Review: Uniworld’s Super Ship, SS Elisabeth

Uniworld River Cruises’ SS Elisabeth launched in spring 2025, joining sister ship SS Victoria – they are both part of the line’s ‘Super Ship’ fleet and look identical from the outside, but each has its own bespoke details – on the Rhine.

SS Elisabeth is a departure from Uniworld’s trademark sumptuous décor (showcased on board SS Antoinette), offering a different form of luxury – the luxury of space. SS Elisabeth carries just 110 passengers, rather than the typical 150-190 you usually find on ships of this size.

Even more remarkably, all of SS Elisabeth’s sailings out of Amsterdam run entirely on plant oil and recycled cooking oil and fats – as do SS Victoria and SS Antoinette’s itineraries departing from the Dutch capital – thereby reducing the vessel’s carbon footprint by approximately 80 per cent.

Overall score: 8/10

Style and character:

Befitting a ship with so much space, SS Elisabeth has a light, modern, open feel. The lounge, especially, is unusually bright and airy thanks to its unique glass roof, and features nested cream chairs with dashes of blue and elegant stripe detail. The contemporary classic look with art deco twists extends to the spiral staircase and dining room, where you can always secure a table for two.

Cabins:

Save for the 16 smaller cabins, all are unusually large and well sound-insulated. Expect king-size beds (with a choice of pillows) facing the window, walk-in wardrobes, double basins, showers with handrails, Nespresso machines, kettles, and complimentary minibars.

Windows slide down (rather than across), so you don’t get the full Juliet balcony feel, but the air conditioning is easy to use and responsive. Panelled walls and concealed ceiling and floor lights keep the restful feel.

Food and drink:

SS Elisabeth has just one dining room, which, with its wave and beach motifs and velvet brass-studded dining chairs in teal, helps to create an intimate feel (it’s split in two by a central section).

At breakfast, there’s a choice of eggs or the day’s special alongside a buffet. Lunch is also served buffet-style: expect a solid if uninspiring choice of chicken, fish, or roast of the day, as well as a vegetarian and salad offering.

Four-course, waiter-served dinners include local specialities such as foie gras and escargots in France alongside classics like tender beef sirloin and lava pudding – all accompanied by some superb local wines.

Elsewhere, the main lounge bar is incredibly well stocked, with cocktails and branded spirits included in the fare, as well as a wide non-alcoholic selection. The more functional bistro bar is good for grabbing a coffee and pastry before and after excursions, while the sun deck bar opens for longer sailings.

Service and facilities:

SS Elisabeth is staffed by 51 crew – the same number as ships carrying twice as many passengers – who are friendly and attentive.

Facilities include a decent gym (rowing and cycling machines, bands, balls, a bench, and weights are all present and correct) while gentle yoga and stretch classes take place every morning on either the sun deck or lounge dance-floor, depending on the season. You’ll also find a spacious indoor pool with sunlit glass walls and powerful jets that, unexpectedly, is open 24/7. Eight bicycles are available to borrow too.

Entertainment and excursions:

Sadly, the Steinway piano was left untouched on my sailing, with entertainment limited to three acts: a convivial trio of Dutch crooners performing big band favourites; a singer-guitarist belting out American country and rock requests; and a violinist playing beautiful classical versions of movie themes and rock ballads.

The ‘Make Travel Matter’ excursions, however, were a highlight. My night-time trip to Rheinstein Castle included an introduction by the owner, who had plenty of stories he was only too happy to regale us with.

Elsewhere, the vinegar tasting tour in Venningen, where we donned medieval-style capes for a tour of the cellars, was equally unique and informative.

Value for money:

Almost everything is covered in your fare, from drinks and excursions to gratuities – although the American guests on my sailing still tipped the tour guides.

Excursions in Uniworld’s Masterpiece Collection cost extra and include a trip to the Black Forest (£122) to see how cuckoo clocks – which were invented here in 1738 by Franz Ketterer – are made, as well as a day-long cookery course (£155) in Venningen. Here you’ll learn how to cook with vinegar, explore different types, and discover flavour profiles and culinary uses. These excursions run concurrently with the excellent complimentary tours, so you won’t miss out on exploring the destination du jour if you don’t book one.

Access for guests with disabilities?

An elegant but small cylindrical lift akin to the teleporter in Star Trek links all cabins to the lounge and dining room, but not the spa or sun deck, from which some excursions depart. Cabins are spacious and have bathrooms featuring showers with handrails.

Family-friendly?

Uniworld was one of the first to offer family-friendly river voyages with its Generations family programme aimed at tempting younger guests on board. Interconnecting cabins also help make SS Elisabeth suitable for families.

This story was originally published in The Telegraph UK