Restaurant

Sun Deck

The Sun Deck has it all. Soak in the rays with a drink in hand, relax on a chaise lounge as you marvel at the passing scenery, keep active in the Fitness Centre and enjoy a spa treatment.

Indoor Lounge

Sit back, relax and enjoy a drink in the spacious indoor lounge, the perfect hub to relax after each exciting day of sightseeing with your newfound friends

Spa

Indulge in a soothing massage and choose from a broad range of treatments for the ultimate relaxation in the onboard spa.

Fitness Center

The Voyager Spa and Fitness Centre are sure to impress.

Kolkata

Welcome to Kolkata, the lively ‘City of Joy’. Once the capital of colonial India, Kolkata is a thriving hub of culture and history. Be transferred to your luxury accommodation and meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers over a welcome briefing.

Set out on an exploration of Kolkata today during an unforgettable Signature Experience. Later, visit Kumartuli, the city’s traditional potters’ quarter. Here you can admire the potters’ incredible craftwork, spanning from clay pots to elaborate statues of gods and goddesses used for a myriad of festivals. This afternoon, enjoy another Signature Experience before dinner this evening.

Baranagar

This morning you’ll cruise to the sleepy village of Baranagar where you’ll experience rural Indian life with a relaxing walk, admiring local sights including the beautiful terracotta Char Bangla Temples.

Murshidabad

As you approach Murshidabad, you’ll notice the Hazarduari Palace, which dominates the waterfront. Take a tour of the impressive palace, which features more than 1000 doors, some of which were faked to deter thieves.

Kalna

After breakfast, it’s time to explore magnificent Kalna, known as the City of Temples. Enjoy a rickshaw ride through town to visit some of Bengal’s most distinct terracotta temples, including the Rajbari royal palace complex. You’ll also see the eye-catching Shiva temples. Later, stroll through the local market en route back to your ship. Relax on board as you sail to the village of Matiari.

Chandannagar

Begin the day with a tranquil cruise to Chandannagar, which was established as a French colony in 1673. Stroll along the lively promenade as you marvel at the French architecture, then visit the 17th-century Sacred Heart Church and the Dupleix Museum, which is housed in the home of former French Governor Joseph François Dupleix. This afternoon, continue cruising along the Ganges and soak in your final night on board.

WI-FI

India has very decent internet connectivity overall, with the majority of cafes, restaurants, and hotels providing free Wi-Fi, even in the more remote locations. If you want to stay connected throughout your trip to India, you can also buy a tourist SIM card.

Free Wi-Fi is available while on board the cruise in public areas. Please note the wireless reception can have connection difficulties and is not guaranteed throughout the cruise.

Smoking Policy

Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside any of the river ships, including on balconies in your suite or cabin.

Smoking is only permitted in designated outside areas. The same policy applies for electronic cigarettes.

Dress Code

India is a developing country with highly religious traditions and conservative dress standards, so it’s important to dress accordingly. As a general guideline, shoulders and knees should be covered when entering religious buildings. At times, you will be required to wear ankle-length pants and a t-shirt with sleeves.

Smart casual clothing is acceptable when dining at restaurants or aboard the Ganges Voyager. However, singlets and thongs are not permitted in dining rooms. You may wish to bring something a little dressier for the welcome and farewell dinners. There will be no black tie or formal evenings. We recommend that you pack a variety of light to medium-weight clothing, plus rainwear in case of cooler or wet weather. Layers are a good option to cover a range of temperatures and to suit changing conditions.

Comfortable footwear is essential, as some excursions involve walking on uneven ground and navigating steps or ramps when boarding and disembarking coaches and smaller boats. We suggest lightweight shoes with good, sturdy soles that provide traction, support the ankles and stabilise the leg muscles. Closed-in shoes are recommended to keep out the dust. When entering temples and other religious sites, shoes and socks must be removed.

Suite Information

Bedding Configuration
Signature and Colonial Suites can be configured as either double or twin share. Heritage, Viceroy and Maharaja Suites only include king-size beds. Your preference will be noted at the time of booking.

In-Room Entertainment
Each suite on board the ship contains a flat-panel TV with a range of channels. TV reception may vary depending on the ship’s location and its remoteness. A selection of DVDs are also available from reception for you to borrow.

Telephone
Intercommunication telephones are available in your suite.

Air Conditioning and Heating
All suites include in-suite climate control with individual controls for optimal comfort.

Adaptors and Electricity
The voltage on board is 220 volts. Your onboard suite is fitted with universal plugs, so no adaptor is required.

Hair Dryer
Each suite is equipped with a hair dryer.

Mini Bar
A mini bar is available in each suite.

Bathroom Amenities
Suites are equipped with en suite bathrooms featuring a shower, toilet, and complimentary toiletries. All showers are walk-in, not shower-over-bath.

Safety Deposit Box

All suites are equipped with a safe and it is recommended that you place your valuables inside.

Smoking
Smoking is not permitted inside any river vessel, including your suite and balcony. Smoking is only permitted within designated areas on the Sun Deck.

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

Ship Schedule

A schedule of the following day’s activities will be provided to you each day. The ship’s daily program includes information on activities, shore excursions, tour departure times and more. It is available at the reception desk.

Disruption To The Itinerary

Under normal operating conditions, itineraries will follow the brochure as outlined. However, alterations may be necessary due to factors such as road, rail, river or weather conditions, strikes, or other circumstances beyond APT’s control. If conditions make any routes unsafe for navigation, APT reserves the right to provide alternative services, including, but not limited to, accommodation on the docked ship or substitute land arrangements.

Onboard Account

All purchases made while on board are billed to your shipboard account. Upon completion of the cruise, you will receive a finalised invoice, which can be paid by credit card or cash. The accepted currencies on board the Ganges Voyager in India are Indian rupees, US dollars, euros or British pounds.

Laundry and Ironing Services

Laundry and pressing services are available on board, with price lists available in your suite. Please note that due to the cruise’s remoteness, prices may be higher than standard. For safety reasons, the use of an iron is not permitted in your suite.

Audio Guides

During excursions, our lightweight headsets allow you to hear every word of your guide’s commentary.

Medical Assistance

Medical services are not available and there are no medical personnel on board the ship in India. Medical services can be accessed from shore as your ship is usually close to a town. Guests are responsible for all charges resulting from visits to a medical facility or if a medical practitioner visits the ship. APT is not responsible for the type or quality of the medical services you may receive. Therefore, we recommend travel insurance.

Water And Food Safety

Tap water in India is not recommended to drink. Be mindful of the different meals you will consume each 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 usually a part of your regular diet.

It is best to drink bottled or filtered water when travelling. Always ensure the seal is intact prior to consuming.

Bottled or filtered water should always be used for cleaning your teeth, unless you are specifically advised the tap water is safe for this purpose. If you are unsure, please ask your Tour Director.

Water Bottles

APT is committed to reducing waste, the use of plastic water bottles, and the environmental impact of our tours. We encourage you to bring your own refillable water bottle or, alternatively, purchase one in your destination.

Street Food

When visiting countries where you are unsure about general hygiene practice, please take care if buying food from street vendors or in small restaurants away from your hotel, river ship or recommended venues. At these places, avoid raw fruits and vegetables, dairy products (including ice-cream) as well as meat and fish not properly cooked. It is generally safe to eat cooked meats and vegetables prepared in hotels and restaurants in tourist areas. Fruit that you peel yourself is considered safe. You can feel safe eating anything served to you at the tour hotels and while on board your cruise. We recommend avoiding purchasing alcohol from street vendors.

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. Please ensure you bring a refillable water bottle to ensure you keep hydrated.

General Physical Fitness

APT cruises and tours in India can be physically demanding, especially due to the heat, humidity and developing infrastructure. Many of the sites you will visit require a high level of fitness, as well as good health and mobility, to fully participate. Some trips may not be appropriate if you have any certain medical conditions or mobility restrictions. In some destinations, excursions involve extensive walking, including standing on your feet for extended periods, navigating uneven or loose ground, stairs, and steep inclines.

What to Pack

Luggage

The luggage limit on your tour is one suitcase weighing 25kg (55 pounds). We advise keeping your luggage to a manageable weight, as you may be required to handle your luggage independently at airports and hotels. An extra charge will be imposed to cover porterage handling of any excess luggage. Your Tour Director will provide details of any additional charges. If your tour includes flights within India the luggage limit is 25kg. If this weight is exceeded, an excess luggage fee may be charged at the time of check-in for each flight.

Clothing and Footwear

India is a developing country with highly religious traditions and conservative dress standards, so it’s important to dress accordingly. As a general guideline, shoulders and knees should be covered whenentering religious buildings. At times, you will be required to wear ankle-length pants and a t-shirt with sleeves. 

Smart casual clothing is acceptable when dining at restaurants or aboard the Ganges Voyager. However, singlets and thongs are not permitted in dining rooms. You may wish to bring something a little dressier for the welcome and farewell dinners. There will be no black tie or formal evenings.

We recommend that you pack a variety of light to medium-weight clothing, plus rainwear in case of cooler or wet weather. Layers are a good option to cover a range of temperatures and to suit changing conditions.

Comfortable footwear is essential, as some excursions involve walking on uneven ground and navigating steps or ramps when boarding and disembarking coaches and smaller boats. We suggest lightweight shoes with good, sturdy soles that provide traction, support the ankles and stabilise the leg muscles. Closed-in shoes are recommended to keep out the dust. When entering temples and other religious sites, shoes and socks must be removed.

Travel Documents

• Passport and visas (if required).
• Travel insurance policy including policy number and emergency
• contact number.
• Travel vaccination certificates (if required).
• Airline e-tickets, APT itinerary and Essential Information
• (electronically).
• Wallet or money belt (cash, credit cards, bank cards).
• Photocopies of important documents, such as spare passport
• photos, important addresses and contact numbers.

Personal Items

• Backpack (extra layers, water, rain gear, snacks, sunglasses, small umbrella, etc.).
• Reusable water bottle.
• Medications and copies of prescriptions.
• Sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitiser, sunglasses and sunhat.
• Clear zip-lock bag to contain all liquids, gels, and aerosols from inside your carry-on luggage.
• Antibacterial gel/wipes.
• Travel-size toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, body lotion, insect repellent).
• Smart casual clothing such as long-/short-sleeved shirts, jeans, trousers, shorts, skirts, socks, underwear and sleepwear.
• Comfortable footwear such as sneakers.
• Windproof jacket.

Travel Accessories

• Electronics such as mobile phone, iPad/tablet, laptop.
• Camera with memory card and charger.
• Plug adaptor and current converter for the country you are travelling to.

Pack a Medical Kit

A small medical kit is recommended for all travellers. Pharmacies in large cities will likely stock most basic medicines and supplies, but they may be difficult to access and a script may be required for some medications.

Valuables and Security

Do not take anything with you that will create emotional or financial hardship if lost or stolen. Carry all documents, money, your passport, and tickets with you. Do not carry these important items in your suitcase. You may find a money belt, worn inside clothing, useful while traveling.