We have been with Scenic on numerous tours throughout the world. Scenic have always looked after us fabulously, everything is all inclusive, well catered, the best accommodation, and great guides. At the time of booking, the Scenic Eclipse had been held up with construction so we decided on this River Cruise (our first) in lieu of that. Our main goal was the Angkor Wat temple complexes. This ship is apparently more spacious and accommodating than European river cruise ships as the Mekong does not have locks to negotiate, no doubling up of ships for landing docks (most times was bow to shore), and so dimensions could be greater, and cabin sizes larger. Also the staff and crew were predominantly local Cambodians with some Vietnamese, which helped the local flavour. The chef was Balinese Indonesian and he was exceptional. Each cruise season and often between cruises, he would start with several young Cambodians and not just oversee them but teach them. The meals were outstanding. The variation night to night and choices were mouth wateringly incredible. Wine selection was fantastic. The tour of the galley exemplified the care taken in cleanliness and preparation, everything was fresh and made on board, but also the care in ensuring special dietary needs were properly managed with absolutely no cross contamination of allergens, for example. The cabin stewards, dining caterers and waiters, and directors were always extremely friendly, helpful, and always happy. Special mention to Mirko, our cruise director. He was exceptional, always out to ensure everything went smoothly, and in the best spirit. His generosity and humour and obvious care of not just the passengers but all staff was outstanding. We also had local guides for entertainment and information on board, and for the shore excursions. Cambodia's incredible history with decades of war and upheaval and genocide needs to be taken in, as well as its incredible Khmer and Buddhist culture. Our guides were terrific, and the Cambodian guides all had personal histories that were an honour to hear. Our Cambodian guide, Mao, had been a Buddhist monk for several years, and so his amiability and insights and humour were just beautiful. We loved him. Other guides were just as insightful and honest about their and their family's experiences of the Khmer Rouge. Truly heartbreaking but edifying. We would highly recommend the Scenic Spirit to everyone. Should be a bucket list item when paired with Angkor Wat! Read Less

Everything was top-notch about this cruise. The service was impeccable: everyone, and I mean everyone, treated you like the special customer you want to be, including much of the staff learning your name from the first day. The food was consistently great, although not spectacular, and an good effort was made to make local food available at all meals. The variety and care taken on the shore excursions was awesome. This was an 8-day cruise, and we had excellent times with the other passengers (primarily from Australia, UK, and Canada). The balcony cabin was perfect (we had one of the less expensive options) and everything was in good working order. The only thing that I can think to improve is the wine selection: there are a world of better wines out there at the same prices as the ones on the cruise. But, that's minor, and I highly recommend this cruise!! Read Less

The tour of Ho Chi Minh was an educational enlightment and covered the atmosphere and energy of the city Boarding and leaving the ship on completion of the tour was effortless and very easy The ship and cabin was faultless and an integral part of the tour and well being associated with complete trip. Dining entertaining and services were an integral part of the atmosphere to the point there were no visible conflicts or issues . The crew by natural instincts ensured the traveling parties including USA UK Canada and of course Australia total integrated Port and shore excursions covered events and local environments to the extent the travellers were very comfortable and enjoyed the connections I gave Vietnam 10/10 and believe a new Japanese style economy will emerge in the next couple of decades and I gave Cambodia 12/10 because it is emerging from terrible historic events and managing very competantly Read Less

Cruise was everything expected, and then more. Excursions were very good and showed us examples of life along the Mekong as well as providing interesting dining, both on the ship and off. Local restaurants chosen provided a good selection of local oriented food. Guides were very knowledgeable and communicated information well. Provided local perspectives on historical events. Small groups made it easier to communicate information and to go to the various sites on tour. Good mix of people on the ship - no over dominance of any one nationality. Good sized rooms with full amenities. Restaurant on ship was excellent and provided good variety for all. Spirit Lounge was a good 'end of the day' space. Local entertainment which came on board was interesting and provided good variety. Scenic's commitment to provide financial assistance to local youth organizations and to the underprivileged was noted and much appreciated.Hand sanitizers everywhere and good attention to cleanliness. Extremely, extremely friendly crew providing personal service. Read Less

Have been recommended by out travel agent. I was disappointed by the lack of respect for my gluten free and dairy product diet onboard. Every day, every meal, I should ask if it is correct for me, but most of the time, answers were approximative. At the mid-time of the cruise , I started some gastrointestinal discomfort wich are lasting until the end of the cruise.The information have been transmitted before cruise, I gave my medical record at the front desk and discuss with our cruise manager.. For the land portion of our trip, respecting my dietary restrictions were well followed by the guide THUY who accompanied us. I thank her warmly. Embarkation and disembarkation were very gently, with a welcoming staff. It was very appreciates the free laundry service wirh cleaning productsat our disposal, on the boat ! The cabin space was very appreciated and the buttons control for blinds anb butler call also. Read Less

We booked the Scenic Luxury Mekong and Temple Discovery Cruise, which started with a flight from the UK to Vietnam, a night at The Intercontinental Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and a few hours to explore Saigon (HCMC) before meeting the rest of the group, a set lunch at a typical Vietnamese restaurant in the city and then a couple of hours coach journey (including a comfort stop) to the embarkation port at My Tho. The following seven days were spent on the Scenic Spirit. We loved every minute of the cruise. The ship was spacious and at times we often had the pool area or the upper deck to ourselves. The restaurant and bar areas were very comfortable and all the meals and drinks were to a very high standard. Buffet breakfast and lunches but A La Carte most evenings. We chose to sit with different people most nights and found everyone to be very friendly. Good choice of drinks and cocktails both in the bars and via butler service to our cabin or in minibar. Nothing to pay extra for, except spa treatments and souvenirs from the on-board gift shop plus the Cambodian Visa charge. The on-board staff were very friendly and the service level is top class, We always felt very well looked after both on the ship and whilst on excursions. The Tour Directors and Tour Guides were all great, very knowledgeable and friendly and happy to answer all questions.Thank you primarily to Toan, Tour Director for our group. We enjoyed all the varied excursions and activities (too many to review individually) and tried to do everything that was on offer. Not a great deal of time for relaxing, but just about enough to fit in a few swims, Spa visit etc, but never got around to reading a book on this holiday! The Scenic Spirit is smart and very clean. Hygiene standards are very high. Passengers are expected and encouraged to use hygienic hand gels before every meal and when returning to the ship after each excursion.The chef,very proudly shows off his kitchen and explains about the sources of the food served at the weekly Kitchen visit. Early evening pre-dinner port talks are informative and overseen by the German Hotel Manager, who has a good sense of humour. Entertainment on board was good, often local dance groups but also films, quiz, party night around the pool. In Phnom Penh, we were all given a night tour by Tuk Tuk after dinner, which was good fun. After the 7 night cruise, we were driven by coach to Siem Reap (with various interesting stops en route including lunch at a lovely restaurant and we spent a further 3 days and nights based with the group at the beautiful Park Hyatt Hotel, visiting the local sights including Angkor Wat and Tonle Sap lake. The final gala night at a small temple was simply magnificent and a fitting end to a magnificent tour. We travelled at the end of November and this appeared to be a great time to do this trip, no rain and good water levels. Read Less

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

Had always wanted to visit Vietnam / Cambodia but wanted to do it guided. had never been on a Scenic Cruise before but the “all inclusive” Scenic package really appealed. To be truthful I had no idea how all inclusive it would be but if you chose not to buy souvenirs or a drink in a bar when off ship then there was very little need to take cash. We budgeted for some spending but returned home spending very little at all. They say inclusive but I did not expect top shelf drinks including a gin menu, yes a menu there were that many to choose from. Food allergies were no problem either with a super attentive and highly skilled chef ensuring wonderful food. The level of service from all staff was exceptional, every cabin has its own butler, unpacking and room service drinks ....you don’t have to lift a finger. Great excursions and truly caring and memorable guides. In one word.....FAULTLESS......highly recommend 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

This was our second Scenic cruise and we wanted to try something different from the European experience. We were blown away by the diverse, friendly, adaptable culture and scenery we had encountered. As usual, Scenic checked all the boxes and then some. Every excursion was planned to the minute detail and excellently executed. From the tuk tuk rides to the oxen cart excursion, Scenic had all the i's dotted and t's crossed. We were even able to hear and talk to a Cambodian school teacher, a Buddhist monk and nun, a Vietnamese war vet/rural farmer and a prisoner of the Khmer Rouge. The various guides we had were extremely knowledgable and friendly. during our final evening in Cambodia we were treated to the most spectacular private gala dinner and entertainment at one of the Siem Reap ancient temples. The ship experience was outstanding with a Cambodian crew that could never do enough to make us happy and make us laugh. The Scenic Spirit was a smaller ship with 63 passengers on our cruise, but much more roomy, with tall ceilings and very spacious rooms, most with a separate seating areas. A nice plunge pool, complete with bar was nice to gather at after a day of excursions. The food and drinks were to die for, with local cuisine always highlighted, but other options available. Mr. G, our cruise director was especially attentive and informative, as were his staff. Mr. Duc (pronounce "Duke") was our main tour guide and could not have been more informative, friendly, and funny! We were a little disappointed with our cabin stewart, as he was rarely seen and misfired on a few requests. I believe he may have been new to the job. Overall, we highly recommend this cruise and we classify it as an experience of a lifetime! 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

I would like to express in this short note how impressed we were with the Content ,structure and execution of the whole event . As you would expect from 5 star operation , the ship and support vehicles were top notch , all clean tidy and operated by competent drivers and crew . Your staff made the event look and feel flawless from start to finish ,and I appreciate how much hard work goes into achieving that alone . As all good companies and employers understand , they are only as good as the staff they employ ,and in this respect you have achieved a gold star standard . From our well groomed Captain who navigated the busy Mekong river ,to the cleaning and laundry staff who worked tirelessly to ensure all was well at all times. ( do they ever sleep ) a great crew ,expertly managed These men and women were and are a real credit to your Empire . Finally but not least of all ,our Scenic guides , of which our principle guide in Group 2 was Duc Duc a handsome and rugged individual (some would say ) lead our small group in and out of various location in an efficient and purposeful manner , feeding us with relevant information and passing on the History of the local area as we progressed through the various locations . He managed to keep us safe , focussed feed and watered ,a real professional . 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

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

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

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

From the moment we were greeted, we knew this was going to be amazing. The staff were professional, personable and friendly. The boat is incredible, the largest rooms, most comfortable beds. The food was delicious. The excursions really touched on the life and history in Vietnam and Cambodia. Loved the all inclusive nature. They took care of everything. It was nice having on board washing machines and dryers where we could do our own laundry, if we choose, as we had been traveling on our own for 9 days prior and were continuing on for another week after cruise ended. This was free including laundry soap. We loved the pool deck, great for cooling down after excursions. It was very hot during our trip, but we did have rain for 1 1/2 days so we actually had them fire up the sauna and steam room after one extremely wet excursion. That felt so good. Food was delicious, varied and abundant. Great choice of wines and cocktails. This was our first Scenic Cruise and won’t be the last! Read Less

We attended a local presentation. The catalogue gave all the pertinent information. Overall, the tour and cruise were unbelievable. All the activities and sights, eg Angkor Wat at sunrise, pagodas, circus, etc; were exceptional. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and considerate. When on shore, the meals in different restaurants were delicious and gave us a taste of their local dishes. The Hotels in Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh were definitely 5 star and luxurious. The highlight was the attentive staff and excellent food on board the Scenic Spirit. The Gala dinners on board were always well presented and delicious, as were the everyday meals. We thoroughly enjoyed the comforts of our cabin. Our butler was also very helpful and attentive. We learned a lot about the Cambodian people and their culture from the staff we met on board. Activities such as yoga, Tai Chi and swimming helped keep us fit. The massages were very reasonably priced and enjoyable. Also the free laundry facilities came in handy. 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

I chose this cruise because of the reputation of Scenic and this cruise surpassed my expectations. On this particular cruise there were under forty of us , but normally there are around 60. It was the monsoon period which can put people off, but we had very little rain. All the staff and crew were attentive and caring at all times. The spacious rooms are extremely well appointed and have all the amenities you would expect in a five star hotel. There are plenty of spots around the ship to sit and there is a small swimming pool as well as a walking track on the top deck. The onshore excursions were historical as well as fun and entertaining and it is up to you whether to leave the ship or spend the day by the pool. There is also a spa where you can have all the usual beauty treatments as well as massages. This was definitely one of those trips of a lifetime. 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