Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – Mekong Delta River Cruise – Day 1 - March 21
Today was the start of our Mekong Delta River Cruise.
We were picked up promptly at our hotel for transport to the
Mekong Princess docked at Saigon Port for embarkation.
Despite the name Princess, it is not part of the mass market
cruise line Princess (which we have done all our world cruises), Mekong
Princess is part of the Viet Princess Cruiser Corp. All tours are included, and
they do a set tour at each stop. (There was time for free time at some of the
stops)
Per their website: “Built in Saigon to international design
and safety standards, Mekong Princess was launched in 2015. She accommodates 28
guests with 14 luxurious suites. She is 63 meters in length with a 10-meter
beam and can cruise at a top speed of eleven knots. The average cruising speed
is 8 knots.”
The Mekong River is the world’s 12th longest river, and
Asia’s seventh longest. Its source is in the Tibetan Plateau, which is integral
to the lives of people in 6 countries: China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand,
Cambodia, and Vietnam. It provides a trade route between China and Southeast
Asia, and supplies food, economic opportunities, and transportation options to
the people who live and work along the banks.
We boarded and found elegant French Colonial furnishings to
take the ultimate journey along the lower Mekong from Saigon Port through the
waterways of the famous Mekong Delta and then head north into Cambodian waters.
We were upgraded to an Apsara Suite, and it was beautiful and spacious.
We started to unpack and then attended a safety briefing in the Ramvong Lounge. The crew is Vietnamese and Cambodian, and we received a warm welcome and incredible service throughout the trip. Lunch was served as we cruised along the Saigon River. We spent most of the day, after finishing the unpacking for the week, out on the open deck taking in the sights along the way.
All meals were served in the Indochine Restaurant. Breakfast
and lunch were buffet (with a chef cooking specialty items). Dinners were ala
cart. All drinks were included and service was prompt.
We met Nam our Vietnamese guide, and he was most excellent as
a guide and spoke and presented well on lectures & slide shows.
Many movies were shown throughout the week that featured the places on the itinerary. Unfortunately, they were only shown at 9:30 and with some of the early mornings
we had to skip most of them. Some we watched before we left for the trip and
the others we can watch when we get home.
For larger photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/5FVdrcBNny7YNBtG8
Tomorrow, we have 2 stops at Ben Tre & Can Tho, Vietnam.
