Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection continues to lead the luxury river cruise industry with its recent win of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2019 and retain its No.1 spot as Best River Cruise Line for the second consecutive year. Travellers can also start planning 2020 holidays with brand new itineraries in its newly launched brochure, showcasing an evolution of the cruise experiences and elevation of what it means to be all-inclusive.
In time for the 2020 season to commence, more than half of Uniworld’s floating boutique hotels will be Super Ships, featuring the signature touches and distinctive themes the company’s ships are known for,as well as more suites, more dining venues and more luxurious finishes, while maintaining their high crew to guest ratio.
Henry Yu, Director for Uniworld in Asia shares, “With four new ships in 2020 we have a total of 17 ships in our fleet of floating hotels with Uniworld being the epitome of luxury in the river cruise category. We take great care to create “Wow” moments and offer impeccable service, and paired with one of the highest staff to guest ratio in the industry, we continue to elevate luxury river cruising. Our clients choose to travel with us because they know they deserve only the best.”
“2019 has been an outstanding year for sales with incredible growth for Uniworld here in Asia. Our guests love our luxurious boutique ships, and our all-inclusive offering is exceptionally attractive,” says Yu. Uniworld’s high repeat-passenger rate, all-inclusive fare and unparalleled levels of service on-board continue to be among the strongest selling points for clients.
In a recent digital survey conducted by Uniworld where there were 200 respondents, 77% of the respondents expressed interest to travel on a Uniworld River Cruise for romance, to celebrate a wedding anniversary or to make a wedding proposal. 33% cited the opportunity to have historic and cultural experiences as a draw, and 45% cited the opportunity to unwind with loved ones as a huge draw.
Wellness on the Water
Wellness takes centre stage throughout the 2020 collection. New to the programme is a three-day stay in Germany’s spa town of Baden-Baden where guests can luxuriate in the healing powers of the thermal waters at the Caracalla Thermal Bath or Sea Salt Grotto. The 12-day Rhine, Moselle and Blissful Baden-Baden itinerary includes a Wellness on the Water programme on every departure.
Also featuring the Wellness on the Water programme is the Brilliant Bordeaux 8-day cruise on board the brand-new S.S. Bon Voyage. Launched in April 2019, the newly transformed Super Ship is designed to honour the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. On-board activities include yoga in the heart of an iconic historical site, such as the Blaye fortress with 360° views over the Gironde estuary, guided trekking or Nordic walking with a naturalist through the Bastide of Cadillac or sunrise meditation on Europe’s highest sand dune, La Teste-de-Buch.
Uniworld’s new ships launching in 2020 include:
S.S. Sphinx, Egypt
Egypt returns and continues to be a top trending destination for travelers seeking culture and adventure. Uniworld is the only luxury river cruise line in Egypt and will be launching the newest, most luxurious ship on the Nile river on January 4, 2020. Named after the goddess of the Nile, the S.S. Sphinx will offer three gourmet dining venues, including a private dining room and an al fresco dining experience on the upper deck, a swimming pool, massage room and 26 suites. Continuing the company’s commitment to sustainability, locally sourced Egyptian artwork, fabrics and hand-carved furnishings will be used to bring the beauty of the region to life onboard. This ship will include 12 adventure-filled days to experience Egypt and the Nile’s top sites starting and ending in Cairo.
S.S. São Gabriel, Portugal
Launching on April 9, 2020, Uniworld’s S.S. São Gabriel will be the newest ship on the Douro river. Designed to embody the beautiful Douro River Valley region, the ship will bring the destination to life through its décor and delectable food and wine. The entire top deck will offer all lavishly appointed suites, enhanced with Butler service, giving guests the option to dine at any time they’d like while enjoying the ship. Guests on S.S. São Gabriel will experience the UNESCO-designated Douro River Valley and indulge in the best of Spanish and Portuguese culture and cutting-edge, locally sourced cuisine.
Mekong Jewel, Vietnam & Cambodia
Debuting on January 3, 2020, this will be the newest and most luxurious ship on the Mekong river. Uniworld’s all-suite ship will include two dining venues: one main restaurant and an al fresco eatery on the upper deck. The Mekong Jewel will be 10 meters longer than the Mekong Navigator, but with the same capacity of 68 passengers, offering guests more space and amenities. The ship is being constructed with sustainable and eco-friendly materials, such as special paint used for the hull of the ship that creates less drag caused by bio-fueling, specially designed ship propellers that increase performance and efficiency, energy-efficient LED light fixtures, automatic air conditioning controls to optimize cooling resources, and water cooled air-conditioning system that will save energy. The 13-day Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia and Mekong itinerary will take guests from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, with visits to Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat and more.
Last Call Savings
Save up to US$3,000 per couple on selected departures for bookings made before 31 August 2019. Don't miss your chance to set sail and meet new people, experience new places and immerse yourself in new cultures as you cruise legendary rivers in all-inclusive luxury.
For more information, please call (632) 8894-0886 or visit www.rajahtravel.com
