Frequently Asked Questions of Yangtze Cruise

Where is Yangtze Cruise?
How long does a Yangtze Cruise take?
Best time to take a Yangtze trip?
What's the difference between DOWNSTREAM and UPSTREAM cruise?
What to see on Yangtze River?
What's the weather like in Three Gorges Area?
How to book a Yangtze Cruise?
What time do I book the Yangze Cruise?
What should I prepare before a Yangtze tour?

Where is Yangtze Cruise?
Yangtze River Cruise (Yangtze Cruises) is generally between Chongqing and Shanghai. You can start a Yangtze Cruise from Chongqing, Yichang, Wuhan and Shanghai. TOP

How long does a Yangtze Cruise take, Downstream and Upstream?
Yangtze Highlights-- Chongqing-Yichang: (Downstream) 3 nights, vice versa (Upstream) 4 nights
Experience Yangtze---Chongqing-Wuhan (Downstream) 4 nights, vice versa (Upstream) 5 nights
Discover Yangtze--- Chongqing-Shanghai (Downstream) 6 nights, vice versa (Upstream) 8 nights. TOP

Best time to take a Yangtze Cruise:
Usually, April, May, September and October is the best season (also high season) because of the good weather. Other seasons are low seasons for Yangtze Cruise. Meanwhile, there is usually a Winter Special from late Nov to the following Feb, with lower price. TOP 

Difference between downstream and upstream
Downstream crease means ship navigation departing from Chongqing; while upstream cruise means navigation departing from Yichang, Wuhan or Shanghai. The most popular one is between Chongqing and Yichang.

1. Downstream cruise usually takes 3 nights/4 days to Yichang, owing to the fast water speeding. In the daytime, shore excursions are well arranged; at nigh, the cruises will dock. You will miss the charming sceneries along the Yangtze. And you feel the cool winds breezing!
2. Downstream can pass a spot very soon, e.g, the Qutang Gorge in 15 minutes. You’d shot your ideal scenery in a lightening speed!
3. Upstream navigation goes slowly and usually takes 4 nights/5 days. You have enough time to enjoy the scenery along the Yangtze, listen to the guide’s introduction, and to take pictures. You have more time to enjoy on board health lectures and entertainment programs.
4. In order to get to the scheduled shore excursions, sometimes the upstream navigation cruise might sail at night or dawn.

To choose a downstream cruise or an upstream one, your vocation dates, your ideal programs also account. And no matter which you choose, you will not miss the alluring Yangtze Scenery, the magnificent Three Gorges, as well as the fabulous cruises on board and well arranged shore excursions along the Yangtze. TOP

 What will I see along the Yangtze Cruise ( Shore excursions)
Chongqing==Yichang Yangtze cruises have 3 well arranged shore excursions; one by one they are Fengdu-- the Ghost City/Shibaozhai Pagoda/Snow Jade Caves, Shennong Stream/ Lesser Three Gorges, Three Gorges Dam Site.

Chongqing===Wuhan Yangtze cruise has 4 shore excursions. They are Fengdu Ghost City/Shibaozhai Pagoda, Shennong Stream/Lesser Three Gorges, Three Gorges Dam Site, and Wuhan’s Yellow Crane Tower/Hubei Province Museum in the excursions.
It passes through Chongqing, Yichang and Wuhan.

Chongqing==Shanghai Yangtze Cruise, 5 star deluxe Victoria Prince as the carrier, has added Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, Mt. Huangshan/Mt. Jiuhua(Mt. Nine Lotus) in Anhui Province, Sun Yat-sen Memorial and Confucian Temple in Nanjing, It passes Chongqing, Yichang, Wuhan, Yellow Mountain(Mt. Huangshan) , Nanjing City and Shanghai City, sometimes it docks at Hangzhou city and passagers will be transferred to Shanghai by coach (arranged by cruise company)

Cruise itinerary and shore excursions are subject to river and climate conditions. TOP

What is the weather like in Three Gorges area?
The gorgy topography features strong wind, humid and less sunshine. The average temperature reaches 30 C in July and 10 C in January, making spring and autumn the best seasons for Yangtze Cruise, cool and comfortable. In hot summer, heavy rainfalls always happen, causing water raised between July and September. Winter is a bit cold yet short, and there are usually Yangtze Winter Specials, lower price but also comfortable service. It is also a good outgoing option for Christmas and New Year Celebration. TOP

How to book a Yangtze Cruise?
Contact a Chinese Yangtze Cruise agent/operator instead of a direct booking with the cruise company. Cruise agents always have better rate if you book one or more months earlier before the cruise navigation.
Once your booking is confirmed, do not forget to ask your Chinese Yangtze Cruise agent for Boarding Voucher, info about the pier info, phones numbers for your cruise, the navigation schedule and etc. TOP

What time should I book a cruise.?
If your vocation dates are scheduled, we advise an earliest (at least one month prior to departure) cruise reservation so that you can get confirmation for your preferred ship. TOP

What should I prepare before the Yangtze Tour?:
Insurance
Usually cruise company will buy a small amount of certain insurance for its passengers. You can also buy some insurance before your departure for cruise
Medications
We advise you check with your doctor or local health authorities for latest vaccination requirements. Take enough essential medicines with you during your trip throughout China and do not pack your prescriptions in your checked baggage.
And there is a clinic on each vessel.
Camera and Video(advise)
We also advise you take a digital cameral or video maker with you. Record the beauty of Yangtze Cruise in both your minds and your hands.
Dresses/shoes on Board
Casual attire is recommended on board and ashore, any dress and shoes that makes you For the caption’s welcome and farewell party(two respective nights),the ship usually advise a jacket and tie for gentle man, and dress and dress pants for ladies. But it depends on your baggage restriction.
In spring and autumn, some wind coats, jacket is also ok.
In summer, a sun hat, sunscreen, sun glasses and etc.
In winter, some warm clothes, sweaters are preferable.
Passport and Visa.
Please make sure your passport and visa valid 30 days before your entry into China. Boarding Voucher
Ask your travel agent for Cruise Boarding Voucher(copy or fax, better than the cruise ticket if you travel from afar) before your departure for the cruise.
Or if you book our to-and-from pier transfer service, our guide will help on boarding the cruise.
Buy Some Wine before Boarding, if you’d love a sip of the taste.(Advise)
The wine/alcohol in bars on cruise is a bit expensive. If you’d like a sip of the taste, we advise you buy some drinks before boarding the cruise. TOP

Board the Cruise on Pre-night
Some Yangtze Cruises depart at 8:00 in the morning, so the check-in is the night-before—navigation. This pre-night accommodation is complementary  (pre-dinner is on your own).
Notes: all cruise departure time listed in YangtzeMart.com are at night or pre-night.

Luggage Service
From the pier to the cruise, it takes several minutes. Luggage porters can take care of the luggage transfer, usually CNY8-10 per luggage. This luggage service is usually optional, excluded in the cruise fare or guided airport-pier transfers. TOP

Reception Desk on Board
24 hours ready for any enquiry and requirements, including your bills, meals and safety deposit box. The cruise crews are glad to be of your service. TOP

Attentions after checking in on Board

a. your cabin location and the Emergency  Exit Map just behind your door
b. location of the life jacket, and its dressing procedure
c. have a general idea of the on board arrangement and choose your preferable program.
d. be familiar with your guide and choose your preferable programs
e.be familiar with locations of those entertainment/health/leisure facilities.
f. be familiar with on board service phone numbers
g. deposit your valuables. TOP

Room Arrangement
After room reservation is confirmed, we can guarantee your required room type. But we can not guarantee which floor or ship side you will be arranged.
You can get to the cruise and check in much earlier for any specific requirement on cabin location. TOP

Room Updating
You can ask for cabin updating if superior cabins/suites are available, after you pay some difference between your booked cabin and your new ideal cabin/suite.
We advise you book your ideal cabin instead of updating it, because few cabins are available especially in high seasons. TOP

Meals & Water/Drinks on Board
Most of the deluxe Yangtze cruises have Chinese and Western buffet breakfast, Chinese style-table cuisine lunch and dinner. Some cruises also serve buffet luncheon. Local snacks are also well arranged by high-class chefs. Vegetarians have no need to worry about their food on board. If you have any special requirement on cruise cuisines, you can inform us when booking the cruise, or enquire at the cruise front desk, the cruise will be glad to meet every of your demands on board.
Drinkable water is offered through the room thermos and bottled water. Water, ice and other drinks in bar are safe. Wine and other drinks are on your own.
Room service is available on all cruises. TOP

Private Balcony or Not on Board
Most of the deluxe cruises have balcony cabins. And you can also enjoy the scenery on the top sun deck and the observation lounge.
Victoria Cruises:
5* Victoria Prince           Yes balcony in all cabins
5* Victoria Anna            Yes balcony in all cabins
5* Victoria Katarina         Yes balcony in all cabins
5* Victoria Queen           Yes balcony in all cabins
5* Victoria Empress         Yes balcony in all cabins
5* Victoria Star             Yes balcony in all cabins
4* Victoria Rose            No balcony in all cabins.
Presidential Cruises(between Chongqing and Yichang)
5* President 1.                  Yes balcony in all cabins
4* President 2(Yellow Crane).      No Balcony in all cabins.
4* President 3(Splendid China)     No in all cabins
4* President 4.(Yangtze)           Yes except in standard cabins
4* President 5(Snow Mountain)     No balcony in all cabins
4* President 6(Yangtze Paradise)    Yes except in standard cabins

China Dragon Cruises(theme cruises, Chongqing and Yichang)
5* M.S.Emperor.           Yes in all cabins
5* M.S.Dragon.            Yes in all cabins
4* M.S.Serenity.            No in all cabins
4* M.S.Three Kingdom.      No in all cabins

Century Cruises(Chongqing and Yichang)
5* Century Star          Yes in all cabins
6* Century Diamond      Yes in all cabins TOP

Bath or shower on Board
Most of the deluxe cruises have shower in standard cabins. Some have both shower and bath tub in standard cabins. Some better cabins/suites have integrated bathrooms.
Once you are booked on the Yangtze Cruise, at least you will have the shower. TOP

 

Guide on Board
There are usually two guides on board of deluxe cruises one is Chinese, the other is multilingual. Both are in charge of introducing scenery en route and are shared by the passengers. TOP

Facilities & entertainments on board
Most of the deluxe cruises have advanced facilities to make sure you a comfortable Yangtze Cruise,
e.g. for leisure, coffee bars, reading room, lectures and etc;
for health, massage, gym, clinic and etc;
for entertainments, ballroom and etc.
There are also well arranged programs on Chinese culture, e.g. lectures about gorges history & culture, Chinese painting, calligraphy and health,  art gallery, Tai Chi exercise, gala show and etc. TOP

Clinic on Board
All Yangtze Cruises has a clinic with a doctor qualified in both Chinese and Western medicine.

Safety Deposit Boxes on Board
Your valuables can be left in a safe deposit box at the reception desk on the cruise. We strongly recommend you do not leave valuables in your cabin. Cruise can not be held liable for any valuables left in cabins or lost on board. TOP

Smoking on Board
Smoking is prohibited in public areas according to China’s regulation. You can smoke at the sun deck or other registered areas.
Some cruises have non-smoking cabins, you can reserve it. TOP

 

Mobile/fax/calls on board
IDD and DDD calls are available in your cabins. And most of the cruises have business center, where IDD/DDD calls, satellite phones, fax, copy machine, computer access, printer service are available. But sometimes when the ship is passing some gorges, the signal might not be very good. You can try the call later.. TOP

Electricity on Board
220volts is the most common on board. Only a few cruises have 100 volts, too. Please do not use any personal equipment in your cabins. Video cameras, digital cameras, PC and other electrical appliance can be recharged at the front desk. TOP

Shopping on Board
Daily necessities and food are available in shops on board. But the types are not abundant. We advise you purchase your necessities before boarding the cruise.
Crafts and souvenirs are available on board in shops, too.
You can also buy souvenirs during the shore excursions. TOP

Money on Board
There is no cash flow aboard on cruises. For any purchases, you many simply sign a chit, and present your room key. It will be added to your final bill, which maybe settled the final night or day on board.
Acceptable payment on board includes Chinese RMB cash, major credit cards(Visa, MasterCard and American Express) and Travelers Checks.
Money exchange service is available or various currencies, e.g. USD, CAD, AUD, EUR, GBP, JPY.
For shore excursions, we advise you take some small cash with you, several ￥10, several ￥100, in case you will buy some local souvenirs and etc. TOP

Shore Excursions ABC
Before you go shore excursions, the cruise will give you an Off-Cruise Card. You will return this card to the Reception desk after the excursions. And with this Card, the cruise can figure out if you are on board again.
You can also remember your cruise name, docks and after-excursion departure time, in case that you have to catch up the cruise before it departs. You can show your Off-Cruise Card and ask those kind local tourism workers for help, too. TOP

Tipping Policy on Board
Tipping is voluntary on every cruise. The general recommendation is 8$-10$ per person per day, which may be left in the tip box at the front desk of the ship at the end of your sailing.
Individual tips for any crew who may have provided special services are at your discretion.
Most of the cruise directors and river guides do not share in the tips from the tip box. TOP