What's on board the Three Gorges cruise ship? This guide tells you

The Three Gorges of the Yangtze River are located in the hinterland of China, starting from Baidicheng in Fengjie County, Chongqing City in the west and ending at Nanjinguan in Yichang City, Hubei Province in the east. The total length is 193 kilometers, belonging to the subtropical monsoon climate zone, spanning Fengjie, Wushan, Badong, Zigui, and Yichang in Hubei Province. It is the general term for the three sections of Qutang Gorge, Wuxi Gorge, and Xiling Gorge. The Three Gorges were formed due to the continuous rise of the earth's crust in this region and the strong downward cutting of the Yangtze River, resulting in extremely abundant hydraulic resources.

The Three Gorges Canyon is an important component of China's largest river, the Yangtze River. A boat tour of the Three Gorges has always been a lingering artistic conception in the minds of most Chinese people. In an era where transportation is so convenient, sailing on a luxurious and comfortable star rated cruise ship in the canyon area of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River is so exciting.

The Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, with its steep, unique, and natural geographical features, require taking a cruise to appreciate such picturesque scenery. During the cruise period, the cruise ship will intermittently sail, enjoying the natural scenery along the way, the Three Gorges villages, and the beautiful peaks and rocks on both sides of the river. At the same time, the cruise ship also arranges daily shore visits to scenic spots. Allow you to hike up to different scenic spots within the canyon and enjoy up close different styles of natural and cultural landscapes.

The starting ports for boat tours are Yichang City in Hubei Province and Chongqing City directly under the central government. Boarding a cruise ship requires accommodation on board. Depending on the tourist's travel time, they usually stay on board for 2-5 days. During this period, the cruise ship will sail intermittently and choose a suitable time for sightseeing. The tourist boats currently operating on the Three Gorges route of the Yangtze River are of very good quality, as these high-end tourist boats were originally designed to receive foreign guests and meet or exceed the standards of star rated hotels set by the National Tourism Administration, comparable to five-star hotels on land.

How can one enjoy the charming Three Gorges scenery on a cruise ship?

It can be confirmed that the Three Gorges must be viewed by boat, and hiking and self driving are not allowed! The Yangtze River cruise ships travel along the winding Three Gorges River, with strange peaks and cliffs on both sides, through which the boats pass. Among them, the 193 kilometer canyon river is the most classic part. From the ship, you can overlook the kilometer high peak and admire the stunning three canyons of Xiling Gorge, Qutang Gorge, and Wuxia that have been breathtaking for thousands of years. Each guest room on the cruise ship has an independent viewing balcony, allowing you to enjoy the canyon scenery and the surging momentum of the Yangtze River from your own room even without leaving your home. There is a 180 degree indoor observation hall on board the cruise ship,

Sitting in the observation hall, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the river scenery. The all glass observation hall has a wide view and is equipped with central air conditioning throughout the ship, allowing you to enjoy the scenery without having to suffer from wind and rain. The top floor of the cruise ship has a huge observation deck, which is flat and atmospheric. Overlooking the river scenery or overlooking the green mountains, breathing in the spiritual energy between the mountains and waters up close.

If we stay on the boat, how should we spend this wonderful time?

At present, the best tourist boats operating on the Yangtze River are all from the following cruise fleets: Victoria Fleet, Gold Series Fleet, President Series Fleet, Century Series Fleet, Goddess Series Fleet, Changhai Series Fleet, and Royal Series Fleet.

Other tourist boats have poor conditions and can only be called tourist ferries, not luxury Yangtze River cruise ships. Yangtze River luxury cruise ships must be able to accommodate multiple factors such as food, accommodation, sightseeing, entertainment, and shopping, and meet or exceed the five-star standards of the National Tourism Administration.

Riding these cruise ships, there is almost no need to consider comfort issues. During the construction period, luxury cruise ships on the Yangtze River are expected to be built to the maximum size to obtain greater activity space and provide comfort for tourists throughout their entire journey. Due to construction limitations, the surface space of the cruise ship is generally 6 levels, and the underwater deck is 2 levels. The main activity space, including guest rooms, restaurants, and various entertainment facilities, is also located above the second floor of the water surface. The guest rooms naturally occupy the largest space on the cruise ship, while the rest of the floor space is equipped with banquet halls, conference rooms, multifunctional halls, nightclubs, karaoke, cinemas, mahjong rooms, gyms, children's play rooms, massage rooms, saunas, viewing corridors, shopping centers, lobbies, medical rooms, swimming pools, and many other facilities. However, all facilities are smaller than those in land-based hotels.

Since you boarded the ship, almost all facilities have been opened, and some facilities require additional fees, such as karaoke rooms, cinemas, massage rooms, swimming pools, etc. You need to carefully understand the floor and whether each facility is charged in the room guide to have a clear idea.

Consumption on the cruise ship, such as drinks, massages, etc., does not require cash payment. You can sign the bill according to your room number and go to the front desk the night before departure to settle the fees. Not only cash but also credit cards and savings cards can be used on board. It must be noted that self paid attractions and shopping expenses require direct cash payment and do not accept card swiping services.

All standard guest rooms on the cruise ship are equipped with independent viewing balconies, covering an area of approximately 15-20 square meters. The rooms are equipped with central air conditioning with a constant temperature of around 25 degrees Celsius, two single beds, a writing desk, a writing chair, a bedside table, a sofa (which can be converted into a single sofa bed), and a wall mounted LCD TV. The room has a separate bathroom, a flushing toilet, a shower area, an emergency call system, anti slip mats, and a hair dryer that needs to be rented or brought at the front desk. Disposable toiletries and slippers are also readily available. The room has a large closet that can store your large luggage and clothes drying racks. There are life jackets in the closet and an escape route map behind the door, which you need to read and remember in advance.

The higher floors of the cruise ship also have higher-level rooms, such as executive suites, deluxe suites, and presidential suites. These guest rooms are located higher, have larger room sizes, more complete facilities, and have separate bathtubs in the bathrooms. If you want to get more enjoyment, you can also consider these room types, but usually these rooms are few in number and the room prices are 2-3 times that of regular rooms.

Another important thing on a cruise ship is dining. Tourists from both the north and south have different tastes, and the cruise ship also takes these factors into consideration. Therefore, most of the meals are arranged as a buffet of Chinese and Western styles, and various flavors of meals are also available in unlimited quantities.

Due to the presence of some foreign tourists on board, the cruise ship also prepares a variety of meals, with almost every meal featuring different dishes. At the same time, desserts, fruits, hot and cold dishes, and staple foods are constantly being updated. The dining order of the cruise ship is good, and each passenger has their own fixed dining table throughout the journey. The cruise ship staff will allocate table positions according to the room number before the first meal, and the entire process remains unchanged. Whether you go first or later, the dining table will not be occupied by other tourists. It should be noted that there is a certain difference in the dining time between Yangtze River cruise ships and sea cruise ships. They are both served three meals at a fixed time and are not open all day, so try to go according to the time as much as possible.

In order to welcome every tourist, the captain usually arranges a captain's welcome party and a welcome dinner. During the welcome dinner, the captain dresses in formal attire and raises his glass to express his welcome to the guests. The captain's welcome dinner is not to be missed. The dinner will be in the form of Chinese table seating, and the dishes will mainly feature local specialties from Hubei and Chongqing, making it even more sumptuous. During the meal, you can also take a group photo with the captain.

In the evening, a warm welcome party will be held on the cruise ship, with enthusiastic and unrestrained performances by the singing and dancing service personnel. The folk themed song and dance performances will bring this atmosphere to a climax. The room and restaurant servers you see during the day are all dressed up and performing, and the excellent performance of professionally trained service personnel is amazing. At the same time, there will also be organized recreational activities with passengers participating, and the crew and tourists will enjoy themselves together.