The Authentic Cruise Company

Itinerary

Day 1: Siem Reap
Day 1: Kampong Cham
Day 2: Angkor Ban
Day 2: Oknha Tey Village
Day 3: Phnom Penh
Day 3: Oudong
Day 3: Kampong Tralach
Day 3: Phnom Penh
Day 4: Phnom Penh
Day 5: Border Crossing
Day 6: Tân Châu
Day 7: Sa Déc
Day 7: Cái Bè
Day 8: My Tho
Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City
Day 1: Siem Reap

Day programme:

SIEM REAP – KAMPONG CHAM, CAMBODIA – EMBARKATION. Transfer via motorcoach from Siem Reap to the AmaDara in Kampong Cham for your seven-night cruise. Later, join fellow guests for an evening Welcome Dinner. (L,D) *All cruise only guests should meet us at Sofitel Angkor hotel in Siem Reap at 8:00 am on Embarkation day to join the transfer to the ship in Kampong Cham. We recommend that you fly into Siem Reap at least one day prior to embarkation; please inquire about important arrival arrangements prior to your cruise.

Day 1: Kampong Cham
Day 2: Angkor Ban

Day programme:

ANGKOR BAN – OKNHATEY. During the morning, go on a walking tour to Angkor Ban, one of the few villages in Cambodia that was not destroyed under the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. Here people still live in their traditional wooden abodes and keep their old cultural traditions alive. Hundreds of wooden houses stand intact on stilts, shaded with banana trees, among the hustle and bustle of the daily agricultural on-going of the local villagers. After visiting here, the ship sails to Oknhatey or “Silk Island,” located on the lush banks of the Mekong River. This island is known for its rich tradition of silk weaving. While here, you’ll visit a local elementary school and observe traditional silk weaving an art that has been preserved for centuries. Your ship moors in Oknhatey village. (B,L,D) *Based on seasonality, the port of Angkor Ban may be inaccessible from August – September. During this time, Wat Hanchey will replace Angkor Ban as the port of call.

Day 2: Oknha Tey Village
Day 3: Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s busy capital, sits at the junction of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. It was a hub for both the Khmer Empire and French colonialists. On its walkable riverfront, lined with parks, restaurants and bars, are the ornate Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, displaying artifacts from around the country. At the city’s heart is the massive, art deco Central Market.

Day programme:

OUDONG – KAMPONG TRALACH – PHNOM PENH. Your cruise continues to sail to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The morning excursion takes you to Oudong, Cambodia’s former royal capital from the early 17th century until 1866. Today, Oudong is a place of pilgrimage for Cambodians. While here, be treated to a memorable Buddhist Blessing Ceremony at a monastery. You may walk around Oudong’s monastery or take an active walking tour to see panoramic views of the Oudong plain. After visiting Oudong, be treated to a truly authentic excursion, an oxcart ride through a local village Kampong Tralach. Later in the day, experience Phnom Penh via a tuk tuk ride and be enchanted by the city’s French Colonial architecture and tree-lined boulevards set amidst monumental Angkorian architecture. After returning to the ship, enjoy Khmer folk dancing performed by local children in the Saigon Lounge. (B,L,D)

Day 3: Oudong
Day 3: Kampong Tralach
Day 3: Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s busy capital, sits at the junction of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. It was a hub for both the Khmer Empire and French colonialists. On its walkable riverfront, lined with parks, restaurants and bars, are the ornate Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, displaying artifacts from around the country. At the city’s heart is the massive, art deco Central Market.

Day 4: Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s busy capital, sits at the junction of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. It was a hub for both the Khmer Empire and French colonialists. On its walkable riverfront, lined with parks, restaurants and bars, are the ornate Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, displaying artifacts from around the country. At the city’s heart is the massive, art deco Central Market.

Day programme:

PHNOM PENH. This morning’s excursion takes you to Cambodia’s infamous Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng S21 detention center (Genocide Museum). After lunch on board, you’ll explore the highlights of the city, followed by a visit to the Royal Palace, the spectacular Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, which has an outstanding collection of Khmer crafts. Alternatively, you may wish to shop for unique treasures at the bustling, yellow-colored Central Market after your visit to the Royal Palace. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Border Crossing

Day programme:

BORDER CROSSING – TAN CHAU, VIETNAM. Spend the day cruising the Mekong River as your ship crosses the border into Vietnam. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Tân Châu

Day programme:

TAN CHAU. Enjoy a visit to Tan Chau, a small Mekong River town unspoiled by tourism. Be treated to an authentic experience on a traditional “xe-loi” (trishaw) ride around the town, with stops at silk-making and rattan mat workshops. You may also choose the trishaw ride with visits to craftsmen’s workshops, followed by an active walking tour to “Evergreen Island.” As a third alternative, explore the stunning Mekong Delta on an intimate tour through Vietnam’s Tra Su Forest and Sanctuary. Board a traditional sampan boat and glide through this diverse ecosystem that includes more than 70 species of birds, including the painted stork and oriental darter, and lush greenery encompassing majestic cajuput trees, lotuses, water lilies and a carpet of bright green moss in the rainy season that appears to glow as you gently drift through it. Later in the day, cruise to Sa Dec. (B,L,D) *Please Note: Tra Su Forest visit is capacity controlled.

Day 7: Sa Déc

Day programme:

SA DEC –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 Cao Dai Temple, home to the unique religion of Caodaism in Southern Vietnam. It is a fusion of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Confucianism. You will have an opportunity to visit candy and rice paper making workshops, or you may also choose to add an active walking tour to the historic Kiet Old House and cap the day off with a festive Farewell Dinner on board. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Cái Bè
Day 8: My Tho

Day programme:

DISEMBARKATION – MY THO – HO CHI MINH CITY. Your cruise concludes in My Tho Port, where you’ll disembark and transfer via motorcoach from My Tho Port to Ho Chi Minh city. (B) *All guests will be transferred from the ship to Sofitel Saigon Plaza in Ho Chi Minh City. We recommend that you schedule your onward flight to depart Ho Chi Minh after 2:30 pm today to avoid potential missed connections.

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City

Romantically referred to by the French as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City today is a super-charged city of sensory overload. Motorbikes zoom day and night along the wide boulevards, through the narrow back alleys and past vendors pushing handcarts hawking goods of all descriptions. Still called Saigon by most residents, this is Vietnam’s largest city and the engine driving the country’s current economic resurgence, but despite its frenetic pace, it’s a friendlier place than Hanoi and locals will tell you the food—simple, tasty, and incorporating many fresh herbs—is infinitely better than in the capital.This is a city full of surprises. The madness of the city’s traffic—witness the oddball things that are transported on the back of motorcycles—is countered by tranquil pagodas, peaceful parks, quirky coffee shops, and whole neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways, although some of these quiet spots can be difficult to track down. Life in Ho Chi Minh City is lived in public: on the back of motorcycles, on the sidewalks, and in the parks. Even when its residents are at home, they’re still on display. With many living rooms opening onto the street, grandmothers napping, babies being rocked, and food being prepared, are all in full view of passersby.Icons of the past endure in the midst of the city’s headlong rush into capitalism. The Hotel Continental, immortalized in Graham Greene’s The Quiet American, continues to stand on the corner of old Indochina’s most famous thoroughfare, the rue Catinat, known to American G.I.s during the Vietnam War as Tu Do (Freedom) Street and renamed Dong Khoi (Uprising) Street by the Communists. The city still has its ornate opera house and its old French city hall, the Hôtel de Ville. The broad colonial boulevards leading to the Saigon River and the gracious stucco villas are other remnants of the French colonial presence. Grisly reminders of the more recent past can be seen at the city’s war-related museums. Residents, however, prefer to look forward rather than back and are often perplexed by tourists’ fascination with a war that ended 40 years ago.The Chinese influence on the country is still very much in evidence in the Cholon district, the city’s Chinatown, but the modern office towers and international hotels that mark the skyline symbolize Vietnam’s fixation on the future.

Luxury Suites
Suites
Cat A. Staterooms
Cat B. Staterooms
Cat C. Staterooms
Luxury Suites

Stateroom Features:

  • In-room temperature control
  • Cozy sitting area; Suites and Luxury Suites feature a larger sitting area
  • Deluxe hotel-style bedding; Luxury Suites feature a queen-sized bed
  • Spacious bathrooms with showers; Suites feature both a shower and separate tub
  • Writing desk, mini-bar, safe, bathrobe and slippers, in-house telephone and hairdryer
  • Flat-panel screen featuring an in-house movie channel
  • Complimentary bottled water replenished daily
Suites

Stateroom Features:

  • In-room temperature control
  • Cozy sitting area; Suites and Luxury Suites feature a larger sitting area
  • Deluxe hotel-style bedding; Luxury Suites feature a king-sized bed
  • Spacious bathrooms with showers; Suites feature both a shower and separate tub
  • Writing desk, mini-bar, safe, bathrobe and slippers, in-house telephone and hairdryer
  • Flat-panel screen featuring an in-house movie channel
  • Complimentary bottled water replenished daily
Cat A. Staterooms

Stateroom Features:

  • In-room temperature control
  • Cozy sitting area; Suites and Luxury Suites feature a larger sitting area
  • Deluxe hotel-style bedding; Luxury Suites feature a king-sized bed
  • Spacious bathrooms with showers; Suites feature both a shower and separate tub
  • Writing desk, mini-bar, safe, bathrobe and slippers, in-house telephone and hairdryer
  • Flat-panel screen featuring an in-house movie channel
  • Complimentary bottled water replenished daily
Cat B. Staterooms

Stateroom Features:

  • In-room temperature control
  • Cozy sitting area; Suites and Luxury Suites feature a larger sitting area
  • Deluxe hotel-style bedding; Luxury Suites feature a king-sized bed
  • Spacious bathrooms with showers; Suites feature both a shower and separate tub
  • Writing desk, mini-bar, safe, bathrobe and slippers, in-house telephone and hairdryer
  • Flat-panel screen featuring an in-house movie channel
  • Complimentary bottled water replenished daily
Cat C. Staterooms

Stateroom Features:

  • In-room temperature control
  • Cozy sitting area; Suites and Luxury Suites feature a larger sitting area
  • Deluxe hotel-style bedding; Luxury Suites feature a king-sized bed
  • Spacious bathrooms with showers; Suites feature both a shower and separate tub
  • Writing desk, mini-bar, safe, bathrobe and slippers, in-house telephone and hairdryer
  • Flat-panel screen featuring an in-house movie channel
  • Complimentary bottled water replenished daily
Mekong Restaurant
The Chef's Table Restaurant
Mekong Restaurant

Savour authentic regional delicacies and Western cuisine in the Main Restaurant.

The Chef's Table Restaurant

Dine at The Chef’s Table, where the kitchen becomes part of the entertainment. Watch as the chef prepares a special, multi-course meal right in front of you and indulge in delectable dishes paired with hand-selected unlimited fine wines. The menu here is unique, making this a truly distinct gastronomic experience.

PHNOM PENH
SIEM REAP – ANGKOR
TAN CHAU - SA
SA DEC – CAI BE
BORDER CROSSING – TAN CHAU, VIETNAM
PHNOM PENH

Your cruise continues to sail to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The morning excursion takes you to Oudong, Cambodia’s former royal capital from the early 17th century until 1866. Today, Oudong is a place of pilgrimage for Cambodians. While here, be treated to a memorable Buddhist Blessing Ceremony at a monastery. You may walk around Oudong’s monastery or take an active walking tour to see panoramic views of the Oudong plain. After visiting Oudong, be treated to a truly authentic excursion, an oxcart ride through a local village Kampong Tralach. Later in the day, experience Phnom Penh via a tuk tuk ride and be enchanted by the city’s French Colonial architecture and tree-lined boulevards set amidst monumental Angkorian architecture, or continue your visit to Wat Phnom, a famous landmark of Phnom Penh. After returning to the ship, enjoy Khmer folk dancing performed by local children in the Saigon Lounge.

SIEM REAP – ANGKOR

Begin your morning exploration of the Angkor temple complex at Angkor Thom, meaning “the great city.” This is home to Bayon Temple, best known for its gigantic smiling stone faces, as well as the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. You’ll then visit nearby Ta Prohm, known as the “Kingdom of Trees,” for the way in which the temple stones have become intertwined with thick forest vegetation over the centuries. Afternoon excursions take you to the fascinating jewel in the crown of Angkorian art, Banteay Srei, meaning “Citadel of Women,” as it has been said that the carving is too fine to have been done by the hand of man. Cap this memorable day off with a special “Apsara Dance Show” at your hotel, featuring local Cambodian/Khmer folk dancers.

TAN CHAU - SA

Enjoy a visit to Tan Chau, a small Mekong River town unspoiled by tourism. Be treated to an authentic experience on a traditional “xe-loi” (trishaw) ride around the town, with stops at silk-making and rattan mat workshops. You may also choose the trishaw ride with visits to craftsmen’s workshops, followed by an active walking tour to “Evergreen Island.” As a third alternative, explore the stunning Mekong Delta on an intimate tour through Vietnam’s Tra Su Forest and Sanctuary. Board a traditional sampan boat and glide through this diverse ecosystem that includes more than 70 species of birds, including the painted stork and oriental darter, and lush greenery encompassing majestic cajuput trees, lotuses, water lilies and a carpet of bright green moss in the rainy season that appears to glow as you gently drift through it. Later in the day, cruise to Sa Dec

SA DEC – 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 Cao Dai Temple, home to the unique religion of Caodaism in Southern Vietnam. It is a fusion of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Confucianism. You will have an opportunity to visit candy and rice paper making workshops, or you may also choose to add an active walking tour to the historic Kiet Old House and cap the day off with a festive Farewell Dinner on board.

BORDER CROSSING – TAN CHAU, VIETNAM

Spend the day cruising the Mekong River as your ship crosses the border into Vietnam.

Saigon Lounge
Onboard Entertainment
Saigon Lounge

Meet fellow travellers in Saigon Lounge, enjoy a drink at the bar or soak in the passing scenery. The ship features convenient interior access as well as air conditioning in hallways, restaurants and lounges.

Onboard Entertainment

Daily entertainment including cultural performances.

Fitness Room
Sun Deck and Pool
Spa
Fitness Room

Are you looking for a way to stay fit on holiday? Hit the treadmill or lift some weights while cruising from one destination to the next.

Sun Deck and Pool

Soak up some rays or take a dip in our refreshing pool on your way to the next exotic stop on your cruise.

Spa

After a marvellous day of immersive shore excursions, return to the ship and treat yourself to a bit of pampering with a visit to one of three onboard spas.

Age Restriction
Disabled Facilities
Dress Code
Dietary Requirements
Smoking Policy
Medical Facilities
Internet and Wifi Access
Excursions
Laundry
Age Restriction

Effective immediately, AmaWaterways will only be welcoming guests fully vaccinated against Covid-19 on board its ships. This vaccination requirement also applies to accompanied minors. Guests affected by this decision should contact their travel advisor for options to reschedule their river cruise.

On our programs in Europe and Southeast Asia, children under the age of 4 years old are not permitted on board and children 4-7 years old are not recommended. On our Africa safaris program, due to safety precautions, there is a minimum age limit of 12 years old, unless otherwise agreed upon by AmaWaterways. All guests under the age of 18 are to be in a stateroom with an adult, and must remain supervised at all times, as their safety is the responsibility of the accompanying adult(s). Children between the ages of 4 and 10 at the time of embarkation may share a stateroom with 2 adults provided the child is able to share the bed with the adults – no additional bed will be provided. Select ships offer a limited number of staterooms with a fold-out sofa for a triple occupant; we would be happy to guide you through these options when available. A triple occupancy rate will apply for the child sharing the stateroom; pricing can be provided upon request. Please be aware that balcony staterooms of any kind may be unsafe for small children if left unsupervised. AmaWaterways does not provide child-specific programs or child-minding facilities. Please reach out to us if you have any further questions regarding our child policy.

As of March 3, 2022, children 5 and older at time of sailing are still required to be vaccinated however, children that are not yet eligible for the vaccine are able to come onboard if they can provide a negative PCT test taken within 72 hours of embarkation.

Disabled Facilities

Reasonable efforts are made to accommodate the special needs of disabled cruise participants, but no responsibility will be undertaken for any denial of services by carriers, hotels, restaurants, or other independent suppliers. Tour buses are not equipped with wheelchair ramps and cabin doors are not wide enough to allow access by standard wheelchairs.

Wheelchairs and walkers cannot be carried on tour buses, due to space limitations. Wheelchair passengers should be aware of these limitations. For safety reasons, passengers in wheelchairs cannot be carried on ramps in ports where the ship is at anchor. We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to a tour member for walking, getting on/off tour busses and other transportation vehicles, or other personal needs. A qualified travel companion must accompany travellers who need assistance.

Dress Code

Comfortable, layered clothing adaptable to changing weather conditions is always advisable for daytime excursions. For the evening, “Casually elegant” attire is recommend and you may want to pack something a little dressier for the Captain’s night/Farewell Dinner – similar to how one would dress to dine at a 5-star restaurant. Comfortable shoes are recommended for excursions and workout clothing if you plan to take part in any wellness activities, active tours or use the onboard gym. Depending on the time of year, clothing that can be layered is highly recommended.

Dietary Requirements

Please advise your Travel Agent or call us directly to advise if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies prior to embarkation. In most cases, we will do our best to accommodate special dietary requests and food allergies, but with one exception: Kosher. This diet has specific rules regarding food and its preparation and the shipboard environment does have limitations that prevent us from being able to adequately cater to this dietary need. Please note, though we can provide options to accommodate food allergies and sensitivities, we cannot guarantee there will not be any cross-contamination.

Smoking Policy

Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside any of the ships. Smoking is only permitted on the Sun Deck. For the safety and comfort of all passengers on board, your cooperation in observing the no-smoking policy is greatly appreciated.

Medical Facilities

Europe: There are no medical facilities on board. However medical services can easily be called from shore if required.

Vietnam & Cambodia: We do not employ doctors or nurses on board the ships. In the event medical assistance is needed, appropriate medical facilities will be contacted. Note that response time can vary.

Africa: We do not employ doctors or nurses on board the Zambezi Queen. In the event medical assistance is needed, appropriate medical facilities will be contacted. Note that response time can vary.

Internet and Wifi Access

Europe: High-speed Internet service is available free of charge as part of the in-stateroom “Entertainment-On-Demand.” Additionally, AmaWaterways offers complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship.

Vietnam and Cambodia: Free Internet and Wi-Fi in the lounge with computer stations.

Africa: Free Wi Fi is available but may be limited and sporadic during certain times of the day due to the ships isolated location.

Excursions

Vietnam & Cambodia:

A sightseeing tour is included at each location on the itinerary. The sightseeing tours can involve walking on uneven ground and steps, travel by motorcoach, local boat or a combination thereof. Each tour is led by a qualified English-speaking local guide. In the rare event of water level problems, it may be necessary to operate part of the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the daily program whenever conditions render it necessary, by determination of the ship’s captain.

Laundry

Laundry services are available on board for a fee. Price lists are available in your stateroom. Please note that clothes cannot be dry cleaned on board.

Sun Deck
Upper Deck
Main Deck
Sun Deck
  • Navigation Bridge
  • Bar
  • Sun Deck
  • Pool
  • Sadec Spa
  • Fitness Room
  • Category B Staterooms
  • Suites
  • Luxury Suites
Upper Deck
  • Saigon Lounge & Bar
  • Reception
  • Public Computers
  • Gift Shop
  • Saigon Spa
  • The Chef’s Table Restaurant
  • Cat A Staterooms
  • Cat B Staterooms 
  • Cat C Staterooms
Main Deck
  • Mekong Restaurant
  • Cat B Staterooms 
  • Cat C Staterooms 

Get in touch with our team to start planning

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