APRIL 2023 The Uniworld River Heritage Club E-Newsletter
Cambodian Monk walking the peaceful village of Chong Koh
ELLEN’S 360°
Hello, River Heritage Club!
It is my pleasure to bring you our April 2023 issue of Uniworld’s RiverViews e-newsletter for past guests. This month’s issue is an ode to the road less traveled. Voyaging off the beaten path is a passion of mine, and one of the things I love about our cruises is that they bring travelers of all comfort levels the luxury of being able to explore some of the world’s most extraordinary destinations stress-free, knowing that they are in the very best hands every step of the way. Read on to learn about the amazing temples of Angkor, and what to do with 24 hours in Ho Chi Minh City—both features of our Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong itinerary. There’s even a pair of mouthwatering recipes straight from the kitchens of the Aria Amazon, our 32-passenger ship in Peru, waiting for you at the end.
I would also like to take a moment to thank the truly exceptional crews that run our ships. I recently returned from our annual Kickoff Event, where I get to reconnect with our team members from around the world. You’ll meet a few of our standout stars in this issue as well.
Bon Voyage, ELLEN BETTRIDGE
CEO, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
IN THIS ISSUE
1 ELLEN’S 360°
2 UNIQUELY UNIWORLD: NEW VEGAN & VEGETARIAN DISHES
3 ONE DAY WITH UNIWORLD IN HO CHI MINH CITY
5 TEMPLES OF CAMBODIA
7 CELEBRATING OUR FABULOUS ONBOARD CREWS
9 CHEF'S CORNER: PISCO SOUR ORANGE CRÈME CARAMEL
APRIL 2023 #EXPLOREUNIWORLD
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UNIWORLD.COM
With winner Kaloyan Nikolov and Sustainability Officer Julie Higgins
NEW VEGAN & VEGETARIAN DISHES
From the kitchens of our floating boutique hotels, we’re passionate about delivering the finest dining experiences on the rivers. To make sure every guest enjoys their meals to the fullest, our Restaurant Managers and Chefs do their best to accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences. Which is why, for 2023, our culinary team got together to take our vegan and vegetarian menus to the next level. Take a look at some of the new dishes they cooked up below!
A delicious dish accompanied by mashed potatoes and caramelized onions, with discreet infusions of garlic and aromatic herbs
RICE
Stuffed with al-dente vegetables and served with sweet chili sauce and crunchy potato chips
EGGPLANT STEAK
Grilled eggplant with sautéed shallots, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, chickpeas, and chimichurri
A dish served with jasmine rice, perfectly balanced with the flavors of Port wine and aromatic herbs
Garlic and soy sauce marinated tofu, served with ginger and coriander Basmati rice
UNIQUELY UNIWORLD 2
VEGAN “BEEF” GOULASH
PAPER ROLLS
SWEET POTATO & TOFU STEW
TOFU SATAY & NASI GORENG
One day with Uniworld in HO CHI MINH CITY
Our 15-day itinerary through Vietnam and Cambodia includes 2 nights in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. One of the many wonders of a guided river cruise & land tour with Uniworld is that having us plan and manage your vacation frees up your energy to customize what to do with it once you’re there. That means there are a million different ways you could enjoy your one full day in this incredible city. Take a look across this spread for some inspiration on what that could look like.
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MORNING: RISE & SHINE
Rest in your comfortable suite at the Park Hyatt Saigon, easily one of the finest hotels in the city. When you’re ready, wake up and prepare for an exciting day ahead of you. Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel and meet your tour guide in the lobby.
9:30 AM – 1:00 PM: JOIN OUR INCLUDED TOUR *
A first glance at the Reunification Palace , stop number one of our tour today, might tell you to expect an austere government building. This place is anything but. Built in the 1960s for Nguyen Van Thieu, the last president of South Vietnam, the building is full of eccentric architectural elements with a particularly “groovy” flair.
Next up is the Post Office. You’ll understand why we’re stopping here when you arrive. This post office was designed by Gustave Eiffel, the man who designed the Eiffel Tower. Its bright yellow exterior is just one of the reasons it stands out.
The Notre Dame Cathedral is another must-see site when you’re in Ho Chi Minh City. The red brick construction of the basilica makes for an eye-catching monument of characteristically European design. From here we’ll embark on a panoramic drive through town, passing City Hall, the Opera House, and other important buildings on our way to a local lacquer artisan shop, where you’ll learn about this traditional art form. Finally, our tour ends at a lively local market.
LUNCH
The cuisine in Ho Chi Minh City is excellent. You can sip on Vietnamese iced coffee—brewed extra strong and sweetened with condensed milk. Or grab a banh mi—a delicious baguette sandwich of meat and pickled vegetables. Rice paper spring rolls, warm and spicy pho (a traditional noodle soup), artisanal local beers, and fresh tropical fruits are just a few of the dozens of options you’ll discover.
AFTERNOON
If you enjoy taking souvenirs home from your travels, it may be worth taking a stroll by the boutiques of the Dong Khoi shopping street, just about a block away from your hotel.
The contemporary art scene is a unique and exciting window into your destination’s culture. Visit one of the numerous galleries within walking distance from the hotel to see the works of Ho Chi Minh City’s artists. Take a blissful afternoon walk amongst the greenery at Tao-Dan Park, a lush green oasis inside an otherwise bustling metropolis.
EVENING
For dinner, consider one of the excellent dining venues at your hotel, which offer a mix of European and Vietnamese cuisine. Or for something more local, the concierge or your tour manager will be happy to point you in the direction of a delicious meal.
Ho Chi Minh City’s skyline is bursting with skyscrapers. Because of this, viewing decks and rooftop bars are very popular. Head up to one of these for sunset, or even after dark, for a cocktail with spectacular views of the city below.
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Main image: Ho Chi Minh City Hall *Included tour schedule subject to change
The Siem Reap of today is a booming tourism hub, a resort town brimming with beautiful hotels, spas, and cultural treasures. Much of this growth is recent, due to international recognition of Siem Reap’s close proximity to Angkor, the epicenter of the powerful Khmer Empire. The Angkor Archaeological Park, which includes all of the temples shown here, is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its impressive architecture and outstanding historical significance.
ANGKOR WAT
The 12th-century capital of the Khmer Empire, Angkor was—and still is—the world’s largest religious complex, made up of over 1,000 buildings. Its impressive architecture is rich in symbolism, covered in bas reliefs dedicated to Hindu gods and stories. Rising from the complex are five towers, collectively representing the five-peaked Mount Meru, a golden mountain from Hindu theology. The mountain is considered the home of the gods, and the axis around which the universe turns. The large moat around the complex is thus like the ocean that is said to surround Mount Meru.
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Khmer kings, who ruled from the 9th to 15th centuries CE, had a practice of building monumental capital cities to cement their rule, each larger-than-life temple complex dedicated to Hindu-Buddhist themes. Read below for a few of our favorite sites in Angkor, all of which we visit during our time in Siem Reap.
BAYON
The central temple of the Khmer Empire’s final capital, Angkor Thom, Bayon temple is dedicated to Buddhism. It is most famous for the thousands of monumental smiling faces carved into the rock—a popular theory is that they are King Jayavarman VII in the form of Avalokiteś-vara, the great bodhisattva of infinite compassion and wisdom in Mahāyāna Buddhism.
TA PROHM
The ancient temples of Angkor spent centuries being reclaimed by the jungle, and nowhere is that so apparent as Ta Prohm. Massive trees grow from the rocks and roots fight with the architecture. You may recognize the site from the Angelina Jolie film, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, but even if you don’t, it feels delightfully adventurous to wander the ruins here.
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CELEBRATING OUR FABULOUS ONBOARD CREWS
Our warm and friendly crew members are the heart and soul of Uniworld. Each and every one of them is incredibly talented and dedicated to making guest experiences special. So at our yearly Kickoff Event, where we prepare for the start of a new European sailing season, we like to celebrate our crew an awards Gala dedicated to them, recognizing those who have gone above and beyond for our guests. Meet the winners of this year’s Kickoff Gala Awards below—you might just recognize a few faces from your own travels!
Butler of the Year
Executive Chef of the Year
Cook of the Year
Receptionist of the Year
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Waiter of the Year
DANAIL GEORGIEV
KONSTANTIN MADZHAROV
MARKO MEDIC
MIROSLAV MARTIC
NIKOLAY RASHKOV
Restaurant Manager of the Year VASIL IVANOV
Bartender of the Year VIOLETA SÂRBU
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Well-being Coach of the Year
DUSKO VUJASIN
Nautical Deck Crew of the Year
EMIL STANCIU
Housekeeper of the Year
KALOYAN NIKOLOV
Hotel Manager of the Year
MARIJA TOPIC
Cruise Manager of the Year
MARTIN JANCOVIC
Purser of the Year
MIREL ZAPCIROIU
Captain of the Year
JANOS VARGA
Housekeeping Manager of the Year
CARLA NUNES Engineer of the Year
DUMITRU PANA
Chef’s Corner
We reached out to the Aria Amazon , our 32-passenger, all-suite ship in Peru, for a couple guest-favorite recipes. They came back with the popular local spin on the whiskey sour (a Pisco Sour) and an Orange Crème Caramel, which gives Peruvian crema volteada an upgrade with Amazonian oranges sourced from the rainforest right outside the ship.
PISCO SOUR
INGREDIENTS
3 oz pisco
1 oz simple syrup
1 oz lemon juice
1 egg white
8 ice cubes
2 drops of Angostura bitters
PREPARATION
1. Place all the ingredients in the shaker without ice and bitters. Shake to create the foam for about 30 seconds.
2. Add ice cubes and shake again for another 30 seconds.
3. Serve with a double strainer and decorate with the Angostura bitter drops.
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Aria Amazon top Peruvian chef, Pedro Miguel Schiaffino
ORANGE CRÈME CARAMEL
INGREDIENTS
1 ¼ cups (250 g) white sugar
2 cans (14 oz each) of sweetened condensed milk
2 cans (12 oz each) of evaporated milk
500 ml (slightly over 2 cups) of water
25 eggs
3 tsp vanilla
Zest of 2 oranges
PREPARATION
1. With the sugar, make a dark caramel and distribute it at the base of the mold or tray you’d like to use for the dessert. Set aside.
2. Add the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, eggs, and vanilla in a bowl. Mix well and add the orange zest.
3. Take the mixture to the mold with caramel. Cook in a water bath for approximately 1 hour 15 minutes at 210° F. Flip over onto a dish to serve, and generously pour any syrup that remains in the baking mold over the crème caramel. You can decorate with a little extra orange zest or a spiral of the peel.
Serves 10
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Bring a piece of your Uniworld river cruise home
Find authentic, handmade items from our destinations and exclusive Uniworld merchandise in our online shop, including this gorgeous collection of certified Fairtrade jewelry.
Designed and handcrafted near Pforzheim, in the German state of BadenWürttemberg, these items are made with responsibly mined gold. The result is a beautiful and unique line of rings. Start shopping here
AN OUTSTANDING LOYALTY PROGRAM FOR OUR EXCEPTIONAL GUESTS
To show our appreciation for our past guests, we automatically enroll you in our River Heritage Club loyalty program, so you can begin receiving exclusive 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
Special MEMBERS-ONLY OFFERS
Dedicated PHONE NUMBER
Complimentary IN-ROOM FRUIT PLATTER waiting onboard upon arrival
PRIORITY NOTIFICATION on new cruises and programs
Complimentary LAUNDRY service
Exclusive RIVERVIEWS E-Newsletter
Members-only onboard COCKTAIL PARTY
Plus, ADDITIONAL SAVINGS when you refer friends or family
Can you name this ship?
Each ship in our fleet is a 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 Leslie Traver for being the first to identify the February 2023 Mystery Photo, Captain's Lounge & Library on the River Queen
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.
