The B
Update: Uniworld no longer has its U by Uniworld division.
With its guest DJs and mixology classes, active excursions and paperless information sharing, U by Uniworld’s The B is not your grandmother’s cruise ship. And that can be a good thing if you’re under age 50 (or act like you are), love to stay up late (and then want to sleep in), and prefer to decide what to do in port (versus feeling wed to set excursions). The concept is a new one for Uniworld: The B debuted in April 2018 with “The Seine Experience,” a seven-night itinerary roundtrip from Paris to Normandy, and the idea could entice a new generation to try European river cruising (along with sister ship The A, which cruises the Rhine and the Danube).
What We Love
It’s Different: Before you even step onboard, it’s obvious The B is unique: Painted black with neon-lit U logos and a funky heart motif, it resembles a stretch party limo ready to take you for a night on the town—albeit one that can accommodate up to 120 passengers. And that’s the idea. With an overnight in Rouen and two nights in Paris, after-dark partying is part of the ship’s raison d’être.
The Cool Activities: In-port options fall into two camps—included excursions and “U -Time” optional tours (costing 35 to 209 euros)—and there are great experiences in both. Explore picturesque Honfleur, wander the gardens at Versailles, and enjoy a pub crawl in medieval Rouen without paying extra (cocktails excluded). Also free onboard: morning yoga, a mixology class, and a paint-and-sip watercolor class (wine at 10:30 a.m.!). Other cool stuff is extra, but well worth it, such as a wild ride around Paris in a vintage motorcycle with a sidecar (book ASAP or you'll miss out) and a kayak excursion on the Eure River.