Introducing Uniworld's New Ship, S.S. Emilie
With a host of brand-new vessels, itineraries and experiences unveiled this year, it seems that everything’s coming up roses for luxury cruise line Uniworld. As reservations open for the inaugural voyage of new ship S.S. Emilie, travellers curious about this cruise line’s stellar reputation now have the opportunity to experience ‘The Uniworld Difference’ for themselves.
Accommodating up to 157 guests across 77 staterooms, and with a guest-to passenger ratio of 1:2.4, S.S. Emilie has been designed in the vein of Uniworld’s existing ships—that is to say, completely unique. Each Uniworld vessel is a one-of-a-kind, destination-inspired floating hotel, complete with locally inspired artwork and furnishings.
Aboard S.S. Emilie, passengers can expect the line’s trademark artistic flair courtesy of Liane van Leeuwen, who is best known for her design work with renowned jewellery and high-fashion boutiques. The jewel tones and elegant gold accents of the ship’s interior have been directly inspired by famous Austrian symbolist artist, Gustav Klimt, with particular focus on evoking his work during the Vienna Secession movement. Indeed, the ship itself is named after his long-term partner and model, Emilie Flöge, the inspiration behind his iconic painting, ‘The Kiss’. Klimt’s bold use of colour and elements of fairytale and fantasy have made him a legendary figure in the Art Nouveau sphere, and the perfect muse for a stylishly sophisticated river cruise ship.
Announcing the launch of S.S. Emilie, Uniworld’s President and CEO, Ellen Bettridge, said, “Our commitment to excellence is unwavering, and this outstanding new vessel reaffirms our dedication to providing the best and most luxurious ships on the rivers. We believe in delivering the highest level of quality to our guests, and our portfolio truly embodies the best of the best in the market”.
S.S. Emilie will make her debut with a Tulips and Windmills voyage hosted by Ellen Bettridge, departing from Amsterdam in March 2026, and cruising through the Netherlands and Belgium. Guests can expect exclusive tours of historic towns and villages, guided gallery visits, and of course, vibrant springtime blooms as far as the eye can see.
Oenophiles will be pleased to hear that S.S. Emilie marks the continuation of Uniworld’s popular wine-focused cruises, with a Danube vineyard tour scheduled for later in the year, whilst keen bucket-listers may be interested in the ship’s 17-day Belgrade to Prague itinerary, which takes guests on an unforgettable journey through six extraordinary nations. As if that wasn’t enough, there are a selection of popular Christmas market cruises pencilled in for the festive season, taking guests from the gingerbread capital of Nuremberg to the frosted plazas of Vienna, stopping for a steaming mug of Frankfurt’s famous hot cider along the way.
Excitingly, the launch of S.S. Emilie will coincide with Uniworld’s landmark 50th anniversary, which they are planning to celebrate with a 50-night ‘Rivers of the World’ cruise. Taking passengers through three continents aboard five different ships, this once-in-a-lifetime voyage departs aboard S.S. Emilie from Brussels on April 16th 2026.
The addition of a new vessel means that Uniworld now boasts a fleet of 19, 14 of which are based in European waters, with the others spread across Egypt, Asia, and South America—and they’re not stopping there. S.S. Emilie marks the start of a new era of cruising for Uniworld, with three new ‘Super Ships’ set to join the fleet in 2027, as part of their quest to have the most luxurious, expansive fleet in the river cruising industry.
“Our focus has never been on simply adding more ships, but on continually raising the bar on the luxury river cruise experience,” says Ellen Bettridge. “These new vessels will embody our unwavering commitment to innovation and craftsmanship, delivering something truly unparalleled for our valued guests, where no detail is too small.”
To find out more about Uniworld click here or give our team a call on 0161 516 7101.
