New Launch date for Heritage Line Anouvong on Upper Mekong

#expeditioncruising .

After the inevitable COVID delays, Heritage Line's much-anticipated ' Anouvong' is now due for launch in August 2023, the Anouvong will be the first luxury boutique ship to cruise the majestic upper-Mekong river in Laos, an area many travel pundits see as ripe for expansion.

"We still see the river cruise segment in Southeast Asia as a very attractive travel product," says Andreas Schroetter, Director of Sales and Marketing for Heritage Line, "The luxury travel segment has also gained more momentum after the pandemic as it looks like people tend to pay more for quality travel now.

"We see Laos and the upper Mekong a promising one for Heritage Line where we will establish ourselves in summer 2023 and launch the first luxury 5-star ship to sail on this river. Also, we believe Laos as a destination will see more visitation as it has what people may look for after a long time of stress and uncertainness: a feeling of peace, relaxation and well-being, quietness and harmony and exotic nature."

This lesser-travelled stretch of one of the world’s most spectacular waterways is home to serene nature, quaint villages and stunning temples. The boat, with a capacity for 20 guests, was fittingly named after a former King of Lao and blends traditional Laotian ambience and artwork with French-Colonial finesse.

For more information, see Heritage Line's Upper Mekong itineraries