++ Friendly staff on board + Good Food, also a selection of Western Breakfast offers ++ Cabin and Cabin staff - - Upfront the trip, I contacted the Victoria Desk by phone (number was given in the confirmation email). Our question was when we can expect to leave the boat upon Arrival in Yichang. I was told by your staff that we should consider to eariest leave by 13:00 o'clock. (Could be earlier, but for trip planning, I should consider 13:00). Our plan was to hop on a plane to ShangHai the same day, while plane schedules only showed morning flights from Yichang to ShangHai. Thus, we planned to stay overnight in Yicang and booked the plane for the following day. Surprisingly during the sail, we met a Family who told us they will leave the boat already at 08:15 which finally happened. Upon Arrival, we were released at 07:45 to join the dam tour. - - unfortunately we experienced this final rather as a kick out than as a farewell. Thus, we expereinced that end rather as a kick out. Please inform your Office staff that they should better inform customers about the optional early boat leave. Thank you! ++ Overall we gained a lot of worthy Information related to the 3 gorges, also received interesting personal positions about live circumstances got changed by the dam project. Best regards GGK and wife..
We cruised on Anna in June 07, from Chongqing to Yichang. This is our first river cruise, even though we had taken many cruises on ocean-going ships. The comparisons here are relative to our ocean cruising experience and not against other Yangtze river cruise companies. The ship is extremely well run, with friendly, attentative, competent, and available staff. For a boat holding only up to 300 passengers, I was surprised to see the company packing in a full program of excursions, entertainment, and education programs. 4 internet stations are available, but the connections are understandably very slow. A doctor is on board who also teaches tai-chi in the morning. Breakfast is western style buffet with a bit of Chinese. Dinner is family style Chinese, with very conservative choices of material. I thought the preparation was as good as most tourist restaurants in major cities. Ice came from boiled water - everything was very clean and very safe. The guide who talked about the Yangtze was extremely knowledgeable. I was surprised he even spent an hour talking about all the negatives associated with building the three gorges dam. Definitely not propaganda ladden. The land tours are OK but not spectacular. The highlight for us is the sampan tour of the small gorges, where the water is clear and the whole atmosphere idyllic. All in all, it is great value for the money...
