RV Lotus

Expert Tour Director

An experienced, English-speaking Tour Director will be available each day to assist and ensure everything runs smoothly.

Local Guides - Local Knowledge

Knowledgeable local guides bring each destination to life, offering valuable insights into the culture, history and traditions of the region.

Insider Experiences

Enjoy a collection of thoughtfully curated Insider Experiences, designed to give you a deeper understanding of the places you visit.

Comprehensive Inclusions

Most elements of your holiday are included in advance, with clear details provided before departure, making it simple to plan and enjoy your journey with confidence.

Children of less than 12 years of age are not permitted on tours and cruises. Minors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult and share their accommodation with an adult.

Medical services and onboard medical personnel are not available on ships in Vietnam and Cambodia. However, medical assistance can usually be accessed ashore, as ships are generally located close to towns. Any costs associated with medical treatment or a practitioner visiting the ship are the responsibility of the guest. Travelmarvel is not responsible for the type or quality of medical care received, and comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Getting On/Off The Ship

During your Mekong River or Ha Long Bay cruise, you may need to use smaller boats for shore transfers or walk on uneven embankments where port facilities are limited. Guests must advise Travelmarvel of any pre-existing medical conditions that could affect their holiday or other guests, and may be asked to complete a Health, Fitness and Mobility questionnaire.

SEE YOUR GP

It’s important for you to be as healthy as possible before you travel, and to maintain your health by applying good hygiene practices while on tour. Respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, while usually minor in nature, can spread rapidly within a tour group, and have a major impact on everyone’s enjoyment. Travelmarvel is committed to reducing the spread of infections on all tours, and asks that you read and follow our recommendations to ensure a healthy, safe and enjoyable holiday for yourself and your fellow travellers.

TRAVELMARVEL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOL

Travelmarvel has a Health and Safety Protocol that all our Tour Directors are required to follow. If you happen to feel unwell during the tour, please let your Tour Director know so they can support you and help you recover. For more information, please read our Health and Wellbeing information on our website: travelmarvel.com/before-you-travel/health-and-wellbeing

Water And Food Safety

Tap water in Vietnam and Cambodia is generally not recommended to drink. Be mindful of different meals you will consume day to day while on holiday. It’s a good idea to pack some medicine to alleviate symptoms should you experience an upset stomach from eating foods that are not part of your regular diet.

Sun Exposure And Dehydration

Weather conditions will vary on tour. Drinking plenty of water is important to prevent dehydration. A hat and high-quality sunscreen are important for preventing sunburn, even on overcast days.

Prepare a list of your medications, including the name, dosage, prescribing doctor, and their phone number. Pack sufficient medication for the duration of your tour. Your medication should be kept close at hand in your purse or carry-on bag. Carry a list of your medications in case they are lost and remember to leave everything in its original container so it can be easily identified. If you are taking any prescription medicines, we recommend that you take a picture of the medicine box to ensure that should this be required on tour by a medical professional, it is readily available.

LUGGAGE

The luggage limit on your tour is one piece of luggage that does not exceed 160cm (63 inches) or weigh more than 20kg (44 pounds). It is advisable to keep your luggage to a minimum weight, as you maybe required to look after your luggage yourself at airports and hotels. An extra charge will be imposed to cover porterage handling of any additional luggage. Your Tour Director will advise you of the exact additional charge.

Clothing And Footwear

What you should pack depends on personal preference. Most guests dress casually on tour, however, if the group is going into town, you may prefer something a little dressier. You may wish to wear slightly more formal attire for Welcome Dinners and cocktail evenings. When visiting religious sites, please ensure shoulders or knees are covered. In Vietnam and Cambodia, shoes are sometimes required to be removed before entering temples or pagodas, so we recommend wearing footwear that is easy to take off.

Travelmarvel requires guests to advise of any allergies or dietary requirements when the booking is created as well as your Tour Director upon arrival, as most suppliers require advance notice to cater for your condition. Travelmarvel will pass these requirements on to the relevant suppliers but cannot guarantee that it will be able to be accommodated. In some cases, you might be asked to fill out a form or waiver.

There is a no-cash policy during your Mekong River cruise. Your accounts are settled at the end of your cruise. Credit card is the preferred method of payment; however, your account can also be settled by cash (US dollars only). Prepaid Cash Cards, Diners Club Cards, or EFTPOS are not accepted. It is important to note that if you are taking a Travel Card pre-loaded with local currency or USD, it is advised that it can be used the same way as a credit card, some credit card facilities in Vietnam and Cambodia do not have the ability to process these cards as such. Travelmarvel recommends that these cards are not the only credit cards you bring with you.

Bedding Configuration

Most suites on the ship can be configured as either double or twin share. Your preference will be noted at the time of booking.

In-Room Entertainment

In each suite on board the ship, there is a flat- panel TV with a range of channels. TV reception may vary depending on the remoteness of the ship’s location. A selection of DVDs are also available from reception for you to borrow.

Air Conditioning & Heating

All suites on board the RV Lotus have individual climate control.

Hair Dryer

Each suite is equipped with a hair dryer.

Adaptors & Electricity

Electricity is 220 volts on board your river ship and throughout Vietnam and Cambodia. A plug adaptor with European prong sockets is necessary is you plan to bring appliances from home.

Additional Suite Amenities

Mini bar fridge is available in all suites, however, they are not stocked.

Bathroom Amenities

Shampoo, conditioner, soap and body wash are provided.

Telephone

Each suite has its own telephone, which may be used to call within the ship.

Safety Deposit Box

All suites are equipped with a safe and it is recommended that you place your valuables inside. Items that exceed the size of your safe can be checked into the ship’s safe, located at reception.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the ship. Smoking is only permitted on the Sadec Deck. Smoking in your cabin, including your balcony, is not permitted.

Housekeeping

Our housekeeping staff will attend to your suite twice daily. Should you require any additional housekeeping requests, please contact reception for any assistance.

Laundry and pressing services are available on board. Price lists will be available in your cabin. For safety reasons, it is not permitted to use an iron in your cabin. Please note that due to the remoteness of the cruise, the prices can be higher than standard. Clothes cannot be dry-cleaned on board. Self-service laundry facilities are not available on board.