As ship building momentum continues on the Mekong River in Southeast Asia, Pandaw River Cruises too has announced plans to build an additional ship on the river, the Saigon Pandaw, slated for completion in November 2011.

“Recent growth on the Mekong has been far higher than anticipated with greater numbers of Americans and Australians traveling to Southeast Asia,” Yim Choong Hing, CEO of Pandaw River Cruises, said in a statement.

When completed, the ship will be Pandaw’s fourth Mekong river ship, joining the Mekong Pandaw, Tonle Pandaw and Indochina Pandaw. All four ships will be offering cruises through Vietnam and Cambodia.

In the last year and a half, Pandaw River Cruises, a Singapore-based river cruise line with head offices in Scotland, opened a U.S. reservations and sales office in Breckenridge, Colo. to enhance sales stateside.

The Saigon Pandaw will be similar to the Indochina Pandaw, which was built in 2008.  The vessel with have 30 cabins averaging nearly 200 square feet in size. The cabins will be outfitted with French doors that will open onto a common deck with seating from which passengers can view the passing landscape.

Since 1995, Pandaw has been operating on the Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers in Burma, on the Mekong in Cambodia and Vietnam, and on the Rajang River in Borneo. The company’s Pandaw II vessel sails in Burma, and the Orient Pandaw in Borneo.

All Pandaw ships serve a combination of local and western cuisine, and wine with dinner as well as complimentary local spirits.

The ships are built with shallow drafts to allow them to moor where larger ships cannot go.

For late 2011, the Saigon Pandaw is sailing charter only, and will sail a regular season for 2012-13. It will sail Pandaw’s Mekong Exploration seven-night cruise from Siem Reap in Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam through Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Pandaw offers an optional two-night pre or post tour in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as an optional two-night extension to Angkor Wat.

The news comes during a year when river cruise operators such as AMAWATERWAYS and Viking River Cruises have developed their Mekong river cruise programs. Viking has partnered with Pandaw to charter the 66-passenger RV Tonle for 15-day itineraries on the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia for the 2010-11 season.

AMA began offering Mekong sailings in September 2009, when the 92-passenger La Marguerite was launched. Earlier this year, AMA said it plans to introduce a second 124-passenger ship on the Mekong that will launch in summer 2011. AMA will have partial ownership of both ships.

AMAWATERWAYS has released its 2011 brochure, the highlight of which are new ships in Europe, on Russia’s Volga River, and on the Mekong River in Southeast Asia.

“AMAWATERWAYS has experienced tremendous growth in the past few years, and 2011 promises to be our most successful year on record,” said Rudi Schreiner, president of AMAWATERWAYS. “More and more travelers are discovering that river cruising truly is the best way to experience Europe, Russia and Southeast Asia.”

In Europe, AMAWATERWAYS is launching the AMAVERDE, sister ship of the AMABELLA, which was christened this year.

These new 161-passengervessels feature staterooms that average 214 square feet each, with the majority of them boasting double balconies.  The ships also offer several dining options, including an intimate private chef’s table restaurant that seats 24 guests, a wine bar and two restaurants.

The ships also house a library with a fireplace and a heated swimming pool on the Sun Deck. The exclusive “Infotainment” system offers complimentary high-speed Internet access and complimentary first-run Hollywood movies. All AMAWATERWAYS vessels have complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship.

Next spring will also mark the debut of the completely redesigned AMAKATARINA on Russia’s Volga-Baltic Waterway. Guests on the culture-rich Moscow to St. Petersburg “Russian Waterways” itinerary will have a choice of 10 different stateroom categories, including four different suite categories and accommodations up to 432 square feet in size. Seventy-six staterooms aboard AMAKATARINA feature balconies, and the lavishly appointed vessel will also include an alternative restaurant, conference hall, sauna and solarium.

In 2011, the new AMALOTUS will join LA MARGUERITE on the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia, offering 7-night cruises from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The 124-passenger AMALOTUS will feature 226 square-foot deluxe staterooms.  More than 82 percent of the staterooms have balconies. Junior suites are 290 square feet of space and suites are 452 square feet each.

AMAWATERWAYS will continue to offer its popular itineraries throughout Europe on the Danube, Main, Rhine and Mosel rivers. Many itineraries will take advantage of the Koblenz Flower Show, which will take place from April to October of 2011. New for 2011 is a sweeping “From the North Sea to the Black Sea” for a grand tour of Europe and  “Melodies of the Danube,” featuring a 7-night cruise from Budapest to Vishofen followed by a 3-night stay in Munich.

For more details, visit www.amawaterways.com.

Viking River Cruises has introduced a new 15-day itinerary on the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia for its 2010-2011 sailing season.

Viking is the second U.S. river cruise company to introduce a Mekong River program.

AMAWATERWAYS first introduced sailings on the Mekong River in September 2009, when the 92-passenger La Marguerite was launched. Earlier this year, AMAWATERWAYS announced that it plans to introduce a second 124-passenger ship on the Mekong that will launch in summer 2011.

AMAWATERWAYS has been bullish about the market from the get-go. Rudi Schreiner, president of AMAWATERWAYS, has said the market can handle additional capacity.

And now, Viking is following suit.

“Our guests have requested that we expand to other destinations so they can experience even more of the world,” said Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen. “With the addition of this new Mekong River program, Viking now offers itineraries in six regions.”

Viking has partnered with Pandaw River Cruises, a Singapore-based river cruise line with head offices in Scotland, to charter the 66-passenger RV Tonle.

The Tonle was built in 2002 with 28 deluxe and 10 single outside facing staterooms. The cabins all have air conditioning, private bathrooms, safes and hair dryers. The ship also features a sun deck with a shaded sitting area, a restaurant with panoramic viewing windows, observation bar and lounge, library, onboard boutique and

Viking’s 15-day Magnificent Mekong itinerary includes stops in Hanoi, Sa Dec, Cai Be and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, as well as Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, Tonle Sap and Phnom Penh in Cambodia.

There is one departure on Dec. 27 in 2010, followed by 17 departures in 2011.

Cruise prices start at $3,399 per person, based on double occupancy. Pricing includes accommodations, all onboard meals, daily guided shore excursions and port charges. Viking also offers extensions to Ha Long Bay, Vietnam or Bangkok, Thailand.

“We are proud to launch this new Mekong River program and know that it will soon become a favorite of both past and new Viking guests,” said Hagen.