UNIWORLD

In a quest to extend the luxury travelling experience, the new Boutique River Cruise Collection from Uniworld elevates the guest experience yet again with style and adventure.

The CEO reveals fantastic future plans.

Ellen Bettridge says it’s almost like “coming full circle” in incorporating cruise, land and train travel in the new itineraries for boutique river cruise company, Uniworld. Her very first “grown-up travel experience” at the age of 16 was on a train travelling from Seattle. She says this is when she caught the travel bug. Her father and grandfather worked on the trains in Washington State on the Burlington Northern line. “I can still remember that feeling of sitting there all on my own, feeling very grown-up, enjoying the journey in my very own compartment,” she says.

As President and CEO of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Bettridge has seen much of the world. Since 2017 she has been looking at ways to elevate the brand experience for guests. She believed the best way was to simply ask them what they wanted: the resounding response was more experiences, doing more of what they loved, perhaps shorter excursions with even more partners.

As a small boutique company, Uniworld has the flexibility to tailormake extraordinary experiences with local companies. Visiting local markets with the on-board chef, supporting local producers and sourcing local ingredients are the norm, not an expensive add-on.

“I still remember visiting a small French market with our chef buying in-season white asparagus and the most delicious Roquefort cheese, with amazing baguettes,” she says, “and having it served to us that day for lunch on board. It’s those moments while travelling you don’t forget.”

When she is travelling, she often sees new ideas; how food is served, different menus, how different cultures dine out. “Eating healthier is such a big trend now,” she says. “Our chefs love the challenge of creating dishes for each guest, no matter what their dietary need is.”

This is a major year of expansion for Uniworld. It will add another four superships to the fleet in 2020 alone – the SS Sphinx, SS La Venezia, SS São Gabriel and Mekong Jewel.

After consideration of customer feedback, Uniworld continues to elevate the cruising experience by treating guests with the best possible experience: with room service, additional dining venues on board, and all-weather al fresco dining.

Toni Tollman, the interior designer for each ship, and her team often take a simple idea and let the rest of the work flow creatively from that, making each ship unique in its design and experience for customers. You will see some of the best design on any river cruise ship in each Uniworld suite and public space.

With new itineraries for 2021 along the Main River from Amsterdam to Nuremberg, taking in villages, Renaissance architecture and medieval towns, Uniworld has also combined new itineraries along its popular Danube and Rhine river journeys. This year there will also be a 15-day Peruvian Amazon and Machu Picchu Exploration cruise; starting in Lima, staying in a five-star hotel, followed by a seven-night cruise through the Amazon, and ending in the heartland of the Inca empire. “We’ve seen great success with our exotic cruises and know these Peruvian Amazon itineraries have the perfect combination of luxury, active adventure and comfort,” says Bettridge. The Aria Amazon is an eco-friendly all-suite ship with floor-to-ceiling windows, giving every guest the ultimate panoramic view of the rainforest.

In partnering with Golden Eagle Luxury Trains, just like the Uniworld experience, the new train journeys are five star and all inclusive including all transfers, meals, drink and excursions. “Like river cruising, luxury train travel is an opportunity to bring our guests to the heart of Europe and a view that changes daily,” says Bettridge, “broadening Uniworld’s horizons and exploring new destinations.”

All aboard for yet another elevated experience!