Uniworld River Cruises
River Beatrice Cruise Review
River Beatrice Review
by Nancy Norris
Uniworld's River Beatrice
I was very excited when a
friend recently invited me to join her on an “Enchanting
Danube River” cruise with Uniworld. Having never visited any
of the countries on this itinerary, not to mention sailing
on the River Beatrice, named the best new river ship in
2009, I eagerly anticipated the experience. Having been on
over 60 ocean cruises, but only one other river cruise
before (a tulip river cruise from Amsterdam), I am a
relative novice to river cruising. Reflective of my previous
experiences, this review is comprised of a comparison of my
2 river cruises, as well as, identifying the unique
differences from cruising on ocean vessels.
Our cruise began in Budapest
and having never been there, I flew into the city three days
early. My roommate joined me one day later. Based on reviews
and its prime location around the corner from the main
pedestrian street and Central Market and within walking
distance of the International Cruise Pier, we stayed at the
Boutique Hotel Zara. It proved to be a perfect choice for
exploring the city on foot and ease of access to public
transportation.
Danube River Cruise Pier
The Ship
First Impression:
WOW! It's hard to believe that
a ship as small as this could produce the “Wow factor” that
some of the world's largest cruise ships evoke. However, the
minute I stepped aboard the River Beatrice I was struck by
its awesome beauty. Entering on Danube Deck 3 the first
thing I noticed was an exquisite Murano glass chandelier
that adorned the two-story atrium lobby.
Lobby Chandelier
The lobby is further enhanced
by a brown, burgundy and cream fine Italian marble floor, a
reception desk of hand-crafted solid wood panels and
patterned walls with original works of art. The combined
effect creates an entrance that is airy and light yet exudes
pure elegance.
Reception
It took only a few minutes to
be checked in, given our keys and escorted to our stateroom
on Rhine Deck 4. Our luggage was delivered moments later.
Staterooms:
We were assigned Category #1
stateroom #427 with a French balcony (the category just
below a suite). The stateroom was luxuriously appointed in
made-to-order English “Savoir” beds and upholstered walls of
gold striped fabric.
Stateroom
With high thread count
Egyptian cotton linens, soft duvets, cashmere blankets and
plush robes, the River Beatrice staterooms offer the
ultimate in comfort.
Luxury Bedding
Although the staterooms are
definitely beautiful, at 150 sq. ft. the quarters are a bit
tight. We had our beds configured into 2 twins and there was
less than 6 inches between the two beds. Due to the lack of
space, it was impossible to actually use the 2 chairs and
small table located next to the French balcony. Although
they were attractive, in my opinion, this additional
furniture only serves to clutter the limited space. On the
other hand, double closets and multiple drawers provided
exceptional storage that was more than ample for 2 persons.
A flat screen TV, hair dryer, umbrellas and safe are
standard in all staterooms.
The attractive marble bathroom
is well-equipped with a magnifying mirror, nice
glass-enclosed shower and stocked with L'Occitane bath
products.
TIP: Be careful not to
hang both plush robes on the hooks on the bathroom door.
Apparently, their combined weight and placement cause the
door to lock, and for some reason the door is unable to be
unlocked from the inside of the bathroom AND requires a key
from housekeeping to unlock. I'm not sure what I would have
done had this happened to me when my roommate was out of the
room! Hmm, seems to me this is a mechanical situation that
needs to be addressed.
In addition to the 17 Category
#1 Staterooms, the River Beatrice has 31 Category #2 and #3
staterooms also with French balconies on Deck 3 and 13
Category #4 and #5 Staterooms (window only) on Deck 2 that
all measure 150 sq. ft. There are 14 Suites measuring 225
sq. ft. and 1 Owner's Suite that measures 300 sq. ft. Suites
offer extra amenities, such as additional TVs with private
DVD, in-room coffee machine and refrigerator. The Owner's
Suite bathroom has a separate rain shower and tub and towel
warmer.
Public Space:
Once we settled in, a tour of
the rest of the ship was in order. So, we decided to start
at the top of the ship and work our way down.
The Sun Deck:
Classy and comfortable, the sun deck has
numerous wrought iron loungers with thick cushions set under
3 large sun tents.
Sun Deck Loungers
There also multiple wrought
iron tables with padded chairs scattered across the deck,
perfect for sharing the passing scenery with other guests or
dining al fresco.
Sun Deck Forward
The Sun Deck also has a large
deck chessboard and shuffleboard court for guests to enjoy.
While these are nice touches, I would have preferred a hot
tub, like there is on many other river vessels.
Sun Deck Chessboard
Rhine Deck (4):
In addition to staterooms, the Captain's
Lounge, located in the rear of the ship has a full bar and
one of the two complimentary 24-hour specialty coffee and
tea bars. This space is often used for private receptions
and meetings. When not in use for groups, it is a great spot
to relax, read or enjoy the passing scenery from the floor
to ceiling windows that enclose the space.
Captain's Club Lounge
A very comfortable library is
tucked into a corner of the Captain's Lounge. There are two
computer terminals there, for those who did not bring their
own laptop. The Captain's Lounge is also one of the wi-fi
hot spots on the ship.
Library
A hallway, richly appointed
with silk walls and original artwork leads from the Captains
Lounge, past the staterooms to the front of the ship.
Rhine Deck Hall
At the front end of this hall
another 24 complimentary coffee and tea bars can be found.
There is also a water station for refilling your individual
water bottles that are provided in your staterooms.
Coffee Station
As we exit the hallway and
walk across the upper level of the two-story atrium, doors
on both the port and starboard side open into the tasteful
and richly furnished Main Lounge.
Lounge Furniture
Custom-designed carpet, dark
wood paneled walls, tapestry sofas and red velvet chairs
arranged in multiple conversational banks provide the
perfect setting for pre-dinner cocktails, nighttime
entertainment and enrichment lectures.
Main Lounge
Lounge Bar
Danube Deck (3):
Directly below the Main Lounge is “The
Restaurant”. Stark white furniture and décor and floor to
ceiling windows on both port and starboard sides make for an
elegant, yet light and airy dining venue. Guests enjoy open
seating dining for all meals. A breakfast buffet was
typically served between 7-9 AM and the choices remained the
same all week. There was also an omelet station and/or
guests could order the breakfast specialty of the day from
the waiter. The lunch buffet was usually served between
12:30 and 2:00 (dependent on the shore excursion schedule).
Lunch was typically cold meats, cheeses and salads, soups
and an occasional hot item. There is also a very limited a
la carte menu. A four course dinner was served each evening
between 7-9 PM. Dining choices tended to reflect regional
cuisine, but a steak and chicken entree were available every
evening. Complimentary regional wine (one red and white
selection nightly) was served with dinner.
The Restaurant
Exiting the restaurant, we
find ourselves in the lobby/reception area. Opposite the
reception desk is an elevator and small gift boutique. The
remainder of this deck is devoted to Category 2 & 3
staterooms.
Elevator and Gift Shop
From here, one can take the
elevator or stairs down to the lowest level of guest space
on the ship.
Moselle Deck (2):
At the bottom of the stairs, in the
forward portion of the ship, the River Beatrice offers a
compact self-service laundry room, small fitness center and
a single massage room.
Laundry Room
Fitness Center
Miscellaneous Touches:
 The
elevator is only operable to get between decks 2, 3 and 4,
but does not access the sun deck. However, the Sun Deck is
handicap accessible via a chair lift on one of the outside
stairwells.
Accessible Stairs
While
there is only a single massage room, the masseuse travels
around the ship offering complimentary mini-massages. A
great treat after a long day of sightseeing treks.
Deck Massage
Staterooms
are equipped with both 110 and 220 volt electrical outlets.
Wireless
internet access is available in public areas of the ship. It
is reasonably priced at 15 Euro for a 7 night sailing.
Although we had relatively good reception throughout the
cruise, apparently there had been problems in the past. In
addition to the two computer terminals in the library, the
ship has 2 laptops available for guests. Consequently, based
on past guests complaints, we were granted access for the
whole week and were not charged. TIP: While there is no
wireless access in the staterooms, there is an ethernet
outlet in the room. Bring your own cable and you can have
unlimited access in your room.
The Ship Experience
Bicycles For Guests Use in
Port
OK, there is no doubt that
this is one of the most beautiful river ships plying the
rivers today, however, did the cruise experience match its
beauty? Unfortunately, my experience received mixed reviews.
Staff and Service:
The River Beatrice has a very hard working
crew that did their best to accommodate the needs of all
guests. Captain Tom Buining was professional, yet friendly
and approachable. With a warm smile, he was always the first
to welcome us back from shore excursions. For me (and those
I was traveling with), Cruise Director, Markus Schindelegger,
was the one person that made this cruise memorable. His
professionalism, charming personality, organizational skills
and unbelievable patience places him at the very top of
my list of “Best Cruise Directors”. I was less enchanted
with Emilia, the Hotel Manager. Granted much of her role is
taking care of behind the scenes business, still, her public
persona was cool, somewhat detached and less than receptive.
Captain's Farewell
The housekeeping staff as a
whole was friendly, yet efficient and very detailed
oriented. I was amazed watching a team clean one of the
suites and noticed one person using a Q-tip to clean the
crevices in furniture detailing, etc. I would have to give
cleanliness of the entire ship an “A”. The dining room staff
was another story. With the exception of a few “experienced
crew”, most of the staff was new and, as such, it showed. In
fairness, this was the first sailing of the season and as a
“shakedown cruise” there is always a learning curve. The
inconsistent service was not due to lack of trying, and as
the days wore on, the staff did relax a bit and became more
efficient. As an agent, I could deal with the less than
stellar service, but I would be concerned if my clients were
subjected to the same service.
Food:
This was the weakest aspect of the cruise. This cruise was
promoted as their “Epicurean Adventurer Program” so I was
anticipating a culinary extravaganza. The program itself
consisted of a private wine tasting at Domäne Wachau, one
apple strudel demonstration in the lounge and a special
wine-and-food pairing dinner. The wine-and-food-pairing
dinner alone was a huge disappointment. Service was
intolerably slow as the dining staff tried to hold off
serving each course to coincide with the pouring of each
wine and a brief dialogue from the restaurant manager. Since
food in each section of the dining room seemed to be served
at various times and speeds, the whole evening was
disjointed and the wines seemed like an afterthought, rather
than a complement to the food. Main course choices for “The
Epicurean Dinner” included roast rack of lamb, steamed fried
fillet grouper and Austrian egg “grostl” (roasted potatoes
with egg omelet).
The menus offered variety and
showed creativity, but fell short in their delivery. I am
not an exceptionally “picky eater”, but I found most of the
food to be overcooked, dry and bland. Mistakes like offering
essence of chicken with ravioli and beans or cream of
spinach florentine soups and delivering clear chicken broth
with a couple of croutons and cream of spinach florentine
with beans and ravioli makes me cautious when considering
this cruise for clients (particularly since it is promoted
as an “epicurean adventure”). To that end, guests who were
frequent Uniworld cruisers were in agreement that the food
on this particular cruise was lacking in quality but assured
me that this is not normally the case. Of course, for the
sake of research, this will necessitate a need for me to
take another Uniworld cruise to verify the facts. (Gee, I
wonder how soon I can make that happen?)
While I was disappointed in
the food, the complimentary wine choices, on the other hand,
were excellent.
Entertainment:
Zoltan, a very talented piano player,
entertained us in the lounge each evening, both before and
after dinner. His repertoire was extensive and was able to
play music that appealed to his audience, keeping us on the
dance floor late into the night. We were treated to some
“bonus entertainment” compliments of other guests. Some
extremely talented guests performed vocals with the pianist
each evening. (Definitely not your typical “quiet” evening
on a river vessel) On two nights, we were treated to
external entertainment from local professionals. We found
the enrichment lectures and port talks offered during the
day to be quite informative and interesting. Of course,
watching the passing scenery, traveling through the locks
and soaking in the Danube ambiance was all the entertainment
needed to make the cruise magical.
The Cruise Itinerary
Buda Palace
Day 1 (Overnight in Budapest):
Since we had had made our own air
arrangements and chosen to arrive a few days early, we could
not take advantage of the airport transfers provided by the
cruise line and would make our own arrangements to board the
ship. Unfortunately, our ship was not docked at the
International Pier within walking distance of our hotel, but
was located at a pier on the Buda side of the Danube. With
the ship scheduled to overnight in Budapest, we decided to
make the most of our time in port and spent the afternoon at
the Gellert Baths. We had already visited Syzchenyi Baths
earlier during our stay and highly recommend a trip to one
of the thermal baths in the city as something that all
visitors to Budapest should experience.
Gellert Baths
Arriving at the ship late in
the afternoon, we were warmly greeted by Captain Buining,
master of the vessel and Marcus Schindelegger, the enigmatic
Cruise Director.
Budapest View From
Fisherman's Bastion
Day 2 (Budapest):
This morning we took the included city bus/walking tour
of Budapest. Highlights included a visit to Heroes' Square,
a pipe organ concert and a walk around Castle Hill, winding
up at Fisherman's Bastion for panoramic views of the city.
Since we were docked on the Buda side of the Danube, a
complimentary water shuttle service was provided to allow
guests to return to the Pest side to spend the afternoon at
their leisure. The River Beatrice set sail for Vienna at
6:00 PM.
Vienna Opera House
Day 3 (Vienna Overnight):
We spent the day sailing the Danube at a
leisure pace, viewing the bridges, locks and picturesque
city of Slovakia as we meandered up the Danube on our way to
Vienna. We arrived in Vienna a little before 7 PM and
shortly thereafter boarded buses to attend a classical music
performance of Mozart and Strauss in a Vienna Concert Hall.
This optional shore tour was an auditory and visual treat,
as we listened to traditional Austrian music, performed
beautifully by a talented orchestra and accompanied by
costumed dancers and accomplished singers. The evening ended
with a narrated drive along the brightly lit Ringstrasse on
our return to the ship.
Hofburg Palace
Day 4 (Vienna):
First thing this morning we boarded buses for
a brief overview of the city as we made our way to the
Museum Quarter, where we began a walking tour. Highlights of
the walk included the Austrian National Library, Hofburg
Palace and St. Stephen's Cathedral. We returned to the ship
for lunch, and while some passengers chose to visit
Schönbrunn Palace in the afternoon, we chose to return to
city center via the nearby subway to explore this
magnificent city on our own. The ship set sail at midnight
for Dürnstein.
Durnstein
Day 5 (Dürnstein, cruising Wachau
Valley and Melk): This was one of
my favorite port days. Dürnstein is one of the smallest
towns in Austria, but perhaps one of the most picturesque.
Our morning began with a guided walk with Markus, our Cruise
Director, in search of samples of apricot brandy. We
returned to the pier, just in time to board a mini-train to
Domäne Wachau Winery for a private tour and wine tasting.
Wachau Valley
At 12:30 PM our ship departed
Dürnstein and we spent the afternoon on the Sun Deck
marveling at the beauty of the scenic Wachau Valley as we
sailed to Melk. (I know, apricot brandy and wine tasting
before noon, followed by cruising amidst breathtakingly
beautiful landscape – no wonder this was one of my favorite
port days.)
Melk Abbey
Arriving in Melk in the
afternoon, we enjoyed a tour of Melk Abbey to top off a
marvelous day.
Linz Main Square
Day 6 (Linz and Salzburg):
The included tour today was a full day tour of Salzburg.
Unfortunately, I was a bit under the weather and chose not
to take the 2 hour bus ride to Salzburg. There were only 7
other passengers that had chosen not to take the tour, so
the ship was VERY quiet. For those who chose to stay behind,
the ship was docked within walking distance of Linz's Old
Town. This made for a very pleasant mid-afternoon stroll
around Hauptplatz, a very attractive closed square in the
center of Old Town.
Passau
Day 7 (Passau Overnight):
Located where the Danube, Ilz and Inn
Rivers converge, the charming city of Passau was an
unexpected treat. Cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways
wind through the city all of which seem to lead to Dom St.
Stephen. This majestic cathedral was a highlight of our
walking tour. I spent the afternoon strolling around the
streets of this compact city, sampling Bavarian pretzels and
local beer, shopping for souvenirs and people watching. In
the evening the ship repositioned to a dock outside the city
to allow for easy disembarkation the next day.
Day 8 (Munich Departure):
Departure transfers to the Munich airport were provided by
Uniworld. I had a 9:20 AM flight home from Munich, which
necessitated a 5 AM departure from the ship. Having gotten
my first taste of the romantic Danube and the charming river
towns of Eastern Europe, I was sorry to see the cruise end.
While I am definitely still an ocean cruise gal, I am
looking forward to more river cruises in my future.
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