AmaLotus

AmaLotus cruise ship
Rating:

Cruise line
AmaWaterways

Specifications of AmaLotus

Year of build2011  /  Age: 14
BuilderHai Minh Shipyard / Saigon Shipyards Co Ltd (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
ClassMekong river cruiser
Length (LOA)92 m / 302 ft
Gross Tonnage950 gt
Passengers62 - 124
Crew50
Decks4
Cabins62
Decks with cabins4
OwnerIndochina Sails
OperatorAMAwaterways Asia

AmaLotus Review

Review of AmaLotus

The 2011-built RV AmaLotus cruises the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia, departing from Siem Reap, My Tho, and Saigon. AmaLotus shares a similar design and itinerary with the fleetmates AmaDara (2015) and AmaKaia (2026).

These vessels are owned by Indochina Sails and operated under charter by AmaWaterways, one of the world's largest river cruise companies.

AmaLotus cruise ship, Mekong River, Cambodia-Vietnam

Cabins

AmaLotus cabins (62 total) include 56 Twin Balcony Suites (with 2 Owner's Suites) and 6 cabins with non-opening porthole windows, across five stateroom grades. This 124-passenger ship boasts some of the most spacious suites on the Mekong, with accommodations up to 624 ft². Approximately 90% of all cabins feature outside verandas.

Each stateroom is equipped with individual air conditioning, comfortable sitting areas, a mini-bar, safe box, bathrobes and slippers, and a luxurious bathtub.

Cabin Types/Categories (number and location), from highest to lowest:

  • Suites – Luxury/SU (x2, Deck 3, 624 ft² / 58 m²) and Junior/JR (x10, Deck 3, 290 ft² / 27 m²)
  • Balcony Staterooms – A (x22, Deck 2), B (x22, Deck 1) – 226 ft² / 21 m²
  • RiverView Staterooms – C (x6, Lower Deck) – 226 ft² / 21 m²
  • 90% of all staterooms feature outside balconies.

The interior décor blends regional Khmer influences with Colonial elegance.

Shipboard Facilities

Public areas include the Lotus Main Restaurant, offering a variety of Western and Asian dishes prepared by local chefs. Cuisine includes Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Western selections. Breakfast is served buffet-style, lunch features soups, salads, hot entrees, and desserts, while dinner includes multi-course meals. Complimentary beer and wine are available at lunch and dinner, with soft drinks and house-brand spirits also included. The entire crew is English-speaking.

AmaLotus' facilities also include the Saigon Lounge & Bar (with entertainment, shows, enrichment programs, and a library), the Panoramic Lounge (forward-facing), the Lotus Lobby (with a gift shop and embarkation area), a Gym/fitness center, three Spa rooms (for massages), and a top deck/sundeck with a swimming pool, bar, and large shaded seating area.

Itineraries

MS AmaLotus offers year-round, one-way luxury river cruises in Vietnam and Cambodia along the Mekong River. Below are the main itinerary themes:

  • "VIETNAM, CAMBODIA AND RICHES OF THE MEKONG" – 15-day itinerary with 7-day river cruise, sailing between Hanoi and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), with embarkation in Siem Reap or the reverse. Includes 22 complimentary land excursions, 2-night hotel stays in both Hanoi and Saigon, and a 1-night Halong Bay cruise.
  • 7-night/8-day Mekong River Cruise – between Siem Reap and Saigon (or reverse), with 14 complimentary land excursions. This option does not include hotel packages in Vietnam or Cambodia.

Below are examples of 7-day itineraries introduced in 2019, with prices starting at approximately USD 2200 per person (double occupancy).

7-night/8-day cruise from My Tho to Siem Reap

Date / TimePort
DAY 1Departing from My Tho, Vietnam
DAY 2Cai Be, Vietnam
DAY 2Sa Dec, Vietnam
DAY 3Tan Chau, Vietnam
DAY 4-5 (overnight)Phnom Penh, Cambodia
DAY 5Koh Chen, Cambodia
DAY 6Kampong Tralach, Cambodia
DAY 6Oudong, Cambodia
DAY 7Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia
DAY 7Tonle Sap Lake
DAY 8Arriving in Siem Reap, Cambodia

7-night/8-day cruise from Siem Reap to Saigon

Date / TimePort
DAY 1Departing from Siem Reap, Cambodia
DAY 2Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia
DAY 3Phnom Penh, Cambodia
DAY 3Chong Koh, Cambodia
DAY 4Phnom Penh, Cambodia
DAY 5-6 (overnight)Mekong River
DAY 7Cai Be, Vietnam
DAY 8Arriving in Saigon, Vietnam

AmaLotus cruise deals are all-inclusive, covering house-brand alcohol (wine, beer, spirits), soft drinks, Internet/Wi-Fi, land excursions and transfers, live local entertainment (Vietnamese music, dance, and themed dinners), daily enrichment lectures, and 24-hour coffee/tea service.

Prices are per person, based on double occupancy. Rates are indicative and may vary depending on booking date, promotions, travel agency offers, group bookings, or last-minute deals. AmaWaterways also offers discounted airfare on major airlines, with no flight deviation fees.

AmaLotus Wiki

RV AmaLotus is one of the AmaWaterways ships offering luxury Mekong Delta cruises in Vietnam and Cambodia. The other two boats are newbuilds - AmaDara (2015) and AmaKaia (2026). These vessels are operated by AmaWaterways' "AmaVoyages" division in partnership with the local river cruise company Indochina Sails, a subsidiary of Huong Hai Junks. Also operating in Southeast Asia is the AmaPura, which offers Irrawaddy River cruises in Burma (Myanmar).

RV AmaLotus is a modern river ship designed specifically for navigating the Mekong Delta in southwestern Vietnam. In terms of length, the Mekong River is the 12th longest in the world and the 7th in Asia. It serves as a major trade route connecting China’s Yunnan province with Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Combining traditional and modern elements, the AmaLotus features mostly full-size balcony accommodations (90% of all cabins), Colonial-style interior decor in both public areas and staterooms, and a professionally trained Vietnamese and Cambodian crew.

Note: For a complete list of river cruise ships and riverboats, visit the "itinerary" section of CruiseMapper’s River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.