The Following Questions Are Frequently Asked
How can I reserve a Yangtze Cruise cabin?
You can send us your enquiry here, we will reply very soon with every detail according to your questions and needs. When you decide to book a specific cabin for your desired sailing, we then need your full names, passport numbers and nationality details to preceed booking.

How do I pay for the cruise fare?
We accept bank transfer and credit card.

What routes are available?
Downstream:
Chongqing - Yichang (4 days 3 nights)

Upstream:
Yichang - Chongqing (5 days 4 nights)

Which route is the better?
The fact is that there are more people take downstream cruises, from what I see, the possible reasons are 1) Chongqing has a bigger airport, and many people are coming from Xi'an, Guilin; it's cheaper and easier for them to get to Chongqing to get onboard. 2) culturally speaking, Chinese people like downstream ones, it gives you the feeling that you're with the main stream. 3) some travelers don't have enough time. The downstream ones are the shortest.
As there are more people takes downstream cruises, it's more expensive and more crowded.
If your time permits, you may take the Yichang - Chongqing cruises, the section between Yichang and Chongqing is the Three Gorges.

What is included in the cruise price?
The price is very comprehensive as it includes the accommodation, all meals on board ship, shore excursions and port taxes. The extra costs would be tipping which is discretionary, drinks in bars, long distance telephone calls and faxes, laundry, barbershop, clinics, massage, shopping and other expenses of personal nature.

When is the best time to travel on a Yangtze Cruise?
It is okay to travel any time the ships are sailing. The most popular times to cruise are March, April, May, September, October and even November as the good weather lingers much longer in China than in North America.

What type of food is served on board?
Breakfast is a Western style buffet including everything from corn flakes to pancakes. Lunch and dinner are Chinese cuisine but offer a large choice of dishes with plenty of vegetables and fruit.

Do the cabins have bunks or beds?
They have beds just as in a hotel room.

If I miss my meal, can I order room service?
Surely. Meal schedules are always regular and in groups. People need room service for meal delivery should order half day or one day before. For special cuisine, booking upon check-in or on booking the cruise with us are recommended. This service is not available the last day on board.

Can I use room massage service?
Yes. Each ship has a massage master. It is15-20 USD per hour and you need to reserve early. Some better ships offer other services. Call your general service desk for more information on your ship.

Could you tell us how the meals are arranged? People have meal at one time or they have shifts?
Each ship has a big restaurant, which can accommodate all the passengers on board the ship. So, there are no shifts on board the ship. Passengers are arranged at appointed tables, which are planned by travel group, nationality, habit of food, religion and culture. Usually, there are ten persons in one table. Sometimes, there are three to five persons at one table, which depend on the number of the total passengers. There are many collective activities such as shore excursions and they have fixed schedules, so the meal schedules are fixed, too. It takes 1-2 hours to have a buffet and one hour for delivered-to-table meals. A three-star or above cruise ship provides room dinner service and local flavor banquet if you book half or one day in advance. If you are a patient, or Moslem, or Buddhist, you may give advanced notice. Diet, vegetarian, low sugar and low salt food are also available.
Each ship has a welcome banquet and farewell banquet, on which dishes are delivered to table. East King and East Queen offer authentic western banquets, with silver forks and knives, provide imported butter, cheese. Beside this, most cruise ships arrange buffet meals, with both Chinese and western food.
Most ships also take orders for Chinese dishes. If you want to treat somebody special on the ship, even with a banquet, it can be arranged. The main menu is published on the notice board in front of the restaurant. Ask the waiter or waitress if you are not sure.

What should I wear to attend the captain's welcome and farewell banquets?
The captain is not "the man next to God" on the Yangtze River cruise ships as he is in charge of the technical operation of the ship due to the complicated situation in the sailing courses. But the captain's welcome and farewell dinners are two important social occasions on the cruise. Waiters and waiters will be in uniform, menus are specially arranged. Guests are expected being dressed formally. The captain, usually has been sailing in the dangerous Three Gorges for tens of years, would deliver a welcoming or farewell speech and propose a toast. He would come to each table and express his good will. If you can, just "Gan Bei" or "bottoms up" with him (we have no female captains). To Chinese, people drink up is to show their happiness and satisfaction. But you don't have to do so if you are not a good drinker.

Are there private facilities in the cabins?
Yes, all cabins are equipped with a washbasin plus a shower or bathtub (depending on the cabin you choose)

Can we take our children with us on the cruise?
You can take children on a cruise. Four star and above ships provide baby and child carts and chairs, children's play room and child care.
You can share a cabin with your children because usually there is enough space to add a bed for child. But extra charges will apply. Please contact us for more information.
The following ships can provide good child care and extra bed service: Victoria Cruises, East King, East Queen, President I, Regal China cruises.

Are there any limits for luggage?
There are no rules for the number of the pieces or weight of personal luggage on your cruise ship. But closet space is limited, so bring things you intend to use. There is a luggage rack in every room and luggage deposit service is available. If you are a member of a travel group, your luggage will be sent to ship in advance or arrive at the same time you check in. The luggage will be sent into your cabin by the bellboy once your cabin is assigned. If you are traveling individually, the bellboy will help you. But the ships usually charge $1 per piece, arrival or departure. Please note this is not tip and you have to pay upfront on the spot. This webmaster saw such misunderstanding before. If you want to pay tip, when he has finished his job. Give him one or two ten yuan bills if you do not have a lot stuff.

Is there any cultural difference stuff on the cruise?
If you are the first time to visit China, there surely are some for you to notice.
The young waitress may not dare to face up to you when talk to you. It does not mean she is impolite but just habit of Chinese people You are sick or in trouble, many of the crew may come to see you. They just show their carefulness for a member of them, not necessarily mean anything like tips. Being allowed to accept tips to some extend is just a new development in China. Traditionally, guests would leave some food on the table to show politeness to the host. Nowadays, such tradition has changed. Enjoy the meal and you do not need to do like that.

Is there entertainment on board?
The management organizes programs such as visiting ashore three or four times, two or three theme evenings, around four lectures on clinics, Kungfu and fitness, Chinese painting and calligraphy performance, and competition.
Evenings are Orient-style and performers by staff. Sometimes, singer stars, local actors can be invited to the show, don't expect a Las Vegas revue but you will be entertained.
For example, there is a orchestra from the Philippines on the East King and East Queen (subject to change). Some larger cruise lines have their own professional troupe on the ships, although size may vary. You needn't to pay for the ticket during the evening except drinks and wines. There are lectures on some hot subjects, such as China History and Tibet, Three Gorges Dam and Yangtze Ecological Environment Protection, China's Policy on Planned Parenthood and Population, Chinese Medicine and Health, etc. You can learn Chinese Kungfu, such as Taiji boxing, dance, Chinese painting on the ship.
You also have time to have your own activities, such as reading in the library, sauna, massage, chess and card game, fifteens, Ping Pong. But you'd better bring your own books as there are only a few English books on the ships.

Is the smoke allowed on the ship?
No smoking in public. You could smoke on the deck outside if you want.

Is there any advise for shore excursions?
A: Don't leave the group as you please when visit on shore and go back to the ship on time and not to forget the ship card. Don't forget to hand in the room key, bring back the goods deposited and not to pack in the big luggage.

What are the difference between an ocean cruise ship and a Yangtze River cruise ship on management structure?
The management system on the Yangtze is simple.
The general manager is in charge, which is different from ocean cruise vessels. Captain is in charge of the operation of mechanical part of the ship. He must concentrate on the sailing because there are lots of gorges, reefs and shoals in the river. The captains on the Yangtze River are experienced and have be examined and promoted strictly. Ordinarily, there are one hundred and half travelers and one hundred staffs on one ship.

When you have problems on a cruise ship, you can ask the leader of your group, who will seek for help from the department concerned, or tell your guide on the ship. Or just tell the general manager of the ship.
The captain will be introduced to the guests at the briefing meeting, then general manager, housekeeping manager, restaurant manager, entertainment manager, executive chef and cruise director. The captain may present on any party or banquet only for some politeness and protocol reasons. His appearance is a symbol of security.

Are there daily activities?
Absolutely. You can choose from morning exercises, bingo, arts and crafts demonstrations, yoga demonstrations, lectures on Chinese history and modern culture. (Subject to availability).

Is it possible to make telephone calls on board?
Yes, there are facilities to do this.

Is there a sun deck?
Yes, you can watch the scenery go by from the top deck of the ships.

Are there medical facilities on board?
Each ship has doctors trained in both Chinese traditional and Western medicine.

What additional services are there on board?
You can use the services of the beauty salon, the fitness centre and the gift shops.

When does the ship sail along the river?
Generally, the ships sail during daylight hours and remain stationary overnight.