U by Uniworld’s The B: River Cruise Ship Review

Take it from me, The B is unlike any other river cruise ship currently sailing on European rivers. I spent 4 days on the first ever sailing with U by Uniworld and visited Paris, Rouen, and Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.

The B stands out in port no matter what ship is in. The all black exterior certainly looks different, especially with the glowing neon logo and exterior lighting. It’s clear this is a party ship, but The B is also so much more than that.

There are 2 passenger accommodation decks and there’s a variety of accommodation to suit all types of travellers and budget. From comfortable studio cabins, to spacious suites, and futuristic sharing pods. All cabins have plenty of storage space, with a large wardrobe and shelving around the amazingly comfortable beds. There’s a built-in Bluetooth speaker system, for playing your personal music in the cabin while getting ready. The powerful bathroom shower is spacious and comes with complimentary BeeKind toiletries. The deep red velvet fabrics and European-style window shutters, give the cabins a chic, contemporary feel. There’s a wide selection of free on demand movies, European, UK, and American television channels.

The U Lounge is the social heart of the ship. With a blend of gothic and punk decor, this lively venue is a favourite place to chat and make new friends over a drink, or dance the night away during the popular discos with International DJs. If you’re looking for a quick snack, try one of the amazing Burger Sliders. Drinks prices are quite steep – a soft drink is £4 for a small glass. The signature cocktails look and taste great. Why not have a go at making one during one of the mixology classes onboard?

The Ice Bar is located on the sun deck, but doesn’t actually feature any ice. This is decorated in a pop/punk theme, reminiscent of the 60s, and is the ideal decor for a fun disco. To fit under low bridges, the whole lounge folds down, so this venue is mainly used while docked, or when there are no low bridges on the route. The Ice Bar is often used for demonstrations and classes, silent discos, plus morning yoga.

The long couches, oversized cabanas, and the beach-style deckchairs on the sun deck are a great place to relax while watching the world go by. From a community drumming session on deck, to a silent outdoor cinema with a giant movie screen, there’s always fun to be had around the ship.

U Dine is an informal and stylish restaurant focusing on farm-to-table food. A casual coffee and pastry station is put on in the U Lounge between 6am and 10am. A buffet brunch is then served between 10am and 2pm, offering a selection of cooked breakfast items, pastries, a daily live cooking station, a superb salad, cheese and cold cuts selection, plus amazing desserts. There’s plenty for vegans and vegetarians too, and you can always speak to the chef if you have any other dining concerns. Dinner is served from 7:30 pm and is open seating. Grab a chair, or a stool, and meet fellow travellers. Sharing experiences together is a big part of the U by Uniworld experience, and most meals are served on sharing platters. Help yourself to whatever you fancy, just make sure you have first dibs on desserts! I really enjoyed the food during my time. The sharing salad platters, burgers, and tempting chocolate desserts, along with local specialities, such as the St Honore cake were great.

The Gym is very spacious and there is a variety of exercise machines. The Spa is a former cabin (#120), which has been reconfigured into the Spa. It would have made more sense to convert the cabin next to the Gym into the Spa, as the Spa is somewhat discreet and hidden among the other cabins further down the corridor on the lower deck. It’s very basic, with just a massage bed, but it’s better than having nothing, and offers a selection of treatments.

There’s a 24 hour tea and coffee station located just outside the U Dine, as well as a self-serve laundry room. The reception is manned 24 hours and they can help with any concerns both on and off the ship. Whether that’s arranging a taxi or recommending the best places to go. There’s a small shop onboard, offering branded clothing, as well as jewellery and bags. If you get hungry at any point, there’s a well-stocked vending machine near reception.

The ship is a really great social hub. A U by Uniworld cruise is so much easier than trying to arrange several different hotels, and excursions yourself. Simply turn up, unpack once, and almost everything else is included. What could be easier than that!

To find out more about U by Uniworld and to book, call 0800 368 9055.