Uniworld River Cruises 2010

Posted on Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises proudly announces two milestones in their Culinary Program. Uniworld hired a new Culinary Director, Bernhard Zorn, who holds the prestigious honors from the "World Association of Chefs Societies" as a Global Master Chef. With over 30 years of culinary experience, including creating culinary delights for passengers from six around-the-world cruises such MS Marco Polo, Crystal Harmony, Silver Cloud, MS Deutschland and Berlin, Chef Zorn will continue to evolve Uniworld’s Food and Beverage program to an even higher standard.

Uniworld has certainly set this standard high for Chef Zorn as Zagat, the world's most trusted source for information about where to eat, drink, stay, and play around the globe, and as such has become a symbol of quality, just released the results of their first Cruise Line survey. The survey, conducted on ZAGAT.com, covers 22 major cruise lines as voted on by 2,379 regular cruise-goers who had taken 9.5 trips, each averaging nine days. All told the surveyors had taken a total of 22,700 separate cruises. Each line was then rated on Zagat's signature 30-point scale for five aspects of its performance: (1) Cabins, (2) Service, (3) Dining, (4) Facilities, and (5) Shipboard Activities, with an “Overall Score” based on an average of the five separate ratings. Uniworld was the only river cruise company to be ranked on the entire Zagat Cruise Survey, and received honors in the categories of dining and cabins, and as such, shares these honors with some of the premiere ocean cruise companies in the world, such as Silverseas, Crystal, Cunard, Seaborn, and Windstar.

“Uniworld is absolutely delighted to have been recognized by Zagat.  The shared opinions of thousands of consumers who have taken more than one cruise reflects more realtisitic opinions than just one or two critics, and all of this is testament to where Uniworld continues to take the company,” states Guy Young, President of Uniworld. ”These recognitions we receive are only reinforcement for us to continue raise the bar on everything we do as evident with hiring Master Chef, Bernard Zorn, as Uniworld’s Culinary Director. There were many reasons for hiring Chef Zorn, and among those is his shared philosophy for passion and excellence in delivering a world-class product to our guests,” furthers Young.

Chef Zorn concurs and is delighted to be part of Uniworld and the direction the company is heading, “I do share Uniworld’s philosophy and passion. My goal is simple: When you bring passion to what you do and you pair that with great quality ingredients, you’ll always create the ultimate culinary experience.”

Duoro River Cruise

Posted on Wednesday, December 02, 2009

National Geographic Traveler recently released their sixth annual "World's Great Places: 133 Destinations" survey, and Portugal's Douro Valley rated Seventh on the list. Further, in 2001, UNESCO rated the Douro River Valley as a World Heritage Site. What makes this region so special and worthy of various honors? Perhaps it is their wine heritage - Port - that dates back over 2,000 years. Or perhaps it's a cultural landscape of exceptional beauty with rambling vineyards and charming native farms, quintas, clinging to the steep sides of the Douro River Valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe's most unspoiled regions and to Port country - the oldest demarcated wine region in the world.

It's both! And this is what you can expect to see and experience from your Uniworld River Cruise ship. Travel Europe's most unspoiled UNESCO World Heritage river valley through Portugal and Spain. Before your cruise explore the seven hills of cosmopolitan Lisbon, uncovering a treasure trove of old world architecture. Visit Coimbra, the "Birthplace of Kings;" Porto, the beautiful "City of Bridges" with its UNESCO World Heritage-designated Medieval city center; and Salamanca, Spain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Taste wonderful local wines from village vineyards, including the famed Port wine. Feast on a traditional meal at the Alpendurada Monastery; enjoy an authentic Spanish-style lunch complete with a flamenco show; and dine at the Vintage House Hotel, a magnificent18th-century wine quinta overlooking the Douro River. And all along the way, uncover a land of genuine beauty and breathtaking charm, as well as meet warmhearted, friendly people.

Uniworld's Douro River Valley package with three nights in Lisbon is priced from $2,099 per person, exclusive of airfare; without Lisbon from $1,699 per person, exclusive of airfare. No matter which option you choose, you'll enjoy a seven-night cruise in a river view stateroom, many with balconies, onboard the Douro Queen; all meals with fine wine, beer, and soft drinks served during dinner; exciting excursions led by English-speaking guides; and all transfers on arrival and departure days. And, for additional savings, double Uniworld's Early Booking Discount with a savings of $600 per couple by paying in full by December 31, 2009.

About Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Los Angeles-based Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the premier river cruise company, was named to Travel+Leisure's World's Best Top 10 Small Cruise Lines; Condé Nast Traveler's 2009 Gold List, their Readers' Poll for Top 50 Small Ships, and their Readers' Choice Awards for World's Top 10 Small Ship Cruise Lines; and Cruise Critics Editor's Pick 2009 for Best River Cruise Line, and Best New River Cruise Ship, River Beatrice. Uniworld features intimate, elegant boutique, hotel-style cruise ships with an average capacity of 134 guests, an award-winning staff with a ratio of one staff member for every three guests, world-class cuisine, and expertly planned itineraries with custom-blended shore excursions. The company offers over 500 departures on more than 30 itineraries sailing on 11 rivers in over 20 countries throughout Europe, Egypt and China.

Uniworld River Cruises

Posted on Wednesday, April 22, 2009

For over 30 years, Uniworld has taken guests to the world's great rivers in Europe, Russia, China, and Egypt. Uniworld offers over 500 departures on more than 30 itineraries sailing on 12 rivers in 20 countries across 4 continents. 

Since 2006, when Uniworld was purchased by Travel Corporation (parent company of Red Carnation Hotels - the award-winning five-star luxury hotel collection), Uniworld has made major investments in its ships and its people. The ultimate goal of these investments is a first-class European river cruise boutique, hotel-style experience. The winning combination of Uniworld's new sister company's expertise in first-class hotel management coupled with Uniworld's decades of superior nautical experience has created a new dimension in river cruising.

Boutique Hotel-Style Ships

Boutique hotel designers often invest a lot of thought, time, and resources into an interior decor reflective of a destination, as well as the amenities that ensure an elegant, relaxed, and intimate experience.

This is apparent on each of Uniworld's eight company-owned ships. Over the course of the last two years, Uniworld's ships have been completely refurbished to the highest standard of comfort, so guests travel from one exciting destination to the next with access to stylish lounges, cozy libraries, panoramic restaurants offering sumptuous cuisine, and inviting riverview staterooms. 

Uniworld's Partners

Additionally, the company jointly operates one river cruise ship, Douro Queen, in Portugal, and river cruise ships, Litvinov and Taras Shevchenko, in Russia. Ships used in the Egypt program are under charter agreements, and in China, space is booked through an affiliation with the river cruise ships of Victoria Cruises, which offer five-star ships.

More Personalized Attention

Exceptional service guaranteed doesn't just happen; it's planned. Uniworld has invested in a team of dedicated professionals who work together to ensure guests have a truly memorable experience. With no more than 134 guests per ship and a ratio of one highly-trained crew member for every three guests, Uniworld's staff is able to anticipate the needs and desires of each guest and offer more personalized attention.

Uniworld employs an all English, professionally trained staff, so there are no language barriers and no problems understanding what is being said or going on. All announcements are made only in English. Unlike many companies offering river cruise programs in Europe and elsewhere, Uniworld is an American company focused on North American travelers, or at least English-speaking clientele (the trips are popular with Canadians and Australians as well).

New 2009 Itineraries

Uniworld has expanded its Europe product offering in 2009 with five itineraries, a new ship, and exciting new enhancements. New voyages range from 9 to 32 days and showcase Europe's most fascinating and historically rich destinations. Following is a list of new 2009 itineraries:

• Paris and European River Romance - 11 days - Paris to Nuremberg

• Paris and the Heart of Europe - 18 days - Paris to Vienna

• Paris and Grand European Waterways - 32 days - Paris to Bucharest

• Parisian Winter Holiday - 9 days - Paris to Paris

• Rhine and Main Holiday Markets - 11 days - Nuremberg to Cologne

In addition to the new itineraries, Uniworld  introduced a new boutique hotel-style cruise ship, the River Beatrice, in March of 2009.

This year, Uniworld has incorporated some new enhancements, especially for food and wind connoisseurs. A new "Epicurean Adventurer" program is available on select itineraries and offers wine tastings, special wine and food pairing dinners, and culinary demonstrations designed to reflect the flavors of the regions visited. Uniworld also offers an "Al Fresco" evening dining program on the sun deck.

Award

The readers of Condé Nast Traveler have named Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Collection in the coveted top ten ranking in the magazine's 21st Annual Readers' Choice Awards. The awards are based on the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' choice survey, the largest independent poll of consumers' preferences.