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Top Budget Yangtze River Cruises 2025

Are you expecting a memory-lasting Yangtze River cruise experience but with limited pockets? Don’t worry, we, yangtze-river-cruises will make your dream come true. Cooperating with major luxury cruise companies on the Yangtze River for years, we ourselves, always insist on our originality and devote to strive for and offer the most cost-effective cruise vacation deals to our dear guests. At the same time, we also respect our guests’ choices.

In this article, we not only select cruises assessed as good value for money but also provide valuable references and detailed information that distinguishing the highlights of each ships by facilities, services, former customers’ feedbacks, and cruise packages. Let’s discover the best budget cruise on the Yangtze River together!

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Top 1: Century Paragon & Century Legend - Grand Public Space, Diverse Onboard Entertainment & Years of Accumulated Reputation
Top Budget Yangtze River Cruises 2025

Century Paragon

Century Paragon & Legend Ship Data:

Managed by: Century Cruises
Launch: 2013
Capacity: 398
Cabins: 196

Although Century Paragon’s first voyage was early in 2013, the accumulation of years of cruising, plus the company - Century Cruises’ excellent management skills and continuous innovation and enterprising their products and services, won the cruise reputation among Yangtze River luxury cruises.

The overall decoration of Century Paragon is dominated by gold and red, which shows the nobility and luxury of combining Chinese and Western architecture. In addition, Century Paragon is similar in size and tonnage to Century’s newly launched ships Century Glory, Century Victory and Century Oasis, but its passenger capacity is much lower. In other words, Century Paragon has sacrificed its’ passenger capacity to provide passengers with a wider cabin and more extensive public areas.

Rich Onboard Entertainment Area: Butterfly Cinema, Swimming Pool, Sauna Room, Massage Lounge, Photo Center, Souvenir Shop, Boutique Shop, Bar, Karaoke, Gym, Reading Room, Junior Cruisers Center, Beauty Salon……

Also Launched in 2013, Century Legend is the sister ship of Century Paragon and has been in stable operation for over a decade. The onboard facilities are virtually identical to those of Century Paragon, with the only difference being the interior decoration. Century Legend primarily operates on the Three Gorges route during the summer season of June to August. For the remainder of the year, it runs an 11- to 12-day long-haul cruise from Chongqing to Shanghai. For specific sailing schedules, please refer to 2025 schedule of Century Legend >>

See our customers reviews about the cruise: Century Paragon Cruise Ship Reviews | Century Legend Cruise Ship Reviews

From

$436-$484

Top 2: Victoria Jenna - Silver Award Winner of Magellan Awards’ River Cruise Ship Category
Top Budget Yangtze River Cruises 2025

Victoria Jenna

Victoria Jenna Ship Data:

Managed by: Victoria Cruises
Launch: 2009
Refurbished: 2018
Capacity: 378
Cabins: 189

Proud winner: Victoria Jenna is one of the newest and largest Victoria Cruises and proudly selected as a Silver Award Winner for the Magellan Awards’ River Cruise Ship category by Travel Weekly. It takes you to enjoy the fantastic river view and places of interests between Chongqing and Yichang.

Low price & superior service: Offering unbeatable nice price but also provides luxury cruising experience, destination-focused onboard activities, alternative eatery, which is all due to the superior American management. Western customers will indeed get what they really want. There is no wonder that it has earned the best feedbacks among all the Victoria Cruise ships and serves for the friends and families of our guests after their recommendation of Victoria Jenna.

Large room for sceneries: On the ship, cabins are large and each one is provided with a private balcony for sightseeing.

See what our customers said about the cruise: Victoria Jenna Cruise Ship Reviews >>

From

$397-$457

Top 3: Victoria Anna - Popular Victoria Ship Newly Refurbished in 2019
Top Budget Yangtze River Cruises 2025

Victoria Anna

Victoria Katarina Ship Data:

Managed by: Victoria Cruises
Launch: 2006
Refurbished: 2019
Capacity: 266
Cabins: 133

The Victoria Anna, refurbished in 2019, is a standout vessel in Victoria Cruises’ fleet and a recipient of the 2011 Travel Age West Wave Award Editor’s Pick for Best River Cruise Line. Onboard, guests enjoy hotel-like comfort, enhanced by the ship’s unique design. All cabin beds are positioned parallel to the balconies—a feature exclusive to the Victoria Anna—ensuring an unparalleled view of the Yangtze River and the gorges right from your room.

The ship’s professional English-speaking staff, trained under strict American management protocols, consistently deliver exceptional service in line with Victoria Cruises’ high standards. With a variety of onboard activities, the Victoria Anna promises an unforgettable journey along the Yangtze River, showcasing its beautiful landscapes and fascinating attractions.

See what our customers said about the cruise: Victoria Anna Cruise Ship Reviews >>

From

$397-$457

Top 4: Victoria Katarina - Standard International Service Level Offering Foreign Guests Best Experience
Top Budget Yangtze River Cruises 2025

Victoria Katarina

Victoria Katarina Ship Data:

Managed by: Victoria Cruises
Launch: 2004
Refurbished: 2017
Capacity: 264
Cabins: 132

Victoria Katarina is the earliest launched luxury ship still running in 2024 under Victoria Cruises. Thanks to its complete refurbishment in 2017, the ship's environment remains at a high level of refinement, comfort and cleanliness. Despite the lower price, the cabin hygiene, crew service, and shore experience are no different from the remaining three, which is why Victoria Katarina is the king of value for money.

Reputable American services: Victoria Cruises is the only Yangtze River cruise company that benchmarks American-style management. The crew’s English and service skills are excellent, so English speakers who do not know Chinese do not need to worry about understanding problems.

Diverse activities for free: Besides the included onshore excursions, you will be treated to rich types of activities and performances, which are all for free.

See what our customers said about the cruise: Victoria Katarina Cruise Ship Reviews >>

From

$383-$449

Top 3: Yangtze 1 - Refurbished in 2023, All-inclusive State Guest Treatment Three Gorges Cruise Ship
Top Budget Yangtze River Cruises 2025

Yangtze 1

Ship Data:

Managed by: Changjiang Cruises
Launch: 2006
Refurbished: 2023
Capacity: 218
Cabins: 109

All-inclusive Cruise Package Deals: Yangtze 1 may seem expensive based on its cruise price alone, but it is one of the few Three Gorges cruise ships to offer an all-inclusive package. When you remove the attractions that require extra fees on other cruise ships, the Yangtze 1 turns out to be a good value for money.

Refurbished in 2023: A renovation of Yangtze 1 in 2023 made up for its infrastructure and decoration shortcomings; Although it is a small and medium-sized cruise ship, due to strict controls on passenger capacity by the shipping company, the overall feedback from tourists who have taken the ship in 2023 years has been very positive. Moreover, Yangtze River 1 offers a large private balcony that can reach 3-10 square meters, providing a superb vacation experience.

Exclusive Itinerary: Currently, Yangtze is the only cruise ship that sails through the Three Gorges (Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge), as well as passing through two dams (Three Gorges Dam and Gezhou Dam). Besides, the 2023 newly planned scenic spot - Goddess Sky Road, which offers a panoramic view of the gorgeous Wu Gorge- further enhances the value of the cruise package.

See what our customers said about the cruise: Yangtze 1 Cruise Ship Reviews >>

From

$623-$653

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.

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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.

2 night cruise in Sept 2018
Hi, is there an option for a two night only cruise either from chongqing to yichang or the other way around? Unfortunately we do not have a lot of time. Thank you.
2018-07-09 21:38
Hello Francis,

Greetings from China! I’m sorry we have no two nights Yangtze River cruise between Chongqing and Yichang offered in the whole year of 2018. If you are really interested in the Yangtze River cruise tour, we highly welcome you join us in other classic routes when you have enough time. We offer the 4 days & 3 nights Chongqing to Yichang cruise, 5 days & 4 nights Yichang to Chongqing cruise, 4 days & 3 night Shanghai to Nanjing cruise, 4 days & 3 nights Nanjing to Shanghai cruise in 2018. Besides, there are special routes between Shanghai and Chongqing for 10 days & 9 nights in this October and November. They are all offered with nice quotations. If you would like to take the cruise, feel free to tell us.

Wish you a wonderful day!

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