DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
This may only be Ellen Bettridge’s second year as president and CEO of Uniworld, but in her own words, “I’ve been in the hospitality industry since… forever!” Over a career spanning nearly three decades, Bettridge started off as a frontline travel agent for American Express and eventually took charge of the company’s entire retail travel division in the US. Her first taste of the ocean cruise business was as president of Silversea Cruises, before she moved to Azamara Club Cruises under Royal Caribbean Cruises. A timely phone call from Stanley Tollman, founder and chairman of The Travel Corporation, convinced Bettridge to become head of the world’s only authentic boutique cruise line, which offers itineraries in destinations throughout Europe, Russia, Egypt and Asia.
The biggest difference between ocean and river cruises
is the number of passengers. Our ships, on average, transport 130 passengers, so when you’re on board Uniworld’s ships, you really do feel special. The crew get to know how to truly take care of you, you’re never waiting in line to get off the ship or make a reservation, and the vacation is yours to decide what you’re going to do.
in my first year with the company. Luxury cruising is familiar to an audience aged 55-plus, but there’s another demographic out there – singles, honeymooners, groups of girls – who are curious, want to travel and are looking to have some fun.
We launched a new brand, U by Uniworld,
Our new and enhanced river cruises for 2019
include exciting destinations like Egypt – an incredible place with so much history – and India. The latter will consist of a wellness cruise: we’ll be bringing in some wonderful yogis from New Delhi, you can do yoga
Determined to introduce luxury river cruising to a new generation of globetrotters, Ellen Bettridge – president & CEO of Uniworld, the world’s leading
boutique river cruise line – is ready to set sail.