Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is building two more river vessels to launch in spring 2014. The S.S. Alexandra, a sister ship to the 164-passenger S.S. Antoinette, will sail along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. The S.S. Catherine, fashioned after Uniworld’s recently renovated 132-passenger River Royale, will sail in France.

The two new ships will be designed by Beatrice Tollman, president and founder of Red Carnation Hotels, Uniworld’s sister company, and her daughter, Antoinette Tollman, godmother, namesake, and lead designer to S.S. Antoinette. “There is no doubt in my mind that both S.S. Alexandra and the S.S. Catherine will continue to set new luxury standards in river cruise ships in Europe,” Young said.

In 2013, Uniworld will be the only North American river cruise line to offer river cruising in Italy, along the Po River and the Venice Lagoon. The “Splendors of Italy” combines a seven-night river cruise along the Po River and the Venice Lagoon with a two-night land stay in Florence and three nights in Rome. An eight-day cruise-only option is “Venice & the Po River.”

Also in 2013, Uniworld will introduce its latest luxury build, the Queen Isabel, on the 10-night “Portugal, Spain and the Douro River” itinerary. It will replace the Douro Spirit, which Uniworld inaugurated in 2011.

Uniworld’s Queen Isabel will have a 118 passenger capacity, slightly less than the Douro Spirit, allowing for more junior suites—18 junior suites at 215 square feet and two bigger suites at 323 square feet—on the top deck with full balconies. Additionally, the Queen Isabel will have a more classic Old World style and elegance similar to Uniworld’s other ships in Europe. “While the Douro Spirit is a chic and modern ship, the Queen Isabel will have a design scheme more representative to our other ships with classic and traditional luxury,” Young said.

Uniworld also will add a second vessel to the Mekong River next year, joining the River Saigon, due to the increasing popularity of Vietnam and Cambodia. The River Orchid, which will have 30 staterooms, is built in French colonial style. “The demand for Vietnam and Cambodia has exceeded our expectations,” Young said. “We quickly sold out all of our departures in 2012, and so it made sense for us to add an additional ship along the Mekong.”

For more information, visit www.SellRiverCruises.com.