The Uniworld River Heritage Club E-Newsletter
November 2021
November 2021
I’m particularly looking forward to spending time with my family and celebrating at the close of what I am proud to consider a triumphant year of returning to travel. Since our ships began sailing again this summer, I’ve been busy overseeing several launches, including three new Super Ships, and personally greeting many of our guests back to river cruising.
ELLEN’S 360° Season’s greetings to our River Heritage Club! However you plan to spend the holidays, I’m wishing joyful times and good health upon you and yours.
Planning for next year? As a loyal River Heritage Club Member, you can refer your friends and family to Uniworld to save them $100 per person on their first cruise, and you’ll get rewarded with a $100 per person credit towards your next cruise. Learn more about The Uniworld Referral Program.
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You can imagine how thrilled I was to finally step onboard the S.S. La Venezia for her first sailing, to catch the initial reactions to her beautiful redesign. And then immediately after, to hop on over to the S.S. São Gabriel for her christening ceremony and launch. The Douro River Valley is as stunning as ever, and trust me when I say our new Super Ship there does not disappoint.
In This Issue 1 Ellen’s 360° 3 The History and Making of Cuckoo Clocks 5 Guest Spotlight: Keary Shandler 7 2021 in Review
9 Uniquely Uniworld: Roaring 20s Parties 10 From the Kitchen of Bea Tollman: Chicken Pot Pie
#ExploreUniworld
Most recently, I joined a sailing on our newest Super Ship in Egypt, the breathtaking S.S. Sphinx. From the moment I stepped onboard, I could sense the years of hard work, meticulous attention to detail and fine craftsmanship that went into her creation. Now that we have both the S.S. Sphinx and the River Tosca sailing the grand Nile River, I can’t wait for even more guests to be able to join us on our popular Egyptian itinerary.
I even tested out some fun new ideas with our guests during my sailings, such as a Roaring 20s Party that was so much fun, we’ll be hosting them on every European sailing in 2022. Not only is it fitting that we’re in the “20s” of the 21st century, but the theme has a special connotation, considering our modern parallels to the world events that came before the 1920s.
Of course I couldn’t see it all, though I followed every development closely from our headquarters in Los Angeles. From our first Cruise & Rail journeys to the launch of our Peruvian adventures, I’m so pleased with all the ways we’ve been able to wow our guests this year.
Read through the rest of this issue of RiverViews, the last of 2021, to learn more about our Roaring 20s parties, see the year through the eyes of our guests, get the story behind a treasured tradition and more. Warmest Regards,
ELLEN BETTRIDGE CEO, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
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THE HISTORY AND MAKING OF
CUCKOO CLOCKS
A look into the history of one of Germany’s most treasured traditions PAST AND PRESENT
Cuckoo clocks are a product near and dear to the people of Germany’s Black Forest region, who have been making them for hundreds of years. The meticulous and time-consuming craft began as a way for farming villages to find extra income during the cold winter months. As they grew in popularity, the designs became more and more intricate. Carefully carved wooden houses, painted decorations, and most importantly, a singing cuckoo bird became tradition. Why a cuckoo bird? Simply because it was a common local species and iconic enough to give character to the art.
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The charm of these little singing birds— and the usefulness of their announcing the time to everyone nearby, without having to look at the clock—kept the tradition of clockmaking alive for centuries and brought this local craft to world fame. Today, the official versions of these timepieces are made in both quartz and mechanical styles. Quartz clocks bear the same intricate woodworking and style as the original cuckoo clocks, but with the added modern convenience of a more automatic clock system. Mechanical clocks, on the other hand, are traditionally hand-wound.
SEE THE MAKING OF AUTHENTIC CUCKOO CLOCKS IN ACTION
Experience the Black Forest with Uniworld on these itineraries
CASTLES ALONG THE RHINE
REMARKABLE RHINE & HISTORIC HOLLAND
RHINE, MOSELLE & BLISSFUL BADEN-BADEN
CUCKOO CLOCKS MAKE FOR AN EXCELLENT SOUVENIR OR A UNIQUE GIFT
As we head into the holidays, we’re helping connect you to the authentic local craftsmen who make these important world heritage products. Our online Uniworld shop carries a variety of clocks in both quartz and mechanical styles, including the exclusive design pictured to the right. The featured clock is decorated with original wooden figures from the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains), which is famous for hand crafted Christmas decorations. The cuckoo chimes on the hour and is followed by one of 12 tunes, each distinct to the hour at which it is played. All our cuckoo clocks include a two year international guarantee and guided maintenance. All our mechanical cuckoo clocks carry a VDS Certificate of Authenticity that not only guarantees they are produced in the Black Forest, but also that all movement and functions of the clock only work mechanically, and finally that all parts required for the production of the watch must have been produced in the Black Forest. Shop all our cuckoo clocks
See this clock in action above
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2021
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in review
We’ve had a fantastic year back on the rivers again. From the glittering Venetian Lagoon to the vineyard-covered hills of Portugal, from the launch of our newest Super Ship in Egypt to our first ever voyages into the Peruvian Amazon, we’ve loved every minute of reuniting with our wonderful guests. Take a look around this page to see of some this year’s most memorable travel experiences!
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GUEST SPOTLIGHT
Uniworld Sustainability Officer JULIE HIGGINS chats with recent Uniworld guest KEARY SHANDLER, Researcher & Lecturer at Murdoch University Dubai, about sustainable travel and our Rhine, Moselle & Blissful Baden-Baden itinerary.
JULIE: Where was your recent Uniworld cruise? KEARY: We departed from Frankfurt, Germany on an 11-night trip, sailing along the Rhine and Moselle Rivers and taking side trips to Luxembourg and Strasbourg. Our tour ended with two lovely days in Baden-Baden.
What was your experience? Like many people, we have not had an opportunity to take a holiday for quite some time. Before we booked, we knew very little about this region, so witnessing the beautiful seasonal colors from the vantage point of the nostalgic River Queen was a great introduction, not only to new places, but also to a new way of vacationing. I have to say, the weather also made a huge difference—foggy and misty mornings with clear, blue skies in the afternoon and evenings.
As a Sustainability Strategist, you’re an expert in how businesses incorporate positive impact. How does this impact your travel decisions? It’s not always easy to assess what an organization is actually doing beyond the standard narratives provided on marketing material. Additionally, people don’t always have the time to dig a little deeper to evaluate how companies really integrate sustainability. So for me, it’s not about being perfect or getting 7
everything 100% green, because I know it’s very difficult to control all the different elements of the travel experience. It’s more important to be transparent and communicate clearly about the whole story—not just the positive. I find this reassurance from the way the company connects with me before, during and after a trip. After being the most important, because now I have a relationship with the brand. Transparency is a cornerstone of Uniworld & TTC’s sustainability strategy. Learn about How We Tread Right.
What was one highlight of your trip? Each afternoon and early evening, guests would gather in the lounge after a busy day of excursions or a relaxing afternoon of sailing. It was a great way to share stories with fellow passengers before dinner. One highlight occurred early on in the itinerary with a lounge staff member. Although I could have easily chosen something else from the beverage menu, I casually mentioned my taste preference. The next day he presented me with an alternative, having taken the time to source it onshore. From that night onwards, it was served as my pre-dinner drink. To me, this demonstrates the true essence of hospitality. Service gestures such as this come unscripted from people who enjoy what they do. This makes all the difference.
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U N IQU ELY U N I WOR LD
ROARING 20s PARTIES Around a century ago, the world rounded the bend on a different set of trials and tribulations—some not entirely unlike our own, such as the influenza of 1918. Just as they did in the 1920s, we plan to celebrate our collective strength and look forward to all the good times yet to come in the 2020s. So next year, expect a proper Roaring 20s Party to take place with every sailing on a European cruise. Come prepared with your own 1920s-inspired look or simply don some of the themed accessories our crew will provide. Then join us for a glam night of music, cocktails and dancing!
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From the Kitchen of Bea Tollman
CHICKEN POT PIE Bea’s chicken pot pie is not only one of the most popular of her original recipes served onboard our ships, but it’s also the perfect comfort food for the winter season.
Ingredients 3 lb fresh chicken* 1 each onion, carrot and celery stalk 3 ½ tbsp butter ¾ cup flour 1¼ cup chicken stock 1 cup milk 1 cup heavy cream ¼ cup white wine 1 chicken stock cube salt and pepper 2-3 chopped carrots 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 ½ tbsp butter 3 oz pancetta, diced 4 oz button mushrooms cut into quarters 3 oz frozen pearl onions ¾ cup peas 1 sheet of puff pastry 2 egg yolks
Preparation 1. Chop the onion, carrot and celery stalk into 1” pieces and place in the bottom of a roasting pan. Season the chicken well, place on top of the vegetables and drizzle with olive oil. Add a little water to the bottom of the roasting pan and roast at 350° F for 1.5 hours until golden brown, basting every half hour. Let the chicken cool, then remove the skin and bones and cut into 1” chunks. 2. To make the sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan, then add the flour and stir with a wooden spoon. Cook for a minute before adding the chicken stock slowly and whisking well to incorporate. Add the milk, cream and wine each in this same way. Whisk in the chicken cube and season well with salt and pepper. Let the sauce simmer for 3-4 minutes. Place the chopped carrots in a pot of cold water with a pinch of salt, bring to a boil, cook for 5 minutes until tender, then drain. Heat a sauté pan, adding the olive oil and butter once hot. Once melted, add the pancetta. Cook for a few minutes until it starts to color, then add the mushrooms and pearl onions and cook for 4-5 minutes until golden brown. 3. Add the chunks of chicken to the sauce, then the rest of the ingredients, and stir well to combine. Taste and correct the seasoning if necessary. Pour the mixture into a 9” pie dish. If you prefer, you can also use individual pie dishes and adjust the cooking time to 20 minutes. 4. Roll out the puff pastry a little on a floured surface. Make an egg wash for the pie by adding a tablespoon of cold water to the egg yolks. Brush the rim of the pie dish with egg wash then cut a thin strip of pastry to place all around the edge of the dish. Brush the egg wash onto this pastry, then lay the rest of the pastry on top. Trim the pastry from the sides and, using your thumb and finger, press the pastry together to form a decorative edge. Alternatively, press down with the back of a fork to form a pattern. Brush the whole pie with egg wash and score a criss-cross pattern with the back of a knife. Make 3 slits in the top of the pie to allow the steam to escape. Place in the center of a 350° F oven and bake until golden brown, around 30 minutes. * You can use rotisserie chicken to save cooking one.
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SHOP OUR ONLINE HOLIDAY MARKET Visit our virtual holiday market to find authentic handmade gifts and exclusive Uniworld merchandise. Start shopping here.
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EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS ON ALL CRUISES, COMBINABLE WITH ALL PROMOTIONS* plus An exclusive WELCOME GIFT to commemorate your membership
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Can you name this ship?
Each ship in our fleet is a one-of-a-kind floating boutique hotel, designed to be an extension of the destinations it sails through. If you can name which Uniworld ship this 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 to Cora Fanning for being the first to identify the September Mystery Photo, Grand Suite on the S.S. La Venezia, and winning for the third consecutive 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. Exclusive 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.
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