LUXURY river cruise company Aqua Expeditions is seeing strong bookings from Australia and New Zealand for its new Aqua Mekong cruises, set to commence sailing along the Mekong River between Cambodia and Vietnam on September 30.
Aqua Expeditions CEO and founder, Francesco Galli Zugaro said forward bookings from Australia and New Zealand for the new cruise offering “are strong across the (three-), (four-) and (seven)-night sailings”.
The cruise operator’s first vessel in Asia, Aqua Mekong will keep to the luxury boutique style offered by the 12-suite Aqua Amazon and 16-suite Aqua Aria – Aqua Expeditions’ luxury cruises on the Amazon River in Peru.
Designed by Saigon-based architectural firm Noor Design, the 62m Aqua Mekong will have 20 outward-facing suites, each decorated in authentic Asian style and with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Michelin-starred chef David Thompson, who has been appointed executive chef of Aqua Mekong, will create a menu influenced by South-east Asia with such dishes as river prawns with ginger, shallots, tamarind and palm sugar served on betel leaves as well as cashew nut pudding with coconut cream.
Meanwhile, Aqua Mekong’s Bar programme will offer a unique village-to-table concept, showcasing a rotating selection of cocktails featuring artisanal spirits, hand-cut ice and fresh ingredients from the Mekong River Basin, along with the leisurely and romantic drinking rituals of colonial Indochina.
Leisure amenities on board the cruise ship include the Observation Deck, the Outdoor Lounge with a plunge pool, a spa, a fitness centre, a library and a screening room.
Guests can also look forward to land excursions such as shopping for ingredients with the chef in Cambodia’ wet markets, watching traditional silversmiths at work or spending time amongst snakes and crocodiles at a Vietnamese riverside farm.
