Review By: Alan Smethurst from cruisefinder.com.au 
Chongqing to Shanghai 
August/September 2007 

Why this particular cruise?
It was a cruise I had always wanted to do and as part of a three week trip to China proved to be one of the highlights in a really busy schedule. The three gorges were absolutely beautiful and the Three Gorges Dam a real eye-opener. As a black sand beach can be a little off-putting on first sight the Yangzi likewise can be a surprise…it is yellowy-brown in colour because of the silt and there is a lot of refuse floating along…but don’t let that put you off the scenery more than makes up for it.

Where did the cruise go?
We joined the cruise in Chongqing and spent six nights on board ending our journey in Shanghai. Although many Yangzi cruises are shorter the extra days gave us the chance to visit Yellow Mountain one of the most memorable days on the whole trip with absolutely stunning scenery. Also Shanghai is a marvel having developed at a staggering rate in the past nine years. A trip on the worlds fastest train from Shanghai to the airport was a thrilling experience with a speed of almost 450kmh reached. 

Did the ship measure up to your expectations?
It left a little to be desired. Although the cruise overall was enjoyable the food lacked variety, entertainment was restricted to performances by crew members and sometimes communication between passengers and crew was hard. The inside of the ship was fine, cabins adequate and beds surprisingly comfortable.

What were the cabins like?
Cabins were adequate. Two twin beds, full length glass sliding doors and a small balcony with two chairs. The cabin TV was small and regularly lost picture and there were no facilities for making a hot drink although staff would gladly give you a flask of boiling water on request.  The toilet area was fine and featured a bath with overhead shower. I think it may have been due to the cleaning fluids used by the maids but the room took on a strange smell after they had serviced the cabin.

 
What was the food like?
The food was one of the biggest disappointments. After almost two weeks travelling around China with Chinese food the staple fare most of the passengers were looking forward to a change in diet and  more European-style food. However, this was not the case even though probably 98 per cent of the passengers were European, mainly Australian, Dutch, English and German. Breakfast and lunch was provided on a buffet  basis and more often than not the food was warm at best by the time you got it. Dinners were served but the content was mainly Asian although quite enjoyable. Wines were limited and expensive although members of our party took a liking to The Great Wall Chinese produced red wine.

What were ships’ facilities like?
The ship is the flagship of  Victoria’s upgraded fleet and the facilities were quite adequate. The dining room was pleasant, although a little crowded. The lounge bar area was comfortable with a small dance floor , but a warning to coffee lovers the price of a cuppa could cost you more than a beer or a spirit  in China. At one airport a cup of coffee came in at almost $11. The ship had a small retail area in the main lobby selling Chinese souvenirs, chocolate, sweets and clothing. It has more than 1200 square feet on the upper floor with conference rooms, space for cocktail parties, private meetings and guest lectures. The staff were generally friendly and helpful.

Who would a Yangzi cruise appeal to?
To me a Yangzi cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that would appeal to a broad spectrum of travelers. My advice would be to decide exactly what you wanted to do on your trip and what you wanted to see and then sit down with a travel agent to work out an itinerary for you. There is so much to see that it would be a shame not to take it all in. Scenery in the three gorges is as good if not better in its own way than the scenery in Alaska.

Advice
Seek advice from your doctor before visiting China. Many of our fellow travelers got a tummy bug that lasted anything from a day or two to a week in the most extreme cases. It is best to take medication with you. We found internal flights in China  better than expected, all flights were on time and reclaiming baggage was far quicker than most countries. The cruise and holiday package proved  most enjoyable the highlights being, the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, Yellow Mountain, the Panda breeding station, a cruise down the Lijiang River and of course the Yangzi cruise itself. Favourite city Guilin.