ABOARD THE AMADARA -- Changes may be coming to the top deck and pool area of the AmaDara's sister ship, the AmaMaya, which is slated to start sailing the Mekong River in 2026.
AmaWaterways provided details about potential changes following its annual board meeting held in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It will mirror the AmaDara's cabin allocation and other interior amenities, according to AmaWaterways president and co-founder Rudi Schreiner, but there might be another level above the existing top deck that Schreiner said could introduce new activities onboard.
"We can do a whole top deck up here, maybe put in a pickleball court or something," Schreiner said, in a nod to the line's first and so far only pickleball court that was added to the AmaMagna last year and has become one of that ship's most popular features.
Speaking on the AmaDara during a Mekong sailing this week, Schreiner acknowledged that playing pickleball in the significantly warmer climes of Cambodia and Vietnam might not have the same appeal it has in Europe. "I'm not sure if anyone wants to play pickleball in that heat, but maybe in December and January. We'll see," Schreiner said.
Whatever changes the company ultimately decides for the top deck, they will likely resemble the top deck features of the Mekong Serenity, the newest ship from Australia Pacific Touring, which shares in the ownership of AmaWaterways' Mekong ships.
Similar to the AmaDara, the Mekong Serenity has an open-air lounge and pool on the third deck that provides ample shade, except directly above the pool.
A Sadec Deck suite on the AmaDara. Photo Credit: Nicole Edenedo
But the Mekong Serenity also has a fourth deck, a sun deck with a track running the length of the ship and partially shaded lounge seating areas.
Schreiner said adding another deck to the AmaMaya is a strong possibility.
"We pretty much have the layout. It's going to be very similar to [AmaDara's] configuration -- all the colors and so on. We are just starting to talk about floors," Schreiner said, adding that artwork also is yet to be decided for the ship.
Deeper Mekong investment
Strong demand for the Mekong is fueling the company's investment in the region and its decision to add a ship there.
The AmaDara, Schreiner said, is fully booked from September to April. Demand is so strong that the company is considering opening up more departures in July, one month before it typically starts the season on the Mekong.
But selling Mekong cruises in August is already a challenge. Schreiner said Mekong bookings in August are typically slower because most travelers believe that the wet season, which runs May through October, means it rains all day, every day, which he said is not true; it might rain for an hour or a little more, but not all day.
The AmaDara's sundeck pool. Photo Credit: Nicole Edenedo
"The weather is better in July than it is in April, but in April, we're full," Schreiner said, adding that April is still the dry season but tends to be much warmer than July and August.
Regardless of when the Mekong season opens in the future, Schreiner said travelers can expect a regular rotation of new shore excursions and programming.
A visit to the village of Angkor Ban was added this year and includes two options for a walking tour through the area -- one for active guests and one for those who prefer a more leisurely pace. Both versions are designed to provide guests with an intimate look at village life, including a tour inside a home.