Review: RV Zimbabwean Dream

What is the line?  CroisiEurope Cruises

Name of ship? RV Zimbabwean Dream

Passenger occupancy? 16

Itinerary? Nine-day journey through South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

Start out with the big picture—what is this cruise line known for?

CroisiEurope is a family-owned cruise line founded in 1976 by Gerard Schmitter. While its initial sailings focused on Europe, the brand now has routes throughout the world. The African safari cruises were launched in 2018, but due to the pandemic didn't see their first guests until 2021. On the RV Zimbabwean Dream, guides speak English and French, and meals include well-appreciated French touches (especially when it comes to the breakfast pastries).

Tell us about the ship in general.

RV Zimbabwean Dream is a 16-passenger houseboat built in 2020 and launched in 2021. Its sister ship, RV African Dream, launched a few years prior in 2018 and sails the identical route. Together, they mark the company’s foray into the African cruise market. The ship offers a unique three-night stay as part of a nine-day, four-country land and river package tour.

The ship is strikingly beautiful. Walls are tastefully adorned with African art (wooden fish motifs; bead and shell sculptures; woven baskets) that set a sense of place from the moment you board. All eight guest bedrooms are on the first deck, while the second deck is the main area for congregation—it’s home to a bar area, large television, and plenty of comfortable seating with floor-to-ceiling windows (some of which open to allow guests to sit outside and get closer to the surrounding landscapes). At the fore on the second deck, the main dining room leads out to a hot tub and additional deck space. A third deck offers panoramic views, plus loungers and umbrellas.

Who is onboard?

An estimated 80% of CroisiEurope’s guests are European, but in recent years the cruise line has made a push to introduce the brand to North American travelers. The ship can also be chartered as a whole and would work well for a multi-generational family or group. On board you can expect to bump into a mix of fellow international bucket list-fillers, including couples, small families (note that single cabins will be tight for two adults and a child), and pairs of friends. The intimate size of the ship means you will spend almost all of your waking moments together with your fellow cruisers.

Describe the cabins.

Rooms feel bigger than they are, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and Juliet balconies. At about 183 square feet, they manage to hold the king-size bed, dresser, and closet space well, with plenty of under-bed storage space—much needed, given the trip's bag size limitations (soft-sided, 2-wheels max). Well-placed mirrors opposite of the windows also help the space feel larger. There is a TV in each room and DVDs can be borrowed from the library. Bathrooms are surprisingly large for a ship of this size and locally-made bath products round out the amenities. Those looking for a little extra space should consider booking one of the two fore cabins, which each have a small terrace perfect for sipping morning coffee and catching a peek at the workings of the ship’s bridge next door.

Tell us about the crew.

A crew of 15 make for a nearly 1:1 staff to guest ratio on board, and the feeling is quickly familial. Most staff are local to Zimbabwe, and well-versed in English and French. Service is clearly prized, and the ship's two main hosts are engaging. Throughout the trip, guides are informative, friendly, and knowledgeable and also willing to share opinions and insights into what life is like in the country for residents. Those exchanges lead to a more nuanced understanding of life beyond the tourist boat.

What food and drink options are available on board?

The Zimbabwean Dream has one dining room that offers a panoramic view on deck two, where all meals are served—you’ll know it's time when a staff member beats a drum. Afternoon drinks and cocktails are served at the bar in the lounge.

The meals are where the French touch is most evident. The chef and waitstaff tend to be more formal than you’d expect on a boat of this size. Generally, portion sizes may feel small to a North American traveler. Breakfast offers the most opportunity to control that for yourself: A buffet lays out continental options including fruit, cereal, cold cuts, and pastries (the fluffy croissants and pain au chocolats shouldn’t be missed), and hot options (eggs, bacon, omelettes) are made to order.

Lunch and dinner are three-course affairs served to table, with menus announced just before service. Allergies and preferences are provided to the ship ahead of your arrival and are accounted for. All meals, snacks, and most drinks (excluding some premium liquors) are included in the package price.

Is there a spa on board and is it worth visiting?

There is no spa or fitness facility on board, and a small hot tub on the deck got little attention on our trip. The largest of the lounge areas—a third floor observation deck with umbrellas—also went largely unused, given that excursions keep guests off the boat for most of the day.

How about the activities and entertainment?

While only three nights of the nine-night itinerary take place on board the ship, the entire journey is an adrenaline-filled ride that includes large and small planes, the option of helicopter flights (for an extra fee), walking tours, and safari drives (including many on small pontoon boats) led by expert guides.

All activities during your stay on the ship are included in your package price, and very little of your time on board is unaccounted for. Those seeking time to sit and enjoy the third deck lounge space or their room should plan on rising early, or risk missing out on one of the offered activities.

Throughout the day, expect a mix of group-experienced excursions including pontoon safari rides, open-air jeep game drives, fishing opportunities, and a visit to the historic Kariba Dam. Trips out on the water offer a mix of wildlife-spotting opportunities: Hippos, elephants, birds, and other wildlife abound. Guides are knowledgeable and entertaining.

Evenings are another group-gathering time—cocktails and pre-dinner snacks are accompanied by short lectures on local life and history, and an opportunity to learn about the next day’s activities. One evening on board is dedicated to learning about Zimbabwe’s history and culture past and present, including a presentation on the construction of the Kariba Dam and Operation Noah, which forced the relocation of thousands of animals.

How was the experience for families?

Multigenerational families with children old enough to have their own cabins will love the intimate, cozy feel of this cruise. Beds are meant for two and though a cot can be added in some rooms, it would make for a more cramped experience. While staff are friendly and welcoming and often went out of their way to make younger guests feel welcome (our youngest traveler, age 11, was gifted a necklace made out of a water lily), there are no kids’ clubs, babysitters, or other special child services on board. In fact, kids under 12 typically aren’t permitted on non-chartered cruises.

Where did it sail and how were the excursions? Did anything stand out?

The ship is based on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe—the world’s largest manmade lake—and passengers board on day five of the tour, after they’ve experienced both land and water safaris in Namibia and Botswana. The boat acts as a launch pad for similar experiences in Zimbabwe. Excursions include trips out to Matusadona National Park and exploration of the Gache Gache River. The ship is docked at night, and smaller pontoon outings allow for late-afternoon fishing trips and sunset tours (with sundowner snacks) We spotted only a handful of private charter cruises during our time on the water.

Are there any stand out sustainability or green initiatives about this cruise?

CroisiEurope boasts a state-of-the-art water filtration system on board that results in reverse osmosis water that is safe to drink. They state that the initiative, in place across their entire fleet by the end of the year, will save more than 30 tons of plastic per year.

Anything else we should know?

Remember to save some cash for visa fees on entering Zimbabwe, and staff gratuities. Those with mobility issues may want to think twice about this trip as there is a lot of climbing (in and out of small boats, up stairs, and short walks on uneven terrain). The pace of the trip may also make it unsuitable for some. The cruising portion of this trip is paired with land stays at the company-owned KAZA lodge in Namibia and a lodge in Victoria Falls (not CroisiEurope-owned). Both are beautiful, relaxing spaces with warm and friendly staff, from which your wildlife encounters are only enhanced. The trip’s South Africa start also gives a historical and peopled perspective to an otherwise animal-focused adventure.

Finally, give a sentence or two on why the cruise is worth booking.

This is a memory-making trip. We saw more animals—especially hippos and elephants—on this adventure than I’d seen on any other safari ever before. The combination of land and water options for exploration offers guests several unique vantage points, and makes it worthy of its bucket list status.