By
Alex Smith |
Victoria Cruise Lines is to launch an electric-hybrid cruise ship, Victoria Isabella, on the Yangtze River at an inauguration event on 28 September.
Victoria Isabella is a sister ship to the world’s largest river cruise ship, Victoria Sabrina, which set sail in 2020. At 17,000 gross tons, the vessel will be capable of accommodating up to 570 guests and is the first passenger ship on the Yangtze to be equipped with an escalator.
The ship features 236 Superior Staterooms on decks two to five which are around 25.5 square meters and feature a private balcony. The 22 Executive Suites on deck six offer about 35.5 square metres, a private balcony and a bathroom including a shower and bathtub, as well as providing access to a Luxury Amenities package. Finally, the two Shangri-La Suites on deck three are the most spacious rooms onboard at 51 square metres and provide the same features and amenities as the Executive Suites.
The Shangri La Suites are the most spacious rooms onboard Victoria Isabella
Victoria Cruise Lines is an American-managed company, with a focus on catering to American, European and Australian guests visiting China. It has offered river cruises on the Yangtze since 1994.
“While US passengers to China remain down from pre-pandemic levels, we are encouraged by a number of indicators that show the market is poised for a comeback, including a game-changing programme which allows Americans to visit for up to ten days without requiring a visa,” said Benson Wu, president of Victoria Cruise Lines. “Historically, the visa process created a significant barrier which has long hindered China’s tourism potential, and now that this issue has been mitigated, many of our industry partners in the US are ramping up their efforts to promote and sell China vacations.”
Victoria Isabella joins Victoria Sabrina, Victoria Jenna, Victoria Anna and Victoria Katarina in Victoria Cruise Lines’ fleet.