Nicole Edenedo
Abercrombie & Kent is planning to put a river cruise ship on the Peruvian Amazon in 2025, marking the first time the company will offer river cruises in South America.
The company will be partnering with its sister brand Ecoventura, a yacht-based, expedition cruise company that specializes in tours to the Galapagos Islands. A&K formed a partnership with the company last year.
It's a welcome addition to the Peruvian Amazon, where only a select few river cruise lines operate, including Avalon Waterways, Uniworld, Rivers & Forest Expeditions, Aqua Expeditions and Delfin Amazon Cruises.
It's also welcome news for river cruise enthusiasts who have a taste for farther flung adventures and look to this form of travel as their way of achieving those ends.
Similar to Africa, the river cruise landscape in South America is relatively small. Most river cruises happening on the continent sail on the Peruvian end of the Amazon, and companies like Avalon and Uniworld charter vessels from Aqua and Delfin. So a newbuild coming to this region is pretty exciting, especially from a tour operator with a strong background in the luxury space.
It will be interesting to see how A&K brings its touch to its ship and how it pairs its river cruise experience with its existing land journeys in Peru. Will there be travel experiences exclusive to the brand's river cruise guests? Or will the new river journeys take a page from the brand's existing playbook in Peru? How will Abercrombie & Kent offer the best of both worlds?
Here's what we know so far about A&K's new ship.
The ship
While it doesn't have a name yet, you can already tell that A&K's new river ship has style.
Early renderings of the vessel show it will have a modern, minimalist design. The ship's exterior color will primarily be a deep shade of green, cut with two levels of lighter wood paneling. The paring calls attention to the ship's natural, rainforest surroundings.
There will be 12 cabins, with two specifically for solo travelers. The company said those single cabins will not have a single supplement fee. Some of the cabins will have connecting doors, which A&K said would be ideal for families.
The sun deck will provide an enclosed and an outdoor area that guests can use to get a clear look at the rainforest's wonders or to stargaze on those warm Amazonian nights. There will also be an outdoor swimming pool, a massage room and gym, along with lounge and bar areas.
A skiff will be available for excursions on the river.
The voyages
A&K will be offering three- and four-night river cruise itineraries between Iquitos and Nauta, which can be combined to create seven-night itineraries. The seven-night journeys will all start and end in the port town of Nauta and includes a short transfer from the city of Iquitos, which is home to the nearest airport.
Guests can expect to explore side rivers, such as the Maranon, Ucayali and Samiria; visits to the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve; and interacting with local communities and encountering wildlife. Kayaking and canoeing on smaller tributaries is also on the menu.
Through A&K Philanthropy, the brand's nonprofit,
philanthropic arm, guests will have positive and memorable interactions
with the indigenous communities of the Peruvian Amazon, A&K said.
Guests
can expect to learn about the lives and traditions of people there and
visit local schools supported by A&K Philanthropy.
Bookings for these journeys will open in June.