APT Mekong Serenity

The 2023-built APT Mekong Serenity cruise ship is a newbuild riverboat operated by the APT Travel Group-owned company APT Touring. This 90-passenger boat is specifically designed for cruises on the Mekong River, in Vietnam and Cambodia. The ship's principal homeports are Kampong Cham (Siem Reap) and My Tho (Saigon).

The vessel is Vietnam-flagged (MMSI 574111725) and is fully owned and operated exclusively by the luxury river cruise tour company and travel brand APT (Australian Pacific Touring).

APT's Mekong River cruise operations started in 2012, in a partnership with AmaWaterways. However, Mekong Serenity is an APT-owned ship, specifically designed and constructed to the company's strict requirements.

The shipowner, APT Travel Group, is a Melbourne, Australia-based global river cruise and tour operator. Founded in 1927, the company operates worldwide through its fully owned subsidiaries and travel brands: Travelmarvel (established 1996), Botanica World Discoveries (2000), Captains Choice (2001), Croydon Travel (2001), APT Kimberley Wilderness Adventures (2003), AmaWaterways (founded in 2002, acquired by APT in 2005), and TravelGlo (2019).

APT cruise guests are primarily from the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. The company is known for offering excellent value-for-money vacation packages with extensive inclusions. Cruisetour fares include flights, port charges and taxes, gratuities, Internet/W-LAN access, and 24-hour beverage service. Lunches and dinners are accompanied by complimentary alcoholic beverages (local beers and house wines by the glass) and soft drinks. Shore excursions with guided sightseeing tours are also included in the package.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

RV APT Mekong Serenity has 2 dining venues (Lemongrass Restaurant/Main Dining Room, Indochine Restaurant/Private Dining Room), a panoramic bar lounge (Harmony Lounge & Bar), Serenity Spa & Wellness Centre, a swimming pool, and a Sun Deck with a large Jacuzzi/Whirlpool Bath, a Walking Track, sunbathing areas (loungers, deck chairs), canopy-shaded seating (4-seat tables, sofas, day beds), and an Alfresco Cafe (Horizon Bar & Grill/outdoor venue). The wellness facilities consist of a fitness (aft on Lotus Deck 3/gym room with cardio machines, free weights, a space for exercises/stretching and yoga, with mats being provided), a Massage Room (for treatments, and a Beauty Salon (hairdressing, manicure/pedicure).

Aft on Lily Deck 1 are the Laundry Room and the Serenity Spa (salon and massage room). Midship on Lily Deck are both ship entrances (portside and starboard).

The interior is fully air-conditioned and marked by teak floors and premium wood panelling. A spiral grand staircase interconnects the cabin floors. There is no elevator/lift.

The riverboat provides 5-star impeccable services and offers a highly personalised experience enhanced by its professional crew and staff. Depending on cabin category, guests are provided with Gold or Silver butler service and room service (laundry, garment pressing, packing/unpacking).

The shipboard dining is complimentary and based on fusion food - traditional Asian specialties and European cuisine.

The Indochine Restaurant (aft on Orchid Deck 2) is a Private Dining Room in a partnership with the Australian chef, restaurateur and TV presenter Luke Nguyen. The restaurant also hosts the Luke Nguyen Welcome Dinner event.

The Lemongrass Restaurant (forward on Lily Deck 1) is the Main Dining Room. At its entrance, there is a table displaying the dishes (and their ingredients) and the wine on the menu. The venue also has an open kitchen and hosts two scheduled events, a Fruit-Carving Demonstration and a Cooking Class.

The breakfasts are buffet-style, while the lunches and dinners are waiter-served. At dinner, a la carte wine pairing is offered, with international house wines, local beers and spirits, and soft drinks. Light snacks and casual food are available throughout the day at the Poolside Bar.

The list of venues includes the Horizon Cafe & Poolside Bar (alfresco bar lounge, forward on Lotus Deck 3), Foyer Bar (deck 3, serving the Lobby Hall/deck 2), Serenity Spa & Wellness Centre, Lobby Hall (Reception on lower level/deck 2, and Bar on upper level/deck 3), and the Harmony Lounge & Bar (forward on Orchid Deck 2, features comfortable seating and unobstructed views from floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows).

The Harmony Lounge serves APT's onboard enrichment program, hosting daily presentations (themed on the regions' history and culture) and, in the evenings, traditional Apsara dance performances.

The Pool Deck is arranged with live plants and flowers and has plenty of seating (outdoor sofas with tables, sun loungers, and deckchairs). The swimming pool is big enough to do laps.

Decks and cabins

RV APT Mekong Serenity has 44 passenger staterooms, all fitted with step-out balconies and French balconies.

The boat has 4 passenger-accessible decks, of which 3 have cabins.

Standard cabin amenities include a Queen-size double bed (convertible to two twin beds, luxury bed linens, 2 pillows per guest), bedside cabinets, wall-mounted reading lamps, lounge area (2 seater couch, reading chair with a small round table, writing desk, wall-mounted TV, wardrobe, digital safebox in the closet), spacious bathroom (shower cubicle, single sink vanity, toilet, wall-mounted hairdryer, bathrobes/kimonos, towels, slippers, local brand toiletries), an outside/step-out balcony, a French Balcony (a horizontally slide-opening, floor-to-ceiling window), and individual climate control.

The laundry service is complimentary and includes 2 free items per person per day. The butler service is also complimentary.

Angkor and Bayon suites' bathrooms are larger, and have a two-sink vanity and a spa bathtub.

The Angkor Suites have a large open-air terrace (teak flooring, 2-seater sofa, low table, two armchairs), a separate bedroom (with access to a walk-in closet and the master bathroom), and a separate living room (with a large sofa and a second bathroom/WC and sink only, no shower). The access to the terrace is via sliding glass doors from the bedroom.

Bayon Suites' terraces are furnished with two sun loungers and a low table.

Silver Butler Service is provided to all Bayon Suites. It includes: the laundering and pressing of two garments (per person per day), shoe shining, booking services, one spa treatment (per person per cruise) and a room service for in-cabin dining (a fruit platter daily).

Gold Butler Service is provided to both Angkor Suites. It includes: laundering and pressing of four garments (per person per day), in-cabin dining (daily fruit platter, pre-dinner canapes, tea and coffee service), shoe shining, booking services, packing/unpacking, a welcome aboard bottle of champagne, and one spa treatment (per person per cruise).

Itineraries

RV Mekong Serenity's maiden voyage started on September 14, 2023. The inaugural cruise itinerary was APT's 15-day "Vietnam and Cambodia Highlights".

APT Mekong cruise deals are all-inclusive. Included in the fares are drinks (throughout the cruise), shipboard dining, gratuities, Wi-Fi (shipwide), in-cabin beverages (daily replenished teas, coffee, bottled water), aluminium refillable bottle, all shore excursions, butler service (Angkor and Bayon suites only), laundry service (all staterooms), gov taxes, port charges and tipping, crew and staff services (Tour Director, local tour guides), home to airport land transfers (by a private car, up to 75 miles each way), international flights.

APT Mekong Serenity cruises start and end with overnight flights between London and Siem Reap/Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The cruising portion of the cruisetour is 7 nights.

Currently, with Mekong Serenity, APT River Cruises offer the following itineraries:

11-night "Spiritual Cambodia and the Mekong" (between Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City) visits DAY 1-2-3 (Siem Reap, hotel overnight), DAY 4 (Siem Reap, Kampong Cham, ship embarkation, Koh Pen, Angkor Ban), DAY 5 (Angkor Ban, Oknha Tey, Phnom Penh), DAY 6 (Phnom Penh), DAY 7 (Phnom Penh, Oudong, Koh Chen, Phnom Penh), DAY 8 (Phnom Penh, Cambodia-Vietnam border crossing, Tan Chau), DAY 9 (Tan Chau, Evergreen Island/aka Silk Island, Sa Dec), DAY 10 (Sa Dec, Cai Be, My Tho Port), DAY 11 (My Tho Port, ship debarkation, travel to Ho Chi Minh City, hotel overnight), DAY 12 (Ho Chi Minh City).

13-night "Vietnam and Cambodia Highlights from Siem Reap" (Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City) visits DAY 1 (flight from London to Siem Reap), DAY 2-3-4 (3-nighht Siem Reap hotel stay, visits to Angkor Archaeological Park, Angkor Wat), DAY 5 (Kampong Cham, ship embarkation/the cruise starts), DAY 6 (Angkor Ban village, Oknha Tey), DAY 7 (Phnom Penh, visits to Oudong and Koh Chen Island village), DAY 8 (Phnom Penh, excursions to Killing Fields, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, tuk tuk ride, Central Market, National Museum), DAY 9 (Phnom Penh departure, Cambodia-Vietnam border crossing), DAY 10 (Tan Chau, rickshaw tour, boat tour to Evergreen Island), DAY 11 (Sa Dec, Cai Be), DAY 12 (My Tho Port/ship debarkation, bus travel to Ho Chi Minh City/2-night hotel stay), DAY 13 (Ho Chi Minh City/free exploration), DAY 14 (hotel-airport transfer and return flight to London).

The reverse itinerary is titled "Vietnam and Cambodia Highlights from Ho Chi Minh City".

18-night "Vietnam and Cambodia Discovery" (Hanoi to Siem Reap) visits DAY 1 (private car transfer home to airport), DAY 2-3 (flight from London to Hanoi), DAY 4 (Tan Chau/Mekong Delta), DAY 5 (Halong Bay boat tour), DAY 6 (Tan Chau, bus travel to SIem Reap), DAY 7-8 (Siem Reap, hotel overnigh), DAY 9 (Kampong Cham, ship embarkation, Koh Pen Island), DAY 10 (Angkor Banm, Oknha Tey), DAY 11 (Phnom Penh), DAY 12 (Oudong, Koh Chen), DAY 13 (Phnom Penh, Vietnam-Cambodia border crossing), DAY 14 (Tan Chau, Evergreen Island), DAY 15 (Sa Dec, Cai Be), DAY 16 (My Tho Port, ship debarkation, bus travel to Ho Chi Minh City), DAY 17-18 (Ho Chi Minh City hotel overnight, flight to London).

21-night "Best of Vietnam and Cambodia" (from Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi) visits DAY 2-4 (Hanoi), DAY 4-5 (Halong Bay), DAY 6 (Tan Chau, Hanoi), DAY 7 (Hoi An), DAY 8-9-10 (Hue hotel), DAY 10-11-12 (Ho Chi Minh City hotel), DAY 12 (My Tho Port, ship embarkation), DAY 12-13 (Cai Be), DAY 14 (Tan Chau, Evergreen Island, Vietnam-Cambodia border crossing), DAY 15 (Phnom Penh), DAY 16 (Oudong, Koh Chen), DAY 16-17 (Oknha Tey), DAY 17 (Angkor Ban), DAY 18 (Wat Hanchey), DAY 19 (Koh Pen), DAY 20 (Kampong Cham, ship debarkation), DAY 21-22 (Siem Reap, flight to London).

25-night "Vietnam and Cambodia Grand Tour" (Hanoi to Siem Reap) visits DAY 1 (Hanoi), DAY 2 (Hanoi, Mai Chau), DAY 3-4 (Mai Chau), DAY 5 (Mai Chau, Hanoi), DAY 6 (Hanoi), DAY 7 (Hanoi, Tuan Chau, ship embarkation, Halong Bay), DAY 8 (Halong Bay), DAY 9 (Halong Bay, Tuan Chau, ship debarkation, Hanoi, Da Nang, Hoi An), DAY 10 (Hoi An), DAY 11 (Hoi An, Hue), DAY 12 (Hue), DAY 13 (Hue, Saigon), Day 15 (Saigon, My Tho Port, ship embarkation, Cai Be), DAY 16 (Cai Be, Sa Dec, Tan Chau), DAY 17 (Tan Chau, Evergreen Island, Vietnam-Cambodia border crossing, Phnom Penh), DAY 18 (Phnom Penh), DAY 19 (Phnom Penh, Oudong, Koh Chen, Oknha Tey), DAY 20 (Oknha Tey, Angkor Ban, Wat Hachey), DAY 21 (Wat Hachey, Kampong Cham, Koh Pen), DAY 22 (Kampong Cham, ship debarkation, Siem Reap), DAY 23-24 (Siem Reap hotel overnight).

The boat cruise tours in Ha Long Bay are on RV Au Co, a ship chartered from Indochina Sails.

Pre-cruise and post-cruise hotel stays are offered in Ho Chi Minh City (Park Hyatt) and Siem Reap (Sofitel).