• I took a nine-day trip aboard the Scenic Spirit, a luxury river cruise that accommodates 68 guests.
• My 344 square foot deluxe room had a special space with a glass partition and tons of windows.
• I loved having a butler, multiple seating options, a large shower and walk-in closet.

The Americans were pretty obsessed with cruises this year, especially megaships that can hold thousands of people and have as many restaurants and stores as a small town.

But their vastness and lack of exclusivity may not suit every traveler. Enter the luxury river cruise.

They are much smaller and more intimate than larger ships – often carrying fewer than 150 travelers – and usually much more expensive too. An all-inclusive river cruise can cost more than triple what you would pay for a basic cabin on a megaship.

This year I took one aboard the Scenic Spirit, which can accommodate up to 68 guests. The nine-day cruise took us along the Mekong through Vietnam and Cambodia. The trip then continued with a three-night land tour of Siem Reap’s iconic temples.

Scenic is a all-inclusive lineSo the price of this cruise and shore excursion includes accommodation, onboard food and drinks, Wi-Fi, excursions, transfers, baggage handling, port fees, gratuities and taxes.

Although I received this cruise for free, my sailing price would have been approximately $7,075. This is what my 344 square foot luxury cabin looked like.