Victoria Sabrina

If you have any dietary requirements or allergies that need to be managed while travelling with Travelmarvel, and you have not made these known already, please advise your booking agent as soon as possible, as well as your Tour Director upon arrival. Most suppliers require advance notice to accommodate these requirements and in some cases you may be required to fill out a form or waiver. Every effort will be made to fulfil requests, but these cannot always be guaranteed.

Luggage
The luggage limit on your tour is restricted to one suitcase weighing 20kg (44 pounds) per person. We advise keeping your luggage to a manageable weight, as you may be required to handle your luggage independently at airports and hotels. Additional fees will be charged to cover porterage handling of any excess luggage. Your Tour Director will provide details of any additional charges.

Clothing And Footwear
Smart casual attire is suitable for a Travelmarvel tour and appropriate to wear for Welcome and Farewell Dinners, including while aboard Victoria Sabrina, if your itinerary includes a cruise on the Yangzi River. We recommend bringing a hat for sun protection, and a large scarf or shawl for covering your head and shoulders when entering religious sites. It’s customary to remove your shoes before entering temples and private homes. If you’re travelling during the cooler months of the year, pack using the layering method, allowing you to add or remove items as required. Bring comfortable, sturdy shoes for excursions and activities that require walking and standing on your feet for extended periods

Passports
Your passport is an essential travel document in China and should be carried with you throughout your trip. Many bookings are linked directly to your passport, which is used to verify your identity rather than a traditional paper ticket. You may be asked to present your passport upon boarding high-speed trains, entering attractions such as the Great Wall of China, checking into hotels, and verifying domestic flights or other pre-booked services. As many tickets and reservations are issued electronically and linked to your passport details, staff will often scan or check your passport before granting entry. We recommend carrying your original passport each day and keeping it secure. A photocopy or digital copy is useful as a backup, however it is generally not accepted in place of your original passport.

Powerbanks
Please be advised that power banks are only permitted in your carry-on luggage and usage is prohibited during take-off or landing. When travelling in China, power banks require a visible ‘3C certification’ label or they will be confiscated.

Money
We recommend carrying both an international credit or debit card and a small amount of cash while travelling, ensuring you have access to more than one source of funds. China is largely a cashless society, with Alipay and WeChat Pay being the most commonly used payment methods. Eligible international bank cards can be linked to these platforms, allowing payments to be made by scanning QR codes. To make transactions easier during your tour, we recommend downloading and setting up your preferred mobile payment app before departure.

Onboard Account

Purchases made while on board are billed to your shipboard account, and you will receive an invoice at the end of the cruise. The accepted currency on board the Victoria Sabrina is Chinese Yuan (also known as Renminbi) or USD. Both cash and major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted forms of payment.

Sim Cards And Internet Access

We recommend arranging your mobile connectivity before departure. You may choose to activate international roaming with your mobile service provider or purchase a travel eSIM, provided your device is compatible. Please be aware that internet access in mainland China is subject to government regulations, and a number of commonly used websites and applications are generally inaccessible when using local internet services. These may include Google services (such as Google Search, Gmail and Google Maps), as well as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube. Many travellers choose to use a VPN to access these services. If you intend to use a VPN, we strongly recommend downloading, installing and testing it on all of your devices before departing for China, as VPN websites and applications may be difficult to access once you have arrived. Please note that some international roaming services and travel eSIM providers route data through networks outside mainland China. Depending on the provider, this may enable access to websites and applications that are otherwise restricted without the use of a VPN. As capabilities vary between providers and may change over time, this should not be considered guaranteed.

If uninterrupted access to services such as Gmail, Google Maps, WhatsApp and social media platforms is important to you, we recommend researching connectivity options and completing all setup prior to departure.

Staying Healthy On Holiday
It is important to follow good hygiene practices during the tour to prevent the spread of common infections including colds, flu or gastroenteritis, which can spread quickly. Respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, while usually minor in nature, can spread rapidly within a tour group, and have a major impact on everyone’s enjoyment. Travelmarvel is committed to reducing the spread of infections on all tours, and asks that you read and follow our recommendations to ensure a healthy, safe and enjoyable holiday for yourself and your fellow travellers.

Travelmarvel Health And Safety Protocol
Travelmarvel has a Health and Safety Protocol that all our Tour Directors are required to follow. Please read our Health and Wellbeing information on our website for more information travelmarvel.com/en- au/before-you-travel/health-and-wellbeing.

Water And Food Safety

Tap water in China is generally not considered safe to drink. It is best to drink bottle or filtered water when travelling. Always ensure the seal is intact prior to consuming. Bottled or filtered water should always be used for cleaning your teeth,  unless you are specifically advised the tap water is safe for cleaning your teeth. If you are unsure, please ask your Tour Director. Tasting new cuisine is one of the joys of travel. We recommend packing some medicine to alleviate symptoms should you experience an upset stomach from eating foods that are not usually a part of your regular diet.

Sun Exposure And Dehydration

It’s important to remain hydrated while on tour. Wearing a hat and applying sunscreen are vital to prevent sunburn, even on overcast days.

Medical Assistance
The Victoria Sabrina offers an onboard doctor service. Should a guest require medical assistance ashore, arrangements will be made for transfer to the nearest hospital for further treatment. Guests are responsible for any expenses incurred from medical care, whether onboard or ashore. Travelmarvel is not responsible for the nature or quality of medical services received. For this reason, we strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance.

Ship Schedule

Under normal operating conditions, itineraries will follow what is outlined in the brochure. However, changes to the itinerary may be necessary due to factors such as road, rail, river or weather conditions, strikes, or other circumstances beyond Travelmarvel’s control. If conditions make any routes unsafe for navigation, Travelmarvel reserves the right to provide alternative services, including, but not limited to, accommodation on the docked ship or substitute land arrangements.

Dining
All meals on board your cruises are included and are prepared by onboard chefs. Tables for two are limited in the dining room. We recommend arranging a table for two in advance with reception staff. Meals on board include Chinese and Western-style buffet.

Beverages
On board the Victoria Sabrina, enjoy a selection of international wines and regional Chinese beers served with lunch and dinner. Throughout the day, soft drinks, tea, and freshly brewed coffee are available at the Yangtze Club. Complimentary purified drinking water is available throughout your cruise.

Getting On And Off The Ship

During your cruise aboard Victoria Sabrina, you will be required to climb into smaller boats and be transferred ashore for sightseeing excursions. In ports where there are no established docks, you may need to walk along unpaved embankments. Some ports including Yichang and Chongqing had a significant number of stairs from the ship to the bus.