The Hottest New Hotel Amenity? Small Boats for a Personal Cruise
The hotel amenity of the moment: a small ship that navigates remote waterways and lets guests cruise for a day (or five).
Oberoi Philae | Egypt
Route: After a trip to Oberoi’s Sahl Hasheesh beach resort, board this plush ship (with a pool and a theater) and wind down the Nile.
Highlights: The Temple of Edfu and the Valley of the Kings.
Meal Plan: Egyptian dishes like tapenade-crusted Nile perch.
Details: oberoihotels.com; from $1,644 per night for two people, all-inclusive.
Amandira | Indonesia
Route: Amanwana resort’s double-masted, five-cabin sailboat takes guests to see rare Komodo dragons.
Highlights: The dragons, and snorkeling among sharks and manta rays.
Meal Plan: Barramundi with turmeric, basil, and rice.
Details: aman.com; five nights on the ship and two nights at the resort, from $42,850 for two people, all-inclusive.
Naga Pelangi | Malaysia
Route: Datai Langkawi guests can now sail to deserted Andaman Sea islands on this stunning three-bedroom schooner powered by 65-foot red sails.
Highlight: Swimming with clown fish.
Meal Plan: A refreshing post-swim lunch of marinated tomatoes, mint, and feta.
Details: thedatai.com; four-hour cruise from $127 per person, including lunch.
The Strand Cruise | Myanmar
Route: The Strand Yangon’s 27-cabin boat sails on the Irrawaddy River between Bagan and Mandalay.
Highlight: A morning at a Buddhist monastery.
Meal Plan: High tea with Burmese and Western touches: tea-leaf salad and shrimp pinwheels.
Details: thestrandcruise.com; three nights from $2,592 per person, all-inclusive.