The Yangtze River cruises are usually sailing between Chongqing and Yichang. The downstream cruises are 4 Days 3 Nights sailing from Chongqing to Yichang, while the upstream cruises are 5 Days 4 Nights sailing from Yichang to Chongqing.

The included excursions, prices of a downstream and upstream cruises of the same ship are almost the same, but the visiting sequence is different. The upstream cruises take one more night, so it will be more relaxing, and travelers also have chances to take more optional excursions. What’s more, the average price per night of an upstream cruise is cheaper, as the downstream cruise and upstream cruise prices are the same and traveler stay one more night onboard when taking the upstream cruises.

Inclusions:

• Accommodation as per your booking (rate usually on double occupancy).
• Usually three shore excursions are included, and arrangements may vary according to different cruise lines. Please be aware that these excursions are a package, if travelers give up the tour, there would be no refund or alternative arrangements.
• All meals onboard as per itinerary.
• Entertainments onboard, such as crew show, lectures.

Exclusions:

• Cruise service charge, usually CNY 150-200 (about USD 22-29) per person is not included unless there are special statements. (Century Cruises and China Goddess Cruises rates include this service charge)
• Optional excursions as per itinerary. (Century Voyage are all inclusive)
• Optional upgrade supplement onboard, such as deck upgrade, category upgrade, VIP Dining Room, Beverage Packages, etc. All these upgrade options are not mandatory.
• Personal expenses, such as bar purchases, Internet service, telephone, Chess Room, Hair & Beauty service, laundry service, massage, sauna, etc.
• Transport such as train, flight to/from port cities, and any hotel stay pre-/post-cruise.

Please don’t worry, and you may refer to following guides:

• If you take a cruise departing from Chongqing, read Chongqing Port Transportation.
• If you take a cruise departing from Yichang, read Yichang Port Transportation.

In shoulder season, if you are expats in China, we suggest you book a Yangtze River cruise at least two-three weeks in advance. In high season, such as April, May, September, October, we suggest you book the cruise 45 days in advance. No matter how long in advance you book the cruise tour, we suggest you confirm the cruise first before booking any flights, trains.

We are experts on the Yangtze River cruises, and all cruise booking could be completed online. We accept online payments, such as PayPal (including credit cards). If you’d like to pay by Alipay, WeChat Pay, and bank transfer, please choose “Book and Pay Later” on booking and contact customer service for more payment details. We would confirm your cruise booking after your successful payment, and will email you the cruise confirmation after that.

Different from hotel bookings, we are unable to collect payment after your arrival, or pay onboard. Just like you book a flight ticket, you need to process the payment when you book the ticket, rather than paying on the plane.

On Yangtze River cruise ships, the child age is between 2-11 years old. The passenger of 12 years old and above would be charged at adult rate.

Child Policy (2-11 years old):

• Sharing bed with parent: 50% of adult rate (about 67% on Victoria Cruises).
• Adding 1 extra bed (if applicable): 75% of adult rate.
• Occupying 1 adult bed: 75% of adult rate (100% on President Cruises).

Infant Policy (0-23 months):

Sharing bed with parent: 10% of adult rate (20% on President Cruises). Please be aware that all cruise ships don’t provide a crib / cot for the baby.

A solo traveler can also book a Yangtze River cruise:

• You may book one whole cabin by booking online directly, and if you book 1 adult in 1 room, the rates on our website include the single occupancy supplement already.
• On some cruise ships, a solo traveler is allowed to book 0.5 cabin based on sharing, and the cruise line will arrange another single traveler with the same gender to share the cabin with you. If you’d like to book the cruise this way, please send us enquiry first.

On Yangtze River cruise ships, almost all meals are provided in buffet style. It is a good option for travelers with special dietary request, as they could avoid the food that they cannot eat. During buffet breakfast, there are free soft drinks, such as yogurt, milk, juice, etc. Also there are soft drinks available in lunch and dinner time. All Century Cruise ships offer free flow of selected beers, wines, soft drinks at lunch and dinner.

Some cruise lines provide table meal for dinner and Captain’s Farewell Banquet, usually 8-10 persons in one round table.

If you have higher dining demands, you may consider upgrading to VIP Dining Room upon check in. The supplement would be around CNY 300-800 per person (whole trip) based on different cruise ships. You may consult the staff at the front desk upon check in. Compared with main dining room, the VIP Dining Room is less crowded, and provide 1-2 special cuisine each meal. Some suite amenities include the free upgrade to VIP Dining Room, you may consult our customer service or the staff onboard.

Usually, the cruise bookings don’t assign decks and cabin numbers on booking. The staff at the front desk will assign the cabins upon your check-in. Even if you upgrade the deck floor on booking, you are unable to choose the cabin numbers. The cruise lines only gurantee the deck floor.

The same cabin category on the same cruise ship are with exactly the same facilities and layout. On the Yangtze River cruise ships, all cabins booking on our website are on or above the Deck 2, with non-obstructed river view.

According to the booking policy of cruise lines, you would be assigned in the cabin category as per your booking. If you are interested in higher categories which happen to be still available upon check-in, you could pay some supplement to upgrade the cabin. The upgrade prices onboard are usually bargainable.

The Standard Balcony Cabins or Deluxe Cabin prices are usually based on Deck 2, if you prefer higher floors, the deck upgrade supplement will be charged if you request higher floor upon check in.

If travelers fail to board the cruise ship before departure, according to booking policy, please be aware that we are unable to cancel or change the booking.

The downstream cruises usually depart Chongqing around 21:00, and the suggested check-in time is 16:30-19:00, we suggest you arrive in Chongqing before 15:00. Especially in summer season with frequent thunder storms, you may book a morning flight, or arrive in Chongqing one day in advance, just in case of the flight delay or cancellation.

However, there are remedies to board the cruise ship on Day 2, and travelers could join the cruise at the next port of call:

• Downstream Cruises: usually passenger could board in Fengdu before 12:00 on Day 2.
  Travelers could take bullet train from Chongqing North Station to Fengdu, and take a taxi to Fengdu Port.
• Upstream Cruises: travelers could board in Maoping Port, Yichang before 17:00 on Day 2, as the upstream cruise ships actually departs on the Day 2 evening.

Although there are remedies, but please be aware that the transportations to Fengdu or Maoping Port would be on your own.

Generally speaking, during optional excursion period, for safety and management concern, only travelers who book the optional excursions could leave the cruise ship as a tour group. You can enjoy the free time onboard if you don’t take the optional excursions.

Some travelers may find the optional excursions price more expensive than the scenic admission fee, and that is the main reason that most travelers don’t take the optional excursions. Actually, the optional excursion is a tour package, which not only includes the scenic spot admission fee, but also tour guide service, relevant transports, port taxes, etc.

Besides the shore excursions, there are many things to do onboard.

• Enjoy the Three Gorges scenery. The ship will be sailing through Three Gorges, and the guide will introduce the features and cultures of the Three Gorges on Sun Deck.
• Cruise activities, such as crew show, lectures, etc.
• Entertainment onboard, such as swimming pool, cinema, KTV, mahjong, etc. Please be aware that many entertainments are at extra cost. You may consult cruise staff at front desk for exact rates.

Every cruise ship on the Yangtze River has a clinic onboard, and could provide normal medical service. But when encountering some serious or special disease that the doctor onboard could not handle, the patient would be sent to the hospital in the nearest port city for further treatment. We suggest you purchase a travel insurance, since the medical service onboard and in the hospital would be on your own expense.

Yes. During the Yangtze River cruises, the ship will dock at 1-2 ports for shore excursions, such as Fengdu county, Wushan county, and ports may vary according to different cruise itineraries.

If you would like to finish the cruise earlier than scheduled, please contact the front desk in advance. You could disembark at one of these ports, and arrange your own transportation to either Chongqing or Yichang. But please be aware that if you give up the cruise, there would be no refund for your cruise.

Yes. On a Yangtze River cruise ship, there is no regulations that passengers could not bring drinks and snacks onboard. But please be aware that passengers could only enjoy the drinks and snacks in their own stateroom, and it is not allowed to bring drinks and snacks to public areas (dining room, bars, etc.) and share with other travelers for food safety concern.

Yes, almost all cruise ships provide laundry service at extra cost. But usually there is no dry-cleaning service. There are laundry lists with prices in your cabin.

Some suite amenities and perks include the free laundry service.

After check-in, travelers will get a room card. All the personal expenses would be into your account. All the fees will be in Chinese Yuan. Passengers need to settle the payment on the last night of the cruise. Payment can be done by cash, credit cards (including VISA, MasterCard, etc), Alipay, WeChat Pay.