Delray Beach, FL, March 24, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Uniworld Boutique River Cruises newest ship on Portugal's Douro River, Queen Isabel, was christened by Hollywood actress, L'Oreal spokes model, and philanthropist, Andie MacDowell, in Porto, Portugal on March 22, 2013. On hand for the inauguration ceremony were a number of celebrities, including singer Michael Bolton, performing at the event, and European and local dignitaries. Uniworld's Senior Vice President of Strategic Development, Wesley Bosnic, and Uniworld's Managing Director of Operations, Christine Sustreanu, attended the ceremony and a star-packed black-tie event.
The event was organized by Douro Azul, Uniworld's long-term partner in Portugal. This long standing relationship with Douro Azul and Uniworld's excellent reputation in the region has allowed Uniworld to always have the best and newest ships sailing on the Douro, and the new Queen Isabel continues this tradition of excellence and leadership.
Against the backdrop of lights from Porto's skyline,
Mario Ferreira, CEO of Douro Azul, opened the
ceremony in front of over 300 invited guests welcoming them to
Portugal for the christening of two of their new ships. Mr.
Ferreira proudly spoke about the UNESCO World Heritage Douro River
Valley, a beautiful but largely undiscovered region of Portugal,
and the twentieth anniversary of Douro Azul. He continued speaking
about the region and how tourism has developed over the two
decades, and how river cruising has contributed to its
growth.
The inaugural celebration continued with a blessing of the
ships, before Andie MacDowell was introduced as the Godmother to
the new
Queen Isabel. Carrying on the tradition of the
customary smashing of a Champagne bottle, Ms. MacDowell
christened the Queen Isabel. Speaking to the
guests, Ms. MacDowell shared how she loved Portugal and was deeply
honored to christen the Queen Isabel, and then she cut the
ribbon.
Legendary musician and recording star, Michael Bolton, entertained the audience with a number of his award-winning hits. As the inaugural ceremony concluded, guests were treated to a barrage of fireworks filling Porto's sky. The evening celebrations continued into the late night with a formal dinner of traditional Portuguese cuisine and its world-renowned Port wine--the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. After dinner, guests were treated to orchestral music before they danced the night away at an after dinner party. Uniworld's Wesley Bosnic stated, "The event was truly magical. Douro Azul made this a memorable celebration in every way and everyone who attended had a wonderful time."
Uniworld's Queen Isabel, begins her maiden voyage on March 28, 2013 with a sold-out ship. She will have a 118 passenger capacity, which allows Uniworld to offer 18 junior suites at 215 sq. ft. and two bigger suites at 323 sq. ft. on the top deck that feature full balconies, and staterooms on the mid-deck that feature French balconies. Staterooms and suites are luxuriously appointed with modern comforts and conveniences, such as a flat-screen television with infotainment center and Internet, and marble bathrooms stocked with robes, slippers, and L'Occitane bath and body products. Public areas include a lounge with full-service bar, along with an outside bar; restaurant with an outside al fresco dining area; sun deck with heated swimming pool; and fitness and spa area. In both the lounge and restaurant, panoramic windows provide guests with views of the ever-changing scenery of the Douro's vineyard-clad hills and pristine landscapes.
Throughout the ship, and in the suites and staterooms, different
hues of blue, cream, and gold are used along with a variety of
shades of Toile fabric adorning the walls. The rich and regal
furnishings create a classic, timeless, and elegant ambiance, which
is befitting since the ship was named after one of Portugal's most
beloved queens from the late 13th - 14th century. Additionally, the
Queen Isabel has a helicopter pad and has been
designed with photovoltaic solar panels on the sun deck to
sustainably generate energy for the ship's operating systems, which
complements Uniworld's business philosophy on sustainable tourism
and travel practices. "I am confident that the Queen
Isabel is the most beautiful and luxurious ship on the Douro
River, and it will provide the perfect retreat for our guests as
they travel through this magnificent country along the breathtaking
UNESCO Douro River," states Bosnic.
Guests traveling on Uniworld's popular
10-night Portugal, Spain, and the Douro River
itinerary will be treated to a host of inclusions and
exclusives only available to Uniworld guests including: beautiful
riverview staterooms; all meals onboard with complimentary fine
wine, beer, and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner; 24-hour
complimentary coffee and tea; 11 excursions, with 2 "Choice Is
Yours" options, fully hosted by English-speaking local experts; 5
UNESCO World Heritage Sites; and all transfers on arrival and
departure days.
About Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Los Angeles-based Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the world's only authentic boutique cruise line™, is recognized among the "World's Best River Cruises" by Travel + Leisure. Uniworld has been named to Condé Nast Traveler's prestigious Gold List for six consecutive years and to their Platinum Circle for two years. Uniworld was also ranked in their top three among the world's "Top Ten" cruise lines, both ocean and river. Uniworld's staterooms and dining are also ranked among the top three in the world by Zagat Survey®, with Uniworld being the only river cruise line named in the Zagat Survey® amongst the best of the best in the cruise industry, and the editors of Cruise Critic named Uniworld "Best River Cruise Line." Uniworld features luxurious boutique ships with an average capacity of 130 guests, as well as included shore excursions, world-class gourmet cuisine, and award-winning hospitality. Uniworld offers over 500 departures sailing on over 13 rivers in more than 20 countries throughout Europe, Russia, Egypt, China, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
For more details, please visit uniworld.com or connect with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises at facebook.com/uniworldrivercruises or twitter.com/UniworldCruises.
Uniworld is a member of CLIA, Cruise
Lines International Association
About TreadRight
TreadRight is a not-for-profit foundation established by The Travel Corporation to encourage sustainable tourism within our own family of brands, and in the places we visit. To date, TreadRight has donated more than USD $1.5 million to sustainable tourism projects worldwide, and encourages industry best practices by annually supporting the World Travel & Tourism Council's Tourism for Tomorrow awards. To learn more about the many projects TreadRight is funding please visit us at treadright.org.