Comms
Cell
phones, Sat phones (where permitted by local authorities) VHF and SSB radio,
internal phone system, PA system and tannoy system for navigation purposes.
Safety
Smoke detectors in all cabins and public places, emergency
lighting and generator, fire pump, hydrants and hoses,
fire extinguishers, life jackets for all on board and
life rafts.
Navigation
Navigation lights, ships horn, searchlight, GPS, Radar
(where permitted by local authorities).
Amenities
On board laundry, bakery, fully equipped galley and
refrigeration units; air conditioning for all inside
areas.
Water
Treatment plants for desalination, desedimentation and
purification using UV and osmosis.
Sewage
Microbiotic treatment plants.
Class
Myanmar DMA Inland Water (based on Lloyds Inland Water
Class).
Flag
Country flags in areas of operation.
Insurance
Ship
Owners UK: P&I policies with over USD45 million
per vessel.
Crew
28 per vessel of mixed Asian nationalities.
Management
European expatriate experts employed directly by Pandaw
Cruises supervising experienced Asian Pursers.
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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
upsets.
Bar
The saloon bar is located on the upper deck and is open every
day from 9:00 am until late. In the RV
Indochina the Bar is located in the Sundeck and has an outdoor
lounge furnished with comfortable rattan
chairs.
Blankets
Blankets are to be found in the drawer or closet under your
bed. These may be needed in the cool season
when night time temperatures can drop to below 15°C.
Board account
You will be asked to sign a bill for all items ordered and
you will be presented with the account on the last
day aboard.
Bridge policy / No go areas
These are indicated as “crew only”; please
do not enter these areas or the bridge without the permission
of the ship manager. We operate an open bridge policy,
but ask that you be sensitive to the ship’s officer
tasks at hand when visiting.
Cabin / Stateroom
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 note that cabins do not have mini bars,
TVs or phones. All have own air conditioning,
mini-safe, luggage storage, wardrobe, writing desk and amenities
include hair drier, kimono, slippers. All
upper and main deck cabins have own deck space with own rattan
chairs and table outside the room.
Premium cabins are a special price category during peak periods
and are no different from other upper
deck cabins.
Coffee and Tea
Complimentary coffee and tea area available from 6am in either
the dining room or on the sun deck
throughout the day.
Drinks
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. A
complimentary daily cocktail will be served made by local
spirit.
Electricity
230 volts two round pin type as found in Continental Europe
- we carry adapters for other types of plug
you might bring (i.e. UK )
Emergency Procedures
The ship is fitted with modern smoke detectors, and fire
alarms, extinguishers and hoses. Alarms are
situated at regular intervals along the Promenade Decks.
Fire extinguishers are located at regular intervals
around the promenade decks and outside all public rooms.
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 Station. Muster station 1 is located on
main deck mid ships. In the event of muster
station 1 is not safe, please proceed to Muster station 2,
which is located on the sun deck and await
instructions given by the crew.
Gangways
Because of the varying nature of the river bank the method
of getting ashore may differ from time to time
and on occasions access may be difficult. We will ensure
the gangways are safe and that crew and team
are on hand to assist you.
Hairdryers
These are available in all cabins.
Insect Precautions
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.
Internet
A free wireless internet connection is available in the ship’s
bar on upper or sun deck only while mooring
in Phnom Penh port and later in other locations along the
route.
Laundry
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 by the
following day. Please leave items in the bag provided and
mark up the list. The charges will go on your
bill. If there is an item that you do not wish ironed please
advise us.
Library
There is a library on board all our ships located in the
saloon bar.
Loud speaker system
The ship is provided with a loud speaker system. Announcements
through this system will inform you
about the departure time for excursions or exceptionally
regarding schedule changes or in case of an
emergency.
Please be informed that announcements can only be heard in
all public areas as well as on the outside
decks, all announcements do no go through to your cabin.
Life Jackets
These are kept in the wardrobe in your cabin.
Medical
We carry first aid equipment and some medications. All senior
staff have attended first aid courses. On
the river we are never far from a local medical station.
You should check with your doctor that you are fit
for travel and your doctor should 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.
Mobile Phones
GSM phones work for nearly all parts of the Mekong where we
travel with the exception of in Cambodia for
a short section downstream of Kampong Chhnang and in the midst
of the Tonle lake. Other places have
excellent coverage.
Money Matters
The currency on board the ship is the US$. All passengers will
have their own ship account, which allows
you to sign a bill for all purchases and services throughout
your cruise. All bills on board the ships will be
in US$ in cash or credit card (Master or Visa card). Please
note that only bills with an amount over 25.-$
can be settled by credit card. We cannot accept traveler cheques
on board our ships. The local currencies
are the Vietnam Dong and the Cambodian Riel. Approximate exchange
rates (2008): 1$ = 15’000 VN Dong /
1$ = 4000 Riel.
We suggest that you do not need any local currency during the
cruise. However, there is a limited money
exchange service available on board.
Moving About the Ship
Please be careful when moving about the decks, they can be
slippery especially after rainfall. The stairs
on board may be stepper than you may be used to. It's best
to always use the handrails.
River Conditions
These vary depending on the season. In the dry season (November-March)
the water level of the river will
be quite low and in places will have dropped more than 50
foot from its monsoon level (June-Sept).
Though the river can be miles wide, channels may be narrow
and hard to follow. There is thus some risk of
running aground on submerged sand banks and our captain has
to take extreme care.
Safe
All cabins have been fitted with European made mini-safes.
Schedule Changes
Schedule changes may be possible due to technical complications
or unpredictable incidents and variable
river conditions. The ship purser will immediately inform
you for changes regarding the excursions or make
an announcement by loud speakers. Please also keep an eye
on the notice board for any subsequent notice
of any changes to planned timings.
Security
In the countries in which we operate tourists are rarely
targets for theft and when sailing most of
passengers do not bother to lock their doors. When in port
a 24 hour watch is kept on the gangplank
controlling access to the ship but please then keep your
deck door locked when not in use and at night. All
cabins have a combination type safe - please use a number
you can remember like the last 4 digits of your
phone number or your date of birth. The company cannot be
held liable for loss of money, jewelry or
other valuable items from the ship or whilst on an excursion
ashore during a voyage.
Ship’s
office
The main office on the Mekong ships is on the Lower Deck
but we found that passengers tended to forget
its existence. We have therefore located a 'front office'
in the saloon bar where the Purser or his assistant
is on duty at set times to offer information or assistance.
On our new ships (Orient and Indochina) built in 2008 the
office will be located on upper deck mid ship.
Shop
We have a small boutique on board with a collection of locally
made handicrafts. Post cards, stamps,
books, hygiene & cosmetic articles are available as well.
Smoking
Smoking is permitted only outside on the sun deck and promenade
decks. Please do not smoke in your
cabin, in the dining room as well as in the saloon bar. This
is a wood finished ship and the danger of fire
should never be ignored.
Towels
To save water and reduce detergent use we will only change
towels daily if they are placed on the floor.
Water
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
drunk. Bottled mineral water is provided for
drinking, free of charge. We have copious supplies of hot
water but you may have to run the water for two
minutes before it gets hot. |