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Mekong Jewel


Lotus to launch ‘first luxury ship on Upper Mekong’


Laura French Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam


Vietnamese cruise line Lotus Cruises plans to launch what it claims will be the “first luxury ship” on the Upper Mekong in Laos in 2021. The line’s third ship, Mekong


Muse, which went on sale on Monday (November 25), will feature 14 cabins split into three categories. There will be six Vista Suites,


six Signature Suites and two Grand Suites. Cabins will be the largest available on this section of the Mekong, with Vista Suites measuring 20sq metres and Grand Suites 30sq metres. The ship, with an Indochina-


inspired design throughout, will feature a restaurant, lounge bar, observation area, herb garden and jogging track on the sun deck. It will sail 10-night itineraries


from Chiang Saen in Thailand to Vientiane in Laos. Clients will also be able to book a five-night trip taking in either half of the sailing. Pandaw is currently the


travelweekly.co.uk


only other line in the UK offering sailings on this part of the river, which is narrower and less accessible than the Lower Mekong. Uniworld has chartered the


line’s existing vessel, Mekong Navigator, for the past two years and will charter new ship Mekong Jewel – launching on January 3 – from January 5 for 22 weeks. Marco Rosa, founder of


representation company Plateau International, said: “The cruise product in Laos, particularly in the luxury sector, is fairly limited at the moment. The new ship will take guests to a section of the Mekong few river cruise liners can reach.” Managing director Chi Vu said:


“We want to give our guests a level of quality and service they won’t find elsewhere on the Mekong.” A new online reservations


system is launching in January that will allow agents and consumers to book cruises direct with the cruise line. Currently, bookings have to be made on email via the office


in Ho Chi Minh City. lotuscruises.com


28 NOVEMBER 2019 31


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