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River Duchess: ship guide

A 130-guest classic in soft blues and greens for the 15-day Budapest to Amsterdam run.

Best for: Travelers who want a smaller, calmer Uniworld ship at a gentler price on the three-river Budapest to Amsterdam European Jewels route. Sails from Budapest, Amsterdam, Basel, Cologne in 2026 and 2027.

See every River Duchess sailing Deck plans Uniworld Boutique River Cruises policies

130guests at double occupancy

41crew

2003entered service, refurbished 2012

361 ftlong

65staterooms

About River Duchess

River Duchess is one of Uniworld’s classic River-class ships, built in 2003 and remodeled in 2012, carrying 130 guests in 65 staterooms at 361 feet. Her interiors are done in soft blues and greens with earth tones, a calmer look than the gilded Super Ships, and her public rooms are the Blue Danube Lounge, the Palace Restaurant, the La Motte Sky Lounge and a Captain’s Lounge with library. Every stateroom still gets the Uniworld signature Savoir bed, marble bathroom and Asprey amenities.

At 130 guests she is a smaller, more intimate ship than the 150-plus Super Ships, with a staff of 41, and she suits travelers who value a quieter atmosphere and value pricing over a pool and cinema. Four 214-square-foot suites have French balconies and butler service; most other rooms are 151-square-foot Deluxe or French Balcony staterooms. Fares include meals, unlimited drinks, excursions, Wi-Fi and gratuities as on every Uniworld ship.

Her 2026 program is built around the 15-day European Jewels cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam, which crosses the Danube, Main and Rhine through four countries, followed by Rhine Holiday Markets sailings from Basel to Cologne in December. Uniworld had not published 2027 departures for River Duchess on her ship page as of October 2026, so check the live sailing list below for what is on sale. SmartCruiser adds bonus onboard credit on sailings where Uniworld allows it, not available booking direct.

Intimate 130-guest ship with a staff of 41, among the smallest in Uniworld’s European fleet
Soft blue, green and earth-tone decor with a Captain’s Lounge and library
Blue Danube Lounge with full-service bar and nightly entertainment
Palace Restaurant for farm-to-table dinners with unlimited wine, beer and spirits
La Motte Sky Lounge for coffee and river views
Four French Balcony suites with butler service and a stocked mini bar
15-day European Jewels itinerary on three rivers, Budapest to Amsterdam
Serenity River Spa, fitness center, bikes and Nordic walking sticks included

Staterooms and suites

Classic

151 square feet with windows at the water line; seven rooms with a handcrafted Savoir bed, marble bathroom with Asprey amenities, built-in closet and flat-screen TV, the lowest-priced way aboard.

Deluxe

151 square feet with a picture window on the middle deck; 36 rooms, the largest category on the ship, with the same bed, bath and amenities as the French Balcony rooms.

French Balcony

151 square feet on the upper deck with a French balcony that opens to the river; 18 rooms, the pick for most couples.

Suite

214 square feet with a French balcony; four suites with butler service, complimentary laundry, in-room breakfast, a stocked mini bar, Nespresso coffee and daily treats from the pastry chef.

River Duchess deck plans

Deck by deck, straight from our booking engine: the plan, the stateroom categories on that deck and the public rooms. Pick a deck.

Rhine Deck

Palace Restaurant, Reception, Bar, Captain's Lounge and Library, Blue Danube Lounge, Suites/Staterooms.

SUITE SuiteFB French Balcony StateroomSUITE SuiteFRNCHB French Balcony StateroomFRNCHA French Balcony Stateroom

Palace RestaurantPalace Restaurant.
ReceptionReception.
Captains LoungeCaptains Lounge.
Blue Danube LoungeBlue Danube Lounge.
Palace RestaurantPalace Restaurant.
ReceptionReception.
Captains LoungeCaptains Lounge.
Blue Danube LoungeBlue Danube Lounge.

Danube Deck

Suites/Staterooms.

DLX Deluxe StateroomDELUXEA Deluxe StateroomDELUXEB Deluxe Stateroom

Main Deck

24-hour Coffee Station, Patio Lounge, Fitness Center, Serenity River Spa, Suites/Staterooms.

DLX Deluxe StateroomDELUXEC Deluxe Stateroom

Patio LoungePatio Lounge.

Moselle Deck

Guest Laundry, Suites/Staterooms.

CLS Classic Riverview StateroomCLS Classic Riverview Stateroom

Plans are the cruise line’s current drawings as supplied to our booking engine. Layouts change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the exact stateroom when you book.

On board River Duchess

Dining on River Duchess

Palace RestaurantIncluded

The single main restaurant with open-seating breakfast and lunch buffets and a four-course dinner of regional, farm-to-table dishes.

Blue Danube LoungeIncluded

The main lounge and full-service bar, home to port talks, afternoon tea and after-dinner entertainment.

La Motte Sky LoungeIncluded

Upper-deck lounge for coffee, tea and a quiet drink with panoramic river views.

Captain’s Lounge & LibraryIncluded

A small book-lined room for reading, cards and quiet conversation.

Unlimited beveragesIncluded

Fine wines, local beers, premium spirits and soft drinks are included throughout the day, not only with meals.

24-hour room serviceIncluded

Room service around the clock, with in-room breakfast delivered by the butler for suite guests.

Entertainment and activities

Sun Deck with loungers, shaded seating and the La Motte Sky Lounge
Complimentary bicycles and Nordic walking sticks for guided and independent outings
Serenity River Spa treatments and a fitness center with daily classes
Included shore excursions with local experts in every port
Local musicians and performers in the Blue Danube Lounge after dinner
Onboard laundry room, ship-wide Wi-Fi and gratuities included in the fare

Families and who it suits

Uniworld requires guests on its European ships to be at least 5 years old, and travelers under 18 must share a cabin with an adult over 21; River Duchess is not scheduled for any Generations family departures, so she is best treated as an adults-oriented ship.

Best for: Travelers who want a smaller, calmer Uniworld ship at a gentler price on the three-river Budapest to Amsterdam European Jewels route.

Sails from: Budapest, Amsterdam, Basel, Cologne · Regions: Danube, Main, Rhine

River Duchess questions we answer every day

How big is River Duchess?

River Duchess is 361 feet long and 37.5 feet wide, carrying 130 guests in 65 staterooms and suites with a staff of 41. She was built in 2003 and remodeled in 2012, and she is one of the smaller, classic ships in the Uniworld fleet rather than a Super Ship, so there is no pool or cinema, but the same Savoir beds, marble bathrooms and all-inclusive service.

Where does River Duchess sail in 2026 and 2027?

In 2026 she sails the 15-day European Jewels itinerary from Budapest to Amsterdam, covering the Danube, Main and Rhine through Hungary, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands, then Rhine Holiday Markets cruises from Basel to Cologne in December. Uniworld had not listed 2027 departures on her ship page as of October 2026; the live sailing list below shows what is currently bookable.

Which staterooms are best on River Duchess?

The four 214-square-foot Suites on the upper deck are the best rooms, with a French balcony, butler service and laundry included. For most couples the French Balcony staterooms are the sweet spot; Deluxe rooms are the same 151 square feet with a window instead of a balcony, and Classic rooms sit at the water line at the lowest fare.

What is included on River Duchess?

All meals, unlimited wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks all day, a choice of shore excursions in every port, Wi-Fi, bicycles and Nordic walking sticks, daily fitness classes, 24-hour room service, a laundry room and gratuities for onboard staff. SmartCruiser adds bonus onboard credit on sailings where Uniworld allows it, not available booking direct.

Does River Duchess have a pool?

No. River Duchess predates Uniworld’s Super Ship design and does not carry a pool or cinema. She does have the Serenity River Spa, a fitness center, a Sun Deck and the La Motte Sky Lounge, and the smaller guest count means public rooms rarely feel crowded.

Is River Duchess suitable for families?

Uniworld admits guests aged 5 and over on its European ships but makes few arrangements for children on standard departures, and River Duchess is not one of the ships assigned to the Generations family program. Families should look at the Super Ships that host Generations sailings, such as S.S. Antoinette on the Rhine or S.S. Maria Theresa on the Danube.

Facts checked against Uniworld: River Duchess, Uniworld: All-inclusive luxury, Uniworld: FAQ (age policy and gratuities) on October 14, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.

Live from the cruise line

Every River Duchess sailing, priced all-in

Every River Duchess departure the cruise line is selling, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. SmartCruiser picks at the top are sailings where booking with us gets you something extra. Stack the filters, then sort by lowest price, best value per night or sail date.

Every River Duchess sailing

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Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. Onboard credit shown on a sailing is per stateroom and applies to the lowest category offered unless stated otherwise.