​Uniworld is expanding beyond the river by adding rail-only tours and some cruise and rail tours for 2021 and 2022. Uniworld president and CEO Ellen Bettridge said that the brand is hoping to bring its river experiences to guests for the “best travel opportunities to fully immerse themselves in remarkable experiences.” "Uniworld is excited to be expanding into a new style of travel while continuing to offer the same unforgettable experiences that are exclusive to Uniworld."

2020 has caused all cruise and tour operators to pivot their marketing to stay in front of their customers.  AmaWaterways has recreated their popular Sip & Sail Cocktail Hour held onboard each evening before dinner into a virtual experience. Included here are just a few that have been held this year featuring the many culinary delights along the rivers.

Celebration of Food and Wine Along the Danube and Rhine Rivers
Presenters: Co-Founder & Executive Vice President Kristin Karst and Award-Winning TV Host & Chef Joanne Weir
An exciting Sip & Sail celebration with Chef Joanne Weir, the award-winning television host of PBS’s Plates & Places, that takes you on a culinary journey along the Danube and Rhine rivers to some of Joanne and our Co-Founder Kristin Karst’s favorite destinations. For the first time ever during one of our virtual events, you will be treated to a live cooking demonstration, along with access to Joanne’s exclusive recipes so you can replicate some of the traditional food and drinks from the Danube and Rhine regions at home.

From wedding anniversaries, birthdays, and graduations, to promotions, retirements, and just making it through all the unexpected challenges this year – the list of milestones and accomplishments waiting to be celebrated is nearly endless. And what better way for you to commemorate a job well done than by getting out and exploring the world! Celebration travel with families and friends reuniting to honor the delayed landmark achievements is being booked in record numbers.  A river cruise is the perfect setting for long-lasting memories. New ships for 2021 offer travelers a wide range of options for their "travel pods."

AmaWaterways
Sister ships with fewer than 156 guests: AmaLucia and AmaSiena on the Danube, Rhine, Main, and Moselle rivers.

​As a result of the wildly popular DNA test kits, more and more of our clients are looking for the best way to discover their roots. It's commonly known as "genealogy travel," "ancestry travel," or "family tree travel." Once ancestral heritage has been determined, it's exciting to visit the sites where previous generations lived, the culture they lived in, and the air they breathed. It's eye-opening to experience meals that may seem familiar because of the way they are prepared and served and realize the connection to family heritage. And, the heritage travel trend is simplified on a river cruise.

​Balancing work and family life at the same time (and at home!) is never easy, and it’s especially difficult right now. From the kids interrupting your morning Zoom meetings to making sure everyone in your household is washing their hands like crazy, we could all use a vacation. Until that time comes, we thought you could use a little break from all the drama unfolding at home to start considering where you might go on your next vacation. Yep, that’s right – and we’re serious about it.

​Ocean cruises became wildly popular with the television series The Love Boat beginning in 1977, and for good reason. They’re affordable, hassle-free and offer travelers peace of mind knowing that everything they need for a marvelous vacation is all in one place. Is there anything better than that? Well, yes, a river cruise takes you one step further.
 
You might think that the words “inland” and “cruise” are contradictory. Well, let me show you 5 ways they go together. River cruises combine all the ease and convenience of an ocean cruise with the thrill of European sightseeing in each port of call.
 
To all cruise-lovers, perhaps it’s time to shake up the ocean liner experience for an entirely new way to explore the world’s waterways. Let us book you on an river cruise that will take you inland for a unique and relaxing tour of Europe.
 
Here are the top 5 reasons we know why you’ll love river cruising!

In 2020, the first question asked by our clients is no longer, "Which river should I sail on?" but, "How safe is it to take a river cruise?" While stringent safety and sanitation protocols have always been in place, enhanced procedures have been established to ensure the health and wellbeing of the guests throughout their cruise.
New embarkation procedures offer guests a safe start to their vacation including:

• Social distancing throughout embarkation
• Health screening such as a touch-free temperature-check

• Luggage disinfection prior to boarding

With travel temporarily on pause, we are all searching for ways to fill that void. While we still can’t be on a river cruise to explore the world  in person, we can do the next best thing-virtually. After a full day of sightseeing, many passengers head to the lounge for a relaxing Happy Hour before dinner.

So while we are all at home, there’s no reason you can’t indulge your thirst for river cruising by hosting a virtual "Sip 'n' Sail Hour."  All you need to do is invite your family, neighbors, and friends to a Zoom, Facebook Live, or other sharing platform to a designated time.
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Here are some featured cocktail recipes from river cruise lines. Just assemble the ingredients and imagine you are onboard sipping one of these signature cocktails with fellow passengers.

​AmaWaterways Peach Mojitos  

INGREDIENTS
· Crushed Ice
· Fresh Mint leaves
· ½ oz Rum
· 1 ½ oz Peach Liquor
· Lime (cut into quarters)
· Sugar to taste (optional)
​
1. In a tall, sturdy drink glass, combine lime, sugar, and mint leaves.
2. Muddle together the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. Be sure your muddle is taller than your glass!
3. Once muddled, add crushed ice
4. Top with rum and peach liqueur
5. Stir and sip to taste.

​Let me introduce myself:  As Vice President of the Cruise Center, as well as being Scooter's husband, I've been very, VERY far in the background of the day to day operations of running our travel business.  Mostly, my job is to carry the bags when we go on trips.  I'm in an enviable position - receiving the benefits of my professional status in the travel industry, including professional credentials and all the travel perks that come with that, while at the same time avoiding the challenges of day-to-day operations that occupy Scooter's time and attention.  The benefits over the years have filled my memory bank to overflowing of so many trips with family and friends to destinations all over the world on sea, land, and rivers.  

​Many of you have been asking about your upcoming travel plans. I want to assist you with your questions, but first, a few words about more important matters.
 
We find ourselves in interesting times, where much of the normal functioning of our daily lives seems out of order. However, there are also a great many certainties. While we are all engaged in our various pursuits to earn a living and raise our families, we are also neighbors and friends. We want to say we are here for you. Things will at some point return to normal, we will get on with the routine we sometimes complain about but for which we are now a little nostalgic. Until then, know beyond being your “travel agent,” we are neighbors, friends and family. From questions regarding current travel advisories and restrictions to rescheduling of upcoming trips and much more, your safety is always our top priority. As we move through the next few weeks, be strong and maintain your conviction in those things that have always sustained you, whether that be your faith, your family, your pets, or your own sense of integrity. We will all get through this together.