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S.S. Joie de Vivre: ship guide
A 128-guest Parisian pied-à-terre that docks in central Paris for the Seine.
Best for: Francophiles and food-and-wine travelers who want to sleep in central Paris and sail to Normandy on a ship designed as a floating Parisian apartment. Sails from Paris in 2026 and 2027.
About S.S. Joie de Vivre
S.S. Joie de Vivre is Uniworld’s Super Ship for the Seine, launched in 2017 and deliberately built short, at 410 feet, so she can dock in the heart of Paris. She carries 128 guests in two Grand Suites, eight Suites and 54 staterooms with a staff of 59. The decor is a brightly colored tour of 20th-century Parisian design, from the Golden Twenties to the Sixties, with handcrafted furniture, fine antiques and original artwork throughout.
She suits Francophiles and food lovers. Le Bistrot is a Parisian-style sidewalk café whose windows lower for open-air dining; La Cave des Vins hosts a seven-course chef-led dinner with sommelier pairings in the show kitchen; and Club L’Esprit, the spa and wellness center with a resistance pool, yoga and the L’Esprit smoothie bar, turns into Claude’s after dark, a bar and cinema venue for cocktails, local music and French films. The Deck de Montmartre has a life-size checkerboard.
S.S. Joie de Vivre sails round trip from Paris. Her 2026-2027 program is the 8-day Paris & Normandy cruise to Vernon, Rouen, Caudebec and the D-Day beaches, the northern half of the 15-day Grand France and A Portrait of Majestic France journeys, 22-day Ultimate France, Cruise & Rail trips between Paris and Istanbul, a 2027 Cruise & Tour from Edinburgh, and the Magical Parisian Holiday cruise in December. SmartCruiser adds bonus onboard credit on sailings where Uniworld allows it, not available booking direct.
- Built to 410 feet so she docks in central Paris rather than a suburban quay
- Decor inspired by 20th-century Parisian design from the Golden Twenties to the Sixties
- Le Bistrot sidewalk café with windows that lower for open-air dining on the Seine
- La Cave des Vins seven-course chef and sommelier dinners in the show kitchen
- Club L’Esprit spa and resistance pool by day, Claude’s bar and cinema by night
- Deck de Montmartre sun deck with a life-size checkerboard
- Enclosed heated swimming pool, Serenity River Spa, bikes and Nordic walking sticks included
- Paris & Normandy route with Giverny, Rouen, Honfleur and the D-Day beaches
Staterooms and suites
Classic
162 to 180 square feet on the lowest deck with windows at the water line; nine rooms with a handcrafted Savoir bed, marble bathroom with Asprey products, built-in closet and flat-screen TV.
French Balcony
194 square feet with a French balcony; 29 rooms, the largest category on board, with the same Savoir bed, marble bath and towel warmer as the suites.
Deluxe French Balcony
194 square feet on the upper deck with a French balcony and the best views; 16 rooms, and adjoining staterooms can be requested at booking.
Suite
260 square feet with a French balcony; eight junior suites with butler service, complimentary laundry, in-room breakfast, a stocked mini bar and Nespresso, and designated suites take a third guest.
Grand Suite
410 square feet; two Grand Suites with a French balcony, separate living room, a bathroom with rain shower and tub plus a secluded toilet and bidet area, and full butler service.
S.S. Joie de Vivre 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.
Victor Hugo Deck
Serenity River Spa, Club L'Esprit (Claude's), Swimming Pool, Fitness Center, Bar, 24-Hour Coffee and Tea Station, Salon Toulouse, Le Bistrot, Suites/Staterooms.
- GymGym.
- Claudes
- Le Bistrot
- GymGym.
- ClaudesClaudes.
- Le BistrotLe Bistrot.
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 S.S. Joie de Vivre
Dining on S.S. Joie de Vivre
Main RestaurantIncluded
The main restaurant with open-seating breakfast and lunch and a four-course dinner built on Norman and Parisian ingredients, with French wines poured freely.
Le BistrotIncluded
The ship’s Parisian-style sidewalk café serving classic bistro dishes, with windows that lower for open-air meals and wrap-around Seine views.
La Cave des VinsIncluded
An exclusive show-kitchen evening where guests prepare a seven-course meal with the chef and dine on it with pairings chosen by the sommelier; reserve through the concierge.
Claude’sIncluded
Club L’Esprit becomes Claude’s each evening, a glamorous bar and entertainment venue for signature cocktails, local music and classic French films on select nights.
L’Esprit BarIncluded
Daytime smoothie and juice bar inside the spa and wellness club.
Unlimited beveragesIncluded
Fine wines, local beers, premium spirits and soft drinks are included all day, with the bar open until the last guest turns in.
24-hour room serviceIncluded
Room service around the clock, with in-room breakfast delivered by the butler for suite guests.
Entertainment and activities
- Enclosed heated swimming pool and the Club L’Esprit resistance pool
- Claude’s cinema nights with classic French films and local musicians
- Deck de Montmartre sun deck with a life-size checkerboard and lounge seating
- Morning yoga and daily fitness classes in Club L’Esprit
- Complimentary bicycles and Nordic walking sticks, including rides along the Seine towpaths
- Serenity River Spa treatments
- Included excursions with local experts: Giverny, Rouen, Honfleur, the D-Day beaches and Paris by night
- Gratuities for onboard staff and ship-wide Wi-Fi included
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; S.S. Joie de Vivre has no Generations family departures scheduled, though designated suites take a third guest and adjoining staterooms can be requested.
Best for: Francophiles and food-and-wine travelers who want to sleep in central Paris and sail to Normandy on a ship designed as a floating Parisian apartment.
Sails from: Paris · Regions: Seine
S.S. Joie de Vivre questions we answer every day
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Where does S.S. Joie de Vivre sail in 2026 and 2027?
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What is included on S.S. Joie de Vivre?
What is Claude’s?
Is S.S. Joie de Vivre suitable for families?
Facts checked against Uniworld: S.S. Joie de Vivre, 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.
Every S.S. Joie de Vivre sailing, priced all-in
Every S.S. Joie de Vivre 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.
SmartCruiser picks
Sorted by what you save, biggest firstEvery S.S. Joie de Vivre sailing
Stack any filters, then pick a sortPrices 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.