Tonle Pandaw

The Pandaw Story

The Irrawaddy Flotilla Company was founded in 1865 and by the 1920s was the largest privately owned fleet of ships in the world. In 1942 the bulk of the fleet of over 650 vessels was sunk in an act of denial when the Japanese invaded Burma. Most of these vessels were paddle steamers and the largest class was licensed to carry 4000 deck passengers. In 1995 the Irrawaddy Flotilla company was revived by Paul Strachan. He acquired the Pandaw built in 1947, from the Inland Water Transport and spent a year re-fitting her. They tried to conserve as many original features as they could, restoring her to recreate the atmosphere and character of the first class deck of a colonial river steamer. Using old photographs and models and interviewing a number of the old company’s former employees the restoration was as authentic as was possible.

Demand for the Pandaw exceeded all expectations. For this reason the company decided to introduce a second vessel into service in November 2001 and since then larger vessels have been built with further improvements to design and efficiency without sacrifice to charm and authenticity.

Sun Deck

Pandaw Cruising

The average Pandaw stateroom size (170 sq ft) is considerably larger than the average on other ships. Fine dining and excellent service, a hospitable caring management team all help to make a Pandaw experience something very special. The staff to guest ratio is higher than on most other ships or hotels ensuring high levels of service and care. There are no hidden extras on a Pandaw cruise like additional charges for unscheduled sightseeing trips; complimentary coffee and tea are available all day on the sun deck and mineral water is not charged for.

Nothing on a Pandaw cruise is compulsory. Passengers are welcome to join the escorted shore excursions, do their own thing or just stay on board. Though there is space for those who seek silence, a Pandaw cruise can also be a convival experience with a group of like-minded travellers exploring a little known country in the charming and historic atmosphere of a Pandaw. Cruising aboard Tonle Pandaw along the Mekong can be a peaceful experience interrupted only by stimulating and exciting trips ashore. Scheduled for at least once, if not twice a day, there are excursions into timeless villages and small towns. The areas of the river we explore, which meanders through Vietnam and Cambodia, is remote and far from the trodden tourist track. The shallow draft ships can moor virtually anywhere on the inland waters, thus offering penetrating insights into the areas of the country that could not be reached by land.

The Pandaw Stateroom

Aboard the Tonle Pandaw, all rooms are air-conditioned with their own controls. In the cool season, from November to March, air conditioners are rarely required. For these times there are fitted windows with insect screens and warm blankets are available. There is a mini safe in each room. Slippers and kimonos in the company livery are supplied as are mineral water, note books, pencils etc. The bathrooms, for a ship are very roomy with granite basin tops. Hot water is copious and the pressure high. On the lower deck there are cabins for solo travellers; smallish yet cosy, these all have solid brass port holes giving to the river.

Dining Room

Pandaw Dining

European executive chefs have evolved a fusion cuisine combing the best of Asian and Western traditions on board. Produce is sourced locally as far as possible, not just to assist the local economies but also so that passengers can taste and sample local products. As much tropical fruit and vegetables are offered as possible and the fresh river fish is a favourite. At each meal there is a choice of spicy Asian, European or vegetarian. Breakfasts and lunches are simple buffet. Dinner is a sit down table d’hôte. Dress at night is smart-casual and never formal. There is no compulsory seating plan and a choice of table sizes from a couple to a larger group.

On boards a Pandaw

Staterooms on the main and upper decks open onto circular promenades furnished with rattan reading chairs. The lower deck single cabins have port holes. The key ingredient to the success of the Pandaw design has been the fact that passengers are not cooped up all day with sealed windows. In the public areas, the windows open, walls slide back and all but disappear. Ventilation is natural, not ducted. You are close at all times to a real river world that is unfolding all about you. There is an observation and sun deck area which is part covered by an awning and offers a bar service with complimentary coffee and tea ready on the sideboard from dawn to dusk. Here you will find the bridge, and with the open bridge policy you can follow the fascinating work of the ships officers and pilots as they ply seemingly invisible channels with neither charts nor modern navigational aids.

Local materials like rattan and homespun fabrics are used in furnishing and decoration of the ships. Thoughtful detail in all aspects of the design remembering that this is a ship, not a hotel, and space is precious. The ships have teak decks and panelling throughout, inside and out, not to mention the use of other plantation hardwoods mixed to rich effect with the teak. The Pandaw collections of paintings, old prints and objects of art make the atmosphere on board more akin to being on an elegant 1920’s motor yacht than a cruise ship. The Saloon, with its well stocked cocktail bar, is in the forepart of the upper deck and this is a favourite place for passengers to sit in the afternoon and enjoy the incoming breeze from the windows, always opened when cruising during the day.

The dining room is designed to open up at the sides to allow airflow during daytime meals. Both the saloon and dining room can be closed up at night to prevent ingress of insects and are fully air-conditioned. The ship is fitted with water and sewage treatment plants, emergency communications equipment, intercoms and PA-systems, night navigation searchlight, bakery and laundry, life rafts and other saving equipment, fire fighting equipment with emergency pumps and generators and emergency lighting circuits. Smoking is not allowed in any of the interior areas. Television, video and slide presentation facilities are available for seminars and lectures held on board. The vessel has outboard propulsion systems utilising rudder-propeller technology. With adjustable height controls for the propellers, this offers manoeuvrability in areas of shallow water offering maximum flexibility.

Travels to: Cambodia, Thailand & Vietnam.