River Cruises Uniworld Boutique CEO and President Ellen Bettridge will host a river cruise itinerary in 2024 aboard the newest ship to join the fleet.
The 2024 President’s Cruise will travel all eight days of Uniworld Castles along the Rhine itinerary from Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam, but guests on this particular departure will benefit from exclusive activities and excursions, time to interact with Bettridge during the trip, and surprises created for the trip.
The ship is the SS Victoria, a former Crystal Cruises river ship that Uniworld chartered from Riverside Luxury Cruises.
Formerly the Crystal Bach, it carries 110 passengers. Cabins feature floor-to-ceiling windows and king-size beds, with some suite categories featuring walk-in closets, fireplaces, and attached suites that can serve as two-bedroom accommodations with approximately 759 square feet of space. Other highlights include a massage room, gym, bistro for casual snacks, rooftop bar and grill, and a fine dining room that prioritizes farm-to-table cuisine.
The itinerary includes a tour of France’s Alsace region, where guests will experience French and German influences in picturesque cities like Strasbourg, as well as visits to Cologne and Rudesheim, Germany.
Guests can also choose to do a pre-cruise extension on Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, for two nights at the Mandarin Oriental Palace, or a three-day post-cruise extension in Amsterdam at the Hilton Hotel Amsterdam or similar.
Ellen Betridge
“Traveling with our incredible guests is always something I look forward to, and I’m excited to do so next year on our beautiful new ship, the SS Victoria, for my 2024 Presidential Cruise,” said Bettridge. “We will embark on one of our most popular itineraries along the Rhine, with exciting new twists and surprises, including exclusive experiences on board and on land, as well as a lavish new boat experience that our loyal followers won’t want to miss.”
The Victoria will debut at the Uniworld show in Amsterdam in March and will operate with the company for three years on Dutch and Belgian waterways, as well as the Rhine and Moselle. The company has chartered a second ship from Riverside, the former Crystal Mahler, now SS Elisabeth, which will begin sailing in 2025.
