NEW YORK, NY – Mar. 27, 2017 – 

The Boutique River Cruise Collection’s First Super Ship to Sail the Seine River Embarks on Inaugural Journey through Northern France

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection’s newest Super Ship, the S.S. Joie de Vivre, set sail today on its maiden voyage along the historic Seine River. The inaugural events included a christening ceremony in Paris led by the ship’s Godmother, Dame Joan Collins. Following the event, the S.S. Joie de Vivre embarked on its journey through Northern France along Uniworld’s Paris & Normandy itinerary, with unique programming in celebration of the highly anticipated launch.

“We are delighted to welcome the S.S. Joie de Vivre to our impeccable fleet of floating boutique luxury hotels, as the first of Uniworld’s Super Ships to sail the renowned Seine River,” said Ellen Bettridge, President & CEO of Uniworld.

“Our company has brought travelers to France for more than 70 years and we are thrilled to introduce a new, enticing way to experience the country. Godmother Dame Joan epitomizes the same ‘joy of living’ philosophy embodied by the S.S. Joie de Vivre, and we are honored to have had her christen the ship before its inaugural journey.”

With a length of 125 meters, rather than the typical 135 meters, the S.S. Joie de Vivre can conveniently dock in the heart of Paris in the shadow of its most beloved landmark, the Eiffel Tower. The ship has two Royal Suites, eight Junior Suites, and 54 staterooms for a maximum capacity of 128 guests. Sailings on the S.S. Joie de Vivre in 2017 run from April 2 to December 27.

The family-run design team from Uniworld’s sister brand, Red Carnation Hotels, has bestowed their creative talents on the S.S. Joie de Vivre with bright, colorful and classic design and décor inspired by 20th-century Parisian influence from the Golden Twenties to the free-spirited Sixties, all blending seamlessly with modern conveniences. The ship features a design influenced by its destination and reminiscent of the finest super yachts across the globe, including highly-polished wood finishes throughout the vessel, each surrounded by luxurious fabrics and carpets in a minimalistic setting.

Farm-to-table cuisine and superb local wines are on display throughout the ship’s culinary venues, including Restaurant Le Pigalle, Salon Toulouse and Le Bistrot. Le Cave des Vins is the S.S Joie de Vivre’s hidden gem—an intimate venue for an exclusive hands-on dining experience. Guests select fresh ingredients and prepare a seven-course meal with the ship’s onboard chefs, with French wine pairings from the sommelier.

Passengers are invited to relax and indulge their senses at Club L’Esprit, the onboard spa and wellness venue. Club L’Esprit offers a variety of massage therapies and beauty treatments, as well as a fitness center. Yoga sessions and aquatic fitness classes are also offered daily and refreshing smoothies are served in the L’Esprit Bar.

A pool with a hydraulic floor transforms the space from day to night for guest entertainment. By night the venue becomes Claude’s and offers an authentic French Supper Club experience, serving delicious delights from a tapas menu accompanied by curated cocktails with live music. For a few nights throughout the duration of the journey, Claude’s presents classic French cinema under the stars.

The S.S. Joie De Vivre joins the Uniworld fleet which features all-inclusive itineraries in Europe, as well as voyages in Russia, China, India, Egypt, Vietnam and Cambodia – a total of 22 rivers in 26 countries worldwide.

For more details or booking, please visit uniworld.com. Follow the inaugural sailing through Uniworld’s social media communities via Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #ExperienceJDV.