Frequently Asked Questions:
River Cruises

Your Travel Specialist can assist you with booking optional pre- or post-cruise land extensions on many itineraries. If you are traveling with a group of 10 or more guests, the cruise or tour itinerary may be customized to suit the group’s needs.

In many ports, your river ship is small enough to dock within easy walking distance of the historic city center. Elsewhere, the ship may need to dock farther away and a motorcoach transfer will be provided. There may be times when your ship moors next to another ship or between ships, especially in busy ports. Docking locations are determined by the local harbor authorities, not Uniworld or the ship’s captain.

It's best to prepare for a variety of weather conditions, depending on your travel season and the regions through which you will be cruising. Layering clothing items is always your best bet, as this allows you to adjust to most temperatures, including artificially maintained temperatures, by adding or removing items throughout the day.

What to pack for daywear for onshore and onboard

Comfortable, sporty, smart-casual daywear is appropriate both onshore and onboard. Everyday slacks, khakis, walking shorts, and everyday skirts/dresses are recommended. For warmer temperatures, we suggest lightweight clothing that can be layered, such as a mix of sweaters, lightweight knit shirts, slacks, and walking shorts. For early spring and late fall departures, you’ll find sweatshirts, heavier cotton or wool tops and long-sleeved shirts, and corduroy or heavy khaki pants perfectly suitable. Don’t forget to pack a lightweight waterproof jacket (preferably hooded) or even a heavier-weight windbreaker for colder temperatures.

Bring good walking shoes

You will participate in a significant amount of walking over uneven terrain during your time ashore. We recommend comfortable walking shoes with good ankle support. Sturdy sandals are another good option.

Is there a dress code?

While there is no formal dress code for dining ashore, concerts, special events onboard, etc. for evenings, any resort-type wear is perfectly suitable. Though, please note that shorts are not allowed at dinner aboard the ship.

Men may want to bring one sport jacket for dressier restaurant venues and for special events onboard such as the Captain’s Welcome and Farewell festivities. Women may wish to bring a cocktail dress or two for finer dining or entertainment experiences. 

Uniworld’s classically trained chefs use fresh, locally-sourced ingredients for all onboard meals, which feature both regionally-inspired and western dishes.

Uniworld Staff will do their very best to accommodate your needs given the resources available. Kindly inform your Travel Specialist in advance if you have specific dietary requests (e.g., low-fat, low-calorie, gluten-free, sugar-free, vegetarian, etc.). There is a “Traveling Lite” menu for guests seeking more health-conscious options, as well as light lunches, vegetarian options, and generous buffets that offer something for everyone.

Requirements vary by the country you are visiting and by your country of residence and are subject to change at any time. Please check with the government agencies of the countries you will be visiting for the most recent information. Obtaining required travel documents including visas is the guests' responsibility. 

Triple bookings are allowed only in some suites onboard the S.S. Catherine, S.S. La Venezia, and the S.S. Maria Theresa (excluding the Royal Suite). Note that ships that allow triple booking may change, so we suggest talking to one of our Travel Specialists for the most up-to-date information.

Most major credit cards are widely accepted throughout Europe. Credit cards and most debit cards can be used for ATM cash withdrawals onshore (there are no ATM machines onboard the ships). We recommend bringing at least one credit card plus an ATM card. Try to avoid carrying euro notes larger than €100, as merchants may be hesitant to accept them due to counterfeiting. Limited currency exchange is available onboard (cash only) and all major hotels have exchange facilities. Travelers Checks are not recommended.

It’s always a good idea to let your credit card issuer know of your plans and to call your bank so they can expect foreign transactions on your account.

The electrical current is 220V, the European standard; however, each stateroom and suite has one 110V outlet.

Select ships offer complimentary Wi-Fi access. Please view your ship’s specific information page or contact your Travel Specialist to find out if Wi-Fi is available onboard. Service may be briefly interrupted in remote areas, while sailing, or when moving through locks, and the speed will likely be slower than what you are used to back home.

Optional excursions can be booked with your Cruise Manager and charged to your onboard account. Some optional excursions need a minimum number of participants to operate. There are no refunds for cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour start time or for pre-paid tours. On pre/post-cruise extensions, you may book optional excursions with your Local Host and pay by credit card (cash not accepted). Optional excursions cannot be reserved prior to the cruise.

Uniworld provides a daily printed program that includes updated weather information, and weather reports may also be accessed via the infotainment system aboard each ship.

Uniworld typically arranges a city tour in these rare situations or allows extra free time to explore the city’s top sites on your own. In such cases, the staff will do everything they can to make sure the locations visited and the excursions taken are similar to the ones originally planned.

For the comfort of all our guests, smoking is only permitted on the sun decks of Uniworld ships. Smoking is not permitted on motorcoaches. This policy applies to all forms of smoking materials including vapor e-cigarettes.

Uniworld also asks guests to refrain from smoking on shore excursions/tours, especially since many historical sites and other tourist attractions are now smoke-free as well.

Uniworld does its best to deliver all excursions as promoted, yet there may be times when circumstances beyond our control require us to make certain changes to scheduled activities. Every effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise.

Uniworld makes every effort to follow itineraries exactly as promoted but reserves the right to make any necessary changes to ensure the safety of guests and ships. There may be times when circumstances are beyond control and may require certain changes to scheduled activities. Every effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise. Time permitting, Uniworld staff will let you know of any known changes before you board the ship.

Yes, each group has its own English-speaking guide. Our local experts are considered the best in the industry, and our complimentary QuietVox audio headsets make it easy to hear every word of their insightful commentary.

Depending on the itinerary, talented local performers (music, dance, traditional arts, etc.) may come onboard from time to time to provide after-dinner entertainment.

Gratuities for onboard personnel (ship staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager) are included during the cruise/tour.

You can check out more about river cruising in Europe here or reach out to your GET Travel Specialist.