- The Mekong River has become a popular substitute for European sailings.
- Scenic Cruises extends itineraries on The Mekong.
- Scenic offers nine nights for the price of seven on seasonal departures.
Asia has become an increasingly popular river cruise destination, with one waterway at the top of everyone’s list: the Mekong.
Scenic Cruises is strengthening its presence on the Mekong River with a range of itineraries aboard its purpose-built luxury river ship, Scenic Spirit, including extended sailings designed to give guests more time to explore Vietnam and Cambodia.
And to further entice passengers to the region, Scenic has introduced a range of deals, including a nine-night cruise for the price of a seven-night sailing, when booked as part of a longer cruise and land journey.
With the luxury cruise line now offering both seven and nine-night Mekong itineraries on selected departures, this allows passengers to spend additional time in destinations along one of Southeast Asia’s most culturally rich waterways.
The longer sailings are available on seasonal departures and are a response to growing demand for slower, more luxurious river cruise experiences, as well as increasing demand in Asia following restrictions on European sailings in 2026.
Scenic’s Mekong cruises are not stand-alone river cruises; they’re packaged as part of the larger cruise-and-land journeys that include hotels, touring and transfers, which is why the headline prices are higher than a typical river cruise.
What distinguishes Scenic’s offering is its all-inclusive model. Fares generally include accommodation aboard Scenic Spirit, butler service, premium beverages, multiple dining venues, shore excursions, airport and port transfers, gratuities and onboard Wi-Fi. Guests also have access to Scenic’s “Freechoice” excursion program, which allows them to select from a range of included touring options in ports along the Mekong.
The itineraries focus on the cultural heart of Vietnam and Cambodia. Highlights include visits to riverside communities such as Tan Chau, Sa Dec and Cai Be in Vietnam, as well as Phnom Penh, Angkor Ban and Kampong Cham in Cambodia. The 11-day Temple Discovery itinerary also incorporates experiences around Siem Reap and Angkor, including exclusive events such as a gala dinner and champagne breakfast at an Angkor temple.
Nine nights for the price of Seven
Scenic is offering selected 2026 and 2027 departures featuring a nine-night Mekong cruise. But it’s part of a current promotion, for guests booking eligible 15-day or longer cruise-and-land journeys. On these longer itineraries, guests can receive the nine-night cruise for the price of a seven-night sailing, with savings of up to $4,500 per person on selected departures.
The Seven Night Itinerary
The seven-night cruise is the perfect Mekong cruise experience, and features as part of a cruise-and-land journey. Sailing primarily during the dry season from October to May, the itinerary takes guests through the Mekong Delta and into Cambodia, with calls at destinations such as Cai Be, Sa Dec, Tan Chau, Phnom Penh, Angkor Ban and Kampong Cham.
Highlights include visits to floating markets and riverside villages, cultural performances, temple excursions and Scenic’s FreeChoice touring program.
The Nine Night itinerary
The newer nine-night cruise option is designed for travellers seeking more time on the river and a slower pace of exploration. Available on selected departures between July and October and again in December, the extended itinerary visits the same key destinations as the seven-night voyage but incorporates additional daytime cruising and longer stays in port.
Guests can spend more time experiencing life along the Mekong from the ship, while enjoying exclusive experiences such as a distillery tour and tasting in Phnom Penh and evening touring not possible on the shorter itinerary. Departing during the region’s green season, the cruises coincide with lush landscapes, blooming vegetation and generally lower visitor numbers.
The Scenic Spirit ship
The Australian-founded cruise line has been operating on the Mekong for more than a decade, with the launch of its purpose-built 68-guest Scenic Spirit in 2016 marking a significant expansion of its luxury river cruise offering in Southeast Asia. The Scenic Spirit, is a 68-guest vessel purpose-built for the Mekong and offers some of the largest standard suites on the river, with multiple dining venues, butler service and a near one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio.
Onboard facilities include a resort-style pool, wellness centre, steam sauna, fitness area, beauty salon, library and an open-air cinema on the Sun Deck. Guests can choose from multiple dining venues, ranging from fine dining experiences to more casual cafés and lounges, while butler service is included for every suite. The ship’s boutique size allows it to access smaller ports and riverside communities while maintaining the facilities and service levels more commonly associated with an upscale ocean cruise ship.
Shore Excursions
The Scenic FreeChoice program allows guests to select excursions based on their interests and activity levels. Experiences range from market visits and cultural encounters to culinary and heritage-focused tours ashore.
The Mekong remains one of the fastest-growing sectors of the luxury river cruise market, attracting travellers seeking a combination of cultural immersion and small-ship comfort. Industry observers note that demand for Southeast Asian river cruising continues to rise as guests look beyond Europe’s traditional waterways for more destination-focused experiences.
Scenic’s expanded Mekong offerings form part of its broader Asia program for 2026 and 2027, with itineraries ranging from 11-day cruise-and-land packages to longer journeys connecting Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.
For more on Scenic’s SE Asia river cruises, go here.
