Uniworld Boutique River Cruise - Danube Christmas Markets, Dec 2016
River cruising is definitely the "next big thing" in the travel industry and it’s easy to see the advantages. Once you have joined your ship, you settle into your cabin, unpack once and then spend the next seven to 10 days exploring new areas, visiting a new city or region each day. As any primary school child will be able to tell you, the great rivers of the world were the original routes for trade, so certainly in Europe, the most important cities are all build on rivers, and you may pass through many countries on one itinerary. Arriving by ship, you reach the centre of the city and are then free to join an excursion or explore on your own. Add the fact that when you are sailing, you are passing by beautiful countryside, castles and vineyards and seeing life on the river!
Why Uniworld?
It can be hard to differentiate between all the different companies who are offering river cruises, even if you have decided which country or which river you want to travel on. One thing you don't have to decide on is the size of the ship. Unlike ocean cruising, there are no small, medium, large or giant ships! The average size ship takes only 150 guests and although traditionally appealing to an exclusively adult audience, there are many itineraries geared towards older children, as more and more "inter-generational" families including grandparents travel with their whole family.
Uniworld offer an all-inclusive product, from airport transfers to gratuities on-board, all meals on board with unlimited beverages, hosted excursions and Wi-Fi access - you can literally relax without worrying about how much your bar bill will be!
On-board, the whole feeling is very much like a boutique hotel, with luxurious fabrics, L'Occitane en Provence amenities, fluffy towels and robes and slippers in each room. The staff are exceptional, making you instantly welcome and at ease. They are good company too, ready to share with you their knowledge of the region or suggest a great wine to go with your dinner. There are always choices of excursions, and the guides we experienced were very good - turning a regular walking tour into a fun and informative experience.
Our Christmas Markets itinerary started in Passau, a beautiful medieval town close to Munich, and we travelled through the Wachau Valley in Austria, a UNESCO heritage site, before stopping in Krems and then Vienna. Our experience ended there while the ship and the rest of the passengers continued along the Danube to Budapest. We visited authentic Christmas markets as well as a choice of lots of other excursions including private mutual recitals and "do as the locals do" options.
In Summary
Uniworld Boutique river cruises are a great luxury option – I was very impressed by the service, the food and the quality of the ship. However, each ship is different and I’d be delighted to help you choose your perfect itinerary and the perfect ship to suit you.