U by Uniworld, the new river cruise line by Uniworld
Boutique River Cruise Collection, has debuted its second ship, The A.
Like its sister ship, The B, which was unveiled last fall,
the The A has an all-black exterior with neon logos. There is a retractable
indoor Ice Bar on the top deck adjacent to an outdoor lounge area, a lounge and
bar area on the second deck with booth seating, and a main dining room with
pop-up charging stations for devices on the tables and TV screens that display
the daily menus. There is also a gym, a spa room and guest laundry onboard.
As for accommodations, there is a variety on the
120-pasenger ship, ranging from four suites with large bathrooms with double
vanities to two studio bedrooms outfitted with bunk beds to allow for triple
occupancy. There are 26 standard balcony staterooms as well as 29 studio rooms
on the lower deck that have windows but no balconies.
All staterooms feature flat screen TVs, built-in Bluetooth speakers
and numerous USB ports. BeeKind toiletries, a body care product line that uses
all-natural ingredients, is provided in all rooms.
Included activities are mixology classes, silent disco
parties, yoga classes and wine tastings. Farm-to-table dining incorporates
organic and healthy fare. U also offers immersive excursions such as an evening
tour of a medieval castle, a foodie tour through the Jordaan district of
Amsterdam, and a scenic bike tour and wine tasting at Eberbach Monastery in
Germany, which was used as a filming location for the hit HBO show "Game
of Thrones."
U by Uniworld uses WhatsApp and email to communicate with
guests, and has a Press Reader app for guests to receive news onboard.
U by Uniworld launches The A
Sailings on The A start at $187 per person, per day, with
eight-day itineraries along the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers.
Last month, Uniworld revealed that the new cruise line,
which was initially conceived as a millennial-focused product, is now available
to all adult travelers. U by Uniworld was unveiled in late 2016 by the
higher-priced luxury line Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection as a brand
for guests ages 18 to 40. By April 2017, when cruises went on sale, Uniworld
had widened the age range to 21 to 45. But there is no longer any age
restriction.
Following the news, Uniworld CEO Ellen Bettridge said that
while the age restriction has now been lifted, she still expects to see a
younger demographic onboard.
To launch U by Uniworld, Uniworld repurposed two of its
older vessels to sail for the new line. The former River Ambassador and River
Baroness were transformed into The A and The B.
U by Uniworld is a lower-priced option to Uniworld's main
product, which is achieved by offering fewer included meals and excursions.
"U continues to bring adventurous and curious travelers
a completely new river cruise experience, with longer stays in destination that
allow guests the chance to truly immerse themselves in the local culture,"
said Uniworld CEO Ellen Bettridge.