How Much Does a Yangtze River Cruise Cost?
A classic 4–5 day Yangtze River cruise between Chongqing and Yichang typically costs around USD 400–800 per person for a standard cabin.
At the higher end, Yangzi Explorer costs around USD 1,580–1,900 per person, while longer 11–12 day cruises between Chongqing and Shanghai can cost around USD 2,800–3,100 per person.
These prices provide a useful guide for budgeting. The actual cost depends mainly on the ship, cabin category, season and sailing date.
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Yangtze River Cruise Prices at a Glance
| Cruise type | Typical price per person |
|---|---|
| Classic 4–5 day Three Gorges cruise | USD 400–800 |
| Yangzi Explorer | USD 1,580–1,900 |
| 11–12 day Chongqing–Shanghai cruise | around USD 2,800–3,100 |
Prices in this guide are per person based on two travelers sharing a standard cabin on the main deck, unless otherwise stated.
Why Can One Yangtze Cruise Cost $400 and Another $800?
A USD 400 cruise and a USD 800 cruise can follow the same Chongqing–Yichang route and visit the same main Three Gorges highlights. The difference in price is often the ship itself.
Yangtze cruise ships vary considerably in age, size, cabin size, facilities, dining and service. Some lower-priced options are established ships with smaller or simpler cabins, while newer ships generally offer more contemporary accommodation and upgraded onboard facilities.
Current cruise pricing gives a useful comparison:
| Cruise company | Example starting price | Typical positioning |
|---|---|---|
| Yangtze Gold Cruises | from around USD 390+ | Large ships with lower-priced standard cabin options |
| Victoria Cruises | from around USD 420–520+ | International-service fleet, with both established and newer ships |
| Century Cruises | from around USD 620–770+ | Newer-generation fleet, including several recently launched ships |
| Vista Cruises | from around USD 680+ | New 2026 ships with all-inclusive packages |
| Changjiang Cruises | from around USD 660–710+ | Established Chinese cruise line with newer ships and some distinctive Yangtze routes |
| Yangzi Explorer | around USD 1,580–1,900 | All-suite luxury cruise with a higher-end onboard experience |
See our Yangtze River cruise tours to compare 4–5 day Three Gorges cruises, longer Yangtze routes, and China itineraries that include a cruise.
What Is Included in the Cruise Fare?
Most Yangtze cruise fares include:
- accommodation onboard
- daily meals
- included shore excursions
- scheduled onboard activities
Transportation before embarkation and after disembarkation, optional shore excursions, personal expenses and some drinks or additional services are normally separate.
Inclusions vary by ship, particularly for higher-end and all-inclusive cruises, so the actual package should be checked before booking.
How Does Cabin Choice Affect the Price?
The USD 400–800 reference range is based mainly on standard cabins, with the price calculated per person based on two travelers sharing.
A standard cabin is typically located from the lower passenger decks upward. On many ships, the base fare applies to a cabin on the main deck, on the same level as the main lobby. Moving the same cabin type to a higher deck normally requires an additional deck fee.
The larger price difference comes from upgrading the cabin category.
Depending on the ship, higher categories may include Superior Deluxe Rooms, Executive Suites, Family Suites and higher-level suites such as Presidential or Shangri-La Suites.
These rooms can be significantly more expensive than standard cabins. Suites may also include additional services and benefits, so their prices should not be compared directly with a standard cabin fare.
How Much is the Single Supplement?
Yangtze cruise prices are normally calculated per bed, per person, based on two travelers sharing a cabin.
If one traveler wants the entire twin cabin, a single supplement is required, which normally costs an additional 75% of the per-person fare.
For suites, the single-occupancy supplement can be an additional 100% of the per-person suite fare.
The exact supplement varies by ship and cabin category.
How Much Do Children Pay on a Yangtze Cruise?
Children’s fares depend on their age, cabin type, whether they occupy a bed and the number of adults sharing the cabin.
For children aged 2–11:
- A child traveling as the third passenger without a bed pays 50% of the standard per-person fare.
- A child occupying the second bed pays 75% of the standard per-person fare.
- An infant under 24 months traveling as an additional passenger pays 10% of the standard per-person fare.
If one adult travels with one child or infant, the child or infant must occupy the second bed, so the second-person fare applies. Suite and family cabin pricing may follow different rules.
Some standard cabins can accommodate a third passenger with an extra bed. A third adult is normally charged 75% of the standard per-person fare. Not every cabin allows an extra bed, so families of three or four should check the available cabin configurations.
Does Upstream Cost More Than Downstream?
Not necessarily.
The downstream cruise from Chongqing to Yichang takes 4 days / 3 nights, while the upstream cruise from Yichang to Chongqing takes 5 days / 4 nights. Despite the additional night, most cruises charge approximately the same price in either direction.
Yangzi Explorer is a notable exception. Its upstream sailings have two itinerary variations depending on the departure date, with different shore excursion programs — one via Badong and the other via Shennongjia. Its pricing therefore varies by direction and upstream itinerary.
For most other cruises, choosing upstream or downstream is more about your China itinerary and available sailing dates than price.
See our Yangtze River Cruise Upstream vs Downstream guide for a detailed comparison.
How Much Does a Chongqing–Shanghai Yangtze Cruise Cost?
The longer 11–12 day Yangtze cruises between Chongqing and Shanghai cost around USD 2,800–3,100 per person.
These cruises cover much more of the Yangtze than the classic Chongqing–Yichang route. Depending on the sailing, the journey can include Chongqing, the Three Gorges, Yichang, Jingzhou, Wuhan, Jiujiang, Nanjing, Yangzhou and Shanghai, with shore excursions along the way.
They combine the Three Gorges with destinations along the middle and lower Yangtze, creating a substantially longer river journey across China.
What Extra Costs Should You Budget?
Depending on your arrangements, you may also need to budget for transportation to the embarkation point, onward transportation after the cruise, optional excursions, cabin or deck upgrades, drinks and personal expenses.
Private shore excursions may also be available at additional cost, depending on the cruise company and excursion. For example, on newer Century Cruises ships, a private shore excursion can cost around RMB 3,000–4,000 (about USD 450–600) per excursion.
Prices vary considerably by cruise company and the sightseeing arrangements, so private excursions should be confirmed for the specific sailing.
For more information about choosing your route, sailing dates and ship, see How to Plan a Yangtze River Cruise.
Yangtze River Cruise Cost FAQs
Are cruise prices per person or per cabin?
Yangtze cruise prices are normally quoted per person based on two travelers sharing a standard cabin on the main deck.
For example, if the fare is USD 600 per person, two adults sharing the cabin would pay USD 1,200 in total.
Solo travelers normally need to book the whole cabin and pay a single supplement, as cruise companies do not automatically match individual travelers to share a cabin.
Why can two quotes for the same Yangtze cruise be different?
Even for the same ship, two quotes can be different because of the sailing date, cabin category, deck and room occupancy.
When comparing prices, make sure the quotes are for the same ship, departure date and cabin category, and check whether deck upgrades or additional services are included.
Are Yangtze cruises cheaper in the low season?
Yes, prices can be lower outside the most popular travel periods, but the difference varies by cruise company, ship and sailing date.
If your dates are flexible, it is worth comparing several departures. The ships operating and sailing schedules can also change by season, so the cheapest departure is not always the best fit for your trip.
What Is the Cancellation Policy for a Yangtze River Cruise?
Cancellation policies vary by cruise company and route. As a general reference, many Yangtze cruises charge around 10% for earlier cancellations, with the fee increasing as the sailing date approaches. Depending on the cruise, the fare can become 100% non-refundable within 3–14 days of departure.
Premium cruises can have stricter terms. Yangzi Explorer, for example, charges 50% for cancellations 30–59 days before departure and 100% within 29 days.
Longer Yangtze routes may also have different cancellation terms from the standard Chongqing–Yichang cruise. Always check the cancellation policy for your specific ship and sailing before confirming your booking.
Is a More Expensive Yangtze Cruise Worth It?
It depends on how important the ship experience is to you.
The Three Gorges scenery isn’t exclusive to the more expensive ships. Lower-priced and higher-priced cruises on the classic route both cover the main Three Gorges scenery.
The additional cost usually goes toward the ship and onboard experience — newer facilities, larger or upgraded cabins, dining, service and additional amenities.
If your priority is seeing the Three Gorges, a well-chosen lower-priced ship can offer very good value. If the cruise itself is an important part of your trip, paying more for a newer or higher-end ship may be worthwhile.
Check the Yangtze Cruise Cost for Your Trip
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