Uniworld Launches Mekong Cruises in 2012

Apr 02, 2011

In 2012, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will charter a new 60-passenger ship, River Saigon, to operate 14-night cruise/tours that operate between Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, Vietnam, and includes Cambodia’s Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Angkor Wat. The ship is purpose built to cruise the Mekong and Tonle Rivers and extends Uniworld’s partnership with Pandaw Cruises.

The seven-night cruise portion will sail between Kampong Cham in Cambodia and My Tho in Vietnam. For the land portion of the program, guests will spend seven nights in deluxe hotels with accommodations, buffet breakfast, service charges and porterage included. Uniworld’s guests will also receive private check-in with welcome drinks, in-room welcome flowers and fruit platter and, at the Victoria Angkor Hotel & Spa, guests will receive their own personalized monogrammed bathrobe to keep. Optional pre- or post-cruise extensions, including Ha Long Bay, Vietnam and Bangkok, Thailand, will also be available.

“Uniworld is committed to providing our clientele with expanded product offerings in historically rich and culturally fascinating destinations throughout the world. I am confident that this new exciting destination will be well received by both Uniworld’s past guests and future cruisers,” said Guy Young, Uniworld president. “We are extremely happy about our newest partnership with Pandaw Cruises. We are working very closely with them on the new ship build and on an itinerary that will provide our guests with exceptional memories.”

River Saigon’s 30 deluxe riverview staterooms will each be 168 square feet, with amenities including bottled water, robes and slippers. Staterooms will have French doors with an outside sitting area to enjoy river, and the ship will have a spacious sun deck with comfortable lounge chairs and seating areas plus a full service bar. There will be a separate lounge for meetings and relaxation and a restaurant offering complimentary wine with dinner; complimentary coffee, tea, soft drinks, beer and cocktails will be available throughout the day. Thirteen days of included shore excursions will be conducted by experienced English-speaking local guides in small groups of no more than 20 passengers, to explore the floating villages, local markets and temples, including the ruins and temple complex at Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Uniworld will offer 21 departures of the new Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River starting in January 2012 and expand to 31 departures in 2013.