When the Victoria Jenna, the newest ship in the Victoria Cruises (http://www.victoriacruises.com<http://pull.xmr3.com/p/305-B2F9/72119892/http-www.victoriacruises.com-.html>) fleet edges out of port along China’s Yangtze River on April 26, 2009, it will have the most suites of all vessels plying these mighty waters.

With 189 cabins and a passenger capacity of 378, the Victoria Jenna will be the largest ship in the company’s five-star fleet, which will grow to eight vessels.  The room breakdown is as follows:  149 standard cabins, 35 junior suites, three deluxe suites and two Shangri-La Suites.

“As we expand our fleet, we do so with the intention of going above and beyond what made the previous vessel exceptional, so it is with much pride and accomplishment that we’ll unveil the Victoria Jenna next year with the most suites on the Yangtze,” noted Larry Greenman, manager of customer service and public relations for Victoria Cruises.

At a gross tonnage of approximately 8,000, the five-passenger-deck Victoria Jenna will be 438.9 feet long and 61.7 feet wide with a draft of 8.5 – 8.8 feet.  The ship is being built to the highest international standards.

All cabins will have televisions with HBO and CNN broadcasts, private bathroom with a shower and bathtub, and a private balcony so guests can appreciate the magnificent views of the Yangtze River.  The Victoria Jenna will feature two dining rooms (a single seating main dining room and an a la carte restaurant), a fitness room, lecture room (for talks about the river’s history and lessons in Tai Chi, Mandarin language and mah jong), library/reading room, the Yangtze Club (theatre-style night club), cocktail lounge, beauty salon, gift shop, spacious observation deck, business center, Internet access, health clinic and an atrium lobby.

The ship’s overall décor will be highlighted by a rich tapestry of colors, gleaming woods, sparkling chandeliers, and American and European influences with Asian accents.

The Victoria Jenna will sail Victoria Cruises’ highly-acclaimed Three Gorges Highlights program, both upstream and downstream between Chongqing and Yichang, as well the round-trip Three Gorges Explorer itinerary sailing Chongqing – Yichang – Chongqing.  The 2009 sailing dates for all eight ships in the Victoria Cruises fleet are currently available.

In other news, Victoria Cruises recently completed a multi-million-dollar refurbishment of six vessels – the Victoria Anna, Victoria Katarina, Victoria Star, Victoria Queen, Victoria Empress and Victoria Rose.  Since it was used for the cruise line’s winter program, the Victoria Prince was not a part of this upgrade, but its most recent refurbishment (when it was rebuilt) was in 2004.

“With competition on the Yangtze growing, we recognize the value of developing a high-caliber fleet that will provide travelers with an unmatched vacation experience so we can maintain our strong position in the marketplace,” said Greenman.

The multi-million-dollar refurbishment included the following: new carpets in all cabins and public areas; new curtains throughout the ships; new paneled ceilings in most public areas; re-designed lobbies with a front desk concierge and foreign exchange services; addition of a la carte dining services in a separate private room on an upper deck of each vessel (except the Victoria Prince and Victoria Rose); and re-styled deluxe and Shangri-La Suites.

Based in New York, Victoria Cruises established new standards of excellence for sailing China’s Yangtze River when its first ship edged out of port in 1994.  Since that time, Victoria Cruises has achieved tremendous success by introducing the majesty of the Yangtze River to travelers worldwide.  A true pioneer and innovator, Victoria Cruises delivers an unrivaled and unsurpassed Yangtze River experience.  An American-managed company, Victoria Cruises operates the largest fleet of vessels with the coveted five-star rating from the China National Tourism Administration.  Victoria Cruises offers a variety of itineraries varying from four to nine days including Grand Yangtze Discovery, Three Gorges Highlights, and Three Gorges Explorer.

China’s magnificent Yangtze River continues to awe and inspire and Victoria Cruises remains the finest guide for the journey.