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Uniworld River Cruises

S.S. Catherine

Intimate ship Bliss scored

The sophisticated S.S. Catherine is a perfect fit for high-end Uniworld's award-winning collection of boutique river cruise ships. The vessel is named in honor of the legendary French actress Catherine Deneuve (the French starlet christened the ship on her…

  • 159guests
  • 5,000gross tons
  • 4cruises now
  • $3,349fares from

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Uniworld's S.S. Catherine cruises the Douro River past Porto, Portugal.

At a glance

S.S. Catherine is an intimate-size cruise ship operated by Uniworld River Cruises, in service since 2013. It carries 159 guests and 57 crew (2.8 guests per crew member) at 5,000 gross tons. It is the largest of 17 Uniworld River Cruises ships by guest capacity. On Cruiseable's Bliss scale it scores highest for cultural, dining, romantic and staterooms (8/10) and lowest for family friendly (0/10). It is rated 5 out of 5 by Cruiseable. It has 4 cruises on sale, with lead fares from $3,349 to $3,999.

Builder's plate

Specs

Cruiseable
5 / 5
Guests
159
Crew
57
Gross tons
5,000
Decks
3
Length
443 ft
Beam
38 ft
Maiden voyage
2013
Launched
2014
Refurbished
1969
Space ratio
2.8
Gross tons per guest
Guests per crew
2.8

Bliss scores

What S.S. Catherine is best at

Ten dimensions scored by our editors on a 10-point scale. The Cruiseable app ranks every cruise against the mix you care about.

  1. Active 7.0
  2. Adventure and nature 5.0
  3. Cultural 8.0
  4. Dining 8.0
  5. Entertainment 4.0
  6. Family friendly 0.0
  7. Party 5.0
  8. Romantic 8.0
  9. Spa and fitness 5.0
  10. Staterooms 8.0

Our review

Uniworld's S.S. Catherine: Luxury sailings in the South of France

The sophisticated S.S. Catherine is a perfect fit for high-end Uniworld's award-winning collection of boutique river cruise ships. The  vessel is named in honor of the legendary French actress Catherine Deneuve (the French starlet christened the ship on its inaugural voyage in 2014).

Designed with Uniworld's signature touches, this ultra-luxurious ship marks the debut of an entirely new category of river cruising. Uniworld seeks to create a unique experience with decor and design, ensuring that all ships have distinctive personalities. For S.S. Catherine, the image is elegant, comfortable, colorful and whimsical. Leopard print banquettes mesh well with Empire furniture and colorful modern styles. 

The  443-foot, 159-passenger S.S. Catherine was many years in the making, meticulously engineered and lavishly decorated with fine-crafted furnishings, hand-selected antiques, original paintings, and an indoor swimming pool with an intricate mosaic tile backsplash. The S.S. Catherine also showcases an extensive art collection and many other opulent touches, including a hand-blown Murano glass chandelier and life-size glass horses that were specially commissioned for the ship.

Where S.S. Catherine sails

Destinations: Uniworld's S.S. Catherine features the 7-night "Burgundy and Provence" itinerary, sailing the history-rich Rhone River in France between Arles and Lyon and calling on such historic places as Avignon in Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur and Viviers in Burgundy. See more details about itineraries and shore excursions below.  

Read the full review
Arles, France, seen from the top of the Roman Amphitheatre.
Arles, France, seen from the top of the Roman Amphitheatre. tpholland / Creative Commons BY

Public spaces

In the lobby/atrium, a magnificent Murano chandelier captures the attention as a glass elevator moves up and down alongside a glittering waterfall. A long expanse of mirrors and white marble is complemented by original and antique artworks.

Public areas, named for renowned French artists, include the Van Gogh Lounge, with velvet love seats for gatherings and enjoying entertainment; the top deck’s Matisse Terrace, for soaking up a drifting gallery of soft-edged scenes that have inspired countless paintings; and the Cezanne Restaurant.

Dining, lounges & bars

Cézanne Restaurant on the Avignon deck, is the main dining venue for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are two options: A lavish buffet with stations for hot food and cold salads (breakfast is Continental or English) and also a menu for a la carte fare. At dinner, the restaurant is menu service only. The cuisine on board is continental, with a contemporary flair. The restaurant is home to culinary specialties featuring fresh ingredients from local farmers’ markets and signature recipes that come straight from Beatrice Tollman’s own perfected collection, such as tasty chicken pot pie and honeycomb ice cream.

Bar du Leopard has a full-service bar. The lounge serves as the ship's secondary eatery, dance venue and main gathering spot. It is clubby and yet also funky, thanks to the leopard-print fabrics, elephant-head bar rails and other safari-themed fixtures. The room’s most striking feature is an indoor pool, accented by a wall-art recreation of a whimsical and wildly colorful jungle.

Van Gogh Lounge has a full-service bar. 

 

The ancient Roman aqueduct bridge, Pont du Gard, crossing the Gardon River in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France.
The ancient Roman aqueduct bridge, Pont du Gard, crossing the Gardon River in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France. Bernard Liegeois / Courtesy of Sud de France Developpement

Shore excursions

Excursions are varied and include Van Gogh's Arles, Lyon’s Les Halles food market and a fairytale kayak trip under the arches of the 2,000-year-old Pont du Gard outside of Avignon.

Uniworld's Go Active program emphasizes use of the ship's bicycles and Nordic walking sticks (which are also available to all passengers, free of charge, when not in use for tours) as well as hiking and kayaking. For passengers who prefer to move more slowly, there are also complimentary Gentle Walking Tours. All tours are led by knowledgeable local guides. 

Fields of Lavender on D56 between Puimoisson and Valensole, France.
Fields of Lavender on D56 between Puimoisson and Valensole, France. Mike Slone / Creative Commons BY

Staterooms & suites

The ship features 61 staterooms designated Categories 1-3 (194 square feet) and 13 staterooms designated Categories 4-5 (162 sq. ft.). Category 1 staterooms and suites have full open-air balconies; Categories 2 and 3 have French balconies. (Category 5 rates begin at $3,349 per person.) Five suites are available at 305 square feet, and the Royal Suite measures 410 sq. ft.; they all come with your own butler.

All staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoir of England beds, 100% Egyptian cotton linens and a choice of pillows. Other amenities include built-in closets, hair dryer, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment center and satellite, bottled water and a safe. Marble bathrooms feature L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmers, heated mirrors, and bathrobes and slippers.

All suites are uniquely decorated and have additional amenities and services, including full breakfast menu, daily fruit and cookie plate, elegant evening snack, robes and slippers, iPod docking station, Nespresso coffee machine and fine teas, fully stocked mini bar, free laundry and shoe shine service, bottle of wine upon arrival, Hermés bath products, one-per-person in-suite well-being treatment, and a special dinner in Bar du Leopard.

The Royal Suite offers additional benefits, including a separate and spacious living room, and a bathroom with a separate rain shower and tub, as well as a secluded toilet and bidet area.

Uniworld's S.S. Catherine features Category 2 staterooms with French balconies on the Camargue Deck.
Uniworld's S.S. Catherine features Category 2 staterooms with French balconies on the Camargue Deck. Courtesy of Uniworld River Cruises

Spa & fitness

  • Heated swimming pool 
  • Fitness center 
  • Serenity River Spa

Additional amenities 

  • Guest laundry
  • Elevator
  • 24-hour specialty coffee and tea bar
  • Free Internet and Wi-Fi access

Your take

How about you? Have you sailed on S.S. Catherine? Did you find it magnifique or meh? We'd like to hear about your experience.

Recommend magazine contributed to this review. Help improve this article. See anything wrong? What did we overlook? Be a co-creator!

Interested in a cruise on this ship?

Interested in a cruise on S.S. Catherine? Contact a Cruiseable travel expert who'll go to work for you at no cost. Call 1-877-322-3883 or email us.

 

SEE ALL S.S. CATHERINE SAILINGS

On board highlights

Dining

Where to eat on S.S. Catherine

Photos

Inside and out

Destinations 5

  • The cathedral in Avignon, France, dates from the 12th century.
    The cathedral in Avignon, France, dates from the 12th century.
  • A shot of the iconic lavender fields in Provence, in the South of France.
    A shot of the iconic lavender fields in Provence, in the South of France.
  • Discover the classic French enclave of Avignon on a cruise along the Rhône River aboard Uniworld. This city in the South of France served as the seat of the papacy in the 1300s.
    Discover the classic French enclave of Avignon on a cruise along the Rhône River aboard Uniworld. This city in the South of France served as the seat of the papacy in the 1300s.
  • The Alyscamps is a large Roman necropolis, which is a short distance outside the walls of the old town of Arles, France.
    The Alyscamps is a large Roman necropolis, which is a short distance outside the walls of the old town of Arles, France.
  • Uniworld's S.S. Catherine features luxury itineraries through Burgundy and Provence, France.
    Uniworld's S.S. Catherine features luxury itineraries through Burgundy and Provence, France.

Dining 2

  • Dining on board Uniworld's S.S. Catherine on the Douro River of Portugal.
    Dining on board Uniworld's S.S. Catherine on the Douro River of Portugal.
  • The dining room of Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
    The dining room of Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.

On board 10

  • Bar du Leopard on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
    Bar du Leopard on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
  • The "wild" pool on the S.S. Catherine, a Uniworld cruise ship.
    The "wild" pool on the S.S. Catherine, a Uniworld cruise ship.
  • The Royal Suite of the S.S. Catherine.
    The Royal Suite of the S.S. Catherine.
  • The Van Gogh Lounge on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
    The Van Gogh Lounge on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
  • The Van Gogh Lounge on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
    The Van Gogh Lounge on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
  • Get wild at the Bar du Leopard aboard your river cruise on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
    Get wild at the Bar du Leopard aboard your river cruise on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
  • The elegant, light-filled lobby of Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
    The elegant, light-filled lobby of Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
  •  Artwork in the Van Gogh Lounge aboard Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
    Artwork in the Van Gogh Lounge aboard Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
  • Socialize and enjoy a complimentary cocktail in S.S. Catherine's Van Gogh Lounge.
    Socialize and enjoy a complimentary cocktail in S.S. Catherine's Van Gogh Lounge.
  • Meet like-minded travelers in the posh Van Gogh Lounge on your S.S. Catherine voyage.
    Meet like-minded travelers in the posh Van Gogh Lounge on your S.S. Catherine voyage.

Ship exteriors 1

  • Uniworld's S.S. Catherine launched in 2014 cruising the Douro River of Portugal and the Bordeaux region of France.
    Uniworld's S.S. Catherine launched in 2014 cruising the Douro River of Portugal and the Bordeaux region of France.

Staterooms 7

  • A suite on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
    A suite on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
  • A suite on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
    A suite on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
  • A suite on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
    A suite on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
  • The Uniworld crew will ensure your stateroom is kept spotless during your sailing on S.S. Catherine.
    The Uniworld crew will ensure your stateroom is kept spotless during your sailing on S.S. Catherine.
  • A look at the well-appointed bathroom in the Royal Suite of Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
    A look at the well-appointed bathroom in the Royal Suite of Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
  • Relax in comfort in the Royal Suite of Uniworld's S.S. Catherine during your sailing in the South of France.
    Relax in comfort in the Royal Suite of Uniworld's S.S. Catherine during your sailing in the South of France.
  •  See the passing landscapes of Burgundy and Provence from the comfort of your suite during your S.S. Catherine adventure in France.
    See the passing landscapes of Burgundy and Provence from the comfort of your suite during your S.S. Catherine adventure in France.

More photos 8

  • Uniworld's S.S. Catherine cruises the Douro River past Porto, Portugal.
    Uniworld's S.S. Catherine cruises the Douro River past Porto, Portugal.
  • Uniworld's S.S. Catherine features Category 2 staterooms with French balconies on the Camargue Deck.
    Uniworld's S.S. Catherine features Category 2 staterooms with French balconies on the Camargue Deck.
  • The entry staircase on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
    The entry staircase on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
  • The heated pool of the S.S. Catherine is adjacent to Bar du Leopard.
    The heated pool of the S.S. Catherine is adjacent to Bar du Leopard.
  • The Van Gogh Lounge on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
    The Van Gogh Lounge on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
  • S.S. Catherine, part of the Uniworld fleet of river cruise ships, on a European river voyage.
    S.S. Catherine, part of the Uniworld fleet of river cruise ships, on a European river voyage.
  • The S.S. Catherine cruises the Rhone River past Avignon, France.
    The S.S. Catherine cruises the Rhone River past Avignon, France.
  • A suite on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.
    A suite on Uniworld's S.S. Catherine.

Side by side

Compare S.S. Catherine with

Overheard

“Choose this stylish river ship for a high-quality river cruise experience in line with other Uniworld’ river ships hallmarked by classic, elegant style. The ship features very space cabins, large bathrooms, heated indoor pool, whimsical artworks, and an ample choice of well-crafted meals.”

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