On board: access, cabins and crewON BOARD
Boarding and cabin areas require a key card, outsiders cannot come aboard, public areas are monitored and reception is staffed around the clock. Crew wear uniforms and name badges; reception or the cruise director is the fastest route to help.
Lock your cabin door behind you and use the safe for valuables. If someone knocks claiming to deliver something, check through the peephole or call reception before opening.
Solo women can ask for a female roommate. The ship pairs by gender anyway, but note it in writing at booking and confirm again at check-in.
Ashore: group visits versus free timeASHORE
Included shore visits run as guided groups: fixed route, fixed meeting time, highest level of safety. Stay with the group and do not wander far for photographs.
During free time, stay on main paths and in commercial areas. Avoid unlit alleys and never leave the site with a stranger promising 'somewhere only locals know'. The banks are stepped and slippery, especially after dark.
Split your cash: a day's spending in a small bag, the rest in the ship's safe. Do not hold your phone and passport in one hand while photographing.
Evenings, drinking and unwanted attentionEVENINGS
Evenings bring shows, bars and observation lounges, and going alone is entirely normal. Watch your own glass, do not resume a drink you left unattended, and do not accept drinks from strangers.
If someone persists or makes you uncomfortable, say 'no thank you' clearly, leave, and tell reception. Ships act on such reports quickly — there is no reason to put up with it.
Decks are windy and dim at night. Photograph in lit areas with other passengers around, and never climb rails or retreat to unlit stern corners alone.
Emergency numbers and six useful habitsEMERGENCY
Emergency numbers: 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire. On board, go to reception or any uniformed crew member.
Six habits: (1) send family your ship name, sailing and schedule before you fly; (2) check in at a fixed time daily; (3) keep a passport copy apart from the original; (4) save your consular contact details; (5) never post your cabin number in real time; (6) buy travel insurance covering medical care and cancellation.
One honest note: Yangtze cruise passengers are mostly families and older couples, and the atmosphere is quiet rather than party-oriented. For a solo woman, that itself is a layer of protection.
FAQFAQ
Will I be bored travelling alone?
No. Days combine shore visits and gorge sailing; evenings have shows and lounges. Internet and signal are limited, which suits reading and writing. Solo guests usually meet others at the English-speaking table.
Can I request a female roommate?
Yes, and the ship pairs by gender in any case. Note it in writing at booking and confirm at check-in; raise it early in peak season when cabins are tight.
Is free time ashore safe?
On main paths and in commercial areas, yes. Avoid isolated lanes, do not leave the site with strangers, and stay with others or on board after dark.
Enquire & Book
Tell us your cabin preference (female share or sole use) and dates, and we will arrange it and explain the costs.