The Oberoi Motor Vessel Vrinda,
Luxury Cruising the Backwaters of Kerala

Tour Cost Includes

• Transportation from Cochin airport or hotel to the Vembanad Lake jetty and back
• 03 nights on board MV Vrinda including excursions
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day on board Vrinda
• Evening entertainment on board Vrinda on Days 01 and 02 of the cruise
• Guided tours of the region on Days 02 and 03 of the cruise
• Kathakali dance performance on Day 01 of the cruise
• 02 traditional rice boat tours to navigate through the narrower sections of the backwaters on Days 02 and 03 of the cruise
• Mohiniattam dance show on Day 03 of the cruise
• All applicable taxes

Tour Cost Excludes

• Airfare and airport taxes to/from Cochin
• Indian Visa, and visa application fee
• Personal expenditure like soft/hard beverages, spa treatments, tipping, etc.

Other Terms & Conditions

• A maximum of 02 persons can be accommodated in a cabin on board MV Vrinda
• Children below 12 years are not allowed. Separate cabins will be required for accompanying children over 12 years old
• The itinerary, schedule and timings of the cruise to change without prior notice
• If any itinerary has to be omitted or any change is required, owing to unavoidable circumstances, this will not entitle guests to any claim
• Accommodation is subject to availability
• Rates are subject to change without prior notice
• Effective 2nd October 2008, the Government has introduced “No-Smoking” legislation for hotels, restaurants and all public places. As a consequence, smoking is prohibited in all parts of the hotel except in designated bedrooms where smoking is permitted.
  The hotel has dedicated smoking guest bedrooms. Should you desire a smoking bedroom, please let us know. We shall endeavor to reserve a smoking bedroom for you, subject to availability.

Backwaters

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Day 01 / Embark The MV Vrinda
Pickup at Cochin airport or hotel, and transfer to MV Vrinda by 13:00 hours. Once all guests are on board, Vrinda sets sail along the main waterway on Vembanad Lake and enters the Alleppey canal.
Lunch will be served on board.
The cruiser sails along the scenic waterways for 4 hours and returns to the Vembanad Lake in time to watch the sunset.
Later in the evening, guests enjoy a performance of the highly ritualised Kathakali dance which tells stories from the ancient Hindu epics – Ramayana and Mahabarata. Performances begin with the application of elaborate makeup which is based in traditional Ayurvedic principles.
The vessel will anchor for the night at the Vembanad Lake jetty.
Dinner on board.

Day 02 / On board Vrinda, with a rice boat excursion
At 7 a.m., Motor Vessel Vrinda will sail from the Vembanad Lake jetty and head South, towards Alleppey. Breakfast will be served on board.
The vessel will enter the waterways of the Pamba river through the Alleppey canal.
Sailing through scenic backwaters, guests can observe life along these “water highways” while passing through one of the few areas in the world where farming is done below sea level.
The vessel will anchor near Kanjippadam and guests will be transferred to a traditional rice boat to navigate through the narrower sections of the backwaters.
For the next few hours, guests will observe and experience a way of life unique to this region, accompanied by a guide.
This section of the cruise includes a visit to the half-statue of Lord Buddha at Karumadi and a traditional Kerala tharavad (family residence).
Later in the day, guests return to Motor Vessel Vrinda where lunch will be served as the boat passes through picturesque stretches of the backwaters on the way back to Alleppey, known as the “Venice of the East”.
Motor Vessel Vrinda will anchor for the night at the Vembanad Lake jetty.
Dinner on board.

Dining on the MV Vrinda

Day 03 / On board Vrinda, with a rice boat excursion
At 7 a.m. Motor Vessel Vrinda will sail from the Vembanad Lake jetty and head South, past Kanjippadam.
MV Vrinda will anchor near Chambakulam where guests will transfer onto the rice boat once again for a pre-lunch sightseeing excursion.
Guests will visit St. Mary’s Church, established by St. Thomas in 1721 and Sree Bhagavathy Kshetram – a 100-year old Hindu temple to Mother Goddess – at Nedumudy.
Guests can also explore the Chambakulam snake boat yard, which displays one of the traditional long snake boats used in races.
To further the understanding and appreciation of this experience, a qualified guide will be present on board for the full day.
After cruising through the backwaters in the afternoon, MV Vrinda will return to Vembanad Lake, where guests can enjoy a “Mohiniattam” recital on board. This classical dance form, distinctive to Kerala, is also called the ‘Dance of the Enchantress’. Dancers attired in beautiful traditional costumes perform with slow, graceful movements and highly emotive expressions.
Dinner on board.

Day 04 / Disembark MV Vrinda – Cochin (B/-/-)
At 08.00 hours MV Vrinda will sail North along the main waterway channel on the Vembanad Lake.
Breakfast will be served on board following which the vessel will return to the Vembanad Lake jetty.
Guests will check out at 10.00 hours and will be transported by air-conditioned vehicle back to Cochin.

Waterway channel on the Vembanad Lake

2009 Cruising Dates of MV Vrinda

• Sep 30 – Oct 04,
• Oct 03-06, 06-09, 09-12, 12-15, 15-18, 18-21, 21-24, 24-27, 27-30, Oct 30 – Nov 02
• Nov 02-05, 05-08, 08-11, 11-14, 14-17, 17-20, 20-23, 23-26, 26-29, Nov 29 – Dec 02
• Dec 02-05, 05-08, 08-11, 11-14, 14-17, 17-20, 20-23, 23-26, 26-29, Dec 29 – Jan 01

2010 Cruising Dates of MV Vrinda

• Jan 01-04, 04-07, 07-10, 10-13, 13-16, 16-19, 19-22, 22-25, 25-28, 28-31, Jan 31 – Feb 03
• Feb 03-06, 06-09, 09-12, 12-15, 15-18, 18-21, 21-24, 24-27, Feb 27 – Mar 02
• March 02-05, 05-08, 08-11, 11-14, 14-17, 17-20, 20-23, 23-26, 26-29, Mar 29 – Apr 01
• April 01-04, 04-07, 07-10, 10-13, 13-16, 16-19, 19-22, 22-25, 25-28, Apr 28 – May 02