Viking Emerald

[Kodi'smom]

Nellerose -

We're on the Viking Imperial Jewels Shanghai to Beijing too. We'll be leaving DC on Monday - are anxiously waiting for Hurricane Irene to make her way past us. Lots of rain and wind right now. May not be able to reply further if we lose power, but you might like to see who else is with us - Under All River Cruise Roll Calls, scroll way down for "Viking Emerald August 29th Roll Call" and "Viking Imperial Jewels of China August 30, 2011." (Yes, we wound up with 2 roll calls:)) Also, if you haven't seen it, the thread "Viking China" under this heading is a 5 year old thread with lots of info.

See you on the Emerald -

Fran and Dick

Just curious, from Virginia do you fly east of west to china? How long does it take. Your departure date has had a few bloggers on but ours leaving Nov 3 has no one yet. I'm hoping to keep this thread alive until I have some company. Have a great trip.

[Turtles06]

Just curious' date=' from Virginia do you fly east of west to china? How long does it take. Your departure date has had a few bloggers on but ours leaving Nov 3 has no one yet. I'm hoping to keep this thread alive until I have some company. Have a great trip.[/quote']

 

From Dulles you fly to Beijing via the Great Circle route over the North Pole, nonstop 14 hours. Coming home from Shanghai, it's across the Pacific with a change of planes in San Fran or Chicago, an entire day of travel door to door.

[Kodi'smom]

From Dulles you fly to Beijing via the Great Circle route over the North Pole, nonstop 14 hours. Coming home from Shanghai, it's across the Pacific with a change of planes in San Fran or Chicago, an entire day of travel door to door.

 

It takes us 18 hours to Shanghai but we fly to Hong Kong wait for 2 hours then on to Shanghai. I'm sure hoping that for once in our lives we will be able to sleep en route! Only good thing is we leave here at 2;20 mid afternoon and arrive at midnight so if we go to bed zongked and get up at 8;00am we will be adjusted to the new time zone. W

[roothy123]

Hey Turtles, we are traveling from San Fran (though we live in DC) to Shanghai and then back to San Fran from Beijing. I think it's 13 hours to Shanghai and maybe 14 back, but I forget. Anyway, do we fly over the Pole from SF or what? Just curious - and my geography leaves something to be desired!

[Turtles06]

Hey Turtles, we are traveling from San Fran (though we live in DC) to Shanghai and then back to San Fran from Beijing. I think it's 13 hours to Shanghai and maybe 14 back, but I forget. Anyway, do we fly over the Pole from SF or what? Just curious - and my geography leaves something to be desired!

 

The flight between Shanghai and SF is not over the Pole, it's across the Pacific (which is why it's so long). I imagine that's also true for the Beijing flight, since SF is too close to China for the airlines to use the route over the Pole. DC, otoh, is pretty much on the opposite side of the globe.

[jimp1943]

We just returned and there is WiFi onboard, albeit limited to public areas and computer lab. It is slow, but works.

Trip was okay, hot and humid, mid summer in July. Tour escort Terry, Ming Lei, was great. Others too. The sites and ports were great. The ship okay, although, the humidity in the rooms made everything wet and damp. Take Mandarin before going...be ready to be "Big Noses" novelty. LOL

[Willsot]

Hi Willsot from Wisconsin! I just got back from your beautiful state (have lighthouse pics if you're interested). Anyway, I was wondering if you're on the Oct. 8 (or maybe it's 9th) Imperial Jewels trip. My husband and I are on that - can't wait.

 

Ruth & Howard from the DC area

 

Ours begins October 12, 2012.

[Krisval]

Hi,

A group of us (maybe 20) will be on the Imperial Jewels trip in October, 2012. Reading all the reviews, as usual, and looking forward to a great trip!

 

I'll post more info about our group as it comes together.

[Willsot]

Hi,

A group of us (maybe 20) will be on the Imperial Jewels trip in October, 2012. Reading all the reviews, as usual, and looking forward to a great trip!

 

I'll post more info about our group as it comes together.

 

What is your start date in October?

[Lucy in Prescott]

Thanks everyone for your great information. I've also read the other Viking Boards and they too offer wonderful information on these China Viking cruises.

 

My husband and I have just signed up for the Imperial Jewels of China on 9-12-2012. This trip begins in Beijing and ends in Shanghai.

 

We have a long wait but are thrilled to be going to China!