As the Chinese saying goes “Taking a cruise ship to enjoy the spectacular Three Gorges scenery”. However, there are more than 20 cruise ships on the Yangtze River, how could we choose one accordingly?

Travelers may wonder the differences between all these ships, like which one is the best, which one gets the best price. You are at the right place. After a glance of this cruise guide, you must be able to find your best suitable Yangtze River cruise ship.

Cruise Itineraries

Why A Yangtze River Cruise?

Without a doubt, it is true that taking a Yangtze River cruise is the best way ever to enjoy the majestic Three Gorges scenery. The luxury cruise ships are just like “floating 5-star hotels”. You can enjoy the beautiful river scenery in your private balcony of your stateroom. Not only does it save the exhaustion of changing hotels, dragging luggage and rushing around every day compared to land tours, but also there is no risk of forgetting items when packing up everyday. What’s more, there is no need to worry looking for restaurants near the scenic spot every day.

Cruise in Comfort

In the whole cruise, besides you could not only visit the highlight scenic spots along the river without luggage, you can also enjoy delicious food in the cruise ship restaurants. Because all meals onboard are included in your cruise ticket. Some cruise lines, such as Century Cruises, they even provide free flows of wines, beers, soft drinks during lunch and dinner. Cruise travel is not only suitable for the elderly and families with kids, but also more and more young people like this relaxing and leisure tour now.

At the present time, the Yangtze River cruises mainly have the following two itineraries, and they are the most common Three Gorges cruise itienraries:

• 4 Days 3 Nights cruises from Chongqing to Yichang
• 5 Days 4 Nights cruises from Yichang to Chongqing

Yangtze Panorama Cruises

Besides the 3 and 4 nights cruises sailing between Chongqing and Yichang, there are also long Yangtze Panorama cruises sailing between Chongqing and Shanghai.

Yangtze River Cruise Ship Facilities

Ship Specifications Comparison

This table includes almost all Yangtze River cruise ships still in operation, and the default sort order is by the maiden voyage year. Of course, you could sort by other specifications.

Tips: The maiden voyage years of Victoria Jenna, Victoria Anna, Victoria Katarina are early, but they are refurbished in recent years and are under good maintenance. Victoria Cruises is outstanding for cruise service, even the ships are not that large and new, we still recommend them.

Exquisite Dining

Almost every Yangtze River cruise ship has two restaurants at least. One is the Main Dining room, which is included in your cruise ticket, usually on the Deck 2. The other one is the VIP Restaurant on higher decks, which could be upgraded upon check in at an extra cost.

Nowadays, there are small tables for 2-4 people in the Main Dining Room on the following cruise ships:

• Century Voyage
• Century Oasis, Century Victory, Century Glory
• Yangtze No.3
• China Goddess No.3

If you are interested in the VIP Restaurant, passengers could make upgrades at extra cost upon check-in. In a VIP Restaurant, there would be more special cuisines, and a quieter environment because of the fewer guests. However, please be aware that not every VIP Restaurant provides small tables for 2-4 people. Sometimes you may also need to share a big round table with other travelers. But since there would be fewer people there, you still have a good experience in the VIP Restaurant.

Cabin Sizes

Staterooms with Private Balcony

The Standard Balcony Rooms (on Century Cruise ships, it is called Deluxe Cabin, and Superior Cabin on Victoria Cruise ships) take the largest proportion of all rooms on the Three Gorges cruise ships, which is also the basic category. So, we compare the Standard Balcony Cabin factors that travelers concerning most.

Standard Balcony Room Layout

We take the Standard Balcony Cabin (Deluxe Cabin) on the Century Glory as an example. The same cabin category on the same cruise ship is exactly the same. The designs and furnishings may vary on different cruise ships, but the functional areas is basically the same. There are one bedroom, one bathroom and one private balcony.

Cabin Allocation Onboard & Upgrade

Usually, the cruise lines sell ticket based on Deck 2 (where cruise ship front desk located), except Century Cruises which book the cabin located on different deck floors. The staff at the front desk will arrange the exact cabin numbers upon your check in. The front desk staff will ask you if you’d like to upgrade the deck floor or higher category. You can accept any of them or not at your discretion. Actually, no matter on which floor, you can enjoy the unobstructed river view from your private balcony.

Swimming Pools

It is quite comfortable to soak in a pool in the hot summer, but the swimming pools on the river cruise ships have a common problem – “too small”. Many travelers used “a big bathtub” to describe the swimming pools on the Yangtze River cruise ships.

In addition, it should be noted that the usages of indoor heated swimming pool cost additional fees, and the outdoor swimming pool is not suitable in the cool season. This issue may result the swimming pools into an “useless” facility, so almost all the new ships built in the last five years have cancelled the swimming pool, except Yangtze No.3. Let’s take a look at the cruise ships with swimming pools.

Cinema

Enjoy a Film with Family & Friends on the Yangtze River

In recent years, more and more Yangtze River cruise ships are equipped with Cinemas. Although they are not the latest films, it’s still pleasant to spend a relaxed time with family and friends by watching movies during a cruise tour. There is also a 5D movie room on the Yangtze Gold 2-6 cruise ships. However, like the swimming pool and KTV service on the cruise ships, cinemas on most ships are also at extra costs. Let’s take a look at the cruise ships equipped with cinemas.

• Century Voyage
• Century Oasis, Century Victory, Century Glory
• Century Legend, Century Paragon
• Victoria Sabrina
• China Goddess No.3, China Goddess No.2
• President No.8, President No.7
• Yangtze Gold Cruise ships
• Yangtze No.3, Yangtze No.2

Kids Garden

Kids Garden – Paradise for Children

Cruising with kids, but concerning there is nothing to do for them? No worry! There are Kids Gardens available on following cruise ships. Some of them are small, but your kids shall have fun. What’s more , there is also an Arcade Game Room on the China Goddess No.3 and China Goddess No.2, with electronic games, PS4 and Switch games available.

• Century Voyage
• Century Oasis, Century Victory, Century Glory
• Century Legend, Century Paragon
• Victoria Sabrina
• China Goddess No.3, China Goddess No.2
• President No.8, President No.7

Pedestrian Street

Is there a Pedestrian Street on a river cruise ship, too? The answer is YES. Maybe you only saw it earlier on a large ocean cruise ship, but now you can visit a Pedestrian Street on a river cruise ship, like Yangtze No.3, Yangtze Gold 2, Yangtze Gold 3, Yangtze Gold 5, and Yangtze Gold 6. The following are the images of Pedestrain Street on the Yangtze Gold cruise ships.