| Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection’s newest masterpiece, the exquisite S.S. Maria Theresa, was christened today by her Godmother, Princess Anita von Hohenberg , during an elegant ceremony in Amsterdam. Princess Anita, a direct descendent of Maria Theresa, was joined by Guy Young, President and CEO of Uniworld; the Tollman family, who have owned and operated Uniworld for more than 10 years; and approximately 120 guests.Uniworld’s most spectacular, unique ship to date, the S.S. Maria Theresa is fashioned in the spirit of her great namesake and will cruise the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers through the heart of Maria Theresa’s vast empire. Her inaugural voyage will depart March 28, with guests experiencing the best of Belgium and the Netherlands on an exclusive nine-day “Tulips & Windmills” itinerary.Guy Young, President and CEO of Uniworld, began the proceedings by introducing Beatrice Tollman, President and Founder of Uniworld’s sister company The Red Carnation Hotel Collection. Tollman also leads Uniworld’s design team and provides input to the cruise line’s superb food and service standards across all its boutique ships.“Launching this ship has been one of the delights of my life,” said Tollman. “I hope everyone here today, and each and every guest to come, will be touched by the incredible beauty, attention to detail and personal service they will experience on board. Creating wonderful memories for our guests is absolutely at the heart of everything we do.”
Young also introduced the ship’s Godmother to the crowd.
“It is my great pleasure to welcome Princess Anita von Hohenberg as Godmother of the S.S. Maria Theresa,” said Young. “As a direct descendant of the ship’s namesake, and as Managing Director and owner of Artstetten Castle, where she has been welcoming Uniworld guests for many years, she is the perfect fit to christen our new masterpiece.”
“I’d like to thank the Tollman family for your generosity in extending this honor and responsibility to me,” said Princess Anita, “and for your ideas and entrepreneurship in creating this beautiful tribute to Maria Theresa, who left such a strong legacy across Europe. This new magnificent vessel, with her Captain, staff and family, is in the very best hands. It is truly a floating castle.”
(L-R) Champagne toast with Captain Tom Buining, Princess Anita von Hohenberg,
Beatrice Tollman, and Captain Richard Martin
The S.S. Maria Theresa’s décor is inspired by the Baroque period over which the Archduchess of Austria presided, and guests can expect an onboard atmosphere seamlessly integrated with the history and architecture of the places they will visit onshore. Stunning antique mirrors throughout, royal crown detailing with real gold leaf, and custom furniture pieces have been painstakingly collected and built by a team of skilled artisans from around the world.
In addition to “Tulips & Windmills,” the S.S. Maria Theresa will also serve the line’s popular “European Jewels,” “Danube Holiday Markets,” “Enchanting Christmas & New Year’s Cruise,” “ European Holiday Markets,” and “ Grand Christmas & New Year’s Cruise” itineraries.
For more details, please visit uniworld.com. Join Uniworld’s social media community at facebook.com/uniworldrivercruises or twitter.com/uniworldcruises using the hashtag #ExploreUniworld.About Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection—the world’s only authentic boutique cruise line™—features luxurious ships with an average capacity of 130 guests, exclusive excursions, gourmet cuisine, and the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry. Based in Los Angeles, California, Uniworld offers truly all-inclusive itineraries in Europe, as well as voyages in Russia, China, Vietnam and Cambodia, India, and Egypt—a total of 22 rivers in 29 countries worldwide. Uniworld is a member of CLIA and is highly regarded by discerning travelers, media, and cruise industry experts:
- Listed among the “World’s Best River Cruises” by Travel + Leisure, and recognized for “World’s Best Service” in the River Cruise category
- Seven ships listed among Travel + Leisure’s “Top 20 River Ships,” with River Countess rated highest of all cruise ships (river & ocean)
- Included on Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List for seven years (2008 – 2014)
- Top 3 ranking on Condé Nast Traveler’s “Top Ten Cruise Lines” (river & ocean)
- Top 4 ranking on Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for “Top Cruise Lines” (2014)
- Named “Best Luxury River Cruise Line” by Cruise International (2012 – 2014)
- Named “Best Culinary Cruise Line” by readers of SAVEUR (2014)
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TreadRight’s past project partners include WWF, Conservation International and The National Trust in the UK. Current initiatives include sponsoring the National Geographic Society’s inaugural “World Legacy Awards,” helping to combat wildlife crime with WildAid, and empowering individuals with the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise.
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