Which Yangtze River Cruise Should You Choose?

For most international travelers, Century Cruises and Victoria Cruises are the best places to start when choosing a Yangtze River cruise. Both operate established Three Gorges cruises between Chongqing and Yichang, with a good choice of ships and cabin categories.

But there isn’t one Yangtze cruise that is best for everyone. Your travel dates and direction determine which ships are available. From there, the decision usually comes down to the specific ship, cabin and price — unless you already have a particular cruise in mind.

A practical way to choose is: Date → direction → available ships → cabin → price

Rather than comparing every ship on the Yangtze, start with the cruises that actually fit your China itinerary.

Which Yangtze Cruise Is Right for You?

If you want…	Start with
A good all-around choice	Century or Victoria
One of the newest ships	Century Vision, Victoria Isabella, Yangzi Explorer, Vista Harmony or Vista Aurora
Luxury cruising with fewer guests	Yangzi Explorer
A more budget-friendly mainstream cruise	Yangtze Gold
A longer Yangtze Route like Chongqing-Wuhan, Chongqing-Shanghai	Yangtze 2, Yangtze Memory, Century Legend,

Not sure what’s available on your dates? Send us your travel dates and preferred direction, and we’ll compare the suitable ships.

Talk to a Yangtze Cruise Expert

Century or Victoria: Which Should You Choose?

This is the comparison most international travelers need to make.

Century Cruises

Century has one of the strongest selections of newer ships on the Yangtze, which is one reason we often consider it first for travelers looking for a modern mainstream cruise.

Its newer generation includes Century Glory (2019), Century Victory (2022), Century Oasis (2023), Century Voyage (2024), and Century Vision (2026). Most have deluxe cabins of around 26 m², so there is relatively good consistency across the newer fleet.

Century Legend launched in 2013 but underwent major upgrades in 2020. Its deluxe balcony cabins are approximately 28–30 m², and it also operates the longer sailing route between Chongqing and Shanghai. 

Victoria Cruises

Victoria is another of our most frequently considered choices, particularly for international travelers. It has long experience serving overseas guests, and its international-oriented onboard service is one reason we continue to include it when comparing Yangtze cruises.

Its newer large ships include Victoria Sabrina (2020) and Victoria Isabella (2025). Their Superior Cabins are approximately 25.5 m².

Victoria also operates older ships including Victoria Katarina, Victoria Anna and Victoria Jenna. Their standard cabins are around 19–21 m², so there is a more noticeable difference between ships within the Victoria fleet.

For travelers considering Victoria, we therefore pay particular attention to the specific ship, not simply the Victoria name. 

When Should You Consider Another Cruise?

Century and Victoria work well for many travelers, but there are good reasons to look beyond them.

Yangzi Explorer is the standout option for travelers looking for a higher-end experience with fewer passengers. Launched in 2025, it carries just 148 guests, with 74 all-balcony accommodations and 141 crew. Its entry-level Deluxe Cabin is approximately 31 m². Selected upstream sailings also travel via Shennongjia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering a different itinerary from most Three Gorges cruises.

Vista Harmony and Vista Aurora are worth considering if having one of the newest large ships is important to you. Both launched in 2026, carry around 650 passengers, and offer 28 m² deluxe balcony cabins.

Yangtze Gold is often a more budget-friendly choice for the classic Three Gorges cruise. Its fleet includes several large ships at relatively accessible prices, as well as recently refurbished options such as Yangtze Miracle. Yangtze Memory, renovated in 2025, operates the longer Chongqing–Wuhan route.

Changjiang Cruises is worth considering for its distinctive routes and sailing experiences. Yangtze 1 is the only cruise on the Chongqing-Yichang route that sails through both the Three Gorges Ship Lift and Gezhouba Dam locks. Yangtze 3 is the line’s higher-end vessel, while Yangtze 2 operates longer routes including Chongqing–Wuhan.

Does Cruise Direction Affect Which Ship You Can Choose?

Yes. The classic Three Gorges route normally operates as a 4-day downstream cruise from Chongqing to Yichang or a 5-day upstream cruise from Yichang to Chongqing.

Available ships and sailing dates can differ by direction. If either direction works for your China itinerary, compare the schedule as well as the ship.

Read our Chongqing to Yichang vs Yichang to Chongqing guide for a more detailed comparison.

How Do Standard Cabins Compare?

Yangtze cruise ships offer several cabin categories. For an easier comparison, here are the typical sizes of their standard or entry-level balcony cabins.

Cruise line / ship	Typical standard cabin size
Century Cruises – most newer ships	26 m²
Century Legend	28–30 m²
Victoria Sabrina / Victoria Isabella	25.5 m²
Victoria Katarina / Victoria Anna / Victoria Jenna	19–21 m²
Yangzi Explorer – Deluxe Cabin	31 m²
Yangtze Gold 2 / 3 / 5 / 6	24 m²
Yangtze Gold 8 / Yangtze Miracle / Yangtze Memory	27–30 m²
Vista Harmony / Vista Aurora	28 m²
Changjiang Yangtze 1 / 2 / 3	22–24 m²

All of these standard cabins have private balconies. For most travelers, a standard balcony cabin works well; larger cabin categories are available if you prefer more space.

How Much Does a Yangtze River Cruise Cost?

A classic 4–5 day Chongqing–Yichang cruise typically costs around USD 400–800 per person for a standard cabin.

Cruise option	Typical price range
Yangtze Gold 2 / 3 / 5 / 6 / 8	around USD 390–450
Victoria Cruises	around USD 420–550
Century Cruises	around USD 620–800
Vista Cruises	around USD 680-730
Changjiang Cruises	around USD 660–750
Yangzi Explorer	around USD 1,600–1,900

Yangtze Gold is generally the more budget-friendly choice, while Yangzi Explorer sits at the higher end of the market.

Longer 11–12 day Chongqing–Shanghai cruises by Century Legend cruise cost around USD 2,800–3,100 per person.

Prices vary by ship, sailing date, season and cabin category. See our Yangtze River Cruise Cost Guide for more detail.

Talk to our Yangtze Expert for Cruises Cost

What If You Want More Than the Classic Three Gorges Cruise?

Most travelers choose the 4–5 day Chongqing–Yichang route, but longer cruises also connect Chongqing with Wuhan or Shanghai, covering a much longer stretch of the Yangtze beyond the Three Gorges.

For these journeys, choose the route first and ship second. There are fewer ships and departures, so your preferred route will quickly narrow the options.

See our Yangtze River Cruise Tours for classic and longer cruise options.

So, Which Yangtze River Cruise Should You Book?

There isn’t one ship we recommend for every traveler. For the classic Three Gorges route, the best choice is usually the ship that offers the right balance of sailing date, cabin, onboard experience and price for your trip.

Once your travel dates are set, the available sailings usually narrow the choices considerably. This makes it much easier to compare the specific ships and decide whether paying more for a newer ship, larger cabin or higher-end experience is worthwhile.

Send us your travel dates, number of travelers and where the cruise fits into your China trip. We’ll compare the suitable sailings, ships, cabins and prices and recommend the options we think offer the best fit and value.

We can arrange the cruise on its own or build it into a private China itinerary.

Plan My Yangtze Cruise Tour

Still planning? Read our Yangtze River Cruise Planning Guide

Cruise schedules, itineraries and fares can change by season, so we recommend comparing the sailings available for your actual travel dates.