This year, Uniworld will conduct two more Mystery Cruises due to their success.

Defoes Lifestyle Travel Team

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This River Cruise Is a ‘Mystery,’ and Guests Do Not Know Their Destination Until They Arrive at the Airport

Would you ever schedule a trip without first determining where you wanted to go?

When they booked a deposit on Uniworld’s first-ever Mystery Cruise, which has just finished its 10-day itinerary, scores of visitors signed up for the opportunity to participate in this activity.

Guests had no knowledge that they would be sailing to Baden-Baden, Germany, until after they had already left their homes to go to the airport. The journey began in Basel, Switzerland, and ended in Baden-Baden, Germany. Despite the fact that the only information provided about the mysterious trip was the price, the date, and the fact that it was a Uniworld European river cruise, it was nevertheless able to be booked within a scant 48 hours after it was initially announced in April.

On the bright side, visitors were informed that they could anticipate a luxury all-inclusive experience, which included everything from the alcoholic beverages and wines served on board the ship to the butler service provided in their suites as well as airport transfers.

The only thing guests needed to worry about was packing, which, given that they had no idea where they were going, was probably easier said than done.

Uniworld provided its guests with a few very cryptic clues in the days leading up to the departure. The first piece of evidence was an unauthorised one, and it was a packing list. Following that, passengers were given three formal hints, which included words such as “a cruise suitable for royalty” and “well manicured gardens.” They were also aware that Ellen Bettridge, president and CEO of Uniworld, was hosting the sailing. This information was shared with them.

The 10-day itinerary aboard the River Queen, which sailed the Rhine and Moselle rivers in Switzerland, Germany, and France, is likely to have come as a pleasant surprise to the vast majority of guests, who were likely quite pleased with the experience.

A visit to the Jungfraujoch viewing point atop the Eiger Glacier, which is located at an elevation of 11,361 feet, was the first high-altitude excursion that visitors experienced after embarking in Basel, Switzerland, in Switzerland. The next stop on their itinerary was Strasbourg, France, followed by trips to the German villages of Germersheim, Cochem, and Eltville, as well as the city of Mainz in Germany. The excursions ranged from having dinner at Castle Ehrenburg to taking a tour of the Porsche factory in Stuttgart. When the guests returned to the River Queen each evening, they were greeted by a variety of surprise acts and festivities. These ranged from a magic show performed by Gary Keaton to a party with a James Bond–themed décor and martinis.

The itinerary then continued on land, as guests were brought to Baden-Baden, where they spent two nights exploring the city through excursions such as a backstage tour of the Festspielhaus opera house and a visit to the Caracalla Thermal Bath, as well as a farewell dinner at the glamorous old-school casino in town. The itinerary then continued on water, as guests were brought to Baden-Baden.

We have good news for those of you who are intrigued by the concept of letting someone else manage all of the travel logistics for you, including choosing the location of your vacation. As a result of the popularity of this first Mystery Cruise, Uniworld will be organising two more later on in this year: the first will set sail on September 23, and the second will set sail on October 2. Naturally, there is not a lot of information that is currently available, although the prices begin at $7,299.