This cruise is advertised as an 8 day cruise, however you board on Sunday around 3-4pm and depending on your transfer, leave the ship early on the following Sunday morning as the next group boards that afternoon. I believe this is a bit misleading as their are only 7 days in a week and the River Beatrice does a cruise a week. On the positive the ship
...read more is very comfortable and tastily furnished and decorated. The food and service is better than first class, amazing food as much as you can eat, fine wines, and the most friendly, helpful and professional team on board. The excursions on the whole were very worthwhile and very informative with local guides and interesting sights and stories. I feel it is a little overpriced. We paid $4000 a person and the suggested amount for gratuities for onboard staff per day was 13 euro each guest also worked out for you over 8 days. With expectations that local guides and bus drivers on excursions were to be tipped 2 euros each per guest you can see the cost per couple was around 30 euros per day which is quite a lot in Australian dollars. I would recommend Uniworld to friends but would warn them that whilst it is very luxurious it is an expensive week. Thank you Yvonne for your assistance to us in organising this cruise. (GJ: All Uniworld Europe & Russia 2012 cruises now include tipping in the tour price).