A Laos cruise is not possible in the ocean sense, and the reason is simple geography. Laos is landlocked, with no coastline and no cruise port, so it never appears on ocean cruise itineraries. The Mekong River, which flows through Laos, is sailed by river cruise lines, so a Mekong river cruise is the real way to experience the country by boat. This page exists for completeness, and to explain honestly how travelers actually reach the country.

For context, Laos is a genuinely rewarding destination for the land traveler, known for the temple city of Luang Prabang and the Mekong River. But these are experiences for carefully planned overland trips rather than cruising. The realistic way to combine the country with a cruise is as a separate land extension, reached via Thailand or Vietnam. For travelers focused on cruising, the established ports of Asia offer the practical options.

Quick Facts

Best Time to Cruise

Since Laos has no cruise port, there is no cruise season to plan around. For a land visit combined with a cruise elsewhere in Asia, the comfortable months depend on the country’s climate and your specific plans.

There is no shoulder-season cruise value to weigh, since no ocean itineraries include Laos. The cruise seasons that matter are those of the coastal Asian countries you might pair it with. Browse the latest Asia cruise deals for those sailings.

If you plan to add Laos as a land extension, time it to suit both the country’s climate and the cruise you attach it to. For the cruise portion itself, follow the timing advice for whichever coastal region you sail.

Top Cruise Ports

No cruise port (reached overland as a land trip)

Laos is landlocked, so it has no cruise port and never features on ocean itineraries. To experience it, travelers arrange a separate overland trip, typically reached via Thailand or Vietnam combined with onward air or rail travel.

The genuine attractions, the temple city of Luang Prabang and the Mekong River, reward the land traveler who plans for them properly. Insider tip: treat Laos as a dedicated land extension worth several days in its own right. It cannot be squeezed into an ocean cruise port day, since it has no coast at all.

Which Cruise Lines Sail Here

No ocean cruise lines call at Laos, since it is landlocked with no port, so there is no cruise-line lineup to compare. The country simply does not appear on ocean itineraries.

Some specialist operators run land tours and, where geography allows elsewhere in the region, river cruises, but these are entirely separate products from the ocean cruising covered across this site.

If you want to combine an ocean cruise with a visit to Laos, choose a sailing to the nearest coastal region and add a land extension. Read our Silversea review, our Princess Cruises review, and our Celebrity Cruises review for lines that serve the relevant Asian coasts, and use the compare tool to plan.

Shore Excursion Tips

There are no ocean cruise excursions in Laos, since no ship calls. The country’s genuine attractions are experienced through a separate, carefully planned overland trip rather than anything connected to a cruise.

If you do make the land trip, Laos rewards proper time and planning, ideally arranged through a reputable specialist operator who knows the region and its logistics.

The local language is Lao (some English in tourist areas), and the currency is the Lao kip (Thai baht and US dollars sometimes used). The visa situation is worth checking (Visa on arrival or e-visa often available; check rules). These matter for the land trip rather than any cruise. For shore visits in Asia’s coastal cruise ports, see our guide to cruise shore excursions.

Sample Itineraries

There is no ocean cruise itinerary that includes Laos. The closest approach is an Asia cruise to the nearest coastal region, combined with your own separately arranged overland trip into Laos.

Specialist land tours, and river cruises where regional geography allows, are separate products with their own pricing and booking, distinct from the ocean sailings covered here.

For an ocean voyage, plan a cruise to the relevant Asian coast and treat Laos as a land add-on. Compare current Asia sailings on the deals page, then arrange the overland portion separately.

Packing & Practical Tips

There is no cruise-specific packing for Laos, since you reach it overland. For a land visit combined with an Asia cruise, pack for the country’s climate and terrain, with comfortable walking shoes, layers, and sun protection, plus anything your specialist tour advises.

Laos uses the Lao kip (Thai baht and US dollars sometimes used). It runs on Type A, B, C, E, and F plug types, so bring a universal adaptor for the land portion. The visa situation is this: Visa on arrival or e-visa often available; check rules. For the packing list for the cruise portion of your trip, see our cruise packing guide.

The Verdict

The honest verdict on Laos is clear: it is not an ocean cruise destination, because it is landlocked with no coastline or cruise port. It is, however, a genuinely rewarding country for the land traveler drawn to the temple city of Luang Prabang and the Mekong River. We include it here for completeness and to explain honestly how cruisers can actually connect with it, as a land extension rather than a port of call.

Do not look for an ocean cruise that calls at Laos, since none exists. If the country appeals, add it as a separate, well-planned overland trip from the nearest coastal region, and choose your ocean cruise for whichever Asian coast you sail. For most cruisers, Laos will be a dedicated land journey rather than part of a voyage.

Related Guides (internal links)

• Asia Cruise Guide: the full regional overview
• Read our Silversea review
• Read our Princess Cruises review
• Read our Celebrity Cruises review
• Cruising Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket and the islands
• Cruising Vietnam: Halong Bay and the coast
• See this week’s Asia cruise deals
• Compare cruise lines side by side
• Plan your route with the Itinerary Planner

Last updated: May 23, 2026. Written by Helena Marsh, Editorial Director.