What’s new at Uniworld: record bookings, new superships and luxurious land adventures | News

Luxury river cruise line Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is benefiting from a wave of record demand from British travellers, with bookings for 2026 up 32% year-on-year and already 63% higher for 2027 than last year.

The growth comes as Uniworld launches a host of new experiences, ships and itineraries for 2026 and 2027, including a brand new generation of Super Ships, a new range of luxury cruise and tour holidays and an inaugural program of immersive land voyages around the world in partnership with sister brand Luxury Gold.

NEW SHIPS
Uniworld welcomed the first of its next-generation superships, SS Emilie, this season with two brand new itineraries: vineyards and palaces along the Danube (eight days, Vienna to Nuremberg, from £2,399pp), and capitals of the Danube (eight days, Belgrade to Vienna, from £2,159pp).

By upgrading its entire fleet to Super Ships by 2027, Uniworld will launch three additional ships in 2027:
The SS Audrey, sailing on the Rhine, the Main and the Moselle
The SS Marlene, sailing on the Danube
The SS São Rafael, sailing on the Douro River in Portugal

PARTNERSHIPS
Through its partnership with Aqua Expeditions, Uniworld will introduce Aqua Blu to the portfolio in 2027 as it expands into Indonesia with the 14-day Bali, Singapore and Indonesia Expedition Cruise from Bali to Singapore (from £15,864pp)
Following a sold-out launch season in 2026, Uniworld is expanding its partnership with Seabourn for 2027 with three new ultra-luxury river and ocean cruises combining the Venice Lagoon with Adriatic and Aegean cruises (from £7,424 per person for the Best of Italy, Croatia and Malta itinerary)
All European ships now have a fleet of Brompton bicycles, replacing previous onboard bikes and giving guests more flexibility to explore independently.

ULTIMATE TRAVEL COLLECTION
Uniworld continues to expand beyond river cruises with its first Ultimate Journeys of the World collection for 2026/27. The program introduces new Cruise & Touritineraries in Europe that combine eight-day luxury river cruises with small-group land tours with Luxury Gold. Country experiences woven into these tours include a trip on the Glacier Express, an after-hours private museum visit in Lucerne, Michelin-star dining, truffle hunting in Tuscany, and stays at top brand hotels such as the Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski in St. Moritz and the Mandarin Oriental in Lucerne. Also included in the Uniworld portfolio for the first time are luxury long-distance land travel to destinations such as Japan, South Africa and Eastern Canada. The program also includes Uniworld’s Spectacular Journeys of the World Collection, which offers longer, more immersive multi-day itineraries by land, rivers and railways through South America, India, Egypt, Jordan, Vietnam, Cambodia and – new for 2027 – Indonesia and Singapore, with trips of up to 25 days.

NEW FAMILY FRIENDLY ROUTES IN FRANCE THIS SUMMER
Uniworld’s popular Generations Collection – special sailings aimed at multi-generational families, with a tailor-made activity program for children – will launch in France for the first time in 2026. During two special sailings on the Burgundy and Provence route on July 19 and 26, 2026, families can enjoy enriching experiences such as a kayak on the River Gardon to the famous Pont du Gard aqueduct, a guided tour and chocolate workshop at the Cité du Chocolat in Tain L’Hermitage, a Van Gogh-inspired painting class designed for young artists in Arles and a scavenger hunt through the cobbled streets of Beaune. Onboard activities include dessert making with the pastry chef, craft workshops, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the ship, including the captain’s wheelhouse. Evidence of the growing demand for multi-generational river cruises, these new family-friendly cruises are almost sold out, but will return in 2027, alongside Generations departures on the Rhine, Danube and Nile.

In addition to family travel, Uniworld offers a wider collection of themed cruises, designed for guests who want to explore a particular passion or interest while traveling. Available on select sailings, these specialized itineraries offer exclusive onboard excursions and activities, built around a central theme: from music to Jewish heritage, LGBTQ+ and holidays.

EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises offers a range of exclusive onshore experiences, many of which are new for this year and not available through other travel providers, giving guests private access to hidden gems and cultural encounters across Europe. From a private concert by the Regensburger Domspatzen – the oldest boys’ choir in the world – in their Gothic cathedral, to meeting the residents of a 16th-century Austrian castle, tasting AOC-approved camembert on a sustainable farm in Normandy and enjoying picnic lunches with wine on an estate in Saint-Émilion, these curated moments immerse travelers in local culture, away from the crowds. Many experiences are part of Uniworld’s MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® program, which supports local communities, heritage conservation and sustainable tourism.

EVENINGS OUT PROGRAM
Uniworld’s extensive Nights Out program offers exclusive after-dark experiences that bring destinations to life in unexpected ways, allowing you to see one of the sights at a different time and with a different atmosphere. These excursions range from private after-hours tours to encounters with local nightlife, including a mesmerizing light show in Bordeaux’s Bassins des Lumières projected onto a reclaimed World War II submarine base, a private Mozart and Strauss concert at Vienna’s Albert Hall, and craft beer tastings at a castle-like Swiss brewery. New this year is a visit to Marksburg Castle on the Rhine in the evening, without the crowds.

With record demand, a new generation of superships and an extensive portfolio that now includes river cruises, luxury tours and immersive land voyages around the world, Uniworld is redefining what a boutique river cruise company has to offer.

QUOTE
Chris Townson, Managing Director of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, commented: “The record bookings we’re seeing are hugely exciting, but what really drives us is the innovation behind it. Whether it’s a new Super Ship, a truffle hunting excursion in Tuscany or an out-of-hours experience at an iconic spectacle, we’re constantly finding new ways to delight and delight our guests. We’re also investing in making our proposition clearer and more marketable to our trading partners – because a good informed agent the best ambassador we have.”

The above prices are per person, based on a twin share, and include luxury accommodation, gourmet dining and unlimited drinks on board, local transfers, immersive sightseeing, port fees and gratuities. For more information, visit www.uniworld.com.