FIRST LOOK: Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has released the first photos of its newest Super Ship, the S.S. Sphinx, on the Nile river in Egypt. Local artisans were sourced for the interior design to embody true Egyptian creativity and craftsmanship throughout.
Launched in late September, the 42-suite S.S. Sphinx offers two gourmet dining venues including a private dining room and an al fresco dining experience on the upper deck, along with a swimming pool and massage room.
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Menus onboard S.S. Sphinx reflect the destination guests sail through, with options including Egyptian beef liver, veel “fatteh”, sweet corn soup, mulukhiya Egyptian bread, hawawshi, and more. Guests can also pair their meals onboard with locally sourced Egyptian wines including Omar Khayyam and Shahrazade. Continuing the company’s commitment to sustainability, locally sourced Egyptian artwork, fabrics and hand-carved furnishings were used to bring the beauty of the region to life onboard.
Ellen Bettridge, CEO and President of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, said: “As Egypt continues to be a top trending travel destination, we’re overjoyed to set sail along the famed Nile River and provide an unmatched look at the destination aboard our striking new Super Ship, the S.S. Sphinx.
“We’re excited for our guests to experience the ship as it fully embodies what they love most when sailing with us, exquisite design and experiences they won’t find anywhere else.”
“Over the past few years, our team poured their heart into sourcing the design aspects, spending weeks at a time searching the souks and Baazars to connect with local artisans and family-owned furniture businesses to collaborate and bring the true spirit of Egypt to life onboard.
“Everything from the artwork to the ceilings to the ship’s bow was thought out and sourced by the local community.”
An example is the ship’s ceilings which were hand-carved in locally sourced blonde wood; carpets are inspired by Egyptian geometric shapes of the magnificent Pyramids; banquettes were handcrafted and upholstered in fabric sourced from a local fabric company; and the top deck is filled with blue-toned furniture with tented drapes to shade from the sun inspired by the ancient Egyptian Barges.
This floating boutique hotel features the signature touches the company’s ships are known for – more suites, more dining areas with space for social distancing, and more luxurious finishes, while maintaining their high crew to guest ratio. Additionally, all staterooms and suites onboard have French balconies.
The ship operates the Splendors of Egypt & The Nile itinerary, a 12-day sailing to experience Egypt and the Nile’s top sites starting and ending in Cairo. Rates start at AU$5,999 per person.
See uniworld.com/au
Lead image: Royal Suite, Super Ship Sphinx