MCC15: Siemreap - Saigon 8 days by Jayavarman Cruise

Safety Radio Comm., Radar, GPS, PA system, life jackets, life rafts, fire hydrants, flares and signals, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors in each cabin, CO2 engine room fire fighting system.
 
Accommodation: 27 cabins including 3 categories: Superior, Deluxe and Signature, can cover 54 passengers.
 
Superior Staterooms
Located on the main deck, the 14 Superior Staterooms (4 twin, 10 double) come with in-room bathrooms. The large floor to ceiling panoramic glass doors open to the balcony (5sqm). Measuring a total space of 21sqm (incl. balcony), the superiors are appointed with wooden, white furniture design supported by decent Asian ornaments and fine-art paintings on the walls and ceilings.
Amenities: Hot water kettle (Tea), sun hat, binocular, slippers, in-room safe, balcony with 2 chairs and table, mini bar, hair dryer, bath robe, internal phone, desk, chairs, luggage rack.
 
Deluxe Staterooms
Located on the upper deck and with a floor space of 30sqm the 11 Deluxe Staterooms (3 twin, 8 double, 1 connecting) with own balcony (5sqm) offer an in-room bathroom which is separated from the sleeping area by a mighty wooden sliding door. The very warm tone of the cabin designed with dark weighty antique furniture as well as the handmade, rustic copper sink sitting in the bathroom brings back the feeling of the 1930s Indochine lifestyle.
Amenities: Hot water kettle (Tea), sun hat, binocular, slippers, in-room safe, balcony with 2 chairs and table, mini bar, hair dryer, bath robe, internal phone, desk, chairs, luggage rack.
 
Signature Staterooms: Bao Dai Signature and Jayavarman Signature
The Signature Staterooms have its own identity. There are two Signatures available – the Bao Dai and the Jayavarman –both sitting on the upper deck.

Amenities: Hot water kettle (Tea), sun hat, binocular, slippers, in-room safe, balcony with 2 chairs and table, mini bar, hair dryer, internal phone, desk, chairs, sofa, luggage rack, bath robe, screen with DVD/music player.
 

Life on board
Life on the Jayavarman is one luxurious experience after another. Allow us to paint – in your mind’s eye – the picture of romance, majesty and mystery that becomes you when you board the Jayavarman.
You step out on to your private balcony, sipping your cocktail made with fruit from the land that envelops you. The sun sets gently and the charming countryside becomes a silhouette shining on the river. You soon realize that you’ve never been in a place so peaceful and so serene, occasionally punctuated by a child’s raucous laughter ringing from a nearby village. Darkness descends, signaling the time for a traditional feast. Food from the region is served by waiters who, by now, have become your friends. They are a tad shy yet they are proud to put on display their traditional attire and share their culture with you.
After a night’s sleep, the soft rays of the sun warm your face. Thai Chi lessons await you on the upper sun deck, ready to connect you to the energy that is so plentiful in this cultured and spiritual place.
At every corner, every river bend aboard this luxurious and majestic ship, new sights and new experiences are ready and waiting to be found.

Note:
Single cabin: 25 % off on double cabin’s price
Peak season surcharge: 150 USD/ person for all cruises falling on Christmas and New Year Eve
Please add 65 USD / person for the Cambodia port tax at 65 USD/pax levied by the Cambodian port authority

Itinerary;

Day 1: Siemreap – Kampong Chnang ( D )
The Tonle Sap (The Great Lake) is the flowing heart of Cambodia, giving love and life to this nation. The Tonle Sap has more fish than any other lake in the world and is home to an incredible variety of birds, including rare – and endangered – feathered life. At 12.00h (noon), we gather at the meeting point followed by a quick transfer to the boutique Ship. The ever-smiling crew welcomes us with unbridled warmth. A refreshing welcome drink awaits us followed by a sumptuous lunch on the Ship. Then, it is a lazy afternoon as the ship glides along the water. Dinner is at Dining Hall. Enjoy a spectacular experience on the sun deck as we bathe in the glow of the moon and the radiance of the stars. The ship moors overnight in the river or on the lake.
 
Day 2: Kampong Chnang ( B, L, D )
The day – in fact everyday – starts with an invigorating Tai Chi lesson on the sun deck, just as the sun begins its slow rise. Coffee and tea awaits the early bird. Before dawn, the ship sets sail across the Tonle Lake. As the ship is about to exit the lake, we see spectacular marshlands floating along the river banks of Kampong Chhnang province.
The afternoon cruise continues with a languid meander along the Tonle River, which narrows through leafy swaths of the Southeast Asian jungle. Here, the river is very narrow and we are greeted by kids waving enthusiastically at us from the banks. Follow a short bus trip to the see the Khmer-styled pottery at the Aundaung Russey village. We then embark on a truly marvellous motorboat excursion from Kampong Chhnang to see the wetlands, floating houses and fish farms in the region before reaching Kampong Cham in the evening. Further down the river we take part in an ox cart rally before being introduced to the Heritage Line pro bono “literacy project”.
Overnight in Kampong Cham.
 
Day 3: Kampong Cham – Wat Hanchey ( B, L, D )
We will wake up in the small hours of the morning, truly energized to embark on a land journey to the pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Travelers either take a motor-taxi or climb 291 steps to the top. Located at the top of a hill overlooking the river, it offers one of the most breath-taking views in Cambodia. Built in the 8th century, this ancient structure, together with a bigger and newer addition underscores the superb architecture of the Chenla Empire which predates the mighty Angkor temple complex. We even get to engage in light banter with some of the monks in the area. We will return to the Ship to witness a blessing ceremony performed by orange-clad local monks. When the tide allows, we will enjoy a surprise sojourn in our zodiacs (inflatable boats) to the nearby bank to swim in the teacoloured Mekong river, an experience that will, no doubt, dominate dinner conversations in the weeks to come. We will then cruise towards Kampong Cham to visit Wat Nokor, a wat built within the ruins of an ancient temple which holds a timeless story. On the way back to the Ship, we will visit an orphanage. Along the way, we will have to maneuver a 2-kilometer rickety bamboo bridge. Our sense of balance lies in the balance!
Overnight midstream near Phnom Penh.
 
Day 4: Phnom Penh ( B, L, D )
Phnom Penh was once the Paris of the East. Despite its rapid development, it has retained a lot of its rustic charm and elegance. After breakfast, we will be captivated by a comprehensive lecture on Cambodia’s modern history. This will be followed by a city tour of this dynamic, historical capital city of Cambodia which has managed to preserve huge slices of its French colonial allure. Sightseeing in the morning will include visiting the dazzling white and gold edifice of the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, and witnessing exceptionally beautiful Khmer craft at the National Museum.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit the Genocide museum and the Killing Field in town. Be prepared to be heart wrenched by this stark reminder of the genocide that transpired during Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime. We go back to the Ship after our museum visit. A variety of cocktails will be served followed by a traditional Apsara dance performance on board. Experience the brilliance and richness of this culture, the soothing sounds of traditional music, the calming scent of incense sticks and a barbeque on the sun deck. It is indeed a truly marvellous experience, dining in the open with the stars and the moon as our companions.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
 
Day 5: Phnom Penh – Chau Doc Border Crossing ( B, L, D )
The cruise liner then sets sail for a lazy day of cruising along the main Mekong Channel. As this is an international shipping route, you will witness large commercial ships plying this route. Later, in the afternoon, we set off to the Vietnamese border for the requisite cross border paperwork. As the process tends to take some time, we bask in the glow of the afternoon sun on the sun deck, pamper ourselves silly at the Spa, or sharpen our culinary skills with the Heritage Line’s Cambodian and Vietnamese cuisine cooking class. The ship moors midstream overnight
 
Day 6: Chau Doc – Sa Dec ( B, L, D )
Welcome to the fish sanctuary of Vietnam. We begin our day with a hearty breakfast at the Dining Hall or in the quiet sanctuary of your balcony. We will brace ourselves for a short excursion in Chau Doc, a pleasant town near the Cambodian border with sizeable Chinese, Kinh and Khmer communities. We will also visit the colorful local market near an ancient temple. This is followed by a trip to the quay, where we will be feted to a boat excursion to the floating market and rustic catfish farms. We will certainly enjoy watching schools of basa fish being fed by hand. Then, it is back to the ship for a lunch. In the mid afternoon, we will set off for My An Hung Village. Passengers walk to the family house through the vegetable garden to see the boat building yard and canals. We will cross a monkey bridge and see chili, corn and beetle nut plantations amongst other vegetable fields. Then gather at the family’s house to taste tea with honey with local delicacies and fruits before back to the ship to set off for Sa Dec in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Sa Dec.
Note: Due to high water in the Mekong Delta between July and December the following program applies:
This morning, you will start your excursion on a local boat (sampan) and discover the border town of Tan Chau. Firstly, the journey takes you to the “evergreen” islands where you will be thrilled to learn the life of the locals.
The inhabitants of these islands live on houses poised on high stilts – a centuries-old tradition in this part of the Mekong Delta. We stop to visit a fish farm located in the Tan Chau canal – this farm consists of floating houses and the villagers make their living by cultivating fish. You continue by boat to Tan Chau pier, disembark here and stroll around this colorful local market with lots of regional products. You return to the cruise ship after your market visit.
 
Day 7: Sa Dec – Cai Be – My Tho ( B, L, D )
In the morning, we embark a traditional sampan (a flat bottomed traditional Vietnamese wooden boat) to tour Binh Thanh Island and its man-made canals. Here, every villager is involved in the process of growing and processing water hyacinths into natural fibre floor mats and rattan baskets.
After lunch on board, the Ship arrives in Cai Be. The tour starts with a visit to Cai Be’s boisterous and colorful floating market where traders gather in a cacophonous congregation. During the languid ride, we discover breathtaking landscapes along the river and quaff the rustic life on the Mekong Delta. The evergreen islands along the Mekong River remain unknown to many people. The cruise will halt intermittently to allow us to observe how rice paste, rice cookies and coconut candies are made, along with the Longan fruit drying process. After touring the canals, we head to an ancient house surrounded by fruit orchards before heading to the Ship for dinner. We then board the ship for a tranquil evening cruise towards My Tho. A wonderful farewell party awaits us on the terrace deck
Overnight in My Tho.
 
Day 8: My Tho – Ho Chi Minh City ( B )
Our magnificent cruiser winds its way to My Tho, approximately 70km south of Saigon on the upper Mekong river in Vietnam. We bid farewell to the cruise as our journey comes to a close. But the memories and the friendships made on board linger on for a lot longer. We disembark at around 8.30h and we join the transfer to the madding crowd of Saigon. Drop off will be at the meeting point in Saigon.