For the first time, Mekong river
cruising has been affected by
severe flooding in the region.
ARRIVING in Siem Reap on the weekend to
review APT’s new AmaLotus, Cruise Weekly
has been witness to the extensive flooding
which has caused pre-cruise land tours and
Mekong itineraries to be altered.
Locals say the flood is the worst in ten years,
with the river overflowing into the town
centre and surrounding provinces.
Also participating in the trip, APT general
manager Chris Hall said: “This is the first time
this has ever happened.”
But he said there would be minimal effect
on the cruise segment of the itinerary, which
started yesterday.
Instead of a 40-minute port transfer to Tonle
Sap on Monday, passengers took a four-hour
drive to Kampong Chhnang, where the ship
was relocated due to high-water levels and
inaccessible roads.
Most shore activities went ahead in
alternative venues or at different times, with
many travellers praising APT for its handling of
the situation.
The historic event also allowed a bonus 45-
minute “flood tour” to see downtown Siem
Reap from the safety of a 30-seat bus.
Hall said other companies’ vessels, which are
taller than the AmaLotus, may face problems
sailing under bridges along the Mekong.
A Pandaw Cruises spokesman said no ships
were able to pass under the bridge outside
Phnom Penh to go across Lake Thonle Sap to
Siem Reap.
Some tour companies, such as Exotissimo
Travel, shut down operations in Siem Reap
and grouped all clients together into one tour.
Conditions are expected to ease by the end of
the week.
The flooding in Cambodia has left at least 58
people dead and 6,000 families have been
evacuated from their homes to higher ground.
