River cruises has always had a unique charm of their own. Entire civilizations have been built around rivers which are the lifelines of nations and there is no better way to explore the history, culture and scenic beauty of a country or a region than on a river cruise. And sailing by river means enjoying all the conveniences of a traditional cruise, along with all the benefits of inland travel. Stopping in multiple destinations on every trip, you’ll visit bustling cities and hidden gem villages, only unpacking once. Even while onboard you’ll be immersed in the local sights, with ever changing views right outside your window. River cruising is absolutely the best way to cruise, and the best and most luxurious river cruise is with Uniworld. Amongst its long list of awards and accolades, Uniworld has recently won the ‘Best River Cruise Line 2022’ in Travel Weekly Asia Readers' Choice Award.

With its enviable legacy of distinguished ships with an average capacity of just 120 guests, exclusive excursions, gourmet cuisine, and one of the highest staff-to-guest-ratio in the river cruise industry, Uniworld has always delivered on every promise.  Based in Los Angeles, California, Uniworld offers truly all-inclusive itineraries in Europe, as well as voyages in Vietnam and Cambodia, India, Peru and Egypt—a total of 18 rivers in 26 countries worldwide.

Unlike other cruise lines, every Uniworld ship has been inspired by the very rivers they sail on and is uniquely designed to showcase the very best every destination has to offer. With distinctive themes, colour palettes, custom-made fabrics, personally selected original artwork, sumptuous furnishings and antiques, each element, down to the smallest detail, has been thoughtfully considered and flawlessly rendered. To understand the Uniworld difference, please visit www.cruisebay.com/uniworld-luxury-river-cruise

This blog takes you through the newest cruise line-up from Uniworld for 2023 and all the new experiences that you can expect on the most luxurious river cruise line.

Newer, Brighter Shores: Come 2023, Uniworld brings with it a greatly expanded and curated portfolio of European Cruises with brand new itineraries for those looking to explore the charms of the continent for any number of days – whether it be a week-long sojourn or a long, leisurely cruise lasting well over a month.

An exciting thematic cruise option is the 8-day Belgian Holiday Markets cruise that takes you through Belgium’s picturesque Christmas Markets in all their yuletide glory. Belgium may be less renowned than its more magnanimous neighbours – France and Germany – but I can promise you that each of its multiple cities has its own distinct character, Christmas traditions, generous doses of sweets, spirits and dollops of Christmas cheer.

For those of you wanting to explore more than one country in Europe, the 10-day Zurich and Rhine River Valley Cruise should fit the bill. With an intimate exploration of Germany, France and Switzerland through the rivers Rhine and Main, this cruise mixes the rich historical heritage of these great nations with their natural beauty. Activities in the itinerary include a canoe ride through the Mainschleife nature reserve, a day in the lakeside city of Zurich and also the opportunity to take a day trip to the blissful spa town of Baden-Baden, featuring two thermal baths and a famous casino.

A more exhaustive version of this cruise takes form in the shape of the 15-day Grand Central Europe cruise that explores the iconic Rhine, Main and Danube rivers and through them, the countries of Switzerland, France, Germany and Austria. The journey begins in Basel and before you disembark in imperial Vienna, you would have climbed up the treetops of Bamberg and visited palatial homes of rulers of the past and explored the depths of the Bavarian forests igniting long forgotten memories of the childhood adventures of Hansel and Gretel. To call it a fairy-tale trip would be a gross understatement, to say the least.

The crowning jewel in Uniworld’s European line-up is the grand multi-continent spanning 46-night Rivers of the World Tour. Departing from May 20, 2023, this cruise takes you across nine countries aboard five luxury super ships. A first for the cruise line too, this mega-voyage takes you from the glittering basin of the River Nile to the depths of the Douro River Valley. From the pyramids of Egypt to the snow-kissed peaks of the Alps, the beaches of France, to many a wine addled nights in Spain, this cruise is the ultimate sojourn.

Newer Touches: In 2023, several of Uniworld’s existing offerings will be updated to include never-seen-before experiences and excursions. For cruises to Italy, the guests aboard the S.S. La Venezia will receive an even more immersive experience in the ship’s namesake city of Venice and the Veneto region on the Milan, Venice & the Jewels of Veneto sailing. New inclusions are a Po Delta sailing to witness Italy’s only delta and largest national reserve of wetlands; a bragozzo boat ride and wine tasting at the romantic Ca’Zen villa in Chiogga and a signature Murano glass blowing demonstration.

Looking eastwards, the Timeless Wonders of Vietnam and Cambodia itinerary will now be extended to fifteen days with a fascinating two days spent now exploring the lively Hanoi city in Vietnam.

Going the Extra Mile: Uniworld has always been the flagbearer of crafting experiences and moments that are more breath-taking than ever before. This time around, they’ve pushed the envelope even further to ensure your sojourn is a truly immersive experience. A particular effort has been made to make newer additions to the included and optional excursions. To name a few, this includes Village Day – to have you understand life intimately at every spot you visit, not merely as a tourist, Do as the Locals Do, and Nights Out – private after hours sneak-peaks at popular attractions and fun nightlife experiences.

Also available at an additional cost is the luxe Masterpiece Collection with a line-up of exclusive activities that go above and beyond the set-ups of the traditional itinerary. Further, if you wish to book something entirely different (and private) for your loved ones – be it a special gondola ride in the canals of Venice or a late night opera box in Vienna – Uniworld has got that covered too. With their Curated Services available for booking onboard, all you got to do is reach out for the most customizable experience imaginable.

Can this go on for a little longer? 
Indubitably, this is a question that crosses the mind of most people on a vacation. And with a cruise as meticulously planned as this, an option to extend your voyage will be the most tempting one. As if on cue, Uniworld has this covered. By introducing Uniworld’s Extensions, guests can now add a few extra days to the front or back end of their trip in the form of a land program with a luxury hotel or rail. Transfer, hotel bookings, logistics and destination sightings are all taken care of in the extension packages.

For example, the Remarkable Rhine and Historic Holland cruise can now be extended with an additional two nights in Interlaken with a visit to Jungfraujoch.

Uniworld is part of the Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands, that includes 40 award winning travel and hospitality brands that span across 70 countries including Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Contiki and more. Uniworld is revolutionizing river cruising with path breaking initiatives including being committed to carbon neutrality by 2030 or sooner and is aiming to ensure that at least 50% of the electricity is renewable by 2025.

Travel through the very heart of some of the world’s most beautiful and sought-after destinations, yet in the most non-touristy way imaginable. For details on Uniworld sailing itineraries in 2023 including current promotional offers, please visit www.cruisebay.com/cruiselines/uniworld-river-cruises.aspx