Offering a six-star experience onboard
India is an emerging market for travellers; and now that Indians travel extensively and many are done with the usual ‘must do’ destinations, they are ready to try out cruising with a difference.
Although the rest of the travel industry, especially travel to Europe, has received a setback in 2013 due to market conditions, the cruise industry has seen a slow rise by 10 per cent to 15 per cent on an average. A number of cruises, including Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, have entered the Indian market in recent years. This is of utmost importance as once the market has experienced ocean cruising, it will mature to the river cruising segment.
Maison De Voyages has introduced ‘All-Inclusive’ Boutique River Cruises in Europe. The cost includes gratuities and unlimited beverages in addition to other inclusions. At the end of 2013, Uniworld’s new ‘Six-Star Experience’ was announced. This represents their core value: delivering the highest standards of excellence in the six most important aspects of luxury river cruising. Each star represents Expertise, Service, Unique, Culinary, Choice, Uncompromising Luxury and Remarkable Value. Moreover, they’ve brought in two new itineraries in 2014, ‘Bordeaux, Vineyard & Chateaux’ and ‘A Portrait of Majestic France’. The first sailing for these itineraries will be on March 30, 2014.
Talking about the future plans, Beatrice Dolder, Director, Business Development, says, “We will also be launching our new cruise liners ‘ S. S. Catherine’ this year and ‘S.S. Maria Theresa’ next year adding to our collection of boutique ships. Also in 2015, we will be introducing six new itineraries, ‘ Holland & Belgium at Tulip Time’, ‘ Delightful Danube & Prague’, ‘ Grand European Explorer’, ‘ Eastern Europe Explorer’, ‘ Ultimate France’ and ‘ Jewels of Spain, Portugal & the Douro River’.