Ian Cooper, international author and travel writer, experiences Uniworld’s ‘Venice and the Jewels of Veneto’ river cruise.
I’ve written about many river cruises over the years, but this one immediately felt different, but for all the right reasons.
Uniworld, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, has something special with its 8 days ‘Venice and the Jewels of Veneto’ itinerary. It doesn’t simply show you Venice; it allows you to become immersed in it. The city and Venetian Lagoon become your neighbourhood.
Rather than treating Venice as a hurried ‘big ship’ stop … quick photo of St Mark’s Square, buy a fridge magnet and back to the ship … Uniworld encourages you to slow down and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary cities at a leisurely pace.
“No request too large, no detail too small,” is one of Uniworld’s promotional claims. Marketing hype, or could they really deliver on this promise?
My mission was to find out.
The Ship
First impressions of S.S. La Venezia? Stylish. Second impressions? Very stylish!
One of Uniworld’s individually designed ‘Super Ships’, La Venezia combines the intimacy of a boutique hotel with the facilities of a luxury river ship, accommodating just 126 guests.
Rich fabrics, handcrafted furniture, marble finishes, gilded mirrors and Murano-inspired lighting. The ship positively oozes Italian style.
Our Cabin
After being out and about, our cabin became a genuine sanctuary. The air conditioning alone made returning to the ship feel like one of the highlights of the day. However, the undisputed star was the bed.
Uniworld uses handcrafted Savoir Beds of England, made by the same prestigious company whose beds have graced some of the world’s finest luxury hotels.
It was, without question, the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in. Combined with Egyptian cotton linen, wonderfully supportive pillows and an unbelievably soft duvet, getting into bed was like having a cuddle with a fluffy white cloud. Leaving it each morning required considerable determination.
Our French balcony, marble bathroom, plush towels, luxury toiletries and spacious shower continued the feeling of indulgence.
There was generous wardrobe space, a laptop-sized safe and large television, although we rarely switched it on.
Food and Drink
Breakfast combined an extensive buffet with dishes cooked to order. Lunch offered lighter and more substantial choices, although my definition of a ‘light lunch’ seemed rather different from that of the chef.
Dinner was the gastronomic highlight.
Menus reflected our location, with local influences alongside international favourites. Fresh seafood, meat and vegetarian dishes, pastas and risottos all featured, together with ‘always available’ alternatives. The onboard sommelier made daily recommendations too about local wines.
The real strength, however, was flexibility. Want to swap something between dishes? Two starters? A smaller portion? The answer always seemed to be ‘yes’.
Within a couple of days, the hugely professional but informal waiting staff remembered our names and preferences. There is something rather strange about discovering that the person serving you already knows what you want before you do.
Special dietary requirements were also handled well.
Then came dessert. As a responsible travel journalist, I felt professionally obliged to investigate this aspect particularly thoroughly. I therefore made it my journalistic duty to try as many as possible!
Some meals were so enjoyable that I felt genuinely disappointed when they ended, looking at an empty plate with the regret normally reserved for the final episode of a favourite television series.
Uniworld’s all-inclusive approach means wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks, speciality coffees and teas are available throughout the cruise, with only certain premium selections costing extra.
Luxury and Personal Service
Luxury means different things to different people. However, after years reviewing cruise ships, I’ve come to believe genuine luxury is: time to do absolutely nothing; attention to detail and always feeling welcomed.
Before travelling, I had thought of ‘all-inclusive’ mostly in economic terms. What’s included? How much will I save? How many cocktails do I need to drink to get my money’s worth?
Once onboard, I realised there was another benefit. It removes the transactional relationship between passengers and crew. You’re not constantly signing bills or checking prices. Instead, the relationship becomes one of guest and host. This changes the atmosphere. Even gratuities were included so no embarrassment over this.
Throughout the cruise, I watched how the crew treated fellow travellers. One diabetic guest requested a particular diet drink that wasn’t available onboard. A member of staff went ashore and bought it.
Curious as to how they achieved such consistently high standards of service, I asked Cruise Manager Rik.
“Uniworld staff are handpicked for their personality,” he explained. “Hospitality needs to be in their blood.”
Out and About
Perhaps this itinerary’s greatest strength is that Venice isn’t simply another port of call. You have time to get lost crossing its bridges and discovering tiny shops, cafés and squares. Even getting around by water taxi, water bus or gondola becomes part of the experience.
Excursions were also included and there were plenty of choices. Here are some highlights:
- St Mark’s Basilica After Hours – Led by outstanding art historian Dr Susan Steer, we sat in near darkness as the vast golden mosaics gradually illuminated above us. Breathtaking. Then came another privilege: seeing the magnificent Pala d’Oro, the Byzantine altarpiece decorated with hundreds of precious stones.
- Doge’s Palace – Magnificent rooms, spectacular artworks and the famous Bridge of Sighs. Rather less romantic when you discover prisoners crossed it on their way to their cells.
- Do as the Locals Do – A water taxi to the Rialto Bridge, followed by the famous fish market where we met our ship’s chef buying ingredients.
- Murano – Skilled craftsmen transformed molten glass into beautiful creations.
- Burano – With La Venezia’s exclusive mooring, allowing us to simply walk ashore, it was a photographers’ dream to encounter Burano’s famous brightly coloured houses and lace making demonstrations.
- Torcello – Long before Venice became a great maritime power, people settled on this peaceful island. Its seventh-century cathedral contains magnificent Byzantine mosaics that have survived for more than a thousand years.
- Chioggia – Sometimes called ‘Little Venice’, its canals, bridges, huge street market and bustling fish market offered a fascinating glimpse of a less touristy side of the Venetian Lagoon.
- Padua – One of Italy’s oldest cities and home to one of Europe’s oldest universities, where Galileo once taught. Highlights included the magnificent Basilica of St Anthony, with its relics of his jawbone, vocal chords and tongue and its statue-lined Prato della Valle one of the largest squares in Europe.
- Vicenza – This elegant city, famous for Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, offered handsome streets, grand piazzas and remarkable buildings and the oldest indoor theatre in Europe.
Life Onboard
One pleasure of river cruising is that ships are small enough for people to get to know one another naturally. By the second evening, strangers had become friends and Hari’s Bar was buzzing with conversation.
One afternoon we gathered on the Sun Deck to watch our white-gloved butler demonstrate Sabrage, the art of opening a champagne bottle with one stroke of a sword. Don’t try this at home!
Evening entertainment was relaxed and low-key, with live music, a classical concert by the ‘Next Three Tenors’ and a Golden Night silent disco celebrating Uniworld’s 50th anniversary. Watching people wearing headphones and dancing enthusiastically to completely different music nobody else could hear was bizarrely entertaining.
The Verdict
There are hundreds of European river cruise itineraries. Many are excellent, however I can’t think of any, offering quite the same combination of destination and luxury as ‘Venice and the Jewels of Veneto’.
What impressed me most was how guests were cared for whilst having this Venetian experience. Uniworld talks about ‘Tiny Noticeable Touches’ … small moments guests remember and share. Throughout the cruise, we saw this in action.
Remember my mission? Was Uniworld’s claim, “No request too large, no detail too small”, justified. The answer? Definitely yes.
Find out more
Current lead in prices for 2027 start from £2,399 per person sharing, including return flights, transfers, seven nights’ all-inclusive accommodation on the SS La Venezia (including premium wines, beer and spirits at any time) and a full programme of activities and entertainment.
To book a Uniworld cruise, or get more information from our Silver Travel Advisors, call 0800 412 5678.
