U by Uniworld’s ‘The B’ Sets Sail
U by Uniworld, the new river cruise brand for 21-45-year-olds, debuted its first ship Oct. 7 in Paris, France.
The B set sail on its maiden voyage along the Seine River with top influencers with a combined reach of nearly 10 million, lifestyle media, travel agents and contest winners onboard to get an exclusive “Sneak Peek” of the first-ever river cruise brand for millennials.
After its successful inaugural sailing of The B, U by Uniworld also announced expansion plans. The brand has set its sights on the Mekong River in Asia for a third ship, with plans for a fourth ship to be announced in the future. No launch dates have been set at this time.
“We’re thrilled to make history with the launch of U by Uniworld and introduce a whole new generation to river cruising,” said Ellen Bettridge, president of Uniworld. “It’s very exciting to see this vision come to life and to have such influential, well-travelled young people onboard to experience it for the first time. There has been such tremendous interest for The B and The A and we’re excited to bring this innovative concept to more destinations.”
The inaugural events included a drum circle creating a spiritual energy onboard, sabering champagne on the top deck and a renaming ceremony where guests released biodegradable lanterns to symbolize letting go of Uniworld’s River Baroness ship and starting new with The B. The renaming ceremony was led by the ship’s “Guardian Angel” Petra Nemcova, supermodel and noted philanthropist.
The B has four Suites, 26 Balcony Bedrooms, 29 Studio Bedrooms and two Studios Bedrooms with triple occupancy – all with waterfront views and equipped with built-in Bluetooth speakers. The ship boasts two rooftop venues, a spa, mixologists, international DJ’s, communal tables for dining, and farm-to-table cuisine.
Sailings on The B and U’s second ship, The A, begin in April 2018 with four eight-day itineraries on the Rhine, Main, Danube and Seine Rivers, with overnight stops and longer stays available in major cities including Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam and Budapest. U by Uniworld will also offer two five-day holiday itineraries during the holiday season.
Pictured (top) are Nemcova and Brett Tollman, global CEO of The Travel Corporation.
