A new river cruise ship is scheduled to sail one of our favorite waterways.
Emerald Waterways' is designing a special ship, Emerald Harmony, that will journey the Mekong River between Vietnam and Cambodia beginning in August 2019. Emerald Harmony will offer 13-, 17- and 21-day cruise adventures.
The ship will carry just 84 passengers in 42 staterooms, and 32 of these rooms will be larger 273-square-foot Panorama Balcony Suites with drop-down windows. Additionally, there will be four, 398-square-foot Grand Balcony Suites and two, 450-square-foot Owner's Suites boasting wrap-around terraces and private hot tubs.
A pool will be located at the aft of the ship, which also will feature an Asian-themed Horizon Bar and Lounge. The menu in the main dining venue, Reflections Restaurant, will showcase regional cuisine. Featuring dark wood tones and muted colors, the beautiful Lotus Lounge, situated at the front of the Vista Deck, is a quiet spot to relax as you sail through some of the most remote and serene regions in Asia.
Unlike most similar-sized Mekong River cruise ships, Emerald Harmony is being built to allow access to the center of Ho Chi Minh City, meaning you will disembark in the center of the action, saving valuable time so you can do more exploring right away.
Emerald Waterways is set to offer three cool itineraries on Emerald Harmony. The focus is to discover how residents live and work in the cities and villages along the vital Mekong River. You'll sample exotic cuisine and learn about a culture based on intensive agriculture and a warm community spirit.
We sailed a Mekong cruise last year and loved it. Check out a recap of our voyage to learn what to expect.
Emerald Harmony's 13-day "Majestic Mekong" river cruise and tour sails between Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap with time to explore Angkor Wat; the 17-day Treasures and Temples of Vietnam and Cambodia river cruise and tour adds stops in Hanoi and Halong Bay in the north, and the 21-day "Grand Tour" of Vietnam and Cambodia river cruise and tour includes stops at Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Hue and Siem Reap.
No matter which itinerary you choose, a highlight will be time exploring the fascinating beehive of activity that is Ho Chi Minh City. 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 the unique family-owned Lanh My A Silk producing factory and the unspoiled My An Hung village; while 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 monastery offers up a traditional Buddhist blessing. And in Siem Reap, you'll visit the ruins of the world's largest temple complex at Angkor Wat.
Emerald Waterways' river cruise fares include all transfers, onboard (and some on-shore) meals, unlimited specialty tea and coffee, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, bottled water in the cabins replenished daily, continental breakfast, pre-dinner canapes and Wi-Fi. Most shore excursions as well as all onboard and excursion gratuities are also included. On touring days, hotel accommodations, internal flights, and transfers are also included.
Thanks for reading,
JR