The Best Yangtze River Cruise Ships, Compared
Which ship, which line, which package — the Yangtze decisions that matter most, side by side.
Compare Yangtze Ships FreeThe Best Yangtze River Cruise Ships, Compared Side by Side
Choosing among the best Yangtze river cruise ships is the decision most travelers get wrong, because the ships look alike in brochures. They are not alike. Some fleets are a decade newer than others, some have a Western cruise director, some offer family suites, and only a few sail all the way to Shanghai. This site compares the ships and the lines that run them, then shows how a Yangtze cruise fits inside a China tour.
The gorge-by-gorge route, the dam and the best months are covered on our sister site Yangtse River Cruises, and the river’s destinations on Yangtze River Boat Cruises. Here the question is simpler: which ship, which line, and which package.
Start Here
Yangtze river cruise lines
Who actually operates the ships, and how the main fleets differ.
Compare the lines →
Century Cruises on the Yangtze
The six-ship Century fleet, its newest vessel and its routes.
Century Yangtze cruises →
China tour with a Yangtze cruise
How Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai fit around the river.
See tour shapes →
Cruising from Shanghai
The long sailings between Shanghai and Chongqing, port by port.
Shanghai sailings →What Separates One Yangtze Ship From Another
| What to compare | Why it matters | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Year built or renovated | The newest ships have larger balconies, more suites and more dining choices. | When did this ship enter service, and when was it last refurbished? |
| Who runs the ship | Fleets differ in service style, language support and how excursions are run. | Is there an English-speaking cruise director and guide on board? |
| Route length | Most ships sail only Chongqing–Yichang; a few sail to Shanghai. | Does this ship sail the full river, or only the gorges stretch? |
| Cabin mix | Family suites and connecting cabins are limited on some ships. | Which categories have a private balcony, and how many suites are there? |
| How it is sold | The same ship can be booked cruise-only or inside a tour package. | Is the cruise part of a package with flights and hotels, or on its own? |
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise check each of these on the line’s own current information before quoting, because ships move between routes from season to season.
The Fleets in One Paragraph Each
Century Cruises runs six large ships on the Yangtze — Century Vision, Voyage, Oasis, Victory, Glory and Legend — and also sails in Europe and Egypt. It offers both the short gorge sailings and the long Shanghai routes, plus land-and-river China tours. More on Century.
Victoria Cruises describes itself as the only American-managed line on the Yangtze. Its ships — Victoria Anna, Isabella, Jenna, Katarina and Sabrina — sail the Chongqing–Yichang stretch in both directions, with a Western cruise director and river guide. More on the lines.
Other China-based fleets also sail the gorges. If a package names a ship you have not heard of, send us the name and we will tell you what we know about it.
Yangtze Ship Questions We Hear Most
Which are the best Yangtze river cruise ships?
The newest large ships from the established fleets — for example Century Cruises’ Century Vision, Voyage and Oasis — and the Victoria Cruises fleet are the names our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise are asked about most. “Best” depends on whether you want the newest hardware, an English-speaking cruise director, a family suite or a long sailing to Shanghai.
Do Western cruise lines have their own ships on the Yangtze?
Not in the way they do in Europe. The ships are run by China-based fleets; Western tour companies book cabins on them as part of China packages. Ask who operates the ship before you compare prices.
Are Yangtze ships like European river ships?
No. Yangtze ships are much larger and taller, with several hundred guests, theaters, spas and multiple restaurants on the newer vessels. They feel closer to a small ocean ship than to a Rhine longship.
Can I book just the cruise without a China tour?
Yes. The short Chongqing–Yichang sailings are sold on their own, and so are the long Shanghai routes. Most travelers from North America still add Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai.
Plan the Rest of the Trip
Ocean cruises to Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tianjin are covered on Cruising China, which also keeps China entry rules for cruise travelers. Other rivers in the region — the Mekong, the Ganges, the Irrawaddy — are on Asia River Cruises, and port tours for Asian ocean calls are on Asia Shore Excursions. Every river line and ship is listed in the Official River Cruise Directory. Join the Mister Cruise cruise-offers newsletter for new offers, and if you would like to sell trips like this yourself, see Be a Travel Agent.
This site is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a quote, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise handle it personally — not a call center — and book everything for you. Meet Mister Cruise →
More Yangtze and Asia River Sites
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