Category Archives: Expert Review

 

The Coral Discoverer offers one of the most unique expedition cruising experiences in Australian waters. Accommodating just 72 passengers, she offers a comfortable and intimate sailing experience to destinations including the Kimberley, the Great Barrier Reef and Tasmania.

Coral Discoverer is the smallest yacht in the Coral Expeditions fleet, allowing access to places that larger vessels can’t reach.

We were lucky enough to step aboard the ship in Pentaloon Bay, north of Sydney, on a glorious December morning, bound for her Tasmanian season.

Coral Expeditions offered a handy shuttle service from Sydney CBD to Palm Beach Wharf, with the crew waiting to welcome passengers onto a tender to the expedition yacht.

While there are only 36 outside-facing staterooms aboard the yacht, we were immediately impressed by its expansive public spaces, which included a spacious dining area, lounge, Bridge Deck bar and rooftop Explorer bar.

The array of indoor and outdoor seating meant there were always quiet spots for reading or viewing the spectacular scenery with a coffee or cocktail in hand.

We booked our cabin just a month before boarding, when it was almost at capacity, and received B12 as our stateroom. There were pluses and minuses to our location. While we were in the stable midship section and conveniently located to all sections of the yacht, it was also a little noisy at times being so close to the main staircase to the dining and lounge areas.

 

 

If you are a light sleeper, you might prefer to choose a cabin in the fore or aft of the vessel.

Our cabin was spacious, well-furnished and featured a large picture window, which suited us perfectly. If you prefer a balcony, there are six cabins featuring them on the Bridge Deck.

Our meals were served in the dining room, aside from a barbecue on the rooftop one night. Breakfast was served hot and cold buffet style, while lunch featured two menu options plus the alternative of making your own sandwich or salad. Dinner was a gourmet, three-course extravaganza each night.

 

 

Every dish featured high-quality ingredients and ranged from sirloin with paris butter to roast duck, beef rendang, prawn laksa, seared scallops with cauliflower puree, lamb roast with Yorkshire pudding and pan-seared fish with citrus hollandaise.

One of our favourite morsels was served during a wine tasting session one afternoon: bug and prawn salad with dill and finger lime. Delicious!

There were also an array of dietary alternatives on offer, such as gluten-free and vegetarian.

 

 

Selected wines, beers and spirits are complimentary during lunch and dinner service and feature an excellent Australian line-up.

The Coral Discoverer‘s entertainment program isn’t designed for those seeking live music or shows. Instead, it focuses on guest lectures, documentaries, visits to the bridge and the occasional trivia session.

There are also plenty of opportunities to mingle with fellow passengers while sipping cocktails of the day during various happy hours at the three bars on the yacht. We particularly enjoyed sitting at the rooftop bar sipping Cosmopolitans in the late afternoon sun as we gazed at the stunning Tasmanian wilderness.

The dress code on board is casual, with no formal evenings held during our cruise. However, we enjoyed a wonderful New Year’s Eve on the top deck, which was decorated with streamers and balloons and provided a fantastic front-row view of the fireworks.

My silver shawl and sparkly sandals stayed in my suitcase throughout the whole trip, even on New Year’s Eve, while my long-sleeved Shimano fishing shirt was on high rotation.

Shore excursions play a starring role in the Coral Discoverer’s program and being protected from the elements was prioritised over finery.

The vessel features a comfortable Xplorer tender located on a hydraulic platform at the stern, which allows passengers to walk straight on from the deck. During our cruise, the Xplorer was used for viewing wildlife up close on remote Deal Island and to transport us to locations such as Maria Island and Wineglass Bay and Bruny Island.

There were also opportunities on most days to go on nature walks or hikes with the expedition crew, spotting beautiful wildflowers and native animals such as wallabies and wombats.

 

 

There were many magical moments at sea too, such as watching pods of dolphins frolic alongside the ship, cruising past seals lounging on rock shelves and enjoying dazzling sunrises and sunsets.

One of the other highlights of the cruise was the Coral Discoverer’s fun and friendly crew. Coral Expeditions has been an Australian-owned and operated company for 40 years and is renowned for its knowledgeable Australian crew.  

Nothing was ever too much trouble for the crew members, who were hard-working and professional during every moment of our journey. Happy hugs were exchanged as we disembarked on our final morning, along with recommendations for where to find the best coffee in town.

 

You can follow more of Alana House & David Fuller's travel adventures at www.thethirstytravellers.com

 

Alana & David travelled on Coral Discoverer's 7-day A Yachtsman's Cruise from Sydney to Hobart.

 

 

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When I chatted with a colleague recently about my adventure on the all-new Swan Hellenic cruise line, he replied with an air of disdain. “Aren’t they just floating retirement homes?”

If we’d been having this discussion 20 years ago, then maybe. Swan Hellenic has been around as a brand for 70 years, beginning in the UK as a niche excursion travel company for history buffs. It was bought by P&O UK in the ‘80s and subsumed into the massive Carnival cruising conglomerate in the 2000s, but dissolved by the huge US cruise giant before the decade was out.

Ten years further along, revival attempts were mounted by All Leisure Holidays Group and G Adventures, but these also came to nought. 

 

 

In 2020, a new revival began, spearheaded by industry stalwart, Monaco-based Italian citizen Andrea Zito. Despite the unfortunate timing, three brand new Polar Class (PC) ships were ordered and ultimately delivered to the new-look cruise line, beginning in late 2021 with the 152-guest SH Minerva. SH Vega and SH Diana followed in 2022 and 2023.

So, to counter my colleague's objections, I was confidently able to enlighten him about the complete transformation of this brand from palliative to opulent.

 

The Ship: SH Diana

 

My debut experience with Swan Hellenic was aboard the newest of the triplets, SH Diana. This sparkling vessel expands the original ‘Project Vega’ 152-guest design to accommodate 192 lucky passengers. 

Her restrained colour schemes are natural and soothing with generous use of wood and fabrics. Tillberg Design of Sweden, who have more than 60 years of experience in this sector, can take much of the credit for the crisp and airy interiors designed to “reflect the ship’s natural surrounds.”

I was spoiled by my 25sqm Balcony stateroom. Every cabin, right down to the 20sqm Oceanview ones, has a bottle of Champagne in the bar fridge, pre-stocked with complimentary snacks, soft drinks and beer. While basic WiFi is free, it's limited to text unless you upgrade at extra cost. There's a personal safe and a pair of Nikon Prostaff 3S 10x42 binoculars too. Amenities include a smart HDTV with movies and tour and ship information, individually controlled air conditioning, an Illy Espresso coffee machine with pods, a kettle and Kusmi tea bags, towels for the cabin, pool, and gym, a bathrobe, bedroom slippers, and toiletries by Lajatica.

 

 

Dining is either in the lavish Swan Restaurant on Deck 4, outside in the sunny Pool Bar & Grill or in the casual Club Lounge on Deck 7 where you can enjoy lighter meals and snacks as well as 24-hour hot beverages and cookies. 

The Observation Lounge, also on Deck 7, is effectively the community hub of the vessel, where the bar and projector screen are located and where the daily briefings and lectures will take place. I particularly like the placement of retractable screens around the space so you don't have to scrum it up the front to see or hear the information. A new feature of this Vega-class vessel is the separate card room adjacent to the Observation Lounge.

 

 

If you want to spruce up for the Captain's Cocktails, there is a salon and spa up on Deck 8 where you can also find the two saunas. Something you don’t find on every expedition vessel is the passenger laundry which you can use instead of the extra-cost valet laundry. And, yes I did.

For those who’ve been aboard expedition vessels in the past, the Zodiac operations will be familiar. On Deck 3 is the ‘Base Camp’ where you will muster and be led onto your tender through a side door and single step. There is no rickety gangway or seaswept platform to worry about.  

 

The Itinerary: Paradise Isles of the Indian Ocean

 

My itinerary is the most unusual 10-night ‘Paradise Isles of the Indian Ocean’ which began in the Seychelles capital of Victoria and proceeded through various remote islands including the UNESCO-listed Aldabra, home to more than 150,000 giant tortoises. The last few days we spent exploring the ancient East African trading ports of Zanzibar, Lamu and Mombasa.

Apart from the included and optional shore excursions, there was more than plenty of beach time and water frolics with snorkelling and Stand-Up/Fall-Down paddle boards. We embarked on several Zodiac excursions, mainly to look at the many seabirds, but also managed to spot dolphins and sea turtles along the way. I’m told there are a few dugongs in the huge lagoon at Aldabra, but the elusive creatures haven’t been seen in months.

 

 

These tropical itineraries take place in between polar seasons when there are a few weeks available to reposition the ships from one end of the world to the other. This is where Swan Hellenic come to the fore with voyages that truly reflect their tagline “See what others don't”.

These ‘in-between’ itineraries are no afterthought either. Imagine in-depth explorations of the African coasts, both east and west as well as Central and South America. For committed country-counters, there is even a voyage to Tristan da Cunha. Yes, look that up.

So, in summary, not only are you enjoying a most comfortable ‘cruise’ experience with all the niceties of a boutique luxury vessel, but all the capabilities of a true expedition ship able to access the remote, seldom-visited locations that make any journey aboard Swan Hellenic a true exploration.

 

To book your Swan Hellenic small ship cruise contact the expert team at Expedition Cruise Specialists today via email or call 1800 80 20 90 within Australia.

 

Roderick Eime is Australia’s leading expedition cruising photojournalist and he travelled on this cruise courtesy of Swan Hellenic. You can follow his exploits at www.expeditioncruising.com

 

 

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Tony and I were lucky enough to join Lindblad Expeditions in August to cruise Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park aboard one of their expedition ships, the National Geographic Sea Bird. We had wanted to explore this part of the world for many years, and it’s fair to say that Alaska didn’t disappoint. Here’s our review of the trip.

 

The Itinerary

We chose the seven night Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness expedition between Juneau and Sitka, both relatively easy small cities to reach. Highlights of the expedition included exploring Glacier Bay National Park, a visit to historic Petersburg and lots of wildlife encounters. There were excursions each day, and regular walks ashore (moderate difficulty). We also loved the opportunity to jump in the kayaks (they have both single and double) to paddle out from the ship amongst the glaciers. Happily for us we encountered lots of wildlife, from feeding brown bears to playful whales and that most iconic American symbol, the Bald Eagle. You can view a map of our voyage below.

 

 

You don’t need to be super fit to join the expedition, anyone with a general level of mobility will be able to get a lot out of the trip. There were some longer walks (optional) that do require a bit of stamina if you are inclined to join them.

Although we travelled in August - the peak of the North American summer - being so far north it was of course still quite cool. When packing for this voyage always think about layers. On some of the walks ashore the sun did manage to peek out and having the ability to peel off a layer or two was a godsend.

Being seven nights long the itinerary was an ideal length for us as it was part of an extended trip in the US. If you’re after a longer expedition however, Lindblad Expeditions do offer a 15 day adventure between Sitka and Seattle, which includes Haida Gwaii.

 

The Ship: National Geographic Sea Bird

Lindblad Expeditions currently operate two sister-ships on their seven night Alaska programmes, Sea Bird and Sea Lion. Tony and I travelled aboard Sea Bird. Launched in 1982, she carries 62 guests (plus 25 crew) and at just 50 metres in length she is small enough to access all the coves and tributaries you want to explore on a cruise like this. Indeed the ships are small enough to pull close to shore to allow guests to see brown bears feasting on a kill, an encounter we were lucky enough to experience.

 

 

While not state-of-the-art, both Sea Bird and Sea Lion are hardy little ships with a lot of charm, and once you’re settled in you will realise they have everything you need for a successful expedition, including a fleet of zodiacs and a number of single and double kayaks. Recent refurbishments have brought the ships up to date somewhat, but you do need to moderate your expectations; these ships were built as true expedition ships over 30 years ago and don’t have all the bells and whistles you are likely to find on new ships today. Having said that, we thought the ship was very comfortable and was well suited to the itinerary. There was a pleasant dining room and other spaces to gather with fellow travellers to check out the stunning views whilst underway. For those seeking a little pampering there is also a small spa / beauty salon.

 

 

Both Sea Bird and Sea Lion continue to operate Alaskan cruises, while two newer ships the National Geographic Quest and National Geographic Venture also operate similar itineraries. Slightly larger than the existing ships, these new vessels accommodate up to 100 guests.

 

The Cabin:  Category 2

Our first thought once being shown to our cabin for the week was “wow, it’s compact!”.  At around 8 to 9 square metres (about 100 square feet) there’s not a great deal of space, but once you’ve unpacked, put the suitcases under the bed and settled in you will find there’s more than enough room to relax. Our cabin, which was designated Category 2, had two single beds, as is the case in most of the cabins on these ships, and they are laid out in a ‘L-shape’ fashion.

 

 

All rooms open directly on to the deck, and with a large window you’ll always be reminded that you’re in Alaska by the wonderful views right outside. For added privacy there are curtains on all windows. Other amenities include temperature control and also WiFi access, which does incur a small additional cost.

Of course each cabin has its own smallish en suite, with toiletries including shampoo and bodywash replenished daily. The rooms are serviced daily by the unobtrusive crew with towels regularly changed.

Slightly larger Category 3 cabins also offer the option of a Double bed.

 

 

The Dining

Dining during the cruise was hearty and plentiful. Breakfast and lunch were served as buffets in the dining room, whilst dinner was offered as table service from a small a la carte menu. Outside of meal times there is always something to nibble on if you’re a bit peckish. Each night Tony and I marvelled at the massive platters of cheese and local Dungeness crab served during pre-dinner drinks, we had to be very restrained to ensure that we would be able to fit in our clothes by the end of the week!

 

 

Dinner was always a popular event, with a throng of travellers eagerly awaiting the nightly dinner call… exploring Alaska takes a lot of energy that needs to be replenished! Inside the dining room the seating is open, meaning you can choose to sit with friends, or mingle about and join others on their tables. It’s always great to sit with some different folks for dinner, you’ll find that you end up meeting many fascinating people who have interesting stories to tell.

The dining is by no means Michelin-star quality, however it is plentiful, hearty, and fresh. Lindblad Expeditions also pride themselves on their sustainable food program, meaning that all produce used on board must me sustainably produced and farmed.

 

The Expedition Team

Lindblad Expeditions are noted for their expedition teams, and we couldn’t fault ours. Made up of three Guest Lecturers, along with Expedition Leader Linda, and a photographer/videographer, the expedition team ensured our experience in Alaska exceeded our expectations. The expedition team know this part of the world like the back of their hands. They knew where we were likely to see brown bears, the best places for walks and had a wealth of knowledge that was simply incredible and a joy to listen to. On most trips a native Tlingit interpreter joins the ship for a day to share some local tales and secrets.

 

 

Our Verdict

Tony and I loved our time aboard Sea Bird, and Alaska certainly surpassed our expectations. For us, no one “does” Alaska better than Lindblad Expeditions, and in a large part these plaudits are due to their exceptional expedition teams, certainly ours was the best we’ve ever travelled with. We'd certainly recommend this cruise - or the similar itineraries aboard the modern National Geographic Venture & Quest - to all who are wanting to experience Alaska.

This expedition departs during the northern summer, between May and August each year. For more details and upcoming departures click here or telephone us for further information and bookings.

 

 

 

 

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Cruising the Kimberley is a one-in-a-lifetime experience that deserves a place on everyone’s bucket list. The majestic wilderness destination, located in Western Australia’s far north, is filled with dramatic gorges, remote islands and stunning rivers that are best explored by boat.

We were introduced to the region’s magic in May 2021 and our happy memories of the trip will linger with us for many years to come - we’re already dreaming about making a return visit.

The first thing to consider when organising a Kimberley cruise is to choose the boat that best suits your needs. We were fortunate to have Andrew Castles at Expedition Cruise Specialists to guide us. He discussed our expectations and fitness levels, then advised us to choose a smaller vessel – the Reef Prince.

The Reef Prince was given a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2019 and offers great value in a relaxed, stylish setting. It features a spacious dining and living room, plus a selection of shaded outdoor spots to admire the spectacular views.

 

 

As the Reef Prince only takes 36 passengers – in 18 cabins, all with en suites - and is a compact 38- metre low-draught catamaran, it can visit destinations that are challenging or impossible for larger ships to navigate. It also offers more opportunities to disembark and explore on land.

However, a small ship may not be the ideal option for anyone who isn’t relatively fit and adventurous, as there is some climbing involved to visit the more interesting Indigenous art sites and waterholes. Fortunately, we were both eager and able to take part in all activities on offer.

The energetic crew played a major role in our enjoyment of the trip. They included a chef who’d worked at a hatted restaurant, a daredevil first mate, a laconic captain and one of the best Kimberley tour guides in the business. Everyone on staff was incredibly helpful and passionate about their work.

As for the cruise itself, it was magical, from waking up to the most incredible sunrises at sea to sipping sparkling wine under the stars at night.

It’s tough to choose, but here are our top six cruise highlights:

 

1. King George Falls

While many Kimberley cruise boats are too large to cross the sandbar at the mouth of the King George River, the Reef Prince can slip over and glide down to the famed King George Falls. The journey is every bit as spectacular as the destination, with dramatic ochre cliffs towering over the boat on each side. Our first glimpse of the double set of falls as they tumbled down the cliffside into the 60-metre-deep water below took our breath away. Other unforgettable moments came as we sat on the bow of a tender with the falls cascading onto our heads and our seafood lunch with a front row view of the falls.

 

 

2. King’s Cascade

Cruising along Prince Regent River to King’s Cascade was another amazing waterfall moment. We arrived in the late afternoon and climbed up the waterfall to swim in a waterhole at the top. It was breathtaking to watch the sunset on the rocks above the waterfall, gazing out over the stunning Prince Regent National Park as the sky streaked with pink and gold rays.

3. Montgomery Reef

Montgomery Reef has been described by David Attenborough as the eighth natural wonder of the world, due to the rapidly falling tide that creates a series of streams and mini-waterfalls off the reef. We explored the reef in tenders, as turtles popped their heads out of the water every few seconds and small sharks and manta rays darted around us. Afterwards, we motored to a sand “island” that had emerged near the reef during the low tide and wandered along its virgin shores.

4. Fishing

We hadn’t expected fishing to be a trip highlight, as we’d never tried it before, but it was a surprise winner for us, both as spectators and participants. The Reef Prince crew regularly took passengers on fishing trips and it was wonderful to eat our fresh catches at lunches and dinners. The boat also has two fishing chairs at the rear, where the passengers gathered on our last day at sea to shout encouragement and cheer as bonito tuna and golden trevally were reeled on board. Eating the tuna as sashimi an hour later was a delicious treat.

 

 

5. Dinner under the stars

The crew surprised passengers on the last night of our cruise by arranging tables on the prow of the boat for a dinner under the stars. We anchored at North Perron Island and long tables were draped in white tablecloths and decorated with shells and candles. We sipped pre-dinner cocktails and watched the glorious sunset before eating slow-cooked pork shoulder and asparagus pasta with lemon posset for dessert. As darkness fell, we gazed in awe at the Milky Way, which shone clear and bright above us.

6. Wildlife

A large part of the enjoyment of the cruise was spotting the native animals – wallabies hopping on rocky cliffs, sea eagles soaring majestically, tawny nurse sharks cruising behind the boat, flying fish scooting along the surface of the water and crocodiles sunbaking or emerging from the water. Our personal favourite moment was watching three brolgas majestically take flight from a sandy beach.

However, every day was different and included unforgettable moments, from exploring a crystal-scattered beach on a remote island to boating at high speed through Horizontal Falls to peering through the windows of a crashed World War II plane to sipping a beer while cooling off in a waterhole. 

 

 

 

 

We loved the opportunity to grow our photography skills aboard the Reef Prince and got some great tips from our cruise director, who offered lessons to interested passengers. Visiting numerous Indigenous sites also introduced us to the fascinating history of Aboriginal art and inspired us to buy several artworks to enjoy on our walls at home.

Our Kimberley cruise on the Reef Prince was one of the most relaxing holidays we’ve ever had. There is no mobile phone reception on the cruise and we chose not to pay for wifi. It was blissful to disconnect from the modern world for 10 days. We spent many peaceful hours sitting on deck, watching the amazing scenery slide past, nibbling on cheese and crackers when the Captain announced afternoon tea was served, reading books and chatting to our fellow passengers.

Months later we are still in contact with the new friends we made aboard the Reef Prince. We regularly reminisce about how lucky we were to share the holiday of a lifetime together.

 

Alana House & David Fuller write about their adventures at www.thethirstytravellers.com

 

 

Alana and David joined the Reef Prince's 10-night Kimberley cruise from Broome to Darwin in June 2021. To secure one of the last remaining cabins for 20223 - or book for 2024 - please call the expert team at Expedition Cruise Specialists today on 1800 90 20 80 or visit https://www.expeditioncruisespecialists.com/ships/reef-prince.

 

 

Last month I had the pleasure of joining Assam Bengal Navigation’s newest river ship Charaidew II on a voyage along northern India’s Brahmaputra River. India is a destination I’ve wanted to experience for many years, so when the opportunity arose to join my good friend Gianna on this seven-night cruise I jumped at the chance.

 

The Itinerary

The Assam region is located in the northernmost part of India, close to the foothills of the Himalaya. The Brahmaputra River is the region’s main waterway, flowing through Tibet, into India and down through Bangladesh to the Bay of Bengal. The river itself is ever-changing, meaning that the ship’s charts are constantly being updated from voyage to voyage. As the river conditions are so variable it is generally only safe to cruise during the daylight hours, with the ship safely anchored overnight. 

Our itinerary was the 7-night ‘River Island’ program, cruising the Brahmaputra between Steemer Ghat and Jorhat. The cruise itinerary takes in the highest navigable reaches of the river and showcases the unique culture of the area, fusing Indian and S.E. Asian influences. Highlights include a visit to Sivasagar, the old capital of the Ahom kings, as well as to Majuli Island with its unique Hindu monastic communities famous for their dance drama. 

 

 

The major drawcard for Gianna and I was the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kaziranga National Park, as we were keen to see and photograph as much wildlife as possible. We had our hearts set on catching a glimpse of a Royal Bengal Tiger (the park has also earned the distinction of having the highest density of these beauties), but alas on this occasion we weren’t fortunate enough to spot one. Our cruise director told us they had seen a Bengal Tiger patrolling the riverbank on the previous trip, but as is the case with wild animals you do have to be a little lucky on occasion. Not to worry however, as the park is blessed with a variety of wildlife including the world’s largest population of the Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros and the Indian Wild Water Buffalo. The park also supports large populations of Indian elephants, Indian bison, Barasingha (swamp deer), and Capped Langur along with myriad birdlife including the Oriental Honey Buzzard, Black-shouldered Kite, White-tailed Eagle and Himalayan Griffon. 

We visited Kaziranga on two occasions during the voyage, the first time we ventured ashore in the park included a wildlife-spotting tour on the back of an elephant, a new experience for me.

 

 

When we weren’t in Kaziranga we were stopping at the traditional villages that line the river bank. We particularly enjoyed these villages as they were so untouched by tourism; it was interesting watching the locals go about their everyday business as we strolled through the villages, whether they be praying in the town’s temple or sitting at a traditional handloom weaving colourful fabrics. Of course they don’t get many westerners up in this part of the world, so everyone we met was keen to have a selfie with us and the people were so warm and friendly. The village visits were a definite highlight for us, and typically we had a couple of hours to explore and interact with the locals each time we went ashore.

 

 

On each occasion when we returned from an excursion to the ship we were met by the crew bearing cold towels and refreshing beverages and we particularly enjoyed the crew’s attention to the small details such as these.

The itinerary is quite gentle in terms of physicality, anybody with a reasonable level of mobility will be able to enjoy it without too many problems. Most of the activities were scheduled for the morning, with the afternoon put aside to cruise to the next day’s location. While cruising aboard the ship there were activities to take part in, including the opportunity to dress in colourful saris (a lot of fun) and an interesting cooking class with the ship’s chef where he taught us about spices and preparing traditional Indian curries. We were also lucky enough to enjoy a performance by local Assam dancers on the first night of the cruise, and music from a renowned Buddhist flutist later in the trip.

 

 

A note about transfers to the ship…

To join the cruise we flew from Delhi into the city of Guwahati. We were met on arrival at the airport by the ship’s local representatives (driver and guide) for an included private car transfer to the Charaidew II. The car was modern and well-maintained and we enjoyed the four-hour ride through the countryside, which included an impromptu stop for lunch at a roadside restaurant offering some of the best Indian cuisine we enjoyed during our travels.

At the conclusion of the cruise we were flying out from the city of Dibrugarh and again a private transfer was provided. En route our attention was drawn to some amazing prayer calls emanating from a temple and the driver and guide were only too happy for us to drop in for a quick visit. 

The transfers were very well organised and we felt very safe in the hands of our skilled driver (the roads in India can be quite an experience!).

 

Read the Daily Newsletter from each day of the expedition.

 

 

The Ship:  Charaidew II

Assam Bengal Navigation operate a small fleet of river ships in India on both the Brahmaputra and Ganges rivers. We were lucky enough to cruise aboard the brand-new Charaidew II which they had launched just eight weeks prior in mid-January 2019.

At 44 metres in length, the Charaidew II provides extremely comfortable accommodation for up to 36 travellers sharing 18 cabins and approximately 30 crew. We were travelling during the ‘off-peak’ time of year, so the ship wasn’t full, but we did note that there was plenty of public space so we don’t think the ship would ever feel too crowded, even with a full complement aboard.

 

 

The ship’s decor reflects traditional Assamese design, with touches of colonial elegance, brought to life by hand-woven cotton fabrics. The lower deck houses the comfortable dining room, with the bulk of the cabins located on the mid deck. On the top deck you find the lounge and sun deck, both pleasant locations to sit back with a good book or to take in views of the river. There’s plenty of comfy chairs to make yourself at home, and a bar to purchase a refreshing drink (tea/coffee and water/fruit juices are included at no additional cost). In the lounge you also have access to complimentary WiFi, which allowed us to stay in touch with friends and family at home and share some of our photographs each day.

 

 

There’s also a small gym on board, along with a spa offering massages and beauty treatments (additional cost). 

Being brand-new, the ship is in excellent condition and the crew did a great job ensuring she was looking at her absolute best each day.

 

The Cabin:  Double Cabin

The Charaidew II offers three grades of accommodation; there are two highly sought-after Deluxe Cabins (32 square metres) with private balconies, 12 Double / Twin Cabins (22 square metres) and four standard Cabins (16 square metres) that are also available to solo travellers. 

Gianna and I shared a Twin-bedded cabin on the mid deck. We were very impressed by the generous size of the accommodations and enjoyed the fact that the French Balcony allowed plenty of fresh air in while an insect screen kept the bugs at bay. The cabin featured individually-controlled air conditioning, comfortable beds (you may choose either a double bed or two singles), a writing desk with chair, plenty of hanging space and an electronic safe. There were also in-cabin tea and coffee making facilities and a small bar fridge.

 

 

The cabin’s en suite was also very well designed, with a full-size shower (there was never a shortage of hot water), toilet, basin and hairdryer. Complimentary Biotique toiletries were provided and replenished during the daily servicing of the room.

 

The Dining

We were particularly looking forward to sampling some local cuisine during the cruise, and we enjoyed the menu the chefs in the galley were able to produce. As the ship’s guests originate from all around the world the menu offers a combination of western and Indian dishes and we did find that the spice had perhaps been ‘toned down’ a little to suit most palates. We recommend a gentle word to the chef if you would prefer a more spicy offering, they are sure to oblige.

Breakfast and lunch were served as buffets in the dining room, with a typical array of bacon, sausages, and eggs (cooked to order) on offer. There was also a variety of fruits, yoghurts and cereals for those keen on a lighter start to the day. Tea and coffee and fruit juice are also on offer throughout the day. If you prefer an espresso-style coffee (rather than typical filter coffee) there is a barista in the lounge but do note that these premium coffees come at an additional cost on board.

 

 

Lunch was again a buffet, featuring a mix of both western and Indian dishes. At lunch each day you also make your dinner selection for that evening’s meal choosing from a small a la carte menu. Dinner typically consisted of four courses, a soup, entrée, main and dessert. On one occasion we enjoyed a bonfire BBQ ashore for the evening meal which was a highlight.

If you like to indulge in a glass of wine with your evening meal there is a small selection available on board for purchase. While the wine list is not expansive, we did find that the choices on offer were more than adequate and reasonably priced. 

 

Our Verdict

For the uninitiated, India can be an assault on the senses; the constant movement, noises, smells, colours and crowds in cities like Delhi and Varanasi can take a bit of getting used to. In comparison, the pace of life on the river can be very genteel and our time exploring the Brahmaputra River aboard the new Charaidew II allowed us the opportunity to experience a completely different – and unexpected - side to this amazing country. 

Rarely visited by the tourist masses, the Assam region is full of friendly people and interesting discoveries and we suggest there is no better way to experience this part of the world than on a 7-night cruise aboard Assam Bengal Navigation’s new Charaidew II. 

So if India’s on your bucket list, make sure you add the Brahmaputra River to your itinerary – you wont regret it!

For more information about cruising India’s rivers contact our expert team today on 1800 90 20 80 (+61 7 4041 2101) or visit www.expeditioncruisespecialists.com.

Click here to visit our Charaidew II webpage.

 

Photographs courtesy of Vicki Briggs, Gianna Galeotta and Assam Bengal Navigation. Not to be reproduced without written permission.