dd@sea

Thanks for the input on the NBC correspondent's report. I am off to read and gather information. I appreciate you sharing with us and helping to prepare for the cruise in December.

TPA travel fan, we too will be traveling on the the Quest to the Antartica, but on the second journey - the one over the holidays. I will be looking forward to your report and hope that you will be posting on board prior to our departure. We will be pre and post staying for two to three days in Santiago and Buenos Aires and finding a transfer for Santiago to Valpariso. For now we are taking Seabourn's business air but am planning on looking into frequent flyer mile in a couple of days when it opens. We are looking forward to this especially after reading about Robin West and entourage.

Freddie,

Halong Bay can be a toss up. I have been there twice - first on Seabourn as the day was spent sailing through the splendid scenery and then the AMA with a one night on a nice junk. It held about 40 people and the rooms were fine. Personally, I am glad we only did one night and not two nights. We boarded around 11:00 and then set sail through the bay and to a couple of villages in the area - one having a cave tour. I wish I could remember the name of the company that was used. Will check my notes and see if I can find it.

Great on the boutique hotel in Siem Reap. You will love this area.

The Metropol in Hanoi is a very good choice. Great location for walking to the old quarter - about 20 minutes via the Park and good restaurants around. We were in the new section which was very nice and the air conditioning worked beautifully as compare to the older section. Yet the older section has a great ambiance about it.

The Sofitel Plaza was an o.k. place for me. Rooms were very nice but at that time heavy renovation was going on in the top floors and we suffered the noise from it. Hopefully that will have been all completed. I did like the hotel as it had a shuttle down to the the center of Saigon for shopping in that area. It lets you off at a department store but the Rex hotel (which was undergoing a beautiful restoration (might want to look into that hotel) I had the best massage ever at the Rex. The shuttle from the Sofitel also took you to the central market (hot, crowded but worth the experience)

Off topic - but don't rat on me - Africa is going to be Johannesburg 2 nights (to recuperate) Kruger National Park, Capetown - one night, Silversea 10 cruise Capetown to Capetown, then four nights in Capetown for sightseeing etc and then return home. I am already exhausted but am so looking forward to the experiences. Any input from you would be greatly appreciated.

I hope you enjoy this Cambodia/Vietnam trip as much as we did.

Hi Freddie et al,

We just returned from another trip and before we are off to Africa, I thought I would try to give a little feedback on the AMA trip. Loved it!

1. Freddie, the laundry was o.k. in that yes it will look fine and don't pack alot of extras. We had laundry in Siem Riep prior to boarding the ship and that was excellent from the hotel. You may want to consider having it done prior to your boarding. That is great that you are doing 5 days at the Wats. So many to see and Siem Reap is great too. I wished we had time to go to the new museum. Perhaps you will. I did do Dr. Fish in Siem Reap and had my feet cleaned by the zillions of fish. Tickled but a good experience. Halong Bay is beautiful and am glad you are spending more time in Hanoi. A busy, busy city as is Saigon ooops HCM. New museums there too.

2. Visas - we sent our passports to the Vietnam Embassy and received them in about a week. I first called to verify amount as you can get the application on line. Very eazy to do. Cambodian visa was arranged at the border by AMA but I think one can get it at the airport with ease. I would be hesitant in sending off my passport for this venue.

3. Most of the help on the ship is Vietnamese as the ship was built by the Vietnamese.

4. Drinks - interesting question. This is how it was with us. Water bottled - always there and free. Remember to take at least two bottles a person on your excursions. I went through one in my first hour. Beer - yuk, I don't drink beer so I don't know. However there is a local Vietnamese beer that is suppose to be wonderful. Alcohol - if you ordered 'their' vodka (not bad) scotch husband could drink it but it was not it Johnny Walker Red) The minute you go to a call name then expect to pay - but I think it was around $5 to $7. You may want to clarify before you order. Wine is their but again not too bad. Actually upon our return from the daily excursion anything tasted good at the pre dinner cocktail time.

Hope this helps. I will be around until February and then off again so ask away.

You will be so happy you did this trip. Freddie, where are you staying in Siem Reap, HCM and Hanoi?

We had a regular stateroom on the Tonele deck. I think it was 207. As to saying if it was really really nice, I thought it was in comparison to other river trip boats we have been on.

The bathroom is big enough and modern with tile and a vessel sink and strong water pressure in shower. AMA provides 4 water bottles a day and will refresh as needed in the room's refrigerator. You can not use the tap water for drinking or brushing teeth. Also when you go on an excursion they give out a bottle of water in in black shoulder bag (to be returned at end of excursion). I would suggest taking an extra bottle of water as I often went through two for each excursion time. There is a french balcony - only for standing and gazing, a great window seat for lounging, reading and looking out, very comfortable beds. I don't know if we would do a suite or not as there are usually two excursions a day. The ship is immaculate. There are no elevators so the exercise of climbing is good.

The age group really varied from mid forties on up to the early 80's. Mixture was good too. Many from Canada, Australia, U.S. Britain and other countries.

When you begin your excursions you are assigned to a bus color group and that is your group you will be with. A great way to meet others. In a way I felt for those that only did the cruise and not the land part. They only got to 'bond' as a bus group for 7 days where as land/cruise group (two busses) got to know eachother for the 15 days.

Food was good but don't let that be a central focus of the ship. AMA uses only bottled water on their ships (huge bottles as we saw them loaded) so do not worry about the washing of the vegetables, ice cubes etc. As to food, I loved the salads at lunch - crunchy and filled with vegetables I have no idea what they were. My husband loved the cream soups and I liked the Action Station at lunch - always some delicious Asian based item I would try. Be sure too to have the Pha - a traditional soup with chicken, beef or shrimp. The fish was good at dinner time. Beef only so so. The only thing that is difficult for me is having a set time for all the meals. I like an open time but then again it was no big deal. Too many other positive things happening.

Don't overpack either. We had laundry done in Siem Riep at the Le Meredian for about $30 for 10 items. So worth it and beautifully done. Also had laundry done on the ship and it was o.k. Be sure to plan a massage too, if you like massages.

Bonnie, I am glad you are extending at the beginning and at the end. It is well worth it.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I am leaving next week for another trip so ask before I leave. You will so enjoy this trip and AMA too. We have never traveled with them before and they surely are on our list for the future.

We did their land portion but extended at both ends. In Hanoi we were in the Sofitel Metrepole which was wonderful. A good location too to walk to the old quarter. We went two days early for two reasons - one to recuperate from the long flight before the actual tour started and two; we had been to Hanoi before on a cruise and wanted to return to spend more time. We arrived on the 1000 year celebration of Hanoi city -had another name 1000 years ago. The crowds were enormous but also the celebrations interesting. Certainly excitement in the air.

Weather will always be warm. Instead you should consider their dry and wet season. Each season has its advantage and disadvantage. Wet season - it rains almost daily and the Mekong is easily navigable. In our case it rained in the afternoon for a few days but the excursions were doable. We probably had only five days of rain but as I said it did not interfere. Wet season ends in October. Dry season may mean the upper part of the Delta may not be as accessible. Bussing may occur at some times but then again they will get you to where you should go.

We extended in Saigon because again we had been there on a cruise and definitely needed more time. AMA used the Sofitel Plaza which was good. If we had not extended we literally would have one rushed time. When you disembark there is an 1 1/2 hour drive into Saigon and you are immediately taken on a city tour and out to lunch before checking into the hotel at 3:00. The group started their flights the next morning there for not getting to do much in the city or perhaps have other excursions. It is my understanding that for 2011 AMA has extended Saigon to two nights in their land cruise package. It was somewhat overwhelming to spend 7 wonderful, peaceful, interesting and informative days on the Mekong and then to be thrust into traffic, noise etc of Saigon. It does take a day to re-adapt.

Do consider this trip it was wonderful. Also in 2012 AMA will have their new ship, the Lotus meaning their will two AMA ships on the Mekong. The one used for ours as I said was very nice and I wouldn't hesitate on going on it again. However, it is not owned by AMA but leased at this time from the Vietnamese. I don't know what the Lotus will be; AMA owned or leased - but that is really not a matter of concern.

Just returned last Thursday night and it is a wonderful trip. Are you taking the land/cruise part or only the cruise? Will be happy to answer any questions you have prior to leaving. We did extend at the beginning and at the end by two days more in Hanoi and three days more in Saigon. If you have the time, I would definitely consider.

The ship is very nice, clean, . Storage is great (refrain from taking too many clothes as we had ours washed along the way. The weather is hot and hot but returning to the hotel and/or ship at lunch time in the heat of the day is a nice cooling break. Be sure to take a hat and closed toe sneakers for the excursions as you tromp through mud, and uneven footage.

As I said, ask any questions as I hope I can help.

Oh dear! What a decision. If I only had a choice I would probably choose the terra cotta army in xian. It was wonderful. We had tied that in with a land trip in China prior to joining a cruise in the 90's.

On the other hand I have wanted to see Angkor Wat as that is on 'my bucket list'. When we were on the Spirit we were in Bangkok and could have taken this excursion but would have missed a great excursion to the River Kwai, New museum that had just opened near by and the fun, fun, fun Elephant camp and ride. Besides, if we were to have done the ship's excursion we would have wanted to stay longer. We loved Vietnam on this trip and wanted to return one day.

We have found our solution. AMA waterways has a wonderful 15 day trip cruise and water which includes Cambodia land for three nights, a 7 day river cruise on the Mekong and a return to Vietnam which we are extending for a couple of more nights in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh.

If you embarking or disembarking not too far away from Cambodia, perhaps you could consider a pre or post trip and spend a longer length of time.

I am so sorry we didn't get to connect as I have already shared the coupon with another new Seabourner! I see that you are on the same trip as we are in June on the Pride for June 23 thru July 5. Is that the one you are scheduled? If so, please let's do meet up.

Again, I hope you are successful at finding someone to share a coupon.

Deanna

I have a coupon available but need your email to contact you regarding the exchange. We leave in June for Japan, Korea, and China. If you are interested please give information.

Deanna

On the Spirit, for 26 days, with 5 days added before and at the end of the cruise, I did use the laundry room. Preparing for the Autumn foliage trip on September 19, 2004, with a pretrip of 10 days to Vermont for a week and NYC for three days, I definitely will be doing laundry. I like the suggestion of taking my own detergent, which I will do.Thank you for reminding me. I also am packing some of those Dreyel sheets for quick refreshing of certain articles. I have used the send out service, i.e. my husband's tux shirt, on board too and I found it to be excellent. Less than a week and we are on our way. Can't wait for the wonderful experience of seeing Vermont, revisiting NYC, and experiencing total relaxation and pleasure on Seabourn.

Thanks again for the tip.