Lines step up high-tech amenities for guests

Technology innovations are often few and far between onboard river cruise vessels. But a growing number of river cruise lines are providing modern amenities for today’s tech-savvy travelers.

The latest to do so is Pandaw River Expeditions, a Singapore-based river cruise line with head offices in Scotland. The company’s 48-passenger Mekong Pandaw is relaunching in September after a refit (the vessel originally launched in 2003), and when it does all passengers will receive a preprogrammed iPad for use during their cruise on the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia.

The tablet devices are intended to give passengers access to the Web, email and social media. They will also enable passengers to watch movies, listen to music, read e-books and Skype through preloaded apps. Daily programs, dining menus, weather forecasts, currency conversions, the spa menu and in-room dining options will also be available on the iPad.

Pandaw has had several apps specifically developed for these iPads, including one that provides information about points of interest along the way, a map that pinpoints the vessel’s current location, an emergency purser call and an introduction to the crew.

Passengers traveling with their own iPad or iPhone can download these apps from Apple’s app store.

Pandaw isn’t the only river cruise operator bringing technology to Southeast Asia’s inland waterways. When luxury cruise and safari specialist Sanctuary Retreats launches its 48-passenger, all-suite Sanctuary Ananda river cruise vessel in Myanmar in late 2014, the suites will all have iPod docking stations, and the ability for iPads to connect to the TV.

Better connectivity

Others are bringing innovations to rivers, as well. For 2013, Scenic Cruises began offering passengers on its six European river vessels access to a GPS-triggered audio tour featuring commentary about the passing scenery.

The onboard system, which Scenic calls Scenic Riverview, enables guests to tune into a narration about places of interest that the ships sail past. All cabins are outfitted with the portable, hand-held devices.

Avalon Waterways’ Royal Suites guests have access to iPads provided by the company. And AmaWaterways has installed a comprehensive information and entertainment system in its staterooms that provides high-speed WiFi, satellite TV and movies on demand, which includes a selection of new and classic films and travel videos.

Follow Michelle Baran on Twitter @mbtravelweekly.