Very apropos, Gpanda.

I expect we'll generate ideas, reactions, cautions, etc amongst us for a month or so before we are ready to make a decision on which cruise.

Gpanda, is that your official submission for <i>Poetry Night on the Love Boat</i> or are you going to try again?

If there's going to be poetry I'm not coming. The same goes for Karaoke.

Fine. You can do puppet shows for us.

Yup, herding cats...

We would be open to India in early 2012 as our winter away will probably happen in that part of the world that year......sounds like a great time!

kathie: I agree a river cruise would be different than an ocean cruise. I've seen so many hideous cruise ships through the years. One is trapped for days on end with no escape. I don't like islands either. The only "cruise" I've taken was 3.5 days from Bellingham, WA, to Juneau.

I looked at the cruisemekong.com site and they were dodgy about prices ("upon request"). Is this typical?

Would be interested in the Ganges late 2011 - if dogster comes up with a good discount :)

Are there any other Ganges cruises besides on Pandaw for shorter duration? Fourteen days is a lotta days -- and a lotta money.

OK, October out since Marija is a central character here. The river water levels will certainly dictate when to go on certain cruises, yes Dog? I would think Jan. or Feb 2012 would be fine, depending on water and/or river. Doesn't the Chindwin cruise have waiting list? Doesn't really matter since I'm guessing 20 days will make it undoable for most here.

Marija, puppets. You're a naughty teaser...

Nothing is worth a discount if it ain't good. I stopped shopping sales years ago.

It is ususual not to quote prices. This is one strike against them.

Dog, for really good upscale Vietnamese food in a converted temple building, try the Temple Club, 29–31 Ton That Thiep. Have ice cream for dessert at Fanny's, downstairs.

Indiana and Leslie, the cruise mekong site does have prices. Follow dogster's second link (rates & dates), choose a cruise, then choose a cabin. The fare will appear.

Let's discuss: will more Fodorites participate if the cruise is shorter? I'm thinking it would be wonderful to integrate a short (emphasis: short)trip into a larger program rather than making the cruise the penultimate focus of the trip. Yes, no????

kathie: I will try again. More later . . .

Kathie, perhaps Indiana was talking about the 8-day Luang Prabang-Golden Triangle itinerary in Nov., I think. It said "on request for some reason. I note they don't have the 10-day Golden Triangle-Vientiane itinerary after Oct. Dunno why. Maybe those aren't selling.

And is our Fearless Leader is currently " . . drun k in the gutter."

Let's discuss: will more Fodorites participate if the cruise is shorter? I'm thinking it would be wonderful to integrate a short (emphasis: short)trip into a larger program rather than making the cruise the penultimate focus of the trip. Yes, no????

kathie: I will try again. More later . . .

You mean we all go on tour together. You're kidding, right?

I would thinhk 7 or 8 days is a good number for most (though I personally would prefer longer.) 3 or 4 days is just too short to have a meanful itinerary.

We should also discuss price. The Dec. 8-day Golden Triangle-Luang Prabang slog, for example, goes for 4850 Euros per double (and note that's in high season, so presumably there are better rates). Converting to USD, that's $347 per night per person, all inclusive. That's decent.

But what are others reactions to that? Dirt cheap? Out of the ballpark?

if we pay in US $ maybe we could reduce the price.... everyone prefers US $s....

is this a no tipping boat?

we should not have to pay tax as we are on a boat...

PS, the Jayavarman is much fancier, and bigger, and isn't wood. (A wood boat excites me, but I'm weird). Comparing: a high season Lost Civilization cruise, also 7 nites, in the swankest cabin, is $300 more TOTAL per double.
But we'll hear more about this from you-know-who.

Seven days is the right amount of time. Have you read what these crackpots wrote? Any longer and mayhem would ensue.