Best vacation ever! We’ve been on close to 30 international vacations of various types, and this one was indeed exceptional. We booked our Scenic vacation Treasures of the Mekong for Oct. 20 – Nov. 1, 2019. We began in Ho Chi Minh City and finished in Siem Reap – which was lovely ending it all with the fabulous Angkor Watt. Although it was considered at the end of monsoon season, our weather was spectacular. We chose this river cruise because we wanted to experience different cultures and locations than we had previously encountered. We chose Scenic because of previous bookings and expected them to deliver “the best”. Scenic has planned incredible experiences for its guests every step of the way. This vacation includes two nights stay in Ho Chi Minh City at the Saigon Intercontinental, seven nights stay on the Scenic Spirit, and three nights stay at the Siem Reap Hyatt. Accommodations throughout were phenomenal. Food at the hotels and on the Scenic Spirit was first class. Scenic carefully chose restaurants and food experiences outside of the hotels and boat, and we enjoyed them all. One of the most fun food-related experiences in Ho Chi Mihn City was the “Saigon at Dark” – a foodie adventure on Vespas. The most memorable and elegant off-the-boat dinner experience was on our last night at Kravan Temple. Unbelievable!! The excursions we chose to go on were all worthwhile. These cultural outings in both Vietnam and Cambodia provide huge contrasts – extreme poverty and luxury, extreme sadness and elation, concern and hope. All that we experienced changed us, informed us and/ or delighted us. There is so much history – both recent and centuries old – that we had read about but never connected to until this vacation. We felt a tie to (as much as you can be in such a short time ) the “real” Vietnam and Cambodia. Cannot miss excursions / experiences in our opinion: Chu Chi Tunnels, Vespa Adventures street food night, War Remnants Museum, Killing Fields and high school prison, Raffles Hotel, Phnom Penh by tuk tuk at night, Phare Circus, monastery at Wat Hanchey, floating village, Angkor Watt, Ta Phrom temple, Kravan temple dinner. The Scenic Spirit is such a beautiful boat. The design is spectacular. Local artists’ work adorns the walls. The spiral staircase, with an elevator in its centre, makes movement between levels so easy. The rear of the boat features a lovely pool area on the third level, an inviting lounge area on the second, and the dining room on the first. We really enjoyed massages at the spa. A big surprise to us was complimentary use of washers and dryers (including laundry detergent). The do-your-own laundry room saved us, as we hadn’t accounted for changes of clothing twice daily (due to the heat). We cannot say enough about the Scenic employees. Our tour director, our guides and the onboard manager and staff were exceptional. There were 50 guests on the boat, and there were 50 staff. We have never experienced such warm greetings and attentive gestures as on this vacation. We acknowledge that every single staff person was engaged and personable. However, we want to name a few who we had more frequent contact with and who contributed immensely to our incredible vacation experience: Bunly, Charran, Endra, Nghia, Dara, Thida, Lin, Srechan, Sreleak, Phally. As an end note, we appreciated that Scenic supports local organizations that promote the education and skills of the local people. We had two dance presentations on the boat that featured young people who were developing skills and being educated beyond that of what their birth situation could provide. The wonderful evening of circus entertainment featured young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who have been acquiring skills in a variety of performing and visual arts. And Scenic made purchases of gifts from local artisans to gift to guests. We love the choices that have been carefully made by Scenic related to social responsibility. As a second end note, Scenic’s environmental initiatives should be mentioned. We were provided with re-fillable metal water bottles. Instead of individual plastic toiletry bottles, porcelain pump units are in the bathrooms. Paper straws are used for drinks. LED lighting is used throughout. Less obvious to a guest is that the boats have efficiencies built in to the waste water system, into the power management system, and into the HVAC systems. Scenic boats also have energy saving high-glazed glass. Read Less

As a past Scenic traveller this was on my bucket list. This lived up to my expectations, I was part of a land/cruise tour of Vietnam & Cambodia over 22 Nights, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) & Siem Reap. This included the 7N cruise. We were a land content group of only 11 (9 aussie,2 Kiwis) due to early tour, 33 on the cruise. Low numbers meant that we were treated as celebrities by the enthusiastic staff who could not do enough for us. We all became friends early on the tour. Beautiful food & open bar made waistlines expand but there was no complaints Special thanks to Cruise Director Sven (he was always there to welcome us back from shore excursions) & all the crew & staff for making it a memorable experience. My recommendation...easy...Do it if you never get to do another one. Read Less

Two thumbs up. Five stars. Off-the-chart in customer service from the time we landed in Ho Chin Min City to the time we were dropped off at the Seam Reap Airport by the Scenic staff. This was my first time in Asia so I was in culture shock. The Mekong River cruise was a combination of cultural immersion during excursions to being treated like royalty aboard the five star vessel. The staff could not be any more accommodating. I was a single traveler in room 208. I was upgraded to this level because the ship was not completely full. The rooms are huge compared to other ocean and river cruise lines. There is a walk-in closet with drawers, a shoe storage area, a safe, ample space for your hanging clothes, and a minibar that is restocked daily with whatever you want. That's right. Drinks are all inclusive and my drink of choice is Pinot Grigio. There was never a time after my person found that out that my mini bar was without a bottle. There is a sitting area with a sofa, chair, and small round table. There is a balcony that only becomes your balcony when you open the electric balcony window. On the balcony breakfast type table was a live iris that was so beautiful it didn't appear to be real. Next to the bedroom area. There is plenty of space to walk around each side of the king-sized bed. There is a built-in night stand on each side also. The bed can be adjusted to your needs. I could raise the head or elevate my feet as needed. The bed was amazing! Usually, nothing feels as nice as your own bed but this was not the case on the Scenic Spirit. To the right of the bed was the bathroom. It was perfectly laid out. There was a make-up light mounted near the main mirror. The water was always hot with good water pressure. The glass shower had plenty of room. Each room comes with what is referred to as your butler. Honestly, they anticipate your needs and fall over themselves to accommodate you. I have never been treated like such queen in all my life. One of the greatest things about Scenic Spirit is that there are 24 hour washing machines and dryers available, WITH DETERGENT! I only washed three small loads throughout the cruise but how nice not to have to drag dirty laundry home. There is a spa with very reasonably priced services. I had a deep tissue massage on board and it costs about half of what I would pay at home. There is a daily early-morning (light) exercise class that was held in the top deck. They provide fruit infused water after each session. The excursions are so culturally immersive. The excursions were moving, humbling, and educational. Scenic does an awesome job with five star transfer service to and from the airport. Also, the hotels before and after the cruise are high end. Scenic Spirit, with Toby's supervision, ran like a well-oiled machine! Our guides, Duc and Dara, were class acts. Scenic is very blessed to have them. I will forever cherish the memories of my Mekong River Cruise with Scenic. I will never forget Duc or Dara. I will never forget Seyla. I will never forget the children in the villages and so much more. Thank you, Scenic for showing me the Mekong Delta in such a way that had me in tears as I boarded the bus for Seap Reap. The only negative I can offer was with the Scenic USA booking process, namely the flights. There was only one person in this office dealing with flights and she did not respond to emails well, or at all. She also booked an impossible schedule for our return flight which made us miss one of our flights (of 3) on the way home. Just make sure you review your flight situation well before accepting the itinerary. The cruise experience was so great that I won't hold a grudge against Scenic for the flights being poorly planned but the customer service from that area is something they could work on. Read Less

After spending 3 days exploring Siem Reap, the second larges city in Cambodia, we joint the Scenic Spirit for what I can only describe as a wonderful experience. Our first time on a river cruise did not disappoint. The choice of excursions was wide and there was one to suit everyone. As we sailed down the Mekong river from Cambodia to Vietnam we experience 5-star service on the ship. The food was excellent, you had your own private butler who looked after you every need. We met wonderful new friends and the ship was truly luxurious. The trip finished with 2 days in Saigon, Vietnam, again with many excursion options. The highlight for was was the Vespa foodie ride through the mad streets of Saigon as well as a Gala Dinner at a beautiful temple ruins in Cambodia. We recommend anyone who is looking for adventure combined with luxury to take this trip. Read Less

Smallish boat/ship that has accommodation for about 50 people but with a staff ratio of 1 to 2 cruisers. Huge cabins that are exquisitely equipped, spotlessly clean and unbelievably sound proofed. All cabins have an exterior sliding door and a full sized bathroom that would do many hotels proud. The shower is full sized and is welcome after a day exploring on the land. Each stop is associated with well organized and interesting tours that are included in the tour cost. Great food and open seating with casual clothing OK for any meal - meals are actually low stress and fun This cruise is well above what you get on most ocean going ships and really sets the bar very high with regard to quality and value for money Non-alcoholic drinks and beer are included and any cocktail or drink ordered is reasonably priced. All meals come with good quality free wine and each day their is a free cocktail happy hour (the cocktails are superb). What sets this cruise apart though is the staff who seem to enjoy your company - nothing is too much trouble. I world definitely recommend this cruise and I am alraedy planning to go again Read Less

In March of 2019 we did Scenic’s ‘Treasures of the Mekong’ tour and cruise. The trip consisted of 3 nights in Siem Reap, Cambodia followed by 7 days on the Scenic Spirit and ending with 2 day in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Upon arrival in Siem Reap we were met any taken to the fabulous Park Hyatt Hotel and that evening we were surprisingly divide into 3 groups, which we stayed in for the remainder of the trip. We were fortunate to be in group 2 which was led the fantastic Duc Ho (called Duke by the group). I can’t say enough about Duc. He was very knowledgeable, humorous and caring. In addition when we were touring Duc always made sure we had clean useable restrooms (not always easy to find in Cambodia) which he called happy houses, hand sanitizer, which he called happy hands, Mosquito repellent, and he insisted on our drinking lots of cold water which was provided both on the boat and on all the buses because it was very hot and humid for the whole trip. Scenic is very lucky to have Duc and should do everything they can to retain him! Our first 2 days in Siem Reap were spent primarily touring the Angkor complex to temples and we always had very knowledgeable local Cambodian guides in addition to Duc. The second day start by rolling out of bed at 3:00 AM for the sunrise at Angkor Wat and ended back at the hotel at about midnight after the most fabulous dinner and show at an old temple I have ever experienced. Scenic really knows how to do things right. The next morning, we boarded buses for an all-day ride to the Scenic Spirit. About 4 in the afternoon we were welcomed aboard the Spirit. The Spirit is a wonderful boat. Our suite was large and well arranged with a very large bathroom, a walk-in closet and a nice sitting area. The bed was heavenly! However there could have been a little more storage space, and in the walk-in closet there was a light that was motion activated and would sometimes come on in the middle of the night while we were turning over in bed or would go off while you were still in the closet but that was then negative about the suite. The food for the whole trip on the Spirit was very good and a nice mix of Western and Asian cuisine. The chef was excellent and always visible when the food was being served. My wife has some food allergies and we met with chef the first day, different and any of the other Scenic cruise we have been on, and then throughout the rest of the cruise he was always advising her what to safe eat and not to eat. The bar and lounge are was very comfortable and always had great service. Our suite attendant/butler was excellent and really took good care of any of our needs. There is a self-service laundry room that was also available for use. The sun deck on the top of the boat was very nice and was used extensively in the evenings both for the local entertainment that was brought on board and just for the cocktail hour, O’gin o’clock. They had a regular bar on the sundeck for making and serving drinks and a few of the daily briefings took place there always at about sunset when it started to cool off. We didn’t use the nice pool area on the stern of deck 3 but it looked very inviting. One of the really interesting parts of the trip as opposed to the more developed European rivers is that in many places when we stopped along the river for a tour the boat simply pulled up to the rives bank and they tied up to a bush put out a gangway and we got off under sometimes rather difficult footing but there were always lots of crew to help everybody get off the boat. Most of the tour were very interesting but probably my favorite was the tour of the Sa Dac wet market. Also, the tour of the Eco Village was very interesting. On the morning of the 7th day we had to say a sad goodbye to the Scenic Spirit, and we boarded buses for Ho Chi Ming City (Saigon). I must say I was really sorry to have to leave the Spirit. The boat itself and the wonderful crew were the absolute best we have experienced on Scenic and it is now our “Gold Standard” and we now compare all of our other trips to the Spirit and it great crew!! Scenic up us up in the Park Hyatt Ho Chi Ming City which was a wonderful 5-star hotel! The highlight of our stay in Saigon was our choice for dinner the first night. Before we left the Spirit, we were given about 5 different choices for different types of dining in Saigon. We chose the “Ride of Your Life” which is a tour on the back of Vespa motor scooters after dark around the streets of Saigon with 3 stops to sample a variety of different but wonderful street foods. Probably about a third of the passengers choose this option and we all absolutely loved the tour. What a lot of fun it was and none of the scooters crashed!!! They even carefully watched out for my wife’s good allergies. But probably the best part of the trip was the wonderful people that were in group 2. The group really bonded, and we all became friends and got along famously together and of course Duc was great. If you are lucky enough to take this trip, I sincerely hope that your group leader will be Duc and he might even sing you a few songs while he plays his ukulele. Read Less

We chose Scenic for the Megong River cruise to Cambodia because the last night included a 1st class outdoor dinner in front of a temple, including a team of Cambodian singers and dancers. This final night dinner was outstanding and I would suggest that it would also be a perfect event for a Corporate Award evening. The ship was 5 star, very clean, well appointed with staff that were attentive, friendly, gracious and extremely polite. Food, drinks and wine were always plentiful and of the highest of quality. Only 60 people capacity......very nice size. It was a true lifetime experience that any North American would be in awe of partaking. The agenda was intense with a Varity of daily excursions. There is too much to review here, however, the Cambodian small town excursion, that started on ox carts, and the Angkor Wat temple visits were my highlights. I am hard to please but after 11 days I had nothing but positives for the cruise and Scenic the company. Rob, Ottawa Read Less

Recommended by friends this cruise did not disappoint. Great activities, who could not be impressed by Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Bayon Temple.Scenic pay particular attention to the finer detail, arranging trips not experienced by other cruises in particular the themed gala dinner at an Angkor temple where we were entertained by Apsara dancers, and Wat Hanchey where we had the opportunity to talk to a novice monk. Their enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides ensure you are informed in terms of the history but also relate personal and family experiences that really give everything a context. The ships facilities are superb, cabins offering plenty of space, light and storage, food that challenges the senses, with wine/beer constantly on tap. The onboard staff are the icing on the cake they are attentive, and display genuine enjoyment at ensuring you are having a good time. All of this is packaged with a social consciousness that you do not often experience. It was great to feel that some of the money from this cruise was going directly to local communities. This was not gifted but earned which ensured that there was respect between all parties. Not cheap but bearing in mind everything is included, I would highly recommended it Read Less

Friends recommended. This was our first Scenic Cruise. The cruise was excellent overall and the service, food, drinks were particularly noteworthy. Everything was very nicely and efficiently organized and there were no hick ups. It was always nice to see the face of Joyce who was the person in charge of hospitality, every time we came back from a land-tour or went to the dining room. Similarly many of the staff will always welcome us back with a cold towels and a drinks as we returned to the ship. They were always smiling and were ready to serve as as best as possible to increase our comfort. We also enjoyed most if not all Tour Directors and Tour Guides. Only thing we were disappointed with was the optional and sometime the Enrich land tours. Some of them really didn't have any cultural, educational or historical significance - just a simple and almost irrelevant walk-about. Bicycling tour in Champasak (Pakse) was awful,dangerous and boring. The roads were in poor shape and bicycles were also in bad shape. There was a lack of cultural and entertaining tours which would have given us insight of the country's/town's music, dance, traditions or history. Also we found during the dinner time that most people stayed with their country's people like the Australians will sit with Australians and the British will sit with their fiends from UK. So, there were not must opportunities to mix and socialize during the dinner. Scenic should try to encourage cross-socialization. However we met lots of nice people during land tours. The Gala dinner at the Angkor Temple was excellent, very special and well organized. Read Less

We have been on several cruises both river and sea since 1980. This was the very best so far for many many reasons. The itinerary was spectacular. Sailing the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia. If you are thinking of doing this. DO IT NOW. 5 years from now you will not be able to experience the personal level of meeting local people doing what they do from working on the river, selling in markets or making silver or silk. The Scenic crew was one of the best. You could not want for anyone anytime. The ship was excellent and the staterooms were two times as big as any I have ever seen. We bought the regular fare not the premium but I cannot imagine what else you would need. The food was very different but if you wanted standard fare, it was always available. I could write 10,000 words describing each day but I won’t. JUST DO IT! Read Less

For the first time ever, we actually got separation anxiety about disembarking the beautiful ship and it’s amazing crew. The cabin, 304, was spacious and extremely comfortable. Most excellent beds and facilities. Service with finesse and an ever present smile. Dietary requirements were no problem. Each detail of the cruise was managed with finesse. Our Tour Manager was brilliant in his knowledge, humor and understanding. Thank you Huy. Thanks to Tobias, Cruise Director for being ever present and always available to handle requests of all kinds. The food and beverage product was of a high standard and extremely varied. Did not encounter any disgruntled guests during our stay. Would have happily stayed on board to be looked after by our most excellent Butler, Vibol. Ports showed us real life on the Mekong and excursions provided enabled choices that helped to inform and entertain. Embarkation and disembarkation was handled seamlessly. The whole experience was one to be treasured. Note that the journey from disembarkation to Siem Reap is a long one. Do not recall seeing that mentioned anywhere in the brochure. However as with all other Scenic managed activities, it was managed very well. Praise to Scenic’s product on the Mekong. Read Less

Our Uniworld tour, starting in Hanoi and ending in Saigon, was flawless and fully met our expectations. Along with the land tour, we traveled on a 7-night cruise on the Mekong Navigator and, once again, this was flawlessly executed. As to the land tour, the sights visited were directly on point and as advertised, travel arrangements were well done and every element of the tour was meticulously organized. In particular, our tour director (Binh) performed in an exceptional manner. The hotels on the land portion of the tour (Hanoi, Siem Reap and Saigon) were also excellent. As to the cruise portion of the tour, the food was great, our "prestige suite" met our expectations (although the quarters were a bit smaller than a suite on a sea-going cruise ship) and the staff was truly remarkable. From the waiters, to the "butlers," to the people who cared for our cabin, genuine friendliness was the standard - at all times. I also note the Uniworld representative (Roberto) on the cruise was present almost "everywhere" and was very helpful. The only negative I can think of centers on the fact the tour guides (one in Hanoi, one in Cambodia and another in Saigon) were, at times, a little difficult to understand because (of course), English was not their native language. One other point, I became ill (vomiting and diarrhea) one night and the crew was helpful in addressing this situation. Fortunately, i recovered fairly quickly. In summary, I very much recommend Uniworld in general and the Vietnam/Cambodia tour in particular. Both my wife and I fully enjoyed the tour and offer our highest recommendation. As we frequently visited "rustic" sights or areas, those who may be mobility challenged may find portions difficult. Read Less

This is my first review...I have to share this so others will not hesitate to go. Our cruise/tour actually started with 5 nights land based, first in Delhi. You are met at the airport by your Oberoi Hotel Mercedes driver. 4 of us were travelling so there were 2 cars for our us!. The Oberoi Delhi is very nice hotel, clean and the service is absolutely wonderful for our 2 night stay. This is consistent with each of the amazing Oberoi Hotels that are used on this trip. You will get a briefing and meet your Tour Manager. (ours was Vishal..fantastic and totally organized and on top of everything for the entire journey). Our land based Guide (Rishi) was excellent too! We boarded a very clean comfortable bus (there were 2 buses for our group of 27 and never felt crowded) and did a sight see around Delhi and fortunately due to a Political rally that would of had us caught up in traffic, we altered the Gandhi Tomb portion and went to the place he spent his last days. This we recommended to be in the tour in the future instead of the tomb, it is so worth while to see. Agra and the Taj Mahal were the next stop. From the Oberoi hotel, every room has a view of the Taj! It is a short golf cart ride to the main gate. You get to visit twice, once in the afternoon for sunset and then again for sunrise. Do both visits! Next was Jaipur. Here you get to view a place where they make inlaid marble items. (a bit of a tourist stop, no one purchased anything and we never felt pressure to do so). Next was a carpet stop, you get the presentation etc..prices are good. (we actually bought one after we had a super lunch around the corner.) There were lots of other stops too during our stays in Dehli, Agra & Jaipur, this is just a taste. The next day is an early rise for the flight to Kolkata. Upon arrival we are met by our two new local guides & board a bus for our transfer to the Ganges Voyager II, the bus is ok, not as nice and smooth as the ones used for the other cities. A city tour of Kolkata gets you ready for the next leg of your journey. During the travels through India, you will see lots of areas with people living amongst garbage & animals, tough to see, and the honking is constant, (Honking is a language on the road, it will be explained and then you realize how they communicate as they drive). Once you board your ship, if you thought the land portion was crazy hectic, prepare to be swept away!! The service on board is outstanding! The cruise itself is something you can't explain but have to experience! The stops on the Ganges starts with Kalna. This is were you start to realize how friendly the people are in the villages all along the river. They have very little in terms of possessions (comparing that of most westerners). They have a culture and way of life that works for them. The children come up to us to say hello and wave as they are so happy to see us. The smiles go on forever! This is the first step into the incredible life along this amazing river that is used by the people every day. Each day we traveled to a different village and each time it was a new adventure. You will see how families, and their way of life, come together. The colors along the river bank are another highlight. No one in our group suffered with any major stomach issue. A bit gassy one day by one, but didn't stop any plans. We had our vaccinations as recommended, and we all took Ducoral before arriving. There were 3 people on board who had a bit of tummy trouble, don't know if they had used anything prior to the cruise. The water on the ship is treated but we used bottled water for teeth brushing just to be sure and there is an ample supply of water. Each day when you return from the shore excursion, as you enter the ship, you remove your shoes and they clean them and return them to your door in a few minutes. On your shore excursions, the staff from the ship are always around to keep you supplied with hand sanitizers and help you with translation if you need. They are outstanding every day! The food on board was another highlight. If you are not wanting to try the local foods, there is plenty of western style options that they will have or prepare for you. Their Indian cuisine was excellent. So much variety and flavors that you want to keep eating! I will explain my ratings here: This Ganges Voyager II is not Uniworld's own ship, it is used by them but is definitely the nicest one on the Ganges. Embarkation- smooth and easy Cabin, no issue, bathroom counter is a bit small - shower is huge, bed is comfy. Dining - lots of variety of food, even for myself being probably too cautious. Enrichment activities - cooking demo, talks about the way of life of the Ganges people and Saree & turban wearing demonstration, tour of the engine room, yoga twice a day, everyone had fun. Entertainment - couple of Indian dance groups came on board, very colorful and gave you a taste of how deep their traditions are. Small gym- not a lot of time to use it but you can fit it in if you like. Spa has two ladies for facials & massages. My wife had 3 massages and I had one and they were excellent. Onboard experience- above a 5 if I could give it. The crew are your friends and gracious and always there for your every need. wifi service was good in some locations and in and out in others. Might be a few hours without but not too long as I managed ok. Public Rooms- Lounge outside and bar area both on upper deck providing views of the Ganges left and right, just don't know which way to keep looking! Shore excursions- you will get use to the sight of Water buffalo on the streets along with cows and pigs. The people and colors and smiles will stick with you! Value for Money- ABSOLUTELY, this is a great way to see a little part of India. This is a luxury cruise and you get totally immersed into it all on the Ganges. There were so many highlights on this trip, but here are some extras I wanted to add. I mentioned this one above- All the Oberoi hotels, Ghandi's last place residence, Taj Mahal, Rickshaw ride in Kalna, Craftsman in Matiari village, having a try at Cricket in Murshidabad with the crew. Read Less

We have just returned from a fabulous trip down the Mekong River on Scenic’s Spirit cruise ship. The ship, the stateroom suite, the staff, the food and the excursions were all phenomenal. The Hotel Manager, Toby, was on top of everything. His staff were amazing, friendly and attentive; they were all very genuine and caring people, paying attention to details while enjoying their jobs. The food was tremendous and plentiful offering both Eastern and Western choices. There was at least one shore excursion every day, with most days offering two excursions and sometimes three. The excursions were diverse, interesting and well planned, with a variety of options to choose from to suit different tastes and energy levels. The tour guides were amazing; they were knowledgeable and considerate, engaging both the travellers and the local people. We experienced parts of Cambodia and Vietnam that we would never have seen on our own. We highly recommend this trip. Read Less

Just got back from a fabulous trip to India's Golden Triangle and the Ganges River by Uniworld. On land went to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, staying at the incredible Oberoi hotels. The hotel service, food, ambiance was the best ever. The rooms spacious and elegant. In Agra from the room's veranda you can see the Taj Mahal Embarked smoothly from Kalkuta to the river cruise ship the Ganges Explorer !!, which looks like a New Orleans paddle wheeler. The Cabins were gorgeous and huge, food very good. As someone who hates Indian food I was hesitant about taking this trip, but was able to get Thai (which I love) Chinese and Continental food both in hotels and aboard ship. The soups on the ship were especially good. In our group of 28 only 2 people got sick...they ate street food ! The only secret to staying well is drink and use for teeth brushing only bottled water! The ports all had interesting temples, towns and sights along the way. Found the Indian people to be very friendly and kind. Service at hotels and aboard ship to be wonderful. Staff was dedicated to seeing you have the best trip of your life! Hemesh, our trip leader did everything humanly possible to see that everything ran smoothly. When my husband developed an awful cold and cough an Indian doctor was called by Hemesh and the manager of the cruise who came to attend him. They took care of everything and did not bill us for the visit or medicine. Uniworld did a wonderful job with this fantastic trip. Read Less

Having visited Cambodia in the past I wanted to explore the Mekong for my first ever Cruise. This cruise was recommended by a family member and some friends who had also been on the Scenic Spirit. On arrival at the ship we were warmly welcomed and shown to our cabin. The cabin was a delight. It was spacious, very clean and well set out. Heaps of storage space and a great bathroom. The bed was really comfortable and could be raised and lowered depending on my needs . The restaurant an all the staff working to keep it running very smoothly were wonderful. The executive chef Oka did an outstanding job by keeping the meals interesting and varied and prepared to a very high standard. Thank you Oka. The wait staff also did a great job and kept the food and beverages coming with a friendly smile. There was nothing i would find fault with on the Ship. When the time came to leave I really wanted to stay and do the return journey immediately. It was really sad leaving the ship and great crew. This was not my last cruise with Scenic. I will be back Read Less

Excellent holiday from start to finish. Smooth embarkation and disembarkation. Made to feel special throughout the whole time we were on board. Excursions were geared to cultural learning and emphasis on recent historical detail. Perfect throughout. Celebrated my sixtieth birthday on board. Made to feel very special with a personally iced birthday cake that we shared at dinner with all other passengers. The hotel manager on board the Scenic Spirit, Toby, was very knowledgeable, extremely efficient but had a fabulous sense of humour. He treats his staff very well and is appreciative of their hard work. All the bar staff, waiters, butlers and reception staff rated very highly. All of them worked to a very high standard at all times and nothing was too much trouble. The food was excellent and the kitchen staff accommodated everyone's needs. There was ample choice of food at all meals and many inventive themes at the lunch time buffets. Read Less

We have traveled previously with Scenic in Europe and after the first cruise down the Rhine and Moselle they won us over. Everything they do is first class. The Mekong cruise is no exception. The accommodation is first class, staff are magnificent, dining, service, excursions and entertainment are excellent. You always meet nice people on Scenic. Do yourself a favour and book with them on your next River Cruise..you wont be disappointed. The actual time on board the Scenic Spirit was 8 days with the remaining 5 days on land both in Ho Chi Min (Saigon) and Siem Reap. The accommodation in both those cities was 5 star and excellent in every way. There were organised excursions and/or you could do your own thing. Dining experiences were excellent with first class restaurants on the itinerary both for lunch and dinner and plenty of options to choose from. While the land content is excellent the cruising/on board experience is the icing on the cake and always a highlight of cruising with Scenic. Would we go again....absolutely. Read Less

We chose this cruise because we had previously been on a Scenic River Cruise in Europe, for Amsterdam to Budapest and it was wonderful. We had never been either to Vietnam or Cambodia so thought this would be the way to see them. We travelled from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap. Before the cruise we spent time in Ho Chi Minh City, enjoying the clamour of the big city and eating in the local restaurants and after in Siem Reap doing similar things. Everything was thought of with Scenic. The ship was incredible. It is owned and operated by Scenic themselves unlike some of the other tour companies ships. It is luxurious and spacious. The common areas are large and beautifully decorated. Our cabin was large and airy and well appointed. We even had a bed that we could adjust both ends up or down! We had more than enough wardrobe space and plenty of other storage. The shower was the largest I have ever seen on any ship. The service was second to none. I have never felt so spoilt. Our butler was always at hand with drinks, food and any other assistance we needed. The wait staff were incredible. They all were. The entertainment on board was just what we needed, traditional dancing and singing. Really what we were there to see. The shore excursions were well thought out and educated us in the culture and history of both countries. Our tour guide was exceptional as were all of the other tour guides we had. They all were easy to hear and understand with the help of our head sets. The food on board was a mixture of Western food and local food and we enjoyed it all. It was a fabulous holiday. I could do it all again tomorrow. Read Less

Decided on an Asian cruise this time. Scenic provided a great ship,wonderful staff, top guides and a second to none tour experience. On top of this our Tour Director Hoan was exceptional. Our group provided some challenges to Hoan but he overcame these easily and with charm. He is definitely an asset to the Scenic organisation. We particularly loved the ship, the Park Hyatt hotels in Siem Reap and Saigon, a brilliant Gala Dinner at a temple near Siem Reap, the night time Tuk Tuk tour of Pnom Penh with Mr G ( Geert) , the Phare Circus and ,of course, the majestic Angkor Wat. Everywhere we went the food and hospitality was superb, especially on the Scenic Spirit. We have not thought ourselves the cruising type but having done Amsterdam to Budapest with Scenic and now Siem Reap to Saigon with Scenic we just may just consider another cruise. Perhaps a French cruise will be in order. Read Less

We chose this cruise specifically for the opportunity to visit the temples of Siem Reap but also to learn more about the people of Cambodia, their bloody history, culture and their cuisine. We particularly wanted to experience River Cruising in Asia in a new ship with a fantastic passenger/crew ratio withe space Scenic Spirit seemed to offer. The cruise scored almost a perfect score as we did not make use of the gym or spa. The accomodation was amazingingly spacious with the most comfortable bed we have ever slept in. The ability to to have a real balcony was amazing and the crew superb. Our names and preferences in dining and service wereknown within days of boarding. The Chef is a genius - always coming up with the taste of the local cuisine with only the freshest of foods. Entertainment consisted of local groups of school children coming on board to perform Lion Dances and other entertainments on the large Sun Deck. The highlight of the tour was the Gala Dinner outside the Kravan Hindu temple dating back to the 10th Century with its magnificent Dances, Table decorations and Gourmet food. Our cruise Director Duc To was friendly, efficient, and when my wife became ill in Siem Reap compassionate and caring. Read Less

We always wanted to see China and Viking provided an excellent trip all around. Our guide, Michael was personable, very helpful and made our trip very comfortable. He knew all the details about our travels and made them seamless. We saw and experienced so many beautiful sights; each one more impressive and vast than the last. We ate fabulous Chinese food each day and tasted the various local cuisines. It was a three week trip including a 7 night river cruise on the Yangsee River. The hotels in every city were absolutely top grade; very elegant and the ship was very nice as well. We were in a group with our guide for the entire trip which was very comforting; this made the trip so much better. The local guides in each city were knowledgeable and we learned so much about the culture and different areas of China. It was a trip of a lifetime and we highly recommend this to all. It was a very busy trip with alot of travel; 4 flights and the bullet train inside China; but well worth it in order to see so many beautiful sights. We have wonderful memories and fantastic pictures. Thanks Viking and Guide, Michael. The lectures and entertainment onboard ship was top notch. We look forward to our next adventure with Viking Cruises. Read Less

The opportunity to go on this Scenic Cruise presented it self. It was a destination I had not thought of doing. It was not on my bucket list as they say. Too date ,this has been the most extraordinary cruise I have taken. Scenic is a first class river cruise company. I was so impressed with the ship accommodations. The room was a deluxe ocean view balcony the bed faced the water. The bed was so comfortable, and adjustable. The service from all who worked on board made us feel very welcomed and they where genuinely interested in making sure we had everything we needed. Breakfast ( you could order eggs benedict and other things) and lunches were buffet style everything was fresh and plentiful. Dinner was a set menu with choices of Cambodian foods as well. The most impressive and memorable where the tours Scenic had in store for us. The tour guides really made this trip for us. Mao and Lovy loved sharing about their country Cambodia. They work for Scenic and introduced us to other local guides to give us an in depth look at different locations. Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and the largest silk producer in Cambodia. We had so much fun riding in the tuk tuks and an ox cart! Everything was included in this cruise and when I got off the boat I did not have any bill! Post stay in Siem Reap just topped everything off. The Hotel Park Hyatt was above in service as well! Read Less

We choose this cruise because we had to travel to Vietnam for conference And had done the Amsterdam to Budapest cruise with scenic and loved it Knew 5 star scenic travel but was unsure what Cambodia and Vietnam destinations Would bring so did not have great expectations Well what a pleasant surprise both Cambodian and Vietnam people are so freindly happy people and what a great cutrural experience Staff on ship were so freindly , professional and nothing was any trouble Food on ship was excellent and catered for Aussie or European taste so only Small negative would have liked for local food options Would have liked some after dinner music entertainment Pool area was great only small but great just to cool off and chat to other Guests Coffee at pool bar was good small thing but important Enrich and free choice tours very good options and enjoyed them all Read Less

Vietnam and Cambodia were a Fantastic experience. Embarkations and disembarkation went very smoothly, no problems whatsoever. Everything was extremely well organized. Our tour guide, Hoan, was top notch. We learned so much from him and Dara. The excursions were fantastic. Hotels were 5 star. We felt safe and looked after at all times. Our fellow travellers were great. Service on board was just ok. Butler service (we were in deluxe junior suite) was non existent. My travelling companion was too ill one day to go out on excursion. So she stayed behind on the boat. She tried 3 times to order tea and nobody answered the phone. Don’t care about tea but if she had required immediate assistance there would have been no one to help her. DO NOT MISS VESPA FOODIE TOUR IN SAIGON. It was fantastic ! Watch out crossing the roads in both Saigon and Hanoi. Crazy Read Less