ONBOARD THE VICTORIA JENNA -- Although it's the latest, largest and most lavish vessel in Victoria Cruises' Yangtze River fleet, the Jenna remains a work -- albeit a sleek, chic work -- in progress. The 396-passenger cruise ship made its maiden voyage in September, some six months earlier than originally planned.

Thus, it didn't come as too much of a surprise upon boarding to find that some i's still need to be dotted and t's crossed. However, obvious shortcomings were few.

Greeting the ship as it docked in its home port of Chongqing, Jerry Pi, Victoria Cruises' director of worldwide operations, said the Jenna was launched early due to "large demand from travelers."

"With the Three Gorges Dam complete, we received a huge demand for the new Jenna to view the world's largest dam on the largest luxury river cruise, by tonnage and passenger cabins," Pi said. Since its inception, the Jenna has been operating at over 90% occupancy, he said.

First, the firsts: Victoria said the six-deck Jenna, which will travel the Yangtze year-round, is the largest luxury river cruise ship in the world. The 436-foot-long, 62-foot-wide vessel is equipped with advanced navigational systems and the latest hotel-management software; it also has the best fuel-to-passenger ratio on the Yangtze, the line said.

Of more practical import to passengers, the ship has four scenic elevators and two full-service kitchens, also industry breakthroughs, according to the line. Each cabin has a bathroom with a marble countertop and a bathtub with two showerheads. Each also features Victoria Cruises' standard-issue private balcony, and the 158 superior (previously termed "standard") cabins are roomy.

I stayed in one of the Jenna's 35 executive suites; the ship also has three deluxe suites and two Shangri-La suites. My tony, Asian-accented quarters were spacious and appointed with two comfortable twin beds, a sitting area with sofa and coffee table, a desk and a spacious closet with a safe.

Victoria has advertised Executive Club services and facilities for suite occupants on the Jenna -- and also sister ships Katarina and Anna, in March and April, respectively, but these were not fully implemented as of my four-day cruise in early November from Sandouping, site of the Three Gorges Dam, to Chongqing. According to Pi, these features, including dedicated concierges; a business center, which will provide Internet stations, faxes and copy machines; and a private lounge serving tea, coffee and snacks, will be available on the Jenna by Jan. 10.

Most Executive Club facilities will be on the top deck. "Clients would most of the time be on the sixth-floor executive lounge [deck] to eat, play and view the Yangtze," said Pi.

In addition, all passengers with laptops will be able to rent 3G modem USB sticks.

The ship's cabins, although new, are to undergo a minor redo, as well.

The a la carte restaurant for the executive floor, Top of the Yangtze, was open and provided top-of-the-line service and excellent Western and Chinese fare. The Pinnacle Deck also houses the ship's salon and spa, which boasts the line's first private massage and treatment rooms.

Other onboard facilities include the 350-seat Dynasty Dining Room; the Yangtze Club, which does double duty as bar and theater space; a games room, with four automated mahjong tables; and a cigar room, the only indoor smoking venue on the ship. The Jenna also has a small gym on the first deck; according to Pi, the facility might be moved to a higher deck as part of ongoing improvements.

Now for one shortcoming: I'd boarded expecting the advertised shipwide, WiFi Internet access but quickly learned passengers currently only have use of a typical eight-terminal Internet cafe on Deck 5 that uses dial-up connection. Service was slow or, outside of ports, nonexistent, apparently stymied by insufficient communications infrastructure along the Yangtze. Pi said that Victoria will explore WiFi connectivity after it implements the 3G modem-stick program.