Is it worth the time, money. Or this better spent with more time in the cities

My wife and I are doing a two week tour of China in May. We looked at the river cruise and considered doing it as a one week add on. My research indicates that maybe it's best to miss the cruise. Time off from work is limited and I just feel I could use that extra week for somewhere else. I certainly wouldn't sacrifice any of the two weeks to do the river cruise. Hope I haven't made a mistake!

In three months travelling in China the Yangtze river trip was my single regret. Mass tourism Chinese style is not for the faint of heart. Just my opinion, I know people who have enjoyed this one but for me it was overrated and something of an ordeal.

http://www.travelsinasia.com/China/China.htm

We thought it was very good. Of course the dam was lower then but very interesting how they moved whole cities, the scenery, each day had a four hour land excursion or other river trip. We saw excellent museum built when an elaborate tomb was recently discovered (world class museum with musical performance of the instuments found in the tomb), temples, the dam itself. Most important it was 3 days of relaxation on very busy trip. The efforts of the crew were impressive. There is formal training to teach them how to put on the shows each night. Plus we had a "face changer" an elderly man with a skill that was worth the entire trip. A naturalist gives lectures each day re geology, flora, fauna. I liked it!!

The answer to your question depends on how much time and money you have, what your interests are, what would you do in its place, what kind of boat you are considering, etc.

Like Elainee, we took the boat (Victoria 2) before the dam was operative, and loved it. The secenery, history, the people and the awesome construction of the dam were exceptional. It helps you to understand China. In Wuhan we saw the museum with the original musical instruments, which was excellent.

But we were on the boat for 4 nights, and felt it was enough.

I did this back in '97, and visited China then precisely to see the gorges before they were flooded. Even with so-so weather it was stunning. Whether to do it now is a more difficult choice. However, if the alternative is more time in the cities I would certainly go.

It looks like WeiLong traveled on a Chinese boat rather than one of the boats for foreign tourists, which would be quite a different experience. (I'm not saying one is better or worse, depends on what you want - and on your budget - but different.)

We took a three night Victoria cruise in 2005 and enjoyed it. Three nights was enough.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34682619

Anyone have recent experience on this cruise? I read somewhere you had to be bussed for part of it as the water is so high. Don`t think I`d be interested in that.

We went on the downstream cruise (3 nights) on Victoria Katarina in late September 2006. We didn't go thru the locks because they said they were doing maintenance. We only did the land portion of the tour of the dam area. This could be the "bus" portion you are referring to.

If you want to go on a Victoria cruise I suggest you purchase via a Chinese travel agent because they're much less expensive than booking direct with Victoria in the US. For us the difference was hundreds of dollars per passenger for the same room.