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THE LOVE BOAT
In a feeble effort to get some order into proceedings, let me begin this post.
For those not following the story hidden in various postings, a number of idiot Fododderers have come up with the idea of embarking on a river cruise, somewhere, sometime in Asia. It will be a fight to the death, open to all-comers intent on having a really dreadful time. Come one, come all. .Life-rafts will be available for those who feel a medical evacuation is the only method of escape. Secret lurkers are especially welcome. Just because you like to watch doesn't mean you can't join in the fun and frolics on the low seas. In a disciplined attempt to grasp hold of this ephemeral concept let me be the first to clearly state the options. Read on. |
<i>Maria:
Let's start at the very beginning A very good place to start When you read you begin with ABC Maria: When you sing you begin with duh...</i> http://www.nothingbutrandom.com/what...i-flash-dance/ Well, I think that's got us in the right mood... |
Inspiring eh? This is what we are aiming for...
Now, down to the options: MEKONG RIVER CRUISE [in no perticular order] Pandaw Cruises: www.pandaw.com www.pandaw.com/mekong-c-23.html La Marguerite: www.indochina-sails.com www.indochina-sails.com/?a=saigon Jayarvarman: www.heritage-line.com http://www.heritage-line.com/8d7nthe...eam.php?lan=en |
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ok dog, count me in...i think. :-)
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Of course, there are a number of others that do shorter cruises - 2/3 day wanders thru the Delta. I'll omit these right now, knowing that elderly Fododderers can only cope with as many options as they have toes.
BURMA RIVER CRUISES: Pandaw [again] dogster on Jul 15, 10 at 9:13am Inspiring eh? This is what we are aiming for... Now, down to the options: MEKONG RIVER CRUISE [in no perticular order] Pandaw Cruises: www.pandaw.com www.pandaw.com/myanmar-c-22.html Orient Express: The Road to Mandalay http://www.orient-express.com/web/rt...o_mandalay.jsp www.orient-express.com/web/rtm/journeys.jsp Pandaw 1947: www.pandaw1947.com http://www.pandaw1947.com/index.php?...id=72&Itemid=3 |
Of course I've managed to screw this up already. Ignore the repeated words above between <i>[again] and MEKONG RIVER CRUISE</i>
Already I can feel confused Fod'dods reaching for the panic button. Just count those toes and calm down. |
Thanks for all the links. I find myself most interested in the Upper Mekong cruises. Those seem to be the smallest boats, so I would think we could easily fill a boat. I notice they also talk abut the option of chartering a whole boat.
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OK... I'm curious. Write on!
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INDIA RIVER CRUISES
AssamBengal Navigation Co. www.assambengalnavigation.com ASSAM: http://assambengalnavigation.com/cruises.htm WEST BENGAL: http://assambengalnavigation.com/bengal_cruises.htm In the interests of correctness, I must add this shonky operation: GANGES www.thegangescruise.com www.thegangescruise.com/ganges_itinerary.html |
Mr. Dogster has personally sampled the following:
<b>BURMA:</b> <i>Orient Express:</i> GORGES OF THE FAR NORTH 11 Nights - Mandalay-Bhamo-Bagan IMAGES OF A GOLDEN LAND 4 Nights - Bagan-Mandalay [twice - up and down] <i>Pandaw</i> NEW GOLDEN LAND: 8 nights from Mandalay to Prome [twice - up and down] CHINDWIN & Upper Irrawaddy: 20 nights in remotest Burma [Only Chindwin 14 days] <b>INDIA</b> <i> Assam Bengal</i> BENGAL DESPATCH 2 & 4 - THE HOLY GANGES [both - up and down] ASSAM DESPATCH 4 - BRAHMAPUTRA MAXIMUM ASSAM DESPATCH 7 - BRAHMAPUTRA TASTER <i>Pandaw</i> [now defunct] KOLKATA - VARANASI hollow laughter... <b>MEKONG</b> <i>Pandaw</i> MEKONG EXPLORATION between Saigon and Siem Reap or v.v. [twice - up and down] tomorrow he is about to go on <i> Jayarvarman </i> THE LOST CIVILIZATION Saigon - Siem Reap (8 Days/7 Nights upstream) as well as some others not in consideration here [Luang Say, Sunderbans and one other I forgot. He will leave out the three P.N.G. Sepic cruises, as well as the two to New England and the Trobriands. |
So - have fun with the links. Discuss.
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will the boat have a swimming pool?
how long is the cocktail hour? will there be a cage for gpanda and bamboo? will there be strong locks on cabin doors to escape from the dreaded fodorite who wants to talk your ears off, etc.... will we invite any fodors.com editors to join the trip? who will be in charge? other than the captain... will a doctor be on board? or will we rely on kathie? do we have assigned tables and/or seats for meals? or is there a method for rotation of seating partners? will there be enough deck chairs so that everyone can have one or must we get up before dawn and put our dawn rooney guide on the chair we want? will peanut butter be available? does the cruise qualify for any frequent flyer points? is prune juice served chilled? will the real dogster be aboard? will escrunchy be allowed to leave the ship whenever she wants no matter whether she has the correct papers or not? is there a money back guarantee? does the fare cover med evac? and lastly can you guarantee that the river will have enough water for this overweighted ship or boat? |
Is there official on-board entertainment...other tahn watching the otehr passengers?
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<i>will the boat have a swimming pool?</i>
no but they can tie you to a rope and drag you for an hour or so. <i>how long is the cocktail hour?</i> the whole cruise <i>will there be a cage for gpanda and bamboo?</i> yes but they will only say that he has a stateroom when taking his res <i>will there be strong locks on cabin doors to escape from the dreaded fodorite who wants to talk your ears off, etc....</i> sorry, no locks <i>will we invite any fodors.com editors to join the trip?</i> ;) <i>who will be in charge? other than the captain...</i> Cap'n Dogster of course! <i>will a doctor be on board? or will we rely on kathie?</i> Nurse, nurse please! <i>do we have assigned tables and/or seats for meals? or is there a method for rotation of seating partners?</i> duck, duck, duck, duck, goose! someone else take the rest Aloha! |
I'll just let the children chatter away amongst themselves. I can see we'll have to have a caged section of the boat. We can throw cold chips in to feed them.
First we have to decide which country. Second, the level of comfort required. Third, the length of trip. Fourth, the time of year. Fifth, the degree of adventure. I'd imagine that coming to a consensus on those four topics should tie this board up for at least six months. However, a consensus on any one of these topics reduces the options to a manageable size. Remember, he/she who is the loudest is not necessarily the wisest. A complete lack of experience of river cruises is not necessarily an asset when making pronouncements. The only thing to fear is fear itself. This would be a very good opportunity to jump a little out of the comfort zone, knowing that you wouldn't be the only one upstream without a paddle - hence my addition of the India cruises. Imagine, for example, Dogster's guided tour of Kolkata... I can see you all running screaming for the hills. Settle down. The easiest option, by far, with the most available options, is the Mekong from Saigon to Siem Reap. I have the distinct feeling that the Jayarvarman might be the best option. Look at those cabins... www.heritage-line.com/cabin_photos.php?lan=en compared with Pandaw: http://www.pandaw.com/ships-pandaw-s...m-c-71_76.html |
The most adventurous options are either the Chindwin in Burma, the Hoogli in West Bengal or the Brahmaputra in Assam.
Alas, I can't speak to the Upper Mekong cruises. That line is rather a mystery to me - and to anyone else, judging by the complete lack of information on the net - always a worrying sign. |
I'll go if the boat has a casino.
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Will peanut butter be available -
NO - just vegemite. |
Where do we sign up for Cap'n Dog's riproaring river ride?
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I wonder if Cap'n Dog can rap like Snoop Dogg?
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I'm for the most adventurous option that I would hesitate to do on my own. I don't see this as a GTG but as a fascinating trip surrounded by travelers who are interested in the destinations. There are more convenient and less expensive GTG options.
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I am for India or Burma.
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i'm with nywoman...
how are cabin mates choosen? |
They will not be "choosen." The GM will assign.
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Bob, you are leaving Karen behind?
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The Jayarvarman staterooms do look lovely.
I'd like to go somewhere I haven't been before. Thus, my interest in the Upper Mekong, and my interest in the Chindwin in Burma, the Hoogli in West Bengal or the Brahmaputra in Assam. (However, I'd want some reassurance about the competence of the new West Bengal operation.) I'm certainly willing to do any of them. I would think we'd want a one to two week cruise. I'm pretty flexible on a lot of the matters. What I will have less flexibility on is time of the year. For me, it would likely need to be next fall - winter, say, October - December. If the decision is for a different time of the year, I would certainly try to make it work, but would have less assurance that I could do it. |
Well, I hesitate to say this - but THE most adventurous option - <i>absolutely</i> - is:
GANGES www.thegangescruise.com www.thegangescruise.com/ganges_itinerary.html As Mr. Dogster has been on it when EVERYTHING went wrong, he has a damn good idea how to make sure nothing goes wrong again. He also knows the new owners - and they <i>certainly</i> know him. A far more satisfactory mega-rate could be achieved [they OWE me, big time]. The guide - one Sumit Battarachaja is the best in the business. Variations on the published itinerary can be arranged without too much grief - perticularly on the last two days where a night at Bodhgaya would be a far better option than the options listed. The cabins are like this: http://www.pandaw.com/ships-pandaw-s...m-c-71_76.html Assam Bengal does a similar trip in two sections, but if you take the leap, you may as well go all the way. I'll look closer at ABN. They are the 'safer' of the two options, but the new BengalPandaw company has lived thru such dreadful horror, I reckon they are a better bet. The downriver [VARANASI/BODHGAYA/PATNA - KOLKATA] is a safer option in the sense that you are travelling downstream, WITH the current. More time at locations. I know I've said that the Pandaw was a truly horrible experience, but that was as much to do with the passengers and unrepeatable foul-ups as anything. For your consideration. |
Here is the downstream itinerary.
http://www.thegangescruise.com/ganges_itinerary1.html Pre-trip days in Varanasi would be pretty good. I'd be examining the first two or three days to find the best alternatives. Varanasi via Bodhgaya[overnight] to Patna I suspect is the go. It <i>would</i> be thrilling and, given my past experiences, controllable [as much as anything in India is controllable]. |
Here are the dates and prices [before Dogster's amazing discount]
http://www.thegangescruise.com/bookcruise.html |
So the website and ownership have changed. What makes you think that anything about the actual conduct of the cruise has changed? I would speculate that the number of satisfied, or even unsatisfied, customers can be counted without use of many toes since, as a loyal and devoted customer, you were just notified of the new arrangements. Promises are good but not enough. We need data. (And why do they owe you big?)
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Wise travelers would have already observed that, given the 'minimal' difference between a single and double fare, that the singles are the better option, even if travelling as a couple. Get two rooms. I'd be working at sorting out the difference in fares so they were basically the same, twin or single.
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Well, the conduct of the cruise will have changed because A/ there is ONE boss, not two, arguing furiously, B/ the schedule has been radically altered to fit the actual conditions, rather than Paul Strachan's fantasy, C/ they've had several goes at it, D/they were actually full on all the previous cruises, E/ they're hungry, F/ the food was fine anyway and with ferocious Fodorites on board can be altered to fit OUR wishes, not the bland palates of elderly Brits and G/ Dogster will make sure it is.
That said, I suggest you think about whether you think it's a good idea first. The nit and the grit can be fixed. Horse before cart. BUT, I am simply the servant of the masses. If you want to do an entirely different thing, that's fine too. I'm not the apologist for PandawBengal. Stuff will go wrong whatever we do. It's the nature of the beast. |
I believe a wise woman once said
<i>'I'm for the most adventurous option that I would hesitate to do on my own. I don't see this as a GTG but as a fascinating trip surrounded by travelers who are interested in the destinations...' </i> |
I'm with Marija in wanting to choose an adventurous option that I might not do alone.
Upper Mekong or India would probably be my first choices but I will spend some time obsessing and return with more thoughts. Assam (!!!??) |
How many cruises have the new owners conducted since they took over? Since Pandaw in India ceased operations in May, there can't have been many.
We know dogster can fix all but he's also been known to abandon ship. |
Marija, the 'new' owners were/are the old owners. Strachan lost control of the boat before there was even a first cruise. So actually, this management team ran all the trips last year while a titanic battle was going on behind the scenes between the Singhs and a Strachan. The Strachan lost. This was the unwritten part of the Death on the Ganges story. Actually it WAS written, but not published.
So most of the problems last year were caused by an unhappy Strachan getting in way of an operation that was running, bar the breakdowns and Bihar madness, kinda smoothly. Now they have the free hand - as I realised en route they should have had all along. Only Indians can run cruises in India. The burocracy eats all new-comers. It is labrynthine, magnificently corrupt and cannot be overcome. Also, the Singhs run two upscale jungle lodges in Rajasthan. When I can remember the links, I'll post. Remember also that Dogster is on the move as of midday tomorrow. I'll have Email overnight tomorrow, after that I'm sailing, probably without the net. So ask all you questions now. eks, Assam is also good, but not adventurous. It's a far more subtle adventure, full of silence. Timing would be of the essence there. During Bihu would be the time to go. Google for the dates, I've forgotten them. March-ish next year, I think. I might add that, for either or any of these cruises, speed may well be of the essence if you want to catch the season which begins next month and extends till March. The real trick of the trade is to collide with a festival or three. |
Well, if we could make it work - ok, if the dogster can make it work - the Ganges cruise would be incredible!
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I'm sorry but I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the new version of events. People were almost killed on the bus ride, the bus driver couldn't find Varanasi. I just don't see how this can be the fault of Strachan and not the local Indian partners.
And then I have to be perfectly honest about another concern: this is a trip that depends very heavily on dogster leading the way. We have to realistically consider the possibility that, for whatever reason, he doesn't. (Can't imagine a travel insurance policy that would cover the rest of us if dogster has to back out!) Any trip without dogster would be disappointing, but this one in particular could leave the rest of us in the lurch. Thoughts? |
Well, a quick E-mail to them would get us a step further. I'll let some more thoughts come in [hopefully quickly] then jump to the contact stage.
I agree, Kathie. It is the <i>ne plus ultra</i> of Love Boats. In like-minded company, I think it's a lot less scary than it might otherwise be for those a little nervous about India. Just think, we could all pay homage to the site of the dog's famous dip in the Ganges! Perhaps Dogster's guided tour of Kolkata could happen after all! for those utterly confused go here and click on the links: http://thedogster1.wordpress.com/varanasi-home-page/ http://thedogster3.wordpress.com/00-kolkata-front-page/ |
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