I wonder if Cap'n Dog can rap like Snoop Dogg?

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.

I am for India or Burma.

i'm with nywoman...

how are cabin mates choosen?

They will not be "choosen." The GM will assign.

Bob, you are leaving Karen behind?

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?)

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.

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!

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/