RV Princess Panhwar

RV Princess Panhwar cruise ship is the 29th riverboat in the APT fleet. The vessel currently operates 2-week (14-day) Irrawaddy River cruise itineraries in Burma (Myanmar) with departures from homeports Mandalay and Yangon (Rangoon) on southbound and northbound routes. APT's ship Princess Panhwar is a premium (5-star) newbuild riverboat launched (in 2016) together with its sistership Samatha.

The cruisetour company Travelmarvel (boat charterer) specializes in value-for-money priced luxury river cruises in Asia and Europe. The cruise brand is under the ownership of APT River Cruises (Australia) and has grown significantly during the past years. Today, Travelmarvel operates tours and cruises in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, Australia and Africa. Prices depend on the cruisetour itinerary and include meals and drinks, port charges and stateroom, excursions, live entertainment, Cruise Director services, gratuities, domestic flights, bus transfers. Also included are various Insider Experiences, where travellers can 'live like a local' and gain insights into destination's cultures and customs.

All AMAwaterways ships (owned and chartered) are constructed with ISO classified appliances, fittings, fixtures and materials. The company is surveyed to exacting standards by Burma's DMA (Department of Marine Administration Myanmar).

Cabins

The Princess Panhwar ship has a total of 30 cabins in 6 (all suite) categories. All staterooms are with either twin balconies (French plus step-out) or Panoramic/French Balcony. Standard cabin amenities include individually-controlled air-conditioning, Queen-size bed convertible to twins (plush bedding, bedside cabinets with boutique lamps), sitting area (coffee table, armchairs), flat HDTV (satellite reception), mirrored dressing table with chair, large wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), spacious en-suite bathroom (single-sink glass vanity with marble top, under-sink storage, WC, separate glass shower, slippers, bathrobes, luxury bath toiletries), replenished daily bottled water. Each suite provides free Wi-Fi (depending on coverage / not available in most remote destinations along the river). Complimentary Wi-Fi is also available in selected common areas.

Cabins Types/Categories (number, location), high to low:

• Twin Balcony Royal Suite (2x Upper Deck forward, category RS-Royal Suite, size 43 m2 / 455 ft2)
• Twin Balcony Executive Suite (2x Upper Deck aft, category ES-Executive Suite, size 49 m2 / 525 ft2)
• Twin Balcony Suite (14x Upper Deck midship, categories A and B, size 30 m2 / 320 ft2)
• French Balcony Suite and Window Suite (12x Main Deck, categories C and D, size 27 m2 / 290 ft2).

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The Princess Panhwar riverboat features as facilities Dining Room Restaurant (Mandalay), Main Lounge (Kipling, air-conditioned, with floor-ceiling windows / located on Sun Deck), Bar, Observation Deck, Sun Deck (with covered seating and sunbathing areas), Swimming Pool, Fitness Centre (small gym room with free weights, treadmill, elliptical cross trainer), Wellness/SPA (for traditional Asian massages by certified English speaking staff).

Passengers can benefit from continental breakfast (in-cabin served). Cooked breakfast is offered in the Dining Room, along with a 3-course lunch followed by Afternoon Tea service and a 4-course dinner (with traditional Asian and International dishes). All meals are complimentary and prepared with fresh/locally-sourced produces. Complimentary beverages (local beers and spirits, house wines, soft drinks) are offered at each lunch and dinner in Mandalay Restaurant. Each afternoon, refreshments and fresh cafe snacks are offered in the Kipling Lounge. After dinner, in the Lounge are held Burmese traditional puppet show and cultural performances (songs and dances).

Passengers can alternatively dine in the intimate 8-seat private/VIP Dining Room and enjoy contemporary Burmese gourmet food specialties showcasing celebrity chef's signature style. Private dinners can be booked (per passenger) once per voyage. Dining is paired with premium wines and is free (at no extra charge).

RV Princess Panhwar cruise deals are inclusive of Internet (and Wi-Fi), all tours/excursions (including on bicycles), ground/bus transfers, live evening entertainment (crew show and local performers boarding the ship), daily enrichment lectures (themed on Burmese culture and history, and led by local tour guides), food and wine tastings, 24-hour coffee/tea/water/snacks.

River Cruise Itineraries

Princess Panhwar cruise itineraries are themed "MAJESTIC BURMA". The 14-day Irrawaddy itinerary is southbound (Mandalay to Yangon) and the reverse/northbound (Yangon-Mandalay). Next table shows the southbound itinerary as call ports and sequence.

14 days, one-way from Mandalay to Yangon Mandalay

Princess Panhwar's 17-day "Majestic Burma" cruisetour between Mandalay and Yangon features a visit to Mahamuni Buddha Temple (covered in sheets of gold leaf), as well as tour to Shwenandaw Monastery and walk tour of U Bein (world's oldest and longest teakwood bridge)). A day at Bagan includes a visit to Anada Temple and Schwezigon Pagoda (in Nyaung-U, close to Bagan). The 2500-year-old Shwedagon Pagoda is on the itinerary during the call at Yangon.

An extended version of the itinerary (17-day "Majestic Burma and Inle Lake" cruisetour package) adds 3-night accommodation at an old British station in Kalaw. Excursions (boat tours) are available to Inle Lake's floating gardens and a stop at Indein Village (Taunggyi) to see hundreds of pagodas. Shan Cultural Museum and Taunggyi's local market is also on the cruisetour.

Note: You can see the CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.