• Write a Review
  • Boards
  • Deals
  • Find a Cruise
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Cruise Tips

Pandaw Cruises

56 Reviews
Kindat Pandaw

About Pandaw Cruises

Pandaw spearheaded small ship cruising in Asian destinations and one of the only lines offering sailings in remote areas, such as the Upper Chindwin in Myanmar (Burma) and the Upper Mekong in Laos. The line's river vessels replicate the traditional brass and teak ships of the old Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. The line is known for its "go with the flow" vibe.

  • More about Pandaw River Cruises

  • Who goes on Pandaw cruise ships?

  • Do I have to dress up on a Pandaw cruise?

Loading...

Find Pandaw Cruises

Pandaw Cruises

Loading...

We're sorry no itineraries matched your search. Please update your search criteria and try again.

Pandaw Cruise Tips, Activities, and Overview

Who goes on Pandaw cruise ships?

Pandaw primarily attracts mature and well-traveled people, all sharing a sense of adventure. Most are from the U.S., U.K., Australia and mainland Europe, and friendships develop quickly over shared experiences and the ships' intimate atmosphere.

Do I have to dress up on a Pandaw cruise?

No. The atmosphere is informal and relaxed, and the main requirement is for passengers to dress for comfort. Most people change for dinner, but again the emphasis is on casual rather than chic attire. Layers and long sleeves are needed to sit out on the deck at night.

Is everything free on Pandaw cruises?

Almost. Pandaw offers a mostly inclusive experience -- all bottled water, soft drinks, juices, tea, coffee and locally produced beer and spirits are included. Daily shore excursions (followed by a complimentary shoe cleaning service) and all meals are included in the cruise fares, as well. Wines and imported spirits are available at an additional cost. Tips are also extra.

What are Pandaw’s most popular activities?

From its earliest days, the Pandaw concept has been deeply rooted in discovering local culture and history. Among the most popular activities are the daily briefings, countryside walks, jungle speedboat and ox cart rides, and cultural performances. Onboard cooking demonstrations usually draw an audience but, generally speaking, most passengers prefer to spend their time sitting outside, on the promenade decks relaxing and socializing.

Why go with Pandaw?

  • Ships offer promenade decks with panoramic views.
  • Itineraries feature remote, hard-to-reach destinations.
  • Fares include daily shore excursions.
  • Complimentary (most) beverages, local beer, spirits.

Best for: Adventurous, active travelers interested in exploring remote places

Not for: Big-ship cruisers for whom the ship is the main draw, and anyone with mobility issues

Pandaw River Cruises Cruises Cruiser Reviews

Appalling Pandaw Experience

Pandaw after all only had been operating this journey for three months - and even though only the first two out of 12 trips had succeeded in completing, miracles do supposedly happen on the Ganges so maybe they didn't like to spoil our holiday plans by giving us any advance warning of the possibility of change.And despite having missed about 500 km of a 1200 km river trip, over 40% of the river journey and almost 30% of time living on the boat; and despite the alternative arrangements in no way making up for the losses; and despite missing out on six significant excursions we especially wanted to experience - how foolish to think Pandaw would offer any compensation for loss of value or loss of enjoyment.Read More
User Avatar
PJ33

2-5 Cruises

Age 70s

Fascinating, if at times fraught, cruise through over 2000 years of history.

We knew that the ship would actually be run by an Indian management company but the standards were as good as other Pandaw cruises: a lovely boat, replica of the 19th century river boats of Asia, excellent Indian food, friendly and highly competent staff.And the water level fell too low, so we were stuck on a sandbank for 40 hours and then could make no progress beyond Patna because, with the low water level, pontoon bridges had been slung across the river, too low for us to pass under.Read More
User Avatar
LockeyHill

2-5 Cruises

Age 70s

PANDAW Kolkata to Varanasi

All 19 pax were return custom & we departed in KATHA PANDAW on one engine which precluded us transitting the Farraka lock 11 Dec so we transferred to the KALAW PANDAW 10 Dec to continue.The ship went aground on the afternoon of 14 Dec & remained stranded for 42 1/4 hrs until freed by a tug 16 Dec so nearly two days were lost never to be retrieved.Read More
User Avatar
Mick Storrs

10+ Cruises

Age 70s

A big disappointment . .

The two extra days post cruise we had arranged were mostly spent in the hotel room.The ship ran aground at one point and it took a tug 2 days to reach us requiring another modification and reduction to the itinerary.Read More
User Avatar
john39

6-10 Cruises

Age 80s

Related Cruises

Mekong Pandaw

Mekong Pandaw

11 Reviews
Pandaw II

Pandaw II

7 Reviews
Bassac Pandaw

Bassac Pandaw

Orient Pandaw

Orient Pandaw

3 Reviews
Indochina Pandaw

Indochina Pandaw

3 Reviews
Angkor Pandaw

Angkor Pandaw

4 Reviews
Katha Pandaw

Katha Pandaw

8 Reviews
Kalay Pandaw

Kalay Pandaw

2 Reviews
Tonle Pandaw

Tonle Pandaw

2 Reviews
Kindat Pandaw

Kindat Pandaw

5 Reviews
RV Kalaw Pandaw

RV Kalaw Pandaw

7 Reviews
Kha Byoo Pandaw

Kha Byoo Pandaw

Laos Pandaw

Laos Pandaw

Andaman Explorer

Andaman Explorer

2 Reviews
Zawgyi Pandaw

Zawgyi Pandaw

2 Reviews
Sabaidee Pandaw

Sabaidee Pandaw

Champa Pandaw

Champa Pandaw

Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners who list cruise pricing on Cruise Critic are required to provide prices for cruise only or cruise packages, per person, double occupancy, and are based on specific cabin types and sailing dates, and may not be available for all cabin types/sailings. Taxes, fees and port expenses not included. Rates are in USD and valid for US and Canadian residents only. Fuel supplement may apply. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. In addition, average cruise prices are updated nightly.

Furthermore, Cruise Critic makes no guarantees for availability of prices advertised on our site. Listed prices may have blackout dates, qualifications or restrictions.

Cruise Critic is not responsible for content on external web sites.

Lowest pricing is based on our 3rd party pricing supplier and valid as of May 2nd, 2023.

Want to cruise smarter?
Get expert advice, insider tips and more.
By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critic’s Privacy and Cookies Statement and Terms of Use.
About UsCruise DestinationsFirst Time CruisersFind A Cruise

International Sites

© 1995—2023, The Independent Traveler, Inc.

  • Privacy and Cookies Statement

  • Terms of Use

  • Site Map