CENTURY LEGEND Ship Review

Coming soon to China’s mighty Yangtze: the Century Legend & Century Paragon. Illustration courtesy of Uniworld

CENTURY LEGEND Overview

The Century Legend is a 5-star luxury vessel that was launched in 2013 along with its sister ship, the Century Paragon. It’s owned and operated by the Chinese company, Century Cruises, and serves cruise passengers for Avalon Waterways and Uniworld for cruises on the Yangtze River in China.

Carrying up to 398 passengers and 150 crew members, the 456-foot long cruise ship boasts an incredible 7 decks. This is something you won’t find on rivers in most other regions around the world. River cruise vessels in Europe, for example, usually have up to four decks and carry no more than 200 passengers.

Staterooms on the Century Legend are also much larger than its counterparts in other parts of the world, including Southeast Asia. Even its smallest staterooms are 265 square feet to 300 square feet in size. And its largest suites are significantly larger than most. The Presidential Suites cover an area of 1,140 square feet.

CENTURY LEGEND Staterooms

There are 5 different stateroom categories aboard the Century Legend. Categories are further differentiated by their relative positions on the ship and their square footage:

Main Deck (Deck 2)

Only one category is available on this deck, and it’s the only deck that has Deluxe Outside Staterooms.

• Category DO is a Deluxe Outside Stateroom. There 8 available located Midship. This category features a large picture window that does not open. Stateroom size is 265 square feet.

Upper Deck (Deck 3)

There is only one category on this deck and all 32 cabins are Deluxe Staterooms with a Balcony.

• Category DS is a Deluxe Stateroom with a Balcony. There are 32 cabins available located Forward and Midship. Stateroom size is 300 square feet.

Promenade Deck (Deck 4)

There are 66 cabins located on this deck in 3 different categories. This deck has the most staterooms on it.

• Category DS is a Deluxe Stateroom with a Balcony. There are 62 cabins available located Midship and Aft. Stateroom size is 300 square feet.
• Category JS is a Junior Suite. There are 2 cabins located Midship. Stateroom size is 325 square feet.
• Category PS is a Presidential Suite. There are 2 cabins (#301 and #302) located Forward on the ship. Stateroom size 1140 square feet.

Bridge Deck (Deck 5)

There are 64 cabins on this deck. It has more staterooms than all other decks, excluding Deck 4.

• Category DS is a Deluxe Stateroom with a Balcony. There are 62 cabins available located Midship and Aft. Stateroom size is 300 square feet.
• Category JS is a Junior Suite. There are 2 cabins located Midship. Stateroom size is 325 square feet.

Observation Deck (Deck 6)

This is one of the only decks that has Category ES staterooms. There are 23 cabins on Deck 6.

• Category ES is an Executive Suite. There are 23 staterooms available located Midship and Aft. Stateroom size is 415 square feet.

Sun Deck (Deck 7)

This is the only deck besides Deck 6 that has ES staterooms. There are 11 cabins on this deck.

• Category ES is an Executive Suite. There are 11 staterooms available located Midship and Aft. Stateroom size is 415 square feet.

All staterooms on the with a balcony on the Century Legend feature floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that open to a private balcony. This includes all stateroom categories with the exception of Category DO, which features a large window that does not open. The Presidential Suites have a wrap-around balcony that is furnished with a table and 2 chairs and 2 sunloungers.

At minimum all rooms include a living area with a sofa, a coffee table and a writing desk as well as a bathroom with a shower/tub combination. The Presidential Suites have a separate dining room, a bedroom and a large living room.

Nice comfortable beds feature a firm mattress with a memory-foam topper and are covered with fine Egyptian cotton linens.

Each room is equipped with an HD flat-screen TV, a mini-fridge and mini-bar, a personal safe, individual climate control and complimentary bottled water that is replenished daily. And all guests are treated to luxury bath products, bathrobes and slippers.

Uniworld Signature Suites offer private balconies, cozy sitting areas, comfy robes and slippers, fine bath products, satellite TV, and air conditioning.

Uniworld VIP benefits onboard include complimentary fruit plate upon arrival; complimentary coffee, tea, and snacks in the Executive Reception area; one complimentary sauna visit; complimentary use of the pool; dining in the Executive VIP Restaurant with complimentary house wine, local beers, and soft drinks served during dinner; dedicated Uniworld representative; express check-in and check-out.

Note: While the Century Legend is a serene and comfortable ship, its amenities may differ from those of a Uniworld company-owned ship.

CENTURY LEGEND Public Areas

With its 7 decks, this large river cruise ship offers its guest quite a few places to gather and several areas to engage in individual activities.

Starting with the Lower Deck (Deck 1), guests can enjoy the services of a licensed masseuse in the Spa and Massage. This deck also features a Hair Salon as well as an Indoor Heated Swimming Pool and a Cinema.

The second deck, referred to as the Main Deck, has a Card Room and a Laundry Room located on the middle of the deck.

Dining. One of the highlights of your river cruise. Guests will have a chance to savor traditional Chinese cuisine. Although, there are two dining rooms aboard the Century Legend, only one is open to the public. The main Dining Hall is located on the Upper Deck (Deck 3) toward the rear of the ship and is where most guests will be served. There is also a VIP Restaurant (for select staterooms) located on the Sun Deck (Deck 7).

Other public areas for guests to gather include the Sun Deck and a Game Room on the top deck (Deck 7) and a Lounge on the Observation Deck (Deck 6).

For those who like to keep up their fitness regimens while traveling, the Century Legend has a Fitness Center located on the Sun Deck (Deck 7).

One of the quieter areas on the ship is the Library. Guests who want to catch up on some reading can head to the ship’s library, which is also located on the top deck (Deck 7).

There are two more public areas to mention, both of which occupy space on more than one floor. The first is a Boutique Shop, which is located on the Promenade Deck (Deck 4) and the Bridge Deck (Deck 5).

And the second is the Medical Clinic. If you need to see a doctor during your river cruise, the Medical Clinic is available on the Lower Deck (Deck 1) and the Main Deck (Deck 2).  Please be aware that you will need to purchase travel insurance that covers medical expenses while traveling if you choose to use insurance for your visit.

Itineraries & Pricing

• 11-day Daning, Lesser Gorges, Shennong Stream, Three Gorges, and Yangtze (“Highlights of China & the Yangtze”), 3-day cruise, Beijing to Shanghai, balconies from $4,249, Mar-Oct
• 12-day Daning, Lesser Gorges, Shennong Stream, Three Gorges, and Yangtze (“Treasures of China & the Yangtze”), 4-day cruise, Shanghai to Beijing, balconies from $4,449, Mar-Oct
• 14-day Daning, Lesser Gorges, Shennong Stream, Three Gorges, and Yangtze (“China, Tibet & the Yangtze”), 4-day cruise, Beijing to Hong Kong, balconies from $6,599, Mar-Oct
• 18-day Daning, Lesser Gorges, Shennong Stream, Three Gorges, and Yangtze (“Grand China & the Yangtze”), 4-day cruise, Shanghai to Beijing, balconies from $4,449, Mar-Oct

River Cruisers Should Know!

• Avalon Waterways passengers are booked in Deluxe Balcony staterooms only.
• Uniworld passengers are booked in either an Executive Suite or a Presidential Suite.
• All staterooms have a river view.
• An elevator is available for passenger use.
• Free Wi-Fi is available only in the Executive Lounge area. It is also available throughout the ship, but there is an additional charge to use it.
• All staterooms aboard Century are fitted with 220 volt, European style two-prong plugs. North American cruisers should bring an adapter, such as the Samsonite Europe Non-Grounded adapter.
• Citizens of many countries are required by the Government of China to obtain a visa in addition to their regular passport. All passports must be valid for six months from the date of return. Obtaining these documents is the responsibility of the guest.

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