Quick Menu

Viking Emerald

4.2/5 |

A Journey on the Yangtze River

Explores China’s cradle of culture with an epic Yangtze cruise between Chongqing and Nanjing. See all the wonders of Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and the Three Gorges, plus visit the birthplace of porcelain, the elegant classical gardens of Suzhou, a sacred Buddhist mountain and much more.

All-Travel

Onboard Features

Activities & Services

Let Viking's staff treat you to personalized service, fine wines, and delicious, regional cuisine. Engage in immersive cultural activities, and take advantage of a wide array of amenities, from the onboard Congierge to shipwide Wi-Fi and 24-hour beverage bar.
It is customary to give cruise gratuities, subject to the guest's satisfaction of services rendered. Gratuities on board and on land are not included in the full fare.
  • Bath Amenities/Toiletries
  • Bath Robes
  • Complimentary Bottled Water (and/or Other Beverages)
  • Direct Dial Phone
  • Hair Dryer
  • In-Stateroom Movies
  • Minibar and/or Refrigerator
  • Private Safe
  • Slippers
  • Television / Radio
  • Bar(s)/Lounge(s)
  • Library
  • Internet Access
  • Classes and Workshops
  • Educational/Enrichment Programs
  • Local Entertainment
  • Gym/Fitness Room
  • Massage Room
  • Beauty Salon
  • Boutique(s) (duty-free)
  • Concierge Desk
  • Infirmary / Medical Center
  • Laundry Service (nominal fee)
  • All Beverages Included In Cruise Fare
  • Caf
  • Dining Style: All Casual
  • Dining Style: Open Seating
  • Pregnancy Policy - Viking reserves the right not to accept passengers who are in an advanced state of pregnancy either upon commencement of or at any time during the river or ocean cruise.

  • Smoking Policy - All Viking ship interiors, staterooms, and verandas are non-smoking. Each ship has an outdoor smoking area, generally on the sun deck.

  • Special Dietary Needs - Advance Notice Required - Viking will make every effort to accommodate special dietary needs. Every meal has vegetarian options on the menu, and chefs are able to prepare low-salt or gluten-free cuisine. Guests requiring special diets, such as diabetic or low-cholesterol meals, must alert Viking Cruises one month prior to departure and inform the Maitre d
  • Wheelchair Access & Special Needs - Guests must report any disability requiring special attention while on their Viking Cruises itinerary to Viking at the time the reservation is made. Most transportation services, including the vessels and motorcoaches, are not equipped with elevators or wheelchair ramps. Viking will make reasonable attempts to accommodate the special needs of disabled travelers, but is not responsible in the event it is unable to do so nor is it responsible for any denial of services by vessel operators, air carriers, hotels, restaurants, or other independent suppliers. Viking cannot provide individual assistance to a vacation participant for walking, dining, getting on and off vessels, motorcoaches and other vehicles, or other personal needs. A qualified and physically able companion must accompany travelers who need such assistance and must assume full responsibility for their well being. The guest assumes the full risk of use and of any prohibitions imposed by vendors. Motorized scooters are not typically suitable on international cruises and cannot be accommodated.

    Guests who have any medical, physical, or other special needs should contact Viking River Cruises directly at 1-877-668-4546 (1-877-66VIKING) with additional questions, and to obtain a copy of Viking's Policy Statement.

Ship Destinations

Viking Emerald visits these amazing destinations. Click to view sailings.

Ship Staterooms

Ship Deckplans

Sun Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Explorer Suite - PS
  • Suite - AA
  • Junior Suite - JR
  • Veranda A - A
  • Veranda B - B
  • Veranda C - C
  • Veranda D - D
  • Veranda E - E
  • Veranda F - F

Sun Deck. Emarald bar.

Sun Deck

Observation Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Explorer Suite - PS
  • Suite - AA
  • Junior Suite - JR
  • Veranda A - A
  • Veranda B - B
  • Veranda C - C
  • Veranda D - D
  • Veranda E - E
  • Veranda F - F

Cat S staterooms. Lounge.

Observation Deck

Upper Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Explorer Suite - PS
  • Suite - AA
  • Junior Suite - JR
  • Veranda A - A
  • Veranda B - B
  • Veranda C - C
  • Veranda D - D
  • Veranda E - E
  • Veranda F - F

Cat JS,A and B staterooms.

Upper Deck

Middle Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Explorer Suite - PS
  • Suite - AA
  • Junior Suite - JR
  • Veranda A - A
  • Veranda B - B
  • Veranda C - C
  • Veranda D - D
  • Veranda E - E
  • Veranda F - F

Cat PS,JS,C and D staterooms.

Middle Deck

Main Deck

Stateroom Key

  • Explorer Suite - PS
  • Suite - AA
  • Junior Suite - JR
  • Veranda A - A
  • Veranda B - B
  • Veranda C - C
  • Veranda D - D
  • Veranda E - E
  • Veranda F - F

Cat E and F staterooms. Restaurant.

Main Deck

Departure Ports

Featured Sailings

Ratings & Reviews

Overall Experience
Ship Staff
Dining/Food
Entertainment
Activities
Staterooms
Itinerary/Ports
Value

Crusing in China on the Viking Emerald

| China - Yangtze River cruise
The scenic cruising to the Three Gorges was amazing, no place else like it on earth. I especially enjoyed the Goddess Stream and listening to our guide share her living experiences on the mountain. We stayed at the Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Hotel on our own at the end of the tour. I would recommend that hotel over the one Viking chose--Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai, because of its proximity to the Bund and other shopping areas.

China River Cruise

| China: Beijing, Xi'an, Yangtze River, Shanghai.
Overall, the trip was fantastic and I would recommend it. We got to see a lot of sites and the river cruise was a good way to relax after a few days of running and hitting three airports. The Emerald is a little older riverboat but it was kept up well and the staff was excellent. The selection of food was pretty good and they had a very good steak/filet that was available every evening (I've been on ocean cruises where the beef was not this good unless you ate at the specialty restaurants). One negative was that you did not have any options on shore excursions, for example, if you weren't interested in the "Dam Project" you didn't have a second choice. Also, many shore excursions included a lunch followed by shopping, i.e. Jade Factory, lunch, two hours of shopping at their store. Tea Factory, sales pitch on buying their tea. Visit a house in the Hutong and have an artist try to sell you painted bottles, this just got a little old. Just wasn't always as advertised.

Viking China

| China- Beijing, Shanghai and other locations on the cruise.
This trip is an excellent way to see China. Everything is planned out and you always have a tour guide who speaks the language and is able to answer questions. The attire is casual. Limited on board activities. I would strongly recommend doing the trip as we did from Shanghai to Beijing as everyday it improved and if we did it reversed it probably would not have been as enjoyable. Be prepared for the pollution as it can be overwhelming .

Cruising Chinese style

| China
Very relaxing. The staff always called you by your name. They did whatever they could to accommodate our needs. The hotel director sat and talked with us. Superb

A Lot of Bang for Your Buck

| Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, Jingzhou, Wuhan, Shanghai, China
This was our first river cruise so was curious to see how it compared to ocean cruising. We loved it! Vikings sure knows how to take care of their clients. From the start to the end of our trip, we had an enjoyable time. Their excursions were well organized, worthwhile and interesting. The on-board activities were interesting and entertaining.. The food on the ship and thru out the journey was delicious. For the price we paid, we saw and did more than we expected. We flew on 3 occasions within China and stayed at luxury hotels during our land portion of the trip. I would highly recommend sailing on Vikings if you ever decide to visit China.

Travel Insurance with AIG Travel Guard

We have plans. Lots of them. Why? So you can easily find the one that fits. And with our plans, it’s not just about coverage. It’s about unique services. Lost your bag? We can help track it with Bag Trak®. Or we can cover your losses if it isn’t found. It’s simple. We have the coverage options and assistance services you want for your globetrotting travels. Read More

Travel Restrictions by Sherpa What to know

Read More

Future Cruise Credits What to know

If you are holding on tight to your Future Cruise Credits (FCCs) waiting for the perfect time and itinerary to put them back in use, many of them expire soon! Now is a great time to check the status of your FCC with an All-Travel Travel Advisor. Read More

Real ID Deadline Extension

Starting on May 3, 2023 travelers who elect to use a state-issued driver’s license at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport checkpoints must ensure that they are Real ID-compliant, which is designated by a star in a circle in the upper right corner of the license. Read More

Join our Insider Club

  • Personalized Travel Service
  • Unpublished Special Rates
  • Early Notification of Specials
  • Exclusive Amenities & Specials
  • Best Price Guarantee
  • Much more..
JOIN NOW!

Consult a Travel Advisor

  • We provide friendly and highly-personalized service before, during, and after travel.
  • Think of us as your personal concierge, we'll handle all the little details
  • We are your travel advocate during the entire travel process!
CONTACT AN ADVISOR

The All-Travel Difference

  • Experience and Trust - We pride on our A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau
  • We offer a best price guarantee, extra added amenities, special accommodations, and much more.
  • All-Travel has specialized in leisure and business travel for over 35 years
LEARN MORE
All-Travel