0208 248 2355
Questions about your booking? Contact Us
Login
Experience the enchanting beauty and rich history of India on an APT Ganges River Cruise, where the journey takes you beyond the typical path and into the heart of India’s most sacred river. Each cruise promises unforgettable encounters—from the vibrant ghats of Varanasi to the storied villages along the riverbanks. Witness the spiritual significance of the Ganges, India’s lifeline, as it weaves through cities and serene landscapes, connecting you to the culture, history, and people of this remarkable land. Alongside expert guides, explore centuries-old temples, visit villages rich in tradition, and take in breathtaking views from your suite as you sail through West Bengal and beyond.
Just got back from a fabulous trip to India's Golden Triangle and the Ganges River by Uniworld. On land went to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, staying at the incredible Oberoi hotels. The hotel service, food, ambiance was the best ever. The rooms spacious and elegant. In Agra from the room's veranda you can see the Taj Mahal Embarked smoothly from Kalkuta to the river cruise ship the Ganges Explorer !!, which looks like a New Orleans paddle wheeler. The Cabins were gorgeous and huge, food very good. As someone who hates Indian food I was hesitant about taking this trip, but was able to get Thai (which I love) Chinese and Continental food both in hotels and aboard ship. The soups on the ship were especially good. In our group of 28 only 2 people got sick...they ate street food ! The only secret to staying well is drink and use for teeth brushing only bottled water! The ports all had interesting temples, towns and sights along the way. Found the Indian people to be very friendly and kind. Service at hotels and aboard ship to be wonderful. Staff was dedicated to seeing you have the best trip of your life! Hemesh, our trip leader did everything humanly possible to see that everything ran smoothly. When my husband developed an awful cold and cough an Indian doctor was called by Hemesh and the manager of the cruise who came to attend him. They took care of everything and did not bill us for the visit or medicine. Uniworld did a wonderful job with this fantastic trip.
After a 6-star cruise along the Nile with Uniworld, we immdeiately decided to book this Golden Triangle + Ganges cruise and once again, it was absolutely amazing! We were fortunate to have UK Channel 5 TV crew film the entire trip (in 2 episodes) so you can see for yourselves this wonderful country! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfaRgd70QQ4 We arrived in Delhi airport and a Mercedes limo was waiting to transfer us to the Oberoi Delhi, where we were given a room with Cllb Lounge access - truly first class treatment so far! In the next 5 days, we covered Delhi, Agra and Jaipur on land via luxury bus coaches and the Oberois in Agra and Jaipur were phenomenal! The guides (Vikesh, Joy, Asif) and tour manage (Himesh) were excellent as were the artisans we visited. Textile, gems, inlaind marble among others. We were worried that they would be "touristy" but they were all from generations dating back to when they crafted the very same pieces found in the Taj Mahal and used by the Rajs of those days! We took a short flight to Kolkata via Vistara airlines, which was very good, and boarded the Voyager II for a cruise up/down the Ganga for the next 7 days, stopping along a few villages to get a glimpse of how they live, eat, study, work, worship and even play a game of cricket! The food on the Voyager was excellent, probably the best Indian cuisine you can find, and only 1-2 fellow passengers had some runny tummy which was remedied soon enough by the ship's captain and chef. The on-board entertainment was amazing as they brought in classically trained Indian dancers, held saree/dothi history and tying workshops, cooking workshops and even had portrait drawing and hanna painting! Overall a wonderful trip to a country full of wonderful people. Well done Uniworld. We have since booked on their Peru Amazon for September 2025 so looking forward to another 6-star experience!
We are from the UK and saw a TV programme hosted by a well known cruise ship singer-cum-TV presenter, Jane McDonald. It looked like a fabulous trip so we rang the tour operator (Global River Cruising) and asked to book the same suite we'd seen in the TV programme. Two years later we set off to New Delhi. The tour spends the first 5 nights seeing New Delhi, Agra and Jaipur and staying in superb Oberoi hotels. We paid a modest amount for an upgrade to a suite in New Delhi - well worth it for the view alone. Because we booked the top suite on board the boat, it appeared to get us better rooms in Agra (higher floor and balcony) and Jaipur (amazing tent room). The tour manager was Vishal - a truly amazing man. If you get him, your holiday will be perfect - he couldn't have done more in so many way to have made it perfect for everyone. Taj Mahal was of course the star part of this trip. Special to see it, and moving too. We were a group of 29 people. 17 from USA, 10 from UK and 2 Australians. We are 56/57 years old. There was a couple who were younger than us, and plenty in their 60's and 70's and an amazing lady from California who was 91! It is a very sociable trip and everyone swapped tables for most meals, discussing this and that - particularly travel experiences which we loved. We flew from Jaipur to Kolkata and were transported to the Ganges Voyager II by two coaches. I think the transfer was 30-40 minutes through the chaos of Kolkata. It is a curious 'port' - largely abandoned as you approach it, but a new building has been erected next to the Ganges mooring area so maybe the area is 'on the up'. A delightful welcome by the staff - which set the tone for the week. Every single member of the crew was quite exceptional throughout our time aboad. Our 'Maharajah' cabin was (only just) the largest on board at 400 square feet. A major bonus being the bathroom with a large window, bath tub and big separate shower and the extra seating area. Superbly comfy king sized bed. Masses of bottled water delivered everyday, twice or more a day. We rigorously stuck to using bottled water for teeth brushing and didn't get sick at all, although some others had a day or two with the standard Indian tummy upset. Ice in drinks and salads/fruit all ok to eat as top end hotels and Uniworld take this issue very seriously. The boat is quite small with just 28 suites for 56 people - so given we were 29 passengers, it was well staffed! In fact I gather there were 41 staff on board plus 3 Uniworld staff. There are 3 main rooms - the dining room (East Indian Restaurant), the 'Govenors Lounge' (bar) and the Observation Deck - lots of big chairs to lounge in. All beautifully appointed. There is a tiny gym - unused, and a small spa. Our room came with a treatment each as included. I didn't bother. My wife had a long massage which she said was 'heavenly'. Dining is a mix of buffet and served. All decent quality and a big choice so if you're not too keen on Indian cuisine, they'll cater for you. I loved the Indian food - it was divine. Drinks on board are all included unless you want to go off-piste. The Indian beer is excellent. Indian gin (Calcutta) was fine stuff too. The inclusive wines are all Indian. Some perfectly ok, some a bit suspect! I went off-piste one night and ordered a bottle of Australian red - ordinary type of wine. Horribly expensive ($40) for what it was, so not worth it. Stick to the local stuff! There were plenty of activities to keep us occupied - henna painting, Sari dressing, turban dressing (and a very funny dressing up night) and a couple of 'lectures'. I remember one on Indian marriages and an enjoyable cooking demo where we were given cooks hats to wear. I did the yoga on a couple of mornings, but at 6.30am it wasn't for me every morning. Some evenings there was fabulous entertainment where dancers or a magician were brought on board to entertain us. High calibre. An off-ship evening was a complete surprise. We just stopped on a mud bank, equipment was ferried on to the farmland and we all got off for nibbles drinks, fireworks and chinese lanterns. Amazing. All the port and shore excusions are as good as you can imagine and gives you a glimps of Indian life - sometimes in tiny villages. One where we had a brief go at playing cricket. The Hare Krishna temple was extraordinary. At the end of our week, the crew gave us a lovely send off. We went on to do the optional Varanasi trip with the same tour manager Vishal - well worth doing. In summary - an incredible trip. Uniworld, Ganges Voyager II and all the staff involved FAR exceeded our expectations in every respect. One last point - the wifi is poor so I didnt use it, but the mobile signal is generally fairly good all along the cuise path and my international charges weren't very much.
Gangies voyager 11 I will try to cover the whole time and be as honest in my experience The boat is spotlessly clean, the floors polished and the furnishings of a high and comfortable quality. There is ample room in the sun deck or lounge for everyone so it never feels busy or full. The dining hall was light airy and the range of food was of a high standard. The chef was a really great guy. He walked around the tables, offering his advice and offered to personally cook what ever you fancied. There was a full breakfast. The obligatory egg station, along with the continental style cuisine of cheese, meats and pastries and one part that I personally loved which was the healthy station. Here were local smoothies, juices and yogurt. The coffee was sublime, proper coffee and great sized cups to. English breakfast tea along with all the India teas were also on offer. Lunch was a buffet, many hot local dishes and by hot I mean cooked. The curries were all mild and the wok fried vegetables were one of my favourite. The India people love sweet things so the deserts were rich in cream and sugar. Free flowing wine, red or white, or beers and the staff always knew when your glass was nearly empty. You really never needed to ask. Afternoon tea was almost another meal with sandwiches and cake. Evening dinner was wonderful. Lots of choices from several starters, several mains too. We had scallops, lobster and the chef did us proud in his recommendations. Again the free flowing wine or beer. The wine was local to India but palatable and if you really wanted a premium bottle they were available to purchase. But personally I don’t think you needed to. The bar staff were very quick to make sure your glass was never empty, and each day was a Uniworld cocktail to try. The waiting on staff were cheerful and happy. When I spoke to them I asked if they were looked after and they all loved working for Uniworld which was a comfort. We had a suite mentioned separately. The other rooms were still very spacious, this were the colonial or the signature rooms. These still had the wonderful sliding windows and a walk in shower. On board activities ranged from yoga which was twice a day, cookng classes, history of the Ganges river and sari wearing. Then we were all given henna tattoos, I chose simple design on my leg and hand I loved the thought I could be daring even if just for a few days. Most days began early with yoga, then breakfast and we were split into two or three groups to visit temples and walk around the local markets. This splitting us up meant we had a large bus to 12 of us. All could have the window seat and easily to keep together. We were given small walk handsets so we could listen to our guide without disturbing other holiday makers. Our first 5 nights Were in the tune of the infamous golden Triangle of India New Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. were on land so we visited the Taj Mahal and New Delhi with it’s bustling streets and chaotic road system then off to see the Agra fort. I loved seeing the Taj Mahal so awe inspiring and definitely a catch at the back of your throat moment. We had ample time to explore on our own. But if I’m honest the hotels were a treat in themselves so we chose to stay in the grounds, lie by the pools and enjoy the rest bite before the cruise. We were on this cruise the only British. But never let this be a negative, often there are more British, It had Canadians, Americans and Australians. All over 50 years as far as I could tell. Mostly couples but mums & daughters and 2 solo travellers. We all mixed well after the welcome dinner. Which gave us a chance to chat and start our new friendships. Which we did, and hoping we continue our new friendship in more years to come. People ask me did I enjoy India. I totally fell in love with the people and the place. Uniworld river cruise Ganges 2 was the icing on the cake. The staff bought the experience on board with turban and sari lessons, cooking lessons and talks about life on the Ganges. Jane Mac Donald came on board so I knew it was going to be on the TV....and I watched the episode with pride and fond smiles of my perfect holiday.
This is my first review...I have to share this so others will not hesitate to go. Our cruise/tour actually started with 5 nights land based, first in Delhi. You are met at the airport by your Oberoi Hotel Mercedes driver. 4 of us were travelling so there were 2 cars for our us!. The Oberoi Delhi is very nice hotel, clean and the service is absolutely wonderful for our 2 night stay. This is consistent with each of the amazing Oberoi Hotels that are used on this trip. You will get a briefing and meet your Tour Manager. (ours was Vishal..fantastic and totally organized and on top of everything for the entire journey). Our land based Guide (Rishi) was excellent too! We boarded a very clean comfortable bus (there were 2 buses for our group of 27 and never felt crowded) and did a sight see around Delhi and fortunately due to a Political rally that would of had us caught up in traffic, we altered the Gandhi Tomb portion and went to the place he spent his last days. This we recommended to be in the tour in the future instead of the tomb, it is so worth while to see. Agra and the Taj Mahal were the next stop. From the Oberoi hotel, every room has a view of the Taj! It is a short golf cart ride to the main gate. You get to visit twice, once in the afternoon for sunset and then again for sunrise. Do both visits! Next was Jaipur. Here you get to view a place where they make inlaid marble items. (a bit of a tourist stop, no one purchased anything and we never felt pressure to do so). Next was a carpet stop, you get the presentation etc..prices are good. (we actually bought one after we had a super lunch around the corner.) There were lots of other stops too during our stays in Dehli, Agra & Jaipur, this is just a taste. The next day is an early rise for the flight to Kolkata. Upon arrival we are met by our two new local guides & board a bus for our transfer to the Ganges Voyager II, the bus is ok, not as nice and smooth as the ones used for the other cities. A city tour of Kolkata gets you ready for the next leg of your journey. During the travels through India, you will see lots of areas with people living amongst garbage & animals, tough to see, and the honking is constant, (Honking is a language on the road, it will be explained and then you realize how they communicate as they drive). Once you board your ship, if you thought the land portion was crazy hectic, prepare to be swept away!! The service on board is outstanding! The cruise itself is something you can't explain but have to experience! The stops on the Ganges starts with Kalna. This is were you start to realize how friendly the people are in the villages all along the river. They have very little in terms of possessions (comparing that of most westerners). They have a culture and way of life that works for them. The children come up to us to say hello and wave as they are so happy to see us. The smiles go on forever! This is the first step into the incredible life along this amazing river that is used by the people every day. Each day we traveled to a different village and each time it was a new adventure. You will see how families, and their way of life, come together. The colors along the river bank are another highlight. No one in our group suffered with any major stomach issue. A bit gassy one day by one, but didn't stop any plans. We had our vaccinations as recommended, and we all took Ducoral before arriving. There were 3 people on board who had a bit of tummy trouble, don't know if they had used anything prior to the cruise. The water on the ship is treated but we used bottled water for teeth brushing just to be sure and there is an ample supply of water. Each day when you return from the shore excursion, as you enter the ship, you remove your shoes and they clean them and return them to your door in a few minutes. On your shore excursions, the staff from the ship are always around to keep you supplied with hand sanitizers and help you with translation if you need. They are outstanding every day! The food on board was another highlight. If you are not wanting to try the local foods, there is plenty of western style options that they will have or prepare for you. Their Indian cuisine was excellent. So much variety and flavors that you want to keep eating! I will explain my ratings here: This Ganges Voyager II is not Uniworld's own ship, it is used by them but is definitely the nicest one on the Ganges. Embarkation- smooth and easy Cabin, no issue, bathroom counter is a bit small - shower is huge, bed is comfy. Dining - lots of variety of food, even for myself being probably too cautious. Enrichment activities - cooking demo, talks about the way of life of the Ganges people and Saree & turban wearing demonstration, tour of the engine room, yoga twice a day, everyone had fun. Entertainment - couple of Indian dance groups came on board, very colorful and gave you a taste of how deep their traditions are. Small gym- not a lot of time to use it but you can fit it in if you like. Spa has two ladies for facials & massages. My wife had 3 massages and I had one and they were excellent. Onboard experience- above a 5 if I could give it. The crew are your friends and gracious and always there for your every need. wifi service was good in some locations and in and out in others. Might be a few hours without but not too long as I managed ok. Public Rooms- Lounge outside and bar area both on upper deck providing views of the Ganges left and right, just don't know which way to keep looking! Shore excursions- you will get use to the sight of Water buffalo on the streets along with cows and pigs. The people and colors and smiles will stick with you! Value for Money- ABSOLUTELY, this is a great way to see a little part of India. This is a luxury cruise and you get totally immersed into it all on the Ganges. There were so many highlights on this trip, but here are some extras I wanted to add. I mentioned this one above- All the Oberoi hotels, Ghandi's last place residence, Taj Mahal, Rickshaw ride in Kalna, Craftsman in Matiari village, having a try at Cricket in Murshidabad with the crew.
Just got back from a fabulous trip to India's Golden Triangle and the Ganges River by Uniworld. On land went to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, staying at the incredible Oberoi hotels. The hotel service, food, ambiance was the best ever. The rooms spacious and elegant. In Agra from the room's veranda you can see the Taj Mahal Embarked smoothly from Kalkuta to the river cruise ship the Ganges Explorer !!, which looks like a New Orleans paddle wheeler. The Cabins were gorgeous and huge, food very good. As someone who hates Indian food I was hesitant about taking this trip, but was able to get Thai (which I love) Chinese and Continental food both in hotels and aboard ship. The soups on the ship were especially good. In our group of 28 only 2 people got sick...they ate street food ! The only secret to staying well is drink and use for teeth brushing only bottled water! The ports all had interesting temples, towns and sights along the way. Found the Indian people to be very friendly and kind. Service at hotels and aboard ship to be wonderful. Staff was dedicated to seeing you have the best trip of your life! Hemesh, our trip leader did everything humanly possible to see that everything ran smoothly. When my husband developed an awful cold and cough an Indian doctor was called by Hemesh and the manager of the cruise who came to attend him. They took care of everything and did not bill us for the visit or medicine. Uniworld did a wonderful job with this fantastic trip.
After a 6-star cruise along the Nile with Uniworld, we immdeiately decided to book this Golden Triangle + Ganges cruise and once again, it was absolutely amazing! We were fortunate to have UK Channel 5 TV crew film the entire trip (in 2 episodes) so you can see for yourselves this wonderful country! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfaRgd70QQ4 We arrived in Delhi airport and a Mercedes limo was waiting to transfer us to the Oberoi Delhi, where we were given a room with Cllb Lounge access - truly first class treatment so far! In the next 5 days, we covered Delhi, Agra and Jaipur on land via luxury bus coaches and the Oberois in Agra and Jaipur were phenomenal! The guides (Vikesh, Joy, Asif) and tour manage (Himesh) were excellent as were the artisans we visited. Textile, gems, inlaind marble among others. We were worried that they would be "touristy" but they were all from generations dating back to when they crafted the very same pieces found in the Taj Mahal and used by the Rajs of those days! We took a short flight to Kolkata via Vistara airlines, which was very good, and boarded the Voyager II for a cruise up/down the Ganga for the next 7 days, stopping along a few villages to get a glimpse of how they live, eat, study, work, worship and even play a game of cricket! The food on the Voyager was excellent, probably the best Indian cuisine you can find, and only 1-2 fellow passengers had some runny tummy which was remedied soon enough by the ship's captain and chef. The on-board entertainment was amazing as they brought in classically trained Indian dancers, held saree/dothi history and tying workshops, cooking workshops and even had portrait drawing and hanna painting! Overall a wonderful trip to a country full of wonderful people. Well done Uniworld. We have since booked on their Peru Amazon for September 2025 so looking forward to another 6-star experience!
Embodying the grace of the British colonial era, all suites are spacious and boast a private Panoramic Balcony.
With the boutique Ganges Voyager accommodating just 56 guests, you’re assured a gracious and personalised experience on board.
In the elegant East India Dining Room, your Executive Chef oversees an expert team using fresh local produce to cater for delicious dining experiences.
Wine and local spirits are included with all lunches and dinners, while daily cocktails, tea and coffee are included on board throughout your entire cruise.
The Sun Deck’s Governor’s Lounge and outdoor Observation Deck offer panoramic views, while the Voyager Spa and Fitness Centre are sure to impress.
