Deal: $2,500 discount or free airfare on Cambodia-Vietnam river cruises

River cruise line AmaWaterways gives you a choice of savings on Mekong River cruises from Cambodia to Vietnam for summer: $2,500 off the price of a stateroom or free round-trip airfare from Los Angeles.

The deal: AmaWaterways operates all-inclusive river cruises in Europe, Asia and Africa. The offer applies to select eight-day Vietnam, Cambodia & the Riches of the Mekong cruises between June and September.

Stops include Tonle Sap Lake and Phnom Penh in Cambodia and several villages on the way to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Travelers fly to Hanoi, take a short flight to Cambodia to start the cruise and end in Ho Chi Minh City.

Here’s how the deal works:

-- If you choose the $2,500 discount, cruise prices start at $1,049 per person, based on double occupancy. The sale applies to all ship categories except luxury suites. Discounts also apply to the cost of the cruise plus added-on land tours.

-- If you pay full price -- starting at $2,299 per person, based on double occupancy -- you can choose free economy class flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and other hub cities.

-- Solo passengers aren’t eligible for either deal, but they get a perk too. AmaWaterways is waiving the single supplement fee.

When: You have to reserve by Dec. 31 for cruises that depart between June 23 and Sept. 15. The offers are based on availability.

Tested: I checked online and found the deal available on the selected dates (you’ll see a blue star designating the cruises on sale). Extra charges not included in the cruise price: international airfare (if you choose the $2,500 discount), a short intra-country flight and visas.

Info: AmaWaterways, (800) 626-0126 or contact a travel agent.