BRUCE AND CARMEN MCVICAR, AUSTRALIA, HALONG BAY AND THE RED RIVER, JUN 2017
Well, what a trip – the Angkor Pandaw ship is a treat to travel on; from the fantastic limestone structures of Halong Bay to the hustle and bustle of Hanoi, there was always something wonderful to see or do. The decision of Pandaw to spend more time in Halong Bay than in the past is a big plus. The captain and his crew were great, helping us on and off the ship, up muddy and slippery banks which was very helpful - having cold water on hand on trips to meeting us back on board with cold towels and drinks.
The ship itself was fantastic, the teak timber and brass looks great. The rooms are big enough for a ten day trip with excellent air-con in both the rooms and the restaurant. As this was the first trip of the season, there were a few teething issues from the kitchen and restaurant, but overall the food was very good. Our two female stewards and barman were very good and attentive. The beer temperature could be two degrees colder, so you don’t have to drink it so quickly haha!
Tifo our guide was good at this job, Peter our Purser is good at his job too but needs to slow down when speaking when nervous. Some suggestions for future trips – if a spare room upstairs was not in use, it could be used as a bathroom during the day, as people with mobility issues don’t have to use the stairs, and one of the lounges could be used in the air-con restaurant. Overall, a very enjoyable cruise.
