The Uniworld River Heritage Club E-Newsletter
March 2021
In This Issue
March 2021
1 Ellen’s 360°
5 Step Onboard the S.S. La Venezia
2 Uniquely Uniworld: Our History of Hospitality
7 TreadRight Feature: Iraq Al-Amir Women’s Cooperative
3 Experience Spotlight: New Cruise & Rail Journeys
8 From the Kitchen of Bea Tollman: Tomato Burrata Toasts
#ExploreUniworld
ELLEN’S 360° Here we are, with the first issue of 2021. The time for us to travel together again is coming soon and I can’t wait to get back out into the world and start bringing memorable experiences to our guests once again. And if you thought we’d take a break on innovating spectacular cruise experiences for the time being, think again. I could not be more excited to introduce our newest project to our River Heritage Club members, The 2022 Mystery Cruise. I’m confident this will host some of our best adventures yet, and you’re hearing about it first here! If you don’t know what a mystery cruise is, that’s because it’s never been done before at Uniworld. Think of this as our opportunity to pull out all the stops. We’ll tell you the dates and pricing, and you won’t know anything else—from daily excursions to the destination itself—until it’s about to happen. You’ve experienced the magic of our river cruises before, now trust us to wow you with something you truly cannot find anywhere else. Keep an eye out for more details coming soon! I’m also thrilled to announce some other good news: we’ve been nominated in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards and we’d be honored to have your vote! Vote here and you’ll automatically be entered in T+L’s sweepstakes for a chance to win a dream vacation for two. Warm Regards,
ELLEN BETTRIDGE
CEO Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
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U N IQU ELY U N I WOR L D
OUR HISTORY OF HOSPITALITY
Since founding their first hotel over a century ago, the Tollman family mission has always been to bring smiles to their guests’ faces through warm and exceptional service. Since joining their TTC family of brands, Uniworld has adopted the motto “no request is too large, no detail is too small” to bring the essence of that mission to every aspect of our guests’ experiences. You find it in the way our bartenders learn your favorite drinks, in the personalized gifts left in suites and in a host of other “Tiny Noticeable Touches” throughout your stay. See for yourself here!
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S Y E N R U O J L I A R NEW CRUISE & Tim, It’s so nice to see you, it’s been a long time. Why don’t you tell me a little bit about some of the different things about train travel because I’m sure most of us have never had the chance to experience luxury trains. And you too, Ellen. Well, there are so many differences between luxury trains and the trains most of us travel on to commute into London or Manchester or Los Angeles. Luxury train travel is really from a long time ago, a sort of romantic time, the 1920s. People resonate with that type of experience and today’s slow travel movement. Because we don’t go at the same speeds as high speed trains, we have time to look at the fantastic scenery we have in many parts of the world, especially around railway lines, and enjoy the comfort of having lunch or dinner on the train and looking out the window as we travel along.
When did the company get started, Tim?
Uniworld CEO ELLEN BETTRIDGE couldn’t be more excited to be introducing our new Cruise & Rail journeys, having both a father and a grandfather who worked on the railroads. She called her good friend and new Uniworld partner TIM LITTLER, President and Founder of Golden Eagle Luxury Trains, to talk about what guests can expect from luxury train travel and where we might go in the future. Find out what he had to say... 3
The company started in 1991 in Russia, when our first destination was Sochi on the Black Sea, which nobody had ever heard of in those days but now is very well known because of the Olympic games. And then we grew from there, we went to the silk road, the Baltic states, and then in 2007 we launched the Golden Eagle. Russia’s premier train, the Golden Eagle is a fully ensuite sleeping car train with 21 carriages, running on the longest rail journey in the world, the Trans Siberian.
E X PER I E NC
For our first Cruise & Rail journeys in 2021, our guests are going to be going from Zurich to Venice or Venice to Zurich. Tell me what your favorite part of that journey is, and then lets talk a little bit about what they can expect when they get onboard. The middle part of this trip is in the alps so the scenery is absolutely stunning. My favorite part of this journey is through Slovenia, where we go to Lake Bled, to the Postojna caves and Ljubljana.
So tell me about the public spaces, the compartments. Well the Danube Express which is our second train—we started running it in 2015—has 14 carriages, of which 7 are sleeping cars, 2 different classes and all
cabins are ensuite. Deluxe cabins have two single beds, while Superior Deluxe has a double bed. By night the cabins are converted into beds and by morning they are transformed into seating areas, so it’s a dual use of the space. The cabin attendant is available to pour drinks for the guests and get anything they need, 24 hours a day. In the public areas, there are two restaurant cars, 42 seats in each restaurant car with a maximum of 58 people on the train and a number of singles, so there’s plenty of space. And then there’s a Lounge Bar car with a piano player every night and as much to drink as you want.
Sounds incredible. We’re doing really well for 2021 and 2022, but I’m already thinking ahead. How else can we enhance the Uniworld experience, and what other journeys should we consider?
HT E SPOT L IG
Well with the Golden Eagle, our most popular journey is the Trans Siberian of course, which your guests can experience starting in 2022. It’s a unique journey that lots of people have been dreaming about going on all their lives and now they can do it in luxury. We also operate in India, and in 2023 we’ll be opening a new line there as well. We also have another train coming in Istanbul in 2023, which will allow us to cover much more of Europe, going as far down as Athens and as far up as Narvik in Norway.
Well we need to get together and put our itineraries together and come up with some incredible journeys for our customers because I think we have a great opportunity to take people to new places they’ve never been before. Tim, I really appreciate your partnership and your friendship and look forward to seeing you hopefully in person soon. Thank you for your time today. I look forward to seeing you on the train! 4
STEP ONBOARD the S.S. La Venezia
The newest brainchild of the design team behind our Super Ships and the boutique hotels of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, Toni Tollman and Brian Brennan, the S.S. La Venezia is an homage to the uncompromising grandeur of Venice and its rich history of fine craftsmanship. Much of the design and décor onboard was influenced by local Venetian design house, Fortuny, renowned for their handmade fabrics whose creation is still a closely held company secret. “There is a mystery to the quality and beauty of Fortuny fabrics,” says Tollman. “We appreciate the reverence they bring to their craft that is so much a part of the Venetian way and sought to carry that care and attention to every guest touch point.” The Fortuny story is so intricately woven into the design of the ship that Uniworld guests will have the exclusive opportunity to visit its private showroom and gardens to learn about the company and its Venetian legacy. 5
The S.S. La Venezia was designed to complement the spirit of Venice through every detail, and the luxe Fortuny fabrics and influence gracing the ship are just one piece of the whole. Glasswork from the Venetian island of Murano, famed for being the working place of some of the world’s foremost glassblowers, can be found across the ship. As can intricate etching and gilded elements, which transport us back in time to the Venice of the 1920s and 30s.
No less than four dining venues onboard celebrate the gastronomy of Northern Italy, brought to life with ingredients sourced straight from local markets. Rialto’s, a warm and cozy restaurant, offers traditional Venetian fair and charming booth seating. Hari’s Bar is a more relaxed affair, where guests can relax in the sumptuously furnished Lounge and choose from a selection of traditional paninis and a selection of cocktails, fine wines and spirits.
Up at Cielo’s Pizzeria on the sun deck, guests can enjoy the best views of Venice while dining on wood-fired pizzas, fresh from the oven. And for the most intimate dining experience onboard, reserve a private experience with wine expertly paired to accompany ingredients they’ll have selected on an outing with their chef earlier in the day to the Rialto food market. 6
HOW WE TREAD RIGHT Supporting women and female-led business through travel Founded in 2008 by Uniworld’s parent company, The Travel Corporation, the mission of The TreadRight Foundation is to safeguard people, wildlife and the planet for generations to come.
In celebration of International Women’s Day upcoming on March 8, we’re highlighting the Iraq Al-Amir Women’s Cooperative, an incredible organization working to empower women that Uniworld guests have the opportunity to visit and support. In Jordan, unemployment for women is generally high–around 33% in urban areas and worse in rural ones. The Cooperative’s aim is to help local women thrive financially, increase their independence, and raise their standard of living, all while preserving their local heritage. Located in Amman, Jordan, the Iraq Al-Amir Women’s Cooperative is run and managed by local women. More than 150 women have benefitted from the variety of training 7
projects that teach them how to make paper, pottery, and fabric, which are then sold in support of the cooperative. When our TreadRight Foundation got involved with the Cooperative as a People project, it was under threat of closure. TreadRight’s support has provided them with upgrades to improve the facility, but more importantly, has provided the women with training to empower them to lead their business successfully and self-sufficiently. These women took the training and resources provided to them and turned their artisan enterprise into a thriving tourist destination. The Iraq Al-Amir Women’s Cooperative is a wonderful example of how the travel economy can benefit and empower women around the world through educational development and economic opportunity. Guests partaking in the Jordan Extension on the Uniworld Splendors of Egypt & the Nile itinerary will have the chance to visit the Cooperative, meet these amazing women and learn about their art and culture. To watch a video, click here.
From the Kitchen of Bea Tollman
TOMATO BURRATA TOASTS
Fresh from the pantry at Hotel 41, part of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection
Ingredients
Preparation
1 loaf rustic sourdough bread
Place the cherry tomatoes on a baking sheet, toss with olive oil and season well with salt and pepper. Broil until the tomato skins are starting to split and are well colored—this will take 8-10 minutes.
1 pack red cherry tomatoes 1 pack yellow cherry tomatoes 2 balls fresh burrata olive oil salt and pepper fresh basil leaves
Cut 4 or 5 slices of the bread into 2 cm thick slices and toast on a grill pan until dark and crispy, then brush with olive oil. Mash the burrata with a fork. Spread on top of the grilled bread, then top with the cherry tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, then drizzle with olive oil. Scatter the top with a few fresh basil leaves and cut each toast into 3 or 4 slices.
Hotel 41 is famous for its ‘Plunder the Pantry’ offering, where guests enjoy various complimentary snacks throughout the day.
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Bring a piece of Uniworld home Check out our virtual shop to find Uniworld merchandise and authentic handmade items from Europe to get a little taste of travel while you’re at home. Start shopping here.
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
Earn credit toward your next cruise with our REFERRAL PROGRAM
Special MEMBERS-ONLY OFFERS
Complimentary LAUNDRY service
Dedicated PHONE NUMBER
Exclusive RIVERVIEWS E-MAGAZINE
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Complimentary IN-ROOM FRUIT PLATTER waiting onboard for you upon arrival
Join the Captain for a members-only COCKTAIL PARTY onboard NOTE: Benefits in China may vary.
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 Kevin Bloom for being the first to identify the December Mystery Photo, Wolfgang’s lounge on the S.S. Beatrice.
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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