Hasburg royal named line's third Super Ship during ceremony in Amsterdam on 28 march
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Princess Anita von Hohenberg christened Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection’s latest newbuild, S.S. Maria Theresa, during a ceremony in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on 26 March.
Hailing from one of Europe’s oldest sovereign families, Princess Anita von Hohenberg is a direct descendant of the ship’s namesake, Maria Theresa, the Archduchess of Austria, Empress of the Holy Roman Empire and the only female ruler of the Hasburg Empire.
“I’d like to thank the Tollman family for your generosity in extending this honour and responsibility to me and for your ideas and entrepreneurship in creating this beautiful tribute to Maria Theresa, who left such a strong legacy across Europe,” said Princess Anita von Hohenberg. “This new magnificent vessel, with her captain, staff and family, is in the very best hands. It is truly a floating castle.”
The Hasburg princess christened Uniworld’s third Super Ship in the presence of the Tollman family, who have owned and operated Uniworld for more than ten years, the line’s president and CEO Guy Young and around 120 guests.
“Launching this ship has been one of the delights of my life,” said Beatrice Tollman, who leads Uniworld’s design team and is also the president and founder of Uniworld’s sister company The Red Carnation Hotel Collection. “I hope everyone here today, and each and every guest to come, will be touched by the incredible beauty, attention to detail and personal service they will experience on board. Creating wonderful memories for our guests is absolutely at the heart of everything we do.”
S.S. Maria Theresa’s interior is inspired by the Baroque period over which the Archduchess of Austria presided. The ship features antique mirrors, royal crown detailing with real gold leaf and custom-made furniture that has been collected and built by a team of skilled artisans from around the world.
The ship departed on her nine-day ‘Tulips & Windmills’ inaugural voyage on 28 March, taking guests to destinations in Belgium and the Netherlands. She will sail on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers through the heart of Maria Theresa’s vast empire, offering the line’s popular ‘European Jewels’, ‘Danube Holiday Markets’, ‘Enchanting Christmas & New Year’s Cruise’, ‘European Holiday Markets’ and ‘Grand Christmas & New Year’s Cruise’ itineraries.