Uniworld celebrates in Paris

THE launch of Uniworld’s Joie de Vivre in Paris yesterday attracted guests from around the world, including a healthy contingent of about 20 from Australia.

Among them was Atout France director for Australia Patrick Benhamou, pictured rubbing shoulders with the ship’s godmother, actress and author Dame Joan Collins.

With a length of 125m, rather than the typical 135m, the Joie de Vivre can dock in the heart of Paris, which allowed the christening ceremony to take place within a stone’s throw of the Eiffel Tower.

“We are delighted to welcome the Joie de Vivre to our impeccable fleet of floating boutique luxury hotels, as the first of Uniworld’s Super Ships to sail the renowned Seine River,” said the river cruise line’s president and ceo Ellen Bettridge.

“Our company has brought travellers to France for more than 70 years and we are thrilled to introduce a new, enticing way to experience the country,” she said.

“Godmother Dame Joan epitomises the same ‘joy of living’ philosophy embodied by the Joie de Vivre, and we are honoured to have had her christen the ship.”