Heritage Line’s much anticipated Upper Mekong itineraries aboard the brand new luxury vessel, Anouvong, launched in August, have been interrupted due to “demanding conditions”.
NOTE: Update Sept 24. Cruises to resume.
Initially, itineraries were modified to allow for “low water levels between November – April coupled with weight of the ship”.
Long tail boat tender transfers were implemented to bring passengers to the vessel through the non-navigable sections.
According to a bulletin issued by Heritage Line, these conditions “do not allow safe navigation of specific areas of the upper Mekong. Notably, there are shallow and narrow river section with strong rapids located between Luang Prabang – Pakbeng and – Huay Xai that are particularly challenging for our ship.”
Various compensation packages were offered to affected guests.
Subsequent to this modification to the program, Heritage Line has now decided to “pause operations on the Upper Mekong region for the period from July to December 2024.”
They go on to state that the vessel will be dry-docked during this “pause” presumably to make modifications that will allow the program to resume on the stated date of 1 January 2025.
Heritage Line has been contacted for further comment.
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