European river cruises get a makeover
Uniworld plans new offshoot brand designed to attract younger crowd
I probably shouldn’t admit this since I’m a purveyor of all things cruise, but I really like river cruising.
Europe, Asia, North America — the destination isn’t so important. River cruising is just an incredible, immersive vacation that offers all the conveniences that a big ship cruise on an ocean does, but in a smaller, more manageable package.
The trouble with river cruising is that, up until now, most river cruise lines have targeted just one demographic: the 55-plus crowd. As someone who’s in his mid-30s and loves river cruising, I’ve always felt that’s a bit short-sighted. Sure, river cruising isn’t likely to appeal to the Cancun beachbreak, party-all-day crowd, but there are plenty of 30- and 40-somethings with the time, the money and the desire to take a river cruise who are subtly being left out of the loop.
One river cruise line hopes to change that. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection (http:// www.cruise.center/uniworld), has announced plans to create a new offshoot brand aimed at travellers between the ages of 21 and 45. Dubbed U by Uniworld, the new line will begin sailing in 2018 with two, 120-guest ships: The A, and The B. Bookings for the new line opened last month.
“Uniworld has always strived to lead innovation in the river cruise industry and we saw a great opportunity with U by Uniworld to reach an entirely new audience,” said Ellen Bettridge, president and CEO of Uniworld. “River cruising is the best and most comfortable way to experience all that Europe has to offer, in an affordable way, and we’re incredibly proud to create a brand that will broaden the interest in this type of experiential travel.”
Initially, U by Uniworld will offer four itineraries in Europe spanning eight days in length. These will operate along the Rhine, Main, Danube and Seine rivers and will feature overnight stops and extended stays in major ports of call like Amsterdam, Paris, Vienna and Budapest. For those who want to take a longer itinerary, three “Super Cruise” options will combine two or even three of these itineraries together to create an immersive journey that lasts between 15 and 22 days.
For those who just want a taste of the river cruise experience, U by Uniworld will also debut two short five-day cruises: Dashing through the Danube and A Merry Little Christmas Cruise, with the latter showcasing Europe’s wonderfully festive Christmas Markets that typically pop up between Nov. 25, and Dec. 24 each year.
While no one is probably going to want to fly all the way to Europe for a five-day river cruise, these itineraries make a great little add-on for those who are already planning a land-based overseas trip and are looking for something a bit out of the ordinary.
Onboard and onshore activities are varied and are geared toward a wide variety of interests, from rock climbing and whitewater rafting to more traditional walking tours. Special evening excursions are also planned, from sampling some of the trendiest bars in Budapest to midnight strolls along the Seine in Paris. Three different excursion options per day will be provided, with a mix of included and extra-cost tours on offer.
Which brings me to the ships. The A and The B aren’t new river cruise ships, but Uniworld plans to refit them as such. Currently sailing as River Ambassador and River Baroness, each ship will be extensively remodelled (and, based on renderings, given a unique black exterior paint job), before entering service for U by Uniworld next spring.
Three different types of accommodations will be offered onboard, from studio staterooms that can sleep up to three passengers to full-blown suites. In U by Uniworld parlance, guests will be able to choose their room based on their needs, with the website categorizing rooms as, “I just need a comfortable place to sleep and stash my stuff,” to “I’m going all out in a suite.” Both ships will also feature single-occupancy staterooms for those travelling solo, and room-share rates for like-minded guests of the same sex willing to share a stateroom, similar to what some oceangoing cruise lines offer.
Cruises are expected to start at about $1,699 per person and are available now.
Happy cruising.
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