Mekong Jewel

UNIWORLD

ON DECK Route: Mekong River Maiden Voyage: 2021 Owner: The Travel Corporation Operator: Uniworld Shipyard: Damen Song Cam Shipyard www.uniworld.com

Boutique river cruise operator Uniworld has announced plans for four new Super Ships set to join the fleet over the coming months. S.S. La Venezia will bring enhanced luxury to Northern Italy following renovation, while S.S. Sphinx will make its debut on the Nile in 2021, closely followed by S.S. São Gabriel on the Douro River and Mekong Jewel on the Mekong.

The family-run business, which is modelled after sister company The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, was founded by Beatrice Tollman with the aim of bringing a boutique hotel experience to the world’s rivers. As such, each vessel is unique, designed by Tollman and her daughter to reflect the spirit of the destination through locally sourced antiques, custom fabrics and original works of art.

Mekong Jewel will sail from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam through to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia, stopping at floating villages and the temple complex of Angkor Wat along the way. Its design scheme honours the region’s French Colonial heritage, with handcrafted timber furniture, natural textures and ornate ceiling fans, complemented by exotic plantlife and a rich palette of materials.

On-board facilities include two lounges, a library, swimming pool, gym and spa, as well as a sauna, steam room, hair salon and nail bar. There’s also two dining venues: one main restaurant and an al fresco eatery on the upper deck. The 34 suites – ranging from 339-924ft2 – feature floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies to maximise the views, along with sumptuous Savoir Beds of England and spacious marble bathrooms with double vanities.

In line with other Uniworld vessels, Mekong Jewel is constructed with sustainability in mind; the propellers increase performance and efficiency while special paint on the hull decreases drag and diesel electric propulsion systems reduce greenhouse gas emissions.