BOOKING CONDITIONS
PAYMENT TERMS
A 20% deposit of your total booking value is required upon confirmation and is non refundable. Final balance must be paid 61 days before departure or the booking will be cancelled and the deposit forfeited.
Certain special offers may require higher non-refunable deposits. These will be advised to you at the time of booking.
Cruise Cancellation and Refund
Cancellations for all or any part of the trip will not be effective until received in writing in the offices of Pandaw. Should you have to cancel, the following terms will apply:
- From time of booking until 61 day prior to departure non-refundable deposit
- From 60 days and less till departure, no show, late arrival or early return 100% cancellation fee
Note: We strongly recommend for your protection that you purchase a trip cancellation insurance.
Pre and Post Reservation Cancellation and Refund
Cambodia, Vietnam & Laos
Cancellation of a Pandaw Pre or Post Reservations is cancellation is subject to a $50 per person administrative fee from the time of booking through 61 days prior to your scheduled Pandaw trip.
- From 60 days prior to departure through 45 days prior a $200 per person penalty will apply
- From 45 days prior to 30 days prior a 75% per person penalty will apply.
- Cancellations received in our office 29 days or less prior to departure, no-show, or early return from the trip will result in forfeiture of 100% of all monies paid to Pandaw.
Because these cancellation policies are strictly enforced, we strongly recommend for your protection that you purchase trip cancellation insurance.
Burma, China & Thailand
Cancellation of a Pandaw Pre or Post Reservations is cancellation is subject to 10% of total amount or a $50 per person administrative fee (whichever is higher) from the time of booking through 93 days prior to your scheduled Pandaw trip.
- From 92-63: the penalty fee is 30% of the total Trip Cost
- From 62-33: the penalty fee is 50% of the total Trip Cost
- From 32 days to "no show" the penalty fee is 100% of the total Trip Cost
Because these cancellation policies are strictly enforced, we strongly recommend for your protection that you purchase trip cancellation insurance.
India - Brahmaputra & Ganges
Cancellation of a Pandaw Pre or Post Reservations is cancellation is subject to 10% of total amount or a $50 per person administrative fee (whichever is higher) from the time of booking through 60 days prior to your scheduled Pandaw trip.
- From 60-31: the penalty fee is 50% of the total Trip Cost
- From 30 days to "no show" the penalty fee is 100% of the total Trip Cost
Because these cancellation policies are strictly enforced, we strongly recommend for your protection that you purchase trip cancellation insurance.
CURRENCY
All cruises, land tours and hotels are quoted in USD unless otherwise indicated.
PORT TAXES
On rivers where port taxes are applied by the relevant authorities, these charges will be added to your booking invoice.
Pandaw Cruises Passenger Information
VISAS
- For Vietnam (Mekong) please ensure that your visa validity is dated to at least three days prior to your actual date of arrival (this is because of the river border crossing)
- You need to check with your doctor that you are fit to travel and are up-to-date with all necessary prophylactics for the regions you will be travelling in
- You will need valid travel insurance to cover medical emergencies and loss of any personal possessions
- Visa fee may vary depending on nationality
MYANMAR CRUISES
The easiest way of arranging a visa to Myanmar is to use official government e-visa service. Apply here: http://evisa.moip.gov.mm/, pay by credit card and receive your visa by e-mail. Alternatively please arrange your visa at the Myanmar Embassy in your home country.
MEKONG CRUISES
UPSTREAM CRUISES
Vietnam Visa
Saigon - Phnom Penh
Saigon - Siem Reap
We are able to arrange your Vietnamese tourist on arrival visa (single entry), for arrivals at Ho Chi Minh's City International Airport Tan Son Nhat. Please provide passport scan (at least 6 months valid after return date) and flight ticket of all guests at least three weeks prior to departure. We will arrange the invitation letter, to process the visa-on- arrival at Saigon Airport. The visa-on-arrival invitation letter will be sent back to you. Please print and bring it along with two photos of you (size 4cm x 6cm, color).
A representative will great you at the airport after leaving the plane and will guide you through immigrations without queuing. Cost for invitation letter, representative at airport and visa USD 79 (including the visa) and USD 65.- per person for US citizens (Attention: US citizens still need to pay the visa of USD 135.- at the immigration after arrival, please bring cash with you).
Cambodia Visa
Saigon - Phnom Penh
Saigon - Siem Reap
We arrange the Cambodian on arrival visa at the river border at an extra charge of cash USD 35.- Please note that no e- visas are accepted at the river border. Please bring one passport photo.
Phnom Penh - Siem Reap
If you are booked on the segment cruise Phnom Penh to Siem Reap v.v., then you can get your visa on arrival at the airport or apply for an e-visa at https://www.evisa.gov.kh
DOWNSTREAM CRUISES
Vietnam Visa
Siem Reap - Saigon
We can arrange your Vietnamese tourist visa (single entry) at the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh against an additional cost of USD 85.- which will be added to your room bill. Please bring two passport sized photos with you in order to arrange this.
Phnom Penh - Saigon
Unfortunately we are not able to arrange a Vietnamese visa for you. It is essential to apply for a Visa at the Vietnamese Embassy in your home country before departur
Cambodia Visa
Siem Reap - Saigon
Siem Reap - Phnom Penh
You can get your visa on arrival at the airport in Siem Reap or apply for an e-visa at https://www.evisa.gov.kh
Pandaw is acting as a third independent party only and cannot be held responsible or compensate any additional cost or damage in case the embassy reject issuing a visa for whatever reason.
Halong Bay & Red River
Arrival Hanoi
Please apply for a visa at the Vietnamese embassy in your home country.
Alternatively, for arrivals at Hanoi International Airport. Please provide passport scan (at least 6 months valid after return date) and flight ticket of all guests at least three weeks prior to departure. We will arrange the invitation letter, to process the visa-on-arrival at Hanoi Airport. The visa-on-arrival invitation letter will be sent back to you. Please print and bring it along with two photos of you (size 4cm x 6cm, color). A representative will greet you at the airport after leaving the plane and will guide you through immigrations without queuing. Cost for invitation letter, representative at airport and visa USD 79.- per person (including the visa) and USD 65.- per person for US citizens (Attention: US citizens still need to pay the visa of USD 135.- at the immigration after arrival, please bring cash with you).
Vietnam Visa - General Note
Vietnam extends visa waiver for five European countries: UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Travel visa free for up to 15 days, complete travel before June 2017 (single entry only, please double check with the Vietnamese embassy in your home country before travelling). This also applies for the water crossing coming from Cambodia to Vietnam on the Mekong.
Laos
Lao visa is available at Vientiane airport or border crossing Chiang Khong / Houixay. Please bring two passport photos. price varies per nationality USD 20.- to 45.-
Canada: 42 USD
USA/UK: 35 USD
Australia, Germany, Netherlands: 30 USD
Thailand
Visa not required. 30 days visa waiver for most Western countries if arriving by flight. For land/water arriva ls 15 days.
India
Indian Visa must be obtained at the Indian embassy in your home country before arrival.
Bhutan
The Bhutan Visa will be obtained by us (a clear color scan copy of passport is needed for the same). All Guests will need to obtain their India visa themselves.
Please note: A multiple entry Indian visa will be needed. An e-Tourist visa offers only a single entry visa. Therefore an e- Tourist visa would not be suitable when travelling from India to Bhutan & back.
Brazil
The visa requirements for travelling to Brazil vary by country. Please check with the Brazilian Embassy in your home country to find out if you require a visa. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct passport and visa documents.
The Mekong to China
Thailand
Not required. 30 days visa waiver for most Western countries.
Burma
Simple cross border pass arranged locally. Current cost of a one day pass is 500 THB.
Laos
Visa on arrival. Passengers need 1 passport sized photo and current cost is USD 35 (or 1,500 THB).
China
Visa required. We recommend passengers obtain their visa in their home country prior to leaving on this trip.