Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has released the first photos of its new Southeast Asia-based vessel, the S.S. Mekong Jewel, exclusively to LATTE to share with readers.
The newly-built vessel features all-suite accommodation, a stunning outdoor swimming pool and two restaurants: a main dining room and an alfresco eatery on the upper deck.
The S.S. Mekong Jewel is 80 metres in length and accommodates 68 guests and 51 crew – one of the highest staff-to-guest ratios on the Mekong river where she will operate.
The ship was constructed in 2020 using the most sustainable and eco-friendly materials, such as special paint used for the hull of the ship that creates less drag caused by bio-fuelling, specially designed ship propellers that increase performance and efficiency, energy-efficient LED light fixtures, automatic air conditioning controls to optimise cooling resources and a water-cooled air-conditioning system that will save energy.
Mekong Jewel’s 13-day itinerary will take guests from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, with visits to Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat and more.
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Being completely all-inclusive, this itinerary offers incredible value with rates from $10,799 per person twin-share in 2022. Plus, Uniworld’s Total Flexibility offer allows guests to pay in full to receive an additional 12% saving and the absolute flexibility of being able to change a booking up to 60 days before departure, or request a refund, no questions asked, up to 120 days before departure.
Uniworld President and CEO Ellen Bettridge is optimistic travellers from Europe and the US will be able to return to Asia for some 2021 departures on the Mekong, with bookings available from September this year.
Locally, Uniworld is focused on cruising the Mekong from early 2022 for the Australia and New Zealand market.
“We’re excited to share the first look at what’s to come for Uniworld’s stunning new Super Ship, the S.S. Mekong Jewel,” Alice Ager, General Manager, Australia for Uniworld Boutique River Cruises said.
“Its design, coupled with our unparalleled service and experiences, will offer guests the best that river cruising has to offer with the highest standard in luxury river cruising. She truly is a decadent beauty.”
“Travelling in Asia can’t come soon enough – we just can’t wait to get on the Mekong to support the local communities across Vietnam and Cambodia who truly rely on us for their tourism income. So many of our friends have suffered having had no tourists over the past 12 months and we know how important it will be for us to be part of the recovery and to help reinvigorate their economies.”
“If you have experienced the unique service and hospitality across Asia, the smiling faces, the attention to detail, the food, and the kindness of the people, I love imagining how eager our partners will be to welcome us back – the hospitality is going to be even more wonderful than ever!” Ager told LATTE.
“The best part is that we are seeing positive booking trends for travel in Asia in 2022 – travelling closer to home and on smaller, luxury vessels has never been more in demand than now.”
Lead image: Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ Royal Suite on the Mekong Jewel