Always wanted your kids to be mindful of different cultures? You want them to be entertained but without breaking the bank, fed with freshly prepared meals and safe in a friendly environment, right? Have you ever thought of booking a cruise on the Yangtze River and setting sail with your children? We cannot offer you swaying palms and pristine white sandy beaches of the ‘traditional’ family holiday, but we can offer you a civilization dating back 1000 years.

Here are good reasons to do just that – book a cruise on the Yangtze River for the whole family:

Always wanted to visit China but are nervous about the language barrier? All our staff speak fluent English and are trained to accommodate people from all around the world. A cruise on the Yangtze River is a perfect way to see China in an easy, relaxing way. The Chinese people adore children and that adoration can be felt on board all our ships.

See the heart of China, her history and traditions A cruise on the Yangtze River is an excellent opportunity to come close to the cradle of Chinese history. Yes, Shanghai is mesmerizing and Beijing is the city with the largest number of UNESCO sites in the world. However, while cruising on the Yangtze River, you will visit the famous Shennv Stream, which is still undeveloped, and get in touch with Qingshi Village, where locals are fighting back to preserve their own way of life.

We offer great value for money The freshly prepared food, luxury accommodations, and engaging daytime and evening entertainment are all included in the price. You may think you are at a 5-star hotel in the capital city, not sailing through the heart of China!

Every morning, you’ll wake up in a new place Sometimes it’s very difficult to keep kids entertained, but having them wake up every morning at different spots of the Yangtze River will keep them occupied. Offshore excursions, such as a visit to the Shibaozhai Pagoda – a small hill 660 feet (200 meters) tall on the banks of the Yangtze River – will give them a great insight into Buddhism and its background. The climb to the top of the hill will provide them with enough exercise for a whole day!

Cabins We offer discounted rates for kids when sharing a cabin with two adults. If you prefer the extra space, we can offer two connected cabins so you are never far from them.

Packing You don’t have to worry about hauling luggage from A to B, and you unpack only once! You even have the option of getting your laundry done.

We Offer a wide range of onboard activities Do you need to take extra books or light games while taking kids on the Yangtze River cruise? Well, on board Century River vessels, they’ll be kept very busy! We provide regular lectures on Chinese history along with daily Yangtze River briefings. Considering the flying of kites is a Chinese national obsession, it’s only fair that it’s included on board while cruising. While admiring the magical Wu Gorge they could try to master the art, otherwise they can always learn to cook authentic Chinese cuisine like dim sum, and impress their friends back home! If kite running and food demonstrations are not for them, then they can learn traditional Chinese Calligraphy, which combines art and writing. It looks complicated, but under the watchful guidance of our professional calligraphy teacher, they would be very proud to show the art they made back home! Evenings too are busy with regular traditional performances. Or they can just relax by learning Tai Chi, perhaps a technique they will practice for life. Of course, there’s also the fun stuff like gyms, multiple restaurants, spas, swimming pools, theaters and discos.

Cruising is very social Your children will be exposed to different cultures and customs while cruising on the Yangtze River, which is also a great opportunity to make new friends. All our on-board activities are kid-friendly, and they are team-building opportunities.

And Only Available on Century River Cruises

We offer a Junior Cruiser Center onboard our Platinum Service – Century PARAGON and Century LEGEND, where we make sure your kids are never bored while on the Yangtze River.

Alternatively, we offer “Junior Onboard Activities” such as a visit to the captain’s bridge, Chinese 101 lesson, kite flying etc…

Cruises on the Yangtze River are Easy to Plan and Book You need to decide if you prefer a downstream or upstream cruise, a long or short one, and either send us an email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or alternatively you could book through one of our many partners such as Kuoni, Saga, VJV, Uniworld, Riviera Travel, Titan Travel.

And we promise you will never get sea sick!

For more information about family cruising on the Yangtze River, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact us online.