Trip Report-Uniworld Castles along the Rhine June 17-24, 2018

Uniworld Castles Along the Rhine cruise

Embarkation: Sunday, June 17, 2018 Amsterdam

Disembarkation: Sunday, June 24, 2018 Basel, Switzerland

Ship: Uniworld's SS Antoinette Cabin 431

Travelers: Ken& Brenda, from Iowa

Retired,we traveled by ourselves this trip

I was desperate for information about Uniworld, and this particular itinerary, after we booked more than a year in advance. So, I'll do my best to review and help others out. I'll do this in installments, so it won't get too long at one reading, and I can insert photos as I go along.

Amsterdam:

We chose the 2-day pre-cruise extension in Amsterdam through Uniworld, and we were very glad we did. Sure, we could have done it cheaper on our own. But, since we had never been to Europe, or on a river cruise, we decided up front to have peace of mind by allowing Uniworld to handle all transfers, and some excursions in Amsterdam. We got so much more.

Our plane arrived at Schipol Airport about 8:00 am on Friday. I had asked on this forum where the representative would meet us, so we knew to look for someone with a Uniworld sign after we had retrieved our luggage, cleared customs and headed to the exit. There were dozens of signs being displayed, but Ken picked out the Uniworld logo after a couple of minutes of looking. However, when we introduced ourselves, we found that our names were NOT on the list to be collected. A quick phone call was made, and it was sorted out immediately. We had the brand new Mercedes van and driver all to ourselves into the city center, and we were dropped at the Renaissance Amsterdam without delay. Of course our room wasn't ready that early, so we left our luggage with the concierge, who assured us it would be locked in the "Uniworld room".

They directed us to the nearby cruise line desk, where we met Muriel Hoetjes, our Uniworld Local Host. What a wonderful first impression of Uniworld! She spoke immaculate English, putting us at ease immediately. We were tired from the flight, but she encouraged us to get out and start our adventure with the included 1 hour canal cruise to get a feel for the city. That was fun, then we walked the main streets around Centraal Station, listening to Rick Steves' audio tour of Amsterdam on our mp3 players. Herring with onions and pickles at a herring stand, a late lunch of Dutch Pea Soup, Bitterballen and Heineken, and before we knew it, our room was ready. It was small-ish, and had two twin beds, but nicely appointed and very clean. High speed internet was included with the package, so we got caught up on facebook and e-mail while we caught our second wind.

Muriel provided us with the busy itinerary for the 2 days, and we were surprised at all that was included. Friday afternoon she led a 1-hour walking tour of downtown Amsterdam, using VOX devices which allowed us all to hear her. Ding Ding! Watch the bicycles! After the tour, we met our fellow travelers with a welcome drink and briefing in a meeting room at the hotel. At this briefing, Muriel thoroughly explained the busy itinerary for the next couple of days, and provided maps, tram schedules and suggestions on everything from restaurants to shopping. We were thrilled to happen upon on a Tiramisu cooking class in the lounge that evening. Early to bed, a busy day tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Centraal Station from the canal

Interesting gable styles

Day 2 in Amsterdam

Saturday, following an included hot buffet breakfast at the hotel (fruit, breads, croissants, made-to-order omelets or eggs, scrambled eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage, cereal, meat/cheese, fish, and anything else you can think of, did I mention croissants?), we met for our coach trip to the Rijksmuseum. We split into small groups of about 10, and spent 3 hours at the museum, marveling at the Dutch MastersVan Gogh, Rembrandt and Vermeer. Again,we used the VOX systems, so we could all hear our guide.

Afterward, Muriel led us to the trolley stop, and showed how to get ourselves back to the hotel. Ken and I had lunch on our own, then wandered the flower market, toured the Red Light District (sorry no photos! lol), and scrounged through the local grocery store reading labels, our favorite "to-do" in a foreign place. We managed to get back to the hotel without incident, and met some fellow travelers for a casual dinner and a beer or two.

Sunday morning, after another delicious breakfast, we, along with a dozen or 15 others, opted for an optional (79 euros each) countryside coach tour called "Polders & Windmills", led by Muriel. We went to a wonderfully friendly cheese factory and toured its completely automated dairy, then to Zaanse Schans outdoor museum. We had a guided tour of several windmills and the village, and had an opportunity to see how wooden shoes were made. Muriel bought some Dutch chocolates for us to taste, and she was so informative and fun, it was a delight! We arrived back at the hotel about 1 pm, where our bags were waiting to be loaded, and off to the ship we went!

I might add that those who did not opt for the paid tour had the morning to themselves, to wander the streets, take their canal tour ,or tour the Anne Frank house. We all met up at 1 pm at the hotel to transfer to the ship.

We were very impressed with the smoothness of all of the excursions, and how much more at ease we were with a guide, since we don't know the language. We could have done all this on our own, but we wouldn't have learned nearly as much, and being stress-free was well worth the price.

Please add all your posts for this cruise review here – do not start a new thread for each post.

Iowa Cruisers,

Glad you had a good first impression of Uniworld. I've found them to be a top notch operation. Agree with you that a little hand holding when you're in a new place can be so helpful, instead of just stumbling around.

Thank you for taking the time to post, and I look forward to future installments.

Roz

The SS Antoinette:

After having been on several ocean cruises, our first impression was "wow, this is really small!! lol We identified our luggage next to the coach, then some of us checked in, but instead of standing in line, Ken and I went for lunch! The "light" lunch buffet was delicious and varied - a dozen different salads, meats and potatoes in steam trays, Panini sandwiches, a carvery, and the most delicious soups! If this was an introduction to Uniworld, it was already a GREATcruise! As we sat visiting after lunch, the announcement came that our cabins were ready, no later than 2:30 or 3pm. We were impressed... once again!

We had chosen Deluxe Balcony cabin 431, the last cabin in the back, close to the swimming pool and spa, and right downstairs from the Leopard Bar. Sorry to say, we did not take advantage of any of those all week! We found our cabin to be small, as expected, with two soft chairs out in the balcony area with a small table. The french balcony worked seamlessly, and we took advantage of lowering the window every day. The bathroom was, again, small, but had a nice big drawer under the sink to store toiletries, and a stand-up shower with a glass door. Lots of mirrors gave me a fright several times (ha ha). The bed was very comfortable, and we took advantage of the pillow menu to customize. Our room steward was efficient, friendly, and when I asked for a top sheet for the bed, instead of just the duvet, it was done without hesitation. We found candy and mints each day, and she was like a ghost, tidying up several times daily without us even seeing her. We would have liked for the next day's daily program to be delivered earlier than dinnertime, but we made do. The air conditioner worked well, and cooled the room quickly if needed.

So, the stage was set for our daily routine. The restaurant had plenty of seating for everyone, and breakfast was either buffet or a menu if you wished. The buffet varied from day to day, sometimes mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and beans for breakfast, always potatoes, always bacon and sausages, always a cheese board. Lunches were buffet-style, with a different soup every day (tomato,cheese, potato, cauliflower, leek, all delicious), always a carvery, always a grilled sandwich option. Always an ice cream bar, too! Yay! Several different flavors of ice cream, with a variety of toppings, to well... top off your lunch. We were very pleased with the quality and variety of the food - something for every palette. Dinners were menu-based, with a variety of dishes, and always at least one local favorite was included on the menu. You could always get a New York strip steak,chicken, or a vegetarian option, plus 5 or 6 different entrees, which changed each night. Substitutions were allowed with a smile, and all (except one) of the wait staff had a ready smile for each of us. They learned our coffee or tea preferences, whether we wanted bread with our meal, and whether we drank red or white wine. They spoke of their homes and families, but were very proud to be employed by Uniworld, and spoke highly of the company.

Our favorite bartender, Branislov, (Branny), figured us out the first day, and he never forgot. Two beers (Becks on tap all week), and he kept our glasses full. Salty bar munchies in the afternoon, and a decadent Mozart chocolate liqueur and a B & B after dinner made us a couple of very happy campers indeed! They had every brand of liquor imaginable, plus 6 or 7 different craft beers in bottles, served cold. They switched up the brands of wine, depending on the region we were sailing through, but were always open to corking a favorite if requested.

Each evening at 6:45, in the lounge before dinner, our delightful Cruise Manager Ann gave a detailed overview of the next day, which excursions would be going where, and reminders of where we would be docking, and when we would be setting sail again. We found the included excursions very well planned for the most part, with a few hiccups, but nothing earth shattering. There were a couple of popular tours (Marksburg Castle or the Bike to Boppard) that filled up quickly, so I would recommend signing up for the tours you want earlier, rather than at the last minute. We did not sign up for any optional (paid) tours onboard, and we were kept very busy.

The first full morning on board at 9:30 am, Cruise Manger Ann presented a Cruise Overview in the lounge to detail all activities and port excursions for the week. Don't miss this presentation! It was full of information and insights you might otherwise miss out on.

There was entertainment every afternoon in the lounge, either piano or the resident house musicians Greg and Margaret. After dinner, there was always music and dancing in the lounge, but we were usually too tired to enjoy it. One morning before Koblenz, a young German historian made a very interesting presentation on "Do I feel European", and shared his perspective on identity from the middle ages to modern days.

The lounge also had two automated 24/7 coffee/tea/or specialty push-button drink machines available, along with sweet snacks or pastries in the early morning. The well-being coach Andrei led stretching or light yoga each morning at 7 am, and there were movies in the cinema available. The World Cup matches had started, so 3 games a day were shown in the cinema.

Okay, that's enough for this installment. Tomorrow, I'll start on the ports and the tours, and add in some more insights on the ship.

Please add all your posts for this cruise review here – do not start a new thread for each post.

Will do. I did not know I could add photos in a reply, but I'll work it out. Will you please add my latest post onto the end of this, then?

Can’t wait to read more!

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Sounds great! Can't wait for more, welcome home.

Day 1: Sunday, June 17th:

4 pm: We set sail from Amsterdam to Cologne,Germany. At 4 pm sharp, we sailed away with "The noble art of sabering champagne" with the butlers on the sun deck, followed by the safety drill. No need to bring life jackets, just a briefing in the lounge. Our Hotel Manger Karolina and Cruise Manager Ann Smets welcomed us, and Ann gave an overview of tomorrow's activities. A lovely dinner, then off to the lounge for music (no dancing for us). Wonderful bed and sleep.

Thanks for your detailed report. I am traveling right along, recalling our trip on the Antionette, in the opposite direction. We have sailed several times with Uniworld and always do our own thing before and /or after the cruise, but I'm not surprised that Uniworld does a great job with pre-trip arrangements. They seem to hire such excellent local staff, and I take your point of learning things with guides that you wouldn't have learned otherwise, even if you research the places, as I do.

Thank you so very much for your detailed review. We will be going on our very first Uniworld cruise later this year, and, quite frankly, I had read so many reports lately of Uniworld's decline, that I was becoming very nervous!

Where have you read the reports of Uniworld's decline, and what is the exact nature of the decline? Granted, I've only sailed with twice - 2015 and 2017 - but I'm not aware of any issues.

Roz

I don't know why the Amsterdam photos are not showing up on this thread - they did yesterday...:o

Here they are:

Day 2: Monday, June 18th:

Cologne, Germany.

We chose the Cologne walking discovery tour, and visited the UNESCO designated Gothic Cathedral there, which was fabulous. We were back on the ship by 5 pm, and ready for the Welcome Reception by 1st Captain Menno van Meerveld, followed by the Gala Dinner. There were very few sports jackets worn by the guys, and no one felt under-dressed in a collared shirt without a tie. The ladies wore a variety from dressy pants to skirts to capris and a dressy top.

Day 3: Tuesday, June 19th:

Koblenz, Germany

Since we are early risers, by now we had a plan for coffee in the lounge before breakfast every morning. Our visit to Marksburg Castle started at 10:30, so we were able to have a leisurely breakfast, then board the coach. The castle tour was very interesting, our guide using the VOX boxes. Note: This is one castle that has not been modernized. This tour could be dangerous for anyone with mobility issues - there are many irregular steps, steep inclines, holes and loose cobblestones.

I managed to get in a load of laundry this afternoon while sailing, and the machines worked well (3 washers and 3 dryers, all complimentary). Complimentary washing Tide-like pods are given readily at the reception desk, but no dryer sheets, if you use them.

This was the day that the active participants (not us!) rode bicycles 14 miles from Koblenz to Boppard. They came back to the ship tired in the heat, but said it was a wonderful way to see the countryside.

We set sail at 1:30, and arrived in Boppard about 4 pm, where we spent the rest of the afternoon and night. A guided village stroll into the quaint town and a beer before returning to the ship for dinner was all we could manage.

Day 4: Wednesday, June 20th:

Cruising the Rhineto Rudesheim, Germany

Today was the day we had all been anticipating - the Castles! This scenic 31-mile stretch of the Rhine was the highlight of this trip, and the reason we chose this itinerary! Up until this morning, the weather had been a bit gray, with a few spots of rain. But, this morning dawned clear and bright - perfect for castle watching.

We set sail at 8 am, and the castles started appearing almost immediately on both sides of the ship. At the guest relations desk, we purchased a detailed glossy map of the Rhine for 8 euros, and it was a handy guide for the day. There was plenty of room on the sundeck, and commentary was available on the VOX system, though Ann also commented on the loudspeaker, sometimes at the same time! The scenery was simply stunning, and, because we hadn't eaten in maybe an hour (lol) they laid out a spread of German sausages, salads and pretzels in the L' Orangerie sundeck casual eatery. They delivered drinks or coffee with a smile, and even brought ice water without asking, for those who sat in the sun. It was such a memorable morning.

We arrived at Rudesheim about 1 pm, sunburned and happy, and departed to Castle Vollrads at 3:00 for a very informational and fun wine tasting. Then, back on board in plenty of time for a couple of beers before another great dinner.

Castle Vollrads wine tasting at Rudesheim. This was a popular excursion, but they broke us up into groups of about a dozen, and used the VOX systems, so we could hear everything. Beautiful castle, and interesting variations of Reisling.

Day 5: Thursday, June 21st:

Germersheim, Speyer and Heidelberg Castle

On the recommendation of my heros here on Cruise Critic, we signed up for the vinegar tasting at Doktorenhof, and we were so glad we did. The fruity, pungent, flavorful vinegars were nothing like we had ever tasted, and we got to meet "Mother", the hundreds-of-years-old vinegar mother, that is. We bit the bullet (80 euros), and brought back a 5-bottle sampler pack of this elixir, as they do not ship overseas. We will be dolling this out frugally!

We took part in a "Sharing Dinner" onboard tonight, a German family-style meal in L' Orangerie, where we were served mounds of sausages, kraut, ham, soup, pretzel logs, pork chops, salmon, potatoes, cauliflower, and a chocolate coma dessert plate. Wonderful experience, and limited in the number of guests, so sign up early. A local "Headlines Band" was the live entertainment in the Salon.

Day 6: Friday, Jue 22nd:

Kehl and Strasbourg, Germany

We took the "Do as the Locals do" walking tour through Strasbourg, through the maze of bustling pedestrian streets, ending up at the historic cathedral, where we had free time to visit inside, then treat ourselves to a gelato before meeting the guide back on the cathedral steps to return to the ship. Others took the optional Black Forest tour, and they said it was long, but marvelous.

We also signed up for a Wheelhouse Visit with 1st Captain Menno at 2:00 pm. This was interesting, learning how the nuts and bolts of the ship work. Maximum of 10 guests on this tour, and it was only offered this once during the week. More beertails, more music, more wonderful food.

Day 7: Saturday, June 23rd:

Breisach, Germany

We chose the Alsatian Wine Villages tour, and visited Kaysersberg and Requewihr in France with 12 or 15 others. We had a guide, using the VOX system, for both villages, followed by some free time in each place, and a panoramic drive through the wine region of Alsace. A glass blowing demonstration in Kaysersberg was a highlight, as was the delicious pastry we shared. But, we were sad to see the hotel where famous chef Anthony Bourdain had died a couple of weeks earlier.

We were back on the ship by 1:00, and found lunch in both the restaurant, and a hamburger station, which had been set up in L'Orangerie, for a change of pace. The last night's dinner was bittersweet, but delicious. We said good-bye to our new friends and went to pack.

The famous storks nest

Departure: Basel, Switzerland

Sunday, June 24th:

We had a 6:10 am flight to Paris, then back home to Chicago, so we had a 4:00 am van transfer for the 10 minute ride to the airport. But, even that early, the staff had croissants and coffee in the lounge for the 6 of us transferring. I don't know why we had to go that early, as the Basel airport check-in desks did not open until 5 am, so we had to stand around in line until then to check our bags. But, I know... regulations.

Some miscellaneous things of note:

Only once did I hear the words "GentleWalking" all week. We saw some folks really struggle getting up to the sun deck, as the elevator does not go there (there is a chair lift on one side), and struggle to walk to the bus, which has to park some distance away sometimes. We're in fairly good shape for our age, and get around well, but our knees were sore from the climbs and steep stairs. We had to raft another ship once, in Breisach, and a couple of folks really struggled to walk up and down and over the other ship. In our opinion, to do this itinerary right, you need to be able to walk a half mile without resting, stand for 15-20 minutes without sitting, and climb some steep stairs as needed.

All in all, it was a top-notch adventure with Uniworld, and we are already scheming to find another itinerary we like. We were offered a 5% discount on our next Uniworld cruise if we booked on board, but we just weren't ready to choose a date and itinerary, and pay right away. I wish you could just purchase a voucher, like some cruise lines offer,and redeem it at your leisure.

I tried to the daily programs into a .pdf, and post them, but the file is too big. I'll try doing it day by day and post them that way when I get a minute.

I hope you enjoyed reading along as much as I enjoyed re-living the journey. I'll leave you with some photos of FOOD!!

Thank you so much for the fabulous pictures and review. We will be sailing on this same ship in September. I was also beginning to worry about uniworld after a few comments on this board. Thanks for relieving those worries. Hope you are able to post the day by day info. Not sure what they are called on a river cruise. This will be our first river cruise too. Thanks again.

Welcome Home Brenda and Ken! I'm so glad you enjoyed this cruise, and the Antoinette, as much as we did. You had the same guide at Marksburg Castles that we did. So knowledgeable. And, glad you enjoyed the vinegar tour. We splurged as well, including one of the glasses.

Robin