Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has announced plans to transform its existing ship the River Royale into a new Super Ship, the S.S. Bon Voyage.

The ship, which will sail three different cruise itineraries in France, will be the second in the line to be upgraded to a Super Ship following the S.S. Beatrice.

The River Royale will go out of service on 28 October and will undergo an extensive transformation, before resuming service on the Dordogne and Garonne rivers as Uniworld’s sixth Super Ship on 14 April 2019.

Ellen Bettridge, president and CEO of Uniworld, said: “Luxury is never static, but an evolving concept that considers not only the aesthetic, but also the way service is delivered. For example, there was a time not so long ago when one would never dream of bringing the chef front of house to cook with guests, but today, immersion is part of the luxury experience.

“Special attention has been paid to everything from the original art on the walls to the beautiful local wines poured. We’re going beyond satisfying traditional service expectations, to deliver a standard of service that brings the guest closer to the destination at nearly every touchpoint. It is what the Uniworld Super Ship experience is all about.”

Bon Voyage will include four new luxury suites, and will increase the staff to guest ratio when the ship goes from 128 passengers to 124 and adds more staff.

Other improvements include an upgrade to all bathrooms from tile to marble; reconfiguration of the gym and spa facilities; and a reimagined top deck with a new outdoor swimming pool.

Two new onboard dining venues will be introduced, while the Blue Fox Café will be converted into a casual dining venue that opens up onto the new pool.

A bistro inspired by Bouillon Pigalle in Paris will be added at the bow of the ship, offering guests shared plates at dinner, reflective of the local cuisine onshore.

Other enhancements include a new buffet in the ship’s main dining room with chef demonstration area, and an improved Claret’s, the ship’s private dining and wine tasting room adjacent to the main restaurant, which will be used for special events such as Captain’s Table dining or VIP wine tasting.

Bon Voyage will sail Uniworld’s eight-day Brilliant Bordeaux, 15-day A Portrait of Majestic France and 22-day Ultimate France itineraries.

Prices for Brilliant Bordeaux start from £2,499pp, twin share. This includes luxury onboard accommodation in a riverview stateroom, all meals and unlimited beverages onboard, onshore excursions and all transfers on arrival and departure days. Departures start 14 April 2019.