"Yangtze Experience" in China

[Cosmic Rays]

Has anybody done this land tour in China before joining a Princess cruise? If so, was it excellent, good, bad or indifferent?

[shipscat]

Not sure it was called the "Yangtze Experience" but we did a pre-cruise China tour through Princess before joining the Diamond Princess. We are glad that we did it as it gave an excellent overview of China.

 

Tour guide, Michael - excellent, nothing was too much trouble.

Sightseeing - excellent, will never forget the experience of being on the wall of the old city of Xian when the lights came on, it was magical.

Hotels - 5*, very comfortable, and food very good and varied.

River cruise - fantastic scenery, boat not what we would consider 5* but adequate. Quite happy that I was only on it for 3 days.

Food - love Chinese food, but found what we were offered in restaurants was very bland.

Only ate western food in hotels.

Internal airlines - amazing, full service even on short flights.

Toilets - there are many "squat" toilets, so be prepared. However, most places had one "western" toilet that most of the women lined up for. Take plenty of Kleenex!

 

It was an intensive tour of getting up early, and sometimes having quite late nights. There was little down time as I recall. By the end of the tour we were all quite happy to be getting on the Diamond even though it was going to be quite a port-intensive cruise.

 

We were travelling half way round the world, so it made sense to add on this tour. So glad that we did!

[azgrandmax3]

WE have traveled twice to Asia and both times did the land tours first. Wonderful. The sights on the River are breath taking. Agree with other comments the River boat was less then expected. Made us appreciate the Princess Ship all the more. Hotels are the best we have ever enjoyed. All foods are suggestive. WE have been told Princess plans on having their own river boat in the future. When that happens we will most likely do the Yangtze again. Enjoy!!

[lois1112]

I did a post trip tour with Princess in China in 2009, and thought it was wonderful. our guide was excellent.

 

the hotels were good, so was the food

[caribill]

While the Princess pre-trip experience is a good one, if the timing works out others have taken a longer pre-trip using Viking River Cruises or a similar company. The timing needs to be such that you end up in the same city that your Princess cruise will start and within a day or two of that cruise.

 

The Viking type trip includes the same quality hotels as on the Princess tour and includes five days on the Yangtze River instead of the three with Princess.

[Cosmic Rays]

Which cruise company do they tend to use on the Yangtze for the three night 'cruise'?

[azgrandmax3]

Our Yangtze cruise through Princess was on the Victoria line.