Cruise Specialists Blog

Luxury Cruise News & Reviews

Blog Home / River Cruises

Six Frequently Asked Questions: Cruising the Mekong

Ralph Grizzle

The Mekong River continues to grow in popularity for river cruisers and the companies that operate along the storied waterway. AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, CroisiEurope, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and Viking River Cruises all offer journeys along the Mekong. Accordingly, we get a lot of questions here on River Cruise Advisor about Mekong River cruises. Here are the top six.

The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo ©  Aaron Saunders
The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo © Aaron Saunders

1: Do you need Visas for Cambodia and Vietnam?

American, Canadian and European guests will need visas for both Cambodia and Vietnam. Cambodian visas can be purchased on arrival in Siem Reap Airport for $27 USD, cash-only (up from $25 in 2013), but you must bring your own passport-style photograph. Guests should consult the Kingdom of Cambodia Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese Visa pages (the one for the United States has been linked to here) for detailed information.

2: We were wondering about the internet on the ship. Is it generally accessible?

Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders

In our experience, internet access aboard ships sailing the Mekong is not reliable. In many instances, simply establishing a connection can be an exercise in frustration. Wrap-up any business you need to before you set sail, because connecting while you’re away will be more difficult than on river cruises in Europe.

3: Are rain ponchos provided, or do we have to bring our own?

We only got caught up in the Monsoons once - but it was a doozy! Fortunately, my complimentary poncho kept me dry. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
We only got caught up in the Monsoons once – but it was a doozy. Fortunately, my complimentary poncho kept me dry. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders

Ponchos – and umbrellas – are generally provided for guests to use ashore. But we would recommend bringing your own umbrella and a waterproof rain jacket. Rainfall can be short but very intense when it happens.

4: What is the age group of fellow passengers?

Guests aboard the AmaLotus look on as the process of making rattan mats is explained during a factory tour in Tan Chau. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
Guests aboard the AmaLotus look on as the process of making rattan mats is explained during a factory tour in Tan Chau. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders

On our Mekong River cruises, ages ranged from teenagers to active travellers in their 80s. This is a very active itinerary, so you should be in good enough physical condition to climb into tender boats and spend time walking ashore. But there’s no limit to what age group would enjoy a river cruise along the Mekong.

5: Do I you recommend I exchange money or use U.S. dollars and credit cards?

Entering Saigon's famous Central Market, which is one of the oldest in the city. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
Entering Saigon’s famous Central Market, which is one of the oldest in the city. US Dollars and Vietnamese Dong were taken here. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders

It depends on the place in Vietnam you’re visiting. Major stores and hotels will likely have pricing listed in U.S. dollars, and you can certainly use them (or credit cards) to barter and pay for goods in the Central Market. If prices are not listed in U.S. dollars, you’ll have to do the conversion in your head. At this time, one U.S. dollar is equal to about 21,105 VND.

That said, we wouldn’t recommend changing from USD to VND unless absolutely necessary. In Cambodia, the U.S. dollar is widely used, so there’s no real point to using anything else. 

6: We are considering this cruise and looking into AmaWaterways and Viking. We usually travel with Tauck, but they do not offer journeys along this river. Is there an advantage to one over the other?

A day of scenic cruising provides the perfect opportunity to take a closer look at AmaWaterways' AmaLotus. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
Besides the itinerary and service, it is these air-conditioned corridors that are one of the defining features aboard AmaWaterways’ AmaLotus. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders

We haven’t experienced Viking’s product along the Mekong (or offerings from Avalon or Uniworld, for that matter), but there is one area that may give AmaWaterways an advantage over their competitors, and that is the design of AmaWaterways’ ships.

AmaWaterways is one of the only lines to offer climate-controlled, interior corridors to access their guest staterooms. The company is also one of the few lines to offer guests both a full-size, air conditioned Lounge and an outdoor Sun Deck.

On other lines, staterooms are accessed via the ship’s outer decks, and a few ships lack an indoor Lounge. If you can handle the heat, this may not be an issue for you. 

That’s not to say you shouldn’t consider other lines along the Mekong; each line has its own unique activities and amenities that will make the experience worthwhile on any ship.

As we sailed for Phnom Penh, children ran along the banks of the river to wave at us, and boats took to the water.  Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
Sailing for Phnom Penh aboard AmaWaterways’ AmaLotus. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders

Do you have any questions about sailing the Mekong?  Let us know by using the comment form below.

More from my site

  • Live From the River: Embarking AmaWaterways AmaLotusLive From the River: Embarking AmaWaterways AmaLotus
  • River Cruising: What’s Making It Such A Hot Trend?River Cruising: What’s Making It Such A Hot Trend?
  • AmaWaterways Announces New 2015 Mekong ProgramAmaWaterways Announces New 2015 Mekong Program
  • Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Offers New Land and Sea Adventures in AsiaUniworld Boutique River Cruise Offers New Land and Sea Adventures in Asia

River Cruises

SEARCH ARTICLES

Article Categories

  • Cruise Destinations
    • Africa Cruise Reviews
    • Alaska Cruise Reviews
    • Amazon Cruise Reviews
    • Antarctica Cruise Reviews
    • Arctic Cruise Reviews
    • Asia Cruise Reviews
    • Australia/New Zealand
    • Baltic Cruise Reviews
    • Canada/New England Cruise Reviews
    • Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Cuba Cruise Reviews
    • Europe Cruise Reviews
    • Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Grand Voyages
    • Hawaii Cruise Reviews
    • Iceland/Greenland
    • Mediterranean Cruise Reviews
    • Mexico Cruise Reviews
    • Panama Canal Cruise Reviews
    • Scandinavia and Northern Europe Cruise Reviews
    • South America Cruise Reviews
    • South Pacific Cruise Reviews
    • Transatlantic Cruise Reviews
    • World Cruise Reviews
  • Cruise FAQs
  • Cruise Lines
    • Abercrombie & Kent Reviews
    • AmaWaterways Cruise Reviews
    • American Cruise Line Reviews
    • American Queen Voyages Reviews
    • Aqua Expeditions Reviews
    • Atlas Ocean Voyages Reviews
    • Avalon Cruise Reviews
    • Azamara Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard World Cruise Reviews
    • Disney Cruise Reviews
    • Explora Journeys Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America Line Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America World Cruise Reviews
    • Hurtigruten Reviews
    • Lindblad/National Geographic Reviews
    • Norwegian Cruise Line Reviews
    • Oceania Cruise Reviews
    • Oceania World Cruise Reviews
    • Paul Gauguin Cruise Reviews
    • Ponant Cruise Reviews
    • Princess Cruise Reviews
    • Quark Expeditions Reviews
    • Regent Cruise Reviews
    • Regent Seven Seas Cruise
    • Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
    • Royal Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yacht Reviews
    • Scenic River Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea World Cruise Reviews
    • Star Clippers Cruise Reviews
    • Tauck Cruise and Tauck Land Tour Reviews
    • UnCruise Adventures Reviews
    • Uniworld River Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Ocean Cruise Reviews
    • Virgin Voyages
    • Windstar Cruise Reviews
    • Zegrahm Expeditions
  • Cruise News
  • Cruise Ports
  • Cruise Specialists Benefits
  • Expedition Cruises
  • Hosted Cruises
  • Ralph Grizzle
  • River Cruises
  • Ship Reviews
  • Solo Cruising
  • Tom Mullen
  • Tours, Trains & Resorts
    • Palace Resorts Reviews
    • Safari Reviews
    • Shore Excursions
    • Trains

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Maggie Blehert

Her ideal travel day: venturing to a new place, learning something interesting and sharing a smile.
View My Blog Posts

Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer
Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts reporting on their round the world journeys.
View My Blog Posts

Ralph Grizzle

The Avid Cruiser. Well-traveled and insightful. Helping you make informed cruise decisions.
View My Blog Posts

FOLLOW US ON

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter