The Strand Cruise was custom built in 2015 in a shipyard in Yangon with a shallow 1.4m draft, designed to successfully navigate the shallow rivers of Myanmar. The 61m ship carries up to 50 passengers in 25 cabins along the mystical waterways of the Ayeyarwady River. Named and styled after its sister property, the luxury heritage hotel, The Strand Yangon, The Strand Cruise offers all the features passengers would expect from a Strand product, from flawless service and gourmet a la carte cuisine, to signature elements celebrating the golden age of the Strand as a meeting place for explorers and raconteurs.
The Strand Yangon was one of the first luxury colonial outposts to open in South East Asia, founded in 1901 by famous hoteliers, the Sarkies brothers, and remains one of the most architecturally beautiful landmarks in the region. In 2016, The Strand Yangon entered a new era as it reopened after a six-month restoration project that saw the iconic hotel ushered elegantly into the 21st century. The renovation project preserved the heritage at the heart of the hotel and honoured the Strand’s part in Myanmar’s history whilst creating a more relaxed, refined and glamorous setting for 21st century travellers.
The Strand Cruise has all the features passengers would expect from a luxury river cruise experience, from flawless service standards to insightful guides and exceptional levels of comfort throughout the ship. Passengers can choose to spend their time on board on the Upper Deck, relaxing by the pool or on the shaded sofas of the Sun Deck, or relaxing in one of our 25 beautifully appointed cabins, spread across two lower decks.
A native of France, Barthélémy grew up surrounded by the vineyards of the Côtes du Lyonnais, Beaujolais and Côte du Rhône, and therefore is naturally passionate about food and wine. After studying hotel and hospitality management in France, he moved to London for eight years to work in some of the world’s most renowned restaurants, such as The Ivy and Gary Rhodes’ Vertigo42, before joining the luxury cruise line, Seabourn, where he was based in the Southern Philippines. Known as the ‘Garden of Asia’, it was here that , Barthélémy gained extensive knowledge and a love of South East Asian cuisine.
Neville Joseph, our Cruise Manager was born in Yangon, Myanmar and has enjoyed many years both in the Hospitality Industry and onboard a variety of vessels sailing the rivers of Cambodia, Vietnam and Borneo amongst others. Neville began his career within the Food and Beverage Department of some of Yangon’s finest hotels, and has always enjoyed each and every role he has undertaken, focusing on ensuring the seamless comfort of the guest during their stay. Neville remains committed to ensuring the very best for each and every guest, and is meticulous to the finest detail, always willing to go that extra mile, whatever the situation, earning him the reputation as one of the finest Cruise Managers sailing the Ayeyarwady River.
Custom-built in Yangon in 2015, The Strand Cruise’s interior design takes as its inspiration the fascinating and changing landscape of the Ayeyarwady River, from ancient temples and civilisations, to the daily life of the communities living at the waters edge. Every aspect of The Strand Cruise was designed to echo this, with floor to ceiling windows in every cabin suite offering views of the riverbanks. The natural beauty of the waterways is reflected in the colour palette of leafy greens, warm teak wood and traditional gold leaf, creating a cultural link to Myanmar as South East Asia’s Golden Land.
Featuring design that evokes the character of the Strand in its heyday as a meeting place for explorers and raconteurs, together with the latest technology and creature comforts, The Strand Cruise is a reinvention of the legendary style and unique personality of its sister hotel, The Strand Yangon within a contemporary river cruise experience.
