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This floating social club is blowing the cobwebs off the river cruising industry

Cruising is about convenience – the perfect way to drop your bags once, yet see several destinations – but it is also about the quality of your new floating home.

Cruising is about convenience – the perfect way to drop your bags once, yet see several destinations – but it is also about the quality of your new floating home.

U by Uniworld is disrupting the traditionally staid world of river cruising with its sleek ships aiming to act as transport, yoga studio, social club and even nightclub when the mood takes you.

This is the product that will convert a younger audience to river cruising and the company is running a competition for agents that can see them win a U by Uniworld cruise for two and experience the product for themselves. The top 5 selling agencies will each win one cruise for two people, and they have until March 31. To be in the running join the U Squad – the company’s network of agents – by January 31 and get people excited about river cruising reinvented.

Here are four ways that U by Uniworld is shaking things up:

 

1. Killer design

Image: U by Uniworld

Image: U by Uniworld

Say goodbye to brass and polished wood, the age-old hallmarks of “ye classy olde boat”, the fleet at U by Uniworld looks like a mobile boutique hotel with simple design, bold colours and flashes of neon. The rooftop lounge has a glass enclosure for bad weather that disappears into the floor to create and al fresco hangout for clinking glasses of rose as the sun sets – or taking yoga classes at sunrise.

In your room, you will find modern furnishings, smart use of natural light and every cabin has a water view. You can also stay connected with a host of USB ports for gadget charging or chill out with some tunes on your built-in Bluetooth speakers. This is not your parents’ cruise ship.

 

2. Keeping it social

Image: U by Uniworld

Image: U by Uniworld

The U by Uniworld ships – named simply The A and The B – aim to be part-boat, part-social club with lots of breakout spaces to meet up with like-minded river cruisers. To encourage this there are a range of nocturnal activities on board to get people to mix it up, from cocktail-making classes to silent discos as well as inviting local DJs on board the ship to play you what they consider to be the soundtrack to their city.

There is also the gym, welcome parties and onboard activities like Paint and Wine sessions.

 

3. It’s all about the food

Image: U by Uniworld

Image: U by Uniworld

Eating the local food is one of the best things about travel and U by Uniworld makes sure its onboard meals are inspired by your surroundings. The team will also organise local excursions so you can sample the best local food including a Dutch cheese tasting, a “Beer and Meat” walk that takes in two of Bavaria’s favourite food groups – or visit Budapest’s covered market with the ship’s chef.

 

4. Original, offbeat itineraries

Image: U by Uniworld

Image: U by Uniworld

Under the banner of U Time, U by Uniworld offers adventurous, truly original takes on the shore excursion aimed at the group’s 21-45 year old market.

Take a ranger-led hike deep into the Bavarian forest, do the House of Horror tour in Hungary that takes an unblinking look at the country’s fascist history or paraglide your way over France’s Vexin Natural Park. You can even get special access to wander the Parisian rooftops that have inspired artists and writers for centuries.

With each trip you can stay late, or you can sleep in, itineraries revolve around you – or you can skip them altogether and have the day to yourself.

So do you have some clients that would love this modern take on river cruising? Just sign up for the U Squad for your chance to win one of five U by Uniworld cruises. The top five selling agencies by March 31 will win one cruise for two people each.

READ: Why U by Uniworld is a total game changer for millenials who love to travel

Would you like to win a U by Uniworld cruise?

Written by Paul Chai, KarryOn contributor