Viking Emerald

MS Viking Emerald cruises on the Yangtze River in China, departing from homeports Shanghai and Beijing. Other Viking River Cruises Asia vessels include the Mekong River ships Viking Mekong (2002), Viking Saigon (2021), and Viking Tonle (2025).

Viking Emerald is a modern riverboat inaugurated in 2011, originally named “Century Emerald” and owned by Century River Cruises (China). She accommodates 256 guests in staterooms with hotel-style beds and private verandas. With a highly trained, English-speaking crew and Swiss-trained Viking management, the vessel ranks among the most sophisticated river cruise ships in the region.

Century Emerald is Viking Cruises’ only vessel operating in China and has been chartered and branded as “Viking Emerald” since 2011.

Cabins

Viking Emerald has a total of 128 staterooms (including 20 Suites and 108 Balcony cabins) across 9 categories. Standard staterooms measure approximately 250 sq ft, while Suites and Junior Suites offer additional space. The two Explorer Suites (603 sq ft) feature a private wraparound veranda and a separate sitting area.

Cabin types and categories (number, location), from highest to lowest:

• Suites – PS (x2, Deck 2), JR (x4, Decks 2–3), AA (x14, Deck 4)
• Balcony Staterooms – A (x24, Deck 3), B (x16, Deck 3), C (x28, Deck 2), D (x15, Deck 2), E (x16, Deck 1), F (x9, Deck 1)
• Deluxe RiverView Staterooms – none

Shipboard facilities

The Sun Deck features a shaded seating area with panoramic views. Guests can enjoy the Observation Bar Lounge, Emerald Bar, and the main Restaurant, all offering scenic vistas. Additional onboard facilities include a Boutique Shop, Library, Gym, Sauna Room, Spa (with massage treatment rooms and Beauty Salon), and an Internet Cafe. Optional services (at extra charge) include laundry, concierge, tailoring, and medical assistance (with a resident doctor on call).

Viking Emerald cruise fares include Internet (Wi-Fi), all China and Tibet tours and excursions, domestic flights and motorcoach transfers within China, live evening entertainment, daily expert lectures, 24-hour coffee and tea, and daily replenished bottled water.

Viking Emerald cruise prices are per person and based on double occupancy. These rates are indicative and may vary depending on travel agency promotions, special offers, discounts, group bookings, or last-minute deals. On select China itineraries, Viking may offer discounted round-trip airfare from the USA.

Viking China River Cruise Itineraries

Below is a list of Viking Emerald river cruise itineraries (by theme), as officially announced by Viking Cruises:

“IMPERIAL JEWELS OF CHINA” – 13-day Yangtze River cruises from Beijing to Shanghai (and reverse), including 11 complimentary land tours. The itinerary features a 3-night Beijing hotel stay, a rickshaw tour, a flight to Xian (1-night stay with a visit to the Terracotta Army), a flight to Chongqing (embarkation), a Three Gorges cruise (Qutang, Wu, and Xiling Gorges, plus Lesser Three Gorges excursion), and a flight to Shanghai (2-night hotel stay). Optional extensions include additional nights in Shanghai, Hong Kong, or Guilin.

“CHINA CULTURAL DELIGHTS” – 18-day China and Tibet itinerary from Beijing to Shanghai (and reverse), including 16 complimentary tours. Highlights include Fengdu (Snow Jade Cave), Shibaozhai Temple, Dongting Lake (Yueyang Tower), Jingdezhen (Ceramic History Museum), Jiu Hua Mountain, Nanjing, Suzhou, and a 2-night Shanghai hotel stay. Optional extensions include Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Guilin.

“ROOF OF THE WORLD” – 15-day China and Tibet itinerary from Beijing to Shanghai (and reverse), including 18 complimentary tours. The program includes a 3-night Beijing stay, visits to Xian (Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda), flights to Lhasa (2-night stay with visits to Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Market, Tibetan Museum, Potala Palace, and Sera Monastery), followed by a Yangtze River cruise from Chongqing and a final stay in Shanghai. Optional extensions include additional nights in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Guilin.

The map below shows the Viking River Cruises China itinerary, including Yangtze River ports and domestic flight connections (Beijing-Xian-Chongqing and Shanghai-Wuhan).

Note: You can view CruiseMapper’s list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the “itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.