Meg

We want to do a Yangtze River Cruise splurge vacation. The two operators we've found that offer what we want are Abercrombie & Kent and R. Crusoe. Has anyone used either of these companies? What was your experience like?

Meg

I know most people posting here don't take tours. We NEVER have. That's why I'm so desperate to get some feedback on either of these companies. Please - any response welcome.

Emily

Well, I've never toured with either of those two companies, but you did ask for ANY response, so ... my husband and I took a Yangtze cruise with Victoria Cruises last summer and we had a wonderful time with them. Their website is www.victoriacruises.com, if you're interested in more information. Everyone that I've spoken with seems to have been very satisfied with their service.

Meg

Thank you, Emily. I will check out their website.

JP

Meg - A&K have a great reputation. I've never gone on one of their trips, but my parents have travelled to Europe with them on a couple of occasions and loved it. You can be sure it would be first class all the way. As part of my honeymoon next May, we're using Victoria Cruises on the Yangtze - they're western-run, which I think is the way you want to go. Good luck

Louis

I have just looked at the China Yangtze tour with both companies and have talked to a person that was on Crusoe's tour last fall where they met people on the A&K trip on the boat on the Yangtze. It was indicated that the guide used by A&K was not of the caliber of Crusoe's since he could not speak the local language. This may have been an exception. What was interesting is that she said the the Yangtze cruise was the least enjoyable portion of the trip due to smog, heat and garbage in the river last September. However, she said that was nice to rest for a while on the boat from the first part of the trip which was active. Crusoe says that this is the least deluxe part of the trip. She indicated that the Li river portion was out of this world in comparison. Between the two the trip by Crusoe in many ways is better than that of K&R and that is the one I would choose. There is very little difference in price. For your info, Crusoe had only 3 people on their first spring trip, otherwise they are sold out until fall. Since they have no minium number of persons, here is your chance to have a very custom tour with very few people.

Joann

Meg: I took a Yangtze river trip (5 nights) in late October as part of a Ritz tour of China. I thought it was great - immaculate ship and crew, good food, etc. The tour of the dam site is extremely interesting. <BR> <BR> Joann

Meg

Thank you for your input. We went with the A&K tour before Louis ever posted his comments. Friends of our took the tour a few years back and said it was just incredible. We were unable to find anyone we knew who had even heard of Crusoe, so we felt safer going with A&K. I will post again at the end of May to let you know how our first organized tour trip goes. Thanks again.

Namjar

Hi,all! I have read those messages and know Meg want to join a tour of Yangtze River. I am with Sichuan Youth Travel Service of China. Anyone know Yangtze River through Sichuan to Three Gorges,to Wuhan,to Shanghai. Our Travel Service offer this itinerary for long time, and offer adventure travel in Tibet, could you need me help, Meg? Please visit our adventure travel website, http://www.adv-travel.com.cn

Louis

Meg: <BR>Don't worry A&K is a top organiztion and I am certain that you will enjoy the trip. Just don't build your expectations on the Yangtze River Cruise too much. We have decided to go to China in September without the Yangtze Riven (perhaps a mistake) and we are on a waiting list at this point. Instead we are taking a 12 day walking tour of Kyoto starting on March 31. This is a special tour that is designed to visit places the most never see. Without special knowledge and contacts the independent traveler cannot visit them. This is the benefit of small very special tours provided by small specialist companies. Also, as Crusoe is smaller it offered an unusual visit to a curator's section at Xian. That is why I felt that had a little more to offer. Also their guides could improvise to the group interest better.

Lulu

Hi Meg. I know about both a&K & Crusoe. It's nice that someone knows the quality of these two companies. We are going privately and are in a dilemma. We have 4 extra days: do we go to Guilin (for the Li River ride) which, although beautiful, is said to be a very very very bad tourist trap or go downstream on Victoria cruise for 3 days. Obviously, there is air travel involved for both. We really are torn and not sure what to do. CAN SOMEONE HELP???? tHANKS.