On-Board Experience of Yangtze Cruise
Question: Will I have the services of your private tour guide while on board?
Answer: No. As your travel agent we purchase tickets for you, but all activities onboard are arranged by the cruise company. Your private tour guide will not accompany you during the cruise. All activities and shore excursions during the cruise will be managed by the cruise company and subject to change without prior notice.
Question: Is the water onboard safe to drink? Answer: Advanced water purification and sterilization equipments offer clean tap water, but it is not recommended for drinking. TravelChinaGuide.com provides two bottles of water for each client per day.
Question: Do the staff onboard speak English? Answer: Yes, each ship has a knowledgeable foreign national cruise director. In addition most of the service staff speaks English as well.
Question: What is the voltage on board? Can I use my hair dryer or shaver? Answer: Most Yangzte cruise ships have 110V outlets in the bathroom and 220V in cabin. Many ships will supply hair-dryers in your cabin for your convenience.
Question: Are special diets catered for? Answer: Yes. Most ships can accommodate vegetarian, salt-free, low-carbohydrate, Kosher, or other diet preferences. However, this request must be made in advance, so be sure to advise us of this requirement when you book the cruise.
Question: Are medical services available? Answer: Professional medical services are available on all Yangzte cruise ships and usually every ship has a doctor and health clinic.
Question: What is your onboard smoking policy? Answer: All ships have smoking area and non-smoking areas. Usually smoking is only allowed on the observation deck.
Question: Are there laundry services aboard? Answer: Laundry services including washing and ironing are usually available, but dry cleaning is not available.
Question: Do you have Internet access on board? Can we stay in touch with the outside world? Answer: Yes. Internet access and phone call services are available via the Satellite service. Some other secretarial service such as photocopying, simultaneous translating, typing, personal computers, fax capabilities are available in the Business Center. However to use these services you would need to pay an extra fee, which is very high. We strongly suggest you bring your own cell phone onboard.
Question: What currency is used onboard? Is there currency exchange service? Answer: Usually no cash transactions are made onboard. Instead a tally of expenses is kept for each passenger. Before disembarkation, passengers are required to pay their bills by major currencies, like US dollars, British pounds, Euro, Chinese Yuan or major credit cards, such as VISA, MasterCard, or American Express. There is a currency exchange service available at the reception desk.
Question: Do the cabins have safes? Answer: Yes, each cabin is fitted with a safe.
Question: I have problems walking for a long period. How can I join the shore excursions? Answer: There are many local porters to serve you during shore excursions. Two of them will carry you in a bamboo chair, for which you only need pay CNY20.00 - CNY30.00 (US$2.50 - US$4.00). We think that this will be very convenient and helpful for you.
Question: How much should I pay the porters when I embark and disembark? Answer: If you purchase a package tour from us and have transfer services to and from the Yangzte cruise, you do not need to pay unless you want to tip them. Your guide will pay portage to them.
Question: What about tipping? Answer: Tipping is a matter of personal preference. Additional tips for any staff member who has provided a special service are at your discretion. Tips to shore excursion guides are also at passengers' discretion.
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