Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is a luxury river cruise line located in Los Angeles, California. Uniworld also has operational offices located in the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, and China. Their fleet of 19 ships sails the rivers of Europe, Egypt, India, Peru, and Southeast Asia. The company is part of The Travel Corporation group, which also includes businesses such as Trafalgar Tours and Contiki Tours.
History
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises was established in 1976 and later joined The Travel Corporation in 2004. The line currently operates more than 500 river cruises annually, with itineraries in over 20 countries. Its cruises range in length from 8–55 days, with an extensive list of options for pre- and post-cruise extensions by hotel, land tour, or luxury rail.
In 2021, Uniworld launched its Cruise & Rail program. In partnership with Golden Eagle Luxury Trains in Europe and The Maharajas’ Express in India, these itineraries pair river cruises with multi-night journeys by private train.
In 2023, Uniworld launched the first true “world cruise” on the rivers. The travel style, which takes passengers to a long list of destinations over what is often the course of multiple months, is typically only available on large ocean cruises. Uniworld’s version combines several river cruises—with included flights between legs of the trip—to create the farthest-reaching itinerary in modern river cruising. The 2023 Rivers of the World cruise spanned from Cairo, Egypt to Lisbon, Portugal over 47 days, and the 2024 Rivers of the World cruise will travel from Lima, Peru to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam over 55 days.
All-Inclusive Policy
Travelers booking at the base fare on any of Uniworld’s river cruises in Europe will have three daily meals, unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, shore excursions, onboard entertainment, fitness classes and facilities, snacks, 24-hour room service, and more included. Suite guests also have access to the services of a personal butler. Amenities vary on the brand’s chartered vessels in India, Southeast Asia, Egypt, and Peru.
Upgrade options for excursions, spa treatments, celebration packages, and a “Diamond Menu” of non-included wines and spirits are also available at an additional cost.
Ships
For the majority of its European cruises, Uniworld directly owns and operates its ships, which are known for their highly individual, boutique design.
The rest of its fleet—the S.S. São Gabriel in Portugal, the S.S. Sphinx and River Tosca in Egypt, the Ganges Voyager II in India, the Aria Amazon in Peru, the Mekong Jewel in Vietnam and Cambodia, and the S.S. Victoria and S.S. Elisabeth in Central Europe—are chartered in partnership with affiliate travel groups.
Themed Cruises
Uniworld offers a number of cruises every year with itineraries and/or activities designed around a special theme. Options include “Jewish Heritage Cruises” with excursions focusing on Jewish culture in Central European destinations, “Holiday Season Cruises”, a family-friendly “Generations Collection”, cycling-heavy itineraries designed for active travelers in partnership with Butterfield & Robinson, and more.
Uniworld is a member of Cruise Lines International Association.[2]
Recent Awards
In 2023, Uniworld was named the “Best River Cruise Line” in the Virtuoso Awards, “Best River Cruise Line” in the Telegraph Awards, “Best River Cruise Company” in the Globe Travel Awards, and “River Cruise Line of the Year” by the Irish Travel Industry.
In 2022, Uniworld was named “Best River Cruise Line” in Global Traveler’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards for the 5th year running, “Best Luxury River Cruise Line” in the Wave Awards, “Best River Cruise Company” in the Irish Travel Trade Awards, “Best River Cruise Line” in Travel Weekly’s Asia Reader’s Choice Awards, and “Best Luxury River Cruise” in the Tripzilla Excellence Awards, Uniworld also won the #3 spot in Travel + Leisure’s 2022 World’s Best Awards in the River Cruise category.
In 2019, Travel + Leisure named Uniworld the “World’s Best River Cruise Line” and Travel Daily awarded Uniworld for the “Best sustainable travel or tourism initiative” in river cruising.
In 2018, Travel + Leisure named Uniworld the “World’s Best River Cruise Line.” Uniworld was also awarded in multiple categories of the Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks, including “Best River Cruise Line,” “Best River Ship Refurbishment” for the S.S. Beatrice, and “Top European River Cruise Line.”
In 2017, Uniworld’s S.S. Joie de Vivre was named the “Best New River Ship” by the Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks, which also awarded the line “Best Service.” Cruise Critic Australia awarded Uniworld for the “Best River Cruise Line” and Cruise Critic UK awarded the brand “Best River Cruise Line,” “Best for Luxury”, and “Best Service”.
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