Environmentally friendly cruising on the Yangzi River

Tourists can now experience the first environmentally friendly boat on the Yangzi river, thanks to luxury operator Sanctuary Cruising. With a maximum capacity of 124 passengers, The MS Yangzi Explorer will be the smallest boat on the river, when it sets sail on its first voyage on 6th July 2008. This is the first time that Sanctuary Cruising has launched in China.

As The MS Yangzi Explorer will be the smallest boat on the river, it will promise a more intimate cruising experience with international top service standards and a high staff-to-passenger ratio. Accommodation-wise, The MS Yangzi Explorer will offer one Celestial Suite, one Imperial Suite, one Jade Suite, one Mandarin Suite, 20 Suites and 38 Deluxe cabins. All suites and cabins on The MS Yangzi Explorer are spacious with sizes ranging from 27m²/ 290ft² to 77m²/ 829ft² and will feature private balconies, affording passengers panoramic views of the surrounding scenery.

The MS Yangzi Explorer features the most spacious and indulgent spa on board any vessel on the river. Covering more than 600m² / 6,000ft², The Yangzi Spa features a wide variety of massages from professional masseuses in the six uniquely designed oriental private treatment rooms. A beautify salon is available for a variety of hair styling and nail services. For well being, passengers can also enjoy the fitness centre onboard equipped with the state-of-art equipment.

Also onboard the cruise ship, passengers can enjoy internet access, cultural activities and educational lectures. A wide selection of onboard entertainment is available including programs specially tailored for children, such as Chinese Opera Mask Face painting, Chinese Folk tale story telling, kite making, etc. Guests can further take advantage of The MS Yangzi Explorer’s observation desk, viewing lounge with bar and double-decker theatre area with bar. A team of internationally-trained chefs will design innovative menus featuring both Chinese and western dishes in the ship’s restaurant.

Offering an educational and memorable experience along the symbolic lifeline of China, MS Yangzi Explorer brings guests to ethereal wonderland of beautiful landscape and historical sites for shore excursions, enriching their understanding of the lifestyle and culture of those living along the river. This also includes the Three Gorges Dam project, a modern undertaking that is unparalleled in the Chinese history.

The MS Yangzi Explorer will feature environmentally-friendly sewage disposal systems, recycling amenities, facilities and other measures, which all adhere to Sanctuary Cruising’s ongoing effort to set a global benchmark for sustainable tourism.

Sanctuary Cruising currently has 42 scheduled departures sailing on The MS Yangzi Explorer between July and November 2008. Departure is from Chongqing or Yichang – easily reached via China’s major cities, Beijing and Shanghai. There will be two separate itineraries, one sailing upstream and one downstream, which will be four days/three nights and five days/four nights in duration respectively.

The Yangzi River is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world. The impressive Three Gorges region is located along the river and draws on over 3,000 years of cultural history. It has traditionally been considered a dividing line between North and South China and is home to a rare species of freshwater dolphin.

Further information visit Sanctuary-cruising.com.