River Cruising, club 18-40!

Recently i was  lucky enough to visit Amsterdam and attend the CLIA River convention in November, after cruising many times on the larger ships i am/was a complete novice when it comes to River cruising and the was a great way to experience several river ships all with their own unique identity. During the convention we were told several times about how there was a river cruise line to meet everyone’s needs so i was excited later in the day to visit these ships and experience it first hand.

We looked at 6 ships and there was something for everyone Modern 4 & 5 star ships to comfortable homely 3 star, Grand french inspired themes with floral wallpaper and bed spreads to match.

So in terms of prefered style of accommodation there really is something for everyone.

The ships are wonderful and it would be a great way to see a number of cities whilst experiencing great views and food but i couldnt help wondering if the evening entertainment would leave me a little board. Don’t get me wrong i’m not into clubbing until 4am i do like to stay up late and party a little, so perhaps there wasn’t a ship for everyone!

However it seems River Cruising now does have something for everyone,  the luxury river cruise line, Uniworld, is launching a new brand designed for guests of the ages 18-40. (i’ve still got 1 year left!!!)

The new line will be named U BY UNIWORLD and has been created to  provide  a more youthful and modern experience focusing on time spent on shore via longer stays in port.

They want to  to open up river cruising to new travellers who usually opt for local experiences and nightlife. The adventurous experiences that U will offer to the next generation of river cruisers will take them along the popular and picturesque rivers of Europe, visiting cities such as Amsterdam, Paris and Budapest.

President and CEO of Uniworld, Ellen Bettridge, stated: ‘U BY UNIWORLD will deliver the same superb quality of authenticity and personalisation that the Uniworld brand is celebrated for, while offering a new way of exploratory, younger travellers to experience the pulse of Europe.

Uniworld will renovate two 116-passenger ships, River Baroness and River Ambassador, to give them more of a contemporary look and feel that will ensure that they’re tailored to the U BY UNIWORLD experiences. New onboard features will include communal dining tables, a new culinary programme, cocktail mixologists and international DJ’s.

Bettridge continues: ‘We are targeting an active traveller between the ages of 18 and 40, with everything from the decor, dining and cocktail service to the land activities thoughtfully curated to appeal to, and meet the needs of, this audience’. 

U BY UNIWORLD will offer immersive, experiential itineraries, focusing on longer stays in destinations to connect explorers to local experiences and vibrant nightlife scenes. Fun-seeking travellers will also have the opportunity to meet locals, discover restaurants and bars in each city, and enjoy both independent discovery and adventurous excursions.

So perhaps after all i will be venturing on a River Cruise after all.