With a host of new offerings and enhancements – and agent specialist perks – Uniworld Boutique River Cruises says it’s sailing into 2024 with high expectations and enthusiasm. Highlights will include the launch of a new ship, the SS Victoria, which will debut in Amsterdam at the start of the European river cruise season.

“We’re always looking ahead and dreaming up ways to raise the bar and expand our offerings and we’re excited to unveil what’s to come for 2024,” says Ellen Bettridge, President and CEO of Uniworld. “From a beautiful new ship and new Cruise & Rail journeys to our second world cruise and biggest itinerary yet, we’re looking forward to another incredible year of travel.”

S.S. Victoria

Uniworld has added two new Super Ships to its fleet, the S.S. Victoria and S.S. Elisabeth, to begin sailing in Europe in 2024 and 2025 respectively. Uniworld has chartered the ships under a three-year, bareboat charter agreement from Seaside Collection and will provide the Uniworld experience on existing itineraries with an all-Uniworld staff, as well as the brand’s trademark touches and amenities.

The S.S. Victoria will be the first to set sail in March, sailing a variety of itineraries currently operated and accommodating up to 110 guests in 55 luxurious suites and staterooms. The ship will debut in Amsterdam onboard the eight-day ‘Holland & Belgium at Tulip Time’ cruise through Belgium and The Netherlands, followed by the eight-day ‘Castles Along the Rhine’ itinerary from Basel to Amsterdam, then the 10-day ‘Magnificent Moselle and Rhine’ itinerary across two rivers, concluding the season with the eight-day holiday-themed ‘Belgium Holiday Markets’ sailing round-trip from Brussels.

New Cruise & Rail Itineraries

In 2024, Uniworld will launch five new Cruise & Rail itineraries in Europe including:

• Delightful Danube & the Castles of Transylvania: This 15-day itinerary begins in Istanbul, where guests can explore the fascinating history and traditions of the city. The journey then weaves through Transylvania, visiting enchanting medieval towns and iconic landmarks like Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s castle. The river cruise portion sails through Budapest and Vienna on the River Duchess, gliding through the Wachau Valley, celebrated as one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes.
• Milan, Venice, Istanbul & The Balkans: Beginning in the fashion capital of the world, Milan, this 19-day trip gives guests the chance to explore the city’s top sites, followed by a river cruise in romantic Venice on the S.S. La Venezia. Exclusive experiences include a private evening lighting ceremony at St. Mark’s Basilica and a visit to Chioggia—a charming southern port loved by fishermen and artists. Guests then embark on the rail portion of the journey to Istanbul.
• Venice, Istanbul & the Balkans: This 17-day journey starts with a private train journey to Istanbul visiting Alpine lake towns, historic cities across Eastern Europe, the Greek seafront, and more. Then, guests will board the S.S. La Venezia and experience the best of Venice on the only river cruise ship currently sailing in the Venetian Lagoon.
• Grand Alpine & the Jewels of Veneto: Guests will kick off this 15-day journey in Budapest and Vienna, and explore the Alps via a luxury overnight train. Highlights include a lunch on Lake Como, sampling Swiss fondue in Zürich, a private visit to Slovenia’s Postojna caves, and more. Then, the trip continues to Venice and beyond onboard the S.S. La Venezia.
• Grand Alpine & the Enchanting Danube: This 14-day adventure begins with a river cruise on the S.S. Maria Theresa, sailing on the fabled Danube River, where locally-based destination experts offer guests insider knowledge and VIP access to exclusive experiences. Guests will then continue on a luxury train journey through the Alps, traveling through Italy, Switzerland, and more.
• Finally, Uniworld is adding more dates in 2024 to its popular cruise and rail itinerary in India, ‘The Sacred Ganges & The Maharajas Express.’ The trip will now operate from Kolkata to New Delhi in 2024, instead of Kolkata to Mumbai. Guests can expect unique experiences, like visiting local villages along the Ganges that few people ever get to experience and taking two trips to the Taj Mahal at sunrise and sunset.

Rivers of the World 2024

Uniworld has announced its second annual Rivers of the World cruise for 2024, which will be even bigger than its inaugural sailing. The 55-day journey will depart on Oct. 3, 2024, from Lima, Peru, welcoming 40 guests on a journey spanning three continents, 10 countries, and four luxurious Super Ships – including new destinations, special surprises, and exclusive experiences. The itinerary begins in Lima with a kick-off party in the Peruvian Amazon, followed by a journey along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers in Europe. After experiencing the French countryside, guests are whisked off to Southeast Asia, where they will have a candlelight dinner at the Kravan Temple in Cambodia, a rooftop gala dinner with spectacular views of the Saigon skyline, and more.

Exclusive added experiences

In 2024, Uniworld is offering a new pre-cruise extension for its Peruvian Amazon itinerary called ‘Rio de Janeiro & Iguazu Falls.’  The five-day itinerary travels through Brazil and Argentina, starting in Rio, where guests can explore the city’s cuisine and landscapes. The itinerary then heads to Iguazu Falls, the largest system of waterfalls in the world across a mile-and-a-half stretch of cliffs.

Additionally, back by popular demand, Uniworld’s themed “70s night” will return onboard their European itineraries.

Uniworld University 2024

Travel advisors are encouraged to complete the ‘What’s New for 2024’ certification on the online training portal, Uniworld University. Upon completion, advisors will be included in Uniworld’s online directory of preferred advisors, receive a badge to display in their e-mail signature, and be eligible for fares up to 60% off of the standard Uniworld cruise fare.

The 2024 course includes details on their two newest ships, the new Cruise & Rail itineraries, all pre- and post- cruise land extensions including extended travel with sister-brand Adventure World, the Rivers of the World itinerary and training for Uniworld’s online advisor booking engine, River Currents. To access the course, advisors can visit www.uniworlduniversity.com.