RV Katha Pandaw

RV Katha Pandaw ship is one of Pandaw's smaller vessels in the K-class fleet. The riverboat was built in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and launched in 2011. Its shallow draft allows navigation on Irrawaddy River in Middle Burma. Initially, boat's cruise itineraries were from homeport Mandalay, also going to hard-to-reach sections of Upper Chindwin River.

In 2019, the ship was relocated to India for Lower Ganges River cruises leaving from homeport Kolkata. The boat was named after Myanmar's port town Katha located on Irrawaddy River. Katha Pandaw became the 3rd Pandaw ship (together with Kalaw and Orient) relocated from Myanmar to India in 2019.

During construction, Katha Pandaw's general arrangement was changed by eliminating the indoor restaurant (dining room). The decision was made after consideration with the company's boat service staff and after numerous protests by regular customers preferring to serve/eat outside (on the upper / sun deck) than in a stuffy indoor dining room.

The ship has 2 walk-around (promenade) passenger decks and identical cabins (sized 16 m2 / 170 ft2). All staterooms offer as standard amenities twin beds (some converting to double, all with premium mattresses, quality linens, duvet, two kinds of pillows), French windows, air-conditioning, spacious wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), writing desk (vanity with chair and make-up mirror), under-bed storage (for suitcases), en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, washbasin, hairdryer, towels, slippers, bathrobes/kimonos, Spa-branded amenities), unlimited bottled water, Yoga mats (for in-cabin use), nightly turndown service. Onboard 24-hour laundry is also available. On all shore excursions are provided shoe cleaning and cold towel services (after), bottled water (Pandaw-branded aluminium bottles as giveaways), first aid-trained assistant guide.

Like on similar Pandaw ships, Katha Pandaw passengers are able to spend leisure time on the aft part of the covered upper deck. Meals are served bistro-style indoor and outdoor on Upper Deck. Breakfast is buffet-style and preceded by light bites, tea and coffee for early risers. Lunch is either buffet-style or sit-down (with a la carte menu items available for ordering), while dinners are 4-course and waiter-served. Pandaw's food ingredients are locally sourced and always fresh.

Domestic beers, spirits, soft drinks, coffee and tea are complimentary and served on Upper Deck at the Bar Lounge/Library. An open-bridge policy allows access to the Wheelhouse (boat's Navigation Bridge). Wi-Fi is slow because of the remote regions travelled. However, some riverports along the cruise itinerary have Internet shops. The ship provides quality mountain bikes available complimentary for all passengers to use on independent tours ashore.