The secret of Pandaw's success is that on their ships, whilst comfort is discreetly present, it is the colonial character and
friendly atmosphere that predominate. All Pandaws have ultra shallow
drafts and can travel to remote areas, which would be unreachable by
other vessels, let alone overland.
Sailing on a Pandaw is
essentially an outdoor experience. Whilst the staterooms are very
comfortable and roomy, passengers prefer to spend their time sitting
outside, on the promenade decks or on the vast observation deck above.
Unlike other cruise ships every window (except port holes on lower deck)
can open.
The Pandaw stateroom is the most celebrated feature of
their ships. Finished in brass and teak, the main and upper deck rooms
are very spacious at 168 square feet (15.6 sqm). Much loved by all our
passengers we have ensured that with each ship we build the stateroom
remains the same. Cabins do not have mini-bars, satellite TV’s, internet
or phones. There is a 24 honesty bar on the sundeck. Life onboard the RV Saigon Pandaw is like being a guest on a private motor yacht,
experiencing luxury, discreet comfort, and caring service.
Pandaw
offers a great choice of local cuisine and exotic foods. They source
supplies as locally as possible, given environmental health regulations.
Breakfast and lunch are buffets, and dinner is served at the tables.
Passengers who do not like hot or spicy foods are offered European
alternatives and vegetarians are well catered for. Pandaw's chefs know
that the majority of passengers want to eat the best of each country
they pass through. All soft drinks, local beers, mineral water, coffee
and tea, as well as local spirits are free of charge. Only imported
spirits and liquors, wine, espresso, and imported mineral water will be
charged.
Air
Conditioning
Your cabin has its own air-conditioning unit,
which can be adjusted
for your comfort. We recommend you do not over-cool your cabin, as the
sudden change from the outside temperature to a chilled cabin can bring
on colds, respiratory illnesses, and even stomach sickness. For upper
and main deck cabins: 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.
Bar and Dining Room and
Shop Bills
You will be asked to sign a bill for all items
ordered in US Dollars
on the last day aboard. All soft drinks, local beers, mineral water,
coffee and tea, as well as local spirits are free of charge. Only
imported spirits and liquors, wine, espresso, and imported mineral water
will be charged. You may receive a complementary daily cocktail using
local spirits.
Etiquette
Southeast
Asians are general tolerant and easy-going. Please try to avoid
political discussions 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 offense. Despite opening
the door to Capitalism, Vietnam remains a fervently Communist society
with a dominant Communist Party. In 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
visitors, permitting photos, and invasion of their sacred space. They
ask for only one thing: that we take our shoes off. Even socks are
forbidden. 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
around so that your palm flaps down toward 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 below the knee for both sexes,
but it is OK to expose the arms
Footwear
Pandaw
slippers are provided for your comfort aboard the vessel. When
ashore, guests should wear a comfortable but safe walking shoe. At
certain times, the river banks and paths can be muddy or dusty, so
please remove your shoes when re-boarding so that we can clean your
shoes and return them later.
Gratuities
Gratuities to
the Pandaw crew are included in the price of your
ticket. Kindly note that the gratuities to local guides are not included
and are completely at your discretion.
Hairdryers
Hairdryers
are installed in all cabins.
Meals on Board
Breakfast
is a buffet, while lunch and dinner are served at the
tables. We offer a fusion of Asian and Western cuisine and there are
always vegetarian dishes available. Special diets may be catered to with
advance notice. Our policy is to use as much locally purchased produce
as possible to help the economies of the villages and towns in which we
stop and to give our passengers a real taste of the lands through which
they pass. Exotic fruit, fresh organic vegetables, locally caught fish
and prawns are the preference of most of our passengers.
Medical
We
carry first aid equipment and some medicines. All senior staff
have 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. In the event of serious illness or accident we
are never more than two hours by car or speed boat from a hospital or
clinic.
Money
The currency on board is US Dollars.
All passengers will have their
own ship account, allowing them to sign a bill for all purchases and
services throughout the cruise. All bills on board the ships will be
paid in US Dollars or using a credit card (MasterCard or Visa). Please
note that we do not accept traveler's cheques on board. Most vendors
take US Dollars. If needed, limited money exchange services may be
available on board, but please try to change money at the bank or hotel
before embarking. ATMs are available in major cities in Cambodia and
Vietnam. Travelers' cheques can be exchcanged in local banks in all
countries.
Moving about the Ship
It goes without
saying that this is a ship, not a hotel, so take care
when moving about the decks — they can be slippery. Please use
handrails when using the stairs, as they can be steeper than you may be
used to.
Paying Your Bill
All bills on board ship
will be paid using cash or credit card in US
Dollars. If you use a credit card, we must follow an "off-line
procedure" whereby you must sign to allow us to charge your credit card
for the stated amount. We take Visa and MasterCard only, and we do not
accept travelers' cheques or personal checks.
Water and Towels
The
ship's water supply comes from the river after passing through a
sterilization plant. This water is suitable for washing and brushing
teeth but should not be ingested. Bottled mineral water is provided for
drinking, free of charge. To save water and reduce detergent use, we
will only change towels daily if they are placed on the floor. Hot water
may need to be run for around two minutes to reach the desired
temperature.
Your Cabin
We want you to be as
comfortable as possible during your voyage with
us. Our stewarding team will do their best to ensure the highest
possible standards of cleanliness and try to make you as much at home as
possible. Please do not hesitate to ask if you require anything at all
and please let us know if you are not satisfied with any aspect of your
service.
Electricity
230 Volts, two round pin type as found in continental Europe.
