Free Roundtrip Air Offered from major North American Gateways

     Boston, MA & Vancouver, BC, June 2015 – Emerald Waterways, Europe's newest deluxe river cruise company, expands its 2016 season offerings to include a 16-day itinerary exploring Vietnam and Cambodia along the iconic Mekong River. A new 16-page preview brochure, available online as well as by mail, offers details on the itinerary, the enhanced shore excursions and the ship, as well as opportunities to customize experiences with optional extensions and the Discover More program. Early planners enjoy the valuable rewards of best fares and cabin selection, and, if booked by June 30, free roundtrip air from major North American gateways. Guests will sail aboard the recently-built Mekong Navigator. Fares range from US$4,995 to $7,095; CAN$5,745 to $8,285 per person, double occupancy.

     Launched in September 2014, the deluxe Mekong Navigator is a 230-foot vessel built to accommodate only 68 guests. The ship blends traditional French Colonial style furnishings with modern comforts to reflect the timeless elegance of a complete contemporary cruising experience. Features include a lounge, sun deck, spa, fitness room and library as well as spacious oversized suites to create a genuinely indulgent journey. Each suite offers included luxuries: minibar, bottled water daily, flat screen TV with on demand movies, internet access, a safe and air conditioning. Many have panoramic floor to ceiling windows and either French or full balconies. Guests in the Grande and Prestige Suites have their mini-bars restocked and also receive a one-hour spa treatment, all minibar consumption, daily laundry, and in-suite evening canapés.

     The Mekong River – the longest in Southeast Asia and the lifeblood of the region, offers an in-depth view of the region's centuries-old culture and supports nearly 60 million people who live, work and play in the heart of Indochina. Traveling aboard the Mekong Navigator, guestsmeet local inhabitants in remote areas, sample exotic cuisine purchased from floating markets and learn of a culture based on intensive agriculture and a warm community spirit.

     In the North, the romantic city of Hanoi combines modern and traditional Asia. Guests visit the former home of Ho Chi Minh, tour the city's historic quarter and see an ancient temple rising from a single pillar in the center of a square-shaped lotus pond. An overnight cruise in Halong Bay spotlights hundreds of sheer limestone pillars towering from emerald waters covered in lush vegetation.

     In Central Vietnam, guests visit Hue – formerly the Imperial capital, and current home to palaces and tombs of former emperors, plus elaborate pagodas and temples along the Perfume River. Hoi An is especially popular with photographers for cobblestone streets and colorful doorways inside the city; farmlands and beaches, on the periphery.

     In the South, the historically busy metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City continues to progress into a modern city while maintaining roots in strong traditions. Vietnam War reminders are never far away - whether Cu Chi Tunnels, a fascinating network of underground passageways constructed by the communist guerillas, or the War Remnants Museum. In the Mekong Delta region, highlights include a tour of a French gothic cathedral in Cai Be and bustling floating markets in Chau Doc; while a visit to Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh contrasts the elaborate Royal Palace complex with the tragic reminders the Khmer Rouge regime at the Killing Fields. A stop at a local monastery offers up a traditional Buddhist blessing. And in Siem Reap, guests visit the spectacular 500-acre ruins of Angkor Wat. 

     Emerald Waterways' on-board experience includes cultural performances, educational talks and traditional entertainment, while daily excursions are accompanied by local English-speaking guides. Additionally, world-class culinary director Jorg Pennek creates a cuisine that not only reflects local flavors, but also provides a variety of Western favorites with unlimited wine, beer and soda at lunch and dinner.

     The Discover More program introduces a variety of ways guests may customize their sailing. In Hoi An, guests visit a local market to select fresh ingredients to use in cooking a traditional Vietnamese meal, which they eat for lunch. In Ho Chi Minh City, a four-hour Vietnamese art history tour guided by a passionate art expert comprises private and museum collections from 1850 to the present. Also in Ho Chi Minh City, guests explore Saigon's best street food as part of a three-hour, three-course progressive banquet.

     To enhance guests' experiences even more, Emerald's Extension Packages include 5-day/4-night trips to Sapa and 4-day/3-night trips to Luang Prabang – cultural hubs of Southeast Asia. And for those who want to explore on their own – either at their originating or final destination – Emerald will arrange overnight stays at Silk Path Hotel in Hanoi, Shinta Mani Resort in Siem Reap or Grand Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. A 3-day/2-night stopover at Singapore's Park Regis hotel is also available.

     Launched in 2014, Emerald Waterways caters to the four-star-plus market by using state-of-the-art ships, top quality service and a nearly all-inclusive pricing plan. The company's approach is designed to minimize guests' concerns about daily budgets or mounting costs. The cruise fare includes all transfers; all onboard (and some on-shore) meals; unlimited tea and coffee; wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; bottled water in the cabins; continental breakfast, pre-dinner canapés and after-dinner sweet treats served in the top suites; WiFi onboard the ship, daily shore excursions – as well as all gratuities, a savings up to $650 per couple on 15-day cruises.

     As part of Scenic, Emerald Waterways is backed by the award-winning expertise of the world's leading luxury river cruise operator. Additional information can be found by contacting your travel agent or on Emerald Waterways' website, www.emeraldwaterways.com; U.S. consumer/travel agent reservations line: 855-222-3214; Canada consumer reservations line: 855-444-0161; Canada travel agent reservations line: 855-265-2899. Brochure orders may be placed on the website, or a digital downloadable version is available.

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Gillies and Zaiser
+1 212.724.7783
media@gilliesandzaiser.com
www.gilliesandzaiser.com
EW-05-June- 2015