Overall, I would give our trip a 98%. It was full of wonderful sites and great guides (Special thanks to our guide, Jamie. She was excellent in every way and we felt lucky to have her for the whole trip). We sampled a lot of China in two weeks. The ship and every hotel we stayed at were very comfortable. This tour does call for some strenuous walking at times, and you won't have as many amenities as, say, a Crystal ocean-going ship (my only other cruise experience). But, if you want a taste of China, it is great.

THE PROS: so many, I won't put them all in. Shanghai for 3 days. Highly recommended to recover from the flight and sample the city. The Bund is a great site to see, and easily walkable from our hotel. The trip to the silk factory is a 2-hour bus ride, but to us it was interesting because we were seeing China.

The cruise. Our cabin was very comfortable, and the staff was super-friendly, fast, and helpful in all ways. The food was on the whole good--a large selection, lots of Western options. On board entertainment was by regular crew members. Not as professional as some cruises but very enjoyable. One of our personal highlights was a visit from a grade-school class who performed a 45" song-and-dance program. Totally charming. Read more