AmaWaterways has announced a return to cruising in Southeast Asia, offering river trips in Vietnam and Cambodia starting in October.
The company is offering two different cruises between Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap. Both are 8-day, 7-night adventures, with the ability to add pre- or post-trip stays in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Siem Reap.
“After missing many celebrations with family and friends over the past two years, there is incredible pent-up demand, with travelers anxious to pack their bags and start fulfilling their travel ‘must do’ list,” Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways, said in a release.
Riches Of The Mekong
The first Asian cruise is dubbed Riches of the Mekong.
“Cruise along the Mekong through Cambodia and Vietnam as you are transported back in time to another era, where the rhythms of the countryside move at a slower pace and allow for a fascinating glimpse into a traditional way of life,” AmaWaterways said in announcing the details.
The cruise includes visits ranging from rural villages to the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, and a stop at a monastery where passengers will receive a special Buddhist blessing by monks.
It includes stops in Angkor Ban and Phnom Penh in Cambodia, then Tan Chau, Sa Dec, My Tho, and other Vietnamese sites before disembarking in Ho Chi Minh City.
The cruise is normally priced at $3,099 per person, but certain dates drop as low as $1,399 per person next summer and everywhere in between, depending on the date chosen.
The cruise takes place on the AmaDara, a 302-foot boat that has 62 staterooms and holds up to 124 passengers. It features French-colonial decor, carved wood furniture, massage rooms, a fitness room, a sun-deck pool, and more.
Charms Of The Mekong
The second cruise is the Charms of the Mekong, and it offers many of the same aspects as its partner, only sailing the opposite direction.
Other highlights include a visit to a silk village and the historic Kiet Old House. Passengers can also visit the Royal Palace and National Museum in Phnom Penh, or have the option to view the killing fields and Genocide Museum instead.
Also sailing aboard the AmaDara, the Charms of the Mekong is priced in a similar range, although there is a sale price of $2,349 per person for the first two sailings in October.
Two Decades Of Cruising
AmaWaterways was founded 20 years ago as a family venture, and now includes river cruises all over Europe, Egypt, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
The goal is to be different from the bigger cruise companies.
“A desire to step away from the day-to-day and reconnect with the world is driving demand for longer cruises, itineraries that include exclusive events and those that take guests to more exotic destinations,” Karst said.