YANGZI EASTER DOWNSTREAM CRUISE 2012

Duration: 3 nights

Celebrate Easter 2012 with a shorter downstream cruise through the majestic Three Gorges region onboard the Sanctuary M.S. Yangzi Explorer.

Day 01 - CHONGQING – ON BOARD THE SANCTUARY M.S. YANGZI EXPLORER

5:00pm – 10:00pm:
Embark Sanctuary M.S. Yangzi Explorer for your cruise to Yichang. The ship will set sail on its downstream course through the Three Gorges region. The total length of this cruise is 660 kilometres (402 miles) and is considered by the people of China to represent the single most scenic area in all of the country.

9:30pm:
Easter Themed Movie – Tang Theatre
Three Gorges Documentary Film - showing in cabin

Overnight: Sanctuary M.S. Yangzi Explorer

Day 02 - FENGDU

7:00am: Tai Chi Exerciser – start off your morning with a traditional Chinese exercise and work up an appetite for the buffet breakfast.  Learn from our certified Tai Chi master and experience the soothing art form in the outdoor Observation Deck area or inside at the Tang Theatre.

7:30am – 9:00am:International Buffet Breakfast – served at the Dynasty Palace

9:15am: Safety Briefing and Ship’s Orientation

9:45am: Fengdu Shore Excursion – choice of venture into the ghost temple where the Chinese believe the souls would gather after they past away, or alternatively explore the real life of the Yangzi River.

12:00pm: International Lunch Buffet – served at the Dynasty Palace

3:00pm: Chinese Medicine Demonstration

4:30pm: Pearls of the World

4:30pm – 5:30pm: Complimentary Afternoon Tea with Pastry – served at the Explorer Bar

5:00pm: Easter Egg Hunt – search around the ship and find as many Easter Eggs as possible

5:30pm: Arts & Craft Demonstration

6:30pm: Captain’s Welcome Reception – meet with our Captain and other Department heads of the ship.

7:00pm: A la Carte Welcome Dinner – enjoy our wide selection of items from our specially designed a la carte menu by our International Award Winning Chef. 

9:00pm: Welcome Crew Cabaret – enjoy an evening of our well-prepared entertainment by our crew member.

Overnight: Sanctuary M.S. Yangzi Explorer

Day 03 - QUTANG GORGE/WU GORGE/SHENNONG STREAM/XILING GORGE/ THREE GORGES DAM PROJECT

7:00am: Qutang Gorge Viewing – during the early morning your ship will enter the Qutang Gorge through the majestic two imposing cliffs at the Kui Men gate, which marks the western extremity of the gorge.
7:30am:

International Buffet Breakfast – served at the Dynasty Palace

8:30am: Wu Gorge Viewing – the Wu Gorge is known for the 12 famous peaks including the Goddess Peak.

9:30am: Arts & Craft Demonstration

10:30am – 1:30pm: Cruising Shennong Stream – disembark from the ship (at Badong) get on board a ferryboat and then be transferred to a local sampan poled by Tujia boatmen.  On the return ferryboat ride, a local Tujia boat tracker will join and provide an insight into what daily life entails for them, and guests will also get the chance to try on and feel their unique clothing, rain hat, and rain coat.  A demonstration of how the Tujia make their special sandals will also take place on board.  This interaction with a Tujia tracker is currently exclusive to the Yangzi Explorer.

1:30pm: International Lunch Buffet – served at the Dynasty Palace

3:00pm: Lecture & Discussion

4:00pm: Xiling Gorge Viewing – (the Three Gorges Dam sits in the first part of the Xiling Gorge) is the longest of the Gorges, measuring some 76 kilometres (47 miles) in length.  Enjoy the view of the river where the river widens and sweeps through groves of orange and pomelo trees (a variety of citrus related to the grapefruit).

4:00pm – 5:00pm: Complimentary Afternoon Tea with Pastry – served at the Explorer Bar

5:00pm: Easter Eggs Painting – Create your own Easter Eggs!

7:30pm: Bunny & Emperor Farewell Dinner – Enjoy a proper Chinese banquet feast and participate by dressing up along with the crew.  Attend dinner with any items from the Orients.  Enjoy and have fun!

9:00pm: Movie of the Day

Overnight: Sanctuary M.S. Yangzi Explorer

Day 04 - DISEMBARK IN YICHANG

7:00am:
Easter Sunday Buffet Breakfast – served at the Dynasty Palace

8:00am – 10:00am:
Three Gorges Project Dam Site and Exhibition Centre – arrive at the Three Gorges Dam Project site and embark on a tour of the area (this tour will serve as a general introduction to the project site, which, currently, is the world’s largest hydroelectric project).

The Three Gorges Dam Project was started in 1992.  The main construction completed and operation by 2008 and the ship elevator project will be finished by 2012.   The dam is the largest dam on earth, generating 22,400 megawatts of hydroelectricity (almost 50% more than the world’s current largest dam, the Itaipu Dam in Brazil and Paraguay).   The dam will be 1.2 miles in length and measure 600 feet (185 meters) in height.   The dam has 32 generators that can generate enough clean energy to reduce China’s reliance of highly polluting coal by up to 50 million tons annually.

12:30pm:
Disembarkation

* Schedule is subject to change *

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