We’re halfway through the year, River Heritage Club, and what a year it has been so far! Not only do we have several new itineraries sailing this year, but we’ve also announced an incredible variety of new offerings (and even a new ship) launching in 2026, our 50th anniversary! In just a couple pages, you can see for yourself what a blast our guests and crew have been having in these first few months of 2025.
I hope you enjoy flipping through the pages of this issue of RiverViews to read about our latest Impact Report and learn about the many exciting adventures you can embark upon with Uniworld—from our 2026 Rivers of the World cruise to rare experiences available to travelers looking to explore our Extraordinary Destinations this fall.
Until next time,
ELLEN BETTRIDGE CEO, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
UNIQUELY UNIWORLD
OUR 2024 IMPACT REPORT
If you've been following along with all things Uniworld for the last few years, you might know that we’re on a mission to MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®. We couldn’t be more grateful for this beautiful world we get to travel, which is why we want to show our gratitude by finding ways to limit our footprint and give back to local communities. Because we believe transparency is the key to accountability, we share a yearly Impact Report to keep you in the loop on the changes we make—big and small—on our way to accomplishing our climate goals.
Click here to read the full report to learn all about the progress we made in 2024.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2024 IMPACT REPORT
GOAL 2: SOURCE 50% OF ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES BY 2025
We’ve secured 100% renewable electricity, either through local energy providers or through Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs), for all Uniworld offices and for ship plug-in power.
Status: Achieved!
GOAL 3: REDUCE FOOD WASTE BY 50% ACROSS ALL SHIPS BY 2025
Thanks to our Leanpath food waste measurement system, we have seen a 41% reduction in food waste across 11 Uniworld ships. That’s the equivalent of 185,417 meals!
Status: Almost there!
GOAL 4: INCREASE USE OF LOCAL & ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCTS BY OUR SUPPLY CHAIN BY 2025
Across our European fleet, our chefs work with 26 local suppliers and 5 organic suppliers to get the freshest ingredients onboard.
Status: Achieved!
GOAL 7: INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® EXPERIENCE ACROSS 50% OF ITINERARIES BY 2025
You can find at least one MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on 71% of our itineraries!
Status: Achieved! (Next, we're setting our sights on 100%)
OUR 2025 SEASON IS IN FULL SWING!
Our Crew
From the moment you step aboard a Uniworld ship, our wonderful crew is there to make you feel at home. Cheers to our nautical team for safely transporting us to each destination, our waitstaff for seeming to know each guest’s favorite drink, our culinary team for crafting delicious meals, and our sommeliers for finding the perfect wines to pair with those tasty dishes—and these are just a few of the amazing team members we are lucky to have sailing with us!
Our Ships
We always look forward to welcoming guests aboard our Floating Boutique Hotels—now including the S.S. Elisabeth, the newest member of our fleet as of her inaugural voyage in March! Whether you are admiring our ships from afar (like this sunset shot of the S.S. Elisabeth from Marksburg Castle), taking in scenery on the water (perhaps from poolside on the Mekong Jewel), or relaxing in an elegant lounge, one thing is certain—there are no bad views!
Each new cruise season brings the joy of reconnecting with our incredible crew, stepping back aboard our Floating Boutique Hotels™ , and embarking on new adventures with our guests. We love settling back into our signature routine—delighting guests with the most personalized service, gourmet cuisine, and curated experiences.
Let’s take a moment to catch up on some highlights from along the rivers so far this year!
Our Cuisine
We know that many of our guests eagerly return each season for the talents of our culinary and bar teams! Whether it is the perfect martini, a delectable appetizer, or a new regional dish to discover, know that our team is dedicated to delivering excellence. Beyond the dining room, we love taking our guests behind the scenes with experiences like a farmer’s market visit with your ship’s chef in Venice or cooking classes onboard
Our Destinations
With much anticipation, we look forward to returning each season to the destinations we love to explore with our guests. Think seasonal highlights like the blooming tulips in the Netherlands, exclusive experiences such as a private Mozart & Strauss concert or after-hours entry to St. Mark’s Basilica, wondrous sites like Karnak Temple, or kayaking to the Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
S.S. Maria Theresa inside.uniworld Rio Alto Market, Venice, Italy
uniworld_gyongyi St. Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy
uniworld_ajj Pont Du Gard, France
lolaannamendez Karnak Temple, Luxor, Egypt
uniworldveronika Keukenhof Gardens, Netherlands
GO FOR THE GOLD
Bucket-list experiences on our 2026 Rivers of the World cruise
Did you know that Uniworld was founded in 1976? Not only does that mean that we’re the most tenured river cruise line in the business, but it also means that our golden anniversary is coming fast around the riverbend! To celebrate turning 50, we’re launching a 50-night Rivers of the World cruise departing from Brussels, Belgium and ending in Amman, Jordan. With incredible experiences spanning 6 countries, 6 rivers, and 3 continents, the lucky travelers joining us on this memorable adventure will be crossing items off their bucket lists left and right. Here are 50 of our favorites!
Catch the tulip bloom in the Netherlands
View Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring at the Mauritshuis
Go on a pub crawl in Rotterdam
Stroll through the gardens of Keukenhof
Sample authentic Gouda at a Dutch farm
Watch the master craftsmen of Delft make their signature blue-and-white porcelain
Sail a brand-new Super Ship vessel inspired by the gilded works of Gustav Klimt
Try real Belgian fries (pommes frites)
Admire the historic windmills of Kinderdijk
Hop aboard a canal cruise in Amsterdam
Take a leap of faith on a Mystery Cruise
Sail 6 rivers on one trip
Stroll Monet’s gardens at Giverny
Be treated to a private concert at the famous Rouen Cathedral
Practice your swing at a clifftop golf course
Savor Camembert and apple cider at a countryside farm in Normandy
Walk through the Latin Quarter of Paris
Immerse yourself deeper in your destinations when you're invited into local homes
Honor the heroes of D-Day at the Normandy Beaches
Stroll the grand halls of Versailles
Sit for a show at the Moulin Rouge
See the Eiffel Tower glitter at night
Wander the silk weavers’ secret passageways in Lyon
Sip Syrah on a hilltop overlooking the Rhône
Try escargot (we believe in you!)
Play pétanque in a French village
Enter Avignon’s infamous Palace of the Popes
Make a picnic lunch of cheese and a fresh baguette from a French farmers’ market
Stand in the very spots where Van Gogh captured Starry Night Over the Rhône and other masterpieces
Watch an awe-inspiring light show in a limestone quarry
Stay at a seaside hotel in the Mediterranean
Sample the wonderful white wines of Cassis
Experience the hustle and bustle of Cairo
Enter one of the Giza pyramids
See the Great Sphinx
Marvel at the temples of Abu Simbel
Enjoy high tea at the Old Cataract Hotel
Sail a traditional felucca boat
Explore the largest archeological museum in the world
Brave the bazaar markets
Gaze upon the oldest pyramid in Egypt, the Step Pyramid of King Djoser
Visit the Valley of the Kings
Savor real Egyptian hummus
Interpret hieroglyphics with an expert Egyptologist
Float in the Dead Sea
Visit Mount Nebo, where Moses was buried
View the world’s oldest surviving cartographic depiction of the Holy Land
Experience one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, the rose-red city of Petra
See the ancient Roman city of Jerash
Stop at 24 UNESCO World Heritage Sites on one trip
THE 2026 MYSTERY CRUISES
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
does this...
APRIL MYSTERY
April 26, 2026
8 Days
Amsterdam to Bamberg
MAY MYSTERY
May 3, 2026
8 Days
Bamberg to Vienna
Amsterdam to Vienna plus this...
GRAND MYSTERY
April 26, 2026
15 Days
Past mystery cruiser tells all
By BONNIE GLUHANICH
We decided to go on the first Mystery Cruise because we have implicit trust in knowing that whatever Uniworld does, it will be done magnificently. And it was.
Our first mystery cruise in 2022 started in a stunning hotel in the mountains near Salzburg, and I remember the beautiful scenery and the dinner just for us up a mountain. Another highlight was our tour of the gorgeous Clam Castle at night with the current count and knights in attendance.
We so enjoyed the first mystery cruise that we signed up right away for the second. This one in 2023 began in Monaco, which was a real treat. Hunting for truffles with a trained dog was another highlight. And the steam
locomotive ride and wine tasting! Celebrating Bastille Day on our ship with fireworks in the sky was perfect.
And on both trips, we met new friends with whom we still keep in touch.
I would tell anyone considering a Uniworld cruise to only go if they like being treated like royalty and family at the same time, if they love good food, fascinating sights, meeting wonderful people from around the world, and want a very special experience unmatched by any other cruise line.
Bonnie and friends on a mystery cruise
Dear Barry & Terry, Time for one last clue before our once-in-a-lifetime journey!
CLUE #4
If sometimes you like to dance, you'll love this trip-it's not all France!
See you soon, Ellen Bettridge
Dear Beth, Did my last clue give you any ideas as to what to expect on our journey? Well here's another to help you out:
CLUE #2
Meer words cannot describe the pearls of joy we have prescribed More to come, Ellen Bettridge
Intentional misspelling of "mere?"
Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring
Spotted during Mauritshuis visit on the 2023 Netherlands Mystery Cruise
The 2024 France Mystery Cruise began with a hotel stay in Monaco that took place during a dance festival
AWE-INDUCING AUTUMN
Extraordinary Experiences in Extraordinary Destinations
Discover once-in-a-lifetime opportunities when you travel to our Extraordinary Destinations this fall. If you’ve been looking for a sign to embark on the ultimate adventure, this is it! With our all-inclusive cruise and land tours in destinations like Egypt and India, it’s never been easier to step off the beaten path in comfort and in style. Onboard and onshore, you’ll enjoy accommodations with unmatched luxury, dine on sumptuous cuisine, and have every need taken care of. And when you venture out to discover your destinations, you’ll do so in intimate, small groups with expert storytelling from local guides.
WITNESS FESTIVALS IN INDIA
For those guests traveling on India’s Golden Triangle & the Sacred Ganges with us on our September 30 or October 2 departures, you’ll have the chance to be captivated by Durga Puja festivities. This annual Hindu holiday honors the goddess Durga with extravagance as the streets are adorned with dazzling lights and grand temporary shrines are erected.
One evening during our October 21 departure, fireworks will light the night sky in celebration of Diwali, the festival symbolizing the victory of light over darkness.
The four-day-long Chhath Puja holiday overlaps with our October 28 departure, during which you may see local villagers assemble at the ghats of the Ganges to express their gratitude to the sun god for giving life to the earth by taking a holy dip and presenting offerings in the form of food and prayers.
BE AMONG THE FIRST TO VISIT THE GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM
The Grand Egyptian Museum—set to be the largest archaeological museum in the world—is partially open, with plans for continued expansion. Beginning on fall departures of Splendors of Egypt & the Nile, guests will enjoy a guided visit to the GEM included as part of their journey. Please note that the full Tutankhamun collection will not yet be on display.
Chef Robert’s Corner: CASSIS & CHAMPAGNE MOUSSE
Our 2026 Rivers of the World cruise includes stops in both Burgundy and Cassis, France—a perfect excuse to share this delicious confection made with cassis (blackcurrant) and Champagne! As easy on the eyes as it is on the palate, this dessert is sure to impress at your next dinner party. Keep reading below to learn how to make it, then look to the next page for some fun facts about this dish!
CASSIS MOUSSE INGREDIENTS:
1 cup cassis (blackcurrant) purée
½ cup granulated sugar
4 sheets of gelatin
¾ cup heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks
CHAMPAGNE MOUSSE INGREDIENTS:
1 cup Champagne or sparkling wine
½ cup granulated sugar
4 sheets of gelatin
¾ cup heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks
WHITE CHOCOLATE GLAZE INGREDIENTS:
7 oz white chocolate, finely chopped cup + 1 tbsp heavy cream
4 sheets of gelatin
Optional: Crème de Cassis for plating
DIRECTIONS
1. Prepare the Cassis Mousse: Heat the cassis purée and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves (do not boil). Set aside. Soak the gelatin sheets in cold water for 5 minutes, then squeeze out the excess water and stir into the warm purée. Allow the purée to cool to room temperature, then gently fold in whipped cream.
2. Prepare the Champagne Mousse: Repeat the steps for the cassis mousse, this time using Champagne in place of the cassis.
3. Assemble: Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Pour the cassis mousse into the mold, smoothing the surface. Chill for 1–2 hours.
4. Once the cassis layer is firm, pour the Champagne mousse on top, smoothing the surface. Chill for 4–6 hours, or overnight.
5. Prepare the White Chocolate Glaze: Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan until it just begins to simmer. Remove from heat. Soak the gelatin sheets in cold water for 5 minutes, then squeeze out the excess water and stir into the chopped white chocolate until smooth.
6. Glaze the cake: Make sure the glaze has cooled to 86–90° F before using. Remove the mousse from the mold and place it on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Pour the white chocolate glaze over the mousse, letting it drip down the sides. Use a spatula to smooth it if needed. Transfer to a serving plate and chill for 15–20 minutes to set the glaze.
Decorate and serve: Garnish with a swirl of Crème de Cassis for a pop of color and a liqueur kick.
CRÈME DE CASSIS ISN’T FROM CASSIS AT ALL!
In fact, it hails from Burgundy. The red liqueur is made from blackcurrants, which are alternatively called cassis in many parts of the world (particularly France). It is a complete linguistic coincidence that Cassis, the French commune just a few hours south of Burgundy, shares a name with the beverage. The name evolved from the Roman “Carsicus Portus” or “Crowned Port,” likely a nod to the mountain peak that sits like a crown above the village.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CHAMPAGNE
Don’t worry, you won’t need to break out the Dom Pérignon for this one—though you may enjoy pairing it on the side! Any sparkling wine will do for this cake.
WHO WORE IT BEST?
Cassis and Champagne can be found in another classic pairing: the Kir Royale. A favorite aboard our ships, this iconic cocktail is easy to make at home now that you have all the ingredients. Simply pour a splash of crème de cassis at the bottom of a flute, then top off with Champagne!
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
An exclusive WELCOME GIFT to commemorate your membership
Complimentary IN-ROOM TREAT waiting onboard upon arrival
Complimentary LAUNDRY service
Visit UNIWORLD.COM/RIVER-HERITAGE-CLUB for more information. plus
Members-only onboard COCKTAIL PARTY
PRIORITY NOTIFICATION on new cruises and programs
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 June theme, Adventure). 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 Bonnie G. for being the first to solve the April 2025 UNIWORD: ORIGINAL
