What could be more romantic than cruising down the Seine from the heart of Paris to Normandy? Sue Bryant soaks up the very French ambience on Uniworld’s Joie de Vivre.
This article was originally published in August 2017, and has been updated in September 2024 with new information.
I could be in any stylish Parisian street, chatting to friends in a cosy bistro with tiled flooring, red leather banquettes and red-and-white chequered tablecloths. Onion soup, pâté and steak au poivre are on the menu. And there’s a chilled glass of Provençal rosé in front of me.
The point of difference is I’m on a ship; Uniworld’s 128-passenger S.S. Joie de Vivre, a river cruiser that combines grand design statements with bold colour and complete immersion in French culture and cuisine.
The Joie de Vivre
Joie de Vivre was built 10 metres shorter than typical Seine river cruisers so it can moor in the heart of Paris, where a tight turn is required to spin round and head downstream and deep into the Normandy countryside. Just along from where I’m eating, the Eiffel Tower pierces a deep blue sky. I’d cycled past it earlier on an energising ride on the banks of the Seine. So I’d certainly worked up an appetite for lunch in Le Bistrot, one of four dining venues on board. Top marks to Uniworld for embracing the spirit of France.
Joie de Vivre was christened by godmother Dame Joan Collins in 2016. And she imbued the ceremony with lashings of old-fashioned glamour. That sums up this very stylish ship, which embodies Gallic flair from the 1930s through to the 1960s. “It’s a tribute to the design, art, food and wine of France – everything I love,” says Toni Tollman, who designs the interiors of all Uniworld’s ships.
The idea, Tollman says, was to have the finish of a Riva yacht, all polished walnut and gleaming metal. The top of the bar in the Salon Toulouse is solid bronze. The staircase was inspired by the one in the Plaza Athénée, a legendary Parisian hotel, while the corridors are adorned with original political cartoons by Sem, a famous French caricaturist from the early 1900s. Bathrooms are grey-and-white marble, with luxurious under-floor heating. “Joie de Vivre is like a grand hotel in Paris in the ’40s or ’50s; a grand ocean liner; a superyacht on the Seine,” Tollman declared. “We don’t do plastic.”
Onboard the Joie de Vivre
Joie de Vivre has an intimate feel, with just 54 staterooms and 10 suites, but it’s surprisingly spacious. The airy main lounge, Le Salon Toulouse, is all gleaming wood, deep pinks and big vases of red roses. The aft lounge, with wicker seating and motifs of tropical greenery, has multiple purposes – and names. It’s Club l’Esprit during the day, when there’s early morning yoga, fresh juices and all-day coffee in a sunny, glass-enclosed aft area, and a tiny pool with a powerful jet. By night, the venue becomes Claude’s. The floor of the pool is raised hydraulically. It creates an intimate dining space, a cocktail bar with dance floor and on some nights, movie theatre, where French films are screened.
The boat has a remarkable array of dining choices. In addition to Le Pigalle, the main restaurant, and Le Bistrot, there’s a private dining/cookery experience, La Cave des Vins, held in the wine tasting room on Jules Verne deck. Up to 12 guests don chefs’ aprons and hats and are assigned tasks, assisted by the ship’s chefs, to create a wine-paired feast including pork terrine, Normandy fish soup, calvados sorbet, tenderloin of beef with potato gratin and a Normandy apple tart. There’s also evening dining in Claude’s, where you can try sharing dishes such as baked camembert and duck cassoulet.
The Joie de Vivre offerings
Mercifully, the ship carries a fleet of bicycles and I cycled wherever I could, joining guided jaunts along the river in Rouen and Caudebec-en-Caux as well as Paris. Excursions are included in the cruise fare, from the many attractions of Paris to a day trip to Mont St Michel, the dazzling Monet garden at Giverny and the Normandy landing beaches.
We drove through the bucolic Normandy countryside, all thatched cottages, apple orchards and contented-looking cows grazing, and sat by the water in the gorgeous little fishing port of Honfleur, drinking cafe au lait in brilliant sunshine. The perfect setting to conjure up a sense of true joie de vivre.
Fact file
CRUISE LINE: Uniworld
VESSEL: S.S. Joie de Vivre
PASSENGER CAPACITY: 128
TOTAL CREW: 52
PASSENGER DECKS: 4
ENTERED SERVICE: 2017
FACILITIES: Pool, spa, gym, bicycles, sun deck, wine tasting room, open seating dining room, bistro, two bars, nightclub, Wi-Fi.
The verdict
Highs: Immersive itinerary with excellent choice of excursions. Beautifully designed ship. All-inclusive pricing.
Lows: Although you can eat healthily if you choose carefully, the food is exceptionally rich.
Best suited to: Singles or couples; lovers of military history; artists; romantics.
2025 itinerary highlights
Ultimate France: 22 Days | Bordeaux to Arles
This is the perfect journey for those seeking the crème de la crème of France. This triumvirate of France brings you the very best of each region—Paris and the Normandy coast in the north, vineyard-rich Bordeaux in the southwest, and the sun-drenched Mediterranean delights of Burgundy and Provence.
A Portrait of Majestic France 15 Days | Bordeaux to Paris
The quintessential voyage for gourmets, oenophiles, and lovers of all things French. This picture-perfect journey blends art, culture, and gastronomy with a broad sweep of lovely French landscapes. Travel from beautiful Bordeaux and delight in the countryside of southwest France.
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