Viking China (Part 2)

[HMK8273]

I am ever the planner so want to have an idea on how to handle having a cell phone in China. We are Verizon users in VA. I am getting conflicting recommendations so figure I would ask what others have done. I have searched this thread but the information that comes up is a year old.

 

Options that I understand them to be are:

 

1. Have Verizon give me international access for the time we are in China. Not sure of the monthly fee for it or the usage charges yet.

2. Finding a cheap unlocked phone and getting a Sim card from rebelphone or someplace similar. This sounds like a good idea as the Sim card rental is cheap and usage doesn't seem expensive.

3. Not having a cell phone at all while we are in China - we are doing the Imperial Jewels and the 4 day extension in Hong Kong. Not my ideal.

4. Figure something out once we get to China - we do fly in a day early into Beijing so could possibly figure something out the first day we are there.

 

I would prefer to have connection somehow via phone just in case we get lost while on our own or family back in the U.S. needs to find me. We will also have a laptop/iPad of some sort so I can keep in touch with work while I travel realizing that wifi won't be great in some places but it will work.

 

Any recommendations/comments that don't break the bank and actually work? Thanks in advance.

[Turtles06]

I am ever the planner so want to have an idea on how to handle having a cell phone in China. We are Verizon users in VA. I am getting conflicting recommendations so figure I would ask what others have done. I have searched this thread but the information that comes up is a year old.

 

Options that I understand them to be are:

 

1. Have Verizon give me international access for the time we are in China. Not sure of the monthly fee for it or the usage charges yet.

2. Finding a cheap unlocked phone and getting a Sim card from rebelphone or someplace similar. This sounds like a good idea as the Sim card rental is cheap and usage doesn't seem expensive.

3. Not having a cell phone at all while we are in China - we are doing the Imperial Jewels and the 4 day extension in Hong Kong. Not my ideal.

4. Figure something out once we get to China - we do fly in a day early into Beijing so could possibly figure something out the first day we are there.

 

I would prefer to have connection somehow via phone just in case we get lost while on our own or family back in the U.S. needs to find me. We will also have a laptop/iPad of some sort so I can keep in touch with work while I travel realizing that wifi won't be great in some places but it will work.

 

Any recommendations/comments that don't break the bank and actually work? Thanks in advance.

 

If the main purpose for the phone is so family, etc. can reach you in the event of an emergency (and not for you to be making frequent calls), I think option 1 is the easiest (assuming your phone will work in China. That's a GSM/CDMA issue. Verizon should be able to tell you.)

[HMK8273]

Options that I understand them to be are:

 

1. Have Verizon give me international access for the time we are in China. Not sure of the monthly fee for it or the usage charges yet. $2 per minute no matter what - our Galaxy SIII's will work their once international dialing is added - whatever that means - at no charge. Data is $25 for 100MB if signed up for the Global Data plan - but no phone plan available. Text would be $0.50 per text going, $0.05 coming.

2. Finding a cheap unlocked phone and getting a Sim card from rebelphone or someplace similar. This sounds like a good idea as the Sim card rental is cheap and usage doesn't seem expensive.

3. Not having a cell phone at all while we are in China - we are doing the Imperial Jewels and the 4 day extension in Hong Kong. Not my ideal.

4. Figure something out once we get to China - we do fly in a day early into Beijing so could possibly figure something out the first day we are there.

 

I would prefer to have connection somehow via phone just in case we get lost while on our own or family back in the U.S. needs to find me. We will also have a laptop/iPad of some sort so I can keep in touch with work while I travel realizing that wifi won't be great in some places but it will work.

 

Any recommendations/comments that don't break the bank and actually work? Thanks in advance.

 

See what I found from Verizon - I think worst case scenario - but $2 per minute doesn't seem cheap - but it would only be in case of emergencies. I don't have a feel for what 100MB of data translates into - that I need to figure out for myself based on how I use my phone's data plan here in the US.

 

Thought I would share what I found out chatting with Verizon during lunch.

[arkcruiser]

You should have no problem. The overhead bins were the same size as a lot of US planes. EDITED: Sorry I see you are from Mexico. The planes in China were very modern. I'm not sure what they were but they were very similar to a 737 in the US with three seats n each side of the aisle. We had no problem with oru carryon which is about 11 inches.

I am back recently from the Imperial Treasures tours. The internal flights were on China Eastern and Xiamen. The use new 737s or Airbus 320s. The only difference from flying on a US airline is that you might get a hot lunch! We did on the flight from Xi'an to Chongqing.

[Donray]

See http://www.verizonwireless.com/wcms/global/international-long-distance-and-messaging.html?country=china

 

Take this plan for the month and make sure you have data roaming off.

 

.14 per minute is pretty cheap to stay in touch.

[HMK8273]

See http://www.verizonwireless.com/wcms/global/international-long-distance-and-messaging.html?country=china

 

Take this plan for the month and make sure you have data roaming off.

 

.14 per minute is pretty cheap to stay in touch.

 

Thanks for the information Donray but I think your link is for calling to China from the US - it won't help me while I am in China on a US cell phone - I don't think.

[Donray]

Thanks for the information Donray but I think your link is for calling to China from the US - it won't help me while I am in China on a US cell phone - I don't think.

 

I was I China with Verizon last September and did not pay 2 something for phone calls to the US........

 

Why no just call Verizon to double check?

Edited July 25, 2013 by Donray

[id4elizabeth]

After reading everyone's recommendations for Black Sesame Kitchen, I tried to make reservations for our October trip. I went on their web site, sent them an e-mail from their web site, but never heard anything back. When you made your reservations, did you do it that way, and if so, did you ever get back a confirming e-mail from them? Thanks!

[Peregrina651]

After reading everyone's recommendations for Black Sesame Kitchen, I tried to make reservations for our October trip. I went on their web site, sent them an e-mail from their web site, but never heard anything back. When you made your reservations, did you do it that way, and if so, did you ever get back a confirming e-mail from them? Thanks!

 

You should get a reply from them. Have you checked to see if it ended up in your spam/junk file?

[G&L in WPG]

I made a reservation through the website for Thursday November 28th for 2 people and received no confirmation from them. I emailed them a couple of weeks later to confirm, and they emailed back and apologized that they only take large groups on Thursday's, and could I rebook for Wednesday or Friday. I decided we could live without seeing the Chinese Opera, and booked for the Wednesday (we will be flying home on the Friday). After the initial "lack of contact", Michelle at BSK was very helpful. We confirmed the reservation with the phone number of our hotel in Beijing, and she said we would receive a confirmation email 2 weeks before the reservation date. Very excited to try them!

[juliesaddiction]

as far as the phone issue goes.....if your phone is unlocked (verizons iphone 5 is) you can change the sim card to one from China, the only downfall I saw to this was that it changes your phone number to a China one. What I ended up doing in Europe a few months ago was to just add the global plan, my phone bill ended up being double what it normally is but we were gone 19 days and I was using the data plan as well. Our family normally texts or emails when I am gone so there were no phone calls made during that time...other than when our plane was diverted from Heathrow to another airport and I made a call that was 15 minutes long. I was comfortable with the amount it cost me while gone, and comfortable that my number stayed the same so it didnt cost those calling/texting me.

[CTGirl]

I am ever the planner so want to have an idea on how to handle having a cell phone in China. We are Verizon users in VA. I am getting conflicting recommendations so figure I would ask what others have done. I have searched this thread but the information that comes up is a year old.

 

Options that I understand them to be are:

 

1. Have Verizon give me international access for the time we are in China. Not sure of the monthly fee for it or the usage charges yet.

2. Finding a cheap unlocked phone and getting a Sim card from rebelphone or someplace similar. This sounds like a good idea as the Sim card rental is cheap and usage doesn't seem expensive.

3. Not having a cell phone at all while we are in China - we are doing the Imperial Jewels and the 4 day extension in Hong Kong. Not my ideal.

4. Figure something out once we get to China - we do fly in a day early into Beijing so could possibly figure something out the first day we are there.

 

I would prefer to have connection somehow via phone just in case we get lost while on our own or family back in the U.S. needs to find me. We will also have a laptop/iPad of some sort so I can keep in touch with work while I travel realizing that wifi won't be great in some places but it will work.

 

Any recommendations/comments that don't break the bank and actually work? Thanks in advance.

I have an IPhone 5 with Verizon and I had no problem calling home from anywhere in China. The IPhone 5 is a global phone and it works with CDMA service as well as with GSM. Chin has CDMA service which means a lot more phones can use it. The rate is 1.99 a minute. You have to have International (the one that allows you to make calls from another country to the US) turned on on your phone. There is no charge for that. Just make sure they don't confuse that with the International Plan for making calls from the US to other countries. There is a fee for that.

[CTGirl]

as far as the phone issue goes.....if your phone is unlocked (verizons iphone 5 is) you can change the sim card to one from China, the only downfall I saw to this was that it changes your phone number to a China one. What I ended up doing in Europe a few months ago was to just add the global plan, my phone bill ended up being double what it normally is but we were gone 19 days and I was using the data plan as well. Our family normally texts or emails when I am gone so there were no phone calls made during that time...other than when our plane was diverted from Heathrow to another airport and I made a call that was 15 minutes long. I was comfortable with the amount it cost me while gone, and comfortable that my number stayed the same so it didnt cost those calling/texting me.

I did not need to get a sim card in China with my Verizon IPhone 5. Verizon has very good coverage in China.

 

I am in England now with the phone. I did get the $4.99 plan to make calls in GB for 99 cents instead of $1.29 without the plan. This plan does allow pay as you go Internet but it is expensive so I turn of my cellular and restrict my phone to Wi-Fi. I calculated that my break even number of minutes (with the plan vs without the plan) was somewhere around 20 minutes. I figured between my mother, my kitty sitter and calling friends here in England I would go over and it would then be beneficial for me to get the plan. I am very pleased with the service so far. If we were using my DH's phone we would not be able to make calls from England as it is an GMS country. Have to say - I love the IPhone. :D

[Debbie4a]

Hello, has anyone tried Viber for calling? It's a free app that lets you call and text free. A person had it posted on facebook. Said she had used it in Europe and had worked well. Anyone else tried it ? Debbie

[Travel Girl TX]

Hello, has anyone tried Viber for calling? It's a free app that lets you call and text free. A person had it posted on facebook. Said she had used it in Europe and had worked well. Anyone else tried it ? Debbie

 

We were in China last month and my husband used Viber in Shanghai and Xi'an and it would work for about 5 minutes and then disconnect. Then, he'd call again and it would last for about another 5 minutes and then disconnect again. He was always stationary and with a good wifi signal when he had these issues. It became extremely frustrating to use for an extended period of time because it would randomly disconnect. If you just need a quick call, then it won't be a problem.

[MrsTiggywinkle]

I was wondering if any VRC China cruise veterans can recommend any iPhone or iPad apps that they found useful either before or during their trip...vocab, translator, guide, anything at all would be useful and appreciated. Thanks.

Edited August 4, 2013 by MrsTiggywinkle

[jwas1]

We are booked on the Shanghai-Bejing trip in September.Did you change dollars to yuan before you left home? Are there ATMs readily available, especially in the Shanghai airport?

Do you need yuan while on the Emerald other than to tip the tour guide?

[Peregrina651]

I was wondering if any VRC China cruise veterans can recommend any iPhone or iPad apps that they found useful either before or during their trip...vocab, translator, guide, anything at all would be useful and appreciated. Thanks.

 

We went in 2010 and the app market is always changing. I wish I had more details for you but my brother-in-law had a translating app on his phone/pod (not pad). It really came in handy when they had to visit the physician on board the ship. Even though our Viking escort went with them to translate, the app came in handy when they had some vocabulary issues during the conversation.

 

There are currency conversion apps to help you figure out how much you are actually spending but even a simple calculator is helpful for just displaying numbers when you are negotiating a purchase.

[Peregrina651]

We are booked on the Shanghai-Bejing trip in September.Did you change dollars to yuan before you left home? Are there ATMs readily available, especially in the Shanghai airport?

Do you need yuan while on the Emerald other than to tip the tour guide?

I'm a member of the 'don't bother to exchange currency before you leave' camp. Between the $10 shipping charge and the really bad exchange rate, I feel like I am being taken advantage of. So, we arrived in China without a single yuan in our pockets--and had no problems.

 

If you have Viking transfers, you won't need cash to get from the airport to the hotel, so you can wait until you get to the hotel and get cash from an ATM. There were ATMs in the hotels.

 

Personally, I use an ATM card not a credit card to get cash from the ATM. My ATM card is attached to a small bank account which has just enough cash in it to cover expenses while I travel. It is not connected to any of my other accounts so if my ATM card is lost or stolen, my losses are limited to the couple of thousand in that account and not my entire savings and checking account balances.

 

My ATM card is also a debit card but I never use it for purchases because debit cards do not have the same fraud protections as do credit cards--and the credit card that I use does not charge an international transaction fee.

 

REMINDER!! Before you leave home, contact your bank and your credit card issuer to let them know that you will be traveling. They will ask you when and to what countries you are traveling. If you are stopping over in any foreign airports along the way, include those on your list. While you are on the phone, you can ask about foreign transaction fees/surcharges and ATM fees.

 

On board the Emerald (which is less than half the nights that you will be in China), the yuan is the currency of the ship and all charges are charged to your shipboard account to be paid before you disembark. If you chose any of the optional excursions in Beijing or Xi'an, they will be added to your shipboard account. Your shipboard account can be paid by credit card, for sure, but I don't remember if you can pay in $$. Maybe someone else can fill in that detail.

 

BTW, there is no currency exchange on the ship. However, currency can be exchanged at the hotels. Do read up on the rules for exchanging cash vback to dollars at the end of your stay.

[caribill]

We are booked on the Shanghai-Bejing trip in September.Did you change dollars to yuan before you left home? Are there ATMs readily available, especially in the Shanghai airport?

Do you need yuan while on the Emerald other than to tip the tour guide?

 

We obtained our Yuan at the Shanghai airport using an ATM card.

 

Shanghai has plenty of ATMs and you can also exchange currency at the hotel front desk. Exchange rates are set by the Chinese government and are the same everywhere.

 

Yuan are needed for some small shops that do not accept credit cards, for some street vendors and small restaurants you may want to go to for a coffee or ice cream.

 

Probably we used less than $50 worth of Yuan, but your purchases may vary.

 

Bring along any small value ($1, $5, $10) US currency you think you may need as you will not be able to change large US$ bills into small ones except maybe at a Viking hotel front desk.

 

The tips for the Viking tour guide can be in Yuan, US $ or a combination of both. We gave a combination of both, using that as the opportunity to use up our remaining Yuan.

 

If you need to exchange Yuan back to US $, you will need to present your original receipt from when you obtained the Yuan.

 

We put the charges on the ship onto our (no foreign exchange fee) credit card, but gave ship tips in US $. The local guides along the way would probably prefer Yuan.

 

In many shops in China there will be a 3% extra charge for using a credit card vs. cash.

 

Also, look at your credit card receipt before signing it to make sure the store did not do the conversion to US $ for you as it will be at a poor exchange rate. Just tell them you want the charge in Yuan. If they say they do not understand, ask your Viking guide to translate your request to them.

 

Be aware that China in general is a non-tipping society. The hotel porters, bellmen, maids, restaurant staff, etc. are not expecting tips.

[ruthlynn]

@Mrs. Tiggywinkle: I used Google Translate ap...it writes what you say in Chinese and speaks what you say...it helped but we really weren't in a situation where we couldn't speak English Also what we used most was the currency ap...that way we knew what the market exchange rate was...hotel exchange rates were a little different. Have a great trip!

Edited August 5, 2013 by ruthlynn

[MrsTiggywinkle]

Thank-you Peregrina651 and Ruthlynn for your app suggestions. I had already figured out the need for a translator app but had completely forgotten about the currency converter. Have them installed now and am having fun playing with them so I'll know how they work when the time comes.:) OBTW, we are booked on the Imperial Jewels of China trip that begins October 2 in Beijing.

[MrsTiggywinkle]

Can any recent Viking Imperial Jewels of China cruise passengers tell me how much each of the three extra events (the Peking Duck dinner, the opera and the Tang dynasty show) will cost per person? Many thanks!! :)

[caribill]

Can any recent Viking Imperial Jewels of China cruise passengers tell me how much each of the three extra events (the Peking Duck dinner, the opera and the Tang dynasty show) will cost per person? Many thanks!! :)

 

The information package from Viking that you will receive before your trip will have this information in it.

[Tom2]

My wife and I did the “Viking Emerald- China's Cultural Delights” trip in Mar – Apr of this year. If anyone is interested here is a link to a video slideshow I put together of that trip:

I will occasionally check the message board and try to answer any questions anyone might have. The information we learned from these boards was extremely helpful to us during this trip.

Tom