| Antoinette kicks-off Uniworld’s most ambitious year

The launch of Uniworld
Boutique River Cruise
Collection’s newest vessel,
SS Antoinette (CW 22 March),
has heralded the dawn of
the cruise line’s “most
ambitious year to date”,
which includes the arrival of
three new vessels
(Antoinette, River Victoria
and Douro Spirit) as well as
the rebuild/remodelling of
Uniworld’s entire fleet.
“All of these ships reflect
the authentic boutique style
that has become the hallmark of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises,” Uniworld President,
Guy Young told guests at the lavish Port of Amsterdam launch ceremony.
Young also revealed that as a “highly customised vessel”, Antoinette features impressive
green credentials including a waste-management system consisting of a food macerator
and tank, and glass-crushing and compactor machines, as well as a newly developed
noise and vibration reduction feature which includes double-resilient mounted frames for
the engine and thruster.
Antoinette’s christening ceremony was followed by an onboard champagne reception
where guests were serenaded by the 26-piece Amsterdam Brass band, whilst enjoying the
vessel’s first voyage across the Ÿssellake Lake to the historic port town, Hoorn.
Antoinette has now commenced her scheduled run of eight-day Castles along the Rhine
cruises from Basel to Amsterdam, which will she will feature until 13 November 2011.