Has anyone done the "Undiscovered China" Viking cruise tour?

We went through Viking’s suggested vendor - Gen Visa. You definitely have to fill out the paperwork yourself. Viking doesn’t do any of this for you. The application is lengthy and they want to know which hotels you’ll be staying at - including address and phone number. The Viking itinerary has all the info on it. Gen Visa is just a suggestion. You’re free to do what you’d like. It took 4 or 5 weeks to get ours back, but add som cushion in case you missed something and you have to resubmit it. The visa is good for 10 years.

And if I'm correct, did you have to mail in your passport along with the application?

Yes, you always have to send your passport in. In this case, the Visa is laminated onto one of the pages. We sent ours in with a tracking number so we knew it got to them. They sent us a tracking number when they were returned to us. You have the option to buy additional insurance for your passport for $9 per person. If you’re lucky enough to live near a Chinese embassy, you can take it there yourself.

This is a very simple process. Please don’t let a Visa application keep you from traveling anywhere. Life is short - no regrets!

Something forgot. Viking fills in things like the type of visa, all their info under the tour company and a couple other things. The stuff you have to fill out is pretty straightforward.

Being on a river cruise, you arrive by air, thus you need an individual visa. (The same is true for a Russian river cruise.)

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Something forgot. Viking fills in things like the type of visa, all their info under the tour company and a couple other things. The stuff you have to fill out is pretty straightforward.

Doesn't sound all that bad. What's up with there reportedly being no toilet paper and soap in public restrooms? On trip advisor I read something to the effect of having to carry some with you. Really?

It was hit and miss on the toilet paper. I found it easier to put a mini pack of Kleenex and some hand sanitizer in my bag, just in case. You can always find a Western toilet, they’re the handicap ones. And places like airports and museums have a lot of western toilets. Using a squat potty is awkward if you’re not used to them. The guides are very good about letting everyone know where the “good” toilets are.

Hmmm...thanks but this does little to encourage me to go. Too bad since China has always been on the 'bucket' list. Was hoping to get to the 3 continents that I've not been to yet. DW and I love to travel, but also enjoy our 'creature comforts'. I'm bummed enough when I encounter less-than-clean public restrooms...can't even imagine ones without toilet paper or soap. Disgusting. Going to have to do some research on this on trip advisor.

It was hit and miss on the toilet paper. I found it easier to put a mini pack of Kleenex and some hand sanitizer in my bag, just in case. You can always find a Western toilet, they’re the handicap ones. And places like airports and museums have a lot of western toilets. Using a squat potty is awkward if you’re not used to them. The guides are very good about letting everyone know where the “good” toilets are.

This is what I'm assuming, especially from other escorted tours I've done abroad. I can't imagine a company like Viking or Collette would direct people to some of the poorer facilities.

Hmmm...thanks but this does little to encourage me to go. Too bad since China has always been on the 'bucket' list. Was hoping to get to the 3 continents that I've not been to yet. DW and I love to travel, but also enjoy our 'creature comforts'. I'm bummed enough when I encounter less-than-clean public restrooms...can't even imagine ones without toilet paper or soap. Disgusting. Going to have to do some research on this on trip advisor.

I enjoy my creature comforts as well and never in our 17 day trip with Viking was I forced to use a squatty potty. The Viking guides can tell you the location of every porcelain throne in the vicinity. They know that clean toilets are an American fetish and they do their best to accommodate.

As for cleanliness, well, you are in a different country with different customs and different standards. However, I don't every remember walking into anyone of the bathrooms that we used and walking out again because of the smell or because I just refused to drop my drawers and risk having them soiled.

No tp is because the locals liberate them from the stalls. Sometimes there is a dispenser on the wall in the common area. It is easy enough to bring your own. Bring a mostly used roll or two from home and then collect same from the hotel or ship.

However, if these suggestions are not enough to get over your issues with bathrooms, then perhaps you are right and China is not the place for you to visit.

No...I'm good with it. I think it could be more of a 'hit or miss' issue if you're visiting on your own. As you say, the Viking (or whatever tour company) guides know where the cleaner facilities are located. I definitely still want to go.

Considering doing this trip to use the vouchers that we got from the 3/14 Sky sailing and so just reviewed this thread again.....have some time to think about it since the vouchers are good for the next 5 years. Still not thrilled about the potential unsanitary bathroom issues but I guess it'd all work out ok. 

The bathrooms aren’t unsanitary. Read the last couple of posts. Never once in 19 days in China was I exposed to any bathroom that was anywhere near unsanitary. Western facilities were available. I’ve experienced far worse conditions at home while using a port-a-jon or an outhouse!  The Chinese government wants their country reflected in the best light. Viking takes very good care of you. The bathrooms in the hotels have every technology imaginable. 

24 minutes ago, gretschwhtfalcon said:

Considering doing this trip to use the vouchers that we got from the 3/14 Sky sailing and so just reviewed this thread again.....have some time to think about it since the vouchers are good for the next 5 years. Still not thrilled about the potential unsanitary bathroom issues but I guess it'd all work out ok. 

If you stick with the bathrooms that Viking brings you to, you will find that the potential is nil. There may be some inconveniences (such as needing to supply your own paper or knowing that the paper is on the wall before you enter the stall) but an inconvenience does not make it unsanitary. In truth, I have been in worse bathrooms traveling in the US than we ever had to use while traveling with Viking in China.

Good to know....thanks Peregrina. 

9 hours ago, Lilyskittymom said:

The bathrooms aren’t unsanitary.

9 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

There may be some inconveniences (such as needing to supply your own paper or knowing that the paper is on the wall before you enter the stall) but an inconvenience does not make it unsanitary. 

 

I agree with the above posts. We didn't run across any unsanitary bathroom conditions. A few situations where there wasn't TP in the stalls, but we were prepared and had some tissues with us. IIRC, the guide would also let us know before we got to the bathrooms "Make sure you grab TP on your way in..." - in the cases where that might be necessary.

We didn't find any bathrooms without soap.

With a very small amount of planning ahead, you'll be fine.

I’m not on a Viking trip, but have been in China for over 3 weeks.  Only once have I not used a western toilet.  Yes, you do need to bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer.  

I had to laugh about some of the above comments about Chinese food.  That is what is served, but it is mostly good.  It is certainly different from American Chinese food!  That said, I plan to have pizza my first day home.

we are doing Roof of the world in fall of 2020....I solve some bathroom issues by wearing a skirt!  We don’t fly first class🙁🙁and I think airplane bathrooms are the worst!

You know, you have a point there about airlines!  It seems that those trash receptacles are hardly ever emptied during the flight. It's a bit disgusting when the things are overflowing onto the floor. I wash my hands, then wind up touching other peoples' discarded paper towels, etc. when getting rid of mine. Key is to always carry hand sanitizer on a plane. We always wipe down everything - seat belt, tray table, etc. 

Revisiting this thread....how far before the trip would you suggest beginning the visa application process? I'm thinking at least a year or so? 

We went through GenVisa and it took 5 or 6 weeks. But that was a year ago. You can always email them and ask how long the wait is; they’re very responsive to questions. I can’t imagine why you would need to do it a year ahead of time. 

41 minutes ago, gretschwhtfalcon said:

Revisiting this thread....how far before the trip would you suggest beginning the visa application process? I'm thinking at least a year or so? 

Read the fine print. When we applied in 2010, you had to apply within 3 months of entering China for the first time; if you didn't enter within 3 months of issue, the visa was no longer valid. Once you enter the country, a different clock starts ticking.

That was almost 10 years ago and things may have changed but you should check out the visa requirements and rules on the Chinese consulate website. 

We used GenVisa and it took about 4 weeks from the time we mailed sent our visas to them until we got them back.  Much easier than having to drive (or take the bus) to New York City twice--once to drop off all the paperwork and once to pick it up.

Do a google search- GenVisa China. It will take you directly to the information you will need to complete the visa application. Some of it includes your hotel and flight info. You will need this to complete the paperwork. Call or email them with your questions. You’re better off going directly to an authority. Rules change, governments get ticked off with each other, etc. GenVisa knows what they’re doing and will give you the best information. 

This is the first time I've seen this thread.  Having traveled to China with Viking in 2011 (Imperial Jewels), and having the same feeling that Peregrina651 does about how fantastic the trip was and the incredible job that Viking does in China (obviously I'm speaking of my 2011 experience), I wanted to add a few comments.

Might you encounter a public restroom with no toilet paper?  Sure.  (Happens all the time in the U.S.)  My wife and I each brought personal travel size TP, and we were never without.   We had small hand towels as well, and hand sanitizer.   (We've been in pretty disgusting women's rooms in the U.S., btw.)  As hikers, we've had to "go" with no toilets at all.  Unless you have knee problems, you should be able to use the Chinese potties.  In fact, in some restrooms in China (including in the airports), the lines for the "Western" toilets were quite long, but not for the local stalls, so squatting it was if you didn't want to wait.  If any of that keeps you from taking one of the most extraordinary trips you are likely to take, well, only you can decide that.

We used GenVisa.  They made the process as painless as possible.   Again, this was 2011.

26 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

each brought personal travel size TP, and we were never without. 

I just grabbed a mostly used roll from the hotel or the ship. One less thing to pack.

Also, for those of you on the fence. I never once in a situation where my only option was a squatty potty. I one of those who is particular about this and I had no issues at all.

It was once of the best trips we ever took.

I'll be going on this tour in September and wondered about the "suggested" tipping.  I've taken a number of Viking River cruises in Europe and a couple of their ocean cruises as well.  I know tipping is a very personal thing, but I'm just curious about the amounts suggested.  In Europe, on a Viking cruise this past May (2019) the suggestion was $18 (US) per person per day on board and  2 and 1 euro pp for an on land tour guide and bus driver.  The Viking China booklet suggests $25 pp per day (US) on board and $10 pp per day (US) on land,  $270 pp if you prepay the gratuities.  Given that there is no tipping in China (in fact it is considered an insult to leave a tip according to the travel books) I confused as to why the amounts are so much higher than in Europe.  I realize that I can adjust the tip amounts but I usually tip the suggested amount as well as some additional tips to people who go above and beyond.  I am just curious if any knows the rational behind the substantially higher amount in a country with a no tipping culture and a lower cost of living.