River Cruises in China, besides Viking

[garf1108]

Hi

 

I am looking at doing a river cruise, down the Yangtze River, China and looking at alternate Companies, besides Viking and would appreciate anyone's experience?

 

Thanks

Garf1108

[Host Jazzbeau]

Here is a recent review of a Uniworld cruise in China:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2066106

Edited August 1, 2015 by Host Jazzbeau

[davidrw]

To be honest, it is best to view a Yangstee cruise as part of a China experience and it is better to look at the whole package.

 

We did a 3 week China tour with a specialised company of which 3 nights was on a Yangstee cruise.

 

It was a great holiday.

[Floridiana]

To be honest, it is best to view a Yangstee cruise as part of a China experience and it is better to look at the whole package.

 

We did a 3 week China tour with a specialised company of which 3 nights was on a Yangstee cruise.

 

It was a great holiday.

 

Same here, I second this advice. Ours was a 4 week China tour with a specialized company called China Focus Travel. They are Chinese-American and have a brick and mortar office in San Francisco + an online presence. We were 8 people only. We had a fantastic tour with excellent guides. Ours included the Silk Road, Tibet, the Li River and the Yangtze and, of course, all the places the other tours do like Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Chendung (Panda research facility and zoo).

 

They also do shorter tours and tours for smaller and larger groups, including for 2 people only! On our Yangtze ship, we were 40 westerners. In addition to the 8 of us, we saw a group of 12 British passengers, 5 Germans and 15 Swiss passengers.

 

We liked the stronger immersion into Chinese life compared to our sister ship with almost all westerners from large American and Australian travel providers. The ships seemed to travel at the same speed and dock in timely intervals so they wouldn't overwhelm the smaller onshore places.

 

The ships that take western passengers are always the better and more modern models. Some of the ships for Chinese passengers only looked very crowded with bunk beds.

[garf1108]

Thanks for the replies.

 

Garf1108

[vada_9]

Have a look at this web-site http://www.yangtze-river-************/ - if you put in a month it will advise all departures for the various vessells - there are many ships and they leave almost every day either direction.It will give you some ideas of what is available. You can do the cruise as part of a longer land tour. We did a private tour for the two of us -guides met us at airports or train stations through an Australian operator. Cost was not much different to their group tour prices - but we chose where we wanted to go.

[Talisker92]

Years ago, I took a China tour with Odysseys Unlimited that included a Yangtze river cruise

hee is the story and pictures:

\http://stevekathytravels.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/highroadtochinaoctober2005.pdf

We are always happy to answer questions

[4774Papa]

We did a river cruise with our Vantage China trip. Wonderful trip.

 

Here is my review

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1718320

[Tricia1945]

Hi

 

I am looking at doing a river cruise, down the Yangtze River, China and looking at alternate Companies, besides Viking and would appreciate anyone's experience?

 

Thanks

Garf1108

 

Company with the biggest cabins ( all suites ) on the rivers! Best food and service! Loved it! They have on in China as well!

Actually, the last thing i read about them just recently, that Bill Gates has been sailing on this one not so long ago!

 

 

http://www.sanctuaryretreats.com/china-cruises-yangzi-explorer

 

Trish

Edited August 2, 2015 by Tricia1945

[Floridiana]

Sounds very nice and luxurious.

The other ships also have lots of balcony cabins. And we came to the river on a fast train in first class. :) Taking Chinese trains is an experience you will never forget, not because of the train but because of the train stations.

[garf1108]

Have a look at this web-site http://www.yangtze-river-************/ - if you put in a month it will advise all departures for the various vessells - there are many ships and they leave almost every day either direction.It will give you some ideas of what is available. You can do the cruise as part of a longer land tour. We did a private tour for the two of us -guides met us at airports or train stations through an Australian operator. Cost was not much different to their group tour prices - but we chose where we wanted to go.

 

 

Unfortunately, your link doesn't work.

 

Thanks

[kiwismith]

We took a tour with Avalon Waterways: "CULTURAL CHINA & TIBET WITH YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE" last year (2014). It was a great trip, well organized and with very good guides. We enjoyed the river portion - it was definitely interesting - but honestly it was not our favorite part of this amazing trip. The land portions in Tibet (Dali Lama's Palace), Xian (Terracotta Warriors), and Beijing (Great Wall) were more memorable. Also, the land hotel accommodations were much nicer than our river boat cabin.

 

So - definitely do this cruise, it's fun to go through the locks and see the scenery, but don't miss the rest of China while you're in the vicinity!

 

regards,

k

[didicruiser]

We took a tour with Avalon Waterways: "CULTURAL CHINA & TIBET WITH YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE" last year (2014). It was a great trip, well organized and with very good guides. We enjoyed the river portion - it was definitely interesting - but honestly it was not our favorite part of this amazing trip. The land portions in Tibet (Dali Lama's Palace), Xian (Terracotta Warriors), and Beijing (Great Wall) were more memorable. Also, the land hotel accommodations were much nicer than our river boat cabin.

 

So - definitely do this cruise, it's fun to go through the locks and see the scenery, but don't miss the rest of China while you're in the vicinity!

 

regards,

k

I did this same itinerary but with Uniworld this past September. Loved it!

Well organized and great hotels.

[vada_9]

Unfortunately, your link doesn't work.

 

Thanks

 

just google yangtze-river-cruisesdotcom

[id4elizabeth]

We did a fabulous trip that's similar to Viking's through "China Spree", a company based in Seattle, WA. There were 6 people in our group. We stayed in Shangri-la hotels, and ate in fabulous restaurants with private guides at all times. No busses - only air-conditioned vans and separate drivers. Excellent trip!