A low profile to pass under what stops the others
The Avalon Saigon was built in Vietnam and took her first travellers in
October 2018. Sixty metres, 18 suites, 36 travellers, a crew of about twenty. She
is the only Asian ship the line still markets in 2026, and her calendar runs into
2027.
Her distinguishing feature is her silhouette. Flat roof, low superstructure:
she passes under bridges and power lines that stop taller ships. On the Mekong
that decides the real length of the route, between Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh
and the Tonle Sap.
The suites, and what is missing
Each suite is around twenty-three square metres and opens through a
wall-width window about four metres across, clearing nearly three metres. Beds
face the window. The line presents this as unique in river cruising; it is the
same principle as on its European ships, at a different scale.
What does not exist has to be said. No lift, on any deck. No
wheelchair-accessible stateroom. No pool. No triple or family cabin: maximum
occupancy is two. And several excursions reach villages served by poor roads,
sometimes by no road at all.
One reservation on the ownership of the hull. A third-party database credits
her to an operator that ceased trading in 2021, while the ship still sails for
the line in 2026. No official source takes a position. So we describe the ship
and do not settle the question of who owns her.
The other ships in the fleet
The Delfin III sails the Peruvian Amazon. The MS Farah holds the Nile. The Avalon Imagery II and the Avalon Tranquility II
are the line's European hulls.
The package, and the owner
This destination sells as an escorted tour. The package normally brings
together accommodation ashore before and after the cruise, transfers, guided
visits, meals aboard and the sailing itself. Outside it: international flights,
gratuities, visas and anything consumed aboard beyond the programme.
A necessary piece of transparency about the ship. In Europe the line owns its
fleet. Outside Europe it sells under its own name ships operated by local
owners. The itinerary is theirs, the hull is not always. A traveller looking for
recourse has every reason to know that before departure.
None of the European fleet's signature inclusions, bicycles, sliding glass
wall, three excursion families, carries over here automatically.
Arranging this trip from Quebec
The flight to Europe or to the destination is not included in the cruise
fare. From Montreal the connection is direct to several cities in season, and
routed through one connection the rest of the year or for the far
destinations.
Plan one night ahead before embarkation, two if the time difference is large.
That margin is used exactly once, but on that day it saves the trip. Keep the
return day free as well.
We build the complete file, flight, cruise, hotels, transfers, insurance,
under the protection of Quebec's compensation fund for travel agency customers.
One call is enough to check what the season really allows.
