Uniworld has launched its 2021 preview collection with early booking offers.

The river cruise line has said that the preview collection is coming to market earlier than previous years due to “a recent upturn in search, bookings and brochure requests as travellers look to plan their 2021 river cruise”.

The luxury river cruise line reported a surge in website traffic and bookings following repeat screenings of its cruises on the Danube and the Ganges on Channel 5’s Cruising with Jane McDonald, with a spike in daily website sessions of nearly 2,000 per cent on the day of the Danube episode.

The last three weeks have also seen triple-digit growth on searches for Portugal, Italy and France cruises for 2021 travel, according to Uniworld.

Commenting on the launch, Uniworld UK managing director Chris Townson said:

“We are seeing the green shoots of optimism for a bounce back in 2021, as clients new and old look forward to the travels that 2021 will bring them.

We anticipate that despite the challenges of 2020, there will be opportunity for both the luxury and the river cruise sectors, as people looking to cruise go for an option that allows them to stay close to the shore.

“We also hope that with the enhanced health and hygiene protocols that we have already announced, customers will be able to book in the confidence that every touch point will be managed with intention, respect and utmost care.

“We have put some great pricing out in the market place to encourage people to book early – with pent up demand from 2020 and the re-bookings we have made from the suspensions this year, we imagine capacity will be tight so encourage agents to book early for their clients to avoid disappointment.”

All bookings for European river cruises made before 31 July 2020 will receive a 10 per cent early booking discount, while all bookings made on Uniworld’s Exotics programme – India, China, Mekong and Egypt – will receive a complimentary one-way business class flight upgrade in addition to the 10 per cent discount.

Example itineraries include:

An eight-day Venice and the Gems of Northern Italy cruise aboard the new S.S. La Venezia costs from £2,069 (down from £2,299) per person, including return flights and airport transfers.

The eight-day Brilliant Bordeaux itinerary aboard the S.S. Bon Voyage costs from £2,249 (down from £2,499) per person including return flights (or Eurostar and train journey from London St Pancras to Bordeaux via Paris) and airport transfers.

Uniworld’s 13-day Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia and the Mekong cruise aboard the new Mekong Jewel costs from £4,499 (down from £4,999) per person including return flights, with a one-way complimentary business class upgrade.

The preview collection features sailings on Uniworld’s four new Super Ships for 2020, including the S.S. Sao Gabriel on the Douro in Portugal, the S.S. Sphinx on the Nile in Egypt, the S.S. La Venezia on the Venice Lagoon and River Po in Italy and the Mekong Jewel on the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Visit uniworld.com for more information.