The Uniworld River Heritage Club
UNIQUELY UNIWORLD: NO DETAIL IS TOO SMALL pg 2 ONBOARD ARTWORK: FOCUS ON CERAMIC MOSAIC ARTIST JANE DU RAND pg 3 GUEST SPOTLIGHT: MARCY'S EXPERIENCE WITH UNIWORLD pg 5
June 2019 Bar du Leopard Pool on S.S. Maria Theresa Mosaic by artist Jane du Rand
E-NEWSLETTER
RIVERVIEWS
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ELLEN’S 360°
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UNIQUELY UNIWORLD: NO DETAIL IS TOO SMALL
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ONBOARD ARTWORK: FOCUS ON CERAMIC MOSAIC ARTIST JANE DU RAND
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GUEST SPOTLIGHT: MARCY'S EXPERIENCE WITH UNIWORLD
June 2019
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TREADRIGHT FEATURE: THE KARI FOUNDATION
9 UNIWORLD Q&A WITH TONI TOLLMAN 11 A RECIPE FROM THE KITCHEN
OF BEA TOLLMAN
#ExploreUniworld
Ellen’s 360° Summer is here and I am thrilled to be kicking it off at the second annual River Heritage Club Reunion Cruise onboard our newest Super Ship, S.S. Bon Voyage. It's always an honor for me to get to meet our incredible River Heritage Club members, and I'm so excited to be sailing with some of you through the beautiful southwest region of France on our Brilliant Bordeaux itinerary in just a few days. In this issue of RiverViews, I'm excited to share with you an onboard artist spotlight on Jane du Rand, the artist behind the beautiful mosaics across our fleet. Also, learn more from Toni Tollman, Director of Design and Products, about the design inspiration behind the new S.S. Bon Voyage, hear from a guest about their experience on three Uniworld cruises, and cool down with a Bea Tollman recipe for honeycomb ice cream. I wish you all an amazing summer and safe travels, wherever your next adventure takes you. Warm regards,
Ellen Bettridge PRESIDENT & CEO Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
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UNIQUELY UNIWORLD:
NO DETAIL IS TOO SMALL on our one-of-a-kind ships.
Alongside her daughter Toni, Bea Tollman has modeled Uniworld’s floating boutique hotels after our sister company, the five-star Red Carnation Hotel Collection. Each ship is designed to be an extension of the destinations they sail through, with distinctive themes, color palettes and personally selected original art, furnishings and antiques.
DISCOVER OUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
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Onboard Artwork:
FOCUS ON CERAMIC MOSAIC ARTIST JANE DU RAND JANE DU RAND is a renowned ceramic and mosaic artist best known for her large-scale commissioned artworks in public spaces and on public buildings, as well as a great number of private commissions including pieces across our very own fleet of boutique ships. Her artwork is so unique and special, that it was one of the only elements retained when we transformed the River Royale into the S.S. Bon Voyage. For this mosaic, Jane was inspired by the landscapes and the villages in southern France. Many of these small towns and villages were places where the impressionist painters worked, including Van Gogh. The mural is a hillside village and a lavender field with cypress trees and a swirling Van Goghinspired sky and, of course, sunflowers. The color palette evokes the atmosphere of a southern French country setting with the mauves, muted greens and ochre-yellows of the sunflowers. The aim was for the viewer to be transported into this scene as if it was about to be painted.
See more examples of Jane's one-of-a-kind artwork on our one-of-a-kind ships to the right.
Lobby mosaic on S.S. Bon Voyage
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Bar du Leopard Pool mosaic on S.S. Catherine
Bar du Leopard Pool mosaic on S.S. Maria Theresa
Pool mosaic on S.S. Antoinette
Bar du Leopard Pool mosaic on S.S. Maria Theresa
Pool mosaic on S.S. Antoinette
Lobby mosaic on S.S. Bon Voyage
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We had the pleasure of speaking with Marcy Meldahl, who, after three Uniworld cruises, has become hooked on river cruising! Hi Marcy, how did you hear about Uniworld? I have a friend that’s a Travel Advisor and she invited us to a AAA Travel Show. So, my husband and I went to the travel show and turned the corner and saw a giant poster at a Uniworld booth. The picture was gorgeous. In retrospect, it might have been a scene in Germany. We were just completely taken. We tried it and we were hooked! We said that this is the way we want to travel. What was it about your experience on our Tulips & Windmills itinerary that got you hooked on river cruising? It was a little bit of everything because it was the first time we traveled with Uniworld. I guess the first thing in particular was that my “hotel room” could move with me and the ability to see changing scenery from the ship. The Tulips & Windmills was especially beautiful because we had gone to Keukenhof Gardens and spent a lot of time looking at tulips and greenhouses and taking pictures. We had a really nice room with a French Balcony and we liked all of the surrounding villages, especially seeing the windmills at Kinderdijk. We enjoyed the trip to the North Sea and learning how the Dutch manage the water. The scenery was beautiful! It got us really enthusiastic about river cruising. What aspects of a Uniworld cruise do you find most appealing? I liked when I could look out the windows from either side and see
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the scenery moving. I liked the food as well, and there was not a single thing you had to pay extra for. If you wanted something different than what was on the menu, the chef was more than willing to make you something else. I thought the staff was always really patient and very knowledgeable. If we walked around with a guide, it was nice they had the Quietvox system so you could hear the guide if they were a few steps away. Also, the ability to get on and off the ship so easily is one of my favorite things about Uniworld. I can’t say there was anything I didn’t like. Everything worked flawlessly and I’m not sure how Uniworld pulls it off. What excursion suprised you the most on Tulips & Windmills? We went to the Kröller-Müller Museum. I’m not a big art museum person, but that trip was really enlightening. We had a guide who was very knowledgeable and when you have someone who knows what they’re talking about, you can appreciate the art more. So, we ended up enjoying that and getting exposed to other things. What destinations did you like the most on our Tulips & Windmills itinerary? In Amsterdam, it was of course the canals and quaint streets. I remember being interested in taking pictures of the row houses that look out right onto the street. You are walking right
past someone’s window—just the life that exists on the street is amazing. You feel like you’re traveling among the people of the places you’re visiting. I liked Bruges a lot. I am a French speaker so I enjoyed Belgium. One of the highlights of the trip was toward the end when we were able to attend Easter Mass at the cathedral in Antwerp. So that was really an unusual experience and something we hadn’t planned. What did you think of the River Duchess? I didn’t know what to think before we traveled, but the room we got for our first trip was very accommodating and comfortable. It had a French Balcony and we were on the same floor as the reception, restaurant and lounge, and it was just perfect for us. It was a nice introduction to the ship itself. The food was to die for. The seating in the restaurant with the windows all around was really lovely. The whole trip was perfect! You mentioned you've also been with us on our Bordeaux itinerary. What was it like traveling through this region with Uniworld? I went with a girlfriend who had never traveled with Uniworld before and had never traveled overseas before. Interestingly enough, we met as teenagers in French class. So going to Bordeaux seemed sort of like a culmination of friendship. We enjoyed the vineyards, scenic bus trips and wine tastings. We laughed that we went one year too early because the pictures we’ve seen of the new S.S. Bon Voyage are certainly striking.
They did a nice job on that trip of explaining the wines we’d have with dinner each night. The towns and cities were really pretty. We enjoyed being able to get off the ship and have a walking tour of some of these places. Can you tell us about the most memorable moment from your river cruises? On Castles along the Rhine, the scenery of Germany was beautiful and the food was very gourmet. We were quite pleased with all of the food and the way it was prepared. I also think Uniworld does a great job with the excursions they offer, some of which are optional. Where is your next Uniworld cruise going to take you? We talked about doing the Delightful Danube & Prague or Highlights of Eastern Europe. I would like to go there because we come from an area outside Chicago that has a lot of Eastern Europeans that settled there after WWII. Safe travels, Marcy!
Do you have a story or photos to share from your Uniworld cruise? Email RHC@uniworld.com if you’re interested in being featured in a future Guest Spotlight.
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CELEBRATING AND ADVANCING Indigenous exchanges in Australia.
Founded in 2008 by Uniworld’s parent company, The Travel Corporation, The TreadRight Foundation’s mission is to safeguard people, wildlife and the planet for generations to come.
TreadRight’s People pillar focuses on encouraging the cultures, traditions and arts of the communities we visit, enabling locals to experience the true benefit of tourism through empowerment and community-based tourism initiatives. This year, TreadRight turned its attention to Australia in search of a hands-on experience that taught heritage arts to the next generation, which is how their partnership with The KARI Foundation began.
designed to close the gap and support Indigenous advancement. They’re working to establish a new, culturally-driven economic opportunity for members of Sydney’s Indigenous community. TreadRight is now partnering with them to develop a learning program sponsoring members of the Indigenous community to deliver boomerang dot painting classes, providing job opportunities that support heritage.
The KARI Foundation offers local Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous communities the opportunity to work together on initiatives
TreadRight is also supporting KARI to help the foundation develop an online store through which their artists can distribute their incredible work.
A f a m i ly of br a n d s
ttc.com
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UNIWORLD Q&A: Toni Tollman, Director of Design and Products
We sat down to discuss some of Toni's favorite aspects of the new S.S. Bon Voyage and her design inspiration for this beautifully transformed Super Ship in Bordeaux. Do you have a favorite space on the S.S. Bon Voyage? La Cave du Vin is one of my favorite spaces on the ship. It’s warm, sleek and surrounded by wonderful wines. It’s also a very intimate space so it’s wonderful to enjoy with friends and family while savoring delicious foods and wines as you sail along the river. What was your inspiration for the fabric on the lounge chairs on the Sun Deck? It all began with our stunning blue and white infinity pool, the only one on the rivers. The handmade pool tiles come from a small, family-owned artisanal tile producer in Hermanus, a small fishing town outside of Cape Town. From there, with the stunning weather and diverse and beautiful scenery of the Bordeaux region, we wanted to create a warm, comfortable and relaxing open space so you can read, swim,
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sunbathe or enjoy a glass of delicious wine while slowly cruising along the rivers of southwest France. The fabulous blue and white leopard fabric of the loungers just set the perfect tone.
this time—as compared to S.S. Joie de Vivre and S.S. Beatrice? There is a similar use of our special walnut yacht finish on the S.S. Bon Voyage and the S.S. Joie de Vivre, but we designed a more intricate fluted finish for the S.S. Bon Voyage that we used in different ways and in different areas. Also, the intricate bronze inlays in the wood paneling, the bar and the reception desk are unique to the S.S. Bon Voyage. We like every Uniworld Super Ship to have its own special character, mood and design. For example, the S.S. Beatrice’s mood is more contemporary, and our yacht finish is a unique blonde yacht wood that was designed just for the S.S. Beatrice.
Do you think blue and white will ever go out of fashion? Never! Blue and white is probably the most timeless color combination and has lasted over many centuries in various forms and styles. There is such a variety in hues of blues spanning different types of fashions: interiors, ceramics, fabrics, clothes, architecture. It’s all an amazing source of inspiration throughout the ages. I love how different blue and white pattern types completely change a design style. A blue and white geometric design appears more modern and sleek, Uniworld ships, like the Red Carnation Hotels, are while blue and white floral or damask design evokes a well known for colorful fabric walls, and we see it certain 18th-century esthetic. again featured in this ship. What process do you go through in determining which fabrics and patterns The beautiful blue and green of Le Salon Champagne are used for which suites and rooms? is not an obvious pairing. Where did the inspiration It all begins with falling in love with various fabrics, moods come for mixing those color palettes together? and styles and then we select which patterns and moods I was lucky enough to tour Yves St. Laurent’s private suit the different suites or staterooms. We also always Villa Oasis in Marrakesh last year. It was a very consider what will enhance our guests’ experiences. memorable day, and actually one of my most favorite experiences. Blue and green were the dominant colors Where is the marble in the bathrooms on the in Yves’ living room and I fell in love with the serenity S.S. Bon Voyage sourced? and softness of the hues. His famous Jardins Majorelle The white and grey marble is Italian, the blue marble is is filled with all types of palms and degrees of color: South American and the green marble is Persian Onyx. greens and yellows and blues. I felt so happy in these spaces and wanted to bring that same feeling to our guests. In addition to the color schemes, throughout There are a lot of fresh flowers, candles and the S.S. Bon Voyage there are fresh plants, flowers mirrors throughout the S.S. Bon Voyage. What is and lavender that bring the stunning surroundings the design intention for those elements? I have always used flowers and candlelight in every into every space. home I have ever lived in. I find the soft lighting of candlelight, the fresh flowers and other tiny noticeable What type of wood is used on the walls throughout touches bring a sense of coziness, warmth and the S.S. Bon Voyage? The wood throughout the S.S. Bon Voyage is a warm hospitality into every space—large or small. For me walnut yacht finish, a signature of Uniworld Super Ships, personally it is just timeless design. and is reminiscent of the super luxury yachts of the 1960s sailing on the French Riviera and the Amalfi Coast—one of my favorite 20th-century periods. Is there more exposed wood in the design of the ship
How long did it take you from concept to execution in creating the new S.S. Bon Voyage? Overall it took 11 months to transform the River Royale into the S.S. Bon Voyage.
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from the kitchen of Bea Tollman
HONEYCOMB ICE CREAM Cool off this summer with a scoop of this Bea Tollman favorite. “My children say that this is my signature dessert and it is now a Red Carnation institution.” – Bea Tollman
INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION
8 oz corn or glucose syrup 1 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon white vinegar 1 tablespoon baking soda, sieved 32 oz vanilla ice cream
Dissolve the syrup, sugar and vinegar over a medium heat. Turn the heat up high and boil until the syrup turns to a light caramel color. Take the pan off the heat and quickly stir in the baking soda, then pour the mix into a high-sided baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper and greased with butter. Leave to cool and harden: do not refrigerate! Once hardened, this brittle, crunchy slab becomes your honeycomb base. Slightly soften the vanilla ice cream in a chilled ceramic bowl. Carefully break the honeycomb slab into various sizes, none more than 3/4 inch square, and then quickly fold half into the ice cream. Pour the ice cream into a desired ice cream mould or back into the original ice cream container and freeze again. Keep the remaining honeycomb in an airtight container for topping when serving.
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AN OUTSTANDING LOYALTY PROGRAM FOR OUR EXCEPTIONAL GUESTS. After your first Uniworld cruise, you will be automatically enrolled in our River Heritage Club loyalty program and begin receiving benefits, savings and rewards reserved exclusively for our loyal guests.
EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS ON ALL CRUISES, COMBINABLE WITH ALL PROMOTIONS.* plus
An exclusive WELCOME GIFT to commemorate your membership.
PRIORITY NOTIFICATION on new cruises and programs.
Join the Captain for a members-only COCKTAIL PARTY onboard.
Special MEMBER-ONLY OFFERS.
Complimentary LAUNDRY service.
Exclusive RIVERVIEWS E-MAGAZINE.
Enjoy exclusive access to our dedicated members-only reservations line: 1-800-307-4699.
Complimentary IN-ROOM FRUIT PLATTER waiting onboard for you upon arrival.
NOTE: Benefits in China may vary.
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 3% ON TOP OF YOUR EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS FOR RIVER HERITAGE CLUB MEMBERS.†
WHERE IN THE WORLD….??? This legendary German spa town is nestled on the Rhine River and is one of the new places we’re visiting in 2020. If you can name where in the world this place is, email us at RHC@Uniworld.com. The first to answer correctly will be featured in our next issue of RiverViews.
LAST ISSUE’S VICTOR Congratulations, Ira Pollack, for being the first to correctly identify Maximilian Street in Speyer as last issue’s mystery destination. You can stroll along this historic avenue on our Castles along the Rhine itinerary.
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 .†This offer is combinable with the River Heritage Club Member Benefit and Early Booking Discount. 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 3% onboard savings. Other restrictions apply. See Uniworld.com for complete terms and conditions.