Starting in 2013, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection will begin offering cruises on China’s Yangtze River with Century Cruises.
Uniworld has signed a contract with the Chinese river cruise line to have Uniworld-branded programs on Century’s two new 398-passenger ships, the Century Paragon and Century Legend, which are launching this fall.
The agreement is not a charter but Uniworld has negotiated an exclusive Uniworld-branded deck with an allocation of 34 staterooms per sailing on both the Century Paragon and Century Legend.
Uniworld passengers will also be offered some exclusive amenities, services and inclusions.
“This will give us the opportunity to differentiate our product from other operators and ensure that we can match the significant upgrades already implemented on the land content of our itineraries in China,” noted Uniworld President Guy Young.
Young said the decision to partner with Century was in part to increase capacity in Asia — with the Century agreement, Uniworld is adding more than 40% capacity in China in 2013 compared to 2012.
Young said that Uniworld has already beenworking to upgrade the land segment of its China programs in 2012, with enhanced accommodations, and improved dining venues in Beijing and Shanghai, among other upgrades.
The ships are being built with 160 outside-facing staterooms on decks two, three and four that measure 301 square feet each; 34 executive suites on decks five and six, measuring 414 square feet each; and two presidential suites on deck three, at 1,141 square feet each.
There will be an executive floor on decksfive and six that will include an a la carte restaurant, bar and sundeck, all for the exclusive use of guests staying in the suites.
The Paragon and Legend will also house two restaurants: the 400-passenger main restaurant at the front of deck two and the 3,530-square-foot Executive Club Restaurant on deck six. The ship will feature two bars — the Observation Bar at the front of deck five and the Sun Deck Bar on deck six.
There will be a 2,153-square-foot indoor pool and leisure area on the ships, which will include a lap pool, pool bar, relaxation area and changing rooms with showers.
Century Cruises is a division of the Chongqing New Century Tourism Group, founded in 1999. In 2003, the Chongqing, China-based company entered the Yangtze River cruise business with the launch of its first ship, the 180-passenger Century Star.
At the end of the 2012 season, Uniworld is ending its partnership with Victoria Cruises for its Yangtze River itineraries.
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