Below is a message from Orient-Express for travelers to Myanmar after the recent tragic events:

Tuesday 6th May 2008 - In the early hours of Saturday 3rd May 2008, the southern part of Burma was hit by tropical cyclone Nargis, which has caused extensive damage and loss of life.

Orient-Express has two operations in Burma: the Road To Mandalay river cruise ship which cruises the Ayeyarwady River, and The Governors Residence, a hotel in Yangon (Rangoon).

The Road To Mandalay was closed for the season so there were no guests onboard. The ship was in Yangon for a scheduled dry-docking and was caught in the cyclone and was badly damaged.

The Governors Residence also sustained some damage. The hotel had few guests as it is currently the low season; all guests and staff are safe. The Governor’s Residence Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar is an imposing teak mansion hotel dating from the 1920s within the elegant Embassy Quarter of Yangon and close to the spectacular Shwedagon Pagoda.

The airport in Yangon reopened on Monday 5th May and one of our regional Directors was on the scene immediately. He and Orient-Express staff based in the country are currently assessing the damage as well as providing what assistance they can.

At present, it is unlikely that either operation will be able to reinstate normal services for at least three months. Any passengers or guests booked to travel before 1st September 2008 are advised to contact their local Orient-Express office or travel agent to rearrange their travel plans.

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