Q: Do they weigh hand carry bags when boarding a Yangtze River cruise?

A:

No, they typically do not weigh your personal hand-carry luggage when you board a Yangtze River cruise ship. The weight check and strict limits are for your main, checked luggage that goes into the ship's hold, similar to how cargo is managed for vessel stability and draft.

This is a load-balancing issue, not a passenger inconvenience. A ship's draft and stability are calculated based on the total distributed weight in its holds. Your small carry-on, like a toilet tank's float, has negligible impact on the system. The heavy, consolidated luggage below deck is what the crew needs to meter and position correctly.

Pack your essentials and any fragile items in your carry-on. Check your cruise line's specific policy, but expect a checked luggage limit of 20-30kg per person. Keep medications, documents, and a change of clothes with you, as checked bags may take time to be delivered to your cabin.