RiverViews Newsletter December 2017

E-NEWSLETTER

You deserve the best

TM

RIVERVIEWS The Uniworld River Heritage Club

OUR FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM 2017

SNAPPED BY YOU. SHARED BY US.

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SUSTAINABLE TOURISM pg 5 FROM THE KITCHEN OF BEA TOLLMAN BRAZILIAN NUT CAKE

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December 2017

IN THIS ISSUE

7 GUEST SPOTLIGHT 1 E LLEN,S 360 9 UNIWORLD Q&A 2 UNIQUELY UNIWORLD 3 OUR FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM 2017 11 FROM THE KITCHEN

OF BEA TOLLMAN

5 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM SHIRNETT FLEET

SENIOR EXECUTIVE CHEF MR. MANUEL MARQUEZ

SNAPPED BY YOU. SHARED BY US.

BRAZILIAN NUT CAKE

#ExploreUniworld

December 2017

Ellen’s 360° “The world is your canvas. Color it as you please.” We say this in our newest brand campaign, launched at the beginning of the year, to inspire travelers to artfully experience the world in comfort, style and luxury, but also to challenge ourselves to continually add to our own masterpiece. Looking back on my first full year with Uniworld, I am proud to say that we accomplished that goal in 2017. And just in time for the holidays.

Earlier this year, the elegant S.S. Joie de Vivre set sail along the historic Seine River for the first time. Every inch of the ship was crafted to reflect the French “joy of living” philosophy and the nation’s profound appreciation for food, wine, art and music. If you’ve never been, and even if you have, I strongly recommend any of our French itineraries. We take you to marquee ports, including medieval Rouen and romantic Paris, and our passionate staff cares for your every need onboard. It’s all part of why the experience aboard the S.S. Joie de Vivre earned us a 2017 Cruise Critic Editors’ Award for “Best New River Ship,” and our entire fleet an award for “Best Service.”

Additionally, we launched U by Uniworld, our river cruise line for 21-45 year olds. It has been incredibly rewarding to see this brand come to fruition, and begin to bring the joy and ease of river cruising to a new generation. If you have a 21-45 year old on your holiday shopping list, any U by Uniworld cruise would make for an incredible gift. You can’t quite put a price tag on authentic travel, especially when it involves experiencing Europe’s most iconic destinations from a floating boutique hotel.

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On behalf of the entire Uniworld family, thank you for being a valued member of our River Heritage Club. If you’re heading home to spend time with family, cherish every moment. If you’re about to embark on a special holiday cruise with Uniworld, I know you’ll have the time of your life. The excitement doesn’t end there. The new year promises to bring even more delights, including the launch of our newest Super Ship, the S.S. Beatrice.

Ellen Bettridge

Happy holidays, and here’s to 2018!

PRESIDENT & CEO Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Uniquely

UNIWORLD Highly trained to treat you like royalty.

Each moment of every Uniworld cruise is focused on a singular goal: to give you the unique and unforgettable experience you seek, with the personalized, industry-leading service you deserve.

Our commitment to delivering moments beyond compare begins before you ever step foot onboard. To ensure that we are delivering luxury of the highest order, our in-suite butlers are trained under the storied tutelage of Zita Langenstein at England’s Ivor Spencer Butler School. When guests choose to stay in a suite onboard our award-winning ships, they experience the same level of craft, care and attention to detail exhibited in the world’s finest hotels and royal houses, including Buckingham Palace. From serving you champagne on the top deck to perfectly pressing your clothing, our butlers approach every task in the most professional yet friendly manner.

Beyond the rigorous training, our butlers’ passion and genuine love of hospitality elevates the Uniworld experience into a class of its own—one of many reasons why we’ve earned the distinction of the world’s best and most awarded luxury river cruise line ever.

OUR FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM 2017.

Snapped by you. Shared by us.

The world is a big, vibrant, beautiful place and it is an absolute honor to share its diverse cultures, masterful architecture, and delicious food and drink with adventurous travelers. No two destinations are alike, and no two Uniworld voyages are either. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Check out some of our favorite photos shared by our most loyal guests throughout the year.

PHOTO CREDIT:

@ALYCIAHUMMEL

“Passin through Passau”

PHOTO CREDIT:

@jojo_syd212

“#Uniworld River Cruise #Lovely Colmar city, France”

LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? Follow along on our social channels with #ExploreUniworld.

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PHOTO CREDIT:

@gr8trvlr

“Our home for the week. Looking forward to our Danube Holiday Market River Cruise onboard the beautiful S.S. Maria Theresa.”

PHOTO CREDIT:

PHOTO CREDIT:

@tinadarmadji

“#yesterday got a christmas gift in my room from #uniworld boutique river cruise collection! #grateful #blessings”

@sphcontentlab

PHOTO CREDIT:

“Not quite the #tourdefrance but we will pedal for #wine #Riding through the #vineyard in Saint-Julien, #Bordeaux after a wine tasting session at #Chateau Lagrange.”

PHOTO CREDIT:

@lisathetravelgirl

“One of the beautiful bridges that Budapest is famous for....... #budapest #hungary #bridges #fancy #danube #rivercruise #uniworld”

@alyciahummel

“Something special about winter in Europe. Nikolaihof Winery in Wachau Valley Austria with @uniworldcruises”

PHOTO CREDIT:

@kuhnski

“#explore #travel #view #scenery #germany #eurotrip #balcony #uniworld #countryside #fall #nature #rhineriver”

PHOTO CREDIT:

@scarolinagrrl

“Bright colors on a gloomy day! #france #vacation #strasbourg #europe #uniworld #riverempress”

PHOTO CREDIT:

@eatprayflying

“A perfect #sunset on another #epic #cruise with #uniworld. The entire experience was heightened by a great & friendly crew/ service staff!”

PHOTO CREDIT:

@baoba_comunicacao

“#Uniworld #cruzeiro #russia”

UNIWORLD.COM 4

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM The world’s been good to us.

And we’d like to return the favor.

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In traversing the world’s most legendary rivers for over 40 years, we’ve developed a profound appreciation for nature and its limited resources.

Travel has awarded us the opportunity to give back, protect waterways for future generations and elevate the circumstances of others. We strive to do so whenever possible.

As part of our passion for sustainable tourism, we focus on making a positive impact through environmental, social and economic responsibilities. We partner with Just a Drop to help provide clean water for drinking, cooking and irrigation, donate items and materials that are no longer of use on our ships, develop programs to preserve local culture, and aim to support local businesses in the countries we visit.

FEATURED PARTNER: TREADRIGHT FOUNDATION Appreciating and understanding how others around the world live and work is key to connecting with locals and embracing social responsibility. Our partnership with the TreadRight Foundation has allowed us to preserve and protect the vibrant landscapes and indigenous heritages of the amazing destinations we visit, year in and year out.

Founded in 2008 by Uniworld’s parent company, The Travel Corporation, the TreadRight Foundation encourages sustainable tourism and has completed more than 40 projects that have benefited the environment and local culture.

In 2015, TreadRight named their first ambassador, leading environmentalist and explorer Céline Cousteau. Céline has traveled the world while working to preserve marine life as well as indigenous tribes in the Amazon.

Visit TreadRight.org to learn more.

Diamond Partner

Guest

SPOTLIGHT Our featured guest of the month, Shirnett Fleet, cruises professionally, as they say, while serving as Uniworld’s and U by Uniworld’s Vice President of Marketing. This past summer, Shirnett shared the Uniworld experience with her husband and two young children onboard a Generations program sailing. How was it? We’ll let her share.

Hi, Shirnett! Can you talk a bit about what the experience was like on your Gems of Northern Italy cruise?

When we had the opportunity to go to Italy this summer with the kids, we jumped on it. My husband and I are very big on traveling. We always promised ourselves that when we had kids, we would travel the world with them, make them global citizens and have the same appreciation and love for traveling as we do. My husband and I had never been to Venice and we loved the idea of being on a cruise with the kids and knowing there would be other kids on the ship as well. It is super helpful when you have kids to be able to travel around to all of these different

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locations but still have the convenience of not needing to pack and unpack at each new place.

How did the convenience aspect compare to some other family vacations you’ve done in the past?

It can be difficult to have a family trip that is both culturally immersive and convenient. With this trip, the convenience was fantastic. The minute we showed up to the airport, Uniworld was there waiting for us. They helped us with our baggage, they got us right on the van, they brought us to the hotel for our two-day land program in Milan - where a Uniworld representative was waiting - and then to the ship. Everything was just easy, which was great.

You can’t beat that. What were some aspects of the Generations Program specifically that were special?

At every touch-point, they thought about the kids. For instance, when we were in Milan, we did a tour together to see “The Last Supper,” which was amazing. Right after, the Family Hosts took all the kids to go get gelato while the adults went for coffee at a local café. We got a lot of family time together, but we also got a lot of much-needed couple time when the kids would go do fun outings with the other kids and the Family Hosts, and you knew they were in good hands.

How are the Family Hosts?

They were great and great with the kids. {NAME} herself is a mother of three girls so she really understands the needs and interests of kids and families. For instance, during our trip to Verona the Family Hosts brought the kids to an ancient Roman arena, where the gladiators used to fight, while the grownups could opt to join them or go on a more adult-centric tour. At the arena, the host gave them a history lesson and then pulled out of her bag all of these gladiator costumes for the kids to put on and have a mock gladiator play fight in this coliseum. Everywhere we went she’d pull out different props or toys or goodies for the kids. It was really fun and thoughtful and made it interesting for the kids. The kids really trusted her. They didn’t want to hang out with us parents, they wanted to go hang out with the other kids and the Family Hosts.

Sounds like they make it a true vacation for all of you. What would your kids say was their favorite part?

Probably the gelato, haha. I think it was also the friendships that they made onboard the ship. It wasn’t a big group of kids, but within the group there were pockets of kids who were the same age and you could see these friendships being formed throughout the week. My daughter made a really good friend with a little girl named Alice who was from Australia and they still keep in touch.

And the gifts. They would get pillow gifts as well. One night was a beautiful Venetian mask, another a Venetian map magnet and notebook with a Venetian gondola on the front. They loved it. We’d return to the room after dinner and they’d be so excited to see what was waiting for them.

Obviously working for Uniworld you know the product well, but was there anything that surprised even you on your cruise?

The food! I’d forgotten how delicious the food is onboard the ship.

It was just fantastic.

And the Tiny Noticeable Touches you don’t always think about, like the movie on the top deck. One night the crew set up this giant

screen and chairs in front, cinema style. It was so relaxing to sit on the deck at sunset, enjoying wine and popcorn while watching a movie. We had our grownup movie up on the top deck and at the same time the kids had their movie in the Captain’s Lounge.

At dinner, the kids could choose to either sit with us or sit at a “kids only” table - which they often chose. After the kids finished their dinner the Family Host would take them to an activity, which meant that we could sit and savor our multiple courses, drink our wine and relax. The nights we all ate together as a family were lovely, but we equally enjoyed the nights where just my husband and I shared a table.

Did you have a favorite meal onboard?

The soups. I love the soups. Every day, the soups were amazing, and sometimes when they had two soups to choose from, I had them both because they were so good.

What types of people and families would you encourage to do a Generations cruise?

I think multigenerational families are excellent for this product. I would have loved for my parents to go with us, that would have made it even more perfect. There is something for everyone. The ease of transportation would have made it easy for my parents who are less mobile. For the kids, they have different activities to participate in with alternate options depending on age. Some of the older kids choose to go on the non-Generations program tours with their parents. It’s nice that there are options for every family member to pick from through the cruise.

Any plans for a future cruise?

My plan is to do another multigenerational cruise in March. We are actually going to do a girls trip with my daughter, my mom, my husband’s mom, and my sister-in-law. We want to sail on S.S. Joie de Vivre in Paris.

Speaking of family, as we’re heading into the holidays, what is your favorite personal family tradition?

My mom and I, since I was 4 years old, for every Christmas, we have gone to see “The Nutcracker” and have never missed a year.

Even when I have lived in different states, we always made sure we would go. We have pulled my daughter into that tradition. When she was 4 we started bringing her. She is 7 now, and this year she is actually dancing in “The Nutcracker,” which is such a thrill for all of us.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Thanks for sharing and happy holidays!

Uniworld Q&A: Uniworld Senior Executive Chef

MR. MANUEL MARQUEZ

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Chef Manuel Marquez has been described as a chef through and through. As the longest-tenured chef with Uniworld, Manuel has spent time onboard many of our ships, honing his culinary craft to the delight of thousands of happy guests onboard. We recently had the opportunity to chat with Manuel to see what life is like when the white jacket goes on.

Hello Chef Manuel! To start, can you tell me what your title and role are within Uniworld?

My position is Senior Executive Chef. I was promoted around this time last year. Previously I was sous chef.

What were you doing before you arrived at Uniworld?

I always worked on ocean ships since ’88 and ’89. I met my wife onboard a Princess Cruise. When I finished school, I didn’t want to be a cook. I started as a waiter. You interact with guests, it’s great. My wife was a bar waiter. We met and fell in love. After three contracts, I decided I wanted to be a bar waiter. When at the bar, I met an Italian chef, who encouraged me to go work in the kitchen. I started cooking and loved it. After several months, I was promoted.

After my son was born, I wanted to spend less time on the water.

I went to another river cruise line for six months before coming to Uniworld. Uniworld is an amazing company. They are great to the crew with great working contracts.

What’s your day like onboard?

It’s totally different working as a chef on ships than in a hotel. We start very early in the morning to set up for breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea time and dinner, with night a la carte. It keeps you busy all day long.

When I’m on the ship, I’m cooking for sure. Uniworld has a high standard and we all need to adhere to that. I’m also here for training, support and to steer our team in the right direction.

As a chef, you need to make orders, update the manuals daily and check inventory to keep the proper storage and make sure you don’t overload or underload. On our Super Ships, we have 14 people involved in the culinary operations.

Sounds like quite the process. How do you go about acquiring the ingredients you use?

Before the cruise, we get manifests. Our suppliers deliver at the beginning of the cruise. If guests request custom items, we’ll go on shore to go shopping, or go shopping in the morning for local items like seasonal fruits. In France, we shop for fresh oysters. In Germany, we get German salt fish.

We need to be very open and very creative to appeal to all of our guests. Many of our meals are in the cooking style of the region; for instance, on an Amsterdam to Budapest cruise, we focus on German and Hungarian cuisine, but offer international dining to appeal to everyone.

What are some reasons you’ve worked so long for Uniworld?

Uniworld is really unique. The ships are amazing. If you need anything for your job, just ask your manager and they will

accommodate. Uniworld is great with promoting internally. Step by step they give everyone a chance to grow. We are proud to work for Uniworld because you can obtain a position you want if you work for it. If you work hard you can improve yourself.

At the end of the day, we are different. When you listen to others talk about the competitors, we are #1 and really on top.

Now what about being a chef for Uniworld?

I love to cook. I loooove to cook. Uniworld gives me the chance to do it as a job. To be a chef, you need to have a love for what you do. When you cook with your heart, you can taste it. You need to be proud when you put your white jacket on.

No one could argue with your passion. What’s your personal favorite dish to cook?

Being from Portugal, I like cooking Mediterranean cuisines. Fish, fresh vegetables, seafood. In Portugal, we use a lot of seafood.

Virgin olive oil, garlic bay leaves, fresh herbs. What I know and what I’ve learned, I try to implant in our manuals to bring my personal experience onboard. I get to show my team the styles I’ve learned.

We work with people from a lot of different countriesPolish, Czech, Slovakian, and many more. It’s very helpful to get international chefs’ expertise since they have new and different ideas.

I know Bea Tollman’s recipes are a Uniworld staple.

We cook many of Bea Tollman’s recipes. We plant these recipes in our manuals and the guests love them. It all comes from her cookbook. I personally love Lamb in Puff Pastry, Arthur’s Chicken Curry and Shrimp Stroganoff, but all are great.

What’s your favorite food to eat?

I love lobster-to prepare, and to eat with a nice wine. Or shrimp with garlic.

Yum. Do you see yourself working at Uniworld for the long term?

I only thought I’d stay on the rivers for one or two years, but there are so many benefits, I’m still here. I plan to close out my career with Uniworld. I don’t have any reason to change.

After spending time onboard much of the fleet, do you have a favorite ship?

River Beatrice. I love the ship. It’s in the process of becoming the newest Super Ship for Uniworld. The operations, lounge and restaurant are all beautiful. When you compare it to other ships, there’s just something special about this one for me.

Thanks for all of the insights, Chef. All this talk of food and cooking is making us hungry!

FROMof Bea THETollman KITCHEN

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BRAZILIAN NUT CAKE Sweeten the holiday season with this timeless fruit cake recipe from Bea’s personal collection. Baked to perfection with a luscious combination of flavors and textures, it makes for a lovely gift or party refreshment.

INGREDIENTS

PREPARATION

500 g (3 1/2 cups) Brazil nuts Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl over the nuts, dates and cherries. Mix thoroughly.

500 g (2 1/4 cups) dates, separated Beat the eggs until foamy, then add the vanilla and stir well into the fruit and nut mixture.

150 g (1 cup) candied cherries 150 g (1 cup) flour Grease and double line the loaf tin with parchment paper, then power in the mix, half a teaspoon salt spreading evenly. Bake in a slow oven (about 170°C/338°F) for one and a half hours, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract then remove the pan from the oven.

3 eggs 1 150 g (1 /2 cups) sugar When cool, loosen the edges with a knife blade to remove the cake from the pan.

Half a teaspoon baking powder loaf tin 24 x 6 x 1 cm (9.5 x 2.5 x 0.5 inches)

“

I've tried many fruit cakes over the years, and this one seems both to look the nicest, and have a marvellous combination of flavors and textures. A friend gave me this recipe years ago, and I find that it makes a lovely gift for the holidays or for parties. It also holds together very well, which is always important with a good fruit cake.

We first served it on game drives at Sohebele Game Reserve in the early ’70s and today it is featured at Bushmans Kloof as well - it is a timeless recipe.

–Bea Tollman

”

Uniworld’s River Heritage Club A N E X C L U S I V E C L U B F O R U N I W O R L D L OYA L G U E S T S

One Uniworld cruise: that’s all it takes. Then you’re automatically an esteemed member of our River Heritage Club, eligible for an array of member-only savings and onboard benefits that we offer in sincere gratitude for your loyalty. We look forward to welcoming you aboard as a returning friend on your next luxury river cruise with Uniworld!

RIVER HERITAGE CLUB REWARDS INCLUDE:

SAVE 5%

• Join the Captain for a members-only cocktail party onboard

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• Complimentary onboard laundry service weekly on ships in Europe and Russia and once per cruise on ships in India, Vietnam and Cambodia • Complimentary in-room fruit platter waiting for you upon arrival • Exclusive e-magazine • Milestone gifts to celebrate guests who have joined us for multiple cruises

on any Uniworld cruise or cruise/tour around the globe*

Note: Benefits may not apply on cruises to China, Vietnam & Cambodia, India and Egypt.

But even more value comes to those who plan ahead.

It’s never too early to begin thinking about your next adventure, and if you do, you’ll enjoy added savings. When you book your next voyage while onboard, you’ll save an additional 5% (on top of your River Heritage Club 5% reward) for a 10% total discount. The only question now is “Where to?” The world awaits.†

WHERE IN THE WORLD…???

This famous European garden has us dreaming of springtime. Each year, travelers from around the world flock to witness its impressive display of over seven million bulbs, with 800 varieties of tulips, spread over 32 sprawling hectares. If you can name this floral paradise and the small town it resides in, email us at RHC@Uniworld.com. The first to answer correctly will be featured in our next issue of RiverViews.

LAST MONTH’S VICTOR Congratulations to Jean-Paul Hafner for being the first to correctly identify Marksburg Castle along the Middle Rhine Valley as last issue’s mystery destination.

Join us in 2018 on our Castles Along the Rhine itinerary to experience Marksburg Castle up close and personal, as well as many historic cities, including ancient Cologne and picturesque Strasbourg.

You deserve the best

TM

Visit uniworld.com/river-heritage-club for more information.

* River Heritage Club savings and amenities are available to guests after completing their first Uniworld cruise. 5% savings are based on the cruise or cruise/tour-only price (including any upgrades and single supplement) after other cash discounts are applied. Savings are combinable with all current Uniworld promotions. Restrictions may apply. For complete details, general information, and terms and conditions applicable to all Uniworld trips, please visit uniworld.com. † 10% discount represents 5% onboard booking savings + 5% River Heritage Club discount. This offer is combinable with all other promotions and savings programs. Onboard savings are calculated on the cruise-tour price (including any upgrades and single supplements), after all applicable flat rate discounts are applied. Bookings must be created and full deposit processed while onboard to qualify for 5% onboard savings. Other restrictions apply. See Uniworld.com for complete terms and conditions.