Have you heard about the newest trend in cruising and wondered just what it is? I admit that while I've seen and heard lots about river cruising and work with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, I still couldn't wrap my head around what exactly the experience is. How does it compare to the more traditional ocean liners? Well, I'm off to discover all this for myself.
After an exhausting and very unorganized connection in Frankfurt, I boarded Lufthansa for a short 50-minute flight to Lyon, France. After grabbing my bag and waiting for the rest of my traveling colleagues to do the same, I load on to the bus for our transfer to Chalon-sur-Saone.  (it's a very comfy ride. So comfy in fact that I slept nearly the entire hour and a half drive.)

Waking up, I get my first glance of Chalon and it is enchanting. This sweet town has great historic importance and is now considered 'a city of art and history' (a label that cities must apply for with the French government).

Sitting idle on the river Saone is Uniworld's River Royale, my home and transportation for the next week as I explore the areas of Burgundy and Provence. This small ship (maximum occupancy is 132), is in essence a mix between a river barge and a personal yacht. Imagine taking a barge base and adding a boutique Five Diamond hotel on top.

Unlike a large ocean ship, embarkation consists of taking 20 steps from the street where you unload from the bus (right in the center of town) and walk onboard. You check in at the small reception area (similar to a boutique hotel lobby) and are escorted to your cabin by one of the friendly staff. I think my bags came about 5 minutes later.  So check-in took all of 10 minutes and I was tucked in to my 'space efficient' cabin.  Yes, this is a nice way of saying small. It's approximately 170 square feet but what there is of it is opulent. Voila, this is the start of the river cruise experience. 

Read River Cruising In France, Part Two