New luxury river ship to debut in Myanmar

There soon will be another option for upscale cruises on Myanmar's Ayeyarwady River.

Scheduled to debut in January, the 54-passenger Strand will be an offshoot of the landmark Strand Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar and sail three- and four-night trips along the river between Bagan and Mandalay.

The vessel will offer everything from butler service to gourmet a la carte cuisine. Strand traditions such as afternoon tea, served on deck, and classic Strand cocktails also are in the plans.

Cabins on the ship will have floor-to-ceiling Juliette balconies with opening windows. Two Strand Suites located at the front of the ship will have external terrace areas and come with such extras as a one-hour spa treatment and a night at the Strand Hotel.

Itineraries will include stops at such Myanmar landmarks as the U-bein bridge and four of the main temples in Bagan, including the Tant Kyi Taung temple located on the opposite bank of the Ayeyarwady.

Fares during low season for three-night trips from Mandalay to Bagan start at $1,782 per person, based on double occupancy. Four-night sailings from Bagan to Mandalay start at $1,976.

For a first look at what the Strand will look like on the inside, click through the carousel at the top of this story.