Chinese company President Cruises is launching two newbuilds on China’s Yangtze River in 2013 with an emphasis on enhanced amenities and public areas.
President Cruises plans to introduce the sister ships in April: the 462-passenger President 7 and President 8. The news follows that of Century Cruises, which is launching two new 398-passenger vessels, the Century Paragon and Century Legend, on the Yangtze in early January.
The Century ships promise to have a 2,153-square-foot indoor pool area and a 150-passenger movie theater, among other bells and whistles. The President ships, too, will have some unique amenities, such as a heated indoor pool, a putting green, a cinema and conference facilities.
President Cruises is owned by Chinese parent company Wuhan Yangtze Cruise Co. Ltd. The new ships will raise the company’s fleet total to eight.
The President 7 and President 8 will both measure 481 feet in length and 66 feet in width. They will have 216 cabins at 260 square feet each; 12 executive suites at 376 square feet each; and two 742-square-foot presidential suites.
The ships will sail from Yichang to Chongqing and the reverse with optional pre- and post-cruise extensions including Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
President Cruises’ North American offices are located in San Gabriel, Calif. The cruises are also distributed by Fountain Valley, Calif.-based Value World Tours.