DEPARTURE LOUNGE // SUMMER 2018
© SHUTTERSTOCK
Cruise news
Uniworld ’ s The B .
Uniworld unveils hipster plan – Uniworld has unveiled its plans A and B to entice millenials to start river cruising . The A ( formerly Uniworld ’ s River Ambassador ) and The B ( formerly Uniworld ’ s River
Baroness ) are the cruising line ’ s 120-passenger ships that have been fully revamped to sail under U by Uniworld , a new brand aimed at the young , tech-savvy market . Both ships ’ new interiors are understated chic , but The B is the real standout : it ’ s the only ship sailing the Seine to have an all-matte black exterior . The hipsteresque experience will continue onboard with
farm-to-table cuisine , rooftop yoga sessions and excursions such as treasure hunts through the Louvre museum . “ The inspiration behind U by Uniworld is to be young and energetic . We wanted it to be cool and hip , something that would make people between the ages of 21 and 45 want to go river cruising ,” explains Uniworld CEO Ellen Bettridge . Bookings are open for U by Uniworld ’ s first season , which begins in April 2018 . There are also plans to launch the brand in Asia with a new ship on the Mekong River . Ask your Sure Travel consultant for details .
Sneak peek inside the world ’ s biggest ship – A mammoth family suite with a slide that lets children slip from their bedroom to the living room , a floor-to-ceiling LEGO climbing wall and a private 3D cinema are just a few of the jaw-dropping features you can expect onboard the world ’ s biggest cruise ship . Royal Caribbean ’ s Symphony of the Seas will knock the line ’ s Harmony of the Seas out of the “ world ’ s biggest ” spot when it debuts in April 2018 . It will carry 5 500 passengers versus Harmony ’ s 5 479 . Other bigger-is-better features include a 10-storey waterslide ( the tallest at sea ), a sports bar with 30 large-screen televisions and a Bionic Bar , where drinks are served by a robotic arm .
NEW DESIGN FOR A NEW MARKET The British interior designer behind Celebrity Cruises ’ newest ship aims to attract young luxury travellers to cruising with “ cool and edgy ” design . The Celebrity Edge will start sailing from Europe in May 2019 and boasts a few world firsts , like “ infinite verandas ” that allow guests to merge their balcony and living room at the touch of of a button , expanding the space all the way to the water ’ s edge . “ We ’ re hoping the cool and edgy feel of Celebrity Edge will appeal to a younger demographic . Our goal was to attract people who had never cruised before , which includes younger people and luxury travellers who might have overlooked cruising previously . This ship will do both ,” renowned interior designer Kelly Hoppen told Telegraph Travel . Designed by British architect Tom Wright , who designed Dubai ’ s famous dhow-sail-shaped Burj al-Arab hotel , Celebrity Edge promises a few groundbreaking architectural features too . One that ’ s already been revealed is a 7,000-square-foot restaurant spanning three decks that ’ s said to boast more outward-facing glass than any other room at sea . Watch this space .
08 12 // MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE