Cruises
Cruises from Chongqing — Yangtze River cruises
Chongqing — Yangtze River cruises — departures, itineraries, shore excursions and the practical details.
Photos for Chongqing are still on their way. Every listing below is real.
The port: Chongqing — Yangtze River cruises
Chongqing is THE Yangtze cruise embarkation port: the Chaotianmen docks send ships down through the Three Gorges to Yichang/Shanghai — China's great river journey.
Cruise lines sailing here
- Victoria Cruises
- Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer
- Century Cruises
- President Cruises
Lines and deployments change yearly — verify the season's schedule on each line's official site before booking.
Itineraries
The classic 4–5 day Chongqing–Yichang (Three Gorges, the dam, the lesser gorges); the longer Chongqing–Shanghai (8+ days). The downstream journey is the product.
Compare departure dates — the same cabin can swing hundreds between peak and shoulder season.
Shore excursions
- Hongyadong (10 min from the docks)
- Ciqikou Ancient Town (30 min)
- Three Gorges Museum (15 min)
- Dazu Rock Carvings (2h — pre-cruise day)
Getting to the port
The docks are at Chaotianmen in the centre. Pre-cruise: stay in Jiefangbei; allow a full day for Dazu.
What to pack & when to book
Book the Three Gorges sailings 3–6 months ahead; spring and autumn are the best water levels. Pack layers for the gorge mornings.
Pre-cruise hotel: stay near the port the night before — book via Booking.com and compare.
Common questions
Which cruise lines sail from Chongqing — Yangtze River cruises?
See the lines above — deployments change yearly, so verify the season's schedule.
What are the best shore excursions?
See the excursions above — the port's highlights, with honest travel times.
How far is the port from the city?
See 'Getting to the port' above.
When is the best time to book?
Book peak season 6–9 months ahead; shoulder and repositioning sailings are the value window.
More to explore in Chongqing
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