Century Cruises of China has added yet another ship to its now seven-vessel Yangtze River fleet. The newly launched 398-passenger Century Legend is identical to the Century Paragon, which made its debut in March.
 
The line's latest ships bring Western styling and amenities to the Chinese waterway, the third-longest river in the world. They were designed by European naval architecture firm Yran & Storbratten, which has worked with Disney Cruises, Seabourn, Holland America, Viking River Cruises and others.
 
All staterooms have private balconies, king-size beds, separate sitting area, LCD satellite televisions (with HBO and CNN), individually controlled air conditioning and a bath with separate tub and shower. The ship also features exterior sightseeing elevators, a seven-story grand atrium lobby, and a 2,000-square-foot indoor pool area, and is equipped with Wi-Fi.

"We are proud of this beautiful ship," said cruise line president Peng Jianhu in a statement. "We continue to strive to provide the very finest Yangtze River cruise experience available."

Century Legend will sail on Saturdays for three-night itineraries downstream between Chongqing and Yichang and on Tuesdays for four-night itineraries upstream on the same route. Passengers will visit Shibao Pagoda, the Three Gorges of Daning River (or Shennong Stream) and the Three Gorges Dam as well as a transit of the dam's locks system.

Ten-year-old Century Cruises says it has the Yangtze River's most modern fleet, which carries 186 to 398 passengers per ship.

This item was written by Larry Bleiberg, former travel editor of The Dallas Morning.