Joie de Vivre christened

THE Travel Corporation founder and chairman Stanley Tollman has labeled the launch of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection’s newest ship, Joie de Vivre as a pinnacle in the company’s history.

Speaking at the christening of the vessel in Paris overnight, Tollman touted the new vessel as “one of our best achievements”.

“The standard of workmanship, the quality of people working aboard and the enthusiasm that everybody who has seen it has embraced it with, has made me seriously proud.”

Tollman revealed to attendees at the event that following the attacks at The Bataclan, he opted to hold off on the construction of the ship, but a week later decided that wouldn’t be “right”.

Joie de Vivre is currently 90% booked out for the year, with Tollman noting that Paris is “coming back strongly”.

“The word is ‘support France’ so this is what we’re doing and I really believe it’s starting to work,” he said.

At 125 metres in length, the ship is 10m shorter than the standard, allowing it to dock closer to the city centre of Paris, within easy walking distance of the iconic Eiffel Tower.

Joie de Vivre is operating an eight-day Paris & Normandy inaugural cruise on the Seine and will also be utilised for Uniworld’s 15-day Grand France; 15-day A Portrait of Majestic France; 22- day Ultimate France and eight- day Parisian Royal Holiday cruises.

See page five and today’s issue of Cruise Weekly for more info.