Passenger Feedback

We've now returned from our back-to-back Pandaw cruises to the Chindwin and the Mergui Archipelago. Many thanks for organising the transfers between the two.

As usual we met some really interesting people and had a great time even though the weather was a bit wet on occasions – to be expected at the end of the monsoon season.

I thought you might like to see a couple of videos showing our experiences.

The Chindwin River

The Mergui Archipelago

Regards
Wendy

Dear Pandaw staff

I would like to thank you for another wonderful Pandaw cruise. This is our 6th cruise with Pandaw.

We just finished Pandaw’s 14 river cruise up the Irrawaddy from Yangon to Mandalay. It was outstanding! The rooms, food, tours were top notch and the staff and service are absolutely wonderful. The people of Myanmar are welcoming, friendly and honest and it is a very safe place for tourists to travel. This is our 3rd trip to Myanmar and our 6th Pandaw cruise, and I am sure we will be back! Here are some photos.

There are 3000 plus stupas and pagoda’s in Bagan - this is a beautiful one!

We visited a monastery school and contributed for school supplies and balloons which were very much enjoyed by the young monks.

We visited a village where they make large pots. Our Pandaw boat is in the background.

Thank you
Pat and Fred Atkins

Happy New Year. Please share this email with your Supervisor. I want to commend an incredible you as well as your incredible crew. I feel blessed to have met them all and to have been the reciperant of your expertise, caring and consideration and constant attention. From 1963 to 2008, I was Public Relations and Publicity Director working in broadcasting. I only tell you this because I needed to provide similar service. I feel extremely fortunate to have the had the privilege on being on board Pandaw II. I am certain that you all were aware of my feelings for you and the excellent care you took of your customers/guests.

You and the memories will stay in my heart forever.

I have just completed a 10-night Pandaw cruise on the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar. I am not a 'cruise person'. I like to see places in depth, so a few hours in a major city or an important historical location just doesn't satisfy me. But the Pandaw cruise on the Irrawaddy was an eye-opener. I had been to Myanmar once before, so I had spent two full-days in the amazing archaeological site of Bagan. I didn't mind, therefore, that we only spent two half-days in Bagan because I got to see so many other small, out-of-the-way places in Myanmar to which I had not been before ... and which it would have been difficult to see except on a boat. The itinerary of the cruise was excellent. The tour lead was exceptional, both because of his knowledge and also because of his passion for his country and its sometimes difficult history. The ship's crew could not have been more helpful and friendly. Their dedication to service-excellence was constant. The meals were very good, with the choice of Myanmar, international and vegetarian main courses for both lunch and dinner.

My only quibble was with the coffee, which was not memorable. However, when I suggested to Pandaw that they might want to consider espresso machines on their ships, I immediately received a reply saying that they are working on this. I am looking forward to taking another Pandaw cruise in the not-too-distant future.

This was a wonderful cruise, and we are already looking at the new cruises in India with Pandaw. There were many, many things that we think you did very well. The daily excursions (without paying any extra) were excellent - all wonderful experiences and an up close and personal look into life both in villages and in the city. The food couldn't be beat...quality was excellent, it was plentiful, and we loved the options and themes. We greatly appreciated the abundance of water and beverages at no additional cost. We loved the upper deck - it was spacious and comfortable. The deck lounges were especially nice. We liked that there was a bar on deck. The boat and staterooms were kept very clean. We very much appreciated being greeted upon our return after excursions with smiles, wet towels, refreshing drinks, and shoes being cleaned. The whole staff was exceptional. The local tour guides on the cruise were knowledgeable, friendly, and spoke English well. The bed was very comfortable, and the air conditioning worked well.

I have just returned from one week on your beautiful boat in Burma I wanted to write to you to commend the whole team on board the Orient.

I had very high expectations of the whole trip, but did not expect all the additional touches from crew and front of house teams.

The absolute delights just kept coming, from the unplanned cocktails and canapes on a sandbar (complete with teak tables and a bonfire!)!; plus the team bringing us Campari cocktails as we sat waiting for sunset on the lake by the U Bain bridge.

This was a team that truly deserves an accolade, from the purser himself, through to every single member of the team.

Our guide, Jay, also deserves a special mention. His command of the English language is exceptional, and this together with a lovely quiet sense of humour made such a massive difference to the shore excursions. I know he is employed by Pandaw on a freelance basis, and wanted you to know that every member of the passengers would say the same. Please continue to use this amazing young man for your cruises in Burma, he most certainly adds massive value to the experience as a whole with his incredible knowledge and gentle manner.

Please can you ensure that this commendation is passed on to the highest levels and that the team are recognised for their dedication and incredible customer service.

Regards
Mrs G L Wilkinson

"The Pandaw trip was beyond expectations. The cabin was very comfortable with more than adequate air-conditioning. The food was excellent and the daily trips were all well organized and interesting.

Some of the passengers were actually staying on the boat for another 3 nights. They were going further upstream [ where the scenery was different from what we saw on the way from Bagan] and then back to Mandalay where they did their sightseeing via excursions from the boat. Had I known this was an option I would have preferred it to disembarking in Mandalay as we did."

Regards
Elizabeth Isles

We spent 7 nights in February on Pandaw’s ‘RV Tonle’ boat cruising on the Mekong from My Tho, an hour from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap. The boat is attractive and wood-clad throughout to replicate an ‘old world’ style of ship. The cabin accommodation was comfortable, though storage facilities were a little limited. Air conditioning was reliable and offered a welcome escape from the heat. Although sometimes described as a balcony, each cabin actually opens on to and is accessed by a shared walkway on which chairs are situated, not a private area. Service in the restaurant and everywhere on the ship was friendly and very helpful; it was lovely to return fromexcursions and be greeted by smiles, cold towels and cold fruit juice. Meals were generally of a good standard although breakfasts were a little lacklustre and we would have preferred quick buffet-style lunches at lunchtime, rather than having much lengthier, waiter-served meals. Everything was very well organised and ran smoothly from embarkation to the arrangements for the various excursions. Excursions were offered every day, usually one in the morning and one in the afternoon. These were generally excellent and most enjoyable; accompanied by guides, we were given some real insights into Vietnamese and Cambodian life. A highlight was spending some time with some lovely Cambodian school children who were keen to converse with us and impress us with their knowledge of English. In order to make our journeys interesting, we were transported for our excursions by a large variety of different vehicles - motorised sampans, canoes, carts drawn by scooters, horses and oxen, Cyclos and Tuk-Tuks - lots of fun!

In general, the cruise was an excellent and easy way to see lots of interesting things and places and we would thoroughly recommend it.