Pictured left to right outside the new store are: Paul Hardwick, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents Director of Retail; Emma Bailey, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents; Tutti Taylor, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents; Councillor Candy Vaughan, Mayor of Eastbourne; Trevor Ridler, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents Business Development Manager; and Shirley Waters, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents..
Sarah, Senior Travel Consultant at our Ipswich shop, stepped onboard S.S. Victoria on a one-night cruise from Amsterdam to Antwerp to sample Uniworld’s luxurious river cruising. Their staff’s motto is “No request too large, no detail too small,” so Sarah was looking forward to an amazing 24 hours of indulgence!
“Flying from Norwich Airport was so smooth, quick and easy compared to the large London Airports. I stayed at the Premier Inn Hotel at the Airport the night before, which was less than a 5-minute walk to the Terminal on the day of my flight. I had already checked in online and, because I was flying with KLM, my Airport Development Fee was already included in the cost of my flight ticket, so do check if this is included to save you spending £10 unnecessarily!
Norwich Airport is compact – the departures area is literally one room with all the gates, a coffee shop, restaurant and games room, and you can enjoy views of the planes and runway. Boarding took less than 20 minutes, and we even landed early into Amsterdam. I would definitely recommend flying from Norwich if you can – even if it’s a little more expensive than a London Airport, it’s certainly worth it for the stress-free, speedy airport experience.
I boarded Uniworld's S.S. Victoria on arrival in Amsterdam. She is a very modern ship, joining the Uniworld fleet in 2024. With just 110 guests onboard at any time it’s a beautiful, airy space to enjoy and very much has the feel of a floating boutique hotel.
I was lucky enough to be staying in one of their suites for the night, situated on the middle deck. The room was really spacious, with a huge bed that was very comfortable. The facilities in the room were plentiful - no need to pack shampoo or body wash, plus little jars of chocolates and cookies in the room were a thoughtful touch for me and my sweet tooth! It was so lovely relaxing in the room with its floor to ceiling windows, and I had some amazing views as I got ready for dinner!
I was onboard for just one night to get a flavour of river cruising with Uniworld, and had some informative presentations followed by a Ship Orientation Tour to see all the types of staterooms available and the facilities onboard.
The highlight for me was my spacious suite and the bar staff in the lounge area. If you want a drinks recommendation they get it spot on every time, just tell them what you normally like and that you want to try something different, then let the experts do the rest! The food was exquisite, and you can dine in the main restaurant or the rooftop bar, or there is a private dining area for small groups. Watching the sun set on the deck after dinner was definitely a lasting memory for me.
The following day we had a few hours in Antwerp before our transfer to the airport and decided to go and see Antwerp’s Train Station and just wow! It’s huge and so beautiful! We headed to the main square and explored the surrounding streets, passing cafes, boutique shops and more. Antwerp is just stunning and had much more to it than I originally thought - I wished we had more time there instead of just a few hours, so I hope to go back one day. Uniworld offer pre and post cruise extensions, so it’s definitely worth considering these if you would enjoy a bit longer somewhere on your travels.
S.S. Victoria is an indulgent, relaxing space designed for couples and friends to enjoy. The service is impeccable, and you are really looked after. Whilst there is a lift onboard, it does not access the sun deck, so that is a consideration for those with limited mobility. Although this ship is not designed for families, Uniworld do offer their Generations Collection of sailings, which are specifically designed for families to enjoy together. Amongst their many itineraries, Uniworld offer a 10-day Tulips and Windmills River Cruise that goes from Amsterdam to Antwerp and I will definitely be mentioning this to my customers when they come in looking for some inspiration and something different. For holiday makers looking for multiple destinations and only having to unpack once, then a river cruise really is the perfect choice, and Uniworld offer a fantastic, luxury experience.”
You can find Sarah in our Ipswich branch, or visit your local shop
