FAQs

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For those who want to experience their leisure time along Irrawaddy River, a luxury cruise should be the best choice for you. The best time for taking cruises on Irrawaddy River should be during the dry and cool season which falls between November and February. This is the most favorable time of the year for tourism activities.

During daytime, the temperature stays at a comfortable level, creating great opportunities for outdoor activities without the fear of being burnt out under the heat of the sun. When night falls, the temperature cools down and tourists can even feel the chill of breezes.

When the dry season ends, the temperature and humidity level increase substantially. In May, monsoon prevails, signaling the arrival of rain season. From May to October, rain falls continuously which consequently raise the level of Irrawaddy River. For this reason, cruises on Irrawaddy River from Mandalay to Bagan are frequently operated from September to April.

Likewise, the best sailing season of cruises in between the southern area of Yangon and Bagan and northern area of Mandalay also falls in the months mentioned above. Exhaustive voyages to Bhamo are usually operated in August and September, while the ones on Chindwin River are run from July to September.

» Looking for a your best ships for crusing on the rivers of Myanmar, please see these Myanmar Ship Suggestions.

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Tipping is expected in Myanmar river cruises and USD is the preferable currency. Normally, the ship will suggests the amount to tip and where to put it in a note placed in the guest' s cabin. A bonus of $10/passenger/day is appreciated. You can choose to write the name of the staff who would receive the tips or else the money would be shared amongst the crew.

Tipping in Myanmar in not a common custom. You can tip if only satisfying with the services. Here are some other tipping guides in Myanmar for your reference:

  • In restaurants and bar, you should leave a tip equal to 10% of total value of the bills
  • For room cleaning and housekeeping services (of your room in a pre/post - cruise hotel and your cabin on board, a tip of $1 per room per night is appropriate.
  • For drivers who transport you from the airport to your hotel or during your day trips, $5 is the right amount, or if you think they did a really god job, feel free to give them a tip of $10.
  • It is customary to tip a taxi driver.
  • A good private guide would deserve $5 per day or $10 if they really made your trip a wonderful experience.
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International Flights, Travel Insurance and Visa Fees

The cruise price does not include the international airfare or any visa fees. That’s what you have to pay first to enter the country before taking a cruise trip. The procedures to get a visa in Myanmar is very easy thanks to the e visa system launched in 2014. For more details about getting a Myanmar visa, check out Myanmar eVisa and Necessary Information.

We recommend you to buy your own travel insurance for the best coverage.

Phone Calls, Laundry and Personal Purchases

You might miss your hometown as travelling far away from it. Telephones are set up on board for passengers who wish to keep in touch with their loved ones. The phone calls are charged at a minimal fee. 

Moreover, during the voyage, inland excursions are also arranged by the ship for tourists to have a closer look at the local life as well as the magnificent monuments. What is a better way to preserve the memories and the experiences about the trip and the country than going shopping. The cruise price excludes every personal expenses including daily laundry and any purchases from the gift shops, even in the boutique placed on board. 

Further Beverages and Premium Spirits

Although water and juice are free and unlimited on Myanmar river cruises, the fine alcoholic beverages and spirits are charged at a price. However, you will have a chance to enjoy the spectacular views and the peaceful atmosphere of the riverscapes with numerous outstanding monuments by the banks while indulge in the excellent services and finest drinks of the luxurious bar onboard.  

Spa Treatments

Spa and wellness area are set up on every Myanmar cruise ships in order to helping the passengers relax and gaining the balance of the body and soul. The spa has a wide range of treatments from local to foreign methods with premium products and professional experts. Passengers will have to pay for the treatments but there are many special offers for that depending on each cruise lines. We ensure to make every passenger have the best experience with the good value of money.

Crew and Guide Gratuities

Tips are not included in most cruise ships’ fares, and Luxury Myanmar Cruises is not an exception. The typical charge is 10 USD/ passenger per day but you can also adjust the tips depending on the services and your experiences. Here are some useful tipping guides for cruise in Myanmar for your reference. 

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It is definitely safe for cruising on Myanmar's rivers and travel to Myanmar in general. In comparision to cruising on the ocean, river cruise is safer. The passenger's safety is always the first piority onboard of luxury Myanmar river cruises.

Safety Equipment

Each and every vessels of Myanmar river cruise meets the international safety requirements. Furthermore, our ships are all - new and just operated in 2014. The cruises do not need to carry lifeboats because the time for a vessel to reach the river bank or a sand bar to evacuate the passengers is much quicker than to transfer them onto the lifeboats. But still carry life rafts.

The vessel are also equipped by the modern fire alarms and extinguishers, smoke detectors, hoses. The alarm systems are installed all over the ship, all visual and audible. There is a ship’s plan placed in every suite that shows the way to the muster stations. The signs leading to these stations are set throughout the ship and so the lifejackets, lifebuoys. Fire extinguishers are located outside all the public room.

Safety Onboard

By the time you enter the ship, a brief demonstration about safety and the position of the muster station will be provided in a warm welcome.

When an emergency happens, the ship’s whistle will blast and the alarm bell will ring. Passenger should grab the closest life jacket, proceed to the muster drill and await the next instructions.

If you are not in your suite when a dangerous situation comes, DO NOT return to your place, move to the muster drills and wait for instructions. In case a muster station is not safe, the crew will escort you to another one

There are some places that only the ship’s crew can enter like the engine rooms, gangways, wheelhouse, galley and crew accommodations. If you entry these areas without permission, the crewmembers are allowed to take you out then make a report to the captain.

Security

Each cabin is equipped with an electronic safe for your use. Please use a number that will easy to remember, your phone number or your date of birth for example. If you forget your safe code, do not try to unlock with the incorrect number because it will become disable to use. Inform to the office immediately instead.

When the ship is moored for an ashore excursion, we recommend you to lock your cabin. Although, there always be someone to look after and control the access of the ship, you should keep your door locked.

Even when you are in the ship, you shouldn’t leave the door open when it not in use, especially at night. The ship will not take any responsibilities for the property loss such as: jewelry, money or any other valuable items. We suggest leaving them at home. However, you should take the travel insurance before touring as its policies will cover theft and loss.

There will be a discreet security onboard for the safety of the passengers.

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We suggest all passengers that it’s better to abstain from smoking in the voyage. You are not allowed to smoke in all pubic areas and suites on the ship, even in the balconies. Only the back sector in the sun Deck is the smoking area. Below are sectors allowed smoking on each ships:

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