RiverViews Newsletter February 2017

E-NEWSLETTER

You deserve the best

TM

RIVERVIEWS The Uniworld River Heritage Club

SLEEPING BEAUTIES The World’s Finest Beds

WANDERLUST GUIDE A Destination for Every Month

CIAO, BELLA! Guest Travelogue

February 2017

IN THIS ISSUE

2 S LEEPING BEAUTIES Uniquely Uniworld

9 Q&A WITH ELLEN BETTRIDGE Our 5-Question Interview

3 W ANDERLUST GUIDE Destination Spotlight

10 MRS. TOLLMAN’S SEED LOAF From Our Kitchen to Yours

5 THE DANUBE, REDUX Featured Story

11 WHAT'S NEW IN 2017?

7 CIAO, BELLA!

Guest Travelogue

#ExploreUniworld

February 2017

Ellen’s 360° A new year is all about resolutions, and with 2017 well

RiverViews is a monthly showcase for the things our well-

underway, I find it valuable to look back each month on the

traveled River Heritage Club members love most—insights

goals I’ve set in January. Not surprisingly, my favorite

into intriguing destinations, a chance to venture behind the

resolutions are always related to travel. For things like self-

scenes, and close encounters with kindred spirits who

improvement, personal growth and all those other aspirations

share a passion for travel. But this edition I find extra

people tend to have this time of year, nothing beats embarking

special, as it gives you an exclusive first look at our new

on a journey to places unknown.

brand campaign—The World is Your Canvas. Stay tuned

For me, travel is about seeing and doing things you normally wouldn’t. It’s about embracing those spontaneous moments

throughout 2017 as we continue to share the many ways you can craft your masterpiece on a Uniworld cruise.

when you don’t know where you’ll end up or who you will meet.

Speaking of special news, I’m hosting my first President’s

Those are the journeys that can change you forever, in the best

Cruise on the July 7th sailing of “Gems of Northern Italy,”

possible ways.

aboard the River Countess. I’m looking forward to joining our guests aboard this special voyage.

Happy Travels!

Ellen Bettridge PRESIDENT & CEO Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

SLEEPING BEAUTIES An Intimate Look at the World’s Finest Beds

Many travelers return home from vacation raving about something—the food,

If you’ve ever daydreamed about buying a Savoir bed of your very own, rest

the wine, the people they met and all the things they did. But a rave review

assured that indulging your inner Goldilocks is highly encouraged when placing

about a bed? Not likely.

an order. There are countless small but significant details to consider, starting

With one exception.

Anyone who has traveled on a Uniworld river cruise has enjoyed what some have described as “the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had.” Guests attribute this to the Savoir of England beds found in every stateroom and suite onboard our European fleet. But what exactly makes this bed so coveted?

with the firmness—hard, soft, or somewhere in between. For couples that can’t agree on the optimal density for their custom-made mattress, craftsmen are happy to make the filling different on either side. And if it’s still not 100% perfect after getting it home, Savoir will take it back and completely remake it.

lambswool and the company’s trademark cotton ticking. Each bed takes nine

“We were just commenting that we wish our bed [at home] was as good, but then we would never get out of bed.”

to eleven weeks to build from scratch, and no man-made materials are ever

- Arnoldus, Feefo review

For starters, every Savoir bed is meticulously handcrafted to meet its owner’s exact specifications, using traditional old-world materials such as horsehair,

used. Why? Synthetic materials don’t circulate air or wick away moisture nearly as effectively.

Anyone getting into a Savoir bed joins the ranks of the rich and famous—such as Marilyn Monroe, Elton John, Oprah Winfrey, Liza Minnelli,

Of course, the problem with owning a bespoke Savoir bed is that it may be so supremely comfortable that just getting up in the morning becomes a rather daunting prospect. So perhaps it’s something best enjoyed only when on vacation!

Winston Churchill and Frank Sinatra, all of whom have drifted off to sleep on a cloud of hand-tied mattress springs.

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WANDERLUST guide

Destination Spotlight

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

January is a classic time for making

February

travel resolutions—places we want

VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA, an ideal

to visit in the year ahead—and

time to cruise the Mekong. The

INDIA is at the top of countless

highlight of your journey? The most

bucket lists. There’s no better way

spectacular

to kick off the New Year than with

ever lay eyes on—Angkor Wat, the

an epic journey that’s a complete

archeological treasure has tantalized

escape from the ordinary.

explorers for more than a century.

is

the

dry

monument

season

you

in

may

MARCH

APRIL

At Uniworld, March Madness means

Enjoy the balmy springtime weather

tulip time in THE NETHERLANDS,

of CHINA as your ship winds its way

the best place on earth to see

through the Yangtze River’s fabled

vibrantly colourful floral carpets that

Three Gorges, known for its surreal

seemingly stretch into infinity. Be

rock formations and mist-shrouded

sure

peaks,

to

visit

the

world-famous

many

with

wonderfully

Keukenhof Gardens (open in 2017

evocative names such as Climbing

from March 23 to May 21).

Dragon and Flying Phoenix.

MAY

JUNE

Paris in the spring is indeed a delight,

RUSSIA is our pick for June, when

but May is also a great time to visit

the sun rarely dips below the horizon

other NORTHERN FRANCE locales.

and the sky stays light past midnight

Monet’s gardens present a colourful

in St. Petersburg. And not to be

tapestry of flowers and lily-covered

missed, the “White Nights,” two

ponds, and the gardens of Versailles

weeks of round-the-clock festivities

are as opulent as the palace’s wildly

celebrating the longest day of the

ornate interiors.

year (scheduled in 2017 from June 11 to July 2).

JULY

AUGUST

Summertime family vacations don’t

The great Impressionists adored the

have to be boring, are-we-there-yet

Mediterranean climate of SOUTHERN

road trips. They can be a multi-

FRANCE and its bounty of fresh-

generational adventure on a Rhine

picked

or Danube river cruise through

landscapes and its profusion of

CENTRAL EUROPE, visiting multiple

flowers. The region’s fields of bright

countries while traveling aboard a

sunflowers and rows of fragrant

floating boutique hotel.

lavender reach their peak in late July

produce,

its

sun-glazed

and August.

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

September is harvest season in

The enduringly romantic city of

the DOURO RIVER VALLEY, when

Venice definitely lives up to centuries

grapevines are heavy with fruit and

of hype, yet even a city this beloved

the entire region is in a celebratory

has its challenges—especially during

mood. Sip a glass of Port as you

peak season in ITALY. One solution?

admire the autumn foliage in this

Go in October, after the summer

ruggedly beautiful (and still under

heat dissipates and the flood of

the radar) corner of Europe.

tourists ebbs.

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

There comes a point during any river

GERMANY and AUSTRIA are the

journey in EGYPT when you gaze out

places to be in December, when all

at the water and suddenly remember

the 500-year-old Christmas Markets

that you’re looking at the legendary

are in full swing. Go for the glittering

Nile. The Nile! Egypt is staging a

lights, the pageantry, the stalls selling

comeback

handcrafted gifts, the mulled wine

these

days,

and

an

autumn cruise is a perfect way to

and decadent once-a-year treats.

explore its timeless treasures.

UNIWORLD.COM 4

THE DANUBE, REDUX Been there, done that? Maybe it’s time to go back.

5

You never forget your first, as it’s been said.

See what’s changed. When you revisit a place,

For many River Heritage Club members, the

you can’t expect that everything will be just as

Danube was their first river cruise, a classic

you left it. Then again, there are Wachau Valley

cultural tasting menu of Central European

hamlets where time seems to have come to a

countries. It’s hard not to love this timeless

screeching halt. Elsewhere, it can be equally

river, yet many travelers never go back once

thrilling to revisit locales that are utterly

they’ve “done the Danube.” They have other

transformed, such as the newly revitalized

places to go, other sights to see.

countries of Eastern Europe.

But consider this—revisiting a destination can

See things from a new perspective. Maybe

be a good thing. A great thing, in fact.

you’re

Especially one like the Danube River, which

compelled to see the “top 10” sites of any

the

type

of

traveler

who

feels

offers so much to see and do along its vast

given destination: What if I never come back

length that it’s impossible to do it all on one

here? (We’ve all had that thought.) Going

trip. Or even one hundred trips.

back lets you jettison the must-sees and mosey off the beaten path, experiencing

As we see it, travel isn’t always about boldly

a place in a much more authentic way.

venturing into uncharted territory. So here are a few of our favorite reasons to re-do the Danube:

Show someone else. Every traveler dreams of sharing a favorite place or experience with a

Discover what you missed. This is the numero

loved one. That might mean taking your

uno reason to go back. Maybe you’ve already

teenaged daughter to see the Lipizzaner

seen the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna

stallions (which you’ve raved about for years)

or the secret passageways of Melk Abbey’s

and seeing—not the usual eye rol, but an

marvelous library. Next time, you can do

expression of pure joy and a smile as wide as

something completely different—hiking up to

your own. Moments like that: Priceless.

Dürnstein Castle, say, or cycling along a riverside path.

As a wise man once said, “You cannot step into the same river twice.” It has changed and

Embrace nostalgia. Whatever it was that

so have you. So if you’re feeling inspired to

made a place memorable, a return visit lets

revisit the Danube, be sure to save a few

you relive that particular moment in time.

places to explore on your next trip.

Proust had his madeleines; for you, it might be a decadent slice of Sachertorte at an elegant café. Ah, the memories!

What place would you love to revisit most?

Let us know at RHC@uniworld.com.

UNIWORLD.COM 6

CIAO

bella!

A FIRST-TIME RIVER CRUISER EMBRACES LA DOLCE VITA IN NORTHERN ITALY

Chicago-based River Heritage Club member Janet Lane traveled as part of a group on our 13-day “Splendors of Italy” itinerary—her first river cruise and her first time in Italy. When she wrote to tell us about her wonderful experience, we enjoyed her personal travelogue so much that we couldn’t resist sharing some excerpts of it. Prego!

VENICE’S ETHEREAL CANALS

ADVENTURES ONSHORE

I loved walking the narrow streets of Venice with our terrific local

On my walking tour of Ferrara, I saw the city’s Gothic cathedral

guide Susan, an art historian. Seeing the food market and even

and Castle Estense (a huge 14th-century fortress), and wandered

the laundry strung high above the streets brought a smile to my

the narrow streets of the Jewish Ghetto. I also ventured off by

face. Daily life in Venice.

myself and did a little shopping, too.

It’s hard to say what I loved most about the city. The art museums

DOING AS THE LOCALS DO

were pretty special. The private, after-hours lighting ceremony that

Our Cruise Manager Damiano Olivieri-Passeri was a real character,

Uniworld arranged inside St. Mark’s Basilica was an amazing

too. His knowledge of the culture, customs, history and local

experience. Trying new gelato flavours at every opportunity…

resources was truly impressive. During his daily talks, he taught us

NEW FRIENDS ONBOARD

all how to “speak Italian” with our hands. He also gave tips on

Life onboard was just as fantastic as the sites onshore. Here I am with the ship’s Hotel Manager Marin Moric and Restaurant Manager Valentin Trofin. Valentin hit it off immediately with Russ,

where to eat and shop, and even explained how to get to Murano and Burano [shown here] by water taxi, so I could do some exploring with another traveler from our group, Kathy.

our group leader’s husband. After Russ requested a second

TREASURE HUNTING

helping of breadsticks, Valentin presented him with his own

I found this little Pinocchio shop in Florence. Only in Italy!

assortment of breadsticks at every dinner thereafter!

TUSCANY’S TIMELESS LANDSCAPES I loved gazing out at the view from a hilltop winery and seeing the vineyards and lush greenery all along the road to Rome. I understand how artists of all disciplines are inspired by the Tuscan countryside.

WINING & DINING En route from Florence to Rome, we stopped for a tour of the Castello di Verrazzano winery and sampled the estate’s wines over lunch. Delizioso!

ST. PETER’S IN ROME St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is a busy and absolutely enormous place. I found it easier to focus on the view directly overhead, rather than try to capture the sheer immensity of the cathedral.

My journey in Italy was definitely action-packed! It was the trip of a lifetime and I’d go again in a heartbeat…but I’d want to have the same travel companions and the same Uniworld staff!

Now that she’s had a taste of traveling with Uniworld, we asked Janet which region she’d love to visit next. She managed to narrow it down to three—Northern France, Holland during tulip season and Germany during the Christmas holidays. “It’s tough to pick just one!” she said.

Spoken like a true River Heritage Club member.

Do you have a story and photos to share from your Uniworld cruise? Contact RHC@uniworld.com if you’re interested in being featured in our next Guest Travelogue.

That’s me

on arrival day in Venice, on the

River Countess. I loved the ship and the staff treated us like royalty. The food was fantastic and trying not to overindulge was a challenge.

UNIWORLD.COM 8

Q & A with

ELLEN BETTRIDGE UNIWORLD’S PRESIDENT & CEO HAS GATHERED AN IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF STAMPS IN HER PASSPORT OVER THE YEARS, AND—LIKE MANY OF OUR INTREPID GUESTS—SHE HAS A LONG LIST OF PLACES SHE DREAMS OF EXPLORING FIRSTHAND. What inspired you to work in the travel industry?

I was 21 and living in New York, and went to work for a travel agency as a “Girl Friday,” primarily so I could score free tickets to fly back home to see my parents in Spokane, Washington. I was bitten hard by the travel bug and I’ve been in this amazing field ever since.

What do you love most about traveling?

Every place I visit becomes my new favorite destination. I love discovering unexpected things, trying out unfamiliar foods, getting out of my comfort zone and immersing myself in the local culture. If you cultivate a sense of adventure, every trip you take has the potential to be life-changing.

What is your most memorable travel experience thus far?

My most memorable journey was a trip to Egypt with my then 15-year-old daughter, Grace. We were fortunate enough to cruise up the Nile on the maiden voyage of Uniworld’s River Tosca.

Being

together

and

experiencing

all

the

incredible things that region has to offer was absolutely priceless.

What is the best travel advice you have ever had?

It’s very simple—as the best kind of advice so often is—and I strongly suspect it came from my mother: When you’re on the road, wash your hands constantly!

What is your top “bucket list” destination?

Number one on my list has to be India. Everything I hear about it just makes me more excited to go there, for various reasons. The people, the food, the colours, the five thousand years of history…I just want to experience the sheer spectacle of it all. And to see the sunrise at the Taj Mahal, of course. That’s the ultimate bucket list moment.

MRS. TOLLMAN’S SEED LOAF Mrs. Bea Tollman is not only the world-renowned founder and doyenne of our sister company, The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, she’s also a talented chef and the inspiration behind Uniworld’s culinary philosophy. Here’s a recipe for a hearty and delicious brown bread adapted from her acclaimed cookbook, A Life in Food. And here’s Mrs. Tollman’s favorite way to serve it, in her own words: “I have tried making numerous healthy brown breads in various ways. This has been one of my most enduring recipes, producing a bread that is nutty, aromatic and has a good crust. I love the smell as it is baking in the oven, and the way it toasts when sliced up thinly with a slather of good butter and thick-cut orange marmalade in the morning.”

Enjoy!

Part A

Part B

• 1 cup whole wheat flour

• 17 oz plain yogurt

• 7 Tbsp whole oats

• 3 Tbsp sunflower oil

• 5 Tbsp shelled sunflower seeds

• 3 Tbsp honey

• 3 1/2 Tbsp All Bran flakes

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 3 /2 Tbsp flaxseed

• 1 tsp sea salt

• 3 /2 Tbsp sesame seeds

• 2 Tbsp molasses

1 1

• 3 1/2 Tbsp wheat germ • 3 1/2 Tbsp corn flour • 3 1/2 Tbsp hemp seed Topping • 1 oz shelled sunflower seeds • 1 oz whole oats • 2 Tbsp sunflower oil

Mix all ingredients from Part A list.

In separate bowl, mix all ingredients from Part B list.

Add Part B mixture to Part A mixture and mix well.

Heat oven to 355* F. Place mixture in loaf pan, brush top with sunflower oil, and sprinkle sunflower seeds and oats on top. Bake for 20 minutes, reduce heat to 300* F and bake for additional 1 hour 30 minutes.

Remove from oven, allow to cool completely. Turn loaf out on to cutting board and slice with serrated bread knife.

UNIWORLD.COM 10

WHAT’S NEW in 2017?

24-HOUR ROOM SERVICE Uniworld is known for superb service, and now we’re expanding our offerings even further with in-room dining at any time of the day or night. No request is too large, and no detail is too small. So if you have a craving for ice cream at midnight, now you can indulge without leaving the comfort of your room. Enjoy!

RIVER CRUISES FOR 18 – 40 YEAR OLDS

PEACE OF MIND COMES WITH EVERY UNIWORLD CRUISE Being mindful, well-informed, and prepared are essential traits of an

U BY UNIWORLD A NEW TAKE ON RIVER CRUISING.

experienced traveler, and we approach each Uniworld cruise with that

Over the past many months, our team has been hard at work on a

same thorough care and mindset. We’ve recently taken even greater

project that will introduce river cruising to a new generation of

measures to ensure that when you travel with us, you can rest easy

traveler—U by Uniworld. Two of our boutique ships, River Ambassador

knowing that your plans and adventures are in the hands of a dedicated

and River Baroness, will join the U fleet and be transformed with a hip,

worldwide team.

modern style designed to appeal to the 18- to 40-year-old traveler.

These ships will continue to sail up and down the rivers of France,

SECURITY MEASURES ON EUROPE SHIPS

Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and the Netherlands, with

• We keep all outside doors and access to the interior of the ship locked whenever docked. Only guests can enter with a key card.

seven- to eight-night itineraries geared to accommodate the vacation

• All guests and luggage are verified against the manifest at check in.

But the ships are only the beginning, and the entire U experience will

• All deliveries are thoroughly inspected before being brought onboard.

• Cameras are present at the entrance of the ship and in public areas, and are monitored by reception.

• Portable boarding pass scanners are available at the gangway of all small ships.

schedules of your kids or grandkids.

feature onboard activities and onshore excursions appealing to these travelers, from pub crawls in Amsterdam to guest DJ nights onboard.

U by Uniworld will open for booking in March of this year, and both ships' maiden voyages will take place in the spring of 2018. We are very excited for this opportunity to share our love of travel and boutique hospitality with a new type of guest. Our world just got a little bit bigger.

• 24/7 access to the front desk.

• Trained security staff posted at the gangway 24 hours a day.

UNIWORLD.COM 12

Uniworld’s River Heritage Club A N E X C L U S I V E C L U B F O R U N I W O R L D L OYA L G U E S T S

Once you’ve cruised with Uniworld,

RIVER HERITAGE CLUB REWARDS INCLUDE:

you

•S ave 5% on any Uniworld cruise or cruise/tour around the globe*

automatically

become

an

esteemed member of our River Heritage Club, eligible for an array

• Private members-only cocktail party onboard, hosted by the Captain (European cruises)**

of

•R iverViews™ e-magazine**

member-only

savings

and

onboard benefits that we offer in sincere gratitude for your loyalty.

• One (1) category upgrade on ships in Europe and Russia (excludes suites, subject to availability 45 days prior to departure)**

We look forward to welcoming you

• Complimentary in-room fruit platter upon arrival (European cruises)**

aboard as a returning friend on

• Complimentary onboard laundry service once per week (European cruises)**

your next Uniworld river cruise!

WHERE IN THE WORLD….???

The Danube River flows through a series of gorges, where caves and Roman carvings pock the sheer-faced rock walls. What are these gorges called and where are they found?

If you think you know the answer, send it to RHC@uniworld.com. We’ll reveal the mystery location (and the first River Heritage Club member to guess it correctly) in our next issue.

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. 5% 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. For complete details, general information, and terms and conditions applicable to all Uniworld trips, please visit uniworld.com. **For 2017 cruise/tours only