Uniworld S.S. Antoinette - River Ship Tour

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises launched its newest river ship, the Super Ship (S.S.) Antoinette in March 2011. At the time of its debut, the new ship had the most luxurious decor and innovative features of any river ship afloat. These features include a swimming pool and a second restaurant and bar on the top deck that retract into the ship.

The S.S. Antoinette is named for Antoinette (Toni) Tollman, daughter of the owners of the Travel Corporation, which is the parent company of Uniworld. Ms. Tollman designed the ship with an 18th century France framework, and her inspiration was Marie Antoinette and the Palace of Versailles. The Tollmans had purchased a chandelier from the Tavern on the Green Restaurant in New York City, and the rest of the ship was designed around this spectacular piece.

Uniworld S.S. Antoinette Is Christened in Amsterdam

The Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection's newest ship, the S.S. Antoinette, was christened March 18 in Amsterdam on a gorgeous sunny morning.

Chandelier in lobby of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection ship the S.S. Antoinette

The new ship was welcomed to the Uniworld family by members of the Tollman family (the owners of Uniworld and the Travel Corporation), company executives, Uniworld travel partners from around the world, shipyard executives, and the media.

Mr. Guy Young, President of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, began the christening program by thanking all of the special guests and Uniworld and shipyard employees who had worked so hard towards bringing the ship into service.

Mr. Young briefly discussed how the Travel Corporation first entered the river cruise business with their 2004 acquisition of Uniworld. Over the past several years, the ships have been refurbished to meet the standards expected by the Travel Corporation customers in their luxury boutique hotels, including many personal touches of Mrs. Beatrice Tollman, the founder and President of the company. This year Uniworld has acquired three new ships and is refurbishing three others.

Mr. Young then introduced Ms. Toni Tollman, the principal designer and godmother of the S.S. Antoinette. Ms. Tollman has closely worked on the decor and design of many of the Travel Corporation hotels, and now she is adding her expertise to the river vessels. Ms. Tollman thanked her parents for their confidence in her designs, and said she likes to think of Uniworld's ships as luxury boutique "boatels". Their goal is to give guests a 5-star experience, which means giving them everything they want through knowledge and endless effort.

The concept for the interior design and decor of the S.S. Antoinette started with a 2.5-meter tall chandelier that Stanley and Beatrice Tollman purchased from the famous Tavern on the Green Restaurant in New York City's Central Park. The Tollmans had dined many times under that chandelier, and when the restaurant closed, they purchased it for sentimental reasons, planning to use it somewhere in their company. Their daughter Toni appropriated it for the centerpiece of the new river ship, the S.S. Antoinette, and the spectacular chandelier now hangs in its 2-deck lobby. The ornate chandelier and the name of the ship led to its 18th century French decor. Although the ship is named for Antoinette Tollman (Toni), it also carries the name of a more famous Antoinette--Queen Marie Antoinette of France.