The S.S. Audrey Design Story

The next addition to our Super Ship™ fleet, the S.S. Audrey, is set to sail the Rhine next spring! In anticipation of her debut, we sat down with the ship’s lead designer, Liane van Leeuwen, to talk about how the famous Audrey Hepburn inspired the ship, and what design choices she made to bring her legacy to life onboard.

So you started with the prompt “design a luxury river ship inspired by iconic film starlet Audrey Hepburn.” How did you build from that starting point to develop a design story for the ship?
Audrey rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s. So it was only natural that the interior should exude the famous mid-century modern aesthetic of the era. Audrey also spent many of her formative years in the Netherlands; to highlight that part of her heritage, I incorporated iconic Dutch art and design. Guests are likely to recognize Delft pottery vases—but look a bit closer and you’ll also find Dutch birds featured in the fabrics of the aft lounge chairs, etches of tulips in the bathrooms. As a bit of an easter egg for those who really know their design history, I even incorporated the iconic “Utrecht” chairs by Dutch furniture designer Gerrit Rietveld in the main lounge.

What about Audrey Hepburn, her life and work, do you find most inspiring?
In addition to being a beautiful woman, wonderful actress, comedienne, excellent dancer, and style icon for Hubert Givenchy, Audrey was above all a humble and kind person. She did a tremendous amount for charitable causes, particularly UNICEF, for which she served as a goodwill ambassador.

How does Audrey Hepburn come alive onboard this ship?
Of course, there are many photos of Audrey to admire, as she was a wonderful model. The interior matches Audrey’s character—it is modest and functional, yet full of humor—and features colorful, eye-catching patterns that reflect her positive and lively spirit.

Audrey Hepburn was known for her impeccable fashion sense. Are there nods to any of her famous looks in your design?
The Givenchy black dress and Tiffany pearl necklace from the film ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ is world-famous. The ship’s back lounge and private dining room are both decorated according to this theme. You’ll find white pearls throughout the interiors! One of my favorite examples for this can be found in the private dining room, where pearls have actually been embroidered straight into fabric decor for an elegant, yet bold nod to Audrey.

Tell us a bit about the color palette for the ship and how you came about selecting it. Do you have a favorite room aboard the S.S. Audrey?
A recurring color in the interior is the famous 1837 Tiffany Blue, a soft blue with green undertones. Fun fact, this color that has also often been used throughout the history of Dutch interior design, which really ties these two elements of the ship’s design story together.

Uniworld is fond of using Tiny Noticeable Touches™ to add an extra dose of character and refinement to our onboard spaces. Are there any small, but important details you’d like to highlight?
There are so many details that have been carefully selected and chosen with love. For example, I really enjoy the photo wall we’ve added to the fitness center, featuring an image of Audrey and Fred Astaire. And in every stateroom, you’ll find Hubert de Givenchy sketches as a nod to the famous bond between Audrey and the designer. Uniworld’s ships typically have a fun, decorative “tattoo” on the bow that distinguishes the theme of each ship immediately—even if you never step onboard. For the S.S. Audrey, this will be a swirling, dancing pearl necklace.

Note: The contents of this article are accurate as of the publication date. Uniworld itineraries and inclusions are subject to change at any time.