By
Rebecca Gibson |
Century Cruises’ launched Century Paragon on 19 March 2013, making it the company’s sixth river cruise vessel to operate on China’s Yangtze River.
The 398-passenger ship, which was constructed at the Chongqing Dong Gang shipyard, will offer four-day downstream itineraries between Chongqing and Yichang and five-day upstream itineraries on the same route. Paragon will call at Shibao Pagoda, the Three Gorges of Daning River and the Three Gorges Dam, including a transit of the dam’s locks system.
“Century Cruises continues our commitment to offering the very best Yangtze River cruise experience,” said Richard Xie, director of sales and marketing, Century Cruises.
Century Paragon has been designed specifically for Western travellers in collaboration with European Naval architects Yrann & Storbraaten. Features include 196 exterior staterooms with private balconies, as well as two exclusive, suite-only Executive Clubdecks. The vessel also has extended exterior elevators, a seven-story atrium, a 2,000 sq ft indoor swimming pool and leisure area, as well as a 150-seat HD cinema with multilingual capabilities and a large multiple purpose function room which will host evening performances, guest lectures, conferences and special events.
Xie said: “This new state-of-the-art ship greatly exceeded our expectations and includes all of the features our guests have grown to love on our other gorgeous ships, plus new innovations such as dedicated Executive Club all-suite levels and the first indoor pool and leisure area afloat on the river.”
Century Paragon’s sister ship, Century Legend, is due for delivery in 2013.