E-NEWSLETTER
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RIVERVIEWS The Uniworld River Heritage Club
SLEEPING BEAUTIES The World’s Finest Beds
WANDERLUST GUIDE A Destination for Every Month
CIAO, BELLA! Guest Travelogue
February 2017
IN THIS ISSUE
2 S LEEPING BEAUTIES Uniquely Uniworld
9 Q&A WITH ELLEN BETTRIDGE Our 5-Question Interview
3 W ANDERLUST GUIDE Destination Spotlight
10 MRS. TOLLMAN’S SEED LOAF From Our Kitchen to Yours
5 THE DANUBE, REDUX Featured Story
11 WHAT'S NEW IN 2017?
7 CIAO, BELLA!
Guest Travelogue
#ExploreUniworld
February 2017
Ellen’s 360° A new year is all about resolutions, and with 2017 well
RiverViews is a monthly showcase for the things our well-
underway, I find it valuable to look back each month on the
traveled River Heritage Club members love most—insights
goals I’ve set in January. Not surprisingly, my favorite
into intriguing destinations, a chance to venture behind the
resolutions are always related to travel. For things like self-
scenes, and close encounters with kindred spirits who
improvement, personal growth and all those other aspirations
share a passion for travel. But this edition I find extra
people tend to have this time of year, nothing beats embarking
special, as it gives you an exclusive first look at our new
on a journey to places unknown.
brand campaign—The World is Your Canvas. Stay tuned
For me, travel is about seeing and doing things you normally wouldn’t. It’s about embracing those spontaneous moments
throughout 2017 as we continue to share the many ways you can craft your masterpiece on a Uniworld cruise.
when you don’t know where you’ll end up or who you will meet.
Speaking of special news, I’m hosting my first President’s
Those are the journeys that can change you forever, in the best
Cruise on the July 7th sailing of “Gems of Northern Italy,”
possible ways.
aboard the River Countess. I’m looking forward to joining our guests aboard this special voyage. Happy Travels!
Ellen Bettridge PRESIDENT & CEO Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
SLEEPING BEAUTIES An Intimate Look at the World’s Finest Beds
Many travelers return home from vacation raving about something—the food,
If you’ve ever daydreamed about buying a Savoir bed of your very own, rest
the wine, the people they met and all the things they did. But a rave review
assured that indulging your inner Goldilocks is highly encouraged when placing
about a bed? Not likely.
an order. There are countless small but significant details to consider, starting
With one exception. Anyone who has traveled on a Uniworld river cruise has enjoyed what some have described as “the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had.” Guests attribute this to the Savoir of England beds found in every stateroom and suite onboard our European fleet. But what exactly makes this bed so coveted?
with the firmness—hard, soft, or somewhere in between. For couples that can’t agree on the optimal density for their custom-made mattress, craftsmen are happy to make the filling different on either side. And if it’s still not 100% perfect after getting it home, Savoir will take it back and completely remake it.
lambswool and the company’s trademark cotton ticking. Each bed takes nine
“We were just commenting that we wish our bed [at home] was as good, but then we would never get out of bed.”
to eleven weeks to build from scratch, and no man-made materials are ever
- Arnoldus, Feefo review
For starters, every Savoir bed is meticulously handcrafted to meet its owner’s exact specifications, using traditional old-world materials such as horsehair,
used. Why? Synthetic materials don’t circulate air or wick away moisture nearly as effectively. Anyone getting into a Savoir bed joins the ranks of the rich and famous—such as Marilyn Monroe, Elton John, Oprah Winfrey, Liza Minnelli,
Of course, the problem with owning a bespoke Savoir bed is that it may be so supremely comfortable that just getting up in the morning becomes a rather daunting prospect. So perhaps it’s something best enjoyed only when on vacation!
Winston Churchill and Frank Sinatra, all of whom have drifted off to sleep on a cloud of hand-tied mattress springs.
UNIWORLD.COM 2
WANDERLUST guide
Destination Spotlight
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
January is a classic time for making
February
travel resolutions—places we want
VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA, an ideal
to visit in the year ahead—and
time to cruise the Mekong. The
INDIA is at the top of countless
highlight of your journey? The most
bucket lists. There’s no better way
spectacular
to kick off the New Year than with
ever lay eyes on—Angkor Wat, the
an epic journey that’s a complete
archeological treasure has tantalized
escape from the ordinary.
explorers for more than a century.
is
the
dry
monument
season
you
in
may
MARCH
APRIL
At Uniworld, March Madness means
Enjoy the balmy springtime weather
tulip time in THE NETHERLANDS,
of CHINA as your ship winds its way
the best place on earth to see
through the Yangtze River’s fabled
vibrantly colourful floral carpets that
Three Gorges, known for its surreal
seemingly stretch into infinity. Be
rock formations and mist-shrouded
sure
peaks,
to
visit
the
world-famous
many
with
wonderfully
Keukenhof Gardens (open in 2017
evocative names such as Climbing
from March 23 to May 21).
Dragon and Flying Phoenix.
MAY
JUNE
Paris in the spring is indeed a delight,
RUSSIA is our pick for June, when
but May is also a great time to visit
the sun rarely dips below the horizon
other NORTHERN FRANCE locales.
and the sky stays light past midnight
Monet’s gardens present a colourful
in St. Petersburg. And not to be
tapestry of flowers and lily-covered
missed, the “White Nights,” two
ponds, and the gardens of Versailles
weeks of round-the-clock festivities
are as opulent as the palace’s wildly
celebrating the longest day of the
ornate interiors.
year (scheduled in 2017 from June 11 to July 2).
JULY
AUGUST
Summertime family vacations don’t
The great Impressionists adored the
have to be boring, are-we-there-yet
Mediterranean climate of SOUTHERN
road trips. They can be a multi-
FRANCE and its bounty of fresh-
generational adventure on a Rhine
picked
or Danube river cruise through
landscapes and its profusion of
CENTRAL EUROPE, visiting multiple
flowers. The region’s fields of bright
countries while traveling aboard a
sunflowers and rows of fragrant
floating boutique hotel.
lavender reach their peak in late July
produce,
its
sun-glazed
and August.
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
September is harvest season in
The enduringly romantic city of
the DOURO RIVER VALLEY, when
Venice definitely lives up to centuries
grapevines are heavy with fruit and
of hype, yet even a city this beloved
the entire region is in a celebratory
has its challenges—especially during
mood. Sip a glass of Port as you
peak season in ITALY. One solution?
admire the autumn foliage in this
Go in October, after the summer
ruggedly beautiful (and still under
heat dissipates and the flood of
the radar) corner of Europe.
tourists ebbs.
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
There comes a point during any river
GERMANY and AUSTRIA are the
journey in EGYPT when you gaze out
places to be in December, when all
at the water and suddenly remember
the 500-year-old Christmas Markets
that you’re looking at the legendary
are in full swing. Go for the glittering
Nile. The Nile! Egypt is staging a
lights, the pageantry, the stalls selling
comeback
handcrafted gifts, the mulled wine
these
days,
and
an
autumn cruise is a perfect way to
and decadent once-a-year treats.
explore its timeless treasures. UNIWORLD.COM 4
THE DANUBE, REDUX Been there, done that? Maybe it’s time to go back.
5
You never forget your first, as it’s been said.
See what’s changed. When you revisit a place,
For many River Heritage Club members, the
you can’t expect that everything will be just as
Danube was their first river cruise, a classic
you left it. Then again, there are Wachau Valley
cultural tasting menu of Central European
hamlets where time seems to have come to a
countries. It’s hard not to love this timeless
screeching halt. Elsewhere, it can be equally
river, yet many travelers never go back once
thrilling to revisit locales that are utterly
they’ve “done the Danube.” They have other
transformed, such as the newly revitalized
places to go, other sights to see.
countries of Eastern Europe.
But consider this—revisiting a destination can
See things from a new perspective. Maybe
be a good thing. A great thing, in fact.
you’re
Especially one like the Danube River, which
compelled to see the “top 10” sites of any
the
type
of
traveler
who
feels
offers so much to see and do along its vast
given destination: What if I never come back
length that it’s impossible to do it all on one
here? (We’ve all had that thought.) Going
trip. Or even one hundred trips.
back lets you jettison the must-sees and mosey off the beaten path, experiencing
As we see it, travel isn’t always about boldly
a place in a much more authentic way.
venturing into uncharted territory. So here are a few of our favorite reasons to re-do the Danube:
Show someone else. Every traveler dreams of sharing a favorite place or experience with a
Discover what you missed. This is the numero
loved one. That might mean taking your
uno reason to go back. Maybe you’ve already
teenaged daughter to see the Lipizzaner
seen the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna
stallions (which you’ve raved about for years)
or the secret passageways of Melk Abbey’s
and seeing—not the usual eye rol, but an
marvelous library. Next time, you can do
expression of pure joy and a smile as wide as
something completely different—hiking up to
your own. Moments like that: Priceless.
Dürnstein Castle, say, or cycling along a riverside path.
As a wise man once said, “You cannot step into the same river twice.” It has changed and
Embrace nostalgia. Whatever it was that
so have you. So if you’re feeling inspired to
made a place memorable, a return visit lets
revisit the Danube, be sure to save a few
you relive that particular moment in time.
places to explore on your next trip.
Proust had his madeleines; for you, it might be a decadent slice of Sachertorte at an elegant café. Ah, the memories!
What place would you love to revisit most? Let us know at RHC@uniworld.com.
UNIWORLD.COM 6
CIAO
bella!
A FIRST-TIME RIVER CRUISER EMBRACES LA DOLCE VITA IN NORTHERN ITALY
Chicago-based River Heritage Club member Janet Lane traveled as part of a group on our 13-day “Splendors of Italy” itinerary—her first river cruise and her first time in Italy. When she wrote to tell us about her wonderful experience, we enjoyed her personal travelogue so much that we couldn’t resist sharing some excerpts of it. Prego!
VENICE’S ETHEREAL CANALS
ADVENTURES ONSHORE
I loved walking the narrow streets of Venice with our terrific local
On my walking tour of Ferrara, I saw the city’s Gothic cathedral
guide Susan, an art historian. Seeing the food market and even
and Castle Estense (a huge 14th-century fortress), and wandered
the laundry strung high above the streets brought a smile to my
the narrow streets of the Jewish Ghetto. I also ventured off by
face. Daily life in Venice.
myself and did a little shopping, too.
It’s hard to say what I loved most about the city. The art museums
DOING AS THE LOCALS DO
were pretty special. The private, after-hours lighting ceremony that
Our Cruise Manager Damiano Olivieri-Passeri was a real character,
Uniworld arranged inside St. Mark’s Basilica was an amazing
too. His knowledge of the culture, customs, history and local
experience. Trying new gelato flavours at every opportunity…
resources was truly impressive. During his daily talks, he taught us
NEW FRIENDS ONBOARD
all how to “speak Italian” with our hands. He also gave tips on
Life onboard was just as fantastic as the sites onshore. Here I am with the ship’s Hotel Manager Marin Moric and Restaurant Manager Valentin Trofin. Valentin hit it off immediately with Russ,
where to eat and shop, and even explained how to get to Murano and Burano [shown here] by water taxi, so I could do some exploring with another traveler from our group, Kathy.
our group leader’s husband. After Russ requested a second
TREASURE HUNTING
helping of breadsticks, Valentin presented him with his own
I found this little Pinocchio shop in Florence. Only in Italy!
assortment of breadsticks at every dinner thereafter!
TUSCANY’S TIMELESS LANDSCAPES I loved gazing out at the view from a hilltop winery and seeing the vineyards and lush greenery all along the road to Rome. I understand how artists of all disciplines are inspired by the Tuscan countryside.
WINING & DINING En route from Florence to Rome, we stopped for a tour of the Castello di Verrazzano winery and sampled the estate’s wines over lunch. Delizioso!
ST. PETER’S IN ROME St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is a busy and absolutely enormous place. I found it easier to focus on the view directly overhead, rather than try to capture the sheer immensity of the cathedral. My journey in Italy was definitely action-packed! It was the trip of a lifetime and I’d go again in a heartbeat…but I’d want to have the same travel companions and the same Uniworld staff!
Now that she’s had a taste of traveling with Uniworld, we asked Janet which region she’d love to visit next. She managed to narrow it down to three—Northern France, Holland during tulip season and Germany during the Christmas holidays. “It’s tough to pick just one!” she said. Spoken like a true River Heritage Club member. Do you have a story and photos to share from your Uniworld cruise? Contact RHC@uniworld.com if you’re interested in being featured in our next Guest Travelogue.
That’s me
on arrival day in Venice, on the
River Countess. I loved the ship and the staff treated us like royalty. The food was fantastic and trying not to overindulge was a challenge.
UNIWORLD.COM 8
Q & A with
ELLEN BETTRIDGE UNIWORLD’S PRESIDENT & CEO HAS GATHERED AN IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF STAMPS IN HER PASSPORT OVER THE YEARS, AND—LIKE MANY OF OUR INTREPID GUESTS—SHE HAS A LONG LIST OF PLACES SHE DREAMS OF EXPLORING FIRSTHAND. What inspired you to work in the travel industry? I was 21 and living in New York, and went to work for a travel agency as a “Girl Friday,” primarily so I could score free tickets to fly back home to see my parents in Spokane, Washington. I was bitten hard by the travel bug and I’ve been in this amazing field ever since.
What do you love most about traveling? Every place I visit becomes my new favorite destination. I love discovering unexpected things, trying out unfamiliar foods, getting out of my comfort zone and immersing myself in the local culture. If you cultivate a sense of adventure, every trip you take has the potential to be life-changing.
What is your most memorable travel experience thus far? My most memorable journey was a trip to Egypt with my then 15-year-old daughter, Grace. We were fortunate enough to cruise up the Nile on the maiden voyage of Uniworld’s River Tosca. Being
together
and
experiencing
all
the
incredible things that region has to offer was absolutely priceless.
What is the best travel advice you have ever had? It’s very simple—as the best kind of advice so often is—and I strongly suspect it came from my mother: When you’re on the road, wash your hands constantly!
What is your top “bucket list” destination? Number one on my list has to be India. Everything I hear about it just makes me more excited to go there, for various reasons. The people, the food, the colours, the five thousand years of history…I just want to experience the sheer spectacle of it all. And to see the sunrise at the Taj Mahal, of course. That’s the ultimate bucket list moment.
MRS. TOLLMAN’S SEED LOAF Mrs. Bea Tollman is not only the world-renowned founder and doyenne of our sister company, The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, she’s also a talented chef and the inspiration behind Uniworld’s culinary philosophy. Here’s a recipe for a hearty and delicious brown bread adapted from her acclaimed cookbook, A Life in Food. And here’s Mrs. Tollman’s favorite way to serve it, in her own words: “I have tried making numerous healthy brown breads in various ways. This has been one of my most enduring recipes, producing a bread that is nutty, aromatic and has a good crust. I love the smell as it is baking in the oven, and the way it toasts when sliced up thinly with a slather of good butter and thick-cut orange marmalade in the morning.” Enjoy!
Part A
Part B
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 17 oz plain yogurt
• 7 Tbsp whole oats
• 3 Tbsp sunflower oil
• 5 Tbsp shelled sunflower seeds
• 3 Tbsp honey
• 3 1/2 Tbsp All Bran flakes
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3 /2 Tbsp flaxseed
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 3 /2 Tbsp sesame seeds
• 2 Tbsp molasses
1 1
• 3 1/2 Tbsp wheat germ • 3 1/2 Tbsp corn flour • 3 1/2 Tbsp hemp seed Topping • 1 oz shelled sunflower seeds • 1 oz whole oats • 2 Tbsp sunflower oil
Mix all ingredients from Part A list. In separate bowl, mix all ingredients from Part B list. Add Part B mixture to Part A mixture and mix well. Heat oven to 355* F. Place mixture in loaf pan, brush top with sunflower oil, and sprinkle sunflower seeds and oats on top. Bake for 20 minutes, reduce heat to 300* F and bake for additional 1 hour 30 minutes. Remove from oven, allow to cool completely. Turn loaf out on to cutting board and slice with serrated bread knife.
UNIWORLD.COM 10
WHAT’S NEW in 2017?
24-HOUR ROOM SERVICE Uniworld is known for superb service, and now we’re expanding our offerings even further with in-room dining at any time of the day or night. No request is too large, and no detail is too small. So if you have a craving for ice cream at midnight, now you can indulge without leaving the comfort of your room. Enjoy!
RIVER CRUISES FOR 18 – 40 YEAR OLDS
PEACE OF MIND COMES WITH EVERY UNIWORLD CRUISE Being mindful, well-informed, and prepared are essential traits of an
U BY UNIWORLD A NEW TAKE ON RIVER CRUISING.
experienced traveler, and we approach each Uniworld cruise with that
Over the past many months, our team has been hard at work on a
same thorough care and mindset. We’ve recently taken even greater
project that will introduce river cruising to a new generation of
measures to ensure that when you travel with us, you can rest easy
traveler—U by Uniworld. Two of our boutique ships, River Ambassador
knowing that your plans and adventures are in the hands of a dedicated
and River Baroness, will join the U fleet and be transformed with a hip,
worldwide team.
modern style designed to appeal to the 18- to 40-year-old traveler. These ships will continue to sail up and down the rivers of France,
SECURITY MEASURES ON EUROPE SHIPS
Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and the Netherlands, with
• We keep all outside doors and access to the interior of the ship locked whenever docked. Only guests can enter with a key card.
seven- to eight-night itineraries geared to accommodate the vacation
• All guests and luggage are verified against the manifest at check in.
But the ships are only the beginning, and the entire U experience will
• All deliveries are thoroughly inspected before being brought onboard. • Cameras are present at the entrance of the ship and in public areas, and are monitored by reception. • Portable boarding pass scanners are available at the gangway of all small ships.
schedules of your kids or grandkids.
feature onboard activities and onshore excursions appealing to these travelers, from pub crawls in Amsterdam to guest DJ nights onboard. U by Uniworld will open for booking in March of this year, and both ships' maiden voyages will take place in the spring of 2018. We are very excited for this opportunity to share our love of travel and boutique hospitality with a new type of guest. Our world just got a little bit bigger.
• 24/7 access to the front desk. • Trained security staff posted at the gangway 24 hours a day. UNIWORLD.COM 12
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
Once you’ve cruised with Uniworld,
RIVER HERITAGE CLUB REWARDS INCLUDE:
you
•S ave 5% on any Uniworld cruise or cruise/tour around the globe*
automatically
become
an
esteemed member of our River Heritage Club, eligible for an array
• Private members-only cocktail party onboard, hosted by the Captain (European cruises)**
of
•R iverViews™ e-magazine**
member-only
savings
and
onboard benefits that we offer in sincere gratitude for your loyalty.
• One (1) category upgrade on ships in Europe and Russia (excludes suites, subject to availability 45 days prior to departure)**
We look forward to welcoming you
• Complimentary in-room fruit platter upon arrival (European cruises)**
aboard as a returning friend on
• Complimentary onboard laundry service once per week (European cruises)**
your next Uniworld river cruise!
WHERE IN THE WORLD….??? The Danube River flows through a series of gorges, where caves and Roman carvings pock the sheer-faced rock walls. What are these gorges called and where are they found? If you think you know the answer, send it to RHC@uniworld.com. We’ll reveal the mystery location (and the first River Heritage Club member to guess it correctly) in our next issue.
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. **For 2017 cruise/tours only