Guy Young, the president of The Travel Corporation’s Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, says the 2017 debut of its new SS Joie de Vivre will give it “the best ship on the Seine”. The vessel, which is currently under construction in Holland, will be fitted out with the same meticulous attention as Uniworld’s other vessels, which have attracted massive investment from the Travel Corporation’s owners, the Tollman family.
In Sydney recently to announce the new ship, Young highlighted the importance of Australia to the business. Australia is the second biggest market for Uniworld, and Aussie guests “add wonderful flavour” to the company’s voyages. Faced with strong competition in both the US and Australian markets, Uniworld is focusing strongly on the quality of its product rather than simply numbers. “It’s not about growth at any cost – our goal is to be the best, not the biggest,” Young said. “We invest far more than our competitors in our vessels,” he said, with Uniworld’s SS Catherine sailing on the Danube with an onboard art collection worth more than $2 million.
Uniworld boasts a higher guest to staff ratio than other lines, Young said. “We are positioned at the very top end of the market”.
SS Joie de Vivre will set sail from Paris on the 28th of March next year, with a ten day itinerary taking in destinations such as Giverny, the beaches of Normandy, Le Havre and more. She will have 64 staterooms including ten suites – five of which will offer triple accommodation, perfect for family groups. The ships is 125 metres long – the maximum possible on the Seine, with on-board features including a dedicated wine tasting room, a spa, fitness centre and an infinity view swimming pool which can also be covered for a unique dining experience.
