Old World Ships and New Modern Luxuries

There’s something deeply romantic about sailing on the high seas. The wind in your hair, the smell of the waves, being exposed to the elements and all that. And since most of us aren’t Michel Desjoyeaux, we like our elements served with a good portion of creature comforts and the option of retreating to our cabins while the real sailors keep us on course. Here are two very different cruises that blend the charm of the old world with the luxurious conveniences of modern life.

The Silolona: An Indonesian Pinisi

The Pinisi, or Phinisi, is a traditional sailing ship that has been used in Indonesia for several centuries dating as far back as the 16th century and is still built by traditional ship makers of the archipelago to this day. Compared to the chunky modern day cruise ship, we would take this beauty with its long elegant lines, tall masts and dramatic sails, in a heartbeat.

There are plenty of Pinisi charters available in Indonesia and the Silolona is one of the most luxurious in its class. The ship was built by hand by the Sulawesi Konjo people in 2004 and since then, the company has offered cruises in the Indonesian archipelago exploring areas like the Komodo National Park, Papua, as well as Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar, depending on the season.

Silolona trip costs include a twin sharing cabin suite done up in traditional Indonesian style, all meals and refreshments prepared by Balinese chefs, shore excursions with an English speaking guide and activities that include diving, snorkeling, fishing and kayaking depending on your itinerary. Prices start from US$1,125 per person per day to US$10,000 per day for a full boat charter.

Pandaw River Cruises: Into the Heart of South East Asia

When I came across Pandaw River Cruises I was absolutely charmed. Imagine punting down the Mekong River into the heart of Myanmar on one of these historical paddle steamers, exploring areas inaccessible by bigger ships left relatively untouched by tourism. The man behind Pandaw River Cruises is Paul Strachan, a Burma historian who has lived in Indochina for several years.

The company boasts a fleet of six ships, each finished in teak and brass by traditional craftsmen and are based on the original designs of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company which used to traverse the waterways of Burma from 1865. All the ships have ultra shallow drafts and can travel to remote areas unreachable by other vessels.

Pandaw River Cruises presently operates cruises into Borneo, Myanmar and along the Mekong. For the nature buffs, the Borneo cruise explores the flora and fauna of the 640km Rajang River where the indigenous Iban people have lived since time immemorial. For an in-depth tour of Buddhist wonders of old, the Myanmar cruise explores the cities of Bagan, Mandalay and Yangon through traditional Burmese waterways. If city hopping is more your thing, the Mekong Delta cruise chugs through the bustling hubs of Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh with stops along the way.

Prices start from USD1,455 for a 3-night cruise based on twin sharing and includes all meals, shore excursions and transfers.