Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has provided
details about the itineraries and experiences it will offer with U by Uniworld,
a new brand aimed at customers ages 18 to 40.
Starting next year, U by Uniworld will feature four 7-night
itineraries on two 116-passenger ships, the River Baroness and River
Ambassador.
The Saturday-to-Saturday trips will include one roundtrip
cruise out of Paris as well as three Rhine itineraries between Amsterdam and
Budapest. Uniworld described the cruises as "the perfect length for the
young professional traveler who might not have a lot of vacation time."
The itineraries feature overnight stays, enabling guests to
experience a destination's nightlife.
U by Uniworld will offer guided excursions as well as time
for passengers to explore on their own, offering free transportation to city
centers to "do as U please."
Examples of some Paris excursions: a stroll through the city,
kayaking and biking along the Seine, and a street art tour of Paris
highlighting graffiti art culture.
On the Rhine cruises, guests can visit a brewery in a former
church in Amsterdam (complete with beer and food tasting) and bike through an
old coal mine outside of Duisburg, Germany.
The River Baroness and River Ambassador, which launched in
1997 and 1999, respectively, are being refurbished to have a more contemporary
look and feel. The ships will be outfitted with hammocks, beanbags and large
sunbeds on the sun deck, where passengers can listen to music being spun by
local DJs.
There will be chef-led cooking classes using ingredients
gathered by chefs and passengers in local markets for a small-group,
farm-to-table experience coupled with local wines and brews.
Passengers will have the option to book single, double or
triple cabins. Solo travelers will have the option to be matched up with a
roommate to save money.
Sales are expected to start this month. U by Uniworld has
launched a website, which currently features a general description of the
product and experience, but no pricing information or precise sailing dates.
U by Uniworld is the first attempt by a major river cruise
line to create a product for young travelers.