Victoria Refurbishes Six Ships for 2008 Season

Victoria Cruises, which operates cruises on China’s Yangtze River, is refurbishing the majority of its fleet for the 2008 season.

The multi-million-dollar refurbishment includes new carpets in all cabins and public areas, new curtains throughout the ships, new paneled ceilings in most public areas, re-designed lobbies with a front desk concierge and foreign exchange services, re-styled Deluxe and Shangri-La Suites, and new a la carte dining services in a separate private room on an upper deck of each vessel (except the Victoria Prince and Victoria Rose).

The refurbishment project encompasses six of Victoria’s seven vessels: the Victoria Anna, Victoria Katarina, Victoria Star, Victoria Queen, Victoria Empress and Victoria Rose. Since it was used for the cruise line’s winter program, the Victoria Prince was not a part of this upgrade, but its most recent refurbishment (when it was rebuilt) was in 2004.

All cabins fleet-wide have televisions with HBO and CNN broadcasts, private marble bathroom with a shower and bathtub, and a private balcony (except the Victoria Rose). In addition to the Dynasty Dining Hall and new a la carte restaurant, each ship features a fitness room, lecture room, library/reading room, the Yangtze Club (theater-style night club), cocktail lounge, beauty salon, gift shop, observation deck, business center, Internet access, health clinic and atrium lobby.

In April 2009, Victoria Cruises will grow its fleet to eight vessels with the introduction of the new Victoria Jenna. When the Victoria Jenna edges out of port on April 26, 2009, it will be the largest vessel plying the Yangtze River with the highest passenger capacity and most suites of all ships on the river. Victoria Cruises offers a variety of itineraries varying from four to nine days.