Uniworld River Cruises is turning 50 in 2026. And to celebrate the occasion, it’s launching a new ship. But the S.S. Emilie, set to sail on its maiden voyage in late February, isn’t just any vessel. For one, it’s the first ship to be launched under the leadership of Uniworld President and CEO Ellen Bettridge.
“It’s my first Uniworld baby,” Bettridge tells Karryon at a celebration in Sydney marking the brand’s 50th.
More importantly, it’s an innovative ship for the cruise line.
According to Ellen, the company has taken “all the best bits” of its previous boats and put them into S.S. Emilie.
Bettridge says that with this ship, they wanted something more elegant than extravagant. An understated beauty.
And what else would you expect from a ship bearing the name of Emilie Flöge, muse of Austrian painter Gustav Klimt, who was responsible for some of the early 20th century’s most memorable works (you’d know The Kiss). So guests can expect plenty of Art Nouveau elements, including lots of gold (Klimt’s most recognisable hue). Spoiler alert: there may even be a floor-to-ceiling Portrait of Emilie Flöge on board.
In essence, the Uniworld boss told designers she wanted a “Four Seasons meets Uniworld” vibe for the 154-passenger super ship, which will sail the Danube on eight itineraries. If Four Seasons’ reputation is anything to go by, expect big things, literally – like an innovative two-bedroom suite option and one-of-a-kind restaurant.
But the debut of S.S. Emilie is just one way Uniworld is marking its 50th. The river cruise line has already launched a special 50th anniversary sale and promises lots of onboard parties. Additionally, the brand will introduce two new Mystery Cruises – including a 50-night Rivers of the World sailing – and more family departures.
If that’s not enough, four new ships and six itineraries are set to launch in 2027, including the company’s Singapore and Indonesia debut.
“We are seeing an increase in capacity, of 17% going from 2026 to 2027 – that’s not small. And then there will be another big increase from 27 to 28,” she says.
Then there’s Uniworld’s absorption of fellow Travel Corporation brand Luxury Gold from this year.
Aussie ambitions
Unsurprisingly, the cruise line is also firmly setting its sights on the Australian market.
Speaking at the Sydney event, Uniworld Australia and NZ Managing Director Alice Ager says Aussie customers lean into “the longer itineraries, the 14-plus night destinations”. So it’s a lucrative market.
“We don’t fly into Europe and do seven nights on a river cruise and turn around and come home. So we’ve got some really exciting long-haul, longer departures coming together,” she remarks.
That makes the Australian market ideal for the company’s push into touring, where guests can combine cruising with land for longer trips.
In Aussie booking trends, Ager says the company has been seeing “more short-term bookings”.
“So more 2026 activity at this time of the year than we would ordinarily see, which is fantastic,” she states.
“Part of that has to do with airfares stabilising a little bit… business class airfares are coming down.
“But also that we have the inventory. As we’re growing our fleet, we actually have more capacity to sell this time of year. So it’s looking really, really positive for this year ahead.”
When it comes to destinations, Ager says Egypt is “absolutely trending”.
“We’re using Egypt as a potential stopover for people who are going into Europe, pulling into the Middle East and taking a detour into Cairo, because it’s so easy to do,” she says.
Elsewhere, Uniworld is seeing India surge.
“We’re really seeing the profile of river cruising on the Ganges take off,” she says.
And to further raise Uniworld’s profile, according to Ager, the company is bringing on a local public relations agency. So watch this space. With a new PR team behind it, it’ll be hard not to.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Uniworld’s 50th isn’t nostalgia, it’s expansion. Bigger ships, longer itineraries and serious capacity growth signal confidence. For Australian travel advisors, stabilising airfares and longer-haul demand make this moment commercially compelling.
