Uniworld has opened the reservation books for its millennial-focused
river cruises (branded U by Uniworld), and guests will pay $250 per day.
The starting price is $1,699 for a one-week sailing on the
River Ambassador, which is being remodeled and renamed The A. It will sail the
Danube, Main and Rhine rivers.
The starting price for itineraries on the River Baroness,
which is being remodeled and renamed The B, is $1,999 for an eight-day cruise
on France's Seine River.
For comparison, the lowest starting price for a Uniworld
cruise is $2,649 per person for an eight-day Rhine itinerary ($330 per day) in
November 2017.
U by Uniworld cruises are less expensive because fewer meals
and fewer shore excursions are included. The price includes two meals each day
(mostly breakfasts and dinners) and one or two excursions each day, said Uniworld
CEO Ellen Bettridge. There will be optional excursions offered each day for an
additional charge.
Also, each U by Uniworld sailing will include a wine tasting
(on the Seine cruise) or a mixology class (on the Danube cruise), as well as a
welcome party and a party hosted by a local celebrity DJ.
U by Uniworld has not yet revealed the precise look of The A
and The B, though the company has teased the possibility of an all-black
exterior. Inside the ships, there will be a main lounge as well as a rooftop
lounge, gym, coffee bar, a couple of cocktail bars and two eateries -- a main
restaurant and a rooftop venue. There will be three categories of staterooms
ranging from "I just need a comfortable place to sleep and stash my stuff"
to "I'm going all out in a suite," according to the U by Uniworld
website.
Previously, Uniworld had said the product was geared toward
the 18-40 demographic. The website now says the target audience are travelers
ages 21 to 45.