Uniworld River Cruises will launch River Antoinette, the sister ship to the majestic River Beatrice, in March 2011 along the Rhine River. Using the same high quality décor and design standards as the River Beatrice, the new River Antoinette will be the premiere ship to sail the Rhine River on Uniworld’s popular Castles Along the Rhine itinerary. “With the great success of the River Beatrice sailing on the Enchanting Danube, one of Uniworld’s most popular itineraries, we decided to bring an equally stunning ship to another of Uniworld’s popular itineraries, Castles Along the Rhine,” states Guy Young, President of Uniworld.
The River Antoinette will be Uniworld river cruises largest ship: it is 443 ft. long and 37.5 ft. wide. Uniworld has decided to use the additional space to create extra spacious staterooms and suites for guests, so there will be a minimal capacity increase. Most of the 73 staterooms will be 196 sq. ft, and 20 staterooms will be 163 sq. ft. There will be eight junior suites measuring 294 sq. ft. and one Owner’s Suite at 391 sq. ft. The River Antoinette will have the largest staterooms of any contemporary river cruise ships operating in Europe. She will also set the standard in river cruising innovation by offering top deck suites and staterooms with full open-air private balconies that, with a touch of a switch, will raise the glass to create a completely enclosed conservatory during cooler weather. Additional innovative facilities designed to add to guests’ include a heated swimming pool and sky lounge on the sun deck.
“Just like River Beatrice and Uniworld’s entire fleet, the new River Antoinette will offer an exceptional, unrivalled river cruise experience for our guests who want to enjoy the best sights in Europe in world-class comfort,” states Young. Beatrice Tollman, Godmother and namesake of Uniworld’s River Beatrice, and Founder and President of Uniworld’s sister company, the award-winning Red Carnation Hotel Collection, will lead the design project. Together with her daughter, Mrs. Antoinette Tollman, Godmother and namesake to the new River Antoinette, they will create a sensational river cruise ship.
As with all Uniworld boutique, hotel-style ships, they will design each category of stateroom in a variety of regal opulent color schemes and have rich fabrics adorning the walls. Hesse al fresco cream and blue toile fabric in the junior suites and top deck staterooms; and Marson classic crewel fabric in cream background with a crewel motif floral design with soft green, powder blue, baby pink, and dark green colors in mid-deck staterooms. All suites and staterooms will have custom-made-to-order English Savoir beds (designed originally for the Savoy and Claridges Hotels in London, and now used in all Red Carnation Hotels and onboard Uniworld’s ships too) with unique headboards of various designs; and bathrooms with special marble in various color-schemes. Added high-end amenities such as L’Occitane bath products, thick towels from Christies of Manchester – the oldest towel maker in Europe – and cozy bathrobes can be found throughout the entire Uniworld fleet.
