Emerald Cruises has opened the books on their 2022-2023 Mekong River cruise season through Cambodia and Vietnam aboard the line’s newest and most intimate Star-Ship, Emerald Harmony. Exploring this fascinating region of the world via river ship allows travelers to experience both small villages and major cities and gain an appreciation for the scenic beauty as well as the local culture and peoples.
Guests booking select 2022-2023 season Mekong River cruises of 13 days or more will save $750 per person; eight-day sailings save $500 per person. In lieu of savings, guests can opt to receive roundtrip airfare of $295 per person on 13-day sailings or $495 on eight-day cruises. Offers are good on bookings made by October 31, 2021.
Emerald Cruises offers four distinct Mekong River itineraries ranging from eight to an epic 21 days, each designed to allow guests to make the most of their time abroad. The eight-day Majestic Mekong River Cruise sails between Prek’kdam and Ho Chi Minh City, while the 13-day Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong sails between Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap with time on land to explore Angkor Wat. The longer itineraries feature more time touring before and after the cruise: the 17-day Treasures & Temples of Vietnam & Cambodia river cruise and tour adds stops in Hanoi and Halong Bay in the north, and the 21-day Grand Tour of Vietnam & Cambodia river cruise and tour includes stops at Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Hue and Siem Reap.
No matter which itinerary guests opt for, they will pay a visit to the metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, a city that continues to modernize while maintaining roots in strong traditions. Vietnam War reminders are never far away, whether the Cu Chi Tunnels, a fascinating network of underground passageways constructed by the communist guerillas, or the War Remnants Museum. In the Mekong Delta region, highlights include a visit to a unique family-owned Lanh My A silk producing factory and the unspoiled My An Hung village. A visit to Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh contrasts the elaborate Royal Palace complex with the tragic reminders of the Khmer Rouge regime at the Killing Fields. A stop at a local monastery offers up a traditional Buddhist blessing. And in Siem Reap, guests visit the ruins of the world’s largest temple, Angkor Wat.
With only 84 guests in 42 staterooms and suites, Emerald Harmony offers an intimate and upscale sailing experience on the Mekong. The ship features spacious cabins, a pool located on the ship’s aft, an Asian-themed Horizon Bar & Lounge, and an impressive 2:1 guest to crew ratio. Perhaps the most innovative feature of the newest Star-Ship is in its clever design—unlike most similar-sized Mekong river ships, the Emerald Harmony will be built to allow access to the center of Ho Chi Minh City, meaning guests will disembark in the center of the action rather than needing to be coached in from outside the city.
Emerald Cruises offers a diverse lineup of river and yacht cruises on three continents. Emerald Azzurra, the line’s first ocean-going vessel set to debut in January 2022, is a 100-guest, luxury superyacht that will sail the warm waters of the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Black and Red Seas. On the rivers, Emerald Cruises sails eight branded Star-Ships in Europe and one on the Mekong, as well as a chartered river ship sailing the Russian waterways (MS Nizhny Novgorod). The brand offers contemporary deluxe ships, outstanding service and an incredibly inclusive pricing plan that has won them the honor of being named Best River Cruise Line for Value by the Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards for five years running. Emerald Cruises is part of Scenic Group, which includes Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Mayflower Cruises & Tours and Evergreen Tours in Australia.
Emerald Cruises, www.emeraldcruises.com