My first trip on the Yangtze River was aboard a Victoria cruise ship. It was the Victoria Jenna, which was the biggest and newest ship of the fleet. Being a very meticulous planner, it took me weeks to research about the company and its fleet before making a decision. I have to tell you, I was never wrong about the choice I made. That was probably the reason why I went back for a second and third cruise.
About The Victoria Cruise Line
Before I’ll tell you about my experience on the Jenna, let me do a quick introduction about the Victoria cruise lines in general.
Victoria is an international cruise line, and is the only American managed one that provides cruise services in the Yangtze. Unlike local boat services, the Victoria implements Western standards and employs cruise directors who speak English, German and Indonesian.
As a luxury liner, passengers get internet access on all ships as well as international television channels in all cabins. Some of the vessels are older than the others, but they were recently refurbished to keep up with its newer vessels.
They Victoria Cruise line consists of eight vessels, varying in size and capacity. These are the:
- Victoria Anna
- Victoria Empress
- Victoria Jenna
- Victoria Katarina
- Victoria Lianna
- Victoria Prince
- Victoria Rose
- Victoria Selina
Victoria Jenna: Our Cruise Ship Of Choice
We spent four days and three nights on the Victoria Jenna, which was inaugurated back in 2009. It was the largest and newest ship on the fleet and consisted of five passenger decks, almost two hundred cabins and had a total passenger capacity of three-hundred seventy eight people. The Jenna is so huge that it is almost 50% bigger than the Anna, which is the second biggest ship on the Victoria cruise fleet.
Accommodations
We booked a superior cabin, which was very clean and furnished with two beds, a 26-inch flat screen television, in-room safe, refrigerator, and a private bathroom. I loved the fact that our room was facing outwards (as all the cabins are) and had a huge picture window that allowed us to enjoy the view of the river even while we were inside the room.
At around 225 square feet, we had our own little space along the Yangtze River. Sure, the cabin wasn’t that huge, but it was good enough to provide us with plenty of comfort and privacy during the cruise.
The vessel also had executive, deluxe and Shangri-la suites which were larger (and more expensive). Suite passengers had access to an executive deck which had concierge service, as well as complimentary dining to the ship’s alternative restaurant, the VIP club. While the extra space and other added benefits, I didn’t think we would need those, but if you’re willing to spend a little more for some added luxury, I’d definitely recommend any of the suites because you would definitely get what you pay for.
Dining Options
There were two dining options in the Victoria Jenna. The main dining room was huge – and we were assigned a specific table for the duration of the trip. Breakfast was buffet style, and we had the usually Western breakfast options as well as Chinese fare like noodles. Lunch meals were more Chinese than usual, but there were salads and cold cuts, too. Dinner on the other hand involved multiple courses, which were either also Western on Chinese. It’s a good idea to mix and match or try out different meals as you can – all of them are prepared by well trained chefs! One of our table companions was diabetic, and she had special meals served for her.
Downstream Itinerary
Our trip was downstream, boarding at Chongqing on Sunday and arriving at Yichang on Wednesday.
Day One – We boarded the ship at 7:00 PM, and the rest of the night was spent cruising on the river. They did not serve meals, so I suggest you have dinner earlier in Chongqing.
Day Two – After breakfast, we docked at Fengdu Ghost City for a shore excursion. They say that Fengdu is the home of the devil, so the place is eerie and mysterious with its empty streets and deserted structures. After boarding, we spent the rest of the day cruising on the river and seeing river-side sights such as the Three Gorges of Yangtze.
Day Three - After breakfast, we had another shore excursion on Shennong Stream. This stream is a tributary of the Yangtze. While it is smaller, the stream is known for its crystal clear waters, deep gorges, karsts formations and hanging coffins. We had to go off the Victoria cruise liner and ride smaller “peapod” boats, which are steered by several boatmen. Apart from the crowd, the waters are very peaceful and serene.
Day Four – We had a shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam site, which we were able to see up close from the river, and also from the top of the dam. We eventually arrived in Yichang a little close to lunch time.
My Thoughts On Other Victoria Cruise Ships
While the Victoria Jenna is the newest and biggest, I have seen great reviews about other Victoria Cruise ships as well. Some friends say that the rooms, amenities and accommodations were comparable. It is also good to note that the ships have a gym, library, massage room, beauty salon and gift shop.
The reason why we chose this ship was not really because of its size or because it was new, it was also due to the fact that we were arriving in Chongqing on a Sunday, and that was the ship that left Chongqing on a Sunday, too.
That said, I do not just recommend the Victoria Jenna, but any other ship from their line. Mind you, the cost is a bit steep in comparison to local service providers, but if you are willing to pay for good service, great amenities, clean accommodations and good food, don’t think twice about it.
About The Victoria Cruise Line
Before I’ll tell you about my experience on the Jenna, let me do a quick introduction about the Victoria cruise lines in general.
Victoria is an international cruise line, and is the only American managed one that provides cruise services in the Yangtze. Unlike local boat services, the Victoria implements Western standards and employs cruise directors who speak English, German and Indonesian.
As a luxury liner, passengers get internet access on all ships as well as international television channels in all cabins. Some of the vessels are older than the others, but they were recently refurbished to keep up with its newer vessels.
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They Victoria Cruise line consists of eight vessels, varying in size and capacity. These are the:
- Victoria Anna
- Victoria Empress
- Victoria Jenna
- Victoria Katarina
- Victoria Lianna
- Victoria Prince
- Victoria Rose
- Victoria Selina
Victoria Jenna: Our Cruise Ship Of Choice
We spent four days and three nights on the Victoria Jenna, which was inaugurated back in 2009. It was the largest and newest ship on the fleet and consisted of five passenger decks, almost two hundred cabins and had a total passenger capacity of three-hundred seventy eight people. The Jenna is so huge that it is almost 50% bigger than the Anna, which is the second biggest ship on the Victoria cruise fleet.
Accommodations
We booked a superior cabin, which was very clean and furnished with two beds, a 26-inch flat screen television, in-room safe, refrigerator, and a private bathroom. I loved the fact that our room was facing outwards (as all the cabins are) and had a huge picture window that allowed us to enjoy the view of the river even while we were inside the room.
At around 225 square feet, we had our own little space along the Yangtze River. Sure, the cabin wasn’t that huge, but it was good enough to provide us with plenty of comfort and privacy during the cruise.
The vessel also had executive, deluxe and Shangri-la suites which were larger (and more expensive). Suite passengers had access to an executive deck which had concierge service, as well as complimentary dining to the ship’s alternative restaurant, the VIP club. While the extra space and other added benefits, I didn’t think we would need those, but if you’re willing to spend a little more for some added luxury, I’d definitely recommend any of the suites because you would definitely get what you pay for.
Dining Options
There were two dining options in the Victoria Jenna. The main dining room was huge – and we were assigned a specific table for the duration of the trip. Breakfast was buffet style, and we had the usually Western breakfast options as well as Chinese fare like noodles. Lunch meals were more Chinese than usual, but there were salads and cold cuts, too. Dinner on the other hand involved multiple courses, which were either also Western on Chinese. It’s a good idea to mix and match or try out different meals as you can – all of them are prepared by well trained chefs! One of our table companions was diabetic, and she had special meals served for her.
Downstream Itinerary
Our trip was downstream, boarding at Chongqing on Sunday and arriving at Yichang on Wednesday.
Day One – We boarded the ship at 7:00 PM, and the rest of the night was spent cruising on the river. They did not serve meals, so I suggest you have dinner earlier in Chongqing.
Day Two – After breakfast, we docked at Fengdu Ghost City for a shore excursion. They say that Fengdu is the home of the devil, so the place is eerie and mysterious with its empty streets and deserted structures. After boarding, we spent the rest of the day cruising on the river and seeing river-side sights such as the Three Gorges of Yangtze.
Day Three - After breakfast, we had another shore excursion on Shennong Stream. This stream is a tributary of the Yangtze. While it is smaller, the stream is known for its crystal clear waters, deep gorges, karsts formations and hanging coffins. We had to go off the Victoria cruise liner and ride smaller “peapod” boats, which are steered by several boatmen. Apart from the crowd, the waters are very peaceful and serene.
Day Four – We had a shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam site, which we were able to see up close from the river, and also from the top of the dam. We eventually arrived in Yichang a little close to lunch time.
My Thoughts On Other Victoria Cruise Ships
While the Victoria Jenna is the newest and biggest, I have seen great reviews about other Victoria Cruise ships as well. Some friends say that the rooms, amenities and accommodations were comparable. It is also good to note that the ships have a gym, library, massage room, beauty salon and gift shop.
The reason why we chose this ship was not really because of its size or because it was new, it was also due to the fact that we were arriving in Chongqing on a Sunday, and that was the ship that left Chongqing on a Sunday, too.
That said, I do not just recommend the Victoria Jenna, but any other ship from their line. Mind you, the cost is a bit steep in comparison to local service providers, but if you are willing to pay for good service, great amenities, clean accommodations and good food, don’t think twice about it.
