Tauck River Cruises
Aqua Mekong
- Cruises
- 1
- From
- —
Ship comparison
Aqua Mekong vs Zambezi Queen
AmaWaterways
Zambezi Queen
- Cruises
- 8
- From
- $12,385
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Aqua Mekong is an intimate Tauck River Cruises ship carrying 40 passengers, in service since 2014. Zambezi Queen is an intimate AmaWaterways ship carrying 28 passengers, in service since 2009.
Choose Aqua Mekong if you want more space per passenger, a better-rated spa and gym or a more romantic trip: it outscores Zambezi Queen for spa & fitness (7.5 vs 2.0) and romantic (9.5 vs 8.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 38.9 gross tons per passenger (vs 17.9).
Choose Zambezi Queen if you want better-rated entertainment, more of a party or more adventure and nature: it outscores Aqua Mekong for entertainment (7.8 vs 4.5), party (5.0 vs 3.0) and adventure & nature (10.0 vs 8.5) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Aqua Mekong | Zambezi Queen | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Tauck River Cruises | AmaWaterways |
| Ship size | Intimate | Intimate |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2014 (better) | 2009 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | — | 2013 |
| Gross tonnage | 1,555 | 500 |
| Passengers | 40 | 28 |
| Crew | 40 | 30 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 1.0 | 0.9 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 38.9 (better) | 17.9 |
| Cabins | 20 | 14 |
| Decks | 3 | 3 |
| Length | 205 ft | 150 ft |
| Beam | 38 ft | 37 ft |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | — | 9 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 1 | 8 |
| Upcoming sailings | 14 | 305 |
| Cruise lengths | 13 nights | 9 to 16 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | — | $12,385 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Aqua Mekong leads on 5 of the ten, Zambezi Queen on 4, with 1 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Tauck River Cruises
Aqua Mekong
Sailing now
1 cruise on sale.
AmaWaterways
Zambezi Queen
On a river cruise, you can expect to see the shoreline every day, get off the ship every day, and enjoy a more comfortable setting with fewer passengers. AmaWaterways, with its emphasis on wine and food amid comfortably stylish details, has carved out a special niche in the river cruise arena.
Highlights
- The Zambezi Queen sails past Botswana's Chobe National Park known for its great concentration of African wildlife.
- The Chobe National Park is widely known for its spectacular elephant population.
- The Chobe River is a major watering spot, especially in the dry season (May through October) for large breeding herds of elephants, as well as families of giraffe, sable and cape buffalo.
- Land-based excursions are available, as are water-based trips to view wildlife on smaller vessels.
Sailing now
8 cruises on sale, from $12,385.
Questions
Aqua Mekong or Zambezi Queen?
Which is bigger, Aqua Mekong or Zambezi Queen?
Aqua Mekong is bigger at 1,555 gross tons, against 500 gross tons for Zambezi Queen. Aqua Mekong carries 40 passengers and Zambezi Queen carries 28.
Which ship is newer, Aqua Mekong or Zambezi Queen?
Aqua Mekong is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2014 against 2009 for Zambezi Queen.
Which has more space per passenger?
Aqua Mekong, with 38.9 gross tons per passenger against 17.9 on Zambezi Queen. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Zambezi Queen, with one crew member for every 0.9 passengers against one for every 1.0 on Aqua Mekong.
Which is better for families?
Aqua Mekong scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 3.0 out of 10, against 2.0 for Zambezi Queen.
Still deciding?
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