Yangtze Explorer
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![Yangtze Explorer Cruise Ship](assets/images/new/home/yangtze-explorer-home-438.jpg)
Yangtze Explorer (also called Yangzi Explorer) under Sanctuary Retreats is the most luxury, and the only super 5-star ship on the Yangtze River. Carrying only 124 passengers, it offers the finest and the most personalized one-on-one service (highest crew to passenger ratio on the river of 1:1) to ensure every level of comfort for an intimate cruising experience.
Good News 2024: Except for the classic cruise itineraries (4 Days Chongqing to Yichang Cruise and 5 Days Yichang to Chongqing Cruise), Yangtze Explorer offers a special exclusive itinerary in 2024, travelers will appreciate the enchanting scenery of World UNESCO natural heritage site of Shennongjia, the world's only place to close up with wild golden monkeys, seek the tracks of wild men, and enjoy a cool holiday, etc.
Yangtze Explorer 2025 Booking Available: 2025 Early bird booking of Yangtze Explorer is available now. Select your favorite date below and make your book early to get a good price!
Cruise Route:
- 3N & 4D Chongqing - Yichang Cruise (to Shennong Stream)
- 4N & 5D Yichang - Chongqing Karst Landscape Cruise (via Badong)
- 4N & 5D Yichang - Chongqing UNESCO Heritage Site Discovery Cruise (via Shennongjia)
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Yangtze Explorer Overview
As the BEST super-5 star cruise ship on the Yangtze River, Yangtze Explorer (also called Yangzi Explorer) offers not only the largest and most beautifully appointed cabins and suites, but also the finest and comfortable relaxing environment from your dining to all entertaining hours.
Each cabin on board is exceptional in size and has been recently furbished with awesome design with awesome modern Chinese and Western beauty to create a more harmonious and luxury cruising experience, with a private balcony facing to the gorges along the Yangtze River. Carrying just 124 passengers at most, Yangtze Explorer provides the finest and most personalized service, delivered by the highest ratio of staff to guests. The one-on-one VIP services ensure that every level of comfort is catered for during the cruise.
Cruising with Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer provides a supremely relaxing way to get you as close as possible to Central China’s most captivating landscape, steer you to the dramatic destinations old and new and give glimpse of remote riverside life without the need for unpacking and repacking in between.
As Yangtze Explorer is the only cruise vessel managed strictly under the world renowned Sanctuary Retreats, it provides the international standards of service and luxury cruising experience, also, since this ship is also chosen by many financial and political magnates, such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Henry Kissinger, for their Yangtze River cruise, you are surely not missing it for start your deluxe unbeatable Yangtze cruise vacation in China!
- Maiden Voyage2008
- Refurbished2016
- Tonnage6733 T
- Length91.5 M
- Width16.4 M
- Height20.4 M
- Speed26km/h
- ItineraryCQ=YC
- Capacity124
- Crew121
- Decks5
- ElevatorsYes
- Restaurants1
- WIFIYes
- Swimming PoolN/A
- Laundry ServiceYes
- Cabins62
- Private BalconyYes
- Private BathroomYes
- Hair DryerYes
- VIP RestaurantN/A
Why Choose Yangtze Explorer?
![Yangtze Explorer](assets/images/cruiseships/yangtze-explorer/yangtze-explorer-highlights-service.jpg)
Exclusive One-on-one VIP Service
![Yangtze Explorer](assets/images/cruiseships/yangtze-explorer/yangtze-explorer-highlights-sanctuary-638.jpg)
Only Yangtze Cruise under Sanctuary Retreats
![Yangtze Explorer](assets/images/cruiseships/yangtze-explorer/yangtze-explorer-highlights-cabin.jpg)
Largest Cabins & Suites on Yangtze
- Ignite Every Moment Onboard: With diverse activities arranged, like Chinese calligraphy, Chinese cooking learning, kite flying, etc., no single minute onboard will be boring but be interesting with the views, culture, history and fun.
- Unique Shore Excursion Arrangement: Creatively scheduling a series of special attractions, such as nuclear plant, underwater museum, authentic trackers’ village, etc., it brings more surprises for your tour to the Three Gorges and Yangtze.
- Diverse Offers for Your Best Savings: Early bird booking, traveling with children offer, and solo escape offer, you can enjoy nice discount at any time you want to cruise.
- Yangtze Only A-La-Carte Dinner: Unique arrangement of A La Carte dinners every day among all Yangtze River cruises, it offers more cuisine choices to please your taste buds.
- Complimentary Daily Afternoon Tea: Splendid gorges scenery to go with the free afternoon tea, time will be really wonderful to release minds.
2024 Yangtze Explorer Cruise Routes
![Yangtze River Cruise](assets/images/cruiseships/cruise-route-yangtze-explorer-3nights-goddess-sky-road-400.jpg)
3 Nights & 4 Days Chongqing - Yichang Cruise
Most popular downstream itinerary to see the best significant mountains and gorges of Yangtze.
Day 1: CHONGQING | Embarkation
Day 2: FULING & ZHONGXIAN | 816
Underground Nuclear Project/White Crane Ridge Underwater Museum, Feng Yan San Guo Show
Day 3: WUSHAN & BADONG | Qutang Gorge, Wushan Goddess Sky Road, Wu Gorge, Shennong Stream
Day 4: YICHANG | Disembarkation, Three Gorges Dam
![Yangtze River Cruise](assets/images/cruiseships/cruise-route-yangtze-explorer-4nights-badong-400.jpg)
4 Nights & 5 Days Yichang - Chongqing Karst Landscape Cruise (via Badong)
Experience a wooden sampan ride on the river inside the typical Karst Wuyuan Cave before cruising through the three gorges, fully appreciating the landscapes' contrast.
Day 1: YICHANG | Embarkation
Day 2: BADONG | Wuyuan Cave, Wu Gorge
Day 3: FENGJIE | Qutang Gorge, White Emperor City, Three Gorges Summit
Day 4: ZHONGXIAN | Shibaozhai/Xituo Ancient Town
Day 5: CHONGQING | Disembarkation
![Yangtze River Cruise](assets/images/cruiseships/cruise-route-yangtze-explorer-4nights-shennongjia-400.jpg)
4 Nights & 5 Days Yichang - Chongqing UNESCO Heritage Site Discovery Cruise (via Shennongjia)
Explore Shennongjia, a UNESCO World Heritage site that protects the largest primary forests remaining in Central China and provides shelter to many rare animal species.
Day 1: YICHANG | Embarkation
Day 2: SHENNONGJIA | Shennongjia National Park
Day 3: FENGJIE | Wu Gorge, Qutang Gorge, White Emperor City, Three Gorges Summit
Day 4: ZHONGXIAN | Shibaozhai/Xituo Ancient Town
Day 5: CHONGQING | Disembarkation
What to Expect on Yangtze Explorer?
![Yangtze Explorer](assets/images/cruiseships/yangtze-explorer/yangtze-explorer-dining-215.jpg)
A surprising flavors tour with a rich range of Chinese & Western gourmet prepared by the team of internationally trained chefs.
Schedule of Yangtze Explorer
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- Dec.
Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | |
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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
8 Yichang → Chongqing from $1364via Badong | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 Chongqing → Yichang from $1206 | 13 | 14 | |
15 Yichang → Chongqing from $1524via Badong | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 Chongqing → Yichang from $1352 | 20 | 21 | |
22 Yichang → Chongqing from $1779via Shennongjia | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 Chongqing → Yichang from $1352 | 27 | 28 |
- The above price range is based on a standard cabin for twin sharing.
- The prices are valid by Dec.31 of the year.
- Please enquire us of the exact price according to your nationality, cruising time and cruising route.
- The cruise prices for holidays such as National Holiday (the first week of October), Labor Day, Spring Festival, etc., are quoted upon request.
- Limited winter schedules may be adjusted into other dates, cruise ships, etc. based on the arrangement of the cruise company.
Save up more to Book a China Tour Package including Yangtze Cruise
![photo](assets/images/destinations/chongqing/tours/three-gorges-dam-270.jpg)
5 Days Yichang Tour with Yangtze Cruise Experience
![photo](assets/images/destinations/chongqing/chongqing-yangtze-cruise-270.jpg)
4 Days Chongqing Essence Tour with Yangtze Cruise
![photo](assets/images/destinations/zhangjiajie/zhangjiajie-grand-canyon-638.jpg)
6 Days Chongqing, Yangtze River & Zhangjiajie Exciting Tour
![photo](assets/images/china-yangtze-cruise/xian/terra-cotta-full.jpg)
11 Days China Golden Triangle Tour with Yangtze River Cruise
Not easy to find the right cruise ship/itinerary for you? Please contact one of our Yangtze cruise specialists to save your time and money. Click the right button to send an online inquiry and we will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hours.
Your can rely on our expert knowledge and endless enthusiasm!
Questions & Discussions
Following are latest questions and answers from our webusers and customers. You can learn many useful information from the discussion and cases. You can also join in the discussions or ask your own question. Our experts will help you ASAP.
Thank you for the question. Onboard Yangtze Explorer, the cruise staff prepared a bottle of drinkable water for every guest in their room every day. If you want more, just tell the staff at the reception desk. Besides, there are some beverages like local beer, wine made in China, coca cola, sprites, soda water, juice, and so on, served in the dining rooms for free during your specified meals onboard. However, if you want more drinks, you could buy in the bar onboard where beverages usually are charged a little higher than others onshore but still reasonable. You could know the detailed price of each kind of drinks from the cruise staff after boarding.
Wish you a nice sailing with Yangtze Explorer!
I’m sorry to tell you that we don’t have the detail price list for laundry onboard, but the fees for such services are reasonable, and you could know the prices from the staff on the cruise after boarding.
Have a nice day!
Thanks for the question. There is laundry service offered on Yangtze Explorer for your choice, which is for extra payment. If you book cabin type of suit, you could have your clothes done laundry for free.
Have a good time onboard the Yangtze Explorer!
Thank you for the question and good to know your traveling to Yangtze River cruise in September. That month is during summer season, and there are relatively more mosquitos. However, since most of your time would be enjoyed onboard the cruise, and there is great central air-conditioner provided, you would not be influenced much by the mosquitos. But still, to make you have a worry-free trip and maintain healthy, it is suggested pack your mosquito-repellent for your river cruise and use it before embarkation, going onshore for excursions, and disembarkation.
Wish you a wonderful trip onboard the Yangtze Explorer!
Thanks for your question! Yes, guests onboard the Yangtze Explore can be contacted by telephone, and the ship phone number is (0086) 13972600837. However, it is not recommended for people to contact a guest onboard the ship by Email.
Wish you a good trip on the Yangtze Explore!
Are there any formal events ? What's the dress code for dinner and watching shows ?
Thanks
Thanks for your questions. It is great to take a cruise sailing on Yangtze River in late April for the pleasant weather. Wish you have a nice vacation on Yangtze Explorer.
Travelers will enjoy Captain’s Welcome Party and Farewell Party can attend evening shows performed by the crew onboard, join in different kinds of cultural activities such as Traditional Chinese Culture Lectures, Chinese Tea Appreciation and Chinese Brush Painting and Calligraphy and more.
Usually dressing code for captain's welcome, farewell party and shows is not very formal. Such as, suite, tie, evening dress, etc. are not strictly required. You can dress as comfortable as possible to enjoy your cruise tour, but too casual clothes like jeans, round-neck shirts, shorts, slipperier, and so forth are better to avoid.
If you have more questions, please feel free to contact us and we are here glad to help!
Thanks for your question. Yes, besides the super 5 star Yangtze Explorer, there are other 23 cruise ships sailing on Yangtze River. You can check it on our page (http://www.yangtze-river-cruises.com/ships.html), and among the ships we recommend you Century Cruises like Century Paragon and Century Legend, Victoria Cruises like Victoria Jenna and Victoria Anna, etc.
Please feel free to tell us your traveling date and number of mates, our travel consultants will send you detailed quote based on your date.
Best regards,
Have a question? Get answers from our travel experts or guests
Why Cruise with yangtze-river-cruises.com
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The Local Cruise Agency
Located in Chongqing, the significant Yangtze pier, we are the leading local travel agency for traveling to the Yangtze River and China.
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Ultra-Low Prices
Specialized in the Yangtze River cruise booking for several years, we have great relationships with all ship companies.
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With one-on-one service, our cruise experts provide 24-hour support and are always patient and friendly to make your travel as easy as possible.