Yangtze Cruise

---

General Information

Upstream and Downstream Yangtze Cruise

Usually downstream cruise will take less time than upstream but it is more expensive on some ships because of higher demand from travelers. Some shore excursions may be different because of the different schedules by no means less interesting.

Weather

The region features strong wind, humid and less sunshine. The average temperature reaches 30 C in July and 10 C in January.

Spring and autumn are therefore the best seasons for making the river cruises.

In summers, dramatic thunderstorms and torrential rains often happen and heavy rainfalls cause the high water level between July and September.

The winters are short and cold.

Best time of the cruise

The best seasons to take a Yangtze River cruise are spring and autumn. It is April, May, September and October when the weather is cool and comfortable. These four months are often called high seasons. Despite the factor of weather, the best time is in winter in terms of price. The prices are the lowest for the winter cruises and the highest in high seasons.

Scenery along the river

The cruise will present you with unique sights including breath-taking natural scenery, striking historical sites. Some of the highlights from Chongqing to Yichang are:

Chaotianmen - It is the largest harbor on the upper reach of the Yangtze River where the brown, muddy Yangtze meets the clear Jialing River.

Fengdu Ghost City - It is said to be the home of devil with deserted streets, tower blocks, empty shops and abandoned banks.

Shibaozhai - There is a rectangular rock with sheer cliffs, standing on the riverside. A 12-storey red wooden pagoda with upturned eaves stands on the top.

Small Three Gorges - Sheer cliffs soar up towards the sky from the brown-green water; mountain tops hover above the ribbon of mist...

Shennong Stream - The crystal clear steam flows swiftly from north to south through deep gorges.

Three Gorges Dam - It is a hydroelectric river dam that spans the Yangtze River. It is the largest hydro-electric power station in the world.

---

Booking a Cruise

Booking information

We recommend that you book as early as possible to secure your preferred ship. The Yangtze Cruise trip is very popular and ships fill quickly, especially in peak traveling seasons.

The ships do not assign cabins in advance. You may request a specific cabin on check-in in a similar way to airline check in however cabin allocation is at the discretion of the ship operators.

Not all cruise ships are able to offer an extra bed, although most ships rating four stars and above have staterooms with larger space. You could ask your agent if the ship can provide it or not before your booking.

All ships do have designated nonsmoking areas, including most cabins, restaurants (including main dining rooms), and public areas.

Confirmation e-mail

You will receive a confirmation e-mail within 48 hours of completing your reservation. If you made a deposit only while booking, the confirmation e-mail will provide the final payment due date. You will also receive your cruise documents and information within 14 days of your sail date.

Please note that not all cruise lines provide paper documentation. Many now send cruise documents exclusively by e-mail.

Refund

No-show travelers will be charged 100 percent of the tour price full cost of Yangtze River Cruise if applicable. After the trip has started, we are unable to refund any amount for unused services due to your early departure, late arrival, or missed days on tours.

Special Notes for Yangtze River Cruise: The payment for the Yangtze River Cruise cannot be refunded if we receive your cancellation notice less than 35 days prior to the date of the cruise.

Terms & Conditions

Cruise cancellation

If the Yangtze River Cruise operators do not receive enough bookings for the sailing, the right to cancel a scheduled sailing is reserved.

This situation tends to happen from July to October (mainly from July and August).It is possible that the cruise is cancelled after the reservation has been previously confirmed by Yes!ChinaTour.

Cancellation usually occurs 15-30 days before the scheduled date, but can be as late as 7 days before the sailing.

Re-book

We are sorry for the inconvenience brought by the cancellation; we will do our best to rebook immediately for another ship. If the available ship is more expensive than the original, an additional expense will be required.

These events are beyond our control but we are here to provide you the best service possible to make your trip smooth.

---

Preparation

Dressing

No special formal dress is required on the ship. Be sure to take clothes that are suitable for the shore excursions or to enjoy scenery from the ship deck. Clothes to protect you from the hot sun in summer and strong wind in winter are essential.

Luggage

There are no rules for the number of the pieces or weight of personal luggage on your cruise ship however closet space is limited. There is a luggage rack in every room and a luggage deposit service is available.

Pier transportation

All Tour packages offerred by Yes!ChinaTour include pier transportation. The guide will meet you at your hotel, airport or train station and escort to your ship. If you have purchased only the cruise from us we suggest that you ask us to arrange transportation to the ship.

No tickets or vouchers

You do not need any tickets or vouchers. Our guide will transfer you to board and the check in procedure is as the same as that in a hotel. You just need to tell your name and show your passport.

---

Expense and Payment

On board purchases

Credit cards or on-board signature accounts are two alternatives used instead of cash on ship. You can pay by your credit cards or sign your list and pay them when you check out just like what you do in most of China's hotels. Major credit cards acceptable include Visa and Master Cards, etc.

Tipping

Tipping is a matter of individual preference. Additional tips for any staff member who has provided some special service are at your discretion. Tips to shore excursion guides are also at passenger's discretion.

The ship will have a box at the front office where tips can be given. There's a suggestion of $5 per person per day but of course this is entirely at your discretion.

---

On-board Services

Food and drink

We recommend that you book as early as possible to secure your preferred ship. The Yangtze Cruise trip is very popular and ships fill quickly, especially in peak traveling seasons.

The ships do not assign cabins in advance. You may request a specific cabin on check-in in a similar way to airline check in however cabin allocation is at the discretion of the ship operators.

Not all cruise ships are able to offer an extra bed, although most ships rating four stars and above have staterooms with larger space. You could ask your agent if the ship can provide it or not before your booking.

All ships do have designated nonsmoking areas, including most cabins, restaurants (including main dining rooms), and public areas.

Secretarial services

Internet services on the cruise ship can be unreliable. Most ships have internet cafes which can be used for a fee. Rooms are not internet equipped. Other secretarial services including photocopying, simultaneous translating typing, personal computers, fax capabilities may be available for a fee.

Medical services

Professional medical services are available on almost all cruise ships and every ship has a doctor on call and two registered nurses in attendance.

Laundry services

Laundry service is available including washing and pressing but no dry cleaning on board.

Organized activities

The organized activities include shore excursions and activities on board. On a cruise, the choice is yours. You may do what you want. You can do it all or just relax on the deck.

---

Yangtze Cruise