If you’ve ever done a dinner cruise in your home town, you quickly realize how different things look when you’re on the water gazing back at the familiar shore. The same is true of trains – the perspective is much different than when you’re driving in a car.
It is this commonality of difference of perspective that we’ll chat about this week, as our Uniworld Partner of the Month theme continues.
First the trains.
Uniworld offers Cruise-Rail combinations in Europe. This is a far cry from the Amtrak. The Europeans have a much more evolved rail system than we have in North America, but Uniworld’s partnership with Golden Eagle Luxury Trains truly takes it to the next level. This is a luxury rail experience that has been curated just for Uniworld guests. You get your own compartment on the train with private toilet and shower facilities, and with meals and service that is meant to be an extension of what you experience on the Uniworld river boats. Here are some of the Cruise-Rail combinations:
- SWITZERLAND (Milan to Zurich): 2-nights in Milan, then 7-nights on the Po River (round-trip Venice), and then to Trieste to board the Golden Eagle Luxury train. Visit Slovenia, Austria, and Switzerland over the course of 3 nights, and finish up in Zurich. $12,099 per person for July or August 2022 departures.
- TURKEY: 7-night round trip cruise from Venice, then board the train for Istanbul, Turkey, visiting Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Serbia, Macedonia, Greece, and Bulgaria. 6 nights on the train, visiting 9 countries, finishing with 2 nights hotel in Istanbul. $19,199 per person for July or August 2022 departures.
- DANUBE and the castles of Transylvania. Fly to Munich, and board the ship for 7-nights visiting Passau, Linz (Salzburg), Melk, Vienna, Bratislava, and finish in Budapest. Then transfer to the train for 4-nights in Hungary and Romania with a private visit and dinner at Bran Castle – the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. $9799 per person for departures in October 2022.
- TRANSSIBERIAN RAILWAY: There’s no river cruise component to this trip, but you’ll get to experience Uniworld’s quality hospitality on the world’s longest train journey between Moscow and Vladivastok. On this 15-day journey, you cover 5000 miles and over one-quarter of the earth’s surface. $22,899 per person for departures in July or August 2022.
If luxury rail trips aren’t your jam, here are some other different perspectives on Uniworld river cruises:
- Jewish Heritage Cruises – 8 to 11 days. Rhine or Danube River. Call for details.
- Oberammergau – The Passion Play was scheduled for 2020 and re-scheduled for 2022 due to the pandemic. If you don’t see it now, you’ll have to wait until 2030. This pre-cruise package for Danube River Cruises are available for departures May through September 2022.
- Cruises for Teens and their Parents/Grandparents – several departures on the Rhine and Danube Rivers in the summer months.
- Foodie Tours – French Food & Wine Cruise: All Uniworld cruises have a strong culinary focus, but these themed cruises will take you to famous restaurants, vineyards, orchards, truffle farms and other culinary hot spots. Available in July and August.
- Christmas Market cruises – from the last week of November through December on the Rhine or Danube Rivers.
Remember, as part of our partner of the month promotion, we can get you an additional $200 per person onboard credit on any Uniworld cruise booked during the month of November.
Your First Expedition Cruise?
Many people envision Expedition Cruises as being for the hard-core explorers amongst us. At one time, this was true. Now though, it’s more about small ship luxury with expedition options available for the adventurous. What I LOVE about the cruises below, is that it’s a great way to visit small, out of the way places and while you’re there, if you want to hop in a kayak or ride in a zodiac, those options are available to you.
The cruises below are on the brand-new Ocean Victory, a ship making its inaugural voyages in May 2022. This ship is state of the art, and holds only 186 guests, so it is more like a river boat that’s designed to operate on the ocean.
All Ocean Victory sailings include one-night pre-cruise hotel, unlimited guided tours, open bar, specialty dining, and wifi on the ship.
ALASKA
- Vancouver to Sitka (or reverse) over 12 or 13 days starting at $3699 per person ($1000 off)
- Sail the Inside Passage, visit Kynoch Inlet, Ketchikan, Metlakatla, Misty Fjords National Park, Wrangell, Waterfall Coast (Gut Bay), Petersburg, Tracy Arm (for tidewater Glacier viewing), Kake and Frederick. The fact you may not have heard of many of these places is a testament to the uniqueness of this Alaska itinerary.
- Departures at this price on May 6, May 27, June 27, Sep 9, Sep 19. Similar pricing in July and August.
- On a per-day basis, this is close to what you’d pay to be on a megaship, fighting crowds of thousands of others through “manufactured” ports. This is the perfect chance to see the real Alaska on a small, brand-new ship.
SAN DIEGO to COSTA RICA
If you’re more of a warm-weather person, then why not ride the Ocean Victory down the Pacific Coast?
- 15-days starting at $4099 per person, departing October 3, 2022 ($2500 off)
- Visit Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas, Playa del Coco, before finishing in Puerto Caldera. Fly home from San Jose.
- What we like about his cruise is the mix of standard ports and lesser-known places, all visited from a small ship
We are super excited about Ocean Victory’s entry into the market, and we hope you will take this unique opportunity to try out the ship on one of these deeply discounted itineraries!
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I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
