Yangtze River Cruise on Board Service, Facilities, Rooms & Activities
With all the excitement and joy after boarding a Yangtze River cruise ship, what amenities and activities can you expert on board for 4 or 5 nights? Luxurious Yangtze cruise lines that offer all of the service and facilities levels of a five-star hotel will allow you to sail in the utmost comfort.
Furthermore, whether it's soaking up the sun for relaxation or experiencing Chinese culture with a morning Tai Chi practice, you can expect a myriad of interesting activities on Yangtze River cruise.
Wish you a pleasant journey on Yangtze River!
Most important thing
Please complete boarding and check-in procedures two hours before departure.
After entering your own cabin, please find out where your cabin is located on the ship and locate the exits nearest your cabin; and read the Escape Route with Floor Plan behind the door. Figure out where the life vest is stored and learn how to wear it. Remember the service number of the ship. Meet your cruise guide and try to ask her/him the questions about your cruise trip.
Laundry
All the 4 and 5 star Yangtze cruise ships offer on-board laundry service. However, the services and pricing vary among different Yangtze River cruise companies. For example, some high-end cruises offer free laundry allowances for suite and VIP guests.
Laundry services include dry cleaning, wet cleaning, and ironing, typically charged per item.
A few high-end cruise ships provide self-service washing machines and dryers.
Pricing ranges from ¥20–40 for T-shirts, shirts, skirts, and pants, and ¥50–100 for jackets and sweaters.
Activities
There are a lot of onboard activities and entertainments for your Yangtze cruise. Night bars and lounges, live entertainment, spa & Chinese massage, libraries and card rooms. In some special cruise, there are some more interesting activities such as lecture about Traditional Chinese Painting, Chinese Shadow Puppets show, Mahjong games, Captain's Welcome and Farewell parties, cabaret shows, lecture about the three gorges, lecture about Chinese calligraphy, lecture of Chinese food and drink, and a course of Taichi and so on. If you would like to take part in some of these activities, please know well their schedules.
Tai Chi Morning Exercise (Free)
From 7:00–7:30 a.m., weather permitting, Tai Chi morning exercises will be held on the sun deck or in the activity room. A Tai Chi master on board will teach the basic movements of Tai Chi. The gentle movements are suitable for all guests, helping you relax your body and start the day with energy and vitality.
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Calligraphy and Chinese Painting Experience
Professional instructors will demonstrate traditional Chinese brush calligraphy and ink-wash landscape painting. All materials (brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones) will be provided for free, so you can try your hand at writing or painting. This is an excellent opportunity for parents and children to explore traditional Chinese art.
Tea Ceremony Performance & Tea Tasting
Watch a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. Taste famous teas such as Longjing, Pu'er, and Biluochun, and learn about traditional Chinese tea culture.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture Lecture
Learn the basic concepts of traditional Chinese medicine, such as meridians, constitutional diagnosis, and seasonal health preservation. If you are interested, you can also experience a traditional Chinese medicine consultation or foot massage (available on some ships).
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Hanfu Experience and Photography
Another special activity on the Yangtze River cruise ship—wear traditional Hanfu attire and take photos with the ship’s ancient zither, tea ceremony, and traditional-style backdrops (arranged on some cruise ships).
Luggage
Passengers can place their luggage in the closet at each cabin, or ask for a left-luggage service when needed. Although there is no luggage limitation on the ship, for your own convenience, we recommend you not to bring too much luggage on board.
Prohibited Items
Flammable and explosive items such as lighters, alcohol, aerosol cans, and fireworks Drones. Flying is prohibited at the Three Gorges Dam, and prior approval is required in other areas Pets (except guide dogs, but prior notification is required)
Cruise Ship Luggage Services
Most cruise ship terminals offer paid luggage check-in services.
Most cruise ships provide luggage storage services for early arrival or late departure.
Valuables
Passegers are not recommended to leave any valuables, jewelry or cash in the cabin. If possible, please use the saety box in the closet. If not available indoors, please contact the reception for assistance.
Private party
If you want to hold a private party with your friend on the ship. You can make a reservation with the service center in advance, they can help you decorate the party place.
Money matters
Currency exchange service is available at the reception desk. Passengers can use all the major credit cards for the consumption on board, such as Master Card, Visa, American Express, JCB and Diners Card. You can simply sign all the bills of on-board services /purchases and pay by either cash or credit card when check out.
Mobile payment via Wechat or Alipay is also encouraged.
Tipping on board
Tipping is becoming a common practice now in travel industry in China. Many Yangtze River cruise ships will give you a guideline on tipping in each cabin, but it is based on personal willingness. If any cruise ships require compulsory tips from clients, Easy Tour China will always include the cost in the cruise fare.
Electricity /Appliance
Most of Yangtze cruise ships have 110V outlets in the bathroom and 220V in cabin. Usually hair-dryers are provided in the cabin for your convenience. If not, passengers can borrow one from the reception desk.You can get your mobile phone or other digital appliances recharged since there are sockets in the cabins. For the safety reason, we recommend you to take it to the reception and ask them to do it there.
Dining on board
Compared with the ocean cruises, the river cruise ships are a lot smaller with limited space for the restaurants. Therefore, passengers will be told to have a fixed seat at the restaurant during the whole journey. The tables are the round ones with ten seats.Different cruise ships offer different dishes on board. Generally speaking, breakfast is served in the buffet style with Chinese and Western options, usually from 07:00-09:00am. Usually lunch is also buffet style with more Chinese features like some regional specialties, elaborately-prepared soups. It is quite common that cruise ships will arrange themed Chinese banquets every evening for the passengers to enjoy the Chinese culinary culture.
Most of Yangtze cruise ships (4 star or above) can offer vegetarian, salt-free, low-carbohydrate, Kosher food based on the clients’ diet preferences. However, the clients need to inform Easy Tour China travel specialist of all the requirements in advance.
Chinese and Western buffet (free of charge)
- Dishes: Sichuan cuisine, Hubei cuisine, Western desserts, etc.
- Breakfast: 7:00–9:00 (including traditional Chinese breakfast, bread, fruit, coffee, etc.)
- Lunch: 12:00–13:30
- Dinner: 18:00–20:00
VIP à la carte dining (paid or for guests in premium cabins/suites)
Recommended Cruise Ships: High-end cruise ships from companies such as the Meiwei Series, Golden Series, and Presidential Series
The menu requires advance booking and includes Yangtze River seafood, steak, pasta, red wine, and other Western-style dishes.
Welcome Banquet and Farewell Banquet
Hosted by the captain, the banquets typically feature specialty dishes, a dessert station, wine, cultural performances, and a thank-you ceremony. Business casual attire is recommended.
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Clothes / Dress code
Casual clothes are recommended on board in most circumstances. Light jackets, Jeans, T-shirts, and lightweight sweater windbreaker for springs and autumns. T-shirts and shorts/skirts in summer together with sun lotion, sunglasses and hats. In winter, thick sweaters and heaven coats might be needed.There is no official dress code or very formal night on Yangtze River cruise ships. Guests just dress in a smart casual way for dinner and a bit dressier for the welcome party and farewell dinner.
Guide service on board
Most of the service staff on board for luxury Yangtze River Cruise can speak English. Every cruise ships will have 1-2 English speaking tour guides during the journey. For all the 4-5 star ships, there is an English-Chinese bilingual broadcasting system. During the shore excursions, you will be picked up and transferred by local buses to the attractions escorted by local English-speaking guides. Easy Tour China’s tour guides do not go with you on the cruise.
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