It is difficult to express just how wonderful the Strand Cruise was. From go to whoa, the trip was sumptuous and salubrious. From the seamless booking system and assistance from the Strand Hotel to being escorted from my hotel to the vessel, the entire check-in process was flawless. The vessel resembles a floating palace and continues the chic colonial style that can be found at the gorgeous Strand Hotel in Yangon. The cabins are spacious and well-appointed, and all have marvellous views of the Irrawaddy. The staff are superb and the attention to detail is flawless. They truly make you feel welcome and well looked after. Throughout the entire experience, you are cocooned in luxury and comfort. In terms of food and drink, I do confess to having high standards, yet time and time again, the cruise exceeded them. Every meal was exquisite and beautifully prepared by professional chefs. The evening cocktails and wine selection were also first class. This, in summary, is the cruise to ruin all other cruises for you. It is second to none, and a must-do for a complete Myanmar experience. Read Less

Mingalabar!! We finally decided to pay Myanmar a visit and we have included the cruise as part of the lists of things to try, and boy did we make the right choice! The Strand cruise made our whole Myanmar experience more memorable. We spent my husband’s birthday and New year celebration on the cruise. From day 1 of pick up in Mandalay, we were greeted with friendly staff and had a quick tour with an agent Hubert around Ubein bridge. Hubert was very friendly and knowledgeable with very good English command. Light Breakfast was served too while waiting for our ride to the port. The cruise has definitely exceeded our expectations. Amenities were great. The cabin we were given was superb with a good bathroom and a nice view. Service was excellent! Food provided while on the cruise were all very tasty and presented very well. The dinner at the sandbank was awesome. Food served were fresh and delivered by friendly staff. Thanking the whole crew for taking good care of our needs. Special mention to Barth, Neville, Win (hope I remember his name right, the hairless guy at f&b), the Thai chef and his crew for making my husband’s birthday celebration memorable and for the delicious food on board. The port in Bagan was average but everyday we were taken out for tours at Pagodas and temples with a tour guide. We did the horse ride and met some locals. We celebrated New Year’s Eve on the boat where there was some live cultural show and a band. We got to mingle with other guest while waiting for the new year countdown. It was a lot of fun! On our last day before checking out, we went for the hot air balloon ride which we booked separately. It was an awesome experience! Everything was just perfect! Encouraging and inviting those planning to visit Myanmar to include a cruise with The Strand for a much special trip. Kyay Zuu Par (Thank You!). We hope to be back! Bernard and Venus from Bangkok Read Less

We chose this cruise as we were staying in the Strand Hotel in Yangon and wanted a similar level of opulence and comfort - we were not disappointed. The ship is a relatively new custom-built vessel, we really appreciated the small size and attention to detail when fitting out the interior with traditional décor. From the moment we were picked up at our hotel in Mandalay we were treated to impeccable service from all staff. Neville the cruise manager scheduled the entire trip perfectly. The on shore excursions were interesting and showed off the best that Myanmar has to offer-the small size of the ship allowed it to dock almost anywhere. The excursions were kept to a reasonable length given the heat and were not physically demanding as transport was seamlessly arranged at each stop (we loved the air conditioned buses with iced water and cool towels). On the ship, Bart ensured we were well fed and watered by a well-trained food and beverage team. The food was a mix of local and international cuisine and always of good quality-we really felt we were being treated to the best of the best. Breakfast was made to order every day - no standard buffet here! Lunch and dinner was served in a different location every day, one night we had a barbeque on a sandbank, other times we ate on deck on in the bar if we preferred. The small size of the ship allows for highly personalised service and we really enjoyed sharing our time with the wonderful staff. We also enjoyed some time by the pool and in the spa. There were also some interesting on-board activities such as a cooking demonstration and local dance performance. Every night there was a little gift in on our bed and we just received in the mail and additional gift of a beautiful set of prints of Myanmar - this truly was a cruise unlike any other with so many thoughtful touches thrown in. This was truly the experience of a lifetime and the best way to experience the interior of a beautiful and interesting country. Read Less

It has been a while since I returned from this trip but anytime thinking about our time in Myanmar, The Strand cruise is a highlight not to be missed. I still can remember many of crew members who always appeared with cheerful smile and took such incredibly personal care to every single guest on board in professional and polite way. Everything was virtually perfect and flawless from the beginning till the goodbye. Though, personal opinion of mine, the farewell traditional show was well prepared and imbued with national identity, it was seemingly a quite long for my full attention. Foods and drinks are fresh and healthy but we hope we could eat better, newspaper (short version) with breaking news are provided upon every breakfast. Cabin was made up daily while we were on shore excursion. Anyway, I feel satisfied and enjoyable over the time on board. Strand did their excellent job from their heart that I could felt. Read Less

It is not easy to write a review of the Strand Cruise because it was so much more than a travel experience, it felt more like participating in a carefully orchestrated spectacle; you need an art connoisseur to do it justice. But let’s try anyway… The cabins are spacious, comfortable and represent a well balanced blend of contemporary décor and traditional furnishings. The public areas are well designed and appointed, whether you choose to chill on the sundeck, workout in the gym or cool down from the tropical heat with a splash in a swimming pool, you can be sure to relax body and mind. Sightseeing was well organized and diverse; we saw the ancient temples of Bagan, buildings of historical importance in Mandalay and its environs but also brushed shoulders with the locals in small towns and villages. But what made the biggest difference was the impeccable service which is a result of assembling the crew of an all star caliber; the cruise manager – Neville, one of the friendliest people you will ever meet, was happy to share his unrivaled wealth of knowledge of the Irrawaddy River. Room Division Manager – Helen was discretely attentive, courteous and very helpful, the F&B manager – Bart is clearly passionate about his job and his professionalism is on another level; he always took the time to explain the dishes and drinks, those introductions were in fact so engaging and compelling that I couldn’t imagine having a meal without them. The Chef – Christian, prepared truly spectacular and various dishes of the top quality. The Bar Manager – Mr. Win conjured up superb drinks at the drop of a hat, the concierge – Bilou is a Swiss army knife, not only is he a great organizer but also a magician, painter and comedian. All the other staff members, whose names I don’t remember, were also magnificent. I recommend it to anyone who values luxury, opulence personalized service and… a bit of adventure. Read Less

Living in hong kong, we were keen to visit the burmese heritage in a comfortable environment. The strand cruise was introduced by a friend who was delighted by his experience. The ship is brand new and decorated with very good taste. The cabin are spacious and very confortable. Bath room is big enough. The food served during the cruise was excellent and diverse, since we tasted various types of cuisine such as burmese, thailand, french among others. Onboard activites were based on local shows and tradition and was quite interesting. The staff is extremely efficient and discret, the food is enchanting and the onboard and shore activities are pleasant and culturally enriching. Shore activities are mainly focused on the visit of religious monuments dating as far as 11 century. The guides are well trained and very helpful. WE ARE TOTALLY SATISFY WITH THIS EXPERIENCE AND WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE DISCOVERY OF MYANMAR CULTURE AND TRADITION TO JOIN THIS CRUISE Read Less

Upon booking, the fare seemed expensive. Although when I saw the gorgeous boat, experienced the dedicated personal service, and met the lovely folks who look after you exceedingly well, the fare seemed like a bargain! Everything is included except ultra- top shelf liquor. Even then, the low price will shock you. $4 for a glass of 12 year old single malt! The ship is virtually new, very intimate, and feels like a private club. The hospitality of the crew is over the top. If you're accustomed to being pampered, you'll be happy. If you're not, prepare to be spoiled. There is truly nothing that can be improved. Neville and Helene, the managers, are wonderful people, and will tailor the itinerary according to your desires. The arranged tours were unique and well curated. I was in awe the entire time. Myanmar is a fascinating destination. I encourage you to stay a few extra days in Mandalay, Bagan, or Yangon. It feels un-touristed and is blissfully 'rustic'. Returning to your floating cocoon at the end of the day is most welcome! Don't hesitate to book, you won't soon forget the experience. Read Less

We sailed on The Strand cruise between Christmas and New Year 2016/17. We understood that a cruise was the way to visit portions of Myanmar. We are generally not "cruisers" so we were a bit concerned about whether we would enjoy our experience. What an amazing surprise -- the ship, staff, food, activities - everything about this cruise was truly special and far exceeded our expectations. The staff was welcoming and quietly attentive. The meals were prepared with creativity and the perfection of a Michelin starred restaurant. Our shore excursions were interesting and done with great efficiency keeping in mind the needs of each couple or group traveling. Part of what impressed us was the staff's effort to create an experience for each couple, family, group, etc., that was specific to them. This cruise was definitely the highlight of our time in Myanmar and an experience that we will long remember. We're ready to return!! Read Less

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Where does one start? Well, first of all the welcome at the airport followed by a sumptuous champagne breakfast by the side of the river before being taken to the ship. What strikes one first of all is the amazing smiles of all around, nothing is ever too much for them without being too over the top, it comes naturally to them and is not "forced". The ship is modern but classic at the same time, very fresh, welcoming and in a world of its own. The young lady who took us to our cabin was most informative without taking too much time about the formalities. The cabin is sheer luxury, view of the river, spacious and most of all an amazing bed... if one hadn't come for the sight seeing experience too one could stay all day in bed, it is so so comfortable. A wonderful touch was that we had a little present every evening on our beds, what a delightful surprise, be it a puppet, a lacquer bowl, such a refined touch. The meals on board were out of this world, from breakfast to lunch, a mix of Asian but also European, tasty, all together what you would expect, and more, on a luxury ship of this calibre. The décor on the deck as well as the traditional dining room make you feel special without being over the top, just pure class. The only "problem" is don't expect to go on a diet whilst you are on board, everything is far too tempting... well for three days one has to make the most of it all! The excursions are well organised, in small groups with very informative guides. The wealth of the country's heritage is incredible and the guides are proud to share it with us. So many beautiful temples and sites. When not eating, touring or swimming in the pool on deck the evenings were spent in a relaxed manner or being entertained by local people. The dance demonstration (being watched from the riverside by the little local children), was a real pleasure. After a "hard day's work" sightseeing we choose to finish the afternoon at the massage salon, what a wonderful experience. All in all I have to say that words do fail me to describe an experience I will never forget and feel very privileged to have enjoyed. It certainly would not take any kind of persuasion for me to go again. I would recommend it to anyone. The service was so good that I felt very "special". thank you The Strand and à bientôt! Read Less