The Pandaw dining rooms are designed to open up along the sides to allow cool breezes to waft through. Only at night we do close them up and turn on the air-conditioning. We know our passengers prefer fresh air to chilled air. The new Katha Pandaw, designed in response to feedback from our passengers, has no formal dining room but rather an open air dining space on deck.

At Pandaw we pride ourselves on offering a great choice of local cuisine and exotic foods. We source supplies and ingredients as locally as possible, always in accordance with strictly-monitored environmental health standards.

Breakfast is a buffet, while lunch features a buffet, plus soup, salad and a desert table, with the main course served at the table. Dinner is by waiter-service at the table.

We are happy to cater for individual dietary preferences. Passengers who prefer not to be served hot or spicy foods are offered delicious European-style alternatives and vegetarians are especially well catered for. Other special diets may be accommodated, by prior arrangement. Our chefs know that most passengers want to sample versions of the best, most characteristic dishes of each country they pass through.

From its earliest days, the Pandaw concept has been deeply rooted in cultural and historical expertise, worn lightly. On any Pandaw river expedition, daily briefings are hosted by your purser and guide, which provide a forum to discuss the day's events and plans.

Most sailings will feature at least one cultural performance: in Burma it is the marionette theatre; in Cambodia the Royal Khmer Ballet; in Laos villagers perform a dance on deck.

We also offer a range of onboard activities including: cooking demonstrations, fruit carving, napkin tying and a tour of the working ship.

Themed movie nights are also popular - the film Indochine in Vietnam, The Killing Fields in Cambodia and The Lady in Burma are some of the favourites.

When moored you are welcome to come and go from the ship as much as you like. Our next sailing time will be advised on the Daily Schedule and passengers are requested to note this before disembarkation. Group shore excursions are organised by the Purser and you will be accompanied by a member of the ship’s company. Details of these are posted on the Daily Schedule. Fifteen minutes prior to casting off the captain will sound the ship’s horn to warn you to return to the ship. Passengers should hang their keys on the key board hanging adjacent to the gang plank when disembarking so that we know if anyone has not returned. If you go ashore with your cabin keys and we leave without you we can not be held responsible for this. We will attempt to devise on shore time in the cool of the early morning or late afternoon

Currently only available on our Mekong Pandaw ship, the Pandaw Spa offers head massage, foot massage and body massages in dedicated spa areas.

You should check with your doctor that you are fit for travel and your doctor would check with the relevant organization in your country as to whether any prophylactic drugs or inoculations are required. We do not have facilities for disabled people or wheel chair access. There are no stair lifts. River banks can be steep and slippery. If a passenger is seen to be unfit or unable to access a ship and mount stairs unaided then the management reserves the right to refuse to carry that passenger.

We carry first aid equipment and some medicines. All our senior staff has attended First Aid courses. On the river we are never far from a local medical station and we have found that some local doctors usually speak English or French and practice a good standard of field medicine. In the event of serious illness or accident we are never more than 2 hours by car or speed boat from a hospital or clinic (NOTE: this does not apply for the remote Burmese coast). In the Conditions of Carriage you are required to take out an insurance policy that includes repatriation in the event of an emergency.

Please make sure you have sufficient travel and health insurance. Some hospitals refuse treatment if there is not coverage by an insurance.

We are happy to cater for individual dietary preferences. Passengers who prefer not to be served hot or spicy foods are offered delicious European-style alternatives and vegetarians are especially well catered for. Other special diets may be accommodated, by prior arrangement. Our chefs know that most passengers want to sample versions of the best, most characteristic dishes of each country they pass through.

External doors and the gauze windows should be kept closed at all times, day and night. At night, if on deck or going ashore make sure to rub ankles and other exposed parts with repellent. However, outside urban areas mosquito is less of a problem than other forms of insect life. Make sure to switch off lights when leaving your cabin so as not to lure them in. Between January and March insects, but not mosquito, can be a real problem and invade the ship. Fortunately these are relatively harmless. Mosquito on the river, which is fast flowing, are rarely to be seen.

Complimentary WiFi is provided on the main sun deck and inside the dining & saloon area only on all Pandaw Cruises ships. For guests who bring their own WiFi enabled devices please note that due to the rural nature of some of our river cruise destinations WiFi may not be stable and not always available in some areas.

South-East Asians are generally tolerant and easy going. Please try to avoid political discussion and remember that the Vietnamese national hero “Uncle” Ho Chi Minh enjoys near divine stature and any disrespect shown to his name or memory can cause extreme offence. Despite opening the door to Capitalism Vietnam remains a fervently Communist society with a dominant Communist Party. Likewise in Myanmar please do not raise political issues with people – let them raise them with you. You could compromise people and even get them into trouble by talking politics.

In Myanmar and Cambodia, one thing that does cause upset is any form of disrespect for the national religion, Theravada Buddhism. Unlike many faiths, Buddhists make their temples open to us foreigners, permitting the snapping of cameras and invasion of their sacred space. They ask only one thing: that we take our shoes off. Even socks are forbidden in Myanmar. In addition please observe the following:

• Try not to point with your feet.
• In the company of monks or elders never cross your legs.
• Do not touch people on the head or upper body.
• When beckoning someone to come over do not flap your hand in the standard Western
• ‘come here’ motion; instead turn the hand round so that your palm flaps down towards yourself.
• Do not shake hands with monks or nuns as people in general rarely shake hands;
• rather smile and nod away.
• Ladies should never sit down next to a monk.
• Shorts and skirts should be longish (below the knee) for both sexes but it is OK to expose arms.

Your cabin has its own air-conditioning unit, which can be adjusted for your comfort. We recommend you do not overcool your cabin as the sudden change from the outside temperature to a chilled cabin can bring on colds, respiratory illnesses and even stomach upsets. At night you may prefer to use the fan only, and have the windows open. Insect netting covers the windows to enable you to do this. Please do not leave your air-conditioner on with the window open – this results in energy loss.

Pandaw Cruises slippers are provided for your comfort on board the vessel. When ashore guests should use comfortable but safe walking shoes. At certain times the river banks and paths used can be muddy and therefore slippery or very dusty and we ask you to remove your footwear when returning on board so that we can clean your shoes for you and return them to you later.

A laundry bag is provided for your laundry needs, and a laundry list is to be found in the rattan folder by your bed. Laundry is collected each morning when your room is made up and will be returned to you by the following day. Please leave items in the bag provided and mark up the list. The charges will go on your bill in US$. If there is an item that you do not wish ironed please advise us.

It goes without saying that this is a ship rather than a hotel, and as such you will need to take care when moving about the decks ~ they can be slippery. Please take extra care when using the stairs ~ which on board ship are steeper than you may be used to. It’s best to always use the handrails.

In the event of an emergency the ship’s whistle will blast repeatedly and the alarm bells be rung. If either in or very close to your cabin, put on your life jacket and proceed immediately to MUSTER STATION ONE, and await instructions. On the back of your cabin door is a plan of the ship showing the position of your cabin in relation to the Emergency Muster Stations.

MUSTER STATION ONE in all ships is located on the MAIN DECK mid ships (where the main gang plank is). In the event that MUSTER STATION ONE is not safe you will be directed by the crew to MUSTER STATION TWO on the SUN DECK.

Both muster stations are clearly indicated with signs. If you are not in your cabin when you hear the alarm, do NOT return to it, but proceed at once to the Muster Station to await instructions. There will be an Emergency Drill during your voyage. Note that as with inland water class cruise ships on European rivers we are not required by Class Societies to carry life boats – the reason for this is that it is far quicker to beach the vessel on the nearest sand bar or river bank and evacuate by foot than to transfer passengers onto ship’s boats.

We certainly welcome children on board our ships that generally enjoy the cruises greatly.

Our policy on children travelling is as follows:

• Infants below the age of 4 years may sleep in their parent’s cabin without extra charge but the company cannot guarantee the availability of a cot
• Children up to 18 years must solely occupy a berth and pay 50% of the adult rate if sharing the same cabin
• The full rate is applied to the child if they are staying in a different cabin

It is not possible to book a triple. All our cabins are twin. We do allow infants below the age of 4 years may sleep in their parent’s cabin on a mattress placed on the cabin floor between the two beds.

Smoking is not permitted in your cabin or any internal areas. Smoking is permitted in outside designated areas only. But please be considerate of people sitting down wind. This is a wood-finished ship and the danger of fire should never be ignored.

For 2021, the RV Mekong Pandaw was refurbished to add 2 brand new suites, offering private balcony and lounge area for even more space and comfort on your expedition.

Suite Benefits

• Private balcony
• Living room with sofa & table
• Welcome bottle of Champagne to enjoy at your leisure
• In-suite Minibar (with complimentary soft drinks)
• Complimentary 60-minute massage
• Espresso machine
• On call butler service
• Daily fruit basket
• 2 Upper deck suites
• 340 square feet, finished in teak and brass
• Kimonos and slippers
• Spa-branded amenities
• Unlimited mineral water
• Electric mini safe
• Central AC with individual control
• Imported quality linens with duvet and two kind of pillows
• Premium mattresses
• Welcome flower arrangement and welcome gift
• Mirror
• Multi-configuration plugs
• Generous closet space and under-bed storage
• Hair dryer
• Daily nightly turndown service
• 24h laundry service
• Complimentary evening canapés
• Yoga mats in all cabins

• 14 upper deck staterooms
• 170 square feet, finished in teak and brass
• Panoramic French window, leading to personal deck space
• New bathrooms with natural stone shower and branded quality fittings
• Kimonos and slippers
• Spa-branded amenities
• Unlimited mineral water
• Electric mini safe
• Central AC with individual control
• Imported quality linens with duvet and two kind of pillows
• Premium mattresses
• Convertible bed configuration
• Welcome flower arrangement and welcome gift
• Mirror
• Multi-configuration plugs
• Generous closet space and under-bed storage
• Hair dryer
• Daily nightly turndown service
• 24h laundry service
• Complimentary evening canapés

• 6 main deck staterooms
• 170 square feet, finished in teak and brass
• Panoramic French window, leading to personal deck space
• New bathrooms with natural stone shower and branded quality fittings
• Kimonos and slippers
• Spa-branded amenities
• Unlimited mineral water
• Electric mini safe
• Central AC with individual control
• Imported quality linens with duvet and two kind of pillows
• Premium mattresses
• Convertible bed configuration
• Welcome flower arrangement and welcome gift
• Mirror
• Multi-configuration plugs
• Generous closet space and under-bed storage
• Hair dryer
• Daily nightly turndown service
• 24h laundry service
• Complimentary evening canapés