slow boat trip on Mekong

I%26#39;ll be going to Laos in May and plan to take a slow boat cruise from Luang Prabhang to Houey Xai( 2D 1N). The tour we%26#39;re thinking of booking is about 235USD. Are these luxury tours worth it? I%26#39;m worried that we would be paying top nosh for an over crowded tourist boat.Any advice here.

Or is it better to to book from Luang Prabhang when we are there?

slow boat trip on Mekong

Im in a similar boat (apologies) in that our flight gets in latesish Sunday first week May and with their being only 2 Asian Oasis boats weekly - Monday and Friday - we are very keen to get the Monday boat trip of 2 days and 1 night which we have been recommended (www.asian-oasis.com). However with visas to buy on the Laos border and a 9am start assumedly one should carry on for the night to Huay Xai in order to be there to get on the boat in time. Or do Ocean Oasis arrange everything if you pre-book?

Ocean Oasis do seem the best bet from what we have read and been told - ie 2 days one night arrive LP before sunset. Does anyone have any alternatives for a one night stay trip? Do not want to speand a second night travelling to LP.

Any advice at all would be very helpful. Thank you.