Is This The Most Exciting Cruise Partnership Ever?

Have you ever come across an idea so brilliant, so revolutionary, you can’t help but think, “why hasn’t anyone ever done this before?”

That’s how we felt when Uniworld and Seabourn announced their trailblazing partnership last year, offering a once-in-a-lifetime two-part cruise that begins with a journey along the iconic waterways of Venice before setting sail along the breathtaking Adriatic Coast. The move was made in response to some feedback carried by Uniworld, which revealed that 85% of their customers have also sailed with Seabourn.

Chris Townson, MD for Uniworld Boutique River Cruises commented, “Our research has told us that there is a lot of crossover between Uniworld and Seabourn guests, so it makes absolute sense for us to deliver a package that offers the best of both worlds. Now they can enjoy the exceptional service, beautifully intimate ships and enriching travel experiences that both brands offer in one seamless trip’.

In total, the voyages spans 15 days, with guests spending a week aboard Uniworld’s opulent S.S. La Venezia, sailing around the Venetian Lagoon, with stops at the islands of Burrano, Torcello and Mazzorbo, famous for their traditional glass and lace making. During this week, guests will enjoy exclusive experiences, including an after-hours visit to St Mark’s Basilica and a private wine tasting as Dominico di Baglio, one of Europe’s oldest wine estate. From there, travellers will take a coach transfer to Seabourn Quest, ready for their Adriatic Coast adventure, which includes stops at Vodice, Nafplion and the fortress city of Kotor. Guests who want to keep the adventure going can also add an optional three-day extension in Slovenia, staying at the Intercontinental Hotel and visiting the famous Postojna Caves and Lake Bled.

Lynn Narraway, VP, UK and EMEA of Seabourn said ‘It’s a real pleasure to be partnering with our friends at Uniworld, a brand whose values, service and product are so aligned to our own. This is such a fantastic proposition for travel partners and their clients. We’re offering the finest river and ocean cruising available in one trip’.

The 2026 itineraries were so popular in fact, that have been so popular, in fact that Uniworld and Seabourn have extended their partnership into 2027, with a couple of new sailings available to book. 2027’s offering is somewhat elevated, offering the same unique blend of ocean and river travel, but sailing aboard the slightly larger Seabourn Ovation for the ocean segment of the trip, which boasts 300 suites compared with Quest’s 225.

“We’ve upgraded the packages,” said Uniworld UK and Europe Managing Director, Chris Townson, when announcing the new itineraries adding, “It’s fantastic that we can go out to the trade again and relaunch for 2027”. 

The first 2027 package, ‘The Adriatic and the Venetian Lagoon’, will kick off with eight nights on Seabourn Ovation from Athens to Fusina (Venice) sailing the Greece, Italy, Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia itinerary, before travellers are transported to Uniworld’s La Venezia for seven nights’ all-inclusive voyage in Venice and the surrounding islands.  

The second itinerary resembles those of 2026 more closely, beginning with Uniworld jaunt around the Venetian Lagoon before travellers hop aboard Ovation, setting sail from Fusina and stopping at Malta, Croatia, the Aeolian Islands, Sorrento and Civitavecchia on the journey.

We couldn’t be more excited about this innovative partnership and so, just one question remains: what will they do next?