RV Samatha

RV Samatha boat cruises on Irrawaddy River (in Myanmar/Burma) departing from homeports Mandalay and Yangon (Rangoon). APT's cruise ship Samatha is a premium (5-star) newbuild riverboat launched (in 2016) together with the sistership Princess Panhwar. The vessel operates on two 2-week long 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 ship has a total of 30 cabins in 6 (all suite) categories. All staterooms are with either twin balconies (French plus step-out) or Panoramic/French Balcony. Standard cabin amenities include individually-controlled air-conditioning, Queen-size bed convertible to twins (plush bedding, bedside cabinets with boutique lamps), sitting area (coffee table, armchairs), flat HDTV (satellite reception), mirrored dressing table with chair, large wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), spacious en-suite bathroom (single-sink glass vanity with marble top, under-sink storage, WC, separate glass shower, slippers, bathrobes, luxury bath toiletries), replenished daily bottled water. Each suite provides free Wi-Fi (depending on coverage / not available in most remote destinations along the river). Complimentary Wi-Fi is also available in selected common areas.

Cabins Types/Categories (number, location), high to low:

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

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The Samatha riverboat features as facilities Dining Room Restaurant, Main Lounge (air-conditioned, with floor-ceiling windows / located on Sun Deck), Bar, Observation Deck, Sun Deck (with covered seating and sunbathing areas), Swimming Pool, Fitness Centre (small gym room with free weights, treadmill, elliptical cross trainer), Wellness/SPA (for traditional Asian massages by certified English speaking staff).

Passengers can benefit from continental breakfast (in-cabin served). Cooked breakfast is offered in the Dining Room, along with a 3-course lunch followed by Afternoon Tea service and a 4-course dinner (with traditional Asian and International dishes). All meals are complimentary and prepared with fresh/locally-sourced produces. Complimentary beverages (local beers and spirits, house wines, soft drinks) are offered at each lunch and dinner in the Restaurant. Each afternoon, refreshments and fresh cafe snacks are offered in the Main Lounge. After dinner, in the Lounge are held Burmese traditional puppet show and cultural performances (songs and dances).

Luke Nguyen Private Dinners feature two menus designed by cruise company's chef and APT ambassador Luke Nguyen (Australian-Vietnamese). Passengers can alternatively dine in the intimate 8-seat private/VIP Dining Room and enjoy contemporary Burmese gourmet food specialties showcasing celebrity chef's signature style. Private dinners can be booked (per passenger) once per voyage. Dining is paired with premium wines and is free (at no extra charge).

RV Samatha cruise deals are inclusive of the Internet (and Wi-Fi), all tours/excursions (including on bicycles), ground/bus transfers, live evening entertainment (crew show and local performers boarding the ship), daily enrichment lectures (themed on Burmese culture and history, and led by local tour guides), food and wine tastings, 24-hour coffee/tea/water/snacks.

RV Samatha river cruise prices are per person and based on double occupancy. These are only indicative of AMA cruise rates. They might be different when you book your AmaWaterways RV Samatha cruise tour deals, influenced by travel agency promotions, special offers, and discounts, group travel booking or last-minute deals rates. On RV Samatha cruises, AmaWaterways lines offer discount airfare travel deals on major airlines (without charging Flight Deviation fees).

River Cruise Itineraries

APT Samatha cruise itineraries are themed "HIDDEN WONDERS OF MYANMAR". The 15-day Irrawaddy itinerary is southbound (Mandalay to Yangon) and the reverse/northbound (Yangon-Mandalay). Next table shows the southbound itinerary as call ports and sequence.

APT Signature Experiences program explores over 2200 Buddhist temples, stupas and pagodas in Bagan, including Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda, Shwezigon Pagoda, Mahamuni Buddha Temple (close to Mandalay). Other small-group shore excursions include a horse-drawn cart tour of Inwa, a photo tour at U Bein (world's oldest and longest teakwood bridge), a pottery-making demonstration by local artisans in Yandabo. Passengers can prolong the 14-day cruisetour with an optional 3-day package extension to Inle Lake.

Note: You can see the CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.