On September 16 in Phnom Penh, the three-deck, 62-passenger Indochine II cruise ship was launched by CroisiEurope, which now has five vessels plying the Mekong River and its tributaries in Cambodia and Vietnam. The ship will run between Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City on a nine-day itinerary from August to April. The French family-owned cruise line targets international clientele and prides itself on offering comprehensive packages at competitive rates. As its name implies, CroisiEurope’s fleet of 50 ships operate primarily in European waters. But the christening of Indochine II is in response to growing demand for a premium ship on the Mekong River. In the time it took to down a glass of champagne in the ship’s lounge on its inauguration day, the skies cleared and attendees reconvened outside for the formal breaking of a champagne bottle on the ship’s bow. Prince Sisowath Chivannariddh and Princess Norodom Sita were present at the event. Photos supplied