Victoria Cruise Lines Plans New Yangtze Ship for 2028
Gate 1’s 15-day Amazing China small-group itinerary limits departures to 22 travelers and adds two nights in Chengdu, home to the giant panda breeding research base.
Victoria Cruise Lines is strengthening partnerships with U.S. tour operators Globus, Gate 1 Travel and Ritz Tours as it anticipates a rebound in American demand for China travel in 2027. The American-managed Yangtze River operator also announced plans on Nov. 2 for an additional ship to enter service in 2028.
“Sustained demand from Europe and Australia has created capacity challenges during peak periods of our 2026 season,” said Benson Wu, president of Victoria Cruise Lines.
Wu said multiyear forecasts from U.S. tour partners support adding another vessel. Victoria also cited rising demand from Canada and expects the American market to strengthen further after the initial recovery. The company is increasing its assistance to U.S. partners developing and marketing China itineraries that incorporate Yangtze cruises.
The unnamed vessel is intended to follow the scale and design of Victoria Sabrina, introduced in 2020, and sister ship Victoria Isabella, which debuted a year before the announcement. Victoria describes those vessels as the world’s two largest river cruise ships. Its existing Yangtze fleet also includes the 378-passenger Victoria Jenna, built in 2009 and refurbished in 2018.
Escorted tours and customized China itineraries
The partners’ programs range from conventional escorted groups to smaller departures and customizable trips. Although Globus was named among Victoria’s U.S. partners, the announcement’s itinerary examples centered on Gate 1 Travel and Ritz Tours.
Gate 1’s 14-day China itinerary combines an upstream Yangtze cruise with Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing. Shanghai visits include the Bund, Old Quarter and Yuyuan Garden, while Xi’an provides access to the Terracotta Army. The Beijing portion includes an opportunity to see pandas at the city’s zoo and a farewell dinner featuring Peking duck.
A separate 15-day Amazing China itinerary, sold through Gate 1’s Discovery Small Group Tours, caps departures at 22 travelers and uses upgraded hotels. It visits the same principal cities but includes a downstream cruise and adds two nights in Chengdu, home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Victoria identified Discovery Small Group Tours as Gate 1’s fastest-growing product line.
Ritz Tours is placing greater emphasis on high-end, customizable China options for its upcoming programs. Its Yunnan itinerary covers Kunming’s stone landscapes, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Shangri-La, extending its portfolio into southwest China.
The operator’s Zhangjiajie program focuses on Hunan Province, with opportunities to cross a canyon on a glass bridge, ride an outdoor elevator and visit the sandstone formations associated with the floating-mountain scenery in the film Avatar. The announcement did not specify a Yangtze cruise component for the Yunnan or Zhangjiajie programs.
Ritz Tours is also introducing Chongqing to its offerings. Attractions include Liziba Station, where a monorail runs through a residential building, and Hongya Cave, an illuminated riverside complex drawing on traditional Bayu architecture.
