Passenger Feedback

The trip down the Irrawaddy on the Pandaw 2 was a most memorable experience, made so not only by what we saw and experienced but by the crew. The crew was always friendly and helpful and considerate and flexible.

Because of the nature of the river, the Irrawaddy presents a number of challenges when it comes to mooring the boat safely and it was interesting to watch the crew while performing this task. Sometimes it was a gently sloping bank other times a steep one and they always made sure that the gangplank was positioned as safely as possible and in a manner that made it easy for us to cross. Crew were always standing by to give any assistance necessary transferring from the boat to the road.

The food was delicious and the biggest problem was not over-eating as a result! Tun's smiling face was there to welcome us at each mealtime and within a very short space of time he knew all our names and cabin numbers without having to ask, even though it was free seating and we moved around from meal to meal. Most impressive. The menus were varied and the galley was flexible in providing something different if someone's stomach was out of sorts and in serving small portions if requested.

We soon got used to seeing the crew multi-tasking and helping our local guides when we were on an excursion. They were most useful helping us with our purchases in the markets if one of the guides wasn't nearby and just being there to make sure we didn't get lost.

I can thoroughly recommend a trip on the Irrawaddy with Pandaw and would consider this company first if I take another river cruise where they are operating.

DH, March 2018

The 7 day Mekong cruise on the Pandaw was the highlight of our 3 week trip. The boat was immaculate and the rooms were surprisingly roomy and well equipped. The best part was the food and service. I could not believe the variety of food and excellent quality that was served from the small kitchen. The staff were superb. The servers remembered what we drank and always served us with a smile. All of the extras, such as the free water bottles, supply of bottled water as well as filtered cold water from the coolers, shoe cleaning, cold wet towels and a refreshing drink on embarking from any excursion just gave the experience just that extra touch of luxury. The cruise itself was relaxing and a welcomed rest from the hustle and bustle of sightseeing. I would highly recommend this river cruise.

Having read some of the comments on your website, it is hard to find a different set of words to describe the wonderful experience we had on our cruise up the Irrawaddy. With only 23 passengers on board the atmosphere was very friendly and welcoming. It is clear that after many years' experience, Pandaw truly understands how to ensure their guests travel in comfort and experience all the fascinating sights the Irrawaddy has to show.

For example, on the whole, the morning and afternoon tours were 2 - 3 hours duration so one was not left feeling utterly exhausted and it was lovely to come back to the boat at lunchtime and relax before the afternoon tour. The standard of service by the crew was outstanding - nothing was too much trouble and they were always around on the tours to help you up a steep slope or hand out the very welcome chilled wet wipes to clean your feet after visiting a temple. I don't think they saw it as service they had to do, but rather they treated us as if we were their parents/grandparents and they always did it with a smile and so willingly.

This review would not be complete without mentioning the excellent array of food offered each day - everything we ate was delicious and beautifully presented. We particularly enjoyed the local dishes they prepared and it was obvious everything was freshly made right down to the croissants for breakfast.

There were so many highlights but perhaps the one I most enjoyed was the surprise beach party when all the crew and guests joined together for dancing and canapes - it was such fun and lovely to be able to be at one with the crew - it really was like a big family occasion. Again on the final evening when we said thank you and farewell to the crew, we all danced together and said out goodbyes.

I thought the cruise was excellent value for money and hope that Pandaw can continue to maintain their high standards as they grow their excellent product.

We recently returned from an extended holiday in Vietnam and Cambodia. The highlight of our adventure was the Halong Bay and Red River expedition aboard the beautiful RV Angkor Pandaw.

Sailing with Pandaw was everything we hoped it would be, and more. Vietnam is a country of spectacular beauty, rich in culture and diversity. Exploring the scenic countryside and artisanal villages along the Red River provided unique insight into a Vietnam unspoilt by the crush of tourism. The ship is well appointed and comfortable; the crew and guides, knowledgeable and attentive; the excursions well planned; the food delicious.

Special thanks to the Captain, Purser Poly, entire crew and guides Tifo and Duoc.

We hope to sail with you again.
Janice and Greg McDougall

Thank you Pandaw for a wonderful experience! We are so glad that we did this trip. Having previously enjoyed the Mekong and Irrawaddy river cruises with Pandaw in 2011 and 2012, we were most interested in the Mergui Archipelago trip on first hearing of it in 2016. In February this year we decided we would "just do it" and booked for the final voyage of the season in April.

We joined the trip from Ranong in Thailand, travelling across to Kawthaung by long tail boat which was a fun experience. From the moment we boarded the Andaman Explorer we knew we had made the right decision. We had the most amazing time, visiting many of the islands in the Archipelago, all of which were totally different. We particularly enjoyed snorkelling and swimming in the beautiful clear waters and also kayaking through the most spectacular mangrove forest we have ever seen, as well as into the lagoon on Cockscomb Island on our last day. Apart from squid fishing fleets and a few day trip boats, we hardly saw any other vessels in the area.

The ship, which is an extremely stable vessel, was above expectations with lovely spacious cabins. Our thanks go to all the marvellous crew who made the trip so enjoyable. Last but not least our exceptional chef and his team, who provided us with the most delicious meals every day - fresh lobster, roast duck, home made burgers on the beach, just to mention a few! We are now looking forward to our next Pandaw adventure in October - the Red River and Halong Bay.

Thanks to all at Pandaw for creating such wonderful adventures!

Carol and Jeff Altmann
Perth, Australia

Dear Pandaw team

Just a few days ago, we finished the Mekong Pandaw 7 day cruise from Siem Reap to Saigon (7 - 14 July). My hubby and I travelled with our two daughters (7 and 9yo). In booking the cruise, we were a little apprehensive about whether it would really be suitable for kids and also whether the trip would be too touristy (we are very independent, experienced travellers who tend to stay away from organised tours). How wrong we were!

All I can do is rave! This was possibly the best holiday we’ve ever had as a family. Everything about the boat itself was luxurious and spacious and let us have a really switched off and pampered break. There was plenty of room to escape from others and just watch the river slip by. But we also found that all the other travellers were lovely so didn’t feel the need to do that. The food was amazing, and the attention to detail with things like being met from excursions with a drink, cold towel and shoe cleaning was just so impressive.

The excursions were fabulous too - we met no other tourists except when we were in the city, and the variety of activities coupled with the excellent guides (especially our Cambodian guide Sam) made us feel like we were really getting a little local insight. We really appreciated Sam’s knowledge, great humour, relaxed manner and willingness to share his personal history and insights. It was also great having the headsets and earpieces.

As to whether the children enjoyed it, let’s just say they are already demanding to know when we’re going back on our next Pandaw cruise. That was almost entirely due to the outstanding crew on board who, without exception, were warm, welcoming, fun and genuinely caring. From the captain, purser Sam and Deputy purser Jimmy, to the hospitality and housekeeping teams and engineers- nothing was too much trouble and they really made us feel like part of a big family. Little touches like waving us off on excursions and writing a note from the Cambodian tooth fairy in Khmer for us to put under our daughter’s pillow when she lost a tooth on board made us feel like we were more than just clients.

All in all, I cannot speak more highly of the Mekong Pandaw and its team. When you see both passengers and crew in tears as they farewell each other, you know you’ve experienced something special. We will be back soon!

Best wishes
Sophie Ray
(Australia)

Hello James,

I suspect that you are still enjoying the last of the passenger free time before the next exciting expedition down the river from Hoa Binh to Halong Bay. So before I get back to a more normal life back in Perth, I thought I should fulfill my promise to you to provide an alternative critique to the rather simplistic survey you asked us to complete before we disembarked. It offered 5 stars against each item. I would have wanted to allocate 6!

For me, the 10 days on board the RV Anchor Pandaw was by far the most enjoyable and educational of my prior three trips with Pandaw, yet they had been excellent too. Why this one? Because of the variety of shore excursions, the unspoiled nature of the locals we visited and therefore their friendliness. At times their friendliness was quite overwhelming. The villages we visited gave such a clear insight into life for people outside the cities. And the cultural performances both ashore and on deck arranged by the crew just added to our appreciation of the people.

Then of course, there was the crew who we got to know so well in the 10 days. So obliging, so skilled in their individual tasks and generous in their willingness to serve and be friendly. The menus provided by the Chef were quite outstanding. And each day, I marveled at the Captain’s ability to deliver us to the next shore excursion right on time.

Above all else, I enjoy traveling with Pandaw because I admire the owner for his ethics and for what he has achieved in building the company.

Health permitting, I hope to be able to do another trip in the not too distant future.

All the very best,
Tom Herzfeld