If you thought river cruising was just a holding pattern for the dead, think again.
River cruising is a great way to explore a destination at a slower pace but it’s never really appealed to younger travellers, for a host of reasons, the mean age of your fellow cruisers just one of them. However, that’s changing, with one cruise line recently launching a fleet purpose-built for Millennials who want to explore Europe’s waterways in style.
U River Cruises is the first river cruise dedicated to a new generation of adult travellers, with a sexy, stylish look and feel that offers immersive experiences along the world’s most popular rivers. Itineraries focus on longer stays in the destination, allowing guests to connect with local people, experiences and each city’s vibrant nightlife.
The U fleet offers two, 120-passenger ships in matte black; The A and The B each boast two rooftop venues, a spa, resident mixologists, international DJs, communal tables for dining, and locally-inspired, farm-to-table cuisine.
Onboard accommodations include four suites, 26 balcony bedrooms, 29 studio bedrooms and two studio bedrooms with triple occupancy, all with water views, built-in Bluetooth speakers and BeeKind amenities.
The line also has some intriguing German itineraries coming up. The new tailored itineraries, Tattoo on U and U in Drag, are themed around topics that emphasize U’s ethos as a sexy, fun, never-seen-before cruise experience.
The new themed cruises will offer enhanced versions of U’s Germany’s Finest eight-day itinerary, which sails from Frankfurt to Regensburg. For U in Drag (departing July 6, 2019), the cruise company has teamed up with celebrity drag queens Jiggly Caliente, Darienne Lake and Phi Phi O’Hara, as seen on the hit TV-show RuPaul’s Drag Race, to offer guests a week they won’t forget. Along with several onboard performances throughout the sailing, the itinerary includes interactive activities co-hosted by the drag queens such as karaoke night and drag makeup lessons, as well as an exclusive bar crawl at one of the ship ports.
Alternatively, during Tattoo on U (departing August 17, 2019) guests will sail with celebrity tattoo artists Steven Tefft, winner of Season 2 of the show Ink Master; Reese Hilburn, seen on Spike TV’s hit show Tattoo Nightmares Miami; Bobby Moss; leading tattoo model Heather Moss; and tattoo expert Paul Gambino for a week dedicated to all things ink.
In addition to the opportunity to get inked by these celebrity artists throughout the cruise, the itinerary includes an onboard welcome party with the artists, a tattoo
U’s themed itineraries include open bar throughout the cruise, three daily meals, select shore excursions, complimentary Wi-Fi, onboard local U hosts, and other popular activities such as mixology classes, silent discos, a local DJ, paint & wine classes, and rooftop yoga. Rates for the themed cruises start at US$3,199 per person.
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