Keukenhof Gardens,
360°
Dear River Heritage Club,
Welcome to Spring! I had the great pleasure of joining a Tulips & Windmills cruise with my family last month to inaugurate the S.S. Emilie for her first ever sailing. From the birth of a new ship to witnessing the famed Keukenhof Gardens in full bloom—if you’ve been there before, you know what a sight it is to behold—the hopeful promise of spring is in the air.
Look just one page to the right to learn more about my visit to the S.S. Emilie, then keep flipping through this issue of RiverViews to meet some of the incredible crew members who won awards for their exceptional service at this year’s Kickoff Gala, take a peek at what our guests and crew have been up to lately, explore some of our favorite gardens, and more.
Sincerely,
ELLEN BETTRIDGE CEO, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
APRIL 2026
IN THIS ISSUE
1 ELLEN’S 360°
2 UNIQUELY UNIWORLD: BON VOYAGE, S.S. EMILIE!
3 THE 2026 CREW AWARDS
5 CRUISING INTO 2026
7 8 GORGEOUS GARDENS TO ADD TO YOUR LIST
9 NEW WAYS TO TRAVEL WITH UNIWORLD
11 A MOMENT WITH RIVER HERITAGE CLUB MEMBERS
13 CHEF ROBERT’S CORNER: PAN-FRIED CHICKEN BREAST WITH CHANTERELLE TARRAGON SAUCE
With Julie Higgins, godmother of the S.S. Emilie at its inaugural sailing
BON VOYAGE, S.S. EMILIE!
CHEERS TO THE NEWEST ADDITION TO OUR FLEET EMBARKING ON HER INAUGURAL VOYAGE
On March 21, 2026, guests on the first Tulips & Windmills cruise of the season were invited to stroll down a red carpet to celebrate the inaugural sailing of the S.S. Emilie
CEO Ellen Bettridge led a christening ceremony to introduce the ship. Inspired by the artwork of Gustav Klimt and his beloved muse, fashion designer Emilie Flöge, Ellen was proud to call this moment the “launch of the most incredible work of art on the rivers.” The ceremonial key of the ship was officially turned over from the ship builder to our captains, who will navigate the S.S. Emilie on journeys along the Rhine and Danube Rivers this year.
Then it was time to introduce the godmother of the S.S. Emilie, Julie Higgins. A cherished bit of nautical tradition, a ship’s godmother is a distinguished individual invited to attend the ceremonial launch of the vessel and crack a bottle of champagne upon the hull for good luck.
Julie began her journey with Uniworld 22 years ago, joining the crew of the River Princess as a cabin stewardess. She rose through the ranks, working across our fleet and today holds the esteemed title of Director of Hotel Operations. Not only does Julie oversee the operations of each of our floating boutique hotels, but she is the first-ever Uniworld Sustainability Officer. This involves integrating our sustainability strategy and working closely with The Treadright Foundation to achieve our ambitious goals (such as Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050).
Julie’s inspiring journey and embodiment of our brand make her new title as Godmother of the S.S. Emilie truly special and meaningful.
Finally, it was time for everyone to celebrate with a champagne toast to many exciting journeys that lie ahead on the S.S. Emilie
THE 2026 CREW AWARDS
RECOGNIZE ANY FRIENDLY FACES?
Every year, we have the immense pleasure of celebrating our crew with a gala and awards ceremony to kick off the upcoming European cruising season. Crew members across our operations, from housekeeping to the kitchens, sommeliers to captains, are nominated for special recognition and awarded for all of their hard work. Take a look below for featured winners from our 2026 Crew Awards!
CRUISING INTO 2026
The 2026 cruise season has begun, and we couldn’t be more excited to be back on the rivers sharing incredible experiences with our guests. We were so excited for travelers to get their first glimpse of the brand-new S.S. Emilie as she made her debut on Tulips & Windmills. From France to Cambodia, and everywhere in between, we are having so much fun on inspiring journeys around the world and look forward to the many amazing voyages this year. Share your trip with us by tagging us on our social channels and using #ExploreUniworld!
@MYBLUEABBY
S.S. Sphinx Sun Deck
@UNIWORLD_AJJ Ardèche, France
@SUES_HOLIDAY_ADVENTURES
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
@DEBBIEDOESBUFFALO S.S. Sphinx Suite
UNIWORLD_DANIELE Cologne, Germany
@UNIWORLD_CAPTAIN_MIODRAG Polishing the S.S. Beatrice
@UNIWORLD_ANTHONY Brussels, Belgium
8 GORGEOUS GARDENS
Spring is the perfect time to step outside and explore everything nature has to offer. To get you inspired, here are a few of the many beautiful gardens around the world that we look forward to showing our guests.
1-2 PARIS & NORMANDY
Just outside of Paris are two unique gardens that you can’t miss: Versailles and Claude Monet’s Gardens. Versailles was the official residence of the country’s kings and boasts gardens that were the envy of royalty across Europe. Here, you’ll find meticulously manicured lawns, perfect flower beds, and stunning sculptures and fountains. Monet’s Gardens, by contrast, are lush and organic— the very same gardens made immortal by the artist’s paintings. As you stroll the grounds, you’ll see the famed Japanese bridge and water garden filled with water lilies shaded by weeping willows.
3 VIENNA & CAPITAL CITIES OF THE DANUBE
Venturing along the Danube, Belvedere Palace contains vast gardens enjoyed best in spring. Sculpted hedges, graceful fountains, and cherubic statues fill the gardens. As you walk further, you’ll find the small lake, where the water reflects the front of the Belvedere.
4 VINEYARDS & PALACES ALONG THE DANUBE
Schönbrunn Palace is another of our favorite “must see” gardens. While you marvel at the massive Baroque building with its iconic yellow exteriors, stroll the grounds that are filled to the brim with colorful flowers in the springtime.
5 TULIPS & WINDMILLS
Our favorite garden to visit for endless flowers is Keukenhof. The definitive spring flower festival in the Netherlands, the Keukenhof Gardens offer seemingly endless fields of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and more. It’s the world’s largest flower garden and a riot of color that epitomizes spring in Europe.
6 ENCHANTING DANUBE
For a quieter romance and a touch of film history, visit the Mirabell Gardens. The setting for the Von Trapp children’s “Do Re Mi” music lesson in The Sound of Music, Mirabell is also famous for its geometric flowerbeds, fountains, and baroque statues. These gardens come alive with spring blooms and are perfect for a romantic stroll.
7 CRUISE & TOUR: DISCOVER PORTUGAL & SPAIN
If you’re traveling to Spain, don’t forget to see the Alhambra Palace Water Gardens. These Moorish gardens with intricate water channels, pools, and lush greenery provide a stunning contrast of architecture and nature in spring.
8 BALI, SINGAPORE & INDONESIA EXPEDITION
For something different, visit Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay, where it is spring all the time. Its sprawling park is both the ultimate botanical garden and a world of architectural wonders. For a magical escape among suspended bouquets and creative floral arrangements, explore Floral Fantasy, a diverse world of garden landscapes that segue into each other through a meandering space. In the Flower Dome, get up-close with unusual plants native to a range of unique habitats—from the Mediterranean region to South African savannahs. Cloud Forest is home to one of the world’s tallest indoor waterfalls and a lush mountain clad with plants from around the world.
New Ways to Travel with Uniworld
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SISTER BRAND, LUXURY GOLD
Have you been following the news? We’ve recently launched two new collections: Small Group Guided Tours offering multi-city explorations by land and Cruise & Tour journeys that combine land tours with our allinclusive cruises. To expand our offerings, we’ve been partnering closely with our sister brand, Luxury Gold.
WHAT IS LUXURY GOLD?
Luxury Gold is an industry-leading brand offering intimate guided vacations for small groups, with space for just up to 24 guests at a time to preserve the VIP access they are known for. Every itinerary is expertly crafted to feature magnificent hotel stays, meals at acclaimed restaurants, and extraordinary experiences you’ll be dreaming about for years to come.
FEATURED TRIPS
Small Group Guided Tours
Legendary Japan
Majesty of the Rockies
Timeless Scandinavia
Spectacular South Africa
WHO ARE THESE TRIPS FOR?
These trips are perfect for River Heritage Club members who are looking to go beyond the riverbanks to explore more of the world and want to do so knowing they’ll be completely taken care of by the Uniworld standard of luxury and service. Cruise & Tour journeys, in particular, are ideal for travelers looking for a true end-to-end luxury adventure that maximizes experiences, destinations visited, and immersion.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
Expect the typical suite of high-quality amenities whenever you sail with Uniworld. For our tours by land, you’ll enjoy highly personalized service, included experiences every day, breakfast at each of tyour spectacular hotel stays, and additional lunches and dinners on select days. For Cruise & Tour journeys, we’ll arrange seamless transfers between the ship and your hotels.
Cruise & Tour Journeys
Indulge in France & Britain
Experience the Best of Italy
Discover Portugal & Spain
Revel in Switzerland & the Danube
MEET SIX-TIME UNIWORLD CRUISERS
Juan and Millie Lopez-Campillo. We had the pleasure of interviewing the pair about their memorable experiences onboard with us, and now we’re sharing their insights with you.
Do you have stories you would like to share with Uniworld? If so, email us at rhc@uniworld.com !
LOPEZ-CAMPILLO
WHAT FIRST INSPIRED YOU TO CHOOSE UNIWORLD FOR YOUR RIVER CRUISE?
My wife Millie and I were inspired to choose Uniworld for our river cruises by the beauty and elegance of the ships, the personalized service offered onboard Uniworld, the high staff-to-guest ratio, the amazing shore excursions, and the fantastic reviews about Uniworld. We took our first Uniworld cruise in 2015 and fell in love with the company. Later this year we'll embark on our seventh Uniworld cruise aboard the brand-new S.S. Emilie and hope to take many more in the future.
WHAT MOMENT FROM YOUR CRUISE STANDS OUT MOST VIVIDLY WHEN YOU THINK BACK ON YOUR EXPERIENCE?
We’ve experienced so many wonderful moments aboard Uniworld, but we’d have to say boarding the S.S. Maria Theresa on our very first Uniworld cruise in 2015 and being blown away by the elegance and attention to detail. We were like children in a candy store walking about the ship and admiring everything it had to offer.
WAS THERE A PARTICULAR DETAIL—BIG OR SMALL—THAT MADE YOUR UNIWORLD JOURNEY FEEL DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TRIPS YOU’VE TAKEN?
Yes! We’ve appreciated that Uniworld’s shore excursions have taken us not only to popular tourist sites but also to local homes and small, family-owned businesses that have allowed us to be fully immersed in the local culture. Those experiences have been priceless.
IS THERE A MOMENT WHEN YOU FELT ESPECIALLY CARED FOR OR SURPRISED BY THE CREW OR ONBOARD EXPERIENCE?
Absolutely. My wife and I are vegetarian, and we’ve greatly appreciated how accommodating the restaurant staff has been to our dietary restrictions. They’ve even gone so far as to prepare a pasta plate specially for us when the vegetarian offerings on the menu were limited. That is going above and beyond the call of duty!
IF YOU COULD RELIVE ONE DAY OR EXPERIENCE FROM YOUR UNIWORLD JOURNEY, WHICH WOULD IT BE—AND WHY?
The olive farm visit, which was one of the Masterpiece Collection excursions aboard our Burgundy & Provence itinerary. The farm was lovely, the sisters treated us like we were part of the family, and the olive oil tasting was amazing!
Chef Robert’s Corner: PAN-FRIED CHICKEN BREAST WITH CHANTERELLE TARRAGON SAUCE
Welcome spring to your kitchen with this herb-forward chicken perfect for anything from impressing guests to elevating your weeknight cooking. Served with creamed potatoes, this dish comes together in the perfect blend of umami richness and bright freshness.
INGREDIENTS
Chicken Breast
4 boneless chicken breasts (about 5–6 oz each)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
Chanterelle Mushroom Sauce
7 oz fresh chanterelle mushrooms, cleaned and trimmed
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
cup dry white wine
cup chicken stock
cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon fresh tarragon, chopped
Salt & white pepper, to taste
Creamed Potatoes
1¾ lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed
cup whole milk
cup heavy cream
5 tablespoons butter
DIRECTIONS
1. Prepare the Potatoes: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the cubed potatoes and cook for 15–18 minutes, or until fork tender. Drain well and return the potatoes to the warm pot and mash until smooth (Robert’s tip: use a potato ricer for an extra creamy texture!). In a small saucepan, gently warm the milk, cream, and butter until the butter melts. Fold the warm mixture into the potatoes until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and a pinch of nutmeg and keep warm until ready to serve.
2. Cook the Chicken: Generously season the chicken breasts with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the chicken breasts and cook until golden brown on both sides. Next, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the butter, spooning the melted butter over the chicken continuously until it reaches an internal temperature of 165° F (2-3 minutes). Set the chicken aside to rest on a plate, loosely tented with foil.
3. Make the Sauce: Using the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes, until softened, then add the chanterelle mushrooms and cook for another 3–4 minutes, until tender and lightly golden. Pour in the white wine and simmer until reduced by half. Add the chicken stock and let it reduce slightly for another 2 minutes. Next, stir in the Dijon and heavy cream, simmering gently for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens. Finally, remove from heat and stir in the chopped tarragon, salt, and pepper.
4. Plate and Serve: Spoon a generous portion of creamed potatoes onto each plate. Place the chicken breast on top or alongside the potatoes. Spoon the chanterelle sauce over the dish and garnish with fresh tarragon and freshly cracked black pepper.
THE SASSY BORDEAUX
With your extra tarragon leaves, whip up this wonderful cocktail courtesy of our bartenders aboard the S.S. Bon Voyage . Fresh and herbal, with a juicy hit of citrus and just a hint of licorice to round it out, this cocktail pairs gin with Lillet Blanc, the signature aperitif of Bordeaux made with Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes.
INGREDIENTS
2 oz gin
1 oz Lillet Blanc
5 tarragon leaves
PREPARATION
Place gin and Lillet Blanc over ice in a cocktail pitcher. Add a few tarragon leaves, muddle gently, and stir. Double strain into a cocktail glass. Float a tarragon leaf on top as a garnish.
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
Complimentary IN-ROOM TREAT waiting onboard upon arrival
Complimentary LAUNDRY service
Members-only onboard COCKTAIL PARTY
PRIORITY NOTIFICATION on new cruises and programs
Visit UNIWORLD.COM/RIVER-HERITAGE-CLUB for more information. plus
Dedicated PHONE NUMBER
Exclusive RiverViews E-NEWSLETTER
Special MEMBERS-ONLY OFFERS
Additional savings when you REFER FRIENDS OR FAMILY
*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.
CAN YOU GUESS THE UNI WORD?
Have you tried your hand at our new game for River Heritage Club readers? The rules are simple: We’ve picked a word from each article in this issue of RiverViews, in order, and arranged them vertically below. Complete all of the vertical words to guess the horizontal theme word in blue (hint: it will relate to our April theme, Spring). The first reader to submit the correct theme word to rhc@uniworld.com will be featured in our next issue!
LAST ISSUE’S VICTOR
Congratulations to Caroline K. for being the first to solve the February 2026 UNIWORD: JUBILEE
DID YOU TRAVEL WITH UNIWORLD IN THE 90s?
We've thoroughly enjoyed digging into our archives to share stories from our 50 years of travel—and now we want to hear from you! If you have stories from Uniworld trips in the 1990s or earlier, send them to rhc@uniworld.com for a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue of RiverViews.