Uniworld: 37 entries in our inventory, 1,828 departures, and sixteen boats that carry nothing
Start with the gap, because it is the widest of any fleet we carry. Of thirty-seven inventory entries, sixteen carry no departure on our calendar. That says nothing about what the line sells: it is our list, not theirs. Three of those sixteen are the 2028 newbuilds, whose dates have not loaded yet. For the other thirteen it means a page without dates, and you deserve to know before you click.
One boat under two names, and what has been fixed
River Beatrice was rebuilt and renamed S.S. Beatrice in spring 2018, with a first departure on 4 April. Our two inventory entries carry exactly the same 252 itineraries: same dates, same durations, same routes. It is one hull. Same story for S.S. Antoinette, which also appeared as "Uniworld SS Antoinette". Since 31 August 2026 the old addresses redirect to the right ones: you reach the right boat even from an old link. Queen Isabel remains, present twice and carrying no departure on either side; that one is still waiting.
What we carry, measured
Thirty-four entries, 1,828 distinct departures across 529 dates and 187 routes, from 18 July 2026 to 30 December 2028. A departure, for us, is one boat on one date: our database holds far more records, and what we publish is departures. Only one hundred and eighty-seven routes: that is the nature of European river work, the same rivers and the same towns, where variety comes from dates rather than tracks.
The house, and why you see it aboard
Uniworld has belonged to The Travel Corporation since 2004 — the Tollman family group, which also owns Trafalgar, Contiki and a hotel collection. This is not merger trivia: the boats are decorated in the spirit of that hotel collection, no two suites are alike, and the house commits to a decorative stance other fleets avoid. They carry about one hundred and twenty people on average, which gives a crew ratio unusual even for river work. You know the staff by the second day, and there is nowhere to hide.
What the line says is included
Most meals, drinks aboard, a choice of excursions, Wi-Fi, airport transfers and gratuities. Pre- and post-cruise extensions, optional excursions and the spa are charged on top. We report what the line announces; we have not checked it departure by departure. Ask your advisor for the written list of the exact departure before booking.
The boats that carry the calendar
S.S. Bon Voyage leads with 300 records, ahead of S.S. La Venezia with 295 and S.S. São Gabriel with 281. S.S. Joie de Vivre follows with 221. All are rebuilt hulls of the recent generation: they are the ones working, while the older ones wait.
Three new ships in 2028
Uniworld launches three ships in 2028, taking the fleet to twenty-two hulls. The S.S. Helen and the S.S. Clara reuse the 135-metre hull of the S.S. Émilie: 154 guests, 57 crew, 77 staterooms. Helen is named for Helen of Troy and works the Rhine, the Moselle and the Danube; Clara takes its interiors from the Flemish painter Clara Peeters and runs the Rhine, the Moselle and the Main.
The third, the Mekong Mystique, sails Vietnam and Cambodia with 68 guests and 51 crew, close to one crew member per guest. It joins the Mekong Jewel on the river.
The 2028 collection also adds eight itineraries. The longest, Amsterdam to the Black Sea, links Amsterdam to Bucharest in thirty days and nine countries. Then come Eastern Europe Exploration (25 days), Danube East and West (18 days), Grand France Holiday (15 days), Empires of the Lower Danube (9 days), Dutch and Flemish Treasures (8 days), Moselle Holiday Markets (8 days) and Rhone Winter Holiday (8 days). Bookings opened in September 2026. To compare with the other river lines, see our Europe river cruise page.
