Jetsettersblog

Victoria Cruises is unveiling its 2010 brochures, which featuring an update on the new Victoria Jenna, the largest luxury river cruise ship in the world. The brochure also details the recently added optional shore excursion to White Emperor City and recent renovations to the Victoria Anna and Victoria Katarina.

“We are extremely excited about our 2010 brochure as it includes significant updates to our Yangtze River product,” said Larry Greenman, manager of public relations and customer service for Victoria Cruises.

“In addition to making history and shattering expectation with the Victoria Jenna, as well as placing added focus on luxury service with ‘Executive Suite Decks’ on three of our five-star vessels, we’re launching a new optional shore excursion to mist-shrouded White Emperor City,” Greenman said.

Overlooking the western end of Qutang Gorge, White Emperor City has long been a refuge for would-be kings and poets. Legend has it that in 25 A.D., white vapor in the shape of a dragon rose from a well, and Gong Sunshu, a soldier who had been headquartered there, declared himself the “White Emperor.”

Remains of the city wall can be seen on the hill behind Baidi Mountain, and a temple built to commemorate Gong’s reign dates back more than 1,950 years.

White Emperor City had been included as a shore excursion in the past but was discontinued because the journey up Baidi Mountain to the historical temple involved climbing many steps. However, the increased water level on the Yangtze resulting from the completion of the Three Gorges Dam has significantly reducing the climb.

The optional shore excursion is now available on all Victoria Cruises itineraries for $32 per guest.

A major highlight in the 2010 Victoria Cruises brochure is the Victoria Jenna, which has achieved several milestones since its launch in September.

Clocking in at almost 10,000 gross tons, the five passenger deck Victoria Jenna is the first river cruise ship in the world to possess four elevators, 2 separate full service kitchens and wireless CDMA Internet, as well as full bathtubs and high-efficiency dual-flush toilets in each passenger stateroom.

Victoria Jenna has 198 staterooms and a passenger capacity of 396. To drastically eliminate paper usage, the Victoria Jenna employs a hotel management software application to streamline ship operations from onboard shopping to passenger telecommunications.

All food on the ship is freshly made. Grass-fed and non-hormone meats are used, and all pastries, breads and desserts are handmade.

The Victoria Jenna is also the first Victoria vessel to include an “Executive Suite Deck,” which features concierge service, suite accommodations, an exclusive lounge area and private à la carte restaurant.

The Victoria Anna and Victoria Katarina will undergo renovations during the winter season and will be re-launched in the spring with the same “Executive Suite Decks” offered on the Victoria Jenna.

The Victoria Jenna, Victoria Anna and Victoria Katarina each sail the “Three Gorges Highlights” program, both the four-night upstream and three-night downstream between Chongqing and Yichang, as well the roundtrip seven-night “Three Gorges Explorer” which features different excursions in each direction.

Other vessels sailing the “Three Gorges Highlights” and “Three Gorges Explorer” programs include the Victoria Queen, Victoria Empress and Victoria Star, as well as the Victoria Rose, the only vessel in Victoria’s classic ship category. Rates for the “Three Gorges Highlights” program on the Victoria Rose start at $770 per person, based on double occupancy, during peak season (April, May, September and October), and $710 per person during shoulder season (March, June, July, August and November).

For Victoria Cruises’ five-star vessels, rates begin at $880 per person, double occupancy, during peak season, and $810 per person during the shoulder season. Rates for the “Three Gorges Explorer” program on the Victoria Rose start at $1,390 per person during peak season and $1,260 per person during the shoulder season.

For the five-star vessels, rates begin at $1,610 per person in peak season and $1,470 during shoulder season.

Victoria Cruises also offers a six- or eight-night “Grand Yangtze Discovery” between Chongqing and Shanghai, which features additional shore excursions including Huangshan, also known as Yellow Mountain; the city of Wuhan, capital of Hubei province; and Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, where visitors will experience the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and a Qing Dynasty-style bazaar surrounding a Confucian Temple. Rates for the “Grand Yangtze Discovery” program on the Victoria Prince start at $1,610 in peak season and $1,470 during shoulder season.

For more information, call 800-348-8084 or visit www.victoriacruises.com