The Pandaw Team

We are committed to recruiting local people of both genders from the communities through which we pass. In all the countries we operate in a job on a Pandaw is prized. In Myanmar many of our original crew from 10 years ago remain with us. In fact, in Myanmar a Pandaw steward earns about 4 times a month more than a waiter in an equivalent 4 or 5 star hotel. Nearly all our team members support wide family circles in their home villages. We give language and vocational training to all our teams. We are proud that many of old team have risen to managerial level acquiring an excellent level of English and management skills.

We have mixed crews of Myanma, Thai, Cambodian and Vietnamese overseen by a directorate of Swiss, German, Austrian, Swede and Scots. Europeans are there primarily as educators, guiding and advising our local management teams.

All our team are dedicated to making your sailing as special as possible. In training our teams and managers we try and pass on our own philosophy, which makes us so unique in the world of cruises. We never force a passenger to do something he does not want to, like join a group excursion. If a passenger prefers to go off alone or stay aboard he/she is welcome to do his/her own thing. Our team should never be too busy not to be able to spend time with our passengers answering their questions and giving out information. We ask our team everyday to think how to make the Pandaw experience even more beautiful than it already is!

Our Ethical Code
Whenever possible we buy local produce, not imported, and support small suppliers. In non-democratic countries we do not use government provided services unless required by law. We ask passengers not to hand out money or presents indiscriminately but rather support community projects. We ask passengers to dress decorously when visiting religious sanctuaries and respect local cultures. We have microbiotic sewage plants and strict policies for non-degradable rubbish disposal. Our ships are self sufficient for all services (power, water, sewage, etc) making no demands on local and often little developed infrastructures.

Cruise Price Includes
entrance fees, guide services (English language), main meals, locally made soft and alcoholic beverages, jugged coffee and selection of teas and tisanes, mineral water, port dues are included. Transfers to and from ship at start and end of voyage are included (except for the cruises mentioned below).  In Myanmar domestic flights are included in particular  cruise packages.

Cruise Price Excludes
imported beverages such as wines, premium spirits and liqueurs, fancy soft drinks like perrier, expresso and cappuchinos, international flights, laundry, gratuity to crew, all visa costs, fuel surcharges (see terms and conditions), imported beverages such as wines, premium spirits and liqueurs, fancy soft drinks like perrier, expresso and cappuchinos at bar

Pandaw Cruises Style and Tradition
Pandaw cruising is different from other forms of cruising.  The atmosphere on board is informal and relaxed.  A Pandaw cruise is a deeply tranquil experience.  There are no (non-essential) tannoy announcements and other irritations normally associated with a cruise ship.  Pandaw passengers like to be smart casual at night but do not dress up. 

There is no captain’s table at dinner or any of the other rituals associated with sea cruising.  We began ten years ago as essentially an adventure experience and whilst accommodation and service now is of a top standard, we refuse to compromise our tradition of respecting our passengers independence and individuality.

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.

Exploratory shore excursions are led by local guides.  When sailing our passengers sit on deck and become absorbed by great panoramas as they unfold about them.  Spellbound, one cannot help but to meditate upon the unceasing human and wildlife activity of these teaming waterworlds.