From Paris to Istanbul · Europe (River) · 13 nights
From Paris to Istanbul
Uniquely designed and decorated, with an exceptional attention to detail, S.S. Joie de Vivre has been crafted to reflect the specific area in which she operates.
S.S. Joie de Vivre is a French-inspired vessel in the Uniworld
Boutique River Cruise Collection, offering a luxury experience on
the Seine. The decor is stylish but understated, inspired by 20th
century Parisian design, and staterooms are surprisingly spacious,
with a cleverly designed French balcony opening the room to the
outside. Dining at the main Restaurant Le Pigalle and the café
style Le Bistrot is an absolute treat, and the spa and wellness
centre undergoes a miraculous transformation every evening to
become Claude’s, a glitzy cocktail bar and supper club.
Paris is a joyful expression of all that is glorious about France, a city of rarified tastes, romantic riverside walks and the occasional rather rude waiter. Although the sights will be familiar even to first-time visitors, this does nothing to lessen their impact; a word like 'iconic' doesn't quite do justice to that first glimpse of Gustave Eiffel's famous tower looming over the Seine. Culture vultures will be in seventh heaven, with a plethora of galleries and museums housing some of the finest art collections in the world, and the restaurant scene is absolutely first class.
The picturesque town of Vernon, with its timber-framed houses and medieval church, is a pleasant place for a riverside stroll, but most visitors are just passing through en route to Claude Monet’s house and beautiful gardens in the nearby village of Giverny.
Rouen has endured a turbulent history: it was here that Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake in 1431, and much of the city was destroyed during World War II. Many cruise visitors head straight for Paris, an hour away by train, which is a shame since there’s so much to see in Rouen, including a beautiful cathedral and the atmospheric Medieval quarter.
Rouen has endured a turbulent history: it was here that Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake in 1431, and much of the city was destroyed during World War II. Many cruise visitors head straight for Paris, an hour away by train, which is a shame since there’s so much to see in Rouen, including a beautiful cathedral and the atmospheric Medieval quarter.
Paris is a joyful expression of all that is glorious about France, a city of rarified tastes, romantic riverside walks and the occasional rather rude waiter. Culture vultures will be in seventh heaven, with a plethora of galleries and museums housing some of the finest art collections in the world, and the restaurant scene is absolutely first class.
Formerly the centre of the Habsburg Empire, Vienna is as grand a European capital as you can imagine, jam packed full of thrusting, bombastic buildings that stand as a reminder of Austria’s glorious imperial heyday.
Belgrade has been invaded and occupied dozens of times over the centuries, a fact that's reflected in the mish-mash of architectural styles, from Ottoman and Art Nouveau to grim relics of the communist era. But Belgrade is also a city with real soul, emerging from a difficult recent history as one of Europe’s most exciting capitals.
Istanbul is the place where East meets West, where Asia Minor reaches out across the Bosphorus and almost touches Europe, and the city remains a bristling, bustling cultural melting pot, the skyline dotted with magnificent minarets and domes.
