I recently returned from a "Grand Voyage," which is really a way of saying I took back-to-back cruises. The first part of the cruise started in Bangkok with stops in Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore. The second part started and ended in Singapore with stops in more of Malaysia and Thailand as well as exotic Burma.

I have been on this ship before and enjoy the focus on seeing and learning about places. Yes, many of the rooms are small and there are no casinos or fancy entertainment (though there was an excellent trio of classical musicians), but that is not what I am looking for. I first traveled on the ship three years ago and am impressed on how well it has been maintained.

The food is excellent. Better, in my opinion, than I have had on Princess, Holland America, or any of the several river cruise lines I have sailed on. The room stewards, reception staff, and dining room staff are superb. Read more