A sailing aboard Uniworld’s SS Emilie, immersed in the golden glow of Gustav Klimt’s timeless art.
BOARD UNIWORLD’S NEWEST LUXURY SUPER SHIP, the SS Emilie, and you’ll be stunned by a two-deck high portrait of her namesake. Alight with the golden shimmer for which Viennese artist Gustav Klimt was famed, Emilie sets a tone of elegance and beauty. Klimt’s passion for women inspired some of the most arresting artwork of his era – and his muse was one of the most beautiful and artistically influential women of her day, Emilie Flöge. Klimt’s partner in disrupting the art world – he a painter and she a designer of high fashion – the pair pushed the boundaries of the Vienna Secession movement, changing the European art world forever.
Emilie’s essence fills the ship, influencing every design aspect. In addition to the wealth of Klimt reproductions that line the corridors and grace the walls of every shared space and private suite and stateroom, there are subtle touches that speak to a deep understanding of the woman, the artist and the Art Nouveau era. In each marble-filled bathroom on the ship, for example, the shower wall is a cascade of small golden tiles, reminiscent of the mosaic-like style of several of Klimt’s most famous paintings. Artistic passion is reflected in the ship’s décor and attention to small details. The walls in the 77 staterooms and suites, for example, are neither painted nor papered but rather enveloped in sumptuous, softly padded fabric panels, creating the feel of a luxurious retreat, where the sounds of the world beyond are muffled. The furnishings are luxe, with more hanging and storage space than we could fill (when has that ever happened?) and the service is impeccable.
Suite accommodation is also available, which includes white-gloved butler service. Those wishing to add a second bedroom can arrange to have a Grand Suite connect with an adjoining Deluxe French Balcony cabin. The same attention to detail extends to the shared areas of the ship, such as the elegant dining room, where the attentive staff know your name by the end of the first day. Breakfast and lunch are a seamless combination of buff et and served options, ensuring that by the time you’ve chosen your soup, salad and bread from the two self-serve areas of the dining room, your delicious hot selections are about to appear. An emphasis on the local cuisine of the Danube areas you sail through ensures S.S Emilie both authenticity and variety. Dinner is an entirely served affair, with a delicious selection of menu items each evening. Gleaming specialty coffee machines are available on the Emilie at both the bow and stern, ensuring no waiting and enabling you to enjoy a hot treat either while sailing or waiting to join a shore excursion. Not a major design statement but simply a gracious detail that makes guests feel pampered and indulged. The charming café area at the aft of the ship includes fresh baked goodies throughout the day, making it a favourite spot for reading. When the weather is warm, the top deck is a breezy spot for watching the life of the river unfold. Ample reclining deck chairs and cozy tables for two or more, tucked under shady canvas, mean there’s no need to rush to claim a spot. Like everywhere else on the ship, there is a feeling of relaxed abundance for the 154 guests aboard.
The S.S. Emilie is Uniworld’s 14th Europe-based vessel, and her departure ports include Vienna, Frankfurt, Prague, Amsterdam and Basel. Our Danube cruise began in Vienna, with port calls in Bratislava, Budapest, Belgrade and more. Her launch this year coincided with the cruise line’s 50th anniversary, which was celebrated onboard with a gala “Gold Night”. Though we’d travelled in the region in the past, we learned more about the emotional history of the people than ever before, particularly during our time in Serbia and Croatia. To move forward and make economic recovery possible, enemies have had to find ways to smile through their resentment and learn to work together. Guides explained movingly that while the war is over, the memories linger. Said one sombre Croatian guide, “We make it work, but we never forget. ”Shore excursions included visits to a fascinating museum where remnants of some of the earliest civilizations in the region are on display. Small, carefully crafted shoes and farming implements that somehow survived the centuries reminded us of the resilience of humankind, while a visit to a vineyard, a farm and distillery offered a chance to see how that same powerful desire to grow and create lives today. One cool, but memorable morning, we rose at dawn to join a truffle hunting expedition. While an eager dog did the hunting and digging, we were happy to take a precious truffle back to the ship, which the chef kindly prepared with our risotto that evening.
Our favourite day was in Budapest, where we lolled for hours in one of the city’s famed mineral baths, and then wandered to the farmer’s market to sample langos (a pizza-like Budapest specialty) and spicy sausage. Our favourite evening was our first, when we visited the Belvedere Palace, in Vienna and experienced not only a jaw-dropping collection of Klimt’s original works, but also a wonderful tour with a clever guide who provided us with surprising food for thought regarding “The Kiss.” “Have you ever noticed,” she asked us, “the angle of the woman’s head as she lies in the man’s arms? She’s turning away, not towards him. It’s almost as if she’s enduring, rather than participating in the famous embrace. ”History tells us that the relationship between Klimt and the beautiful Emilie was passionate but never consummated, though he was noted for his many other love affairs. Perhaps this, Klimt’s most famous work, our guide suggested, is an illustration of the power of his unrequited love and the elusive heart of his beloved. It was a fascinating thought to contemplate as we spent the next week immersed in the golden warmth of Klimt’s work and enjoyed a ship named for Emilie, the woman who inspired it.
Written by Liz Fleming for Cruise & Travel Lifestyles Magazine - Fall 2026 issue
