JUNE 2023 The Uniworld River Heritage Club E-Newsletter
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ELLEN’S 360°
Hello, River Heritage Club!
I’ve just returned from the launch of our 2023 Rivers of the World cruise, which took place on our Splendors of Egypt & the Nile itinerary. I can’t express what an exciting time it was, and I am looking forward to following along with the rest of their trip on our @UniworldCruises Instagram and the #ExploreUniworld tag where guests and crew share their photos.
This issue is all about those big, innovative experiences we have introduced in recent years, including Rivers of the World. Flip through to see what the 2024 Rivers of the World cruise has in store, learn about our Cruise & Rail program, and find a delicious recipe from onboard the S.S. Beatrice
Bon Voyage, ELLEN BETTRIDGE
CEO, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
IN THIS ISSUE
1 ELLEN’S 360°
2 UNIQUELY UNIWORLD: CRUISE & RAIL
3 NEW TO UNIWORLD DESTINATIONS FOR 2024
5 CRUISING THE RIVERS OF THE WORLD ONBOARD 4 LUXURIOUS SHIPS
7 A WINTER'S DAY WITH UNIWORLD IN BUDAPEST
9 HAVE YOU SEEN THE NORTHERN LIGHTS?
10 CHEF ROBERT'S CORNER: CHICKEN PAPRIKASH
JUNE 2023 #EXPLOREUNIWORLD
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UNIWORLD.COM
With daughter Abigail at Abu Simbel, Egypt
UNIQUELY UNIWORLD
CRUISE & RAIL
Have you heard of our innovative Cruise & Rail program yet? It’s the perfect travel combination for experience-driven travelers who appreciate being able to visit multiple destinations on one trip without having to pack between each stop. And just like Uniworld, our luxury private train partners offer boutique style and excellent service onboard their all-inclusive trains.
THREE WAYS TO BOOK
1. SELECT A PRE-PACKAGED CRUISE & RAIL JOURNEY
Combine a cruise around Italy’s Veneto region with a rail journey through the Swiss Alps or complement your Enchanting Danube river cruise with a trip into the mountains of Romania. And though it’s sold out for 2023, there’s still time to secure your spot on our 2024 program in India, The Sacred Ganges & the Maharajas’ Express .
2. MIX-AND-MATCH
Start with a train departure (our Reservations team will be glad to help you with this!) and line it up to a nearby river cruise departure. Say, for example, a river cruise through France’s Bordeaux wine region (October 8-15) followed by a quick flight to Budapest for a round-trip rail itinerary (October 15-19).
3. RAIL-ONLY
You can even use the same rail departure list to book a standalone trip, without a cruise. Contact your Travel Advisor or call our Reservations team at 800-257-2407 to learn more about the departures available!
For an in-depth look at Cruise & Rail, read our latest e-brochure HERE.
To learn more about this program and our itineraries, visit UNIWORLD.COM/CRUISE-AND-RAIL
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NEW TO UNIWORLD DESTINATIONS FOR 2024
We’re expanding our map! Why? For our 2024 Rivers of the World itinerary, of course. With the precedent we set for 2023, we knew we had to go even bigger next year, which is why we’re venturing into whole new horizons. Next year, Rivers of the World cruisers will join us on Uniworld’s first-ever experiences in Argentina and Brazil.
IGUAZU FALLS
ARGENTINA & BRAZIL
Stay 2 nights at the Hotel das Cataratas , a gorgeous Belmond property situated right on the Brazilian side of the border at Iguazu. Though the falls are mostly on the Argentinian side, staying here gives us the best panoramic view of the falls—not to mention some truly fabulous accommodations. Trust us, it’s a stay you’ll never forget.
But what is Iguazu Falls? By most measures, it’s the largest system of waterfalls in the world. It is taller than Niagara Falls and far wider than both Niagara and Victoria Falls. During our full day here, we’ll explore its system of nearly 300 waterfalls from above and below, catching the most memorable vistas available across its mile-and-a-half stretch of cliffs.
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RIO DE JANEIRO BRAZIL
Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, the famous Copacabana Beach—and one day to enjoy it all in style. Rio de Janeiro is the cherry on top of our Rivers of the World trip, and we can’t wait to make the absolute most of it with a stay at the Belmond Copacabana Palace, a glamorous, Art Deco hotel and an icon of the Rio beachfront.
This city loves to live life large. That’s what makes it the perfect place for our Rivers of the World group to say goodbye to South America before taking off to Europe.
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Cruising the onboard 4 luxurious ships
AQUA NERA
With floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall glass windows in every one of the 20 staterooms onboard (each a spacious suite), our Rivers of the World guests will be completely immersed in the lush environment of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, deep in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. We bring this vibrant, natural world onboard through the cuisine of Peruvian celebrity chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, utilizing ingredients caught and gathered right from the Amazon.
S.S. BEATRICE
The glossy, light wood finishes and airy atmosphere are inspired by the casual elegance of luxury yachts. A Murano glass chandelier in the lobby, marble flooring, and other distinctive elements add a generous touch of old-world opulence. Regional fare and fine wines are served at four dining venues across the ship: Schubert’s, an Austrian café at the bow of the ship; Wolfgang’s, a cozy bar lounge; Max’s, a cooking class space; and our main restaurant, Mozart’s.
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S.S. CATHERINE
Discover a boutique design that reflects the whimsical artwork Southern France is famous for—and whose works grace the walls of the ship. Move from deck to deck via enclosed glass elevator or the wrought-iron grand staircase. Take a dip in the indoor pool, situated in the jazzy Bar du Leopard and surrounded by an elaborate hand-laid mosaic mural. And enjoy delicious onboard cuisine that highlights the rich culinary and viticultural heritage of Southern France.
With a journey as grand as our 2024 Rivers of the World cruise promises to be, you'd expect the accommodations to be up to par. Never ones to disappoint, we're bringing some of our best ships to the table. Take a look around this page to learn more about them!
Click here to watch this video of Uniworld's 2024 Rivers of the World at a glance.
MEKONG JEWEL
Accommodating just 68 guests, this ship features large onboard spaces. Her light design is accented with flowers and greenery to capture the tropical nature of Vietnam and Cambodia with casual elegance. Every stateroom onboard is a suite. Royal suites have the added luxury of a large wraparound balcony with private jacuzzi. A blue-tile pool on the sundeck provides a cooling place to relax and enjoy the view.
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A Winter’s Day with Uniworld in BUDAPEST
So you’re visiting Budapest in the winter, but you only have a day or so in town and don’t know how to spend it. Well, we’ve been docking our ships in this incredible city for decades, and it’s one of our absolute favorite places to experience during the holiday season. Read on for a few of our tips on how to make the most out of your wintertime stay in Budapest!
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CHRISTMAS MARKET
Just walking around Budapest, you’ll find tell-tale clusters of wooden stalls indicating a Christmas market scattered throughout the city, but the largest and most popular of all is the one at Vörösmarty Square. Peruse hundreds of stalls to find unique handmade gifts, sip on mulled wine, and taste local treats like chimney cakes (delightful cones of cinnamon-sugar-dusted dough) and langos (deepfried bread topped with cheese and sour cream, though modern variations abound).
GREAT MARKET HALL
If getting to know the local cuisine is high on your to-do list, you won’t want to miss the Great Market Hall. A must-visit any time of year, this massive indoor market is considered by many to be one of the best in Europe. You can grab a delicious meal here and shop for authentic products to take home with you, such as Hungarian paprika or Tokaj wines.
THE THERMAL BATHS
You may think the last thing you want to do in the icy weather is to take a swim, but the warm thermal baths of Budapest will change your mind. Clouds of steam beckon to the healing qualities of the mineral-rich water at the historic Szechenyi Baths— making this a site worth seeing even if you don’t plan on getting in.
GELLERT HILL
We love bringing our guests to the top of Gellert Hill for beautiful views over the city, and it’s particularly awe-inducing during the winter months, when Budapest is sometimes romantically cast in a white layer of snowfall.
ANDRASSY AVENUE
Drive by on our Panoramic tours or explore by foot. Andrassy Avenue boasts stunning architecture, accented by festive lighting during the month of December, making it one of the most beautiful streets in the world.
Visit Budapest during the holiday season on our Danube Holiday Markets, Enchanting Christmas & New Year’s, or Grand Christmas & New Year’s itineraries.
Main image: Budapest, Hungary
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HAVE YOU SEEN THE NORTHERN LIGHTS?
This gorgeous natural phenomenon is on nearly everyone’s bucket list. Also known as the aurora borealis, the lights get their name from the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora, and the Greek god of the North Wind, Boreas. While certainly worthy of myth and legend, the lights have a simple cause. When charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s magnetic field, ribbons of glowing light are sent over the planet’s poles, which is why it can typically only be viewed in places with extreme latitudes like the Arctic Circle.
The best time to view the Northern Lights is during winter in the Arctic (roughly late September to early April), when the sky is dark enough for optimal viewing conditions. This also means visiting during the unique polar night phenomenon, when darkness can last for most, or even all, of the day.
Many travelers never have the luck to spot the Northern Lights in their lifetimes, but you can check this experience off your list with one of our Scandinavian customizable extension packages. Pair any of these with our Christmas Markets river cruises —or book as a standalone trip—and have your magical holiday trip conveniently organized for you.
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Chef Robert’s Corner:
CHICKEN PAPRIKASH
As an ode to our Rivers of the World cruise for 2024, we’re sharing an authentic Hungarian recipe that we serve onboard the S.S. Beatrice, a Super Ship in the Rivers of the World fleet. Chicken Paprikash is a popular national dish named for its generous use of the country's most famous spice, paprika.
INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp oil (or lard for optimal authenticity)
3 lbs bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
2 large onions
3 cloves garlic
2 Roma tomatoes
Fresh sweet peppers (to preference)
¼ cup ground sweet Hungarian paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
Chicken broth
¾ cup sour cream
¼ cup heavy cream
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
PREPARATION
1. Heat oil in a heavy pot and brown the chicken on all sides (skin down first). Transfer the chicken to a plate.
2. Add the onions to the pot and fry until golden brown. Add the garlic, tomatoes, and peppers and fry for 2-3 minutes.
3. Remove the pot from heat (this is important!) and stir in the paprika, salt, and pepper.
4. Return the chicken to the pot and place it back over the heat. Pour in enough chicken broth to mostly cover the chicken, then bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover and reduce the heat to a simmer for 40 minutes. Remove the chicken and transfer it to a plate.
5. In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream, heavy cream, and flour, then stir the mixture into the sauce, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Bring it to a simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens. Adjust seasonings to taste, and return the chicken to the sauce to reheat at a simmer.
Serves 6
A Wine Pairing from our Onboard Sommelier SCHIEBER KARMA CABERNET SAUVIGNON
This bottle hails from a family-run vineyard in Szekszárd, Hungary. It is a medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with a deep ruby color. The fruity, spicy aromas and elegant wood notes with blackberry and black currant flavors are the perfect complement to a Chicken Paprikash.
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Your Support Means the World to Us
We’re thrilled to have all 17 of our floating boutique hotels nominated in the Cruise Ships category of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards! We’re passionate about the artisanship we bring to each new ship in our fleet, creating a one-of-a-kind, elevated design that immerses you further in the destinations you sail.
We’d be honored to have you share your thoughts about your stay on our ships. Follow this link and click on the Cruise Ships category, then type in “Uniworld” to find our fleet!
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 Susan Thorne for being the first to identify the April 2023 Mystery Photo, S.S. Bon Voyage lobby
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.
