Yangtze Cruise Reviews from Tripadvisor & Cruisecritics

July 24, 2018 by Abrie P

"Three Gorges River Cruise"

Truly spectacular! I did the cruise recently (July 2018) Monday - Friday. The ship/ cabin/ staff/ meals were absolutely 5 star level. The shore excursions were great also, very interesting sights and the local guides were charming and professional. The sights as you go through the gorges are really amazing. The cruise was very reasonably priced, I would definitely recommend this to anyone travelling to or living in China. During this time of the year the water level is quite high/ flooded and the waters are brown, apparently during low water season the water is more green and pleasant to look at but this was just a minor thing, for me it didn't detract from the experience. Good job guys.

From: Trip Advisor

July 23, 2018 by Anna S

"Yangtze River Cruise"

In June 2018 we wrote to Yangtze River Cruise agency to book our 5 days cruise. All the process was by email, easy and clear, well explained. We would like to thank our travel consultant Ms. Wing Zeng for the great work and pleasant manner. Strongly recommended.

From: Trip Advisor

July 22, 2018 by lcolcott, Melbourne, Australia

"Victoria Cruises"

This cruise was booked as it was advertised very cheap & sounded like a “must see” for us as we had just retired.

My husband & I were very impressed with the quality of the trip information given to us in the weeks preceding the cruise. The company organising the trip starting from Melbourne airport to arriving on the Victoria Anne were Expedition Exclusive. The journey was long, involving buses & trains, however we enjoyed the experience & our tour guide was exceptional.

I would definitely recommend this trip, make sure you have plenty of tipping cash as it’s very much appreciated amongst the hard working tour guides.

Which ship: Victoria Anna
From: Trip Advisor

July 16, 2018 by Theresa C, Columbus, Georgia, United States

"Century Sun 3 day Yangtze River Cruise"

My family of 9 went on the Century Sun Yangtze 3 day River Cruise in June 2018.

(Barnes Family) Our cruise managers name was Stephen. Stephen was the best. He was professional,knowledgeable, funny, and very entertaining. At the end of our cruise, he made sure we had accommodations to our next destination and wheelchair assistance off the boat for our uncle Walter. Once we retrieved our luggage from the center city, Stephen was there to ensure the van was in place and helped us with our luggage. His kindness and attention to detail will always be remembered. I highly recommend this cruise. We can't stop talking and sharing our wonderful experience with Stephen and Century Cruise line. The staff was polite and friendly. Food awesome. My only complaint was the room being hot and slightly damp. Our clothes never did dry from hand washing. So utilize their laundry service. Looking forward to seeing Stephen again in our future travels.

Which ship: Century Sun
From: Trip Advisor

July 12, 2018 by tonyredrup, Bangkok, Thailand

"Yichang to Chongqing, a wonderful trip up the three gorges and Yangtze"

Our cruise on the Victoria Selina was a fabulous experience, seeing the dam itself, incredible in its conception and execution, not least the extraordinary 'ship-lift' and then up the river for 4 days seeing the amazing achievement of the Chinese government and people in the erosion works, creation of new cities to house the 1.3 million people relocated from the area flooded by the dam, whole areas re-forested, etc., together with the amazing geology of the rock faces exposed on the littoral shoreline throughout. Our tour, organized by Ms Wing Zeng, of China Discovery/ Yangtze River Cruise, was beyond our expectation and capped off 3 wonderful weeks in China, visiting Shanghai, Chongqing (Dazu rock carvings) and Kunming (Stone Forest), climbing HuangShan, JiuhuaShan and several days in incredible Zhangjiajie. Our 9th trip to China, arranged to celebrate my 70th birthday, and mind-boggling as ever.

Which ship: Victoria Selina
From: Trip Advisor

July 4, 2018 by baznsaz, Adelaide Hills, Australia

"Yangtze River Cruises"

We have just returned from the most fantastic personalised tour of China organised by the wonderful Leo Li at Yangtze River Cruises. We compiled a list of what we wanted to see and do - with many changes along the way - and Leo patiently put it all together for us. We had the most wonderful local English speaking guides who met us in each city when we arrived and then showed us around their tow, sharing their local knowledge and giving us an amazing insight into life in China. Shout outs to Frank in Shnaghai, Smiley in Guilin, Jeffrey and Nancy on the Paragon Yangtze Cruise, Fen in Chengdu, Lee in Zhangjiejie, Timo in Xian and Kevin in Beijing.All the drivers where safe and consiensciuos and the cars clean and reliable. Accommodation was also wonderful. Everything went like clockwork and we had the most amazing holiday. Zhangjiejie was an absolute highlight and Leo made sure we saw all the amazing things in this region. We can not recommend Yangtze River Cruises and especially Leo enough for a perfect private tour in China.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

July 3, 2018 by Martina S, Shanghai, China

"Ein besonderes China-Erlebnis"

Selbst nach 5 Jahren in China war unsere Yangtze Kreuzfahrt etwas Besonderes und sehr zu empfehlen! Neben kulturellen Landgängen, Natur und gigantischen Bauprojekten, die es zu bewundern gab, konnten wir uns auf dem Schiff ausruhen und verwöhnen lassen. Schon vor Reiseantritt war die Betreuung durch Leo klasse. Während der Reise war Kathy immer eine große Hilfe und hat uns in allen Situationen gut betreut.

From: Trip Advisor

June 14, 2018 by ghenri209185

"Century Diamond..Good Cruise"

Thanks Mr.Wonder Wang..

We just come home from a Very Nice Cruise on Yangtze River...Good service...Nice Smiling Staff..I can Recomander This Ship CENTURY DIAMOND..And Tour..4 Days go fast when You have a Good time...We upgrade to Deck 5..Nice Big cabin,,,And dinner on deck 6..Thanks For 4 good days....

Which ship: Century Diamond
From: Trip Advisor

June 10, 2018 by JDCE1231, Manila, Philippines

"Best Yangtze river cruise onboard Century Paragon"

Last May 22, we sailed through the Yangtze River aboard Century Paragon from Chongqing to Yichang. Ongoing road and building construction towards the dock, so bit of a walk to the ship boarding, but on paved grounds. But the experience only gets better.

The crew of Century Paragon were right there at the designated boarding dock number to greet and attend to their guests. They were neatly dressed and very helpful, especially helping senior guests walk down the somewhat difficult dock staircase onto the ship.

During onboarding and for the entire cruise, i found the ship crew to be very hospitable, warm and attentive to the passengers. They showed concern to customer needs. Concierge/front desk personnel were ok, expect lines to build up so transact ahead of deadlines.

We were offered a meal upgrade for a reasonable price to enjoy meals at the top deck (6/F), with reserved seating and exclusive food items. Found this to be very worth it, especially if one wants to enjoy meals without the big crowd and long lines. Food is great and gets better daily. Their supervisor at the time, Ms. Paris Ling and her team at Deck 6 were superb; they were cheerful, always present, provided 5 star service and care for their customers. By Day 2, they almost instinctively knew what you needed!

At times when docking for day tours, we were required to pass through other cruise ships. That’s how i noticed that Century Paragon is really the best ship there is now on Yangtze cruises — bigger and more modern. This entire ship was clean. Room and provisions were very decent, new and comfortable. Facilities and premises were very simple but atleast neat and clean. Toilets very clean. I especially enjoyed great deal of time spent on the sun deck to enjoy the scenery, fresh air. The cruise speed is just right to enjoy sights. Sadly, no one was manning the sun deck bar to serve drinks!

Included tours and optional tours were nice and interesting. Be prepared to walk a bit. Because they’re worth it. The Dam project is altogether impressive， inspiring， and majestic as everyone says - a must see.

Highly recommended to book your river cruise via Century Paragon!!

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

June 6, 2018 by Matijs77, Hilversum, The Netherlands

"Amazing and breathtaking"

Last April my girlfriend and I went on a Yangtze River cruise from the Three Gorges Dam to Chongqing. And we had great time! Our stay on board was very pleasant and relaxing. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The trip itself was amazing! The variety of landscapes was breathtaking. Of you have the opportunity to go on this cruise I really recommend it.

From: Trip Advisor

June 6, 2018 by Chris T

"8 Days Leisure Tour to Zhangjiajie & Yangtze River"

I would give this company and Jack Li and their guides a 10. Jack was our consultant (highly recommended) who organized and set up our group tour so professionally. One word to describe everything "EXCELLENT".

From: Trip Advisor

June 2, 2018 by Olivier C, Dakar

"Everything just perfect !"

I went on a 3-days cruise on the Yangtze with Century Paragon. This was a wonderful experience, very professionally organized and managed by Ashley He, in a perfect English. Everything went very fluently. The cruise was great. When I forgot some wallet in a hotel in Chongqing, she very kindly found an efficient way to send it to me in my hotel in Beijing, keeping contact all the time ! I strongly recommend her services !

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

May 28, 2018 by Ralf H

"Private Reise"

Außergewöhnliche Schiffsreise auf dem Yangtze von Yichang nach Chongqing. Wir hatten alles direkt über das Internet bei Yangtze River Cruises gebucht, was völlig Problemlos verlief. Vor Ort bekamen wir ein günstiges Upgrade auf die Präsidenten Suite was sich als richtige Entscheidung herausstellte. Tolle Ausflüge und Eindrücke die wir nicht missen möchten. Service auf dem Schiff hervorragend.

From: Trip Advisor

May 27, 2018 by Helene H

"Victoria Cruise was spectacular"

I am still dreaming out about my three nights on the Victoria Cruise ship along the Yangtze. The rooms were lovely, the staff was first rate... and even the nightly entertainment on the ship by the crew was delightful. I enjoyed the lectures on the Chinese language, culture and medicine and experience my first acupuncture treatment. But most of all, sailing on the Yangtze through the gorges was like a dream that mere photos cannot convey. Chongqing itself is huge with a breathtaking skyline.

From: Trip Advisor

May 25, 2018 by KarenUbsdell, Westhampnett, United Kingdom

"the scenery"

we went in may and had lovely weather the scenery was breath taking the centrey diamond was a good boat maybe a bit tired. The food and cleanliness was great. Wish we had done a longer one you don't board till four and you have to pay for your first tea, then the next two days are busy and enjoyed this bit, the last day of the boat trip we had to be out by 8 to go the three gourges so you only get the full two days on the boat. I booked with Wing and she was very helpful all the way with any questions I had, was very happy with the service she provided. would book through wing again. thank you wing for all you did. Made our holiday a pleasure without stress.

Which ship: Century Diamond
From: Trip Advisor

May 23, 2018 by bigchin8, Brisbane, Australia

"Yangtze River cruise on Paragon Century"

we did the upstream Yangtze River cruise from Yichang to Chongqing and added extra private group tour to Xian (Terracotta Warriors) before starting the cruise .From the initial inquiries to the end of our tour ,Wonder Wang had been very helpful and was very quick in replying to all our queries. We had our flight cancelled without warning from Xian to Yichang on the day we were to embark for the cruise- Wonder was able to respond to my distress email promptly He had a driver at the airport within 45min to transfer us to the Fast/Bullet train station where a tour guide was there waiting with the tickets ,He even organized a tour guide to meet us at the platform at Wuhan (transit point ) to make sure we get to the right gate for the connecting train to Yichang -which was all very reassuring and comforting -Wonder was able to change a stressful (being stranded in unfamiliar airport )situation into and exciting bonus Fast train trip. All his staffs that were involved were very polite cheerful and helpful- cannot ask for anymore better service

The cruise didn't disappoint either - the crews were very friendly and services were good. The Paragon Century was well maintain and the cabin was spacious and clean.The dining experience was reasonable - with different menu for breakfast lunch and dinner which were different each day.

The only negative would be the crowd -especially during meal time -which is unavoidable-being in the most populous country in the world , but if you avoid public holidays or peak season its manageable and we discovered the local tend to have their meal early and rather quickly -if you have your meals time a bit later the crowd and Queue is manageable

The sight seeing was fantastic -the river and its scenery were beautiful -definitely one for the bucket list

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

May 23, 2018 by BillieWET, Calgary, Canada

"Yangtze River Cruise - Tour of China"

My husband and I had a wonderfully informative and enjoyable two week tour in China thanks to Stephanie’s organization and thoughtfulness. She was diligent in making sure we were looked after if English could be a problem, arranged tours with English guides, and great hotels that were attractive, clean, and accommodating. We had great food the whole trip. The Yangtze River Cruise was a highlight, meeting every expectation provided in the itinerary and more. The ship was very pleasant to spend time on and the food too good. The scenery of the Three Gorges was absolutely spectacular, like nothing we had ever seen anywhere else. The Shennv Stream (Goddess Stream) tour was led by local people with excellent English and full knowledge of the history. It was a relaxing ride on smaller boats with breathtaking scenery. Most of the guides throughout our trip were able to answer any questions we had. Thank you Stephanie. I knew little about the geography and developments in China and you helped us have a very worthwhile and pleasant holiday.

From: Trip Advisor

May 23, 2018 by Barbara C, holywell

"upgrade if you can."

we stayed on the mv yangtze 2 for a four night stay. if you can possible upgrade i would recommend as the dining room was a bit of a scrum at meal times., the upgrade meant you had a much larger cabin, a smaller dining room with beer and wine included, plus use of the swimming pool and sauna also included.

From: Trip Advisor

May 23, 2018 by Ada F, Hythe, United Kingdom

"3 gorges on Century Sun"

What a wonderful way to see China. The boat fully catered for westerners and the inclusive trips added value. The ships had lots of activities and the food was high quality. 3 days is enough to give a taste of river cruising and a great way to wind down on a busy tour.

Which ship: Century Sun
From: Trip Advisor

May 21, 2018 by TheyCallHimFlipper, Canada

"4 Night/3 Day Yangtze River & 3 Gorges on "President 8" Cruise Ship: Yichang to Chongqing May 14-18"

Spoiler alert: review is long for good reason.

Does the River Cruise really deserve a 5/5 rating even though there are annoying things to consider beforehand and complain about afterwards? YES

Should you go on this tour? YES

Are the sights breathtaking? YES

Do all shore excursions and the cruise-ship itself deserve a 5/5 rating? NO, NO

This is a two-part review because there are no TA reviews specifically for "President" Cruise Ships.

This review is of the "Yangtze River Cruise," but I also provide a review of my 2/5 ranking of the "President 8" Cruise Ship at the end of this review.

Shore excursions are elsewhere on TA.

If you have time to do this 4 Night/3 Day Yangtze River Cruise while in China, BY ALL MEANS, DO IT.

Make sure you have a good camera with lots of data storage for the many, many videos and pictures you will likely be taking on this river cruise alone! Have a very good phone case that not only protects against all the clunking / dropping / splashing it might get, but also allows your camera lens to take good pictures.

Research using your phone while in China: the "free" WIFI, only available in the cruise-ship main lounge, is useless and you will be much happier if you have a translation app. available to use on your smart phone.

Dress for heat, rain, and something nice to wear to dinner. It certainly isn't a black-tie affair, but I didn't notice any slobs either.

I was lucky to cruise mid-May. We heard it is too hot and rainy after May.

No concerns about motion sickness: it was literally "smooth sailing."

We came prepared for mosquitoes, but experienced very few; saw more in Ontario.

The annoying things to consider:

There are many "markets" you have no choice but to walk through, when on shore excursions. Both our itinerary and Cruise Ship Director failed to mention the "markets" beforehand.

A "5 hour excursion" therefore includes the time it takes for slow pokes on the ship, 15 minute walk off the ship to the tour bus, 1 hour bus ride to the destination, 15 minutes of instructions and pee break, 30 minute walk (sometimes uphill) through markets, and the return to ship.

You see the same items for sale as everyplace else on your tours, but cheaper along the river.

Locals are correct when saying the beer and water they sell is: "Cheaper than on boat!" LOL

Markets were safe; more of an annoyance when you are hot and tired. We wanted to "shop" a few times, but you just don’t have adequate time when the Ship is on a tight schedule. LOL

LOTS OF WALKING AND STEPS TO CLIMB on shore excursions that neither the Tour Company, nor the Cruise Ship Director tell you about beforehand.

You might challenge yourself to 'make it to the top,' but beware the walk back down can be even harder on shaky legs. LOL

Two excursions, though, had locals that you could pay to carry you in a "Sedan Chair."

If you are obese or have mobility problems, I recommend you pass on the river cruise. The passageways on the ship alone, are quite small.

This is NOT the kind of "Cruise Ship" that you will want to stay behind on, when docked during excursions.

This ship is for eating, sleeping, Talent Shows at night and using the bathroom. Nothing fun to do alone, by yourself.

Ironically, the tour of the actual 3 Gorges Dam is underwhelming at best.

If you only do 2 excursions while on this cruise, you just have to do the Tujia Mountainside Wedding and River Boatmen excursions.

There’s a lot of hiking uphill for the wedding and you must wear lifejackets in the hot weather when on the River Boats.

Our cruise ended at Chongqing.

There are NO trolleys, NO escalators from the Chongqing dock way down to the Cruise Ship on the river below.

"Warm Tips:"

Plan on paying local Chongqing porters 15-20 RMB for EACH piece of luggage you need carried up to the dock.

You’ll be sorry if you valiantly carry your own luggage up the many flights of stairs to the dock and then notice that your transportation is waiting 1.5 Km away at the top of a sloping street.

The overall river tour is truly an amazing sight to see.

"PRESIDENT 8" CRUISE SHIP RATING = 2 out of 5

THE STAFF, on President 8 were all 5/5

This Chinese-5-Star-rated ship is a 1-Star IMHO, considering my other cruises. It might have been "completely renovated" in 2013, but I can’t see how it was ever "new" in 2013. LOL

President 8 accomodations were adequate.

All things considered, we do not think that any possible "upgrade packages" that were offered would have made anything any better.

This is an action-packed "cruise."

You won’t be 'hanging out' in your room except to sleep and use the bathroom, and everyone will be too tired to stay up late drinking and partying. LOL

All rooms had "balconies" it seemed.

We were told only Twin-sized beds were available; they were lightweight, but sturdy. We pushed two together.

Stiff mattresses were extra firm. (Were those really mattresses? LOL)

Anyway, you will be so tired from the daily excursions that you will sleep like a rock (on top of a rock) every night. LOL

Bathrooms were, basic, not bad at all.

Water pressure was great & you can have a scalding-hot shower if desired.

You get free toothbrushes and toothpaste everyday.

Housekeeping was very responsive when needed.

In-room refrigerators are completely useless. The Staff knows this. LOL

If you need to keep medication or something else COLD while on this river cruise PLAN AHEAD.

IMHO available Chinese "wines" are exactly like James Bond exclaimed: "PHUYUCK" LOL

Other cheap wines and most typical high-end booze from around the world are offered for sale on board. The "Bar" lounge-room looked fine, but I never saw anybody buy a drink from the bar. The locals used the quiet, air-conditioned room with comfy tall-backed chairs to nap in while the ship was moving during the day.

You can / should purchase alcohol at stores in Yichang before boarding, and surprisingly, you are allowed to bring whatever alcohol onto the boat that you desire, as long as you drink it in your room. LOL We did see one very organized tour group having a wine and cheese party on the top deck at night and I have to assume they somehow arranged for their own 'good wine' for that. LOL

I’ve seen TA reviewers posting pictures of the "President 7" ship: it looks identical to "President 8."

You will likely cruise along with 3 to 5 very similar ships and dock with them every day. You will have to walk straight through 2 to 3 other ships every time you leave / board your own ship.

You will just love the staff on the "President 8."

I have never seen so many professional 18 year olds, working so hard, smiling, being polite and helpful, all at the same time and in the same place!

Staff that need to talk to you every day will understand and speak English well enough.

Any conversations you may want to have about topics outside of the day to day workings of your cruise, however, will require your use of a Translation App. that needs a live DATA connection on your smart phone in order to work.

Our Cruise Ship Director "Sweety" spoke and understood English very well.

I love Chinese food.

I understand Chinese food: real Chinese food.

I wanted to eat nothing but 'local' Chinese cuisine during our entire 14 day tour.

Sigh … The ship’s food was HORRIBLE.

("Warm Tips:" The Staff knows how bad the food is.)

Apple and Orange "juices" were something like watered-down "Sunny Delight." I have no idea what that "Tea" was they served us. LOL

After 10 previous days of touring and eating around China, the Cruise Ship food was even worse than various low quality Chinese and Western foods we already experienced.

And why all the Chinese Tours think that Westerners want Starbucks, McDonalds and KFC while in China is just … just sad. LOL

I tried everything offered, but ended up eating a lot of fried eggs, cooked snow peas, plain white rice, black fungus, plain buns and dessert cake for every meal on this ship.

Ironically, the Chinese food served was terrible; Watermelon was rarely offered, even though we received tons of awesome watermelon everywhere else on our tour; the locals heaped their plates high everytime, and the dessert cakes were VERY good. LOL

The ship smells funky from crappy food, from the river, from cigarette smokers on the decks and from the mould (89% relative humidity).

Carpets / fabrics were worn and drab.

I am allergic to mould, I smelled mould, but observed very little mould. I dosed up with daily Reactin before leaving Canada and I managed just fine.

Deck boards were more than just "loose" on our balcony and on the top, observation/party Deck 6. Yep, be careful. When sunny, top deck is like an oven. … which I liked. LOL

The "Spa" was smelly, overpriced, dirty (cringing if walking in bare feet), worn out and below decks. The staff smoked out of sight inside the Spa.

Ironically, the "Chinese Massage" they provided was good and the staff were very polite and friendly.

The cruise, price and overall experience was worth the one and only time I’d ever spend on this ship.

Which ship: President 8
From: Trip Advisor

May 19, 2018 by silverbrook, Canada

"Great cruise with stunning views"

Our group enjoyed our Yangtzee River cruise on the President 7 ship. Although embarking on the ship was rather interesting because we had to go through two other ships to get to ours, I was delighted once we got on board. There is an initial sales pitch in the dining room to potentially upgrade your cabin as well as to get one of the inclusive packages offered on board. Our room, and bathroom, was larger than most cruise ships and quite comfortable. I also really enjoyed having a balcony - especially in the early mornings or evenings. Breakfast and lunch were served buffet style, which could get quite crowded, and dinner was a sit-down meal served family style. The top deck of the ship was an observation deck that allowed you to easily see the amazing views on each side of the ship as you cruised through the gorges on the Yangtzee River. I believe this is a must-do if in China even if you do not do any of the excursions since the views from the ship are spectacular. I would absolutely do this again.

Which ship: President No.7
From: Trip Advisor

May 17, 2018, 2018 by Renata R, Canberra, Australia

"Wonderful cruise"

We had an amazing experience on this cruise. The room was lovely, the food great, lots of variety and fresh, the staff were all very helpful and charming. The views were magnificent. All in all it was a great experience.

From: Trip Advisor

May 17, 2018 by cecbeer, Mackay, Australia

"Very Interesting Yangtze River Cruise"

We booked our River Cruise Through Leo Li at China Discovery and were pleased the he kept in touch with us during the entire process. After a little trouble with changes in flights and a very long boarding day we settled into a very interesting 4 night cruise from Yichang to Chongqing. The scenery was outstanding and excursions, although a little strenuous at times, were interesting and informative.

I chose to do the White Emperor Temple as an optional excursion and although it was extremely arduous it was well worth the effort.

From: Trip Advisor

May 17, 2018 by Ryan C

"Century Paragon Cruise"

Excellent service provided by Wonder to ensure our tour was successfully organised. He has organised airport pick up, Yangtze River cruise as well as day tours in Chongqing and Yichang. Tour guide in Chongqing and Yichang are exceptional with exceptional insightful knowledge. We highly recommend Wonder if you want your trip organised!

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

May 16, 2018, 2018 by Pedro R

"Cruise in the Yangtze river"

The cruise is a good way of seeing a different part of China outside the big cities. The help from Lyn at the tour agency has been great, always responding extremely quick and with full information.

From: Trip Advisor

May 14, 2018 by London_John_Jane, Canada

"Better than expected"

We did a 3 night 2 day cruise on the Century Sun as part of an organized tour. Frankly, we didn't expect too much but were pleasantly surprised by the overall quality of the boat and the meals. The room was very comfortable with a safe and very clean bathroom. We had a nice balcony although didn't use it much. The included tours at the Red Pagoda and on the gorge miniboats were both fun and interesting. We did the optional tour on the second morning to the White Emperor City and found it well worth the effort - was a warm muggy day and the 300 steps were a bit tiring but worth the climb. The museum at the top has a display about hanging coffins. Of course, the trip through the gorge area was spectacular even with a bit of rain. Doing one of the cruises on the Yangtze is highly recommended at least once in your life.

Which ship: Century Sun
From: Trip Advisor

May 13, 2018 by LarissaLacombe, Montreal, Canada

"Great experience on the Century Paragon"

I am so happy we decided to cruise the Yantze! It's an amazing way of exploring inland China. We booked with China Discovery and Rita assisted us throughout the process with great care and efficiency. We were happily impressed by the quality of service. We also booked airport pick up and both a Chongqing day tour prior to boarding and a Yichang tour afterwards. Everything went smoothly from start to finish, they took care of everything and we could just chill and enjoy.

Concerning the cruise itself, the ship is very nice, our cabin was excellent and super comfy. We decided to upgrade to the 5th floor, which I strongly recommend. It's quieter up there and the upgrade includes access to a separate restaurant where you can have your own assigned table for every meal, which is much more relaxing and convenient. The crowds on board can be quite energetic and noisy...

Just don't expect every crew member or local guide during the cruise to speak good English. This is quite understandable if you come to think of it, but it can be a little frustrating when you are eager to hear every piece of information during a tour but you fail to understand your guide. But that was just a small detail in an overall great experience! Our guides in Chongqing and Yichang were great!

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

May 11, 2018 by Minah N

"Great customer service"

I booked Yangtze cruise and a few tours through Vivien and was highly impressed by her professionalism and customer service. Having been to many cruises in the US, price for Century Paragon is quite expensive for what you get, especially compared to other things in China. But going through the tour company was much easier and Vivien responded within 24 hours for all my questions. You get what you pay for. All the tour guides spoke English well and also very professional. I highly recommend the company if it’s your first time visiting China, you don’t speak Chinese, or you’re crunched for time and just want someone else to do the planning for you.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

May 9, 2018 by michaelwong368, Adelaide, Australia

"Excellent Experience"

We booked our tour with Yangtze River Cruise. Our Tour Organiser, Catherine Liu is most efficient with her work, constantly providing updates regarding our bookings and progress. Even we changed our itinerary several times, Catherine was just too happy to do what we asked for. We booked with Catherine a 4 days 3 nights Cruise and onwards to Zhangjiajie with her arranging all requirements including our train, flights and transfers even back to Chongqing where we started our cruise. Every detail is way above our expectation and the local guides and drivers are most helpful and obliging to our needs.

Special mention to our guide in Zhangjiajie, David, who has gone the extra mile to please our group of four and at times we had requested different options within our group and yet nothing is too difficult for David.

A BIG thank you to Catherine,David and Yangtzw River Cruise for making our holiday such a memorable holiday

Michael Wong

From: Trip Advisor

May 9, 2018 by lisbeth439, Holstebro, Denmark

"Yangtze River Cruise"

Sidste år i oktober bestilte vi en sejltur på Yangtze via Mr. Wing Zeng, Yangtze River Cruise. Dagen før vi gik om bord fik vi en mail, om hvilken pier skibet lå. Lørdag 31/3 -2018 gik vi om bord på Victoria Sophia. Tirsdag 3/4 -2018 gik vi fra borde efter en fantastisk sejltur. Kan virkelig anbefales. Fantastisk oplevelse, med dejlig mad om bord og fine udflugts ture fra skibet. E. Knudsen

Which ship: Victoria Sophia
From: Trip Advisor

May 5, 2018 by laujoso

"Tolle Kreuzfahrt"

Wir hatten eine tolle Kreuzfahrt (aber auch super Wetter, bei Nebel sind die Schluchten sicher nicht so schön) auf der Victoria Anna. Essen und Zimmer waren super. Die Ausflüge waren typisch für Kreuzfahrten. Viel zu viele Menschen zur gleichen Zeit am gleichen Ort, aber das gehört wohl dazu. Wir reisen sonst meist ohne Tourguides und fanden die Ausflüge daher etwas anstrengend.

Insgesamt war es toll und wir können es sehr empfehlen!

Which ship: Victoria Anna
From: Trip Advisor

May 2, 2018 by Jay_Guo3053, Burlington, Canada

"Three Gorges Cruise Onboard Victoria Katarina"

My wife and I had a very good cruise through the Three Gorges onboard the Victoria Katarina in mid April. Everything went exactly as described in their plan. We were very much impressed by the smooth operation by the ship crew, despite of the large number of passengers at this season. One thing particularly surprised us was that passengers could board the ship as soon as they arrive at the port hours before schedule, which does not happen often in China. This arrangement has eliminated the long lines of waiting for checking in. All the shore excursions were well-organized without a glitch. They spared no effort to ensure every passenger is safe and accounted for. The food onboard was very good and all the ship crew members were courteous and helpful. After the cruise we needed to catch a same day train from Yichang to Zhangjiajie. The Chengdu Bamboo International Tour made special arrangement to pick us up from our last excursion site. They proactively contacted the ship in advance to secure a smooth transition. Because the delay caused by the excursion to the Three Gorge Dam, we thought we were going to miss the train. But the two ladies sent by the agency did a great job rushing us to the train station. Not only they came very early waiting for us , they also called the train station to find out details of the layout of the train station so that we could go straight to the right platform without any delay. Because of their all-out efforts, we got to the train station some 20 minutes ahead of the time, which was absolutely impressive.

Which ship: Victoria Katarina
From: Trip Advisor

May 2, 2018 by AndrewLJ17, Hereford, United Kingdom

"Relaxing trip"

Relaxing way to travel and observe the banks of the river. Ship very comfortable, good food and entertainment, provided by the crew. One annoying feature is the anouncements piped into the room, repeated twice in chinese and english, couldn't lower volume.

From: Trip Advisor

May 1, 2018 by 36. Stephanie99118, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

"Relaxing and enjoyable"

We cruised upstream on the Yangtze for 4 nights on the President 7. This is a newish cruise boat and it was spacious and comfortable. We selected to upgrade to an Executive room on the top level and we were very pleased we did as it was a lovely room with huge bed and large verandah. I had done the cruise before but going downstream (3 nights only) and was looking forward to going through the locks on the dam but we did not do this as the ship was docked up stream of the locks. We did the tour of the dam site but missing the experience of going through the locks was a disappointment.

Nevertheless we very much enjoyed the cruise. The scenery was spectacular and the meals excellent.

Which ship: President 7
From: Trip Advisor

May 1, 2018 by Mitesh Vinod V, London, United Kingdom

"Thoroughly enjoyed - century paragon"

We booked century paragon and service was excellent. Really clean and very good food options. Was bit worried after reading some of the reviews but service on century paragon was 5 star.

Our tour organizer Wing Zeng from Yangtze river cruise was brilliant. She always replied promptly and resolved all our queries efficiently. All 3 day trips at Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu were perfect. Will highly recommend Yangtze river cruise.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

April 20, 2018 by Mil930, New York City

"Great 4 day cruise on Yangtze River"

This is my third trip in China, and finally I made it to the famous Yangtze River, Chongqing to Yichang. I am glad I booked online with this company (communicating with Stephanie via email). The cruise and all shore trips were very well organized (in addition to the included trips I booked the 3 additional trips, and I am glad I did). Whoever traveled in China know well how hard it is if you do not know Chinese, but on the cruise there was always English guide - on the ship and on the shore trips, so the whole experience was very enjoyable.

Room, food, everything was great. The only thing I did not like was that the beer on the ship was quite expensive - 25 yuan :)

I would highly recommend this cruise and the company!

From: Trip Advisor

April 13, 2018 by VanH_Pacific, Shanghai, China

"Short but great trip"

It was one of the best trips we have ever made in China. My whole family enjoyed every single hour of it. It was impressive, exciting but also quite relaxing at the same time. We would definitely recommend to those who are interested in ancient history, who enjoy beautiful nature landscape and can value the great engineering achievements in bending the power of the fascinating Jangtze!

From: Trip Advisor

April 13, 2018 by James M

"Yangtze River Cruises tour company does a great job, with great value"

We had a marvelous time on Yangtze River Cruises' 13 Days Classic China Tour with Yangtze Cruise. It included Beijing, Xian, Guilin and a cruise on the Li River to Yangshuo, a cruise on the Yangzi from Chongqing to Yichang, and Shanghai. The itinerary is a great bucket list setup, covering highlights of China's history, scenery and culture, and is very well thought out. Catherine Liu, our travel consultant at Yangtze River Cruises, suggested we do the Yangzi cruise part downstream, toward the end of our China tour, and that was indeed a good idea.

In each city, Yangtze River Cruises provided my wife and I with a dedicated guide and driver team, and a well structured but also flexible itinerary. This is definitely not a group tour, and the individual attention is a bargain. The guides knew what they were doing, what they were talking about, and how best to see the attractions. They also were good at listening and acting on what we were interested in, which changed from time to time. Essentially you are getting a private tour at far below what most tour companies, especially the foreign river cruise ship companies, charge for the same extensive itinerary in a crowded group tour. And the quality was very good.

The hotels chosen are built for foreigners and quite adequate. They have fancy rooms but sometimes odd features (notably stiff beds). Overall they compare to Holiday Inn or Comfort Inn chain hotels in the US, but with granite floors and far more extensive breakfast buffet offerings. Lunches are generally provided outside the hotels during your land tour, chosen by the independent guides, and you are on your own for supper.

On ship all meals are provided, and our Victoria Jenna's meals were pretty good. It is well worth paying a bit more for the "amenities package," which the ship will try to upsell you anyway, as the a la carte dining room was much nicer than the downstairs dining room even though both are buffet for breakfast and lunch. Dick, the American cruise director, is worth taking Victoria Jenna over any of the other ships.

Last, Yangtze River Cruises' tours work well because of its travel consultants. Ours was Catherine Liu, and she was superb. Our itinerary covered more than 4000 miles inside China, and airlines there sometimes change or cancel scheduled flights without much notice. A hotel might toss its reservations to host a dignitary or convention. Catherine fixed each issue as it sprung up during the trip, and was quite adept at explaining options to enhance our experience even before we went. She was also very straightforward. When she had to put us on a train after an airline canceled, she had guides give us a refund. When a hotel canceled, she found a better one at no extra cost. When there was a better travel option that cost a bit more, the extra we paid was what it cost, not an upselling markup.

You won't go wrong choosing any of Yangtze River Cruises' tours, and you will be surprised at the affordable cost.

Which ship: Victoria Jenna
From: Trip Advisor

April 12, 2018 by Bahiano63, Bern, Switzerland

"Tolle Kreuzfahrt auf dem Yangtse"

Buchung und Vorbereitung über China Discovery (Sitz in Chengdu) über die Beraterin Stéphanie Kuong. Kompetente und unkomplizierte Betreuung (alles schriftlich per Email). Die 4-Tägige Kreuzfahrt war ein ausgesprochen schönes und interessantes Erlebnis, welches ich jederzeit empfehlen kann.

From: Trip Advisor

March 23, 2018 by Hanna M, Edmonton, Canada

"Fantastic river cruise"

Where do I start?

Probably with Ms. Lily Xu, who helped us organize 4 nights/5 days Yangtze river cruise on Century Legend ship. She was extremely helpful and very professional, always promptly answering our emails.

Big thanks to the entire hard working crew on the ship from Allan and Daniel to the tireless young people working the dining room, the bar and of course fantastic, fast and efficient cleaning ladies. They all made the cruise one of the most memorable experiences of our visit to China.

We came home happy and pleased with everything Century Legent had to offer.

Which ship: Century Legend
From: Trip Advisor

March 21, 2018 by Emma B, Edinburgh

"Fun and Friendly"

I was a solo english speaking traveller so I was a little nervous about going on a huge cruise like this, but the booking assistant, Wonder, was so friendly and helpful and put me completely at ease. I booked a half fare which meants I might have to share a cabin (though in the end I had it to myself, result!) and was seated at a table half english speaking guests and half chinese which meant I had the best of both worlds.

All through the cruise the staff were friendly, helpful and polite and even those who couldn't speak English or understand my very basic Chinese did their utmost to help me and to make me feel at home.

The cabins were comfortable and the balconies a very welcome added bonus! The staff were excellent and the food (served buffet-style except on the final night) was great with a mix of chinese and western food depending on your tastes.

I would 100% recommend this cruise and the company I booked it with (ChengduBambooCruise).

From: Trip Advisor

March 19, 2018 by elissejo, Eckman

"A highlight of our month in China! See the China of your travel dreams!"

This cruise was one of the top highlights of the month my husband and I spent in China. Having grown up on National Geographic photos of the Gorges and Yangtze River, THIS is the China I'd dreamed of seeing for 40+ years! Sailing between the immense Gorges on the Yangtze River and visiting little villages along the way was truly a dream come to life. I booked direct, and Lyn from Yangtze River Cruises arranged the cruise for us, as well as a car and driver on each end, train tickets to get to Yichang, and a flight on Sichuan Airlines from Chongqing, and it all went perfectly smoothly! Her English is perfect, she was SO helpful, and I highly recommend her and would absolutely use her again! We took the four-night cruise from Yichang to Chongqing on the Century Diamond.

The ship is world-class and excellent, all the cabins have balconies (a must!), and they even have a drinking water tap in the bathroom! (They do supply bottled water, as well). The staff was very nice, especially the "Cruise Leader" on board, Stephen, who went out of his way to be of assistance. You can get WiFi on the ship, as well- they rent a device for that. (TIP: Get a VPN subscription before you travel to China- we got ExpressVPN which worked quite well). In addition to the included tours (we did 2, including one to the famed Three Gorges Dam Project, and another delightful one that took us by boat to a "Minority Village" for a music presentation), we also took one of the extra tours, to a different "Minority Village", and it was excellent- an enchanting walk through a folk tale set in a "living museum" viliage on a river; the walk included lots of friendly wild monkeys, fishermen, flute playing, etc., and culminated in a fun viliage wedding with music! Our stateroom was lovely, and we enjoyed our romantic little balcony a great deal. The bar and entertainment on the ship was fun, with several very good performances, including folk dances and "mask changing", and they serve a very good Chinese wine- Great Wall (we love to "drink local" when at all possible, and the Wine Package was a good deal). The top deck was a glorious place to be to enjoy the magnificent scenery, day and night- they even did kite flying out there our last day at sea! The only real disappointment was the food at the buffets (all the meals were buffets), as we expected it to be much better; we were glad we had enjoyed 3 weeks of "foodie" dining around China prior to the cruise or we wouldn't have known how totally fabulous the food in China can be! (The spa's massage treatments were extremely overpriced and a disappointment, as well: having had Amazing massages in China for $10 we knew how great they can be and what they should cost...) We were also saddened that after we booked the regulations were changed and the ships are no longer allowed to sail though the famed locks. As a result, we sat in port the first night and day, while we were given a tour of the Dam Project... but that wasn't the cruise company's fault. The boarding location has also apparently been changed, and we had a 1.5 hour bus ride to from Yichang to embark... But we'd do it all again in a heartbeat! We would have loved the cruise to be longer- a week-long round-trip cruise with an excursion to see the carvings in Chongqing would be grand! TIP: before boarding or after disembarking in Yichang, eat at the Fang Weng Hanging Restaurant in Yichang- it is built into a cave and hangs out over the river so you can enjoy the spectacular view, & they serve the local Yangtze River fish and greens- IMHO it's a "must-do"!)

Which ship: Century Diamond
From: Trip Advisor

March 19, 2018 by audreyang, Paris, France

"Croisière de rêve"

Victoria Jeanna super bateau, pas trop grand mais avec plein de services (massages, atelier tous les jours ...). Chambre bien avec tout ce qu'il faut, un balcon pour profiter du paysage. L'équipage est très gentil, toujours à notre disposition que ce soit au restaurant ou au bar ou pour les services en journée.

Nous avons fait toutes les visites proposées, les guides sont en général des personnes du village visité, des gens passionnés et très intéressants. Un peu fatiguant, beaucoup de marches mais ça en valait la peine.

Les repas sont très bien du petit déjeuner au diner (nous avons pu gouter plein de choses). Le soir, des soirées sont proposées, nous ne les avons pas toute faites, mais c'était très sympas.

Which ship: Victoria Jenna
From: Trip Advisor

March 5, 2018 by CinBtown

"Relaxing float in the middle of a busy trip"

We were 2 of 6 English-speaking travelers but never felt left out. The accommodations were wonderful, and all the food was served buffet style so we got to try so many things. Even the language is no barrier; one of our tablemates spoke English, but we communicated with all and even had some laughs! The shore trips were so interesting and informative - you can always learn something from other cultures and am glad we didn't skip this one. Loved the little balcony for coffee and tea between activities.

From: Trip Advisor

February 26, 2018 by Arlette G

"A Must-Do in China"

If you're going to tour China, you must do a Yangtze River cruise. Sailing on the Yangtze offers spectacular views and a wonderfully-relaxing time. The staff on board go out of their way to make your experience perfection. There are three excursions included in the cruise package. The excursions a just a couple of hours long, so you can get back to relaxing on the ship while you sail along a jaw-dropping landscape. There are three additional excursions offered that you can pay to do, so there is always something interesting to see and do along your journey. The cabins are very nice and clean. This cruise feels luxurious.

yangtze-river-cruises.com (Chinadiscovery.com) provided excellent service and good communication. Stephanie Kuang was my sales agent, and she was superb. She answered all my questions, made the booking process very easy, and was even available on her cell phone on a Sunday afternoon as I was looking for the port. You should definitely book your tour through yangtze-river-cruises.com (Chinadiscovery.com).

From: Trip Advisor

December 30, 2017 by Markus S, Berlin, Germany

"Gorgeous Yangtse Trip and excellent service"

The Trip has been one of the highlights of our four week China tour. Gorgious views, a phantastic, friendly and reliable crew, a modern, stylish, and clean ship, pleasant amenities on board, delicious food and not to forget a truly outstanding preparation of the trip by our contact person Wonder Wang.

From: Trip Advisor

December 26, 2017 by Edmond L

"Happy sailing with the Century Paragon"

We were on a 5 day cruise trip on the Century Paragon in November from Yichang to Chongqing. All the facilities in the ship were very high standard and well maintained. Overall services were excellent in particular the staff in dining room (upgrade to the VIP dinner room is highly recommended). Scenery of the entire trip was special and spectacular. It's like layers of fjords everywhere. Excursions were wonderful and interesting. English speaking guides were arranged for our group's special need. Last but not least, Wendy at YRC was more than helpful in booking our trip and all connecting flights. She was excellent in response to our questions and always so cheerful in helping to resolve special needs.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

December 20, 2017 by robp28461, Southport, Carolina

"Amazing scenery, comfortable accomodations"

We traveled on the Victoria Katarina which is a great choice. Rooms are very comfortable, every one with a small balcony and chairs. Buffet meals were excellent and the staff was very attentive and friendly - and talented as there are two shows provided by the crew during the cruise. Didn't participate in the optional Ghost City tour on the first day but did go on the Empress City optional tour on the second day - highly recommend the tour. Standard tour of Goddess Stream was amazing and not to be missed.

Which ship: Victoria Katarina
From: Trip Advisor

December 7, 2017 by Alexandra P, London, UK

"MS Yangtze II River Cruise Ship Happy Sailing"

We boarded our beautiful ship the MS Yangtze II River Cruise Ship at Yichan at night and had 4 nights and 5 days which included excursions and extra sight seeing. This ship was launched in 2011 and was amazing it sported a wonderful staircase very elegant indeed and had so much light which seemed to permeate a lot of happiness. We were on deck 3 and had all our meals at the Dynasty Restaurant which catered for 400 people this was buffet dining for Western tourists and Chinese tourists alike. For those that upgraded to deck 4 there was a smaller quieter Kunlun restaurant catering same food for 259 people. Really there was no need for us to upgrade as our room was plenty spacious with en suite facilities and we even had our own balcony with table and chairs we had a table coffee tea facilities and tv free wifi on board ship. Facilities on board were pleasurable Tai Chi 6am Cinema Library Games Room Lecture Room Swimming facilities sauna fitness massage beauty parlour even a doctor on board just in case. We enjoyed a Captains Welcome Reception and entertainment fashion show and karaoke. There is a sight seeing sun deck as we cruised along to view the gorges Qutang Wu Xiling 3 Gorges and we viewed the lesser Gorges by small sailing vessel with an excellent English speaking guide.The three gorges dam we negotiated at night and it was very eerie and somewhat scary as we were surrounded by grey concrete walls we were embedded in the longest dam in the world an absolute amazing feat of engineering marvel I would say one of the Wonders of the Modern World. We could then hear the creaking of cogs as the ships elevator kicked in to raise us a level till we reached the next lock with other vessels for company a couple more times which lasted to the morning sleep was a little troubled but a good breakfast settled matters. This whole procedure was most impressive and brought us safely through the three Gorges until we finally reached destination of Chongqin. This was a great little escape from the humdrum of everyday life caring duties with the added bonus that this ship is modern luxury and enjoys eco friendly technology. Note that unless you are booked for an excursion you cannot just leave the ship so that when you do go on an excursion as there are only clothes shops various souvenirs beautiful snuff box painting in crystal and glass with demonstration it is worthwhile to either bring extra food and drink along if needed but quite frankly we had more than enough food and drink aboard ship. For a first cruise I can say that I enjoyed my stay aboard ship and was happy sailing along the Yangtze River. The scenery was most stunning and certainly memorable. What saddens me though is that so many people lost their way of life and livelihood but on balance others have created a new way of life such as our guides and increase in tourism.

Which ship: Yangtze 2
From: Trip Advisor

December 6, 2017 by lakazdi

"Victoria Cruises"

I went with Victoria Cruises and it was such a great experience. There was really a great level of service on this boat and the food was amazing each and every meal. I liked the shore excursions that were included and didn't feel like I missed out on the extra excursions. The staff were all very good on board and you could tell that hey really cared about their boat and kept it in good condition.

From: Trip Advisor

December 3, 2017 by campervan_question, Ottawa, Canada

"Wonderful scenery and service"

We did the Yangtze River cruise on the Yangtze Gold 3. I had a balcony room on the 3rd floor. The scenery was spectacular. Did the extra excursion to the water village which was interesting but has a lot of stairs. The food was good with lots of North American choices. They have a little shop where I bought Coke Zero on the boat. The service was excellent. They are always changing your towels and turned your your bed each evening.

Which ship: Yangtze Gold 3
From: Trip Advisor

November 26, 2017 by Joel4460933, Albuquerque, New Mexico

"Excellent cruise with VIP treatment"

On a recent trip to China, had heard amazing things about the Three River Gorges cruises, and planned to go there. I wanted to try a Chinese cruise line for a more authentic experience. This was not only authentic, but we received VIP treatment the entire time. My wife and I were the only non-Mandarin speakers on the boat. They took extra care of us, and made sure we were treated special, and had everything we needed. We had arranged to go on multiple excursions, and they arranged local English-speaking tour guides for every stop. On some of these we had a tour guide to ourselves, so really personalized. They had us wait in the lobby, instead of crowding into the dining area with the others, and took great care of us. The food was mostly Chinese, with an occasional nod to the Western palate, but that was what we wanted. There were sufficient choices for my vegetarian son (who could speak Mandarin after living in China for awhile). My wife skipped one excursion to get a Chinese massage, and one of the staff stayed with her and translated the entire time. I would strongly recommend Yangtze Cruise Lines for an authentic and very enjoyable experience. All of the arrangements were done online ahead of time, with little hassle. There was a change in the pickup location in Chongqing, and they emailed me to let me know a day or two beforehand. Everyone was friendly, including the other tourists. I would also recommend the various excursions, although we had a lot of rainy weather. They did provide umbrellas for us.

From: Trip Advisor

November 8, 2017 by 153B, Calgary, Canada

"Exceptional Travel Experience"

Have just returned to Canada after a three-week journey across China and Mongolia, the highlight of which was a 4-day-3-night cruise from Chongqing to Yichang on the 'Century Sun'. All ticketing, booking and payments were handled in a very efficient and professional manner by Lyn Wang, a Travel Consultant with Yangtze River Cruises (lyn@yangtze-river-cruises.com). For 4 days I wallowed in very agreeable comfort while the scenic highlights of the river gently unfolded. First-class cabin accommodation, outstandingly courteous and attentive staff, excellent open buffet meals and interesting on-shore excursions and side-trips only added to my enjoyment. In short, an exceptional travel experience for very modest cost. Strongly recommended.

Which ship: Century Sun
From: Trip Advisor

Novermber 6, 2017 by Will Newcomb Y, London, UK

"Excellent 3 Gorges River Cruise"

My 4.5 day (4 night) trip was excellent. The ship, Victoria Lianna, was very well appointed with excellent services and very helpful crew. Last year I did a cruise to S Korea on a huge 70,000 ton liner but the cabin on the Lianna was more comfortable AND had a view and balcony. (The only downside was that there was only one electrical outlet even though the cabin was for two people. These days you need at least two outlets to enable 2 smartphones/cameras to be recharged at the same time. The huge liner to S Korea had the same problem. PROVIDE MORE POWER OUTLETS!)

The included and extra tours off the boat were well organised and the guides were both well informed and had excellent English. Bear in mind that this trip goes through gorges so if you get off the boat you are going to have to climb a lot of steps. Pretty much every time we had to climb at least 300 steps. Be prepared!

Our tour organizer Wonder Wang was very helpful and prompt in replying to questions and various queries.

Living in Changsha I am used to spicy food which I missed on the cruise but perhaps the other Chinese passengers and Americans prefer the Cantonese and Western cuisine. Always plenty of food even if you arrived at the dining room late! But I enjoying having a good old fry up for breakfast - unusual in China!

I thoughly recommend Victoria Cruises.

Which ship: Victoria Lianna
From: Trip Advisor

November 1, 2017 by Ryan Lin X

"Perfect organization"

We did river cruise from Chongqing to Yichang. Everything went smooth. Tour guide picked us up from the airport und dropped us off at the harbour. Highly recommend pick up service from the airport as tour guide will tell you interesting stories from Chongqing. River cruise was well organized. Staff was very friendly and food was ok. Also all costs were transparent from the beginning. Agency was very responsive and helpful.

From: Trip Advisor

Novermber 1, 2017 by philbroad2017, Sandbach, UK

"Yangtze Cruise starting in Chongqing"

The cruise and tours were excellent both in the organisation and sites visited. It gave a good sense of the history and culture of the area whilst letting you admire the scale beauty of the river and gorges. We also spent the day in Chongqing which was very interesting and much larger than we expected. We visited during the Chinese national holiday which meant it was very busy but still enjoyable.

A reasonable level of fitness is required on the tours to manage the large number of steps at some of the locations but the effort is worthwhile. To get the best from the trip there is not a lot of time to enjoy the facilities on the boat which were again very good. There was a good size indoor pool and the bar, lounge and restaurant areas very welcoming and the food really good. In addition the cabins were well equipped and comparatively spacious. At the end of the cruise it is well worth having a pick up arranged at Yi Chang. Where we docked there was very little in the way of taxis and no obvious public transport. We had arranged for a guide and driver to meet us and the arrangements worked perfectly. The guide took to a very nice restaurant to get lunch and also took us to a local museum before dropping us at the airport.

The whole cruise experience is one we very much enjoyed and set us up perfectly for the rest of our holiday in China.

From: Trip Advisor

October 30, 2017 by BigAlks, Saskatchewan, Canada

"Really enjoyable."

We really enjoyed our recent cruise on the Yangtze River. The boat, Yangtze Gold 8, was pretty nice, although some of it looked a bit worn. The scenery was incredible. The excursions (dam, Goddess Stream, Red Pagoda) were quite interesting.

Which ship: Yangtze Gold 8
From: Trip Advisor

October 25, 2017 by Tara B

"Great trip! Beautiful and relaxing and informative"

This was a great trip- we saw lots of beautiful sites and got to relax on the boat while cruising through China. Andy was the river guide who provided a lot of great information about the sites as we passed through them. The rooms were clean and the food was good. There was a variety of Western and Chinese food at each meal which was nice. Also, Jack Li was great and helping organize our trip as he was quick to e-mail back a provide more details for us. I would definitely recommend this cruise!

From: Trip Advisor

October 25, 2017 by Nils M

"Yangtze River Cruise"

We booked the 3-night downstream cruise on the "Yangtze 2". While boarding in Chongquing was more than difficult (long, unsecured stairs without any help), we were happy with the cabin, the food and the boat itself. The days on board were meant to relax in between a 3-week round-trip through China, and this came true.

Of course the scenery left and right of the River are somewhat the same, but still very impressive (especially when reaching the gorges). I did not expect more from this cruise! The ship was clean and seemed well maintained. We were happy to have booked an executive cabin (special offer) because it has a reasonable size. The standard cabins must be rather small (1/3 smaller). Furthermore the meals are served separately, so max. 50 people attend the (really good) buffets, while the standard cabins share a 300-people restaurant/buffet. With drinks included in this offer, the additional money is well spent.

Booking through Yangtze-River-Cruises.com was uncomplicated and our contact Wendy was more than helpful. Whatever wish we had, she complied quickly.

After booking the cruise, we also booked other guides / trips with her (Xi'An, Guilin). Wendy was more than helpful and flexible by all means! Both local guides (Waldener in Xi'An and Smiley in Guilin) were fluent in English, competent and always very friendly. Combined with airport transfers, it turned out to be a perfect package.

I can fully recommend booking through Yangtze River Cruises (Chengdu Bamboo)

Which ship: Yangtze 2
From: Trip Advisor

October 23, 2017 by Siegbert M

"Bestes Schiff auf dem Yangtze, Beste Crew!"

Dear Mr. LI,

e confirm, that we were very happy with the trip, the suite is really very well maintained and perfectly decorated. All staff were very obliging, helpful and friendly.

We exhibit the highest marks to your company and will recommend you gladly.

Sincerely, Siegbert

From: Trip Advisor

October 21, 2017 by 17. Mary R, Madison, Wisconsin

"Victoria Grace"

From Yichang to Chongqing. A great experience. Wonderful service. We were the only Americans on this trip. Most of the 204 passengers were Chinese. The views from our private balcony were a good as you can get as we're the included excursions

Which ship: Victoria Grace
From: Trip Advisor

October 16, 2017 by Michael K

"Yangtze Cruise and individual tour to Zhangjiajie"

Conversation and booking with the agency was easy, flexible and supportive.

ruise has been as described.

Individual tour to Zhangjiajie has been great experience, with a very nice, talkative, helpful and flexible guide.

From: Trip Advisor

October 14, 2017 by nmilleruk, London

"Fantastic Yangstze River Cruise(downstream)"

I booked my cruise with Yangstze River Cruises (with Leo Li), who I highly recommend. They were able to get a wonderful and well-priced booking on the 'Yangtze Explorer', the smallest of the cruise ships. Leo also arranged all the other bookings throughout China and everything was perfectly thought out and executed - great guides and drivers and always on time! He even phoned to make sure that everything was ok!

Which ship: Yangtze Explorer
From: Trip Advisor

October 8, 2017 by TravelSabaddical, Los Angeles

"Century Cruise is the way to go!"

I don't think I can say enough about the customer service that we received through Century Cruises. Jack was our point of contact during booking, and he was very quick to respond and take care of all of our requests. This was my first cruise, and I found it very comfortable, luxurious, and enjoyable. I would highly recommend this cruise. We also greatly enjoyed passing through the locks of the Three Gorges Dam. Without a ride on a cruise ship, you won't be able to have that experience.

From: Trip Advisor

October 6, 2017 by Tim P, Stoke-on-Trent

"Eye opening scale."

I always new the Yangtze was big, but never realised just how big and the history of the dam and its consequences on the local area. It's now around 100 meters above its original level which flood numerous city's and towns for over 400 kilometres of river. You can see how important the river is to China's economy with sea fairing ships can now come so far inland to Chongqing enabling the city to continue and maintain its title if the most populated city in the world.

From: Trip Advisor

September 18, 2017 by Philip L

"4 day 3 night cruise on Yangtze River"

We had a very enjoyable cruise travelling with Yangtze River Cruise on the Victoria Grace. All the cruise staff were helpful and courteous, as we were the only 'English as first language' passengers we even had a table to ourselves! The other passengers were mainly Chinese apart from a tour group of about 25 Romanians. We were always provided with an English speaking tour guide on all our excursions.

Our cabin was very clean and more than adequate for such a short trip.

The ships crew put on a very good entertainment show each night apart from the first one. The buffet food was varied and plentiful.

We enjoyed sitting on the deck and looking at the scenery and seeing rural China. The excursions to various Chinese temples were well run although be warned there are lots of steps!!

The actual dam is most impressive and the whole cruise is worth doing for that alone!

Which ship: Victoria Grace
From: Trip Advisor

September 15, 2017 by PAC6017, Perth

"Soak up the history of the Yangtze on the Victoria Anna."

Arrived in Yichang this morning after a three day/three night cruise from Chongqing.

This review is on the vessel, crew and the board facilities - what a good trip.

The Victoria Anna was launched around 2008 and is basically a floatel. Rooms are smallish however are smallish with comfortable beds, the temperature was fine - there is a desk, reasonable sized bathroom - there is virtually no noise in the rooms, no more than air conditioning.

Food was adequate for each meal - a wide range of dishes for all tastes - people are seated at the same table each day which made making good friends easy.

Our final meal last night was a Chinese banquet with maybe 15 or 16 dishes to graze on. Our table of six enjoyed their choices as the dishes were presented.

On the second night crew members presented traditional dances from various minorities and a cabaret on the third (and final) night. Both were lots of fun.

Crew members in all areas are polite and helpful - the Dynasty Restaurant staff stood out particularly for three meals a day - most meals are buffet however tables are cleared promptly, coffee, tea and softdrinks with meals are topped up regularly.

There are side trips on offer as the boat meanders along the Yangtze, the river guide Andy gives a commentary (in Mandarin and English) covering the ages. Marion, the Cruise Director, is equally as capable with the history and provides English and German commentary.

My compliments to Captain Fan and his sailing crew - the ride is smooth and comfortable - on the first morning I woke up...and we were docked -- had no idea we had stopped.

I enjoyed my trip - participated in a activities that I wanted.. If you have the time why not plan a Yangtze trip - there are many cruises/vessels to suit all abilities, ages and budgets.

Which ship: Victoria Anna
From: Trip Advisor

September 13, 2017 by latraveller60, Los Angeles

"Do the Tour with Viking River Cruises"

I am an experienced Tour Manager and know a great tour when I am on one. Viking cruises does an exceptional job with this River Cruise. Tour leaders are knowledgeable, itinerary is exceptional , the ship and service was great and Viking attracts a very interesting group of people to travel with. You cannot go wrong with this one.

From: Trip Advisor

September 1, 2017 by Paul L, Abu, Dhabi

"Yangsti river cruise, amazing"

We did a four night cruise embarking at yichang and disembarking at chongqing. Pluses and minuses of the trip.

Minuses: we'd paid for a private transfer from the airport but as our plane was 6 hours late there was that lump in the throats moment when our driver was not in arrivals and didn't pick up the phone and the airport closed.. despite being in the presidential suite pretty astounded to be told we had to buy coffee for the room and water bottles above three and then cinema tickets... after paying nearly 3000 usd, not what we expected... there's a big push for the optional tours and the breakfast even in the royal dining room was ropey, I get the regimented roll calls and suchlike but having the curtains opened automatically at 6 am when we'd just arrived at 3 am we could have done without....

Pluses

Fabulous scenery, amazing included tours the dam tour was fantastic as was the temple tour and the views from the boat fantastic. Lunches and dinners were scrumptious so not sure why breakfast is a drab affair. Evening entertainment was great. Overall we really enjoyed the experience and would recommend to all, we did splash out on the presidential suite of which there are only two and basically you get half of the deck at the front of the boat, it's truly vast and you feel like royalty when there's something interesting to see at the front like going up the dam locks with everyone else crammed on the decks above and a massive double room suite, for us with a little Yangsti river cruise

We did a four night cruise embarking at yichang and disembarking at chongqing. Pluses and minuses of the trip

Minuses: we'd paid for a private transfer from the airport but as our plane was 6 hours late there was that lump in the throats moment when our driver was not in arrivals and didn't pick up the phone and the airport closed.. despite being in the presidential suite pretty astounded to be told we had to buy coffee for the room and water bottles above three and then cinema tickets... after paying nearly 3000 usd, not what we expected... there's a big push for the optional tours and the breakfast even in the royal dining room was ropey, I get the regimented roll calls and suchlike but having the curtains opened automatically at 6 am when we'd just arrived at 3 am we could have done without.... a couple of unwelcome visitors of the cockroach variety not great also

Pluses

Fabulous scenery, amazing included tours the dam tour was fantastic as was the temple tour and the views from the boat fantastic. Lunches and dinners were scrumptious so not sure why breakfast is a drab affair. Evening entertainment was great. Overall we really enjoyed the experience and would recommend to all, we did splash out on the presidential suite of which there are only two and basically you get half of the deck at the front of the boat, it's truly vast and you feel like royalty when there's something interesting to see at the front like going up the dam locks with everyone else crammed on the decks above and a massive double room suite, for us with a little guy who was sick one of the days, well worth the extra, the boat was president seven and Taylor and Tina deserve a special mention for their efforts who was sick one of the days, well worth the extra, the boat was president seven and Taylor and Tina deserve a special mention for their efforts

From: Trip Advisor

August 22, 2017 by hmku, Durham

"Trace the Ancient Chinese History Through Yangtze River Cruise"

My husband and I had been longing for the Yangtze Rive Cruise trip (from Chongqing to Yichang) and we truly enjoyed our experience this July with Century Paragon. Wendy Dan was a wonderful Chinese travel agent (service@yangtze-river-cruises.com) who not only answered our phone calls on her downtime (We did not know her working schedules), but also provided a great knowledge to help us to set up a trip that got most out of our very limited time there. She helped to arranged seamless transitions for all segments of the trip. Thinking back, there was no way we could do it on our own. The century Paragon Cruise staffs were also trying to make us as comfortable as possible on board. We were the few foreign guests, and we were very well taken care of everywhere we went. We had to get off the ship earlier due to another travel arrangement. Without hesitation, the staffs offered and carried our luggages to the shore and helped us make the land connection. We really enjoyed our cruise along the Yangtze River where we could trace the beauty of Chinese history and culture that is associated with the Chinese paintings we have seen.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

August 16, 2017 by AndersonGK, Wynyard

"Wonderful cruise on Century Paragon"

We have just finished what was a truly magnificent Yangtze River cruise on the Century Paragon from Yichang to Chongqing.

From the moment of boarding we were very well looked after and the staff could not have done more to be helpful in any way,

We chose the restaurant upgrade and ended with a lovely table for two by the window with a selection of magnificent Chinese and Western food options, all beautifully prepared. Every night there were a range of different regional specialities on offer,

Each night there was a performance by members of the crew that were enjoyed by all.

The excursions were well managed and we always had a English speaking guide. Many activities on the boat, such as Chinese medicine, tea ceremonies, and kite flying were offered. All were interesting and well explained. Some that we didn't get to sounded pretty neat too!

All of the crew that we came in contact with were wonderful and clearly take a lot of pride in running a magnificent river cruise ship!

Thanks for the wonderful memories!

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

August 11, 2017 by VDSAmer, London

"Very satisfactory experience"

We had a chauffeur-driven tour arranged by Lily Xu from the local tour company. We were very pleased with both drivers who drove us on three different days. They were both very communicative. They contacted us before our scheduled arrival and confirmed all details again just before via WeChat and texts. They volunteered information about the places we were going to without ever imposing on us. They were helpful with our luggage and sensitive to our children’s needs. We were completely satisfied with their service.

From: Trip Advisor

July 28, 2017 by Ger B, Netherlands

"Everything you need"

After you have gone through the formalities on embarking, the trip is very relaxing and worthwhile. As international travelers you are located at a table with other internationals, which in our case might even lead to friend for the coming years. If you buy the drinking package, the service is excellent. Although I can have a large amount of beer, i had to stop the servant bringing more.

The food on board was excellent.

From: Trip Advisor

July 16, 2017 by Bruce J, Sydney

"President 7 Cruise along Yangtze River"

The President 7 is a very good boat. Food was amazing and a good variety. Staff was very attentive. Plenty to do and see. I did feel like a sheep on the tours and there was a variety of shore guide ability in knowledge and English. However, overall very good.

Which ship: President 7
From: Trip Advisor

July 13, 2017 by Gillian G, Chester

"Yangtze River Cruise on MS Sanctuary Explorer"

This is a small, high-end cruise ship that has recently undergone a refurbishment and everywhere looked 100%. It takes approx 100 passengers and they are all Western as opposed to Chinese passengers. My understanding is that the passengers are exclusively Abercrombie and Kent customers. There were a number of Brits, some French but predominantly American passengers.

We joined the ship at Chongqing for 4 days/3 nights. Check-in was seamless and while we waited to check-in Teddy Garcia, the ship’s manager introduced himself and told us about the ship. Our suite was amazing, you’d never know you weren’t in a hotel. The cabin was really spacious, we had a really large bathroom and we had a balcony with outside seating.

Everything was included in the price we’d paid – all food, drinks (alcoholic and soft), all shore excursions (on which, we were always accompanied by an English speaking guide) and WiFi. There was even tea, coffee, snacks mid-afternoon if you could manage them. The outside seating area on the main deck had a few sunbeds and a few seats but not many. Bottled water was left in the cabin on a daily basis as was fresh fruit.

Housekeeping was excellent and the staff in general couldn’t do enough to please. Everything was done with great attention to detail.

We were independent travellers (just the two of us) therefore we had our own table for two in the dining room although we later teamed up with two people we’d met on the ship. Tour groups were seated at bigger tables.

The cruise was one of the highlights of our China tour. The Three Gorges (Qutang, Wu and Xiling) are dramatic and so worth seeing and as you approach the dam at the end of the cruise you get to see just how massive it is. The best view of the dam is as you sail down the river towards it. The shore excursion takes you to a photo point for the dam but you don’t see the sheer expanse of it like you do as you sail towards it.

Which ship: Yangtze Explorer
From: Trip Advisor

July 12, 2017 by pjroden

"Incredible Yangtze River"

This was a highlight of our 4 week China trip! We booked this in advance from the USA. Stephanie Kuang from China Discovery (based in Chengdu) was our travel advisor and was very helpful in booking the trip. Her communication was outstanding and everything on the trip was as she had communicated. The shore excursions that were included in the cruise were exceptional! We highly recommend the cruise as well as Stephanie's expertise.

From: Trip Advisor

July 10, 2017 by sen1947, Calcutta

"A great cruise on the Yangtze River"

The Cruise

Victoria Anna

Considering that the Victoria Anna is a river cruiser, it has excellent facilities. It has two restaurants. In deck 2 is the large Dynasty dining room for all the passengers except those in Deck 5 suites. On Deck 6 is the A la Carte Dining Room reserved for those travelling in suites or those who have paid an extra amount to access this restaurant. The name of the restaurant is misleading. There was no a la carte menu at least when I was travelling. All meals were buffets.

There are two elevators which go up to Deck 5. There is a flight of stairs to reach Deck 6 and the A la Carte Restaurant. There is a three-story atrium lobby – from Deck 2 to Deck 4. The reception is on Deck 2 while on the other two levels of the atrium are gilt shops. On Deck 5 is the Yangtze club – a fairly large lounge with bar and where all the lectures and performances are held. Next to the Yangtze club is the chamber of the ship doctor Dr Xu and adjacent to it the massage room. On deck 5 there are two games room mainly for Mah-jong. On deck 1 is the gym. All the cabins have private balconies and TV.

Registration and Cabin Upgrade

We landed at the fairly crowded Reception in Deck 2 as the passengers tried to check in. Soon my turn came and I found the Standard cabin in which I was booked was in the 2nd Deck. With my experience of earlier cruises, I knew I would not be able to see much and enjoy even less. I was offered an upgrade to the deck 4 Executive suite for USD 300.

The cabin was lovely with a drawing room that opened to a private balcony. There was a separate bedroom with a Kings Bed. Both the Drawing room and the bedroom had TVs. There was electric kettle and complimentary tea and coffee sachets. There were two Air conditioners one in the drawing room and the other in the bedroom. They were working very well and in fact I had to shut them off before retiring for the night.

The toilet was in the Western style and had a bathtub and shower. The upgrade cost seemed well worth it. I also paid 250 yuans to upgrade my dining options to the Deck 6 restaurant. It would be much less crowded and much less noisy.

Cruise Information

The German director of the Ship, Frau Marion introduced herself, the captain and the other important members of the staff. She gave excellent information on where the life jackets were kept in the cabins, where the laundry bags were located where and when to place the laundry bags for those wishing to use the onboard laundry service. She also mentioned that those who wished to do their own washing can use the toilet basin and dry them in the balcony. She also announced that the breakfast would be at 7 am, the buffet lunch at 12 noon and dinner at 7 pm.

Her clear crisp directions helped us throughout the cruise.

Breakfast

For breakfast I had to climb the stairs to reach Deck 6 where the buffet was being served. Table arrangements are posted at the entrance to the Dining Room. I was conducted to a large round table where I was alone. The breakfast buffet was fine.

Lecture on Chinese Medicine and Massage

I was suffering from some discomfort in the feet and so I attended a lecture on Chinese Medicine by the ship doctor Dr Xu which was interesting and gave a good insight to Chinese Medicine. In Beijing I had gone to the China Academy for Chinese Medical Sciences and had purchased some medicines prescribed by the doctor there.

Later I took a foot massage at the Massage centre on Deck 5, run by the doctor. It certainly gave considerable relief.

Lunch

Lunch was at 12 noon and when I came to my allotted table I found a couple and their 12 year sitting in the table. We soon picked up a conversation. They were originally from Uzbekistan and settled in Australia. I was lucky as I was planning to visit the country.

The food was plentiful and excellent. There was a Western and a Chinese spread.

In the afternoon at 3:15 pm there was a Welcome Reception by Captain Fang where appetizers and refreshments were served. Frau Marion was there to ensure everything went off like clockwork.

Offshore Excursions

The cruise offers four offshore excursions two of which are chargeable and the others free. The free excursions include a visit to the Red Pagoda of ShiBaoZhai and a visit to the Goddess stream in a smaller vessel.

Chinese Dynasties and Cabaret Shows

Each night after dinner there was a lovely show performed by the talented crew of the ship. The performers were introduced and the dresses and dance of the different Chinese dynasties lucidly explained.

On the last night we had the Captain’s farewell dinner and the director explained in details the departure procedure. The diner was quite lavish with Duck in Orange Sauce, and lovely Pineapple cake.

Departure Procedure

I had my luggage packed and left it outside my door as I wanted the ship to transfer the luggage to Yichan. Those who wanted to carry it themselves did not put their luggage outside the door.

After breakfast, on returning to the cabin, I found that my luggage had been taken away. I went to the Reception Area where we were divided into groups according to the language spoken. We were led by an English speaking guide down to Deck 1 and then easily transferred to a smaller vessel. Although smaller than the Anna it had all the facilities. There were shops in Deck 2 and on Deck 3 large sitting areas, cabins and an observation deck.

We then sailed to the Three Gorges Dam and disembarked at a wharf for onward journey by coach to the Three Gorges Museum and then to Yichan.

Which ship: Victoria Anna
From: Trip Advisor

July 10, 2017 by Gwladysddu, The Palm Beach

"Beautiful. Relaxing. Interesting Histor"

This was a great trip. I would love to go back and do more of the Yangtze River. There was so much to see and do. There were several side excursions off the cruise, but also much to do while one the cruise. The food was also very good. Loved everything.

From: Trip Advisor

July 4, 2017 by Garry, Darwin

"Beautiful cruise on board the Century Paragon"

We started the cruise in Chongqing and were greeted by friendly staff and they asked us if we would like to up grade to first class which I did. The cabin was larger than the others. It was well maintained and very clean same as the rest of the boat. The Cruise Manager (LEO) was very friendly and very helpful he mad sure that we had an English speaking guide on all of the shore excursions. I could not have asked for a better cruise and with very friendly and helpful staff. I would recommend this cruise and boat to any one who is thinking of doing the cruise. From Garry in Darwin Australia.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

June 11, 2017 by bsingh1952, Gandhinagar

"Yangtze River Cruise on President No, 7 Ship"

We took 3 nights cruise from Chongqing to Yichang on the ship named President No. 7.The ship is excellent. Its cabins are clean and well maintained. Cabin bathroom is also clean. It has 6 decks with good facilities. Restaurants provide good food. Service is excellent and the staff very helpful. River Guide Taylor took special care to ensure that we get vegetarian food, fruits and yogurt for lunch and dinner.

Shore excursions were organized very well including the visit to the Three Gorges Dam. The excellent ship and its efficient / helpful staff made our Yangtze river cruise a memorable experience.

Which ship: President No. 7
From: Trip Advisor

June 11, 2017 by echon2016

"Wonderful journey on Yangtze River"

I helped my dad and my sister's family to organise a trip to Yangtze River in May.

Thank you for Wing from the agent named 'Yangtze River Cruise (based in Chengdu). She was patient to answer all my questions, so we booked through her to arrange the cruise, car transfer and sightseeing, and she also recommended some nice restaurants in Wuhan and Chongqing for us. The trip was great fun and my family enjoyed it very much. Well done Wing!

From: Trip Advisor

June 8, 2017 by a member of TripAdvisor

"Yangtze river cruise"

It was our first time to experience to take a river cruise. We booked our 4 nites Yangtze River Cruise on President No. 7 through our tour consultant Mr. Wonder Wang. He was very accommodating and patient. He took time to answer all my inquiries. He also arranged all the transportation from Chongqing airport up to the end of our tour in Zhangjiajie. We have our own private driver and tour guide. They are all very helpful amd patient since we have 3 senior citizens aged 79 and 86 respectively. The cruise was fantastic and interesting. We had 4 deluxe cabin at deck 4. The rooms were very clean and spacious. When regards to the meals, they served asian and western foods in buffet style but the drinks served only one glass complimentary. Anyway, we visited a lot of places such as the Three Gorges Dam, Chongqing Zoo, Pagoda, White Emperor City, Bailong Elevator and the famous Avatar. We enjoyed a lot and we have plan by next year if we have an opportunity, we will visit China again.

Which ship: President No. 7
From: Trip Advisor

June 7, 2017 by cjcoulton, Cleveland

"Sanctuary Yangtze Explorer ship"

We booked this cruise through Vivian at Yangtze River Cruises. She was very helpful with all arrangements, including a driver from the Chongqing train station to the dock, and a tour on the way to the airport at the final port. The Sanctuary cruise is the best on the river. The size of the ship is smaller, and there is no problem with crowding. We had a deluxe cabin and it was quite spacious and comfortable. We were very glad that all dinners were served a la carte. There was no lining up for crowded buffets as happens on most ships. The chef provide excellent dishes, and the menu included quite a few good western and asian items. The cruise director was extremely knowledgable and provide excellent lectures on history and commentary on all that we were seeing. I think a cruise it the best way to get a sense of the history of this important region, learn about the cultures and populations and appreciate the engineering aspects of the dam.

Which ship: Yangtze Explorer
From: Trip Advisor

June 4, 2017 by Tom E, Orlando

A "Must Do" on any China itinerary"

There is no better way to experience the real China than on the Yangtze river...and no better way to do it than on the Sanctuary Yangtze Explorer! As a seasoned traveler and former Disney executive, the experience was similar to sailing on a 5 star cruise ship, except with better scenery. The accommodations were first rate, the food (both Chinese and Western offerings) was Zagat rated quality and the staff on board always ready to satisfy. Plus the experience of sailing on that part of the river that has been transformed impressively was unforgettable.

I would recommend it to anybody traveling to this amazing country.

Which ship: Yangtze Explorer
From: Trip Advisor

May 29, 2017 by TPLina, Dunedin

"Victoria Selina Yangtze River Cruise"

We boarded our cruise ship at Chongqing and cruised down the Yangtze river docking at Yichang 4 days later. We had a fantastic time. Housekeeping staff were wonderful & friendly. A few of the staff, particularly the women in the bar & dining room were not very friendly but the friendliness & helpfulness of all the other staff more than made up for that. Tom the river guide was great as was Dessy. Our boat was not full, we probably only had about 100 guests on the ship which was awesome! The selection of food was good and included some western options. We upgraded our dining option to the smaller & more private dining room on the 6th floor for an extra rmb168 per person. They had interesting excursions and optional extras. We didn't do the optional extra excursions and instead chose to stay aboard and attend the included lectures about chinese medicine etc and to just enjoy chilling out. My favourite excursion by far was when we transferred to smaller vessels and navigated the narrower parts of the river. We heard about old Wushan & listened to folk songs.

This was my first cruise and I found this to be a very enjoyable experience. We met some wonderful people on this cruise and highly recommend this cruise to others

Which ship: Victoria Selina
From: Trip Advisor

May 21, 2017 by Andy_C99, Singapore

"An enjoyable cruise upstream from Yichang to Chongqing"

I booked this tour through Yangtze-river-cruises (based in Chengdu) through the travel consultant Johnson Wang. He is very professional and responsive even when I changed my itinerary date and details at short notices. All in, he even arranged for me the short tours that I required for Yichang and Chongqing.

Regarding the cruise, the scenery was simply breathtaking along the way. I took the President Prime, and was allocated a room at level 3. The whole cruise was very smooth, and I didn't even felt the ship moving, except when berthing when she sounded her horn.

Generally, the service on the cruise is very good. We met a lady coordinator named Teng, and she was very helpful along the way. We had upgraded to the VIP dining room (cost RMB 300 per pax), which was truly worth it. You get a fixed seat at a fixed dining table, and all the meals were served buffet style, with free flow of beer and wine! There was a captain (or I thought he is) named Summer, who was also very courteous and kind, He is very pro-active in refilling the wine, and clearing empty plates.

One thing to look out for: during the welcome and farewell party performance, the performers are actually the service staff.

Which ship: President Prime 6
From: Trip Advisor

May 13, 2017 by SergioSequeira, St. Paulo

"Yangtze River Cruise"

We had wished for sometime to take a cruise on the Yangtze River, in China. We did it this past April. We booked our cruise and we were very happy with all the arrangements provided by Yangtze River Cruises. Our travel consultant, Mr. Wonder Wang, was very helpful throughout the whole process. As for the cruise itself, the ship, the Century Legend, had a very good stateroom (larger than regular cabins on sea cruises), the food was good and entertainment and the cruise stops were also very satisfying. We only wished the cruise was longer. Three nights is too little.

Which ship: Century Legend
From: Trip Advisor

MAy 9, 2017 by _sklee731, Auckland

"Yangtze River Cruise - Yichang to Chongqing"

We just got back from this cruise (24-28 Apr) booked thru' Wonder Wang. He provided us with excellent service right from the start of enquiry to booking to embarkation on the Century Sun. Everything went smoothly based on his advice and arrangements.

The cruise was great. It went well except for a minor hiccup with the dam tour which, I believed, the ship subcontracted to a local tour operator.

I highly recommend Wonder as the go-to agent, especially if you are not conversant in Chinese. Enjoy.

Which ship: Century Sun
From: Trip Advisor

April 27, 2017 by dcoach1190, Hatlepool

"Excellent cruise"

I took my partner on the Paragon for her special birthday in the presidential suite, an absolutely brilliant trip. The suite is amazing as well as Leo and Jimmy. Nothing was too much trouble for all the staff. I was taken ill as boarding and the doctor was 1st class in treating me. My partner and I were V.I.Ps in every respect, saving for the cruise was worth every penny and I would highly recommend a tour on the Yangtze River in this vessel. So a big thank you to all aboard the Paragon and all it has to offer.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

April 26, 2017 by Ruth A

"Extraordinary scenery, service and food"

We booked at the last minute, 2 days before we needed to travel to Chongxing and found the service of the company above and beyond what we expected. The boat crew, the booking reservations, the cooks, the service was all outstanding. I happened to mention I was MSG intolerant and a special large plate of different boiled vegetables was placed on my table as I sat down.

The Yangtze River is worthy of seeing. On a 4 mile an hour ship is the way to go. The shore trips and guides were superb. All around an amazing way to spend an Easter holiday.

From: Trip Advisor

April 26, 2017 by wilson852, Singapore

"Yangtze River Cruise- Century Paragon"

We took a 4-day downstream cruise from Chongqing to Yichang, and glad to have made the decision taking the Century Paragon. It was a very nice cruise ship, new, clean, well maintained, adequate shore excursions and most of all, the service standard of crew members and support staff. The dining experience was superb too, good food supply in terms of quantity and quality at the VIP dining restaurant. I highly recommend one to pay for this upgrade to dine at the VIP restaurant, it really worth!

Like in all operations, there were minor issues popped up but the crew members tried hard to resolve it. The most disappointing part was the last stop visiting the Dam project. The vessel wasn't able to pass through the ship lock due to control restriction imposed by the authority on maintenance ground; and that there were too many visitors visiting the dam together made it a very crowded situation. However, this is beyond control of the cruise company. As such, I'm still happy to grant a 5-star rating due to their exceptional customer service efforts.

Special thanks and commendations would go to the cruise manager Leo, who worked and tried hard to manage logistics well and at the same time entertaining passengers. The booking agent Stephanie Kuang who has been very helpful and efficient in managing our cruise as well as pre and post cruise tour arrangements well and in a professional manner. That made our cruise a seamless experience, well done!

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

April 26, 2017 by Carol Z, Palo Alto

"Relaxing and interesting cruise!"

A refreshing few days. Comfortable ship. Definitely get the $50 per person dining upgrade! The smaller dining room is on the 6th deck so the view is great. The service is excellent and so is the food. And that room is much quieter than the larger dining room. The rooms are small but comfortable. They were very clean. The beds were great! I really liked that we weren't nickle and dimed - everything was included except for a small gratuity (150 RMB/person, which is about $20 per person). The staff was very helpful and friendly and able to speak English fairly well. The tours were interesting, especially the one to the White Emperor City and the dam. On the last day, it was too windy for the boat to dock in the morning. The staff handled this unexpected problem very well. We had lunch on board and then were taken by bus to the dam tour (which was supposed to happen in the morning). Those with early travel connections couldn't go, but the rest of us did and it was quite worthwhile. Also we were met at the airport and taken back to the airport by a driver and guide. This was VERY helpful!!!

From: Trip Advisor

April 20, 2017 by Glenn B

"Yangtze river cruise"

We went on Victoria Jenna. This was organized by Wonder Wang and it was amazing, the Yangtze is not to be missed especially the goddess stream. Even my 8 year old loved it. The cruise itself wasn't as good as it should every little thing cost extra like extra water thats needed for drinking.

I wouldn't recommend travelling with young kids on this cruise as there isn't much to do.

I am highly recommending Wonder Wang because his always there to answer our phone call as we don't speak chinese, he helped us from Beijing to Yichang. we've traveled for 16 days all around China, one time we neede to stop for a quick bite in between our transport to one place to another so we called him so he can talk to our driver in Chinese.

Wonder speaks very good English and very professional and very reliable in terms of when the driver is picking you up etc.

Thanks again.

The Bigger Family

Which ship: Victoria Jenna
From: Trip Advisor

April 15, 2017 by RenShan, Melbourne

"Yangtze River Cruise - not a fancy Ocean Cruise, or European River Cruise, but a relaxing few days ..."

Cruises can be of variable quality - often defined by the crew, and we had a very relaxing few days on Victoria Jenna (April 2017). It was "shoulder season", so the ship was less than 1/3 capacity - actually passengers were outnumbered by staff! (So I guess I am saying it may be a different experience if the ship was full!) The ship made a real effort to make western visitors comfortable on essentially a Chinese-staffed ship, with bilingual announcements etc.. The included day trips were very well organised and again common language groups were formed and matched with appropriate tour guides.

Food was western-Chinese and quite good and plentiful. Breakfast was unfortunately early each day but that was the itinerary I guess. Additional tours were available but I thought they were over-priced, so didn't sign on... Internet was overpriced - and very intermittent signal in the Gorges - go figure! (But they don't tell you that when you pay your money...)

On boarding the staff tried to upgrade us to a "suite", at a price.... and to sell all-inclusive alcohol and "superior dining" package (which I resisted - cheapskate I am :))

There was also an RMB (CNY) 150 "pre-tip" per person payable - this was explicitly mention on the ticket, and I'm not exactly sure of purpose, but perhaps a tip for the crew?

The trip culminated in a tour of Three Gorges Complex and Museum and transfer to Yichang Bus transfer complex. Unfortunately the weather was foggy/drizzly - but the commentary said expect that 80% of time anyway! Due to weather we were NOT able to go through the ship elevator (and it seems most of the time at 8am in morning the ship elevator is always fogged in...It also seems that the tourist ships don't use the locks because the wait can be hours, days up to a week, so cant guarantee a passage)

What the on-board entertainment lacked in professionalism, it made up for in fun seeing your waiter / cabin steward on stage.

Be aware that ships often dock adjacent to other ships - so your balcony window can literally be two balcony widths (3 metres) from a neighbouring ship passenger's balcony window - so have a peak and consider what you are wearing before throwing the curtains back early in the morning (in all your glory)

Anyway, do your homework, make sure your ship has a high enough stars rating, caters for your language group, and bon voyage.

Which ship: Victoria Jenna
From: Trip Advisor

April 11, 2017 by PortolaValleyLMS, Portola Valley

"Very Positive Experience With Local Travel Agent"

It's impossible to find a travel agent remotely that you can trust. One always takes a chance. I took a chance with these folks. I selected Stephanie simply because I liked her photo and she looked diligent. I was right.

Stephanie helped me book my three day Yangtze Explorer cruise. It was almost double the price of the next best rated ship. It was very much worth it. Good food; nice cabins and attentive crew. The ship was clean and everything came about as promised. No problem. Note that there are lots of steps getting to and from the ship---that is a serious consideration for the elderly. No problem for me.

I had Stephanie arrange a one day tour of Chongquin. Colleen was the guide. Excellent tour and she was flexible. I wanted to try the local "hotpot" restaurant and she found one with a local feel. If you don't like spicy food, it can be ordered on the mild side. I also wanted to see a little of the "old China" and she accommodated my request. Good tour.

I also had Stephanie arrange a half day tour and delivery to the airport at Yichang. Again, no problems but not all that much to see in Yichang. I had an early dinner at the famous hanging restaurant which was terrific.

Bottom line: Stephanie gave me terrific service, answered my many emails promptly and did not lose patience with my questions and changes in plans. I like to travel independently and she helped me accomplish that task. Well done.

Which ship: Yangtze Explorer
From: Trip Advisor

April 10, 2017 by Rebecca_thebchhouse, Sydney

"A Wonderful Cultural Experience - you gotta do it... :-)"

Ms Wendy Dan from Yangtze river cruises arranged my tour on Cruise Ship 6. I could not get a better operator or better organisation to organise my flight & the bullet train from Beijing down to Shanghai then to Chongching and onto the Crusie ship. Thankfully for me, Wendy has great English and I really appreciated this along with her expeditious expertise - she is great.. :-)

The 5day/4nights tour was excellent. Accommodation was excellent - gorgeous big double-sized bed, room was cleaned daily, great view of the Yangtse from my balcony. Food was great - I stayed with the traditional Chinese food but western food was available if wanted. The actual tour was wonderful moving slowly down the Yangtse with set & optional tours each day - viewing Temples, Pagodas, wildlife, insights to traditional Chinese living along the Yangtse. The entire cruise was an absolute highlight of my trip to China... I would encourage anyone to do this.

From: Trip Advisor

March 20, 2017 by Jonathan I

"Excellent"

Yangtze River Cruises organised our holiday in China; it went like clockwork and was stress-free and very interesting.

We spent 3 nights on the Victoria Salina from Chongqing. Every tour, except perhaps the optional Ghost tour, was great. I would sit the Ghost tour out and rest if I was revisiting. The rest were interesting and worthwhile.

The crew on the boat were charming and attentive. The boat itself was clean, smooth and silent. The fashion show (included) was one of the highlights for us!

So great visit and well organised. A great way to see part of China.

From: Trip Advisor

February 12, 2017 by Kathy and Amir K

"A marvellous 5 day experience"

This was definitely one of the highlights of our holiday and we would thoroughly recommend it. We upgraded to a superior all inclusive cabin which was well worth the money. We had a very comfortable and spacious cabin, together with fine dining (and wining) in the lovely restaurant where we could watch the scenery while we sailed past it. The shore trips were very varied and interesting, ranging from a walk up a tributary to see the old way of life to the enormous dam. Most enjoyable and would highly recommend.

From: Trip Advisor

December 2, 2016 by Ruben C, Florida

“Absolutely Amazing!”

One of our best experiences in China was our 4 day cruise up the Yangtze river. The boats and cabins are really very nice albeit a bit "used". It's not Royal Caribbean, Disney or Carnival quality. But they clean, comfortable and functional. The ship's staff works very hard to make all of their guests very comfortable. Everyone remembers your name and is friendly and accommodating.

Fabulous views, amazing landscapes and terrific stops along the way. The ship's crew puts on some impressive cultural shows as well. Really, really enjoyed this cruise. Our boat departed from Yichang and ended in Chongqing.

The only advise I would give Americans is this. Watch out for the older Chinese tourist. The older Chinese are very pushy people with no concept of "personal space". (Not so the younger people-who's manners are much more "westernized").

The older folks have no qualms WHATSOEVER about pushing their way into the buffet line. Or squeezing their plates full of food up against your back. Waiting in line is something their generation is not used too. It is best to wait for the Chinese tour groups to clear the lines before fetching your own meal.

As I said the younger Chinese have a more Western concept of personal space and table manners. But hey, It's all part of the travel experience! Enjoy it!

From: Trip Advisor

November 27, 2016 by robdoct

“Yangtze Gold No. 2 River Cruise”

Two travellers on the Yangtze Gold No. 2 Cruise ship from Chongqing to Yichang. This cruise exceeded our expectations. There were only 4 English-speaking people on board with 2 English-speaking River Guides (Vincent and Elissa). We were always well-looked after with Elissa always being available and helping us out. All of the excursions had local guides who were bilingual and spoke English very well. The facilities on the Boat were quite good, but the rooms are a bit dated. The bathrooms could use an upgrade.

Which ship: Gold 2
From: Trip Advisor

November 21, 2016 by lec863844, Thailand

“Excellent China Travel Agent”

Just came back from the Yangzi River cruise arrange by a China travel agent, Vivien Li of China Discovery based in Chengdu. I have traveled all over the world, been many cruises, and at least 50 trips to China. When chose this agent from the web and through her assistance making a series of arrangements : the cruise, land transfers and theatre tickets. Not only from the beginning of contact but even by the time arrived at the Chongqing airport, I had been worrying of my decision of relying on the agent, since I know China too well and have less trust on many things..

My trip experience proved that I was wrong. All the promises and arrangements by Vivien had been delivered beyond my expectations. Whenever I had a question and contacted her, she took care of it promptly and professionally to give me a great peace of mind. No doubt, Vivien Li is an attentive professional agent in China. I greatly appreciate her services and will recommend her to anyone who is planning a trip to China. For certain, I will commission her for my next trip to China. She is based in Chengdu, though, it is very convenient to communicate by emails and phone calls.

Thank you, Vivien Li !

November 18, 2016 by Malkie 1000

“Yangtze River Cruises - agent”

Stephanie was very helpful arranging our river cruise. Deposit and balance paid with no fuss even from abroad. She coped with a change to the booking with no fuss or extra cost. She kept in touch regularly and provided details of the departing pier prior to departure. Most impressed. This review is for the agent only..

The cruise itself was pleasant and there was plenty to do on the daily excursions. We travelled on the Yangtze 2, which was probably one of the better boats. The room was very well appointed as we had upgraded, but the entertainment facilities were probably not as opulent as you might expect on a sea cruise. The food was very similar day by day, buffet style. 3 days was sufficient.

Which ship: Yangtze 2
From: Trip Advisor

November 15, 2016 by Guenther57, Australia

“Perfect stay, perfect organization”

From discovering Yangtze River Cruise on the Internet to the cruise itself, everything was just perfect. Stephanie answered my e-mails in shortest time possible. She even booked the following flight from Yichang to XiAn. Her documentations were specific and very helpful. The cruise on Century Paragon was a dream. Sunny & blue sky, staff on the boat very helpful and friendly, room perfectly clean, all together a great atmosphere.Next time in China I will come back to their service and I can joyfully recommend this company to anyone from abroad.

From: Trip Advisor

November 14, 2016 by GrannieE, Norfolk

“Thank you Jack (Yangtze River Cruises)”

Hi Jack,.

I'm sorry I have not written before to thank you for arranging the cruise. It was so good of you to contact us in Shanghai to say the plans had changed and we got the bus OK to Nanjing. We had a wonderful time and we're really pleased to have booked the suite room as it was very comfortable for our stay on board the Victoria Sophia. We had some really enjoyable trips too, and I enjoyed the walking along the Yangtze very much.

Thank you Jack. I will keep your contact details because perhaps you can help with another China trip next year.

Yours gratefully, Ellie

PS The staff on board were wonderful. Also the food. I always chose from the Chinese selection. which was yummy, although there was a good selection of Western food too.

From: Trip Advisor

November 8, 2016 by Tycon, Brisbane

“A wonderful experience”

We did a 3 day cruise from Chongquing to Yichang aboard the Century Paragon which is one of the newer boats of the Yangtze cruise fleet. A junior suite cabin was chosen and I must report that the whole experience was satisfying. All ship services were professional and worthy of praise. Prospective travelers should go online and look carefully at the ships available as some are very old.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

September 14, 2016 by Warren N Pushpa 13

“On Yangtze Gold 3 cruise”

Everything went smoothly for us and main highlight was the trip down the Yangtze River. We were expecting a laid back relaxing time on Yangtze Gold 3, but it was far from it.

Plenty of entertainment, and we took part in all the included shore excursions. In spite of the more than adequate buffet style meals I actually shed some weight in spite of my voracious appetite, due to the more than usual exercise.

The ride on the Bullet train from Yichang to Beijing was literally a blast. What an experience that was! I could quite easily repeat this trip but more likely visit other attractions as China has so much to offer.

To Bertina Li, I wish to thank you dearly for all the assistance you gave us on this trip. My only regret was that I never went to Chengdu to thank you personally. Perhaps next time!.

Which ship: Victoria Lianna
From: Trip Advisor

September 13, 2016 by JennyWish

Fabulous Cruise up the Yangtze River aboard Century Legend

We made our reservation on Victoria Lianna from New Zealand. From the time Johnson Wang arranged our itinerary, including flights, railway tickets, and having guides to meet and transport us, it exceeded our expectations. All guides spoke good english, were courteous and informative. The cruise was fabulous, and once again all staff were great. We have no hesitation in recommending Johnson Wang for any travel arrangements you may require.

Which ship: Victoria Lianna
From: Trip Advisor

September 12, 2016 by Mb 19572014, Australia

“Yangtze Cruising perfect for seeing a slice of China”

We booked the longer 7 day trip from ChongQuing to Shanghai aboard the Victoria Sophia and the booking process over the internet was fast and efficient. The accomodation (recommend upgrade to Junior Suite) was great, the mix of shore excursions everyday went to fantastic and varied places and the food was a wonderful mix of both Western and Asian cuisine.

The staff made the cruise something special with most having a good command of English and help always near at hand.

From booking to disembarkation everything went smoothly and it was a hassle free way to holiday in China.

Which ship: Victoria Sophia
From: Trip Advisor

September 10, 2016 by Andre M

“Yangtze River cruise is an experience that should not be missed”

We have made our cruise reservation on President 7 from Spain with the help of Mister Wonder Wang who was helpful, resolute and very professional in everything he has done for us, including train reservations to Chongqing and from Yichang to Hangzhou. He set the tone for all the positive experiences that followed and we would like to thank him for that. The food on board was very reasonable, the personnel friendly and after having taken more than a dozen other cruises for the first time we have been able to stretch our legs in a cabin of decent size at a decent price. We had the impression of being in a floating hotel. In spite of a few drops of rain and some fog covering the mountain peaks at the first two gorges we found the scenery to be enchanting especially at the last gorge just ahead of Yichang. All in all it was a trip well worth doing. We'll be looking forward to our next trip to Tibet in the future engaging the professional services of Mister Wang.

Which ship: President 7
From: Trip Advisor

September 7, 2016 by BenjaminGina

“An excellent river cruise experience”

We have been wanting to experience a Yangtze river cruise for some time now, and were unsure of which company to deal with. After doing some on line research and reading many review we choose this company to do our booking. I cannot express how please we were with the entire experience. From the first moment of contact, they were extremely helpful and answered every question. Our tour agent, Johnson Wang remained available continuously and took care of every detail in regards to our trip. He choose which ship for us to take, organized our return transportation and an english guide. He assured us that we would be please with the service and attention on board and he was correct. They left no detail unnoticed. Would highly recommend this person and this company for an enjoyable cruise.

From: Trip Advisor

August 16, 2016 by SouthBaySurfer, China

Century Paragon - 5 Star Experience

Boy what a decade has done to cruising the Yangtze river. We had the great pleasure of taking the Century Paragon down the river from Chongqing to Yichang. Spectacular views going through the 3 gorges. I think spending a little extra on this newer boat was well worth it.

Highly recommend foreign tourists to upgrade the meal package to the VIP floor. You will have privacy at your own table and a much better menu. I think the breakfast and lunch were above average. However the dinner is spectacular. Exceeded my expectations. Especially on the last night.

The staff on the cruise were fabulous. Leo was a fun cruise director. The ship is huge with pool, cinema, open deck on top, massive bar/stage area, massage rooms, etc. It has everything you need. The tours were fun but not spectacular. Of course this is from my biased viewpoint as I got to see the 3 Gorges when the river was much lower before the Dam was finished.

Also if money is no object upgrading to an executive room is advantageous. On our cruise this area was not crowded. It has a private lounge with small snacks and beverages. Usually the package comes with a free bottle of wine, free movies, free wifi, etc. Don’t expect wifi to work very well due to being on a river with gorges.

Loved this cruise and will do it again in another decade!

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

August 9, 2016 by David M, Georgia

Fantastic Cruise through Beautiful Landscapes

In the middle of a more bare-bones trip through China, my companions and I had the great pleasure of traveling for four days from Chongqing to Yichang on the Gold 5 cruise ship. The crew and staff met our every need wonderfully, the shore excursions were fascinating and so well done by the local guides, and simply watching the ever varying river slip past was delightful. The Three Gorges themselves are still an amazing sight to see, and the great dam was amazing.

I had two strict vegetarians in my group, and the kitchen staff were thoughtful and creative, giving them special plates that were the envy of the table. That said, the main offerings with highly varied and delicious every time.

I did all of the offered excursions, and I recommend them to everyone. Don't miss Fengdu or White Emperor City!

Which ship: Gold 5
From: Trip Advisor

August 3, 2016 by Genrejournal, California

Very Nice Cruise

I highly recommend China Discovery and the agent Stephanie Kuang. Stephanie was our cruise representative. She was soooooo efficient, professional, kind, and punctual. Every time I sent a query, she responded immediately with a solution. Every time I had a question, Stephanie was there for me. I am sure that her help and support contributed to making this cruise an excellent experience for my husband and myself!!!

From: Trip Advisor

July 26, 2016 by Stuart C, Australia

Victoria Grace, a delightful trip on the Yangtze

In July 2016 we returned to the Yangtze River for a cruise on Victoria Grace. We travelled from Yichang to Chongqing, the reverse direction from our previous visit. This meant we went through the Three Gorges Dam in the evening. We are glad we did as it was a very interesting experience. As in our previous cruise the crew of Victoria Grace were exemplary. They did their tasks well and made our trip most enjoyable. We thoroughly enjoyed their performances in the evenings. The food was very good, there was a good selection. The side trips gave us an understanding and awareness of the local ethnic cultures. Once again I must thank Wendy Dan, who provided excellent support in booking and pre cruise information. It was a delight to meet her and the rest of the team in Chengdu. I can thoroughly recommend Victoria Cruises.

Which ship: Victoria Grace
From: Trip Advisor

July 25, 2016 by Talek N, New York

Best cruise I have ever taken

We travelled on the President from Yichang to Chongqing. First we worked with Cathy, the travel consultant. Cathy's assistance was invaluable and definitely the deciding factor on whether to take the cruise. Her communication was timely - consistently within 24 hours! All our questions were answered efficiently, completely, accurately, professionally and courteously. In fact, Cathy even went above and beyond suggesting alternatives that more closely met our needs. She was truly a pleasure to work with.

The ship itself is fine; clean rooms with international TV, air-con, minibar and all necessary amenities. All rooms have balconies which is very nice to sit outside and watch the river go by. The food was tasty and plentiful. I was happy to see that they had a limited choice of Western food and instead focused on a wide and interesting selection of delicious Chinese cuisine. The staff on the ship could not have been more attentive and friendly. We were offered an upgrade to a beautiful and spacious suite when we boarded but we declined. Our standard room was just fine.

In the evenings the staff put on a show which was cute. Many of them were very talented. After the show there was dancing.

The cruise offers one shore excursion per day included in the cost and one shore excursion that is extra. We just took the included ones which were also fine. Other passengers that took the extra cost excursions were very pleased. A highlight was the locks at the Three Gorges Dam. Its one of those things you have to see one in your life. It is a true marvel of engineering. The Three Gorges area is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen; majestic mountains, dense foliage and beautiful tributaries.

About 90% of the passengers were Chinese. The remaining 10% were Westerners. They sat us at the Western table which was fine but I would have liked to mingle with the Chinese at least for a couple of meals just for the experience even though I don't speak Chinese.

They only thing that slightly annoyed me- and this was not even a big deal- is that you are only allowed one included drink with the meal; beer, wine, soft-drink. Otherwise you have to pay extra. And the extra is somewhat pricey. Also they don't allow you to bring your own liquor to the dining area. That's pretty standard on any cruise, however. At least it kept me from putting on some extra pounds!

The massages were great and very reasonably priced. I was really surprised to be able to get an appointment whenever I wanted. You have to try the foot massage as well.

Overall the cruise delivered on everything they promised. I strongly recommend it. Purchase with confidence. You will not be disappointed.

From: Trip Advisor

July 19, 2016 by All4it, Australia

Enjoyable 3 night Yangtze cruise on Victoria Anna

We really enjoyed our 3 night Yangtze Cruise on Victoria Anna. The boat was great – not too crowded and the room (no upgrade) was clean and comfortable with nice big glass doors to see the views. The included activities were fun, and we also enjoyed going ashore on our own when we could despite being told in the daily notes that we couldn’t! We enjoyed meeting the other guests seated at our table, and the food was plentiful and pleasant. We were lucky with the weather – although it was quite hot, it didn’t actually rain during our trip. It was great being able to sit out on the covered deck in front of the Yangtze Club and watch the passage through the gorges with a nice breeze blowing to keep us cool.

Booking the cruise through Yangtze Cruises was easy and they kept in touch until we left for China. We followed their notes on getting our own taxis to and from the ship and had no trouble - much cheaper than pre-arranged transfers. We stayed the night before at David's Deer Hotel in Chongquing - a really lovely boutique hotel on the 7th floor of a building in a quiet side street near a Metro station.

We would definitely recommend a cruise on Victoria Anna to our friends and family - great value for money.

Which ship: Victoria Anna
From: Trip Advisor

July 15, 2016 by BilllnSanDiego, California

Great cruise and even better travel agency

This TripAdvisor topic discusses a number of different things: 1) Cruise ships on the Yangtze River, 2) Tours in the area of Chongqing, 3) various travel agencies such as Yangtze-River-Cruises and China Discovery. In addition, the TripAdvisor title of this topic changed sometime in the last few weeks to (probably properly) narrow the focus to cruise ships.

However, because I can't find a place to rate local travel agencies, I'm going to review two things:

1) Our cruise on the Yangtze River, and

2) The Yangtze-River-Cruises travel agency (because they still point to this topic from their website)

The Cruise:

We did the 3-day, downriver cruise from Chonqing. We looked at the various online ship descriptions and reviews here and settled on the Century Legend. Maybe our expectations were low, but the ship exceeded them nicely. It felt shiny and new all over and the staff was excellent.

We booked a month early and got a free "upgrade" to the third level. I don't really have any idea about what the "lesser" levels were like, but our room was large, the bathroom and shower were very good and we had a nice balcony.

All of the included outings went smoothly. I especially enjoyed the Goddess River. It was pretty rainy at the dam but we still got a good sense of the scale of the project (the movie about the dam at the beginning of the cruise is well worth seeing).

Most of the passengers were Chinese, with about a dozen westerners. The food was very good; mostly Chinese with plenty of options for western-only tastes. We paid a small fee to upgrade to the fifth-level dining room. It had the same food as the main dining room, but was much less crowded, more quiet and provided very attentive service.

The Yangtze-River-Cruises travel agency:

When requesting information about the Yangtze cruise from an online site I apparently got connected to the Yangtze-River-Cruises travel agency. Somewhere along the line I indicated that we were visiting Xian and Beijing after the cruise. Immediately a young man named Wonder offered to set up a tour that would take us along our desired route and hit all of the top tourist destinations. A planned tour wasn't really what we had in mind, but I accepted his offer.

Wonder soon sent back an itinerary with planes, trains, hotels, drivers, guides and attractions. The total cost included all of these items, plus breakfast, lunch, and entry tickets to the attractions. The cost seemed reasonable and although the hotels were not luxury, but they looked good enough.

We went back and forth with Wonder via email for a couple of weeks, asking about options and modifications. He patiently answered all of our questions and showed detailed cost variations for each.

We settled on an itinerary and were ready to pay. I was quite leery about sending a pile of money to China, partly because I wasn't even sure how I got to Wonder in the first place. I checked all of the reviews here (it's a little hard to filter out the agency reviews because this topic is a bit of a mishmash) and they were all overwhelmingly positive (which also was pretty suspicious -- but we checked many of the reviewers other reviews and they all looked legit). So I clicked the PayPal button and hoped for the best.

Everything worked perfectly! The hotels were very nice. The meals were good and crossed a large range of class and type; we loved the varied lunch experiences.

The guides were particularly amazing.(There was always also a separate driver.) In Xian our guide was Lucia. She was very knowledgeable, spoke good English (with an adorable Australian accent), and worked tirelessly to ensure we had the very best time in Xian. In Beijing our guide was Marc. Again, very knowledgeable and good speaker of English. We hit all the highlights very efficiently with Marc providing history all along the way. (If you're doing this same circuit, which many are, I would suggest skipping the Ming Tombs near the Great Wall.)

In the middle of our trip, two family members asked if they could join us for a few days. I emailed Wonder with the request and he quickly got additional hotel rooms, train tickets, rearranged our itinerary for their schedule, and got larger cars where necessary. He and his agency could not have been more helpful.

I very highly recommend Wonder at Yangtze-River-Cruises.

Final random recommendations:

1) Although it was easy to pay with PayPal from the US, as with many things Internet in China, PayPal didn't work once we were in China (so I had difficulty paying for the mid-tour changes). I would recommend having someone at home with access to your PayPal account to handle emergency payments while you're in China (or figure out how to set up a VPN back to home).

2) Get a WeChat account. Everyone in China uses WeChat to text and make voice and video calls. It was a great way to communicate with guides in the off hours.

Which ship: Century Lengend
From: Trip Advisor

July 14, 2016 by V1068PSsue, Michigan

Chongqing City Tour

I had a free day on a business trip to Chongqing, and signed up for a city tour. Visited Ciqakou, Ellington Park, and the Three Gorges museum. Really enjoyed the museum. Also spontaneously visited another museum near our lunch stop. It was in an old Huguang opera guild house. This was a great addition.

The tour guide was great. He left a message with the hotel the night before with a pickup time so when I checked in late Saturday night, I knew the plan for Sunday morning. The guide spoke excellent English and was an easy-going guy, making for a relaxing, enjoyable tour.

From: Trip Advisor

June 22, 2016 by Tinihippe, China

Yangtze River Cruise - really nice

We did the tour with China Discovery (based in Chengdu). Cathy's service was excellent. All mails were answered within some hours. The ship was really great, we took the Victoria Cruise. The cabins are good, the food and service also. The landscape was amazing. We enjoyed our trip.

From: Trip Advisor

June 21, 2016 by Jan3182, Australia

Fabulous Cruise up the Yangtze River aboard Century Legend

Cruise arranged by our agent Wonder at Yangtze River Cruise was fabulous, he provided extremely efficient and professional service and went over and above expectations including purchasing rail tickets and arranging delivery to our hotel. When booking on line confidence, reliability and integrity is what you want and Wonder certainly exceeded our expectations and made the process so easy.

TThis cruise should be on everyone's bucket list, Century Paragon is fabulous, delux cabin as good as 5 star ocean cruise lines, with plenty of variety of western food and salads...the staff delightful and extremely helpful. Couldn't recommend highly enough, and will definitely use when next we visit China.

Which ship: Century Legend
From: Trip Advisor

June 18, 2016 by Bn1_Jon

We did the 4 nights from Chonqing to Yichang. Such a great experience. We upgraded the cabin and dinner serviceon arrival and well worth it. The tour guide, Leo! Was fantastic. Great booking experience with Wonder at Yangtze River Cruises. Took all the stress out of the arrangements. Would recommend this cruise and boat.

From: Trip Advisor

June 17, 2016 by Karlkoh, Singapore

Centry Sun Cruise

We were on 3 nights cruise from Chongqing to Yichang. The cruise staff were warm and caring. The cruise manager Steven were very personalised with the guest. He remembered the guest names and needs. There were 300 guest on this cruise, but we did feel the crowd.

The cabin was clean with a balcony. There was a good spread of chinese and western food for our 3 meals.

It was really relaxing viewing the beautiful gorges on the cruise. Its was an eye opening experience going through the ship locks. Our cruise ship had to pass through 5 ship locks which we could view from cabin balcony. To go through each ship lock, we could see the water lowered up to 3m and yet not feel any movement from the ship. It was an amazing experience.

Truly enjoyed this cruise with century sun.

Which ship: Century Sun
From: Trip Advisor

June 16, 2016 by Gsmith221, Michigan

M.S. Yangtze Explorer 4 Day Cruise

We took a 4 day cruise on the Yangtze Explorer and the experience was phenomenal from start to finish. We selected this ship based on the small number of passengers, the staff to guest ratio, and the description of the food (Western and Chinese). We were not disappointed in any area, in fact all elements of the cruise - service, cuisine, excursions, the room, cleanliness, activities, the scenery (!) - more than exceeded our expectations.

When we boarded we were asked if we would like to see the Celestial Suite as it was open. We paid for an upgrade and it was money well spent! We had a huge private sun deck and the whole experience on board was like being on a private yacht. It would be impossible to overrate the ship and crew, they made our cruise an experience of a lifetime.

If there's one thing I want to get across, it's that an upgrade to the Celestial Suite made this cruise more than a sightseeing tour. Standing or lying at the front of the ship on our own large private deck whilst sailing by incredible scenery was an experience not easily put into words.

Which ship: Yangtze Explore
From: Trip Advisor

June 14, 2016 by AustraliaHoildayer

We spent 4 nights on the river with this boat and it was a wonderful part of our trip. The boat was very comfortable, with great food and staff. The excursions were very interesting too but just sitting on the boat watching the scenery go by was also great too. A peaceful interlude in a busy holiday.

From: Trip Advisor

June 10, 2016 by Orange Park, Florida

I was really looking forward to this part of the trip and it did not disappoint. We toured with Sinorama Tours and were on the Gold #8 ship which had about 300 passengers and 200 crew members. The ship was older but very clean and it was still lovely. The rooms were a nice size with a surprising nice size shower area and balcony so we were able to view the beautiful scenery on the outside (when it wasn't hazy). One real negative for us and a lot of the other passengers were the beds. They were like boards and we started having back issues the next day. The crew members were all very friendly and spoke some English. The food was surprisingly good and had quite a variety from Chinese to Western food, although the desserts all tasted the same but looked different. They provided you with two bottles per day for two people. After you came back from you excursion, they always had cold or hot towels and hot tea. Gym area was nothing to speak of - a bike and a treadmill. The spa services are excellent and a MUST!! Get their 70 minute package which includes a massage, reflexology, scraping, hot stones - well worth it. Entertainment could have been better but by the time we had dinner, we were exhausted from the day and went to bed.

Besides the Three Gorges Dam site,we visited the Water Village (Tribe of the Three Gorges which was my favorite) which they say it is the most beautiful and scenic spot in the Xiling Gorge. We went to the Red Pagoda Temple which is a 500 yr. old cliff pagoda. It was quite interesting but there is a lot of walking involved. Wear comfortable shoes and bring your money because there are a lot of vendors and they are very aggressive. We did find that this area is the best to shop in China with lots of variety. As you go towards Shanghai, the prices get higher and higher. We didn't know this until it was too late. We waited to buy towards the end of our trip but everything got more expensive - so a word of advice, don't wait to buy, when you see it, buy it - prices don't get lower. The climb to the Red Pagoda is quite steep so be careful and you will also go through a draw bridge. During this cruise we also passed through the five-step shiplocks which was awesome to see.

We had a mixed batch of travelers from Americans, Canadians, Chinese, etc. The weather was on the cool side even in May. It was a fantastic experience and I highly recommend it. When in China, include the Yangtze River Cruise!! You won't be sorry.

Which ship: Gold 8
From: Trip Advisor

June 4, 2016 by Srinivasan l

We sailed the Victoria Anna, from Chongqing to Yichang on 17 May. We were celebrating our 30th Wedding anniversary. Along with us was our uncle from NJ. Being our first holiday in China & taking the cruise we were quite excited and also looking fwd to a few challenges, , we were all vegetarians. Bertina Li helped me from the beginning with the bookings, replying promptly to all our queries, and most importantly taking care of our specific needs.

Victoria Anna is a fairly good vessel, and the crew really took good care of us. We had mentioned to the crew that we are vegetarians and they ensured that we had a good veggy selection at each meal. The entertainment on board was also very cheerful and every act was graceful.

Before disembark we had asked them to book a cab to the airport which they promptly did.

Which ship: Victoria Anna
From: Trip Advisor

June 3, 2016 by Merrlands, Australia

We took the 8 night cruise from Shanghai on the Victoria Cruise ship Sophia. The cabin was very clean and comfortable. The crew were very happy and talkative at all times. The staff in the Executive lounge/dining room were very nice and always willing to assist.

The shore excursions were very informative and included considerable step climbing.

On board activities were nothing like an ocean cruise but were in tune with the type of cruise taken.

The night shows were provided by the crew in cultural costumes and included lion dance and fan dance.

Overall a very different type of cruise but very relaxing and enjoyable. The scenery was magnificent and the amount of shipping on the Yangzte was something I wasn't aware of before going.

Which ship: Victoria Anna
From: Trip Advisor

June 2, 2016 by beverh2

I found Olivia on Yangtze River Cruises in Chengdu on the internet and she did a spectacular job customizing the tour to our needs & time frame-with one week's notice! We were met In Beijing and from then on were taken care of every place we went. No worries about getting to and from anywhere. Hotels ,tours, Plane fare Bullet train fare and Yangtze Cruise 4 days 3 nights. and Li River in Guillin breakfast& lunch every day & some dinners as well. The 2 of us had Guide and driver everywhere. They were all fluent in English -all university Grads Great companions as well! We learned so much about each place we visited .I have traveled around the world as an airline employee and I recognize good service. This was superb.

From: Trip Advisor

June 2, 2016 by Montpellier, France

Very interesting experience on this amazing river. The boat crew is very helpful and kind and excursions interesting. Very good organisation. Yangtze river Cruise agency is a very good agency. They are always care about us before, during and after the trip.

From: Trip Advisor

May 22, 2016 by Vishalshirsal, China

Our family's first cruise experience was as exciting as it was smooth and perfectly arranged. Our family is very happy about having this cruise and we are thankful to Jack and his company for arranging this to perfection, especially when there was a change in plan for the cruise pier in Chongqing, the guide in Chongqing, David, handled this perfectly and coordinated very well with the cruise people. The pricing of the tour was also perfect and there were no hidden aspects in the pricing so in the end, there were no surprises. The food, the atmosphere, the staff, and the evening shows, everything was really great.

Which ship: Century Lengend
From: Trip Advisor

May 21, 2016 by sallyrobinson, Australia

Did a 4 night cruise with Victoria cruises as part of an organised tour. The ship was clean and had sufficient comforts in the standard class. The included tours were worthwhile but I only did one optional tour. There are often a lot of steps to negotiate on shore tours because the river has a lot of gorges. You need to be fit to travel and we had already had some demanding days in Beijing and Xi'an. The food on the boat was plentiful and varied though largely Chinese.

The three gorges dam was an amazing sight. We went through the locks in late afternoon so it was nighttime when we came out of them. The river changes as you go along, and since the impact of the dam is still fairly recent overall, it is hard to imagine what it was like before the dam displaced over a million people. The number of sky scrapers built and the changes in some of the cities seems to have been enormous.

Well worthwhile doing, including getting some travel rest time!

From: Trip Advisor

May 19, 2016 by Oxyo35

Y wanted to write a small word after this cruise,

We DID have a very good time during this cruise...

For real, I read guides before our departure, and some talked about low level boats, And I was a little afraid about what we will find.

I worried for nothing:

Fine boat

Fine crew,

Good food,

Comfortable cabin, and even good fellows at our table (most luck than Yangtze river cruise, but it helps ;-) )

and another thing is how all was planed before, regular mails to inform us, booking office answering all questions in a very short time,

I highly recommand..

From: Trip Advisor

May 13, 2016 by Luk W, Rockvegas

Aboard the Yangtze 2 for a 3 day cruise from Chongqing to Yichang. Upgraded to a suite for half price (750RMB instead of 1500) but then found out that they upgraded 6 French tourists for free! Still I'm not disappointed as the suite rooms are like large hotel rooms and the standard rooms are too tiny to spend 3 says in.

The food is very good, the price of the booze excessive but if you are smart you bring your own on board (there is a fridge in the room).

The cruise directors will try to up sell tours etc but don't seem disappointed when you don't take them up. Overall a wonderfully relaxing and fabulous experience that shouldn't be missed in China

From: Trip Advisor

May 13, 2016 by Matitn, Finland

Me and wife had 8 nigh upstream Yangtze cruise from Shanghai to Chongqing as part of our China trip in April 2016. We were lucky to select yangtze-river-cruises.com as travel agency and got Miss June Yang to take care of our reservation. She was extremely helpful giving advice and even doing some English-Chinese translations for our special needs. Mails were replied immediately and after reservation she kept us all time aware of changes in cruise details.

Our ship was Victoria Sophia, we indeed enjoyed every minute of cruise. Meals were excellent, many kinds of salads and hot dishes to select from buffet or sometimes dinner was served to tables. Really no need to take own food to Victoria Cruises :).

Nearly every day were shore excursions guided also in English, Cruise is easy way to see best places within Yangtze, would be nearly impossible to organize own trip and see so much. Before our trip I read that it is mindless to cruise down part or Yangtze, Shanghai-Wuhan. We really disagree, downriver if not so scenic, was otherwise interesting, enjoyed looking ferries and barges going both directions transferring whatever from cars to gravel and logs. Also in night times when dark it was interesting to sit and look at lights of cities and ferries.

Which ship: Victoria Sophia
From: Trip Advisor

May 5, 2016 by Michelle B

Went upstream on our cruise, so 4 nights. After reading lots of reviews I was rather apprehensive about what we would experience. But I was very pleasantly surprised. We sailed on centuary paragon. Fairly new ship, good crew, not very many westerns, but that wasn't a problem as they catered for us everywhere, all excursions had an English speaking guide, and a lot of crew spoke good English. Jeffrey was especially good, giving commentary about some of the amazing scenery around. Food was fairly good as well.

We did give the additional excursions a miss as we wanted to chill after a hectic 2 weeks touring, we didn't regret it. But the gorges are amazing, as was going through the locks at the dam.

April 22, 2016 by Sacramento, California

I booked this cruise with Bertina at Yangtze river cruises, Bertina was very helpful and responded immediately to all my email inquires including some changes that had to be made. I would highly recommend booking with this company.

The cruise on the paragon was wonderful. The staff Leo and Jeffery in particular were very attentive and helpful. And our restaurant server Jane was delightful. The boat was in great condition, very clean and well maintained and the food of which was plentiful was very good. The scenery is magnificent and the cruise is well worth taking. we had no issues with the crew understanding English and found it to be interesting multi cultural experience with guests from all parts of the world. The cabins were clean and comfortable and had all the amenities. We departed from yichang and disembarked at Chongqing. I would highly recommend this cruise.

January 15, 2016 by Cassie T, Melbourne, Australia

On the 3 day cruise, Chongqing to Yichang, it was all luxury and leisurely. Caters for overseas tourists and beautiful rooms with river views. There were day trips to Ghost City (Feng Du) & Shi Bao Zhai Pagoda amongst other places, but most of all, it was a chance to unwind after a hectic 2 weeks prior in Beijing & Xian. Ended at the 3 Gorges Dam - which you can be woken up at 2 am to see the boat going through 5 locks. An easy flight to other cities from Yichang.

Recommend spend 2 days in Chongqing prior, which has its own delights. We had a rushed 1/2 day before boarding at 8.30pm.

From: Trip Advisor

December 13, 2015 by Paolo492, Houston, Texas

We had an amazing time! There were only about 100 people on this particular cruise so the service was outstanding! Orientation talks, shows, great food and drinks. The staff spoke English which was very helpful and explained all the interesting sights along the way. We stopped to walk up a pagoda on our first day and then went to Wu Gorge with its Twelve Peaks. Going through the three gorges was impressive and the crew gave us information as we traveled up the first lock. The hydroelectric dam project was fascinating as well. Thoroughly enjoyed our three days aboard the Century Sun!

Which ship: Century Sun
From: Trip Advisor

January 13, 2016 by DamianPiza, Mexico City, Mexico

When planning the cruise Bertina was very helpful and followed up end to end, all my doubts were taken care of.

The Cruise is a great adventure, great and abundant food, good service, VERY friendly staff and English spoken by most part of the crew. Even though we were a very small amount of Westerns all the events were bilingual. The shore excursions were great and is a different way to learn how China Works.

Excellent Experience and very recomendable.

From: Trip Advisor

December 10, 2015 by pat542, Hallidays Point, Australia

We spent 3 days, four nights on MV Victoria Katarina. The ship is billed as a 5 star ship, however I don't think it is that. It is very nice and cruising through the Three Gorges is beautiful. The cruise ship itself seems a little tired and the cabins are not the best, but reasonable. The staff are friendly and helpful, the food pretty good and the entertainment was good considering it is the staff providing it - they certainly have some talented crew members.

Which ship: Victoria Katarina
From: Trip Advisor

December 3, 2015 by John D, Beijing, China

We took a cruise from Chongqing to Yichang during the National Holiday week. The cruise was very enjoyable, and we benefited from the upgrade we were offered to a premium suite on arrival - not cheap but still at a discount. Food and service in the executive lounge were excellent. The suite had some minor problems (eg toilet blocked twice) but these were quickly resolved. The sights were interesting, but a little spoilt by mostly poor weather - though that was not the fault of the boat or company. Yangtze River Cruises were very efficient with our booking and supplying information. A repeatable excperience.

From: Trip Advisor

November 21, 2015 by Guntram J, Hamburg, Germany

In October / November 2015 we travelled around China for about 4 weeks. We used the internet to organize the whole trip ourselves. For our cruise from Chongqing to Yichang we booked the Yangtze Gold 5 ship from Yangtze-River-Cruises. Mrs June Yang who works as a travel consultant for that company gave us a perfect support. She booked the cruise competently and efficiently and also organized a private transfer from the pier in Yichang to the railway station. She also got train tickets to our next destination.

Everything was fine!

The river cruise with Yangtze Gold 5 was one of the highlights of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized. We had no problems although we were the only Non-Chinese passengers aboard. The ship was only three years old, food was good, the service personnel was very nice and some spoke a little English. The tour guides spoke fluent English and really took care of us.

After all we are very satisfied with Yangtze-River-Cruises.

Which ship: Yangtze Gold 5
From: Trip Advisor

November 15, 2015 by John D, Toronto, Canada

We are not really boat travelers, my wife and I, so we were apprehensive about 3 nights and four days on a boat in the center of China even if the scenery is breathtaking. However we booked President #8 from Chonqing to Yishang, trip only, and found the tour very interesting. Having arrived in Chonqing we had no problem finding the boat, 20 yiuan from downtown, and enjoyed the cruise - recommend the dinner wine package - and the excursions - the ones included in price are best. The crew does a very good job of evening entertainment, professional even, and you do not feel bored with all the other events they have on board. No need to have a guide take you to the station or airport at Yishang - the crew will get you on buses to either location on disembarking, without fuss and at a very reasonable price. Good trip and great dam site!!!!!

John Dellevoet

Which ship: President 8
From: Trip Advisor

November 10, 2015 by chrisC536NN, Benowa, Australia

We toured on Victoria Anna for 4 night cruise. We had a great time. Very relaxing. Daily excursions were very interesting. Food was great. Staff were so helpful and friendly. Staff entertained us in evening. Great time to discover China.

Which ship: Victoria Anna
From: Trip Advisor

November 5, 2015 by Dwetty, Albany, Australia

Yangtze River Cruises arranged Oliver to guide us around Chongqing for a day prior to embarkation on a river cruise. Oliver took us to Elin Park, the Chongqing zoo (including pandas), a hot pot lunch and the Ciqikou Old Town. He was very accommodating to our requests and provided an excellent commentary of the places visited. In particular, he provided an interesting history of China politics at the house occupied by Deng Xiaoping.

From: Trip Advisor

November 5, 2015 by Jennytomkins, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

This was a wonderful experience, a fantastic way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. Thanks to Rita Jiang of Yangtze River Cruises who did all the hard work in organising it for us. The 5 day cruise was just like what you would get on a large ocean liner cruise ship. The ship was beautiful and the staff were so obliging to help in any way. The activities were OK, although some I felt were not worth the money. The natural beauty of the river is lovely. I would definitely recommend this company to others who might be looking for a cruise on this river.

Which ship: Century Lengend
From: Trip Advisor

October 31, 2015 by dannlin, Tampa, Florida

We just returned from our China Tour and Yangtze River Cruise. Thanks to Rita Jiang, our tour consultant , we had a wonderful time. From our first contact, Rita patiently answered all our questions and customized our trip. She stayed in constant contact with us while we were in China, making sure all details were taken care of. I don't think she has a day off!! We told her what cities we wanted to visit, what we wanted to see and after research, what boat we wished to take. We chose the Century Paragon, which did not disappoint us. Nice cabins with balcony, like a regular cruise ship, great tours, excellent service and staff .Definnitely 5 star. One definite plus for this boat is the covered deck area, which was really nice since we had such lovely sunny weather.We started with 3 days in Beijing and all it's highlights, followed by a first class 5 hour train ride on their great bullet train at speeds of 300KPH. In X'ian we visited the Terracotta Warriors and toured the city. After two days we flew to Changdu to vist the Giant Panda Reserach Base and a city tour. After two days, we took another bullet train to Chongqing to board out boat. Cruising the three Gorges was wonderful. The tours to the Shibao Pagoda, Goddess Stream and of course the Three Gorges Dam were amazing. Our three days in Shanghai were wonderful thanks to our guide Maria Lu. I must add that we had private tours with guide and driver in every city with wonderful guides and travel service and assistance with every detail of our trip, from pick up at the airport, check in at the hotel, check in at the airports and train stations and assistance with nighttime activities. All our hotels were listed as five star and did not disappoint either. I stingly reccomend if you are interested in China Tour, especially with a Yangtze River Trip, you contact Rita at Yangtze River Cruises.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

October 30, 2015 by K C,Princeton, New Jersey

The Yangtze River Cruise was truely something I wanted to see in my lifetime. Thanks to Wendy Dan and her company (the Hong Hiu Qin travel agency), who booked us on the Century Paragon Cruise in October 2015 downstream from Chongqing to Yichang. We had a wonderful cruise on the Yangtze River, all four days were sunny and about 80 degrees Fahrenheit. We visited the ghost city, which was a nice long walk, and the Three Gorges Dam, plus other excursions such as a 45-minute boat ride to see the locals sing & dance. We enjoyed the whole trip.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

October 28, 2015 by killercol,Australia

Just had a fab tour on this newish ship. Good value for money,great shore excursions. Went through the lock system of the big dam system,very interesting! The large percentage of tourists were not Chinese but the most of the food was Chinese. A better balance/selection would have been better! Dinners had unlimited supply of Beers & Wines! TIP upgrade to the Executive Room for a little extra. The standard rooms are way too small. Executive room is like a normal hotel room,bigger bed,bigger bathroom,sofa,bigger balcony and being on the 4th floor has much better views. Good English speaking staff everywhere! ANOTHER TIP-Try and book with consultant LAURA TANG. She was fantastic and nothing was a trouble to her. Excellent Professional operator.

Which ship: President No. 6
From: Trip Advisor

October 19, 2015 by trophywifeToronto,Toronto

This is in reference to the President No. 8. The booking with Jack Li was excellent and easy. Everything went more smoothly than I had guessed. Same was true with the boat cruise itself, which had quite good food, excellent service and great cabins. Scenery was great and so were the excursions.

Which ship: President No. 8
From: Trip Advisor

October 15, 2015 by kj_priya, Beijing Region, China

We booked through the Yangtze River Cruise company and Jack Li was our contact person. He was extremely helpful and prompt in replying to our emails and took care of all the ticket/cruise bookings, airport/train station transfers and also coordinated in arranging vegetarian food for some of us on board. Jack was very efficient and took care of all travel aspects and made our trip a memorable one.

On board the Century Paragon, the crew service was excellent and many of them were English-speaking as well. The cruise Manager Jeffrey needs special mention for his helpful and friendly attitude. The Century Paragon is one of the latest luxury ships in this route. The rooms were quite spacious and had attached balconies. The bathrooms had a shower area and a small bathtub. There are two single beds and a sofa which will be converted to bed if you have a child travelling with you.

Entertainment was plenty onboard with Tai Chi lessons each morning, dance lesson, scarf tying lesson etc. At night after dinner, the crew presented cultural programs and there were games for adults and children. There was a band by Tony and Maria which was immensely enjoyable. For children, there is a swimming pool to be paid extra and a small children's play area. Two movies were also screened during the cruise. We also visited the Captain's Deck (Bridge Tour) for a small fee and saw how the ship was being driven and the cruise manager explained about the various instrument panels,GPS, radars etc - an educational tour for the older kids. During shore excursions and airport transfers, English speaking guides were there who accompanied us and were knowledgeable and entertaining.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

October 12, 2015 by c0uple12, Perth, Australia

Our cruise on President 7 was a wonderfull experience the staff were extremely helpful, and we especially enjoyed the 2 extra tours we recommend this tour.

Which ship: President 7
From: Trip Advisor

Our Yangtze River cruise in the ship MV Katarina was superb. We saw central China expecting to see rural area and instead we saw a vibrant area with small villages, medium size cities with high rise buildings both commercial as well as condos. Several villages comprised of many China's various size. The ship had great western food, entertainment, good size stateroom with bathrooms, great staff and many optional amenities, massages, gift shops etc.

Which ship: MV Katarina
From: Trip Advisor

October 7, 2015 by Michael S, Melbourne, Australia

We traveled upstream from Yichang to Chongqing. The boat itself was lovely, very modern and clean. There were staff everywhere that were always happy to help.

The rooms were a reasonable size for a river cruise, there was Wifi available for an additional cost and there was also a pool on board, however to use this is an additional charge. The day excursions were good, the most enjoyable part of the cruise was just spending time on the balcony watching the different landscapes go by.

I would highly recommend this trip for people who want to see a different side of China at a more relaxed pace. We booked through Mr Wonder Wang at Yangtze River Cruises and he was very happy to help us with all aspects of our trip to China.

Which ship: Century Legend
From: Trip Advisor

October 6, 2015 by DyervilleD, Christchurch, New Zealand

I have travelled quite widely but my 5 day cruise on the Century Paragon from Yichang to Chongqing was my best trip ever. Trying to explore options online from New Zealand was a little daunting at first but once I connected with Olivia Liu from Yangtze River Cruises I felt confident I was getting the right advice. Her recommendation of the Century Paragon turned out to be perfect and she helped me through the booking and confirmation stages with ease - she overcame any communication issues with a good grasp of English and I am grateful to her.

This was really an exceptional trip, the boat was virtually brand new, the welcome and hospitality of the crew was more than I could have hoped for and we felt part of their extended family. As well the places we visited and sailed through were some of the most stunning places I have been too. This was a great trip which I won't forget in a hurry.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

October 4, 2015 by Anna F

We booked a 3-day cruise on the Century Paragon from Chongqing to Yichang the last week of August. The booking through "Yangtze River Cruises" went very smoothly, and Jack was very helpful providing information on the diferent options we had (routes, boats and cabin categories) and to find the option that was more suitable for us. He was also very quickly answering any of the qüestions we had and I would recommend their service without a doubt for this trip (moreover, I consulted several agencies and his was the cheapest for exactly the same service).

Regarding the trip, everything went very well and as expected. The scenery is quite beautiful and the boat is the most luxurious of those we were able to see during the trip.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

October 3, 2015 by גבי ו

I enjoyed it. First, the agent Jack Li was great: attentive, friendly and very helpful. I took the upstream cruise. What I liked: clean boat (gold3), very nice crew, good cabin, great views, very special places to visit including the dam site, the 3 lesser gorges (do not miss this excursion), the very helpful guides.

Which ship: Yangtze Gold 3
From: Trip Advisor

September 27, 2015 by Bruderer-Merkler, Arbon, Switzerland

We enjoyed four days on board of Yangtze Gold 2, where perfect service was provided by the ship's staff all the time. The sail was very smooth and we had enough space in our comfortable two bed cabin. The trips on land for cultural sightseeing and to the three smaller gorges have been very informative and well organised. The onboard information including a persentation about Chinese medicine has been very interesting. The whole trip was booked with Jack Li and we can highly recommend both the agency as well as the Yantze river cruise between Chongqing and Ychang.

Which ship: Yangtze Gold 2
From: Trip Advisor

September 24, 2015 by ddeb2000, General Trias, Philippines

This 5-day cruise from Yichang to Chongqing (organised by Yangtze River Cruises with Rita Jiang making all the arrangements for me), was BETTER than expected. The ship was filled with foreign (mostly European and American) tourists, hence intermingling and language was not a problem. The ship staff was also most accommodating, and the evening on-board shows in the main hall were performed by the ship staff too (serving you dinner one minute, and then participating in a Tang Dynasty era dance - complete with elaborate costumes - at the next minute). Okay, they were amateurs so we did not expect any World-class performances, but they tried their best, and the general atmosphere was full of fun and bonhomie.

Which ship: Victoria Anna
From: Trip Advisor

September 2, 2015 by achim_hoefling, Wuhan, China

I very much enjoyed my first ever trip on a cruise ship. To my surprise it wasn't boring at all, as there was an excursion every morning and on two out of the three afternoons. The service of the Yangtze River Cruise was outstanding. Their staff member Isabel helped me with all my questions and provided a lot of information.

Which ship: Yangtze Gold 6
From: Trip Advisor

August 1, 2015 by ELChinafan, East Lansing, Michigan

We had a wonderful time on our 3-day 3-gorges dam tour of the Yangtze arranged by Wendy Dan. We changed our dates and itinerary several times and Wendy was very patient with us and accommodating in her service. We wound up with a very relaxing and enjoyable cruise on the Victoria Selina which included several good excursions. The food and the cabin on the Selina were very good.

Which ship: Victoria Selina
From: Trip Advisor

July 14, 2015 by Stuart C, Adelaide, Australia

My wife and I booked a three night Yangtze River cruise from Chongqing to Yichang on Victoria Grace. We had a wonderful time. The scenery of the river was breathtaking and the onshore excursions were very interesting led by knowledgable local guides. The highlight was of course the impressive Three Gorges Dam. All of the crew provided excellent service, particularly in the dining room where a more than adequate range of food was provided. We were very impressed by Mira, the cruise director and Amy who provided informative commentary and translation. We can recommend this cruise and look forward to returning.

Which ship: Victoria Grace
From: Trip Advisor

June 24, 2015 by Peter M

We booked our Yangtze River cruise on Yangtze Gold 3 through Rita Jiang at Yangtze-River-Cruises.com. What a great service. We were picked up from the airport at Yichang by a wonderful driver and guide and taken to our hotel to rest and have something to eat before being taken to the port to board the ship. What a geat ship the Yangtze Gold 3 turned out to be. We had booked a suite and it was bigger and better appointed than most 5 star hotels. We were the only English speaking people on the ship but the crew and other passengers made us feel so welcome. As we were regarded as VIPs we were waited on hand and foot.

Which ship: Yangtze Gold 3
From: Trip Advisor

June 20, 2015 by krishkol, Kolkata (Calcutta), India

If luxury has a definition- Yangtze Gold cruise will be very near.The ship was huge and luxurious cuisine (well except the farewell dinner) was International, wonderfully behaved staff- specially a guy called Tayling in VIP restaurant and the BEST the 3 Gorges. The gorges that the ship passes through were breathtaking. It just mesmerizes your senses and makes your every penny worth. Sit back, relax and enjoy the experience.

Which ship: Yangtze Gold 1
From: Trip Advisor

June 11, 2015 by SandMark13,Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

We went with Victoria Cruises on the Victory Katarina leaving Chongqing to Yichang. The ship was extremely clean and tidy, staff friendly and efficient. We really enjoyed our trip meeting some great people from all over the world. The cruise has some spectacular scenery and is very relaxing sitting on your balcony watching China go by.

Which ship: Victory Katarina
From: Trip Advisor

June 9, 2015 by Frank L,Brussels, Belgium

In the frame of our first visit to China and our big tour over the country, we also booked a 3 days Cruise Yangtze Gold 1 Cruise Ship, starting from Chonqing to Yichang. The whole trip was very well negociated / organized by Rita Jiang 5 months in advance. English communication over the e-mails worked very well with Rita (rita@yangtze-river-cruises.com). Safe boat, nice staff, good food, nice visits, efficient people and a real trustable organization.

Which ship: Yangtze Gold 1
From: Trip Advisor

June 2, 2015 by impossible50,Sydney, Australia

We sailed downstream from Chongqing to Yicheng on the Victoria Jenna- three nights. The Victoria Jenna cabins, facilities and food were very acceptable. Staff and guides spoke good English generally, and passengers were about a 50/ 50 mix of Chinese and western tourists. Shore excursions were good, and at each port you could also buy beer, water etc for your cabin fridge if you wanted.

Which ship: Victoria Jenna
From: Trip Advisor

May 27, 2015 by petrism

We took a 3-night cruise in May on the Century Legend from Chongqing to Yichang. The ship is very nice, our room was big with a balcony, the food fantastic, and the shore excursions interesting. (We did not take the optional ones). The crew is super friendly, smiling and helpful.

Which ship: Century Legend
From: Trip Advisor

May 17, 2015 by AramSeattle, Seattle

This cruise was on my bucket list and it surpassed all expectations. The ship, KATRINA was first class and the staff could not be more helpful--Darby and Rebecca really care about their guests. The food was very good and varied, with lots of healthy choices and fresh fruit. The whole cruise was very well-paced, including the 3 inclusion excursions.

There are a lot of take in and the scenic gorges were stunning, great rock formations and everywhere a view like a traditional Chinese painting. Arriving at midnight at the first lock of the 3 River Gorge Dam was THRILLING--although they don't announce the arrival, I set my alarm. WOW! It was a great party on the front of the ship, took us 2 hours to pass through 2 locks -- AMAZING! This is what I was hoping for and it did not disappoint. I give talks on "World Travel on a Shoestring" and I will definitely recommend Yangtze River Cruises to others--first class service at a reasonable price.

Which ship: Victoria Katarina
From: Trip Advisor

May 8, 2015 by Tinnesz, Jacksonville, Florida

We took the Victoria Katarina ship 3 day cruise and it was very relaxing. We loved the food, especially dinner. The staff was friendly and attentive, was quite impressed! My room was nice, clean, well-tended. The small gorges tour was amazing. Loved the narrow passageways, it was beautiful. They say it's only clear 30 days a year, and it was foggy for us. However, as long as it isn't completely fogged in it's pretty. Going through the locks was fascinating, though noisy. No complaints!

Which ship: Victoria Katarina
From: Trip Advisor

May 4, 2015 by Rad69, Melbourne, Australia

I had read many mixed reviews about the luxury cruise boats that run between Chongqing and Yichang so was not sure what to expect. From the very beginning Selina and Rita at Yangtze River Cruises were terrific. They replied to my emails in good time and made everything easy.

We sailed on the Century Paragon, departing Chongqing on the 14th of April 2015. The ship was beautiful and clean. I have never traveled 5 star before so how the Century Paragon compares to other cruise ships I don't know but I was really happy and would recommend Yangtze River Cruises to anyone looking for a couple of days of rest and relaxation.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

May 4, 2015 by stefbeg74

Travelling with young children (5 and 10), we had an excellent time on the Century Paragon cruising on the Yangtze River for 4 days (3 nights from Chongqing to Yichang. We have asked to be upgraded when boarding. Terry, the Cruise manager, was very helpful and professional. He makes everything to ensure you spend nice time during the cruise. Visit of various sites are well organized. Cruising through the 3 gorges and through the 5 locks was unforgettable. Overall it was an excellent souvenir for the family.

We have booked the cruise with the help of Tiger from Yangtze River Cruises (based in Chengdu). All the transfers and guides were excellent, on time, speak very good English, and very helpful, while giving interesting explanation. Tiger was particularly friendly, keen to help and accommodate all our requests in a speedy and efficient manager.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

April 27, 2015 by Lyn02954, Melbourne, Australia

We booked our cruise on the President 7 with Isabel using yangtzerivercruises.com. Isabel was extremely efficient and emailed back almost immediately when organizing the cruise and answering my questions. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her.

Our cruise went from Yichang to Chongqing and we spent 4 nights on the President 7. Originally we booked a standard double room but when boarding we were asked if we would like to upgrade to an Executive Room. Had a look and decided for a bit extra money we would. The room was lovely. On the 6th deck, the highest, it was spacious and had a big balcony. The food on board the ship was better than I expected and all the included shore excursions were enjoyable. We decided against any of the extra ones and enjoyed relaxing under the blue skies on the sun deck or our balcony. The staff on board were lovely. They not only serve at tables or work in reception but also provide the entertainment at night. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Which ship: President 7
From: Trip Advisor

April 25, 2015 by Simon M, Shanghai, China

We sailed upstream on the President #7 which just a little tired but perfectly comfortable. Disappointingly, we missed the locks and were bussed to the top of the dam because of maintenance. The day-trip to the dam mostly made up for it - it's quite a sight. Scenery along the way and especially through the gorges was just as you'd expect - iconic and really quite lovely: seeing the countryside, the cities and towns along the way, the effects of the dam. It's pretty interesting and you can see why the dam is still a controversial topic in China.

Food on-board was good and plentiful, a mix of Chinese and Western (as were the passengers). The dinners were really good. The staff were great; the mahjong lessons a highlight. The excursions were well-done and a good mix of experiences - the dam visit, the small boat trip, the temple visit. We also did a day-trip around Chongqing on arrival. It's a spectacular city. We also went on to Chengdu to see the pandas, another great experience.

All in all we had a great time and highly recommended.

Which ship: President 7
From: Trip Advisor

February 12, 2015 by Barbara_-_Clianthus, Canberra

Our Yangtze River cruise on the Century Sun, with train from Xi’an to Yichang, one day tour in Chongqing and flight to Beijing was well organized by Tiger Wei. We were upgraded to the ship's two spacious 'junior suites' - so there was space in the rooms or on the balconies for the three of us to relax. The guides are locals, many of whose families have been affected by the flooding of the river, and the most fascinating part of the trip for me was having personal conversations about their lives and that of their parents and others they grew up with.

We also had lovely attention on the ship - learning Mahjong and spending time on the bridge - thank you Ruby!). The food was excellent (we mostly ate Chinese). Going through the dam locks was very interesting, and scenery beautiful - but without the pre-dam sublimity. And I do recommend at least a day in Chongqing - an important city both historically (it was the capital during much of WW2) and currently, so a few hours in the museum is worthwhile. Thanks Tiger!

Which ship: Century Sun
From: Trip Advisor

February 1, 2015 by Pamela S, Brighton, Michigan

We spent three nights on this ship with our tour group in September of 2014. Compared to cruise ships in the United States or river cruises in Europe - this cruise ship is not quite as elegant. However, the scenery on this river cruise is breathtaking. The meals on this trip were good - breakfast, lunch and dinner with kinds of choices.

Most mornings on this ship, there were complimentary tai chi lessons which I took and enjoyed. In the evening, there was entertainment which was good and there was a bar and drinks could be charged to your room. When you exit the ship for day excursions, the ships are docked next to each other so you have to walk across other ships to get to land. Our room on the ship was cozy and had two single beds with a small balcony which we were told to only open when the ship was moving. Each day on the ship each of us was allowed complimentary laundry of three items of clothing. And the staff was courteous, helpful and friendly.

Which ship: Victoria Cruise
From: Trip Advisor

Reviewed January 13, 2015 by Berly R

It was the perfect mix of relaxing and daily excursions. The views throughout the cruise are incredible - it's like being in a painting. Make sure you choose a cruise that goes through the locks. The Century Emerald is a viking ship, so you get the luxury of a world luxury liner. The standard rooms are suites with loveseat, desk, and ample closet/storage. Two bottles of water provided daily. Tiger from China Discovery was quite responsive and helpful in arranging not only the cruise, but transfers and other travel. And they quoted the best price on the cruise.

Which ship: Century Emerald
From: Trip Advisor

January 11, 2015 by msb_10,Cincinnati, Ohio

On our recent trip to China we decided to make our own arrangements and booked our 3 day, 4 night cruise on the Yangtze through Yangtze River Cruises. Our travel agent, Selina, was helpful and responsive through the whole process. She even personally delivered our train tickets to our hotel in Chengdu and made sure we were all set. Originally we were booked on the Yangtze Gold 8, but Selina later advised we switch to the Century Sky based on some comments they had received. The service and accommodations on the Century Sky were great, especially the attention provided by our cruise director Jack. The cruise was a great way to see more of the scenery of China away from the cities and get our batteries recharged before heading to Shanghai. We especially enjoyed the trip through the locks as we approached the Three Gorges Dam. Great trip! Thanks to Selina for all her help.

Which ship: Century Sky
From: Trip Advisor

December 23, 2014 by Flemming63, Denmark

We, a couple above 70 of age, went on the Yangtze River cruise in week 44/45 2014 from Chongqing to Yichang with the "Victoria 5". We booked this cruise directly via the internet with China Discovery in Chengdu. Even the ship was not really recommended for foreigners as she is not as young, big and luxury as others we decided to sail with her as we prefer to less passengers on board and a nice but simpler style. Mr. Tiger Wei did his utmost to satisfy our wishes. The same did the Tour Manager on the Victoria 5, Mr. Leo, during the cruise. The cabin was well arranged, the same was the sitting in the restaurant as well as the tours. The food was good, tasty with a lot of variety and plenty. About 20% of the passengers have been from abroad. All the staff was very polite and helpful. We enjoyed the fantastic landscape with the famous Three Gorges. We can say: a cruise we like to remember!

Which ship: M.S. Victoria 5
From: Trip Advisor

December 23, 2014 by John O, Melbourne, Australia

I completed a Yangtze River Cruise on the Victoria Jenna in October and had a terrific time. Laura Tang from Yangtze River Cruises based in Chengdu arranged everything for me including my trip to Tibet as well as China highlights of Xi'an and Beijing. Laura was very helpful and even hand delivered my itinerary in Chengdu which was just great. It was very nice to meet someone so helpful when arriving in a new country. The tour was very well organized for me and we changed a flight as well which was no trouble at all. This was a great time in China.

Which ship: Victoria Jenna
From: Trip Advisor

December 17, 2014 by vB Changzhou, China

Great boat and great views. Ideal if you want to rest during a few days. We booked through China discovery with the help of Rita: easy and convenient.

Which ship: Century Legend
From: Trip Advisor

December 16, 2014 by André d

I decided to book this cruise as a little treat roughly in the middle of my nearly two months backpacking in China and can't say just how I happy I am to have done it. Laura Tang, from Yangtze River Cruise (based in Chengdu) helped me out throughout and was an absolute star! I can't thank her enough for such dedicated service - from checking if I had checked in OK to organize vegetarian meals during the trip.

The ship itself was great. Good, comfortable accommodation, lovely views (each room has a balcony) and interesting trips to the shore (I only did one though as I was looking to relax). The meals were absolutely delicious and with a lot of variety. As a backpacker, I'm definitely not used to the type of little luxuries offered by a cruise such as this and I can definitely say that this trip was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. The gorges look absolutely stunning, specially when you're just relaxing in your balcony seeing them pass by.

Thanks again for all your help making the booking Laura!

Which ship: Victoria Sophia
From: Trip Advisor

November 29, 2014 by Hana A from Shanghai, China

With the excellent help from Tiger Wei at Yangtze River Cruises we booked our 4 day cruise from Yichang to Chongqing. We only wish we had better, warmer weather. Our trip started at the end of the October. But there were not so many visitors there, so it was an advantage.

Tiger Wei arranged for us a local guide to transfer us from the airport in Yichang to the cruise ship departure point and in Chongqing to the airport .It was really good. Our guide was very helpful, informative and flexible.

From the moment we boarded the Victoria Jenna until we left the ship in Chongqing it was a wonderful experience. We were very satisfied with both restaurants - the buffet and the A'la Carte. The main restaurant served a varied amount of Chinese and western dishes, we were never dissatisfied and enjoyed trying many things.

Our cabin was very clean, and all the staff were very friendly and helpful. The whole trip was a fantastic experience, very relaxing and i comfortable.

Which ship: Victoria Jenna
From: Trip Advisor

November 20, 2014 by Wong H

The cruise was relaxing and enjoyable throughout. Thanks to our wonderful tour consultant, Ms Olivia Liu, for her attentive and prompt follow up before and after the cruise.

Seeing the Yangtze dam, locks and its surrounding area is truly memorable. Too bad we miss Chibi and Jinzhou. Weather was cool and fine except for a short drizzle at Goddess Stream.

Overall it was a good learning experience and should be an excellent recommendation for friends and relatives.

Which ship: Century Diamond
From: Trip Advisor

November 3, 2014 by david T from Wigton, United Kingdom

With the excellent help from Laura at Yangtze river cruises we booked our 3 day cruise, we only wish we had booked the longer trip because from start to finish we enjoyed every minute. From the moment we boarded the Century Legend until we left the ship in Yichang it was a wonderful experience. There were maybe only about 25 'westerners' on board, the rest being mainly Chinese. We avoided the western restaurant and ate in the main restaurant which served a varied amount of Chinese dishes to sample, we were never dissatisfied and enjoyed trying many things.

We spent many an hour just sitting on deck enjoying the beautiful scenery and the wonderful sights of a working river. The 3 excursions we went on were great fun and the trip down the Goddess stream is not to be missed. On disembarking in Yichang we were met by a local guide who transferred i us to the airport.

The Whole trip was a fantastic experence and i cannot think of one thing to complain about. Thank you to Laura and Yangtze River cruises, i hope we will be back soon.

Which ship: Century Legend
From: Trip Advisor

October 24, 2014 by fractaler from Gloversville, New York

I plan my own trips and enjoy doing my own arrangements. I chose Tiger Wei of Yangtze-River-Cruises and his recommendation of Yangtze Gold 1 from Chongqing to Yichang on October 6th, 2014. Upon arriving at the ship, I was given a brief orientation of the 'program' by the two English speaking program directors, Penny and Lucy. I was then shown to my room. Room was a reasonable size and fully equipped with all that was needed.

During the course of the cruise I found that both Penny and Lucy were top program directors and with these two VERY helpful people I found the cruise very rewarding and informative of the history of the region. They helped make this portion of my holiday very relaxing and rewarding. With them in charge, there were no worries on the cruise. Both housekeeping and the wait-staff were both great. They all made certain all was perfect!

With this cruise, I have traveled the three longest rivers in the world. I found this cruise to be the BEST!

Which ship: Yangtze Gold 1
From: Trip Advisor

October 18, 2014 by Hernan R

My wife and I and another couple, all of us coming from Switzerland, booked a cruise on the Century Sun, from 3 - 6 October 2014. Olivia Liu from Yangtze River Cruises was our contact person, and she advised us wonderfully, getting us truly excellent value for what we paid. The service onboard and the cabins were wonderful; everything went perfectly according to schedule, the trip down the Gorges, and the two planned activities (visits to a village that was submerged by the 3-Gorges dam, and to the beautiful "Goddess Stream", a small lateral gorge.)

And the trip was not in any way "pushy" as some tour can be. We felt free to take in the beautiful scenery during the day; ask questions from the ever helpful staff; and just relax and read up about the history of the Yangtze itself -- and the formidable 3-Gorges dam. Going through the locks was quite an experience -- they make the Panama Canal locks seem puny in size! The catering was exceptionally good -- Chinese food and also western. Thanks Olivia for making this segment of our trip absolutely wonderful! We shall certainly contact you and your agency next time we come to China!

Which ship: Century Sun
From: Trip Advisor

October 11, 2014 by ZhengAn from Boulder, Colorado

We worked with Wonder Wang at Yangtze River Cruises (service@yangtze-river-cruises.com) to book the Victoria Jenna Oct 5-9 from Chongqing to Yichang. The cruise was great, food service well done for a small ship, cruise director Dick very attentive to our needs. Wonder was a delight to do business with. He responded promptly to every one of our requests, followed up to ensure that we were satisfied with progress, and checked in along the way even during the national holidays. In the end, Wonder arranged local transportation from the Yichang port to train station, the driver and local guide were exceptionally helpful. I recommend Yangtze-River-Cruises highly and would use them again if ever looking to repeat.

Which ship: Victoria Jenna
From: Trip Advisor

September 27, 2014 by Mappie from Corner Brook, Canada

We sailed on the Victoria Jenna on our 3 day Yangtze River Cruise from Chongqing to Yichang. The tour director is awesome. The ship was much more modern than we expected. We really enjoyed viewing the scenery that we were constantly sailing past. The ship is small so we were always able to get seats at the very front of the ship. It was a great time to meet other travellers, compare notes, etc. We toured China for just over two weeks. The rest of our time was very busy. This cruise was a nice break in the middle of it.

Which ship: Victoria Jenna
From: Trip Advisor

August 1, 2014 by Martin L

We booked different kind of services through Yangtze River Cruise - for our 3-weeks travelling in China this summer! We were very satisfied on all services! We booked a cruise through Yangtze River Cruise - with "Century Legend"! It was really good; nice ship with everything needed. The executive suites where luxurious and had an excellent location on the ship. All the way through we felt a high level of service and security – and it worked really well with the “onboard cruise guide” who spoke good English and was very helpful if we had any questions. The two guided tours of the ship good too! The food on the ship was ok for a couple of days.

We also booked a guided tour from Pingyao to Xian! Everything was good here too. Our guide, Johanna was very informative and relaxed. Both of the sights were really interesting and pick up, delivery and drive was really good. At last we booked (on very short notice) a one day tour in Xian (incl. the Terracotta Warriors). It was a really good day – and the best guide we had on our journey! He is really good! We can highly recommend the Company!

Which ship: Century Legend
From: Trip Advisor

July 23, 2014 via mobile by bradco3 from Brisbane, Australia

We went on a cruise of the Yangtze on the Victoria Grace. The trip was fantastic and the meals were excellent. I definitely recommend it. The most impressive thing was the service by our travel agent Olivia. Not only did we get the best price available for our cruise, but the service was also excellent. Olivia also helped us with other travel arrangements in China like visiting the pandas in Chengdu. If you are doing anything in China ask these guys first because they can probably save you a lot of money and mucking around.

Which ship: Victoria Grace
From: Trip Advisor

July 22, 2014 by Christopher J from Shanghai, China

I booked the cruise through Yangtze-river-cruises and I was very surprised by the reasonable price and the exceptional service of Isabel Wong - so friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. In fact it all seemed too good to be true, but I'm very pleased to say that it more than lived up to our expectations. The ship - Yangtze 1 - is most popular with Chinese people, which is one of the reasons I chose it (We are British) but we found the crew to be extremely helpful, friendly and many could speak some English. Having such a pleasant crew made our cruise even more enjoyable, frankly. We found the food to be very good, plentiful and they adjusted our meals to cater for a vegetarian and someone who is not keen on "exotic" food. It was also not identical buffet dishes every day, unlike some hotels in China.

We found the cruise very relaxing and a great way of unwinding after touring Xi'an and Chengdu. I would not hesitate to book another cruise through this company and it would be impossible to find a more helpful person than Isabel Wong - as other people have discovered.

Which ship: Yangtze 1
From: Trip Advisor

July 16, 2014 by TasmaniaTassie_Devil from Hobart

We were very impressed with Yangtze River Cruise company and Laura in particular, your prompt service and your follow-up was excellent. Overall we enjoyed our 3 day cruise on the Victoria Anna, although it probably wasn't the best time of the year in terms of the colour of the Yangtze! We were delighted to be able to check in early and we were very happy with our cabin, facilities, all of the staff and with both the quantity and quality of the food provided. We also appreciated the effort and talent the staff put in for the night-time entertainment on the cruise.

Which ship: Victoria Anna
From: Trip Advisor

July 16, 2014 by Chartcharn from Bangkok, Thailand

We booked 1.5 cabin of Victoria Lianna but we called my son to stay with us, 3 in 1 room. It is very good that the boat separated us into English passengers group for breakfast, lunch, dinner and shore travelling. All staffs are friendly. I liked staffs shows both costume fashion show and dance after dinner. Scenic points along the river are wonderful with mountains, villages, cities and crops.

Which ship: Victoria Lianna
From: Trip Advisor

July 9, 2014 by darrensunley from London

Having decided to do a cruise down the Yangtze as part of a Chengdu to Shanghai trip, the main problem was figuring out how to book this and which tour company to go with. We initially opted for yangtze-river-cruises.com mainly due to their impressive and informative website, as well as their competitive prices.

We were also lucky enough to get allocated Isabel Wong as our consultant! Basically, right from our initial enquiry Isabel was not only very professional but also super friendly in all of her communications, whilst also having excellent English skills too - which for a non-Chinese speaker was a great relief!

Over the course of our trip planning she answered all of the questions I had (and more!) both quickly and fully, as well as helping me with other non-cruise related queries too. I was VERY impressed with both her work ethic and her helpfulness.

Which ship: President Prime
From: Trip Advisor

July 6, 2014 by keithsunley from Sundrerland, England

We recently took a 4day 3 nights cruise on the President Prime, from Chongqing to Yichang, overall it was good, the excursions each day were very interesting, and worth the effort, which in some cases was considerable, due to LOTS of steps, especially Fungdu Ghost City ! I would like to finish by saying that the organiser of our trip ISABEL WONG, was " OUTSTANDING " in every department, and nothing was to much trouble to make our trip enjoyable, she was a true star for her company, and cannot thank her enough for all her help & kindness, especially with getting our onward Train tickets, which would have been quite stressfull. You are a star Isabell, working for the Yangtze-river-cruies.com. Thanks to all their staff !

Which ship: President Prime
From: Trip Advisor

July 6, 2014 by jennifer212013 from Brisbane, Australia

We are a couple who travelled for four nights on the Yangtze River Cruise which was organized by Mr Wonder Wang. He organized everything for us and we could not have been happier. He had a guide pick us up from the Shanghai Cruise Terminal and take us to the station. The guide bought our ticket for us to Yichang which is where we boarded the Victoria Katerina. The guide was waiting at the station when the train got in. We had a lovely cruise and when it was over the guide was waiting to take us to the airport at Chongqing. We were never left on our own and were very well taken care of, thanks to Wonder Wang. We can recommend him to anyone wanting to take a Yangtze River Cruise.

Which ship: Victoria Katerina
From: Trip Advisor

July 2, 2014 by Kim58cai from Whangarei, New Zealand

We were a couple travelling independently, and booked through Selina at Yangtze River Cruises. Booking was fast and easy through the website. Selina responded to our queries promptly and kept in touch frequently.

We were booked onto the Victoria Lianna with about 120 passengers-the boat was not full-about one third of us were English speaking (from uk, Australia and NZ) .many of the chinese tourists spoke English too. We were delighted with all the crew on the ship. The river guide Amy worked tirelessly and was always eager to help. The evening shows were fun and well done by the crew members.

All the shore excursions were great, informative and each one quite different. The optional extra excursions were good value for money, the shore guides all spoke good English.

Which ship: Victoria Lianna
From: Trip Advisor

June 12, 2014 by Ong1805 from Jakarta, Indonesia

We took a 4 days cruise on 24 May 2014. The new 5 stars ship (Century Legend), my cabin, meals and attractions on / off board, embark / disembarkation are excellent. The staffs are also friendly, even some speak decent English. Especially Mr. Tiger Wei, he kept always in touch before and after the cruise, to ensure every things run smoothly. This is a real 5 stars tour!

Which ship: Century Legend
From: Trip Advisor

June 4, 2014 by jcguido from Nottingham

We booked a four night Yangtze cruise on the Century Paragon with this company and can recommend both the trip and the company to others. Tiger Wei dealt with my queries promptly and booking was simple. We chose the Century Paragon because it's the newest boat and looked impressive. We weren't disappointed. We were the only British people on board with three Australians, a small group of Germans and the rest being mainly Chinese but we were very well looked after and shared a table in the restaurant with other English speaking guests who turned out to be great company. The boat's itinerary was interesting, cabins spacious and well equipped and food was good although the queues in the dining room were long. If you are travelling independently in China have no doubts about this trip or company. Everything was good. Thank-you again Tiger.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

June 3, 2014 by Len H from Napier, New Zealand

Tiger Wei was the coordinator of this cruise for 4 people. Very responsive to all emails and requests. Organised private tours in Shanghai, Chongqing, Xian and Beijing, as well as flights, hotels and pickups. Recommend him to anyone.

Cruise fantastic, staff onboard Victoria Sophia excellent, food amazing selection, cabins clean and tidy, any request attended to immediately, day trips well organised and attention to safety getting on and off ship great. Private tours in cities can involve lots of walking to the sites as buses not able to drop passengers at entry points, tiring on hot days.

Tiger provided check-up service with our private tour guides. This was an unexpected service from him and was extremely helpful with a visit to hospital on one occasion. Guide Tina was excellent at this time. Our other guides were great as well and altered our day trips to suit our needs as well as traffic conditions and crowds on public holidays. Recommend the night cruise to see city lights in Shanghai. Highly recommend booking with Yangtze River Cruises.

Which ship: Victoria Sophia
From: Trip Advisor

May 31, 2014 by Grace K from Jakarta, Indonesia

It was a marvelous experience to be on board on the century emerald cruise. Our cruise was a 4 days & 3 nights cruise going from Chongqing to Yichang. The staffs on board were very friendly and polite also their decent English are a lot of a help to the passengers on board. Tiger was very helpful in arranging our schedule, transports, and a big help in arranging baggage carriers, since the docks were a quite a hustle to walk. Tiger were very responsive too; any questions we emailed or called, were returned immediately. Overall, a great first-time experience with the Tiger's assistant and Century Emerald. I recall David being our guide in Chongqing. David is a very humorous guy, you will never get bored having him as your guide. Looking forward for another trip!

Which ship: Century Emerald
From: Trip Advisor

May 22, 2014 by kevandchristine from Brisbane, Australia

We booked an overnight stay in Chongqing, day tour of Chongqing and a 3 night river cruise on The Century Paragon through Ian Wei. Ian was very helpful. He replied to our emails promptly and we were happy with his recommendation of the Wanyou Conifer Hotel in Chongqing and The Century Paragon cruise ship. David was our guide who met us at the Chongqing train station and transferred us to the hotel. His pre cruise tour was informative and his English was excellent. Lunch was delicious. The cruise was wonderful and at the end we were transferred to Yichang station by a very helpful guide who assisted us in picking up our train tickets. Although I was initially nervous to book and pay upfront through the website there was no need. This is a professional company and Ian kept in regular contact with us. We happily recommend them. Thank you.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

May 14, 2014 by Laura S from Bremerton, Washington

Isabel Wang, our tour operator, organized a private tour 6 day tour. It included a total of 3 nights in Shanghai, flight to Chongqing, a 4 day Yangtze River cruise on the Presidential Prime cruise ship & the return flight from Yichang to Shanghai. We were greeted in each city by well-informed private guides & very competent drivers who helped educate us on the local sights & guide us safely to and from hotel & airports. We were pleased with the ease of planning and booking via emails with Isabel. Our cruise on the Yangtze was the highlight of our travels. Thank you again Isabel, for your attention before during & following our tour!

Which ship: President Prime
From: Trip Advisor

May 12, 2014 by Mistjul2014 from Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Olivia at Yangtze River Cruises was wonderful and arranged all our connections and tour guides, who were very informative and charming. The trip around Chongqing with David was great - the Zoo, the old town and the Eling Park where the views were amazing. Shirley who collected us at Yichang and helped us with our rail connection was very friendly, educated and extremely helpful. The cruise itself on the Century Paragon (a stunning new ship) was lovely - very well presented rooms, helpful and friendly staff, great entertainment and the Cruise manager Terry was lovely. Our only criticism was that although the Chinese food was excellent and the choice was vast, we as UK residents would have liked a greater selection in the a la carte restaurant.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

April 30, 2014 by saramatthews from Philadelphia

Three days on the Yangtze Explorer traveling downriver from Chongqing to Yichang. I can't speak for other ships or other cruise lines but the Yangtze Explorer ship and cruise was delightful. A Chinese cruise line, the staff is Chinese though passengers were very international - some Chinese families traveling with grandparents and babies, Americans, British, German.

The food is fine - breakfast and lunch are quite nice and the dinners are ok. The staff is very gracious and the sites and day trips are interesting. You will see a lot and learn a lot while traveling in comfort - this river trip was very worth taking.

Which ship: Yangtze Explorer
From: Trip Advisor

April 26, 2014 by RonnieFriend from Sweden

I traveled on the Victoria Jenna from Chongqing to Yichang and it was a very comfortable ship with an outstanding staff of leaders and crew. The agenda and tours were superbly planned and very enjoyable. I booked the trip through the offices of Yangtze River Cruise, with personal assistance from Tiger. He answered every question thoroughly and quickly. The tour was handled outstandingly from start to finish, with even great follow-up after the trip. This was one of the best travel experiences of my life!

Which ship: Victoria Jenna
From: Trip Advisor

April 25, 2014 by RandMQld

We chose the Century Cruises cruise line and traveled on the Century Legend ship. We took our trip from 12 - 15 April, We booked a standard cabin with balcony. The cabin was very spacious for a standard cabin and was beautifully maintained with all you would expect in a 5 star hotel room.

We attended an information session on Traditional Chinese Medicine given by the ship doctor Dr. Shaun. This was very interesting. The scenery in the gorges was beautiful. Going through the ship locks is truly worth staying up for especially if you have never seen or been through one. It rained on one day of our cruise and there was a lot of fog around which did take away from some of the scenery but it wasn't too hot or too cold so it was a very pleasant time of year to travel in China.

Which ship: Century Legend
From: Trip Advisor

April 23, 2014 by jerry68bis

We booked a Chonqing-Yichang cruise on April 2014 on Yangtze Gold 7, which I believe is the newest ship of this company. The cruise on Yangtze River is a beautiful trip - and there are many other beautiful spots in China. The cabin is very comfortable, spacious, and with a nice private balcony.

Which ship: Yangtze Gold 7
From: Trip Advisor

April 19, 2014 by Sunshine from Florida

We just did a 4 day cruise on the Victoria Selina in March 2014. All of the excursions were good &, the buffet style food was good as well. The ship was a little dated but the rooms were large and the balcony was a welcome addition.

Which ship: Victoria Selina
From: Trip Advisor

April 16, 2014 by Anita-Muecke from Australia

The “supreme amenities upgrade" of Victoria Sophia included a room on a higher deck (the main advantage from what I can tell is that I received more natural daylight - lower to water means less light - even though every room as it's own balcony with outdoor chairs). The upgrade also entitled me to WiFi access which was available in my room (403) and in the level 5 Bar and outdoor decks. In addition I had 4 items of clothing laundered every day and pre dinner drinks and access to non alcoholic drinks all day, grateful of being offered this option.

The food was "westernized Chinese" with some western options too for breakfast and lunch. I loved the food - probably cause I love food and it was pretty yummy.

Which ship: Victoria Sophia
From: Trip Advisor

April 16, 2014 by Kulemom from Canada

The Yangtze River cruise was top notch and the staff on the Century Sun were friendly and attentive and we looked forward to seeing them each morning.

Which ship: Century Sun
From: Trip Advisor

April 15, 2014 by Kansas Travelers from KS

When we were given our room assignment on Century Sun cruise we found our luggage had already been delivered to our room. The room was very comfortable and larger than any of the cruise lines we've travelled with. The boat has 6 floors with all cabins having a balcony. Boarding was on the 2nd floor which had the dining room, reception area, spa and hair salon. There were shops on the 3rd floor; a conference room and card/reading room on the 5th floor along with an observation lounge and bar. The 6th floor had a sun deck and lounge with bar. All facilities were clean and well maintained.

The cruise itself offered additional activities on board. Tai Chi on the sun deck every morning; a cooking demonstration; scarf tying demonstration… The food was all served buffet style except for the Captain's Farewell dinner which was served to the table. The crew provided a colorful talent show several nights inviting passengers to join in. We absolutely loved this Yangtze River cruise and would highly recommend booking this through Gate 1 Travel. We were taken care of at every turn.

Which ship: Century Sun
From: Trip Advisor

March 31, 2014 by Ken J from Canada

Our ship was the M.S. Yangtze 1 and it was clean and adequate for our needs. The best part was having our own balcony which afforded us the best views of the ever changing landscape. It was so quiet and serene.

The food was very good and we had the same Chinese girl server every night. She was great to talk to and she provided excellent service at our table. The staff also put on a wonderful cabaret show on the ship and it was really fun to watch. They wore colourful traditional Chinese costumes for singing and dancing routines. They also had a super fashion show where they came out in a large variety of Chinese outfits.

Which ship: Yangtze 1 Cruise
From: Trip Advisor

March 29, 2014 by mike m from Australia

I traveled aboard the Victoria Sophia for three nights and four days. The cabin (deluxe) was as good as a hotel room with the added addition of a balcony. Free wine and beer accompanied dinner while at lunch you could have soft drink. The food was excellent as was the service. The crew put on a couple of shows during the voyage and they were most entertaining. The standard of service throughout.

Which ship: Victoria Sophia
From: Trip Advisor

March 29, 2014 by ErikAlison from Canada

We did a 3 night cruise from Chongqing to Yichang on the new Century Paragon - only one year in service. The ship is in excellent condition, the large rooms are beautiful each with a balcony and the public areas are well appointed. The quality of the food is very good, there is lots of choice and the banquet on our last night had many courses, some very unusual! The top deck is open and a wonderful spot to watch the Yangtze River and the Three Gorges.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

March 25, 2014 by ZiadR from Kuwait

We cruised on the Victoria Lianna for 5 nights/4 days from Yichang to Chongqing. The cabins seemed very nice, we loved. The cruise included frequent stops and trips on land including to where the very interesting Tu Jia people live. The scenery was stunning and it was worth it to see the great dams. The staffs of the ship were fantastic and very attentive. The food was quite reasonable. The service in the rooms was good and cleanliness standards high.

Which ship: Victoria Lianna
From: Trip Advisor

January 22, 2014 by nassariji from South Australia

We did the cruise from Chongqing to Yinchang on the Century Star. The scenery was unbelievable and the day tours were great, The highlight being going through the lochs, this took many hours to do during the night. The food on board was really good.

Which ship: Century Star
From: Trip Advisor

December 24, 2013 by kwcng from Hong Kong

We took a 4-night river cruise upstream from Yichang to Chongqing in Yangtze Gold 8, a newly launch river vessel. And it's worth paying extra RMB300 to dine upstairs in the VIP restaurant where you can enjoy good food, beautiful scenery and peaceful dining atmosphere. Fod is good and staff attentive.

Which ship: Yangtze Gold 8
From: Trip Advisor

December 22, 2013 by Diana from Malaysia

We went downstream from Chongqing to Yichang on Dec 13-16. Though the rooms weren't very big but it was very comfortable and cosy. The 6 storey ship was not so big hence making moving from place to place very convenient ie walking from the rooms to the dining room and the decks. Thanks to the house keeping team for keeping the place impeccably clean and tidy. Food was plentiful and quite palatable.

Which ship: Century Diamond
From: Trip Advisor

November 30, 2013 by Traveller from Hong Kong

We did a 4-day cruise from Yichang and lucky enough to have sunny day to view those scenery landscape. Beautiful picture-like scenery was just outside the balcony! The boat itself is clean, spacious; Service and food is good. Paragon is well worth the value.

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

September 4, 2013 by Terry09london

The Victoria Katerina part of the holiday was also lovely, Angela, the Cruise Director is very helpful. Every day there was an excursion included in the trip and another optional one which worked out at about £26 each, well worth it. You can also get reflexology or massage on board for about £18. There were always a couple of specials on offer in the bar and wine was about £18 a bottle.

Which ship: Victoria Katerina
From: Trip Advisor

August 27, 2013, by Ian S, United Kingdom

"My wife and I have just returned from our Treasures of China experience with Hayes & Jarvis and have really enjoyed ourselves. Part of our trip was the Three Gorges Cruise on board the Century Sun. Right from the start with an absolutely fantastic warm welcome and all throughout the cruise with such marvelous service that we received from all the staff onboard the Century Sun we could not fault the wonderful experience. We were in a group of eight people from the UK amongst nearly 300 Chinese tourists but we were looked after like we were the only eight on board! The majority of the other passengers were friendly and really seemed to enjoy trying their English out with us. It was great! My wife was apprehensive about a cruise but she so enjoyed it that she now wants to do another!"

I must mention Libby the tour Manager who really went that extra mile to make us feel really special but our gratitude must be to everyone who helped to make our stay an amazing one. Whether you do this with a tour or on your own you will love it.

Which ship: Century Sun
From: Trip Advisor

August 17, 2013, by Sonictheraver

"My boyfriend and I have just returned from a 3.5 day cruise on the Yangtze River from Chongqing to Yichang on the Victoria Lianna. Our room was spacious with a balcony, fridge, television and en suite bathroom. The beds were very comfortable and not at all hard like most beds in china! Room service was excellent, with our beds being made and towels changed once or sometimes even twice a day! The food was great! We had a buffet for each mealtime which was a mixture of Chinese and Western dishes. There was so much to choose from you could pick hot or cold or both. There was different food each day, so it didn't get repetitive. The staff were excellent! They spoke really good English so we never had a problem. The tour guides on each of the tours also spoke great English and provided us with lots of information about the different sites.

Overall this boat trip was absolutely fabulous! The boat, the staff, the food, the landscape and the trips are amazing and we learnt so much about the river and how the dam and lock system works! I would highly recommend it to anyone who is travelling or holidaying in China!"

Which Ship: Victoria Lianna
From: Trip Advisor

August 5, 2013, by Rhian H, Panama

"This is one of the newest luxury boats on the river so facilities were very clean, beds comfortable, quiet cabins, good food and seated with other English speakers. Service extremely attentive. Most options (use of pool, spa, some excursions, cinema, drinks) cost extra eg 50 RMB for a swim, 200 RMB for a massage. They also have drinks packages - 188 RMB pp to drink with meals (lunch and dinner only) and/or around 300 RMB pp for all day drinks (except mealtimes) in the main bar. Note you get free coffee and juice with breakfast and the first glass of drink (soft or beer) with other meals for free. "

Which ship: President No.8
From: Trip Advisor

July 10, 2013, by Heckfy, California, America

"The staff is excellent. Very friendly, helpful, well trained, no problem communicating in English. Frankly, I felt a bit sorry for them because the company is really trying to keep them working really hard, like 70+ hours a week, but they are mostly young and full of energy and holding up. But I felt like they well deserved their tipping money."

Which Ship: President No.7
From: Trip Advisor

July 13, 2013, by Carlos K, Paraguay

"My wife Ingrid and myself just ended a 23 days marvelous tour in China. One of the highlights was our experience on CENTURY PARAGON Riverboat down the Yangtze River. It was a short 3 days cruise with excellent service on board. It has wonderful excursions on land which surpassed our expectations by far. Visiting the 3 Stone Gorges bridges and the 3 gorges dam itself is worth a China trip. And after traveling to these beautiful sites, just knowing we would have a nice, clean and elegant place to rest, namely the Century Paragon felt great. The farewell dinner on the last night was superb. Food was first class in variety and quality. Also breakfasts were very good."

Which ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

May 1, 2013, by Donand Von, America

"The Gold line of cruise ships are new and very comfortable. Each room has a balcony, and that makes it very nice and relaxing so one can better time their excursions out to the large upper decks for passage through the Three Gorges and other scenic areas. We enjoyed a suite with a king size bed and it was very comfortable. The service and the crew were first class with enough English speaking attendants to answer any questions we had."

Which Ship: Yangtze Gold 8
From: Trip Advisor

April 24, 2013, by Panda055, Melbourne, Australia

"The Jenna is a very comfortable boat, the rooms are a good size and it's great to have a balcony to enjoy the varied scenery. Small farming communities to amazing night lights of the various towns along the way. Meals are buffet style except for the Captain's farewell dinner. The crew are friendly and multi-talented as they perform in various shows in the evening. The included excursions are worth taking and the optional shore excursion "The Tribe of the 3 Gorges" was a great scenic and cultural tour. There's plenty to do on board without paying money and it's a lovely leisurely way to see the unique area of the 3 gorges. An dam site is an amazing feat of construction."

Which ship: Victoria Jenna
From: Trip Advisor

March 31, 2013, by Sueonholiday, Sydney, Australia

"We travelled from Yichang to Chongqing for 4 nights on the Century Paragon Yangtze cruise in its first week of operation. The boat was brand new, well fitted out with a crew that worked to please at every opportunity. We were greeted by Atanas, assistant manager who took us around the ship showing us all its features and took exceptional care of us throughout the cruise. As we were 3 Australians and there was only one other non-Asian (German) we had priority care throughout. All tours were excellent with English speaking guides for the 4 of us. Our room was upgraded to an executive suite with balcony which was luxurious and large for a cruise. Meals were smorgasboard and were good with excellent dining service. Massage and facials at the spa were very professional and a lovely treat. Tours of the 3 gorges dam were very interesting and impressive and the views up the Yangtze very beautiful. I would certainly recommend this ship for Yangtze River cruises."

Which Ship: Century Paragon
From: Trip Advisor

March 27, 2013, by Suelumby, Papua New Guinea

"My husband and I have just finished cruising up the Yangtze River on the Yangtze explorer. We had a great time. The rooms were spacious, the meals provided were delicious, the staff were more than helpful. The boat was comfortable and very clean. I would highly recommend using this cruise liner."

Which ship: Yangtze Explorer
From: Trip Advisor

Feb.18, 2013, by Wjme, New York, America

"I’m glad i opted to do the Yangtze River cruise. i was on the Victoria Selina cruise and had a great time. The staff was very friendly and helpful (AND extremely hard working). i would recommend that you purchase the upgrade plan for better dining experience (and free laundry service and internet!). And don't miss out of the excursions - I went for 4 of the 5 excursions and it was all great."

Which Ship: Victoria Selina
From: Trip Advisor

December 19, 2012, by AZCasual Traveler, Arizona

"The Victoria Lianna is our first river cruise ship and we expected things to be quite different on the much smaller ship (128 passengers vs. 600 to 3,000 passengers). However, we found the differences were minimal - the service was excellent, the food quite good and the ship activities were good as well. The standard stateroom size on the Lianna is close to the smaller staterooms aboard U.S. ships - which is not bad considering the overall ship size of the Lianna."

Which ship: Victoria Lianna
From: Trip Advisor

November 27, 2012, by Beadshopper, New Zealand

"We travelled on President Prime down the Yangtze River and really enjoyed ourselves!!!

We are a family of four - so had to have two rooms. The rooms were opposite each other so we could check out the views from both sides of the ship. The rooms were of very good condition with two single beds. One of the staff made time each morning to give my 8 year old lessons in speaking Chinese, which she really looked forward to. The Dam was amazing - we passed through it at night, which was fine as there were plenty of lights.

Which Ship: President Prime
From: Trip Advisor

October 28, 2012, by Hosta-la-vista, Canada

"The Century Star is a 10 year old, 6-storey cruise boat with approximately rooms and 2 presidential suites. The 4th floor rooms are 2 feet larger and are considered an upgrade. When you board you will be offered an upgrade if there are rooms available - be astute however as the rate is negotiable. All rooms have an outdoor balcony, refrigerator, safe and 2 bottles of water.

The crew was very good - efficient, friendly and attentive. Buffet meals are very good - good choice between western and chinese dishes. Laundry services was a reasonable priced with great results (nicely washed, dried & folded) with same day service. The Yangtze River Cruise is a must-see when in China. Highly recommend."

Which ship: Century Star
From: Trip Advisor

April 2012, by Leona, South Africa

“My Daughter, Mother and I did a 4night Yangtze River Cruise on the President Prime from Yichang to Chongqing, what an incredible, unforgettable experience. We had 2 Deluxe Balcony Twin Cabin’s that where spacious and right next door to each other.

Passengers will experience the joys of Chinese cuisine, expertly prepared with the highest quality fresh ingredients. Sumptuous western and Chinese buffets are offered at meals.”

Which Ship: President Prime
From: Trip Advisor

April 2012, by Justjools, Australia

“The staff was very friendly and smiled and tried to assist as much as they could. The food was basic and nice. Most people were able to find something tasty for their meal. They also included some tasty bits. The group activities up stairs were a good option but we mostly stayed in our spacious room and enjoyed the luxury.”

Which ship: Victoria Selina
From: Trip Advisor

April 2012, by mycteacher, Canada

“The staff on board gave us great service and those who didn't speak English were very quick to find someone who could. I found the English level here a lot higher than in other places in China that I have traveled.”

Which Ship: President No.1
From: Trip Advisor

March 2012, by ReisendeMoss, Norway

“The ship in general gave a good impression, smiling crew, excellent food. Spacious because of low season and few passengers. Standard cabin OK but narrow. Amusing entertainment by crew in the evening.”

Which Ship: President Prime
From: Trip Advisor

December 2011, by Niubull, Hongkong

“We were on the Century Diamond cruise vessel, which was launched in August of this year. The facilities are clean and new. The room is equipped just like a 4 star hotel, maybe the room size is a little smaller, but still comfortable. Every room has a small balcony with two outdoor chairs; it is a very nice feature.

The service is good. All the staff is well trained, friendly, and speaks some English. The tour guide making comments in bi-lingual, and commands reasonably good English.”

Which Ship: Century Diamond
From: Trip Advisor

September 2011, by Susan Jaques

“Also key to the trip's success is Viking River Cruises' staff of English-speaking escorts who educate, troubleshoot and generally keep things running smoothly. Nothing fazes this cordial group -- not a hail storm at The Great Wall or a couple who disappears without a word (they stopped at a Starbucks near the Forbidden City). All itineraries include shore excursions and tours, meals, hotels, and intra-Asia flights; hotel transfers, airport transfers and embarkation are handled with aplomb.”

Which Ship: Century Sky
From: Cruise Critic

September 2011 By elltee, Singapore

“Went on a 9 day Victoria cruise line boat "Victoria Princess" and was pleasantly entertained all the way. There was nightly Chinese cultural shows, lessons on Chinese bargaining, recognizing Chinese characters, learning how to play Mahjong.

While, Sailing through the 3 gorges was an experience definitely not to be missed. It was also very interesting to see the ship locks in action. Going through the 5 ship locks was done during the night.”

Which ship: Victoria Princess (also Victoria Sophia)
From: Trip Advisor

July 18, 2011, by Matt Smith

“The cabin of the ship was small but clean and comfortable. It had a bathroom and a balcony where you could sit and watch the beautiful sceneries of Three Gorges. The food of the ship was great, with a mixture of Chinese and Western style food available. The service on board was excellent. The staff was all very kindly and helpful, and also most spoke good English. There were a number of activities and lectures on board which were mostly good fun.”

Which Ship: Victoria Jenna
From: myyangtzecruise

May 20, 2011, by Hill Hudson

“My girlfriend and I spent four days on a Yangtze River cruise aboard the Victoria Anna in May, 2011. It was very enjoyable. The ship is very nice and in exceptional condition. Our cabin was clean and well-arranged. Breakfasts and lunches were served with buffet-style and were excellent and plentiful. Dinners were served. While they weren't awful, they were not of consistent quality. Still, the overall cruise experience was delightful. All the cabins have a small balcony and two chairs. It's a nice amenity, but we found ourselves on the large top deck most of the time since we wanted to see the scenery along both sides of Yangtze River.”

Which Ship: Victoria Anna
From: myyangtzecruise

May 2011, by Traveling Bear

“We found the Viking Century Sky to be very attractive and in good condition. Our cabin was comfortable and well-appointed. We had a nice little balcony with two chairs, but found that we spent most of our time up on the top deck so we could see the passing scenery along both sides of the river. Our cabin and everywhere else on the boat appeared to be very clean and well-cared for. Staff was always courteous and accommodating. Overall, meals were good. “

Which ship: Century Sky
From: Cruise Critic

April 2011, by Thirsty Traveler

“The river trip was marvelous and truly unforgettable. We would generally travel at night and next morning dock for various excursions at ports along the way. Traveling the Yangtze was very exciting. It is a very active shipping lane with Chinese transport ships of all kinds moving up and down the river. With binoculars, we were able to view a lot of the interesting sites on shore as we traveled. A highlight of the river voyage was traversing the “Three Gorges Dam” through the locks. What a great experience!”

Which ship: Century Sun
From: Cruise Critic