole 410-square-foot Grand Suite. 

Rooms are elegantly appointed, with rich, upholstered headboards, thick drapery, and, in many cases, wallpaper, to reflect the regal and opulent feel of the boat. The bathrooms in all categories offer heated floors and towel warmers and amply sized showers. Asprey bath and body products are used throughout. 

The 194-square-foot French Balcony category–my family and I had two of these elegant and ample rooms for our week on the water–offers a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door for panoramic viewing. The identically sized Deluxe Balcony rooms offer the additional value of an enclosed balcony. 

Suites, at 305 square feet, can accommodate three guests and come standard with an enclosed balcony with floor-to-ceiling windows and sofa, as well as butler service; packing and unpacking assistance; a daily fruit and cookie plate; a Nespresso machine; an evening snack; a fully stocked mini bar; a bottle of wine upon arrival; a shoe shine; and free laundry service. 

In the double-accommodation Grand Suite, guests benefit from all of the added amenities offered to guests of the Suite category, along with an added separate living room. The bathroom also contains a bath, as do all suite-category rooms. 

Dining & Drinks

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served each day in the S.S. Catherine’s Cézanne Restaurant, on the Avignon Deck. At breakfast, guests are offered a traditional European buffet of cheeses, cured meats, and fruits, as well as an à la carte menu of eggs, pancakes, French toast, and omelets. 

Lunch is served buffet-style and is often inspired by the port-of-call. Guests can expect a salad station, a carving station, several hot buffet items, a cold or raw seafood station, and ample representation from the pastry kitchen. 

Each evening at seven, the chef prepares a multi-course dinner, with appetizer, soup, entree, and dessert. Local cuisine plays a significant role in the rotating menus; dishes reflect the regional cuisine and are denoted by the letter “L” on the menu. Diners are typically offered a choice of three appetizers, two soups, three entrees, and a handful of desserts, along with two sommelier-selected wines from each port-of-call that change each evening. 

The Van Gogh Lounge, on the Camargue Deck, functions both as a bar and as an entertainment venue. During the day and at six each evening, the lounge is where guests can go for cocktails and bar snacks. Several times during the multi-night voyage, the ship’s cruise director arranges cocktail parties, during which hors d’oeuvres are passed around the slightly rococo room. 

On the other end of the Camargue Deck, guests can find the brooding and cozy Bar du Leopard, with its petit bar, board games, 24-hour coffee station (always stocked with cookies), and library. 

Finally, on the Saint Remy Deck, guests can find the Coffee Shop, where, from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily, a selection of pastries and croissants is available, as well as fresh water and coffee, naturally. 

All dining aboard the S.S. Catherine is included in the fare, with the exception of some specialty dinners, private wine tastings, and wines by the bottle. 

Shore Excursions & Itineraries

The S.S. Catherine solely sails the Rhône and Saône Rivers, covering three itineraries: the 15-day Grand France, with stops in Paris, La-Roche-Guyon, Vernon, Giverny, Rouen, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Mantes-la-Jolie, Paris, Lyon, Mâcon, Tain-L’Hermitage, Viviers, Avignon, and Arles; the 8-day Burgundy & Provence, with stops in Arles, Avignon, Viviers, Tain-L’Hermitage, Lyon, and Mâcon; and the 22-day Ultimate France, with stops in Bordeaux, Cussac Fort Médoc, Pauillac, Cadillac, Blaye, Bourg sur Gironde, Libourne, Bordeaux, La-Roche-Guyon, Vernon, Giverny, Rouen, Caudebec-en-Caux, Rouen, Mantes-la-Jolie, Paris, Lyon, Mâcon, Tain-L’Hermitage, Viviers, Avignon, and Arles. The Grand France and Ultimate France journeys are combination itineraries; the S.S. Catherine sails solely on the Burgundy-Provence route. 

“What makes [these trips] especially meaningful is how closely the onboard experience mirrors what guests discover each day, whether through regionally inspired menus, wines sourced from nearby estates, or excursions that feel deeply connected to the local culture,” Bettridge told Luxury Travel Report. Itineraries, she adds, are “designed to feel immersive yet effortless, where every detail works together to bring France to life in a very personal way.”

Shore activities range from walks through historical monuments, like the Pope’s Palace visit in Avignon, to tours of local markets in villages like Beaune. Many of the excursions are included with cruise fare, though guests can also sign up for smaller, more exclusive experiences, called Masterpiece Collection excursions, like truffle-hunting outside of the town of Grignan; tasting wine in Châteauneuf-du-Pape; taking a private cooking lesson at the celebrated La Mirande, in Avignon; or going to 12th-century Château de Rully for a history lesson, private lunch, a winemaker’s tasting. 

These premium experiences are meant to connect travelers with places in a deeper and more meaningful way and are available to only a handful of guests. 

Wellness & Spa

Located aft on the Saint Remy Deck, the Serenity River Spa offers traditional massage and wellness treatments for both teens and adults. The ship also provides a small fitness room, also on the Saint Remy Deck, as well as an indoor pool, on the Camargue Deck, in the same area as the Bar du Leopard; this may have been my children’s favorite spot on the ship, apart from the top deck, which, on a sunny, sailing day, was where they sat to watch us rise and sink with the locks (and where they ordered Shirley Temples to their hearts’ delights). 

Family & Multi-Gen Appeal

Although my family and I traveled during a time of year when we were the sole family aboard (and were, perhaps the talk of the ship–in a good way!—given our joie de vivre), the S.S. Catherine actually provides family programming during its busier, more family-centric times of year, complete with excursions geared toward families, menus designed for younger passengers, and on-board activities. These special sailings are part of Uniworld’s Generations Collection.

My kids, however, found that there was more than enough to do aboard the S.S. Catherine, from card games to candy-hunting (a stash can be found in the Van Gogh Lounge, day or night). The chef, to his credit, was accommodating of our younger sailors, who, as it turns out, are both big fans of Nutella. 

Sustainability & Accessibility

River cruising can be challenging for passengers with mobility issues; exiting a river cruise sometimes requires crossing across another boat. That said, the S.S. Catherine does have an elevator that connects the internal decks, as well as a chair lift to the sun deck. Showers are also equipped with grab bars, and shower stools can be requested in advance of sailing. 

For hearing disabilities, Uniworld utilizes Quietvox portable audio headsets on all shore excursions. The Quietvox system is compatible with telecoil induction loops, which can be provided on board upon request.

When completing their passenger information form, guests should inform Uniworld of any dietary needs. Chefs are trained to offer specialized vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options at every meal, and can accommodate other dietary restrictions when notified in advance. Large-print menus and digital daily programs can be provided upon request. 

The ship has also taken significant steps toward sustainability. Guests are provided refillable water bottles in their stateroom, which can be replenished on board at the Saint Remy Deck coffee and water station. The ship has replaced single-use plastic with other materials (plastic laundry bags with linen, for instance). Single-use straws are nonexistent. And guests can request the replacement of linens and towels, for more mindful usage. Slippers are made from compostable bamboo. 

In the dining room, food is sourced from local farms and farmers when possible, and the ship has partnered with Leanpath, a company that assists in managing food waste. 

How To Book Smart

Depending on which travel advisor a guest books with and their preferred partners, guests may receive exclusive amenities or onboard credits when booking through advisors connected to select partner networks. 

Uniworld offers travel advisors special discounted rates throughout the year on select itineraries and dates, allowing them to experience the product firsthand. Advisors may also have access to familiarization trips, providing additional opportunities to gain in-depth product knowledge.

Uniworld’s products typically sell out from the top down, with the suites selling out first. The S.S. Catherine sails from March to November. Suites on popular sailings often sell out more than a year in advance, with some dates already fully sold out in the suite category through September 2027. For travelers open to Classic staterooms, however, last-minute availability and attractive offers can still emerge just weeks before departure, making now a great time to secure a spot on remaining summer 2026 sailings.