nature tours & travel, wildlife tours, adventure travel and general travel to Australia, Southeast Asia, South America and Alaska

 

VIETNAM & CAMBODIA


DISCOVERING THE MEKONG AND THE TEMPLES OF ANGKOR

with Judy Brzoska

September 8 to 21, 2010

Mekong Pandaw

Deck and Cabin Plans and Ship Information

 

        

 

 

        

 

   Cabin currently available:

Main Deck 202

       Lower Deck cabins are available on request.

     
    Call 1 877 285 1170 to reserve your space

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your 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 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 our care of you. 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.

 

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. 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.

Footwear
Pandaw 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.

Water and Towels
The ship's water supply comes from the river after passing through a sterilisation 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. To save water and reduce detergent use we will only change towels daily if they are placed on the floor. We have copious supplies of hot water but you may have to run the water for two minutes before it gets hot.

Meals on board
Breakfast is a buffet, lunch and dinner served at the tables. We offer a fusion of Asian and Western cuisine and there are always vegetarian dishes offered. Special diets may be catered for with advance notification and agreement. Our policy is to use as much locally purchased produce as possible to help the economies of the villages and towns we stop at. We try and avoid imported products and 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.

Tea, Coffee and Beverages
Complimentary tea and coffee are available from 6 a.m. on the Sun Deck for throughout the day. Mineral water (local) is provided in all cabins daily. Additional bottles are available on request. Water is provided at all meals. Local soft drinks, beers and some spirits depending on suitability and availability by country are also complimentary.

Food Safety and Hygiene
Bottled water is used for cooking and food preparation onboard. Off the vessel never accept ice in drinks and avoid ice creams, crushed sugar cane, salads and the skins of fruits.

Money
The currency on board in Vietnam and Cambodia is $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 are to be pad in $US or credit card (Master or Visa card not Amex or Discover). Please note that accept traveler's checks are not accepted. In Cambodia and Vietnam most vendors ashore take dollars. If required, there is a limited money exchange service available on board but please try and change money at a bank or hotel before embarkation. ATMs are available in major cities in Cambodia and Vietnam.

Your Purser
Once on board, you will be looked after by an experienced Pandaw Purser who will do his or her best to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible. Both the hotel staff and the ship's crew are here to ensure that you are as well looked after as is possible within the confines of an expedition vessel making pioneering journeys.

Ship's Office
These are located either in the bar or on the upper deck landing. The Purser and key team members are available to assist at designated times.

Fire Risk and Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in your cabin or any internal areas. Smoking is permitted in outside areas only, namely the Observation Deck and Promenade Decks but please be considerate of people sitting down wind. This is a wood-finished ship and the danger of fire should never be ignored.

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. Life Jackets are kept in the wardrobe in your cabin.

Medical
Mekong Pandaw carries 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. In the Conditions of Carriage you are required to take out an insurance policy that includes repatriation in the event of an emergency. 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.

Mobile Phones
Mobile phones work on the Mekong. Please note that usage will incure global roaming charges.

Ship's Shop, Post Cards and Stamps
We have a small boutique on board with a collection of locally made handicrafts. Post Cards and stamps are also from the Ship's Shop. Outside of the tourist centres of Saigon, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, opportunities to buy postcards are virtually non-existent.

Bar and Dining Room and Shop Bills
You will be asked to sign a bill for all items ordered and you will be presented with the account in US$ 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. A complimentary daily cocktail will be served made by local spirit.

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 mosquitoes, can be a real problem and invade the ship. Fortunately these are relatively harmless. Mosquitoes on the river, which is fast flowing, are rarely to be seen.

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 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.

Hairdryers
Hairdryers are installed in all cabins.

Electricity
230 volts two round pin type as found in Continental Europe - we carry adapters for other types of plug you might bring. As the voltage is 230V, 110V non-dual voltage appliances will need a converter. Most camera, cellphone and laptop chargers are dual voltage, please check yours to be sure.

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, jewellery or other valuable items from the ship or whilst on an excursion ashore during a voyage. In the Conditions of Carriage you are required to have taken personal travel insurance cover this.

Excursions
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

Guides
All guides services are in the English language.

Going Ashore
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.