Until the appearance of Viking River Cruises, Orient's East King and East Queen were arguably the plushest ships on the Yangzi -- built to five-star standards and tied with the Yellow Crane for the best food. Their cruise directors, both from the Philippines, do a superior job of attending to passenger needs and special requests, and their Chinese river guides deliver expert commentary in well-spoken English. Standard cabins have twin beds, a desk, and small fridge. Orient Royal offers 4-day route from Chongqing to Yichang and 5-day, from Yichang to Chongqing.