Floating Down the Path to Zero Waste 

Floating Down the Path to Zero Waste 

By: Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Some travelers start to worry when they see their favorite brands start developing “greener practices.” Maybe they suspect greenwashing, maybe an excuse to cut costs… or maybe they care deeply about sustainability, but don’t want to make sacrifices with their hard-earned vacations.  

Not with Uniworld. The philosophy here is that we love being able to explore our gorgeous planet in style. Indulgence and luxury are what we do best, and we want to be able to treat our guests to just that, for generations to come. We don’t waste our time—or our travelers’ patience—on superficial changes that diminish travel experiences while doing nothing real for the environment. We work smarter, seeking out science-backed solutions.  

That’s how Uniworld became the world’s first river cruise line to introduce validated targets for achieving Net Zero. We’ve looked at every avenue through which we can make real change, reducing waste related to food, energy, water, plastics and more to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050.  

What we’re finding is that a lot of these changes can actually elevate the luxury travel experience. Putting refillable toiletries in our bathrooms means giving our guests a better experience than having to work with tiny plastic shampoo bottles in the shower, while also greatly reducing plastic waste. Sourcing fresh local produce for our meals means better tasting, more authentic cuisine.  

One of our proudest achievements in this direction has been the implementation of our partnership with LeanPath. Uniworld began partnering with LeanPath in 2021 to install a comprehensive measuring system in our kitchens that calculates how much food is left over after each meal—and became the only river cruise company to do so. Not only can these numbers give our chefs a clear picture of how to make sure everyone has as much to eat as they desire without the kitchens throwing out excessive leftovers, but they can even give our chefs intuitive feedback on the meals they prepare. 

We started our Leanpath trial with six ships in Europe, and already the results are incredible! Though 2022 was just meant to be a measuring stage, with the reductions coming after we got a clear idea of how much food waste we were creating, we found that just implementing a measuring system encourages more mindful and less wasteful kitchens. So far, we’ve eliminated over 29,000 pounds of food waste, saving approximately 100 tons of carbon from being emitted into the atmosphere. And that’s across only the six ships piloting the early stages of the Leanpath program. In 2023, Leanpath will be implemented across every ship we own. Personally, I can’t wait to see those results improve exponentially in the next few years, as I know it’ll equate to even better dining experiences for our guests and for the environment.  

About Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises—the world’s most luxurious all-inclusive river cruise line— features distinctive destination-inspired ships with an average capacity of 120 guests, expertly curated excursions, gourmet cuisine using locally sourced ingredients, and impeccable service with the highest staff-to-guest-ratio in the river cruise industry. Based in Los Angeles, California, Uniworld offers truly all-inclusive itineraries in Europe, as well as voyages in Vietnam and Cambodia, India, Peru and Egypt—a total of 17 rivers in 26 countries worldwide. Uniworld is a member of CLIA and is highly regarded by discerning travelers, media, and cruise industry experts. Uniworld’s overarching sustainability strategy,  ‘How We Tread Right,’ encompasses goals like reducing 50% of food waste by 2025, eliminating single-use plastics, achieving net zero by 2050 and offering guests meaningful experiences in the destinations they sail through supporting local communities. Uniworld is a member of The Travel Corporation (TTC) family of companies, which has been providing expert-led immersive travel experiences across the globe for over 100 years. (www.uniworld.com)

Meet Australia’s First Nations in Three Amazing Stops 

Meet Australia’s First Nations in Three Amazing Stops 

By: Christian Baines

Australia is a land of superlatives. Besides the world’s biggest island, it’s also home to the world’s oldest living culture. Around 500 Aboriginal nations are spread across all six of Australia’s states and two territories today. With distinct languages, traditions, legends, and methods of using the land, there’s a fascinating indigenous story to tell in every corner of Australia.  

With a desire to confront the wrongs of colonial invasion and reconnect with Australia’s pre-European identity and promote reconciliation, indigenous Australian communities are finding new and innovative ways to share their stories and culture with locals and visitors alike. While countless opportunities await to engage and learn about them, three stand out in Australia’s most popular destinations, offering just enough of an introduction to indigenous Australia to inspire you to learn more. 

A tour through The Rocks district in Sydney uncovers the city’s fascinating indigenous history.

Move With the Seasons of the Eora Nation 

Long before it became home to Australia’s oldest and largest city, the shores of Sydney Harbour sustained the Eora nation. Eora’s numerous tribes moved with the many seasons that determined their diet and lifestyle, all informed by ancient spiritual beliefs that cast the land’s inhabitants as part of nature, rather than its masters.  

As curiosity around these traditions has grown, indigenous tours, conducted in the shadow of Sydney’s most familiar icons have become much more popular. These tours not only bring visitors closer to the land’s long history but teach guests just a few of the secrets behind the crafts, tools, and hunting techniques that sustained people here for at least 60,000 years, and possibly over 120,000. 

Yet before you walk away thinking this is just a history lesson, take a closer look at some of Sydney’s colonial and modern-day structures. Eora remains embedded in the city’s DNA and carries on through traditions still practiced by indigenous people today, such as the dillybag, and the walkabout.  

Uluru is the world’s largest sandstone monolith and one of the most sacred sites for Indigenous Australians.

Take a Walk Around Australia’s Sacred Heart 

Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is more than just an Aussie icon. It’s a sacred site to the Anangu people and indigenous Australians across the country. With its controversial and dangerous climbing track now closed, there’s never been a better time to see Uluru the way it should be seen, in the company of an indigenous guide.  

Besides being a natural beauty, Uluru plays an integral part in the creation stories of the Anangu, which come to life each night in a fantastic light show called Wintjiri Wiru. Guests learn about the ancient Mala people, the sacred ivara that carry the memories of Australia’s demigods across the country, and the story of nearby Kata Tjuta, the domed formations a short distance from Uluru that are tied to it both by legend and geology. 

Of course, the best photos of Uluru come at dawn and dusk, when the skies come alive with vibrant pink and orange hues. Enjoy a glass of bubbly, a three-course dinner in the desert, and a walk through the Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku, a spectacular 50,000 bulb light installation by artist Bruce Munroe.

Indigenous performers showcase their traditions in the rainforests of Far North Queensland.

The World’s Oldest Culture Meets the World’s Oldest Rainforest 

The Great Barrier Reef may steal the show when visiting tropical North Queensland, but just a short drive from Port Douglas, visitors can dive into the region’s unique story at Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. A few hours spent here is the perfect primer to put the wonders of Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest, the world’s oldest, into context. Both Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders have influenced this region, and their ancestors left behind spectacular and fascinating rock art, dreamtime stories and techniques for living off the land that continue to inform life and art for indigenous people in North Queensland today. 

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair brings together the best indigenous contemporary artists to the city in June and July each year. Every other year, the Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival brings together over 20 communities from across Cape York in a spectacular celebration of heritage. If you can’t make it for one of these special events, embarking on a tour of area with an indigenous guide can bring it to life, and highlight the links connecting the sights and traditions of the past with the modern-day community. 

Find you dream vacation to Australia at https://ustoa.travelstride.com/trip-list/australia

About Goway

Goway is one of North America’s leading travel companies and the world’s foremost provider of travel experiences to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. Goway offers trips to over 115 destinations worldwide, including Africa, Asia, Australia and the South Pacific, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, the Polar Regions, and the United States and Canada.

Goway is a family-owned company still owned and operated by Founder & President Bruce Hodge that employs over 600 staff members worldwide. Its global headquarters is in Toronto and it has offices in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Sydney, and Manila. Goway sells both retail and wholesale travel packages, planning trips for Globetrotters and helping travel professionals make their clients’ travel dreams a reality. It also has groups, air consolidation, and corporate travel departments.