Tag: Pandaw

Pandaw saved!

December 20, 2021 quality_baz River Cruises Comments Off on Pandaw saved!

Pandaw are delighted to announce that they have now secured funding to see them through to September 2022, when they anticipate restarting operations on Asian waterways.

Following the announcement last month that Pandaw would close due to lack of funds, as a result of Covid-19, the company was inundated with hundreds of goodwill messages from regular passengers. In addition, several would be investors emerged keen to acquire this iconic brand.

The Strachan family, who own Pandaw, have managed to secure further finance to cover the lay-up and vessel refurbishment costs for a restart next Autumn. They plan to keep the business in the family and relaunch marketing activity as soon as all remaining travel restrictions have been lifted.

Bookings for season 2022/23 have been strong and many departures sold out with bookers cancelled by Covid using their credits to rebook. Many new bookers have taken advantage of the USD100 deposit scheme that reassures against the risk of further cancellations.

Meanwhile, Pandaw’s destinations are reopening with India, Thailand and Cambodia are open now to vaccinated travellers. Parts of Laos and Vietnam will be accessible in January 2022 as a first step towards fully reopening later in the year.

Pandaw closes after 26 years of pioneering river cruises.

October 27, 2021 quality_baz River Cruises Comments Off on Pandaw closes after 26 years of pioneering river cruises.

Statement from Pandaw Cruises

Pandaw regrets to announce that due to the continuing Covid 19 impact on international leisure travel, the closure of its destinations in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and India, and the critical political situation in Myanmar, the company has no alternative but to cease its river cruise operations due to the lack of financial liquidity and failure to find additional funding in the wake of the Covid 19 crisis.

Though forward bookings for a restart in 2022 remained strong, with great support from the ever-loyal Pandaw community, the company lacks the funding to continue layup operations of their seventeen ships for another year, and then undergo essential refurbishment to prepare for renewed operations, the timing of which is highly uncertain, even assuming this may occur for the winter 2022/23 season.

The company has worked tirelessly over the past year to find new investors or other forms of finance to carry the company through, but without success.

Founded in 1995, Pandaw pioneered river expeditions in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and India with its iconic boutique ships. Up till the impact of Covid, Pandaw had enjoyed the support of a loyal following of travellers, high occupancy and year on year growing revenues, with positive financial results.

Despite the closure of Pandaw Cruises, the Pandaw Charity, which has done much to support people in Myanmar during the on-going crisis there, will continue its work under the guidance of its trustees.