You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

I have always been a big believer in the idea that you don’t know what you don’t know.

It applies to life, business, fashion, travel and, as I have now discovered, river cruising.

Between 2024 and 2026, Tony and I have completed four river cruises. With Viking, we travelled Amsterdam to Budapest in 2024, and Vietnam and Cambodia in 2025. With Uniworld, we travelled Bordeaux in France aboard the S.S. Bon Voyage in 2026, cruising the Garonne River, Dordogne River and Gironde Estuary, followed by the Douro River in Portugal aboard the S.S. São Gabriel.

This is not a scientific comparison. I have not done the Douro with Viking, and I have not done Amsterdam to Budapest with Uniworld. So I am not inferring this is a perfectly matched trial. What I can do, however, is tell you what I noticed, what I loved, what frustrated me, what I would do again, and what I wish someone had told me before we spent a considerable amount of money finding it out ourselves.

The short answer is that I love river cruising. You unpack once, wake up in new places, eat well, meet diverse people, see parts of the world that are difficult to access independently, and, if you are travelling with someone like my husband Tony who has always been predisposed to seasickness, the river cruise becomes a very attractive option. You are close to land, the movement is minimal, the boats are smaller, and it does not have the same feeling as heading out into open ocean on a floating apartment block.

That said, if I was booking tomorrow, Viking would still have the edge for me.

And that is what this blog is really about. Not which company is perfect, because neither is. Not which one is imperfect, because neither is. But how you decide what matters to you when you are choosing between good options.

One of the first things that surprised me was that smaller numbers do not automatically mean more space or better quality of experience. Viking’s river vessels generally carry around 180 guests. Uniworld’s vessels are closer to 120, and on the Douro and in Boardeaux we had about 95 passengers onboard. Yet the 95 on Uniworld  felt as busy and well managed as the 180 on Viking. That came down to ship design, not headcount.

Viking used space beautifully. The front of the boat was not wasted. It was a dining space, a coffee space, a drinks space, a viewing space, and often one of the best places to sit as the river opened up in front of us. We used that area constantly on the Amsterdam to Budapest cruise. Breakfast at the front of the boat, coffee while watching locks go up and down, a drink as another village appeared. It became part of the pleasure of the cruise.

On Uniworld, the front of the vessel was much more operational. Ropes, equipment, staff access. I understand why boats need working spaces, but from a guest perspective it felt like a missed opportunity. Some of the magic of river cruising is sitting at the very front and feeling the boat move you into the next story.

The other thing I noticed more on Uniworld was what I call boat sandwiching. On both the Bordeaux and Douro cruises, we regularly woke up tied alongside another boat. Sometimes several deep. You open the curtains and instead of seeing the river or the village you have arrived to explore, you are looking into another boats bedroom. I do not remember that happening nearly as much on Amsterdam to Budapest with Viking. Maybe that is the river, maybe it is mooring allocations, maybe Viking’s scale gives them some priority, I genuinely do not know. But as a passenger, I noticed it.

  The cabin experience also differed. On Viking’s Amsterdam to Budapest cruise, we had a  Veranda suite, not the very top end Explorer Suite category, but a beautiful suite with a separate lounge, bedroom, bathroom and balcony that we actually used. On Viking’s Vietnam and Cambodia cruise, we had a stateroom. It was smaller, and we had been slightly spoiled by the first suite, but we adjusted quickly and it worked well. There was a balcony, although in that heat we barely used it.

The Uniworld cabins were tighter. The S.S. Bon Voyage cabin in Bordeaux was probably the smallest cabin we have had across all four cruises. The Douro cabin on the S.S. São Gabriel was slightly bigger, but not dramatically. If you have a fat suitcase, you will need to lift the bed and slide it underneath. Storage is possible, but you have to think about it. Skinny drawers, compact cupboards, bathroom bits and pieces needed to tucked away carefully. You manage, but it is not spacious.

That is where the river itself becomes important. I think people spend far too much time asking which cruise line is best and not enough time asking which river is right for them.

Amsterdam to Budapest was constant discovery. We travelled a lot at night, woke up in a new place, and the day began again. New country, new architecture, new stories, new food, new guide, new energy. It was busy. Almost manic at times. The first excursions would leave around 9 am and the days were full. I actually got behind on work and found myself grateful when we finally had a full sailing day so I could catch up.

Vietnam and Cambodia was the same in a different way. It was rich, immersive, hot, extraordinary and memorable. I would go back to Vietnam in a heartbeat.

Bordeaux had wonderful moments too. The submarine base light show was incredible. The Cognac experience was excellent. The sidecar and bicycle experience around the city was a highlight, even at around €250 for the two of us. But there were also missed opportunities. The Médoc oyster and wine experience should have been fabulous. Local oysters, matched wine, significant history. Instead we stood in the rain trying to shelter, eating oysters without any real explanation of where they came from, why we were eating them, what wine had been chosen, or why any of it mattered. We then wandered through a place that clearly had history, but nobody really brought that history to life. The most memorable moment was probably watching a shepherd move sheep. That experience could have been delivered so much better, even on the boat before we disembarked.

The Douro experience was beautiful, but for me it became repetitive. Rock face after rock face, vineyard after vineyard, rock face after rock face. If you love scenic cruising, wine and slowing down, you may enjoy it. But if you are like me and you want energy, variation, photography and constant discovery, it may feel slower than you expect. One of the biggest indicators for me was that I stopped taking photographs. Not because it was not worthy. It was beautiful. But it became too same same, to warrant carrying a heavy camera in intense heat.

The Douro river also cannot be cruised at night, so a lot of the precious daylight hours are spent on the boat. That may suit you beautifully. It did not entirely suit me. I like the idea of going to sleep travelling and waking up ready to step into a new place.

The excursions are where Viking, for me, delivered more consistently. Viking seemed better at pacing, grouping and guiding. On Amsterdam to Budapest, we were around 180 passengers, divided into about six groups. That worked beautifully. You got to know your group, formed relationships, but could still move between options depending on the excursion. They were also good at separating those who wanted more activity from those who needed a slower pace.

Uniworld had good excursions too, and some excellent ones, but they were more variable. The free time was sometimes too much. Free time only works when there is something to do. Salamanca in Spain was brilliant because there was a whole city to explore. But being placed in a tiny village on the Duoro for two hours with about eight buildings, one café and the entire busload sitting around waiting for the bus doors to reopen, is not free time. It is waiting time.

The other issue is guide EQ. If it is pouring with rain, give the introduction under shelter. If it is nearly 40 degrees, do not stand people in a vineyard while you deliver information that could have been given in the shade. The Douro vineyard walk in extreme heat was a low point. The guide kept talking about adjusting the tour to account for the sun but never quite did it. The rain affected picnic in France was another example. Once the weather forced everyone inside, the alternative version  was simply not strong enough. We were ready to leave around an hour earlier than the planned bus pick up.

This is where Viking’s storytelling was stronger. Our English program director on Amsterdam to Budapest, David, was exceptional. He learned names quickly. That matters. People like being seen. People like being acknowledged. Weeks into Uniworld, I was not convinced anyone knew our names. Everyone was pleasant, professional and helpful, but there is a difference between service and hosting. David hosted.

Viking also encouraged us to try things we never would have found ourselves. Spaghetti ice cream. Some ridiculous beer that tasted like a sausage or hamburger, that I only tried it because it was suggested with such enthusiasm. Some of the experiences were not so good, some of them were great. All of them became a story. I missed this on Uniworld.

Food wise, I would say both cruise lines are much of a muchness. Both do food well. Both offer regional menus, and both have safe options, if the local dishes are not your thing. One thing people should know is that you are usually not trapped by the buffet. At lunch, if the buffet is not your thing, and I do think some travellers would find buffets a little budget initially, there is a menu option. At dinner, if the featured regional menu does not appeal, there are more familiar choices, such as fish, steak, caesar salad, alongside other more well known options.

What I loved on Uniworld was the tables for two in the main dining room. Sometimes you want to meet people. Sometimes you just want to be a couple. Sometimes you do not want to do the whole “where are you from, how many grandchildren do you have” conversation again. Uniworld made it easy to sit as a two, and often those tables were close enough that you could still talk to others if you chose. Viking’s main dining room leaned much more toward group tables, which is why I loved Viking’s front deck dining space so much. It gave you tables of two, and choice.

Wine was a real strength for Uniworld, on both the Bordeaux and Portugal cruises, they were, however, wine focused cruises, and that showed. We learned a lot about regional wines, port, pairings and the stories behind what we were drinking. I genuinely extended my wine knowledge. Viking had good wine, but the education was not as strong on the itineraries we did, but these Viking cruises were also not dedicated to wine regions as the Uniworld one was.

There were some practical advantages with Uniworld too. Laundry was one. Both Uniworld boats had a washing machine and dryer available for guests, which is incredibly useful on longer trips. On Viking, because we had paid more for our suite on Amsterdam to Budapest, laundry was included, but if you were in a stateroom for 15 days, you would absolutely want access to washing. I think Viking would benefit from adding a small guest laundry.

Uniworld also had gyms on both boats. I did not see them heavily used, but they were there. Viking’s Vietnam and Cambodia boat had a gym, but Amsterdam to Budapest did not. To be fair, we were so active on that cruise, walking every day, that perhaps they assume guests do not need one. Pools were also available on both Uniworld boats and on Viking’s Vietnam and Cambodia boat. They are small and a bit fish bowly, but on a hot day a quick dip works.

Maintenance was more noticeable on Uniworld. On the S.S. Bon Voyage, the lift was out of order for much of the cruise. We did not need it, but others would have. On the S.S. São Gabriel, the automatic doors to the top deck were not working properly, so guests had to prise them open and shut. Nothing major, nothing holiday ruining, but more niggly maintenance issues than we ever noticed on Viking. Perhaps Viking has more  onboard maintenance support ,because of its scale. I don’t know. I only know what I observed.

Dress code is another thing people worry about unnecessarily. Uniworld literature can make evenings sound quite fancy, no shorts, women a little more dressed, almost cocktail attire. In reality, no one is policing anyone. People are clean, tidy and slightly more elevated than daytime, but there is no clothing police. Wear what feels comfortable, presentable and like you.

And this brings me to what I would pack, because this is where the practical lessons really sit.

Take compression socks for long flights these made a huge difference. Take face masks, especially for buses and transfers because there are always people coughing and sneezing, and not everyone has the EQ to protect others. Take sunblock, a sunhat, Vitamin C and whatever wellness supplies help you feel like you have a fighting chance. Take a small fan. Take a neck pillow, as some bus trips can be up to two hours each way and it’s the perfect time to sleep. Uniworld have six on bikes on board and usually one to two bike tours on offer. If you’re a keen biker bring some padded bike pants (an easy source in Temu), as it will certainly make the rides more enjoyable.

https://www.temu.com/nz/womens-cycling-underwear

https://www.temu.com/nz/7-87-x-7-28-x-4-13-inches-travel-neck-pillow

From our own range, the two things that really earned their space were the Joyful World Shirt and the crossbody front pack. The Joyful World Shirt was exactly what I needed for river cruising. Lightweight, long sleeved, easy to wash, quick to dry, no ironing required, sun smart during the day and easy to lift for evening with a different shoe. I would take more pieces like that and fewer “special occasion” outfits. River cruising rewards practical elegance, not overpacking.

The crossbody front pack was also brilliant. It sat across my front rather than my back, which made it feel safer in busy places, and it held what I needed each day, including my heavy camera, phone and essentials. A travel wallet was also invaluable for keeping passports, tickets and documents together. If you are going to use the pools, take togs and a wrap. We have great pieces for that too, and it is exactly the sort of thing that earns its place because it moves between pool, deck and cabin easily.

The demographic on both cruise lines was similar. Mostly Americans and Canadians, a few Australians, a few New Zealanders, some British. Viking did a great job introducing the passenger mix at the beginning of the cruise, how many from each country, youngest passenger, oldest passenger, average age. It created curiosity and conversation. On Bordeaux, Uniworld actually missed acknowledging New Zealand despite five of us being onboard.

What fascinated me most was loyalty. River cruisers are incredibly loyal. One passenger onboard was identified as having completed 17 Uniworld cruises. That does not tell me Uniworld is better than Viking. It tells me that people find a safe place and stay there. I understand that completely. As we get older, familiarity becomes attractive. You know what you like. You know your people. You know your pleasure. Why change?

But that is also where “you don’t know what you don’t know” matters. Most people recommend the cruise line they have travelled with. The better question is, have they tried another one? I know people who have done Viking, Uniworld and Avalon. I know a couple who have done Viking and Avalon and say they are much of a muchness and loved them both. I have now done Viking and Uniworld. Tony’s view will be different from mine, and someone else onboard will have another view again.

That is the point. Perspective matters.

If you choose Viking, you will almost certainly have a wonderful holiday. If you choose Uniworld, you will almost certainly have a wonderful holiday. I suspect Avalon would be wonderful too. These are all professional operators who know how to care for people and create safe, comfortable, memorable travel.

For me, Viking still holds the edge. The transfers, the use of space, the program directors, the pacing, the storytelling, the personal connection, the front of the boat, the little local nudges into spaghetti ice cream and strange beer. It simply gave me more stories. The Vietnam Cambodia trip still stands as the best cruise I have done, not because of the cruising company, but because of the location and what was delivered each day.

Uniworld gave me colour, wine, tables for two, laundry, some excellent excursions and a very comfortable holiday. It also gave me some very small cabins, more boat sandwiching, a few maintenance niggles, some overlong ‘free time’ and a Douro itinerary that, for me, became a little too much rock face, vineyard, rock face.

So my advice is not just to choose the cruise line.

Choose the river first.

Choose the itinerary second.

Choose the cruise company third.

And most importantly, stay curious. Because the moment we stop trying new things, comparing new experiences and stepping away from the familiar, we stop discovering what we did not know.

And that, for me, would be the greatest travel loss of all.

 Annah x