I went on a super luxurious river cruise with only 40 passengers. I don’t know how to sail with the masses again.

In the cruise industry, there is often a “bigger is better” mentality.

In fact, this year Royal Caribbean launched the world’s largest cruise ship and announced that its next megaship of the same size will set sail next year.

There’s no denying that there’s a lot to like about a giant ship that can carry more than 7,000 passengers, but there are trade-offs to sailing with the masses, including a less personalized experience.

I’ve been on four of the biggest ships in service this year, and while I enjoyed them all, I was itching for a more sophisticated and intimate experience. So I ended up booking a series of cruises that got smaller and smaller.

I boarded a ship in February with only 600 passengers on board, and then in March with only 168 passengers. In September, I booked the smallest cruise I’ve ever experienced – a 68-passenger riverboat with scenic luxury cruises and tours.

Sailing on the Scenic Spirit made a huge difference compared to my other two smaller ships. The route passed through Vietnam and Cambodia along the Mekong River.

I’m afraid I’ll be spoiled forever after this intimate river cruise.

I took this cruise for free from Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours, but my boarding fee was approximately $7,075.

There were 68 passengers on board, but we were only 41 on board.

Not all cabins were filled, so only 41 people were on board the ship, which can accommodate up to 68 passengers.

There were several times when I didn’t see another passenger for hours, even sitting by the pool or on the top deck. It’s probably the closest you’ll ever get to having a yacht all to yourself.

The crew, who coincidentally outnumbered the guests, went above and beyond.

Although there were 56 people on board, there were more staff than guests, so I was able to experience attentive service.

By the second day, the entire crew started addressing me and other guests by name.

One day, I said to the waitress, “Passion fruit is my favorite,” and the next morning, as soon as I sat down to breakfast, she brought me a plate full of passion fruit.

All cabins are suite-style with balcony views and a variety of amenities.

All 34 suites feature walk-in closets, pillow menu access, and remote-controlled beds. Each room also has a convertible sun lounge that can be converted into a balcony at the touch of a button.

I appreciated that the living space was separate from the bedroom area and had a private bathroom.

My butler helped further personalize my experience on board.

Each room also had 24/7 butler service.

In addition to bringing coffee and cocktails to our cabin and shining our shoes, Butler provided us with the items we needed before and after our spa treatments.

Before my spa visit, my butler delivered a special robe and disposable underwear, my massage request form, and a card requesting post-treatment refreshments.

On most cruise ships I’ve been on, I’ve been lucky to be given a glass of water after my massage. At Scenic, I was treated to a refreshing salad, and when I returned to the cabin, cucumber water was waiting for me.

The cooking experience was second to none.

Breakfast and lunch were served buffet style with great displays and we never saw the same dish twice. Some come from the chef’s family recipes.

Every morning and afternoon there was a station featuring a different local dish of the day, each one even more delicious than the last. These dishes were often combined with various Eastern and Western dishes.

Dinner was a multi-course sit-down experience that included delicious appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Every food item, from sauces to ice cream, was made from scratch.

One day, the staff even set up a “Cambodian street market” selling traditional sashimi and fried insects for those seeking a truly authentic taste of the region.

Every night we found locally made gifts on our beds as part of turndown service.

I’m used to finding towel animals and pillow chocolates in the cabins of big ships, but I’ve never received an actual gift at bedtime before.

Among the treasures I collected were a stuffed elephant, a zippered cloth coin purse, a wooden fan, a scarf, a knitted bracelet, and an ointment.

They were all beautiful and extremely helpful.

I really liked the gift shop onboard, which sells local items at reasonable prices.

Larger cruises are typically filled with shops selling designer watches and jewelry, clothing with cruise line logos, and tacky souvenirs.

However, Scenic Spirit had two glass cases with a selection of gorgeous local artwork, handicrafts, jewelry, and trinkets.

I was able to purchase a set of 3 trays and 2 decorative bowls for just $45. It’s perfect for our home.

Laundry service was free and convenient.

It was easy to do your own laundry and the washing machine and detergent were free to use.

There were three washers and dryers, as well as a laundry basket, ironing board, and iron. There was no need to wait for an empty machine.

On other larger ships, you had to pay to do laundry, scramble for machines, and ride at odd hours.

I felt every tour was well thought out and planned.

We felt that each of Scenic’s tours was carefully curated to envelop travelers in an authentic local experience.

Because we were a small group, we were able to experience daily life in the area through activities such as touring temples, exploring markets, and taking a boat trip through the mangrove forests of the bird sanctuary.

With Scenic’s all-inclusive model, you don’t have to worry about unexpected charges at the end of your trip.

Most cruises are considered all-inclusive, but I hate feeling disrespected and boring on huge ships. Large ships have cool activities and special dining opportunities, but you usually have to pay extra to take advantage of them.

But the all-inclusive price of this scenic Spirit Mekong River trip includes a lot between the nine-night cruise and three-night land portion. Accommodation, food and beverages at sea, Wi-Fi, excursions, transfers, luggage handling, port fees, gratuities and taxes.

The only other charges you may incur are for the spa, food and beverages during the land portion of your trip, or shopping onboard.

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