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Cruise Line Spotlight: Uniworld River Cruises
In the 1970’s, Uniworld Grand River Cruises were pioneers in the transport of tourists down Europe’s grand rivers. Now, over three decades later, Uniworld remains a leader in the art of upscale river cruising with a fleet of luxury ships and an array of in-depth tours which cover the most sought-after destinations of Europe, Egypt, Russia and China.
Because most ships carry no more than 263 passengers, the atmosphere on each cruise is comfortable, low-key and refined; without the over-the-top gadgetry of big cruise ships. Dining is elegant with a menus focused on the sailing region. Entertainment can be found in the simple pleasure of conversing with fellow passengers, lectures, or a culturally enriching show courtesy of local entertainers. Spacious staterooms are well appointed and all have views to the scenic landscape as the ship slowly navigates the waterways. Onshore, passengers can join a Uniworld-lead excursion (included in the fare) or set off on their own adventure to explore and discover.
This vacation experience once appealed to a more mature crowd, but Uniworld has made strides attracting other generations with their Grand River Family Program. Along the Rhine and Seine rivers of Europe, Uniworld has designed family-friendly itineraries which weave together onboard amenities and shore-excursions to satisfy any age group. Fares are appealing too, with children 8-18 receiving 50% off the adult fare.
For 2008, Uniworld offers 37 itineraries. Most of these are primarily water transportation with a combination of rail where applicable. In Egypt, itineraries include river and air transportation. China itineraries break away from the standard river cruise format and delve into a more tour-like format with a heavier reliance on air transportation rather than river – the Yangtze River being the only featured river included on select itineraries. Because China is so large and the Yangtze only touches a few popular cities, this format offers greater opportunities to visit more cities. Of the 10 China itineraries (second to Europe’s 26) in 2008, most include air transportation and hotels in China and as far away as Mongolia, Tibet or Siberia; others offer a combination of air and hotel with a Yangtze River cruise experience.
With the tremendous growth in river cruising, interested travelers are urged to book early. To help you get you on your way, stop in or call your local Cruise Holidays expert to start planning your river cruise experience.
Give the Gift of a Cruise Vacation
Typically during the holidays, entire families gathers to share quality time together. But too often, that’s the only time of year this happens. There is a solution; however, and a trendy, and exceedingly fun one at that. It’s called multi-generational cruise travel, and it is fast becominga preferred way for families to spend time together while sharing an experience that will have lasting memories – from grandparents down to the youngest members of the family. A multi-generational cruise is also a terrific gift idea – let’s face it, everyone wins with a gift like this.
The broad range of activities and amenities means grandparents can take in guest lecturers and enrichment classes. Parents can enjoy time together while the young ones play in the supervised kids area, and the older children can congregate in the ships teen center for some fun all their own. Then there are the dining venues, swimming pools, movie theaters, ice skating rinks, health and spa facilities, and destinations to satisfy and delight any age group. Adding to the appeal is the safety a cruise vacation offers. Family members can break off to do their own thing without a worry. Crew members are always watching out for their guests’ enjoyment and safety.
If planning a cruise sounds daunting, first consider that a cruise is one big package: accommodations, food, entertainment, and transportation to your destinations are all included. Realize that by using a Cruise Holidays travel expert, all the details will be taken care of for you. They plan large cruise groups every day and are extremely savvy about how to design a vacation to appeal and entertain everyone in the group, whether it’s a family of ten or thirty.
Speaking of numbers, unlike many other vacation options, the more people you take on a cruise vacation the more a cruise line gives back to you. Fill eight staterooms (16 people) and you’ll qualify as a group which opens the gates to special discounted rates. You may also receive a fare for free which you can spread over the overall cost, thus lowering each individual cost. Then add on the Cruise Holidays group amenities which have been arranged with numerous cruise lines, and on-top of the savings you could receive addition amenities such as shipboard credit, champagne and more.
This year, make the family’s holiday wishes come true and give the gift of a cruise vacation by contacting your local Cruise Holidays travel expert.
How “Suite” It Is
They’ve long been the pride of hotels and pure delight for guests to enjoy – those spacious guest rooms adorned with ultra furnishings and nearly every conceivable amenity. Enough to stir jealousy in royalty with room titles like “Presidential Suite,” “Owners Suites,” and “Villa,” these rooms are the crème de la crème, the epitome of comfort and lavishness.
Until recently, travelers could only enjoy such accommodations on land. However, cruise lines have been busy refurbishing ships and allotted space on their new ships to offer their guests the same level of luxury accommodations while at sea. And when cruise lines decide to do things big, they do them right.
Depending on the cruise line, there are 500 square feet suites and some more spacious than a typical house with layouts ranging from 1,000 to 9,000 square feet, outfitted with everything to meet most needs for one or enough supplies to entertain a multitude of your closest friends. Take Norwegian Cruise Line’s Garden Villas for instance: three bedrooms, living and dining room within 5,750 square feet. Or on Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2, combine five suites to make one 9,000 square foot palatial estate. If you crave space, a suite is the way to go.
Once inside, every comfort imaginable is at your disposal: ocean views, many with private verandahs from which to nestle into the robe and slippers while sipping a complimentary beverage; bathrooms with upscale toiletries with such names as Bulgari and L’Occitane, deluxe towels, separate shower and tubs (many with whirlpools); bedrooms with fine linens and an ultra-lush beds; entertainment with high-tech gadgetries of large flat-screen televisions and sound systems; and butlers on-hand. Yes, many cruise lines include butler service to suite guests to help with nearly every need, from unpacking to serving hors d’oeuvres and beverages.
You will want to spend some time out of your suite as cruise lines offer plenty of additional benefits to suite guests. NCL’s Garden Villa gusts also have access to private sun beds, a hot tub, steam room and private garden, not to mention butler and concierge service. Other exclusive perks offered by cruise lines include private VIP invites, early disembarkation, suite-guest-only communal areas, preferential dining or shore excursion reservations…and the list goes on.
To get settled into the right cruise line and suite that meets your style and expectations, be sure to contact your Cruise Holidays expert.
The Ever-Popular: St. Thomas
One of the more idyllic Caribbean islands, St. Thomas is a draw for cruise ships, sailing enthusiasts and travelers alike because of its stunning harbor, sophisticated attitude, and miles of white sandy beaches.
The island’s main city and capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Charlotte Amalie, is strewn with brightly colored buildings and a hodgepodge of differing architectural styles evoking the island’s diverse heritage of Dutch, Spanish and French. For a window into the past, the historic district features buildings that stem back to when pirates attempted to infiltrate the harbor’s waters. Included in the district is Fort Christian (1672; the oldest structure in the Virgin Islands), the island’s Dutch stronghold against buccaneers and enemies. Today it’s now the location of the Virgin Islands Museum, housed in the fort’s dungeon! There’s also Skytsborg, a five-story tower (1678), which now serves as a hotel and restaurant affording guests a great view of the harbor – the same view as its initial purpose: a watchtower.
A dazzling bird’s- eye view of the island and St. Thomas Harbor awaits when you hop on the St. Thomas Skyride gondola to zip up to Paradise Point – nearly 700 feet above the town. The city is known for its top-notch dining. Frenchtown, where most of the French descendants still reside, is a very popular location for succulent entrees and an exciting bar scene.
But what makes the island most famous is its distinction as the Caribbean’s premier duty-free shopping destination (tendered in U.S. currency). Along the waterfront and down streets and alleyways are stores and boutiques selling local wares, foodstuffs, brand-name clothing and electronics. Adding to the attraction is the rather gracious duty-free shopping quota of $1,600 which is twice the amount of any other Caribbean island and triple the amount in European countries.
Once away from town, the pristine waters surrounding the island offer fantastic diving, snorkeling, and water-sports. Along the north coast, Magens Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with cobalt waters, white sand and island outcroppings in the distance. Or visit Drakes Seat, the purported location where Sir Francis Drake scanned for enemy ships, where you can see for miles.
St. Thomas is included on nearly every Eastern Caribbean cruise and on some Southern Caribbean, Panama Canal, or South American cruise itineraries as well. For additional information on Caribbean cruises and what to do while visiting St. Thomas, contact your local Cruise Holidays travel expert.
