RV Zawgyi Pandaw

RV Zawgyi Pandaw ship was rebuilt in Mandalay and relaunched in 2014. The vessel has humanitarian history. In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis (storm surge, winds up to 215 kph / 130 mph) killed more than 138,000 people in Myanmar (Burma) and caused more than USD 10 billion in damages. Back then, the vessel was specifically equipped and used as a floating clinic. After a few years docked in port, in 2014 the ship was completely redone and entered service as the company's smallest riverboat.

In 2015, Pandaw added an upper deck with cabins and a bistro area in addition to the main deck's observation saloon. Being the fleet's smallest, Zawgyi Pandaw cruise ship also has the fleet's shallowest draft (draught) - 0,76 m (2,5 ft). This feature was the reason the boat to be deployed on Chindwin River (the largest tributary of Irrawaddy River) elegantly navigating the river's treacherous shoals.

The ship has a total of 10 staterooms (6 located on the main deck), and 4 on the upper deck). Each is sized 14 m2 (150 ft2), stylishly furnished and finished in brass and teak. All staterooms offer as standard amenities twin beds (some converting to double, all with premium mattresses, quality linens, duvet, two kinds of pillows), French windows, air-conditioning, spacious wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), writing desk (vanity with chair and make-up mirror), under-bed storage (for suitcases), en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, washbasin, hairdryer, towels, slippers, bathrobes/kimonos, Spa-branded amenities), unlimited bottled water, Yoga mats (for in-cabin use), nightly turndown service. Onboard 24-hour laundry is also available. On all shore excursions are provided shoe cleaning and cold towel services (after), bottled water (Pandaw-branded aluminium bottles as giveaways), first aid-trained assistant guide.

Like on similar Pandaw river cruise ships, Zawgyi Pandaw passengers are able to spend leisure time on the aft part of the covered upper deck. Meals are served bistro-style indoor and outdoor on the upper deck. Breakfast is buffet style but preceded by light bites, tea and coffee for early risers. Lunch is served either buffet style or sit-down, while dinners are 4-course affairs. Pandaw's food ingredients are locally sourced and always fresh.

Domestic beers, spirits, soft drinks, coffee and tea are complimentary and served on the upper deck at the bar/library lounge. An open-bridge policy is in place. Wi-Fi is slow because of the remote regions travelled. However, some riverside ports in the cruise itinerary feature Internet shops. The ship provides quality mountain bikes available complimentary for passenger use on independent shore trips.

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.