RV Samatha

RV Samatha cruises on the Irrawaddy River (Myanmar/Burma), departing from the homeports of Mandalay and Yangon (Rangoon). APT’s cruise ship Samatha is a premium (5-star) newbuild riverboat, launched in 2016 together with her sistership Princess Panhwar. The vessel operates two 2-week itineraries (northbound and southbound).

All AMAwaterways ships (owned and chartered) are constructed with ISO-classified appliances, fittings, fixtures, and materials. The company is surveyed to exacting standards by Burma’s DMA (Department of Marine Administration Myanmar).

Cabins

APT Samatha has a total of 30 cabins across six suite categories. All staterooms feature either twin balconies (French balcony plus step-out balcony) or a Panoramic/French Balcony. Standard suite amenities include individually controlled air conditioning; a Queen-size bed convertible to twins (with plush bedding and bedside cabinets with boutique lamps); a sitting area (coffee table and armchairs); flat-screen HDTV (satellite reception); mirrored dressing table with chair; large wardrobe; electronic safe (located in the closet); and a spacious en-suite bathroom (single-sink glass vanity with marble countertop, under-sink storage, WC, separate glass-enclosed shower, slippers, bathrobes, and luxury bath amenities). Bottled water is replenished daily. Each suite offers complimentary Wi-Fi (subject to coverage and generally unavailable in remote river destinations). Complimentary Wi-Fi is also available in selected public areas.

Cabin categories (number and location), from highest to lowest:

• Twin Balcony Royal Suite (2x Upper Deck forward, category RS – Royal Suite, 43 m2 / 455 ft2)
• Twin Balcony Executive Suite (2x Upper Deck aft, category ES – Executive Suite, 49 m2 / 525 ft2)
• Twin Balcony Suite (14x Upper Deck midship, categories A and B, 30 m2 / 320 ft2)
• French Balcony Suite and Window Suite (12x Main Deck, categories C and D, 27 m2 / 290 ft2)

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The Samatha riverboat features a Dining Room Restaurant, Main Lounge (air-conditioned with floor-to-ceiling windows, located on the Sun Deck), bar, Observation Deck, Sun Deck (with covered seating and sunbathing areas), swimming pool, Fitness Centre (small gym with free weights, treadmill, and elliptical trainer), and Wellness/Spa offering traditional Asian massages by certified English-speaking staff.

Passengers may enjoy a continental breakfast served in-suite. A cooked breakfast is offered in the Dining Room, along with a three-course lunch, Afternoon Tea service, and a four-course dinner featuring traditional Asian and international cuisine. All meals are complimentary and prepared using fresh, locally sourced produce. Complimentary beverages (local beers and spirits, house wines, and soft drinks) are included with lunch and dinner in the restaurant. Each afternoon, refreshments and freshly prepared snacks are served in the Main Lounge. After dinner, the lounge hosts Burmese traditional puppet shows and cultural performances (songs and dances).

Luke Nguyen Private Dinners feature two menus created by the cruise company’s chef and APT ambassador Luke Nguyen (Australian-Vietnamese). Guests may alternatively dine in the intimate 8-seat private/VIP Dining Room and enjoy contemporary Burmese gourmet specialties showcasing the celebrity chef’s signature style. Private dinners can be booked once per passenger, per voyage. These dining experiences are paired with premium wines and are included at no extra charge.

RV Samatha cruise fares include Internet access (Wi-Fi), all shore excursions (including bicycle tours), ground/bus transfers, live evening entertainment (crew shows and local performers boarding the ship), daily enrichment lectures (focused on Burmese culture and history, led by local guides), food and wine tastings, and 24-hour coffee, tea, water, and snacks.

RV Samatha river cruise prices are per person, based on double occupancy. These rates are indicative of AMA cruise pricing and may vary when booking an AmaWaterways RV Samatha cruise tour, depending on travel agency promotions, special offers, discounts, group bookings, or last-minute deals. AmaWaterways also offers discounted airfare deals on major airlines for RV Samatha cruises (without charging Flight Deviation fees).

River Cruise Itineraries

APT Samatha itineraries are themed "HIDDEN WONDERS OF MYANMAR." The 15-day Irrawaddy program operates southbound (Mandalay to Yangon) and northbound (Yangon to Mandalay). The table below outlines the southbound itinerary with ports of call and sequence.

The APT Signature Experiences program explores more than 2,200 Buddhist temples, stupas, and pagodas in Bagan, including Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda, Shwezigon Pagoda, and the Mahamuni Buddha Temple near Mandalay. Additional small-group shore excursions include a horse-drawn cart tour of Inwa, a photography tour at U Bein (the world’s oldest and longest teakwood bridge), and a pottery-making demonstration by local artisans in Yandabo. Guests may extend the 14-day cruise tour with an optional 3-day extension to Inle Lake.

Note: You can view CruiseMapper’s complete list of river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.