NEW YORK — Uniworld is tapping the much-coveted Millennial market with U by Uniworld, set to launch sales in March 2017 and begin sailings in early 2018.
The new offering “will provide immersive, authentic and adventurous experiences for an untapped generation of river cruisers in cities such as Amsterdam, Paris and Budapest,” says the cruise line.
“U BY UNIWORLD will deliver the same superb quality of authenticity and personalization that the Uniworld brand is celebrated for, while offering a new way for exploratory, younger travellers to experience the pulse of Europe,” said Ellen Bettridge, President & CEO of Uniworld. “We are targeting an active traveler between the ages of 18 and 40, with everything from the décor, dining and cocktail service to the land activities thoughtfully curated to appeal to, and meet the needs of, this audience.”
Two of Uniworld’s existing ships – the River Baroness and the River Ambassador – will undergo extensive renovations and design changes that will tailor the ships to be dedicated to the U by Uniworld experiences from early 2018. The ships will feature a contemporary look and feel in all public areas and open spaces, according to the cruise line, and offer communal tables for dining with a new culinary program, creative mixologists and international DJs onboard.
Immersive, experiential itineraries will focus on longer stays in destinations and connect passengers to local experiences and nightlife. Explorers can meet locals, discover restaurants and bars in each city, and sign on for both independent discovery and adventurous excursions.
“U BY UNIWORLD is poised to define the river exploring experience for an entirely new demographic,” said Brett Tollman, Chief Executive of The Travel Corporation. “Uniworld being an integral member of TTC’s family of brands gives us a great advantage, as we have been able tap into the worldwide expertise of our leading youth brands Contiki and Busabout, in order to fully realize this expansion of the Uniworld brand.”
A new social media campaign, #AllAboutU, aims to collate personalized suggestions and requests for all aspects of the U BY UNIWORLD experience, from the itineraries’ adventures and other content to the amenities, dining and music. All are encouraged to participate by using the #AllAboutU hashtag on Twitter, Instagram and on Uniworld’s Facebook page.
The all-new U BY UNIWORLD brochure, website and other information will be released and bookable early in 2017.
