Recommend May 2011 - (Page 81)

Opposite page: The ship’s 2-story lobby displays a blue Strauss 10-ft. Baccarat chandelier. Below: The 20-seat movie theater. “There is no doubt in my mind that the S.S. Antoinette will be the most spectacular river cruise ship in Europe. We are very fortunate to have owners who are so invested, personally and financially, in making Uniworld the very best river cruise company. ” Guy Young, President & CEO, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection here with no pretensions, just beautiful design with elements like a blue Strauss 10-ft. Baccarat chandelier with huge sapphires—originally hung in New York’s famed Tavern on the Green—dominating the 2story lobby, all enhanced by elegant Brazilian marble dressing up the walls and floors and reflected in a 19th century Venetian glass mirror standing guard over the reception desk. And that’s just what you see when you walk in the front door. “There is no doubt in my mind that the S.S. Antoinette will be the most spectacular river cruise ship in Europe,” Guy Young, president & CEO of Uniworld, promised. “We are very fortunate to have owners who are so invested, personally and financially, in making Uniworld the very best river cruise company.” And there’s no doubt that this beautiful ship that seems to be sailing straight out of royal French history has some serious investment in it, because it’s Uniworld’s largest and most luxurious ship at 443 ft. long and 37.5 ft. wide. The extra space was created to allow for more spacious staterooms and suites, and at the same time, there will only be a minimal increase in passengers. And it’s easy to see why, with the majority of the 73 staterooms measuring 196 sq. ft., and with 20 staterooms at 163 sq. ft. of space. Eight suites run 294 sq. ft. with one double room Owner’s Suite at 391 sq. ft. Deck 4 suites and stateroom have a really unique feature—you flip a switch, and the suite’s window lowers to a rail level, giving you a balcony within a stateroom, so to speak. Suites on Deck 3 also feature French balconies, which also have windows that can be raised or lowered. The lavishly appointed riverview staterooms boast made-to-order, handcrafted Savoir of England beds draped in fine linens, a vanity, built-in closets, hair dryer, safe, individual climate-control thermostat, direct-dial telephone, flat-screen TV with satellite, a safe, and bottled water. The marble bathrooms are stocked with L’Occitane en Provence bath and body products, backlit magnifying mirrors, plush towels from Christy of England, and cozy waffle bathrobes. All suites have additional amenities with special butler service, including packing and unpacking assistance, free laundry service, in-room breakfast, daily fruit and cookie plate, slippers, flat-screen TVs with DVD player, Nespresso coffee machine, refrigerator, shoe shine service, bottle of wine upon arrival, and a special dinner in the Bar du Leopard. The Royal Suite offers extra benefits, including an entertainment system and flat-screen TV with satellite. The bathroom has a separate rainshower and tub, a secluded toilet and bidet area, and towel warmer. There’s a whole list of truly unique features you’re not going to see on other river cruise ships—at least not for awhile. Think indoor heated swimming pool—the first on a river boat, complete with a swimming resistance jet. One of the nicest new features on the ship’s top deck is the enclosed Bar du Leopard, a hot nightspot with a South Africa touch, kind of a sister offering from its Red Carnation Hotels Leopard Lounge and the oh so French L’Orangerie conservatory with its wrought iron tables and chairs, both of which will be serving light breakfast and lunch, and both be retracted into the ship when it passes under low bridges. The top deck also features metal lounging furniture with plush pillows and umbrellas. But still another unique new touch is a 20-seat movie theater, the Le Cinema Pigalle with a state-of-the-art flat screen and Dolby surround sound, and plush seats for comfortable movie viewing. Movie lovers can enjoy a varied selection of great films including classics, comedy, adventure, and drama, along with a selection of snacks including popcorn, candy, and even hors d’oeuvres, making going to the movies an even more enjoyable experience. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, in fact, is the first river cruise line to offer a movie theater on board its ships. At the christening ceremony itself, held in Amsterdam last month, it was the Tollman family that was rightfully front and center, with Beatrice Tollman, godmother and namesake of Uniworld’s River Beatrice, and president of Red Carnation Hotels, sharing the spotlight with her ÍÍ may 2011 81

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend May 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Autograph Collection by Marriott
Tour Talk: Avanti Destinations
10 Amazing Golf Resorts
Dominican Republic Greens
Tee off, Barbados-Style
Teeing Up in Bermuda
Mexico Destination Weddings & Honeymoon Planner
A Quartet of Courses
Portugal & Spain Serve Up a Banquet of Great Golf
Touring the U.K. With Rail Europe
Uniworld's New "Super Ship" Antoinette
Savoring Exotic Asia
Coming Back to Egypt

Recommend May 2011