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Like other river cruise companies, Uniworld offers complimentary fine European wines, draft beers and soft drinks during dinner, a 24-hour specialty coffee and tea bar, shore excursions, Signature Lectures and onboard local entertainment, and airport transfers on arrival and departure days.
Where Uniworld does it differently is in the delivery of their onboard service. With roots in the hospitality industry, it's easy to see the touches that Beatrice Tollman, godmother and namesake of Uniworld's River Beatrice, and President of Uniworld's sister company the Red Carnation Hotel Collection has left on S.S. Antoinette. Staff is trained in the art of service standards found in the best hotels in Europe, and her influence on the menu is hard to miss (she has a cookbook) and guests can sample her recipes while dining on the ship.
Be on the lookout for her signature dishes on the menu. I can still taste her mouthwatering cookies that were modestly displayed on a lunch buffet table one day.
Part of the river cruise experience is enjoying the tours that are included with the price of the cruise. The cruise manager on board is responsible for coordinating shore trips, motor coach transportation, herding guests on tours, and conducting nightly briefings describing the highlights of the next port of call. Our guide was part concierge and a huge asset — his recommendations for places to eat in town or worthwhile tips to enjoy the markets was invaluable.
For some reason, I really loved the idea that there was a swimming pool on this river cruise ship. I used it a couple of times, and it was clean, warm, and a great way to unwind after a workout in the well-appointed gym.
Also, unlike most river ships, S.S. Antoinette offers an indoor movie theater on board, which can be a life-saver on rainy days.
While cruising on S.S. Antoinette I sampled a variety of river cruise dining experiences: al fresco dining "under the stars" and light-lunch dining — both on the sun deck — as well as Captain's Welcome Gala and Farewell dinners, early-riser breakfast and afternoon tea.
Arranged throughout the ship, is a collection of carefully selected original fine artwork from personal collections. Sketches in black and white, color lithographs, and oil on canvas paintings from a range of great artists, including Humphrey Jennings and John Bellany, and an extensive selection of work by Russian painters Yuri Matushevski and Viktor Templi are perfectly placed for guests' enjoyment.
Lavishly appointed river view staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoir of England beds draped in 100 percent Egyptian cotton linens and a menu of pillow choices. Staterooms and suites on the La Princesse Deck have full balconies and staterooms on the La Duchesse Deck have French balconies.
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S.S. Antoinette features generous built-in closets, a hair dryer, individual climate-control thermostat, direct-dial telephone, infotainment center with flat-screen TV and complimentary movie and entertainment options, bottled water and marble bathrooms where you'll find L'Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, special towel warmers, backlit magnifying mirror and cozy waffle bathrobes. Staterooms on La Duchesse deck have French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows that can be raised or lowered with the touch of a button.
Don't miss the Salon du Grand Trianon with full-service bar and dance floor, Le Cinema Pigalle movie theater, sun deck with the Bar du Leopard and L'Orangerie, Restaurant de Versailles, a mosaic-tiled and heated swimming pool designed by the famous South African mosaic tile artist, Jane du Rand; Serenity River Spa, boutique, guest laundry and elevator.
Carrie Finley-Bajak sailed on S.S. Antoinette on a press/blogger trip as a guest of Uniworld. See Cruiseable's Ethics & Disclosure policy.
Updated from an earlier review.
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