Making waves

Daring to daydream about that next river cruise yet? Here are three new boats to add to your wish list. June sees the launch of Aqua Expedition’s Aqua Nera (aquaexpeditions.com), a 20-suite vessel that will explore the Peruvian Amazon from its home port of Iquitos. With a trio of motorized skiffs for excursions up tributaries and menus by Lima-based chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, highend cruisers can expect to be immersed in the Amazonian wilderness without sacrificing a single creature comfort. Fans of Viking Cruises can look forward to the inaugural voyage of the sleek Viking Saigon (vikingrivercruises.com) in August. Featuring the clean Scandinavian design for which Viking is known, the 40-cabin river boat will ply the Mekong between Cambodia and Vietnam, with niceties like an onboard spa and swimming pool to keep passengers busy between shore trips. In Egypt, Uniworld’s S.S. Sphinx (uniworld.com) is setting sail on the Nile later this year with seven-night round-trip cruises from Luxor. Seventy-two meters long, the boat offers 42 spacious suites across three cabin decks, each appointed with Egyptian artwork and hand-carved furnishings.