tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233448968069333748.post1480586510970717444..comments2024-02-06T22:27:05.466+11:00Comments on Expedition Cruising | Adventure Cruising | Small Ship Cruises: Cruise Weekly: Battle of the Mekongrodeimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114562768626186868noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2233448968069333748.post-14928410960002296092009-11-04T08:17:02.724+11:002009-11-04T08:17:02.724+11:00Many thanks for mentioning our humble Mekong cruis...Many thanks for mentioning our humble Mekong cruises in your recent article<br />on the Mekong<br /><br />But what battle of the Mekong? for us there is no price war - we recently<br />put up our rates as we offer the highest level of experience, service,<br />cuisine and comfort. Without meaning to sound snobbish, the sort of people<br />who book Pandaw are looking for the higher end and are not cost conscious.<br />They also know better than to trust self awarded star ratings!<br /><br />We are a bit miffed though to be described as 3.5 star! there are no star<br />ratings in force for river cruises, certainly none for the Mekong and in any<br />case it is a little premature to put a star rating on an incomplete ship<br />like Jayavarman, that has had its delivery date twice postponed.<br /><br />I would guess your description of the Jayavarman as 'opulent' is based on<br />fancy computer-generated web images rather than actual inspection.<br />I am told by various impartial visitors that the reality is somewhat<br />different. These guys are brilliant at marketing but when it comes to ship<br />design, function and management much remains to be seen.<br /><br /> Funny, but people always say about Pandaw that we are rubbish at<br />marketing, have a rather dull website and an even duller brochure. All true.<br />We are rather better at running ships which is why we have one of the<br />highest repeat rates in the business.<br /><br />Note also we have three ships on the Mekong, not two as you mention -<br />with a total of 190 berths on offer. I think we do deserve mention for<br />opening up the Mekong in 2002 against all the odds. It is flattering that<br />there are now four larger vessels copying our formula not to mention several<br />smaller ones. That is the greatest possible accolade!<br /><br />These are minor, slightly pedantic thoughts from an old riverman...<br />please think of doing a write up on our Ganges cruise that is where the real<br />battle is - against the elements!<br /><br />All regards,<br /><br />Paul Strachan<br />Founder<br />Pandaw Cruises<br />www.pandaw.comrodeimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13114562768626186868noreply@blogger.com