Cruise Description
7 Night Cruise sailing from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh aboard AmaLotus.
The 124-passenger AmaLotus (2011) features ultra-spacious 624-sq. ft. Suites; ten Jr. Suites at 290 sq. ft. and standard staterooms at 226 sq. ft., with 90 percent of her staterooms boasting outside balconies. With a décor that combines Colonial elegance with regional Khmer accents, staterooms include comfortable sitting areas, individually controlled air-conditioning, a mini-bar, safety deposit box, robes and slippers, and a luxurious bathtub (Jr. Suites/Suites). Public areas include a main restaurant serving Asian and Western specialties; Saigon Lounge; Gift Shop; Fitness Center, Spa, plus a swimming pool and bar on the Sun Deck. The ship also features a fully English-speaking staff.
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 SIEM REAP/TONLE SAP LAKE – EMBARKATION – KAMPONG CHHNANG
Today you will board your river cruise ship at Tonle Sap Lake, the great lake that has dominated Cambodia and its people for centuries. Meet your fellow travelers at a Welcome Dinner as the ship cruises to Kampong Chhnang. (B,L,D)
Day 2 KAMPONG CHHNANG – KOH CHEN
After break�fast, a local boat will take you into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the Tonle Sap River. Enjoy the stunning variety of bird life here and be on the lookout for the traps used to catch fish in this area – some are over a half-mile long. In the afternoon, take a leisurely walk to the Koh Chen village. You will also visit home workshops specializing in silversmith�ing and coppersmithing. (B,L,D)
Day 3 OUDONG-KAMPONG TRALACH-PHNOM PENH
This morning, transfer to Oudong, the former capital of Cambodia, and tour a monastery where you will receive a special Buddhist blessing. In Kampong Tralach, you will have a truly memorable excursion – an oxcart ride through the rice paddies surrounding a small village. Later, your ship departs for Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, where an afternoon walking tour will give you a wonderful introduction to the city. Return to the ship for dinner and an onboard Khmer folk performance presented by local children. The vessel moors overnight in Phnom Penh. (B,L,D)
Day 4 PHNOM PENH
A morning tour explores the highlights of the city, famous for its French colonial architecture, busy cafes and colorful nightlife. Visit the Royal Palace, the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum, which has an outstanding collection of Khmer crafts. After lunch onboard, you will take an afternoon excursion to Cambodia’s infamous Killing Fields, and also visit the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng S21 detention center (Genocide Museum) just outside the city. An overnight on the waterfront provides an opportunity to dine on your own in one of many nearby restaurants, if you so choose. (B,L,D)
Day 5 PHNOM PENH – BORDER CROSSING – TAN CHAU, VIETNAM
Spend the day cruising the Mekong River as your ship crosses the border into Vietnam. Your vessel moors at the small town of Tan Chau, Vietnam. (B,L,D)
Day 6 TAN CHAU – SA DEC
Today, you will take a small local boat through narrow channels to several scenic locations, including a small village known as “Evergreen Island.” Later, you will see Tan Chau from the vantage point of a traditional “xe-loi” (trishaw) that will take you around to all the sights, with stops at a silk-making workshop and another that produces rattan mats and slippers. This afternoon, your ship cruises to Sa Dec, where it will moor overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 7 SA DEC – XEO QUYT – CAI BE
Once ashore in Sa Dec, tour the town where French writer Marguerite Duras spent many years in her youth. Visit a colorful local market, and the house of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, Duras’ Chinese paramour, now a small museum. Afterwards, board a motor coach for Xeo Quyt, once used as a base during the French and U.S. wars and now an important ecological site. After lunch on board, a local boat will take you to Cai Be’s spectacular floating market. You will also have an opportunity to visit candy and rice paper workshops. This evening, enjoy a festive Farewell Dinner on board. (B,L,D)
Day 8 HO CHI MINH CITY – DISEMBARKATION
Your cruise comes to an end as the ship docks at My Tho Port. (B)
Cruise Itinerary
| Date | Activity | Arrive | Depart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/05 | Sitka, Alaska | ||
| 12/05 | Glacier Bay, Alaska | ||
| 13/05 | Juneau, Alaska | ||
| 14/05 | Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska | ||
| 15/05 | Hobart Bay, Alaska | ||
| 16/05 | Petersburg, Alaska | ||
| 17/05 | Kake, Alexander Archipelago, Alaska | ||
| 18/05 | Sitka, Alaska |
Itinerary may vary by sailing date and itineraries may be changed at the cruise lines discretion. Please check itinerary details at time of booking and before booking other travel services such as airline tickets.
Available Sailing Dates
11 May 2015
21 Jun 2015
08 Sep 2015