Oh, The Places You’ll Go – Together On Uniworld Family River Cruises
In the past, we’ve written extensively about family-friendly river cruises, and the growing array of itineraries and amenities that are now available.
As if on-cue, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection – already a pioneer in offering family-friendly river cruise departures throughout Europe during key holiday periods – announced the release of a dedicated online brochure designed just for families looking to plan their next river cruise vacations.
Highlighting 11 new family-friendly sailings for 2016 along the Danube, Po, Rhine and Seine rivers, Uniworld has more than tripled its family-friendly offerings this year, from five sailings to a total of 16.
So what do Uniworld family river cruises include in the price of the voyage? As it turns out, quite a bit.
Uniworld provided us with a list of benefits:
- 50% savings off the cruise-only fare for young travelers aged 4 to 18 when traveling with an adult*
- Convenient departures scheduled during summer and winter school breaks
- Shore excursions tailor-made for families and hosted by local experts
- With an average capacity of 130 guests and more staff than any other river cruise line, everyone will be well cared for by the best staff on the river
- Services of two dedicated Family Hosts to oversee all activities for young travelers
- Complimentary bicycles**, helmets, as well as Nordic walking sticks, for use onshore
- All meals, with child-friendly menus, made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, plus unlimited beverages onboard
- A host of onboard activities, including language lessons, hands-on arts & crafts workshops, dessert making, family talent night and more
- All scheduled airport transfers
- All gratuities onboard and onshore
- Complimentary ship-wide Internet and Wi-Fi access
*Children must be between the ages of 4 and 18, and be accompanied by an adult to qualify for the 50% off savings. 50% savings offer is off cruise-only price and is valid for new bookings on select family itineraries and departure dates as noted only. Offer is combinable with past guest savings only. Offer is applicable for category 1-5 staterooms. Offer is not applicable to suites. Offer is subject to availability and is capacity controlled. Other restrictions may apply. Uniworld reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time.
**Not available on Italian itineraries
What’s truly special about these family-friendly sailings is how much thought Uniworld has put into making river cruising accessible (and fun) for the entire family. Kids can go on a VIP tour of the ship with the captain, or participate in a dessert-making class with the pastry chef. While the adults attend wine tastings, kids sample local soft drinks with Uniworld’s own onboard “Soda Sommelier” – a really cool touch that no other cruise line has come up with to-date.
Kids are also treated to their own Young Traveller’s Lounge on all of Uniworld family river cruises. This unique area features a PlayStation with a selection of games, both board and digital; movies on-hand; and even a jar of candies.
Perhaps more importantly: Every family-friendly sailing Uniworld has on-schedule for this year will also feature visits from local kids and teenagers, who will introduce visiting kids on what it’s like to grow up in the countries they are sailing through.
Since no two kids are alike, Uniworld also offers a full range of enticing onshore excursions and onboard activities—some geared for children and others tailored for tweens and teens. Six different themes:
- Arts & Crafts Lovers: Excursions and hands-on activities to inspire creative expression
- Curious Minds: Excursions designed to cultivate a greater sense of curiosity
- Go Active!: Exhilarating outdoor pursuits geared especially for teenagers
- Thrill Seekers!: Exciting adventures that will appeal to junior adrenaline junkies
- Aspiring Foodies: Tasty activities for adventurous eaters seeking new flavors
- Mysterious Stuff: Excursions for young people who love intriguing tales with a historical twist
It’s just one more way Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection wants to ensure that explorers of all ages have the time of their lives on the waterways of Europe.
Uniworld’s unique family program is available on nine European itineraries in 2016:
Castles along the Rhine
- Ship: S.S. Antoinette, River Empress
- 8 DAYS FROM BASEL TO AMSTERDAM
- Cities Include: Amsterdam, Cologne, Strasbourg, Koblenz, Speyer, Rüdesheim, Basel
- Highlights: Cathedral climb, vinegar estate, Technik Museum, cable car ride, Marksburg Castle, Chamber of Essences, Odysseum
- Available Departures: July 13, July 20 President’s Cruise (joined by Guy Young, President of Uniworld)
Delightful Danube & Prague (New for 2016)
- Ship: River Princess
- 10 DAYS FROM BUDAPEST TO PRAGUE
- Cities Include: Budapest, Vienna, Passau, Spitz, Regensburg, Nuremberg, Prague
- Highlights: Budapest Rock Hospital, Lipizzaner stallions, biking along the Danube, vineyard treasure hunt, BMW factory
- Available Departures: June 29; July 4
Paris & Normandy
- Ship: River Baroness
- 8 DAYS FROM PARIS TO PARIS
- Cities Include: Paris, Giverny, Normandy Beaches, Rouen, Honfleur, Auvers-sur-Oise
- Highlights: Monet’s Gardens, behind the scenes inside giant 14th century clock tower, miniature rainforest, Notre Dame
- Available Departures: July 3; July 31
Rhine Discovery & Prague (New for 2016)
- Ship: River Ambassador
- 2016 | 10 DAYS FROM PRAGUE TO BASEL
- Cities Include: Prague, Bamberg, Würzburg, Rothenburg, Miltenberg, Nierstein, Strasbourg, Basel
- Highlights: Strasbourg cathedral climb, culinary treasure hunt, amusement park, Medieval Crime Museum, “Village Day”
- Available Departures: July 24
Danube Discovery & Prague (New for 2016)
- Ship: River Ambassador
- 10 DAYS FROM VIENNA TO PRAGUE
- Cities Include: Vienna, Weissenkirchen, Passau, Regensburg, Nuremberg, Prague
- Highlights: Toy Museum, vineyard treasure hunt, Danube bike ride, Lipizzaner stallions, BMW factory, glass workshop
- Available Departures: July 29
Grand European Discovery (New for 2016)
- Ship: River Ambassador
- 15 DAYS FROM BASEL TO VIENNA
- Cities Include: Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Nierstein, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Passau, Vienna
- Highlights: Lipizzaner stallions, BMW factory, Medieval Crime Museum, white water rafting, cathedral climb, Toy Museum
- Available Departures: July 24
Gems of Northern Italy (New for 2016)
- Ship: River Countess
- 10 DAYS FROM MILAN TO VENICE
- Cities Include: Milan, Venice, Padua, Bologna or Ferrara, Verona, Chioggia
- Featured Highlights: The Last Supper, treasure hunt, mask-making, mussel harvesting, gondola-rowing or kayaking, pasta workshop, Venice Ghost Walk
- Available Departures: June 24; July 1; July 8
Splendors of Italy (New for 2016)
- Ship: River Countess
- 15 DAYS FROM MILAN TO ROME
- Cities Include: Milan, Venice, Padua, Bologna or Ferrara, Verona, Florence, Rome
- Highlights: The Last Supper, glass-blowing, gondola-rowing and kayaking, pasta-making, Venice Ghost Walk, Gladiator School
- Available Departures: June 24
Classic Christmas Markets
- Ship: River Duchess
- 8 DAYS FROM NUREMBERG TO FRANKFURT
- Cities Include: Nuremberg, Bamberg, Rothenburg, Würzburg, Wertheim, Frankfurt
- Highlights: Christmas with dinosaurs, pretzel-making, Night Watchman treasure hunt, Medieval Crime Museum, Christmas Markets
- Available Departures: December 12
View Uniworld’s online 2016 Generations Family River Cruise brochure.
roger Clayton says
We would like to go from Passau to Budapest. In 2021 the first week of July
we have a family of 13 and the youngest will be 18 on July 6, with an odd number we need a room for three. We have traveled with Viking but the don’t have rooms for 3 nor will they take our youngest because you have to be 18 when you sign up. Is there a cruise line that will accommodate us?
hellen says
I also spent a really good time there during my last summer holidays and came back with unforgettable memories. I hope you will have a joyful time there.