The river cruise world with see a rapid evolution in 2020 with the arrival of four innovative ships from Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection.
There will be new vessels in Vietnam, Egypt and Portugal and another renovated Super Ship offering cruises in Italy. The new floating boutique hotels will feature the signature touches and distinctive themes the company’s ships are known for – more suites, more dining venues and luxurious finishes, while maintaining their high crew to guest ratio. Here’s a snapshot:
S.S. Sphinx, Egypt
Uniworld will be launching the newest, most luxurious ship on the Nile on January 6, 2020. Named for the mythical creature with the head of a human and body of a lion, 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 42 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.
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 a main restaurant and an al fresco eatery on the upper deck. The Mekong Jewel will be 10 meters longer than the Mekong Navigator, which now sails on the Nile, but will have the same guest capacity, to provide more space and amenities.
The ship is being built with sustainable and eco-friendly materials and specially designed propellers that increase performance and efficiency. Energy-efficient features include LED light fixtures, automatic air conditioning controls and a water-cooled air-conditioning system. The extensive 13-day itinerary will take guests from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, with explorations including Phnom Penh and Angkor Wat.
S.S. São Gabriel, Portugal
Launching on March 26, 2020, Uniworld’s S.S. São Gabriel will be the newest ship on the Douro River. The ship will reflect the ambience and culture of the Douro river valley in its décor. The chefs will prepare the best of local Spanish and Portuguese cuisine that will be served with local wines. The entire top deck will offer suites with butler service.
S.S. La Venezia, Venice
Uniworld’s River Countess will undergo a complete design renovation and reemerge as S.S. La Venezia on March 27, 2020. The ship will be dedicated to luxury exploration of northern Italy, with a 10-day itinerary that starts with an included two-day land stay in Milan where guests will visit Leonardo Da Vinci’s renowned The Last Supper, and then continue with an eight-day cruise including the Po River, and stops around Venice and three outer Venetian islands: Burano, Mazzorbo and Torcello.
With the additions and renovation, more than half of the ships in Uniworld’s fleet will have Uniworld’s unique Super Ship features, notes Uniworld CEO Ellen Bettridge. Over the last five years the company has pursued an aggressive plan to transform the fleet, beginning in 2017 with the launch of the S.S. Joie de Vivre, the debut of the fully renovated S.S. Beatrice in 2018 and the premiere this April of the completely transformed S.S. Bon Voyage.
“Our ships are absolutely unique and like boutique hotels, reflect the destinations they serve from décor and artwork to food, beverage and programming. We look forward to making our high caliber of service and personalization in these remarkable destinations even better.”
