Vaikundam River Cruise Review.
Reviewer
Elaine Andrews from the UK.
Cruise Line
Boat
RV Vaikundam.
Destination
Kerala, India.
# of Nights
7.
Departure Port
Kochi, India.
Date of Cruise
January, 2023.
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Ratings
(5=excellent, 4=very good, 3=good, 2=poor, 1=terrible)
-Overall Experience Rating: 5
-Food Rating: 5
-Service/Crew Rating: 5
-Cabin Rating: 5
-Itinerary Rating: 5
Vaikundam River Cruise Review
This was our first cruise in India, it’s one we’ll never forget. This is a 9-cabin houseboat for 18 passengers, but there were only 4 of us on board. As a result, we were upgraded to the deluxe cabin directly behind the wheelhouse with views to the front and sides. The cabin had aircon, a bathroom with a shower and a wardrobe and drawers for storage, as well as a large, comfortable bed.
Elaine’s deluxe cabin. * Photo: Elaine Andrews
The houseboat is a good size. The cabins are on the main deck, the upper deck consists of the large dining area, a lounge with bar, a sun deck and a massage room. It was a shame that the roof was covered with blue tarpaulin, it didn’t enhance the appearance of the vessel.
The level of customer service was exceptional, nothing was too much trouble. Our manager/guide, Joshi, was very knowledgeable. Many people we met were surprised we’d spent a whole week on houseboat, but we were never bored, there were plenty of activities to keep us amused.
Examples include bird spotting walks, narrowboat trips, visits to villages, temples, churches, a coir factory and a bell casting factory, a cookery demonstration, traditional dancing and martial arts demonstrations.
Our on board chef was excellent. Meals were delicious and frequent! We had breakfast, lunch, high tea (with snacks like pakora and fritters) and dinner, all with multiple courses. We had a huge variety of food including many local dishes and plenty of fish.
My only concern was that as there were only 4 of us, there was no buffet and the meals were served direct to your plate. This was wasteful of food as not everyone likes everything. Choosing from a menu could have prevented this.
Lunch on board Vaikundam. * Photo: Elaine Andrews
Alcohol is served but is supposed to be notified in advance of the cruise. As expected, it is at a premium price, but it seems you can take your own on board with you. Bear in mind that if you stay in the lounge drinking after dinner, the crew are unable to go to bed until you leave as they sleep on the upper deck!
The whole crew was excellent, they were all so friendly and nothing was too much trouble, they went out of their way to make sure our trip was a memorable one.
Number of Small-Ship Cruises Taken (Under 300 Passengers)
8
Elaine & her husband on board the Vaikundam. * Photo: Elaine Andrews
RELATED: Read Heidi’s full review of her Vaikundam river cruise HERE.
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HEIDI SARNA
