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Mr. Maarten Perdok, CEO of Heritage Line Company shares about the country that was chosen as "Destination of the Year" by the magazineTravel + Leisure:"Myanmar is a very popular destination with a lot of potential because of its unspoiled beauty. The Ayeyarwady is a beautiful river to cruise and explore. In fact, river cruising is one of the most enjoyable ways to explore a country and its culture. You can get a very different perspective on a country and go to places that other tourists simply don't get to because there is no other way to get to such places other than by river. This is especially true in Myanmar, where infrastructure is lacking, making river cruising one of, if not the best, ways to experience the country."
Built entirely in Vietnam over 14 months, the 23-room luxury river cruise ship features an aluminum superstructure over a steel hull. "Because of the low water levels in Myanmar, we have prioritized the use of lightweight materials that are not commonly used on conventional vessels," said Technical Director Stefan Malin. "Based on the experience of building two other river cruise ships in the same company, combined with the selection of the best contractors and the most suitable materials, we have successfully built a vessel of very high quality."
“We wanted to achieve a low draft of just one meter, so that we could go further ahead of our competitors, as well as stay longer in areas with very low water levels,” Mr. Perdok added. “We can go to remote places on the Ayeyarwady River that other cruise ships cannot reach, offering our guests a very unique experience all year round. I am happy to say that we have indeed succeeded in achieving this very low draft.”
The Anawrahta will operate four different itineraries ranging from 4 nights to 11 nights, calling at ports such as Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Bhamo. The longest is a 901 mile (about 1,450 km), 12 day / 11 night journey from Mandalay to Homalin on the Chindwin River and ending in Bagan on the Ayeyarwady River, with visits to silver and textile workshops, temples, monasteries, teak forests with elephants, and many other interesting destinations.
Guests on the four-deck Anawrahta can enjoy a five-star experience on the Ayeyarwady River, including the highest passenger service ratio (46 crew to 46 passengers), the largest staterooms with private balconies in all staterooms, luxurious amenities, world-class cuisine and unique excursions as well as daily entertainment and information sessions.
“You’re so close to a unique and peaceful life on the river, and you still have a luxurious floating hotel waiting for you,” says Perdok. “And during the time guests have to leave their comfortable rooms, there’s always a chilled glass of wine waiting for them when they return.”
Named after King Anawrahta, the founder of the Burmese nation in the 11th century, the Anawrahta is modeled after classic steamships with a blend of Burmese and British colonial motifs and décor. In addition to 23 spacious cabins, the ship also has a bar, lounge, restaurant, spa, gym and swimming pool with jacuzzi. The Anawrahta joins five other luxury ships in the Heritage Line: Halong Bay Cruises (Vietnam) and Mekong River Cruises for the journey between Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Siem Reap (Angkor Wat), Cambodia.
