Los Angeles based, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

UniWorld Cruises was founded in 1976, was the first company to introduce to North America the Europe river-cruising concept. In 2005, Uniworld was acquired by the Travel Corporation, parent company of such popular travel companies as Trafalgar, Insight, Brendan and Contiki, as well as Red Carnation Hotels—the award-winning, five-star luxury hotel collection. Collaborating closely with Red Carnation, Uniworld has positioned its brand as a boutique hotel-style experience. Its intimate, luxurious ships are on par with some of the world’s finest small boutique hotels, each boasting its own individual décor.

Uniworld offers 9- to 32-day voyages on 11 rivers

With more than 500 departures and more than 30 itineraries. In Europe, Uniworld sails on the Rhine, Main, Danube, Moselle, Rhone, Saone, Seine, and Douro; in China it sails the Yangtze; and in Egypt it sails the Nile. Each hotel-style cruise ship boasts an average capacity of 134 guests; an award-winning staff, with a ratio of one staff member for every three guests; world-class cuisine; and expertly planned itineraries with custom-blended shore excursions. One of Uniworld’s trademarks is exceptional customer service. Its English-speaking staff includes the most experienced captains, managers, chefs, and onboard and onshore crew members in the river cruise industry. As a result, Uniworld boasts guest service satisfaction rates of over 98%. Its accolades include being named one of Travel+Leisure’s World’s Best Top 10 Small Cruise Lines; and being included on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2008 and 2009 Gold Lists; their Readers’ Poll for Top 50 Small Ships, and their Readers’ Choice Awards for World’s Top 10 Small Ship Cruise Lines. In addition, Uniworld recently was awarded by Cruise Critic as the best river cruise company, and with the best new river cruise ship, River Beatrice.

Uniworld introduced two new ultra-luxurious ships in 2009:

The River Beatrice, along the enchanting Danube, and the 41-suite River Tosca, along the historic Nile River. All of Uniworld’s ships have been completely refurbished since 2005, and the company has a capital investment improvement plan to refurbish its ships every three years. All of Uniworld’s staterooms and suites are lavishly appointed to offer the ultimate in comfort and elegance. Rates for Uniworld’s all-inclusive river cruises start at $1,599 per person, cruise only.  Cruise rates include all meals, prepared fresh daily using the finest ingredients from the local ports of call; fine wine, beer and soft drinks during dinner; captivating shore excursions fully hosted by English-speaking local guides; use of bicycles on company-owned ships in Europe; on board local entertainment and insightful lectures; all transfers on arrival and departure days; and much more.

A World of Benefits Designed Just for You

Uniworld offers the highest level of comfort, quality and service in river cruising with an unparalleled variety of vacation choices. You’ll cherish this world of benefits designed just for you.

CHOICE

• Over 500 departures
• More than 40 itineraries
• Sail 11 of the world’s most breathtaking rivers
• Choose from over 20 countries throughout Europe, China, Egypt, and Russia

QUALITY

• Travel+Leisure’s “World’s Best Top 10 Small Cruise Lines”
• Condé Nast Traveler’s “Gold List”
• Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Cruise Poll Winner for “Top Small Cruise Ships”
• Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Award for “World’s Top 10 Small Cruise Lines”
• 2009 ZAGAT® Cruise Lines Survey – Uniworld is the only river cruise company recognized in the survey with the best of the best in the cruise industry

HOSPITALITY

• The best on-board and onshore staff in the industry—with decades of experience
• Over 98% guest service satisfaction rates
• One crew member for every three guests
• Professionally trained, all English-speaking staff
• Condé Nast Traveler’s “Gold List” winner with highest honors in hospitality
• Meet and greet transfers on arrival and departure days

COMFORT

• Fastidious internal Quality Assurance programs with extensive training for all staff, along with ship inspections and third-party mystery shoppers, to ensure our guests always receive the highest-quality service
• An average capacity of just 130 guests
• Luxuriously appointed river-view staterooms—many with French balconies and hand-crafted Savoir® beds draped in fine linens
• Bathrooms stocked with L’Occitane bath and body products and comfy robes
• Exclusive services and amenities in all suites

VALUE

• All meals on-board prepared using the finest ingredients, which are often brought on-board from local business markets
• Captivating and always INCLUDED shore excursions—many exclusive to Uniworld—hosted by English-speaking local guides who use state-of-the-art Quietvox portable headset systems
• Insightful onboard Signature Lectures
• Exclusive Epicurean Adventurer Program on 16 itineraries
• Airport transfers on arrival and departure days
• Complimentary fine European wines, choice of beer and soft drinks during dinner onboard European ships; bottled water in staterooms; and a 24 hour specialty coffee and tea bar
• Complimentary soft drinks in the restaurant at lunch onboard company-owned ships (Coming 2011)
• The unsurpassed style and elegance of Europe’s best river cruise ships

Call your travel professional at 1-800-307-3088 or follow this link .

Capt Bob

Viking River Cruises

River cruising—a better way to explore

River cruising is, quite simply, the best way to travel through many of the world’s most fascinating places. Comfortable and convenient, it offers a greater variety of destinations than you could encounter any other way—and lets you get in-depth exposure to the culture and history of each region. Both experienced and first-time travelers have discovered the joys of river cruising, making it the fastest-growing segment of the travel industry.

See the World’s Great Cities

Paris, Vienna, Budapest…because so many cities and towns developed along waterways, they were literally made to be accessible by river. Some of these cities are just not available to ocean cruisers, and bus passengers spend precious hours on the highway, checking in and out of hotels. River cruising brings you more of these destinations than you could see any other way.

Hassle-Free Travel

After boarding the ship, unpack—just once—in your spacious river-view stateroom. Relax in comfort for the duration of the cruise. No need to worry about maps, traffic congestion or the many other hassles of traveling by bus or train. A river cruise is a stress-free way to see the best that your destination has to offer.

New Scenery—All Day, Every Day

Enjoy breathtaking scenery from just about everywhere on the ship—in the bar, restaurant or lounge (all with panoramic views), on the sun deck with fresh air or from the privacy of your stateroom. And, river cruise vessels keep moving, so you see new vistas and explore new destinations throughout the day, every day. Our ships often travel at night, so you can wake up in an exciting new place each morning, with no effort on your part.

The Heart of Your Destination

Unlike ocean cruises, rivers provide easy access to city centers. Sail directly to the heart of every destination and dock in the middle of town. Walk right off the ship and join the day’s activities. You spend less time getting there—and more time being there.

A More Intimate Experience

Because our ships are designed to accommodate between 150 and 300 guests, it is easy to make new friends. Share a drink with the couple you met on the day’s tour, or dine with interesting people in the open-seating restaurant. And you can forget about waiting in long lines to embark, disembark or have a meal.

Culture & History Everywhere

Walk through an open air architecture museum in the middle of a Russian lake; watch the artists at work in a Meissen porcelain ware studio; hear a concert of ancient bronze bells in Wuhan. Such unforgettable experiences can be yours on a river cruise—and you are unlikely to reach these places any other way.

Travel Your Way

Enjoy the guided walks, in-depth tours and excursions planned for you in each destination—or sight-see on your own, with time allocated for independent activities.

Smooth Sailing

The flat-bottomed shape of river cruise ships ensures a safe and smooth ride without any worries about motion sickness. No need to spend days “getting your sea legs” as with ocean cruising—which means more time to really enjoy your vacation.

Great travel value

Call us at 800-308-3077 and mention Discount Code 9087# for all
the latest Viking River Cruises specials.

Amazon River Cruises

An Amazon River Cruise could be one of the most exciting adventures you will ever take in your life time.   It is like stepping back to the time of the of great explorers to see for the first time the untouched rain forest , animals and the native people that inhabit this region.   The beauty of this region is rapidly disappearing as modern civilization is encroaching upon its boundaries.  This is truly one of the last great bastions left on earth.

Today you can travel aboard luxury ships takes it guests on a magnificently memorable cruise along both the Negro and Amazon Rivers, offering all the comfort and services the discerning traveler demands. The adventure begins in the city of Manaus, capital of Amazonas, famous for its spectacular Opera House.  After departing Manaus, your river cruise ship will makes stops at locations along the Amazon jungle, offering excursions to explore the dense, untouched vegetation.  Adventure-seekers will have the opportunity to see indigenous plants, trees, animals and even the local river communities, which are made up of exceptionally friendly and welcoming people.  This rainforest experience is ideal for those looking for adventure with all the comfort of a five-star hotel.

Entertainment on most ships includes field trips, dance classes, fishing and ecological classes where participants are taught about the native fauna and flora. There are also motorboat excursions through the local lakes of Igapos and Igarapes. Evening activities include live music and theme parties. So, unlike the early explorers of this land, you will  travel in luxury and style while experiencing the wilds of the Amazon.

A valid US passport with a Brazilian Visa’s are required to visit Brazil, no matter your age, and you may need to have certain vaccinations like yellow fever and Malaria depending on what areas you may be visiting.  Please check with the CDC website at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2010/chapter-2/malaria-risk-information-and-prophylaxis.aspx or consult with your family physician before departing.

Capt Bob