Viking China (Part 2)

[Mark_T]

Re the 'fee free' credit and debit cards, do check the exchange rates you are getting as they may be 'fee free' but you may find the rate you get is not the same.

[Mark_T]

... not sure how others have got on knowing you have to pack your case a few times to accomodate the hotel stays and flights, was this an inconvenience, or am I making too much of it? Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

With a little advance planning on the packing it really isn't a problem.

 

We packed things we would both need for the period from Beijing up to the river cruise in one suitcase and left the other one pretty much untouched until we got on the ship.

 

It really wasn't a problem at all.

[Kohola]

Wondering...

We are scheduled to stay at the Kerry Beijing hotel. The bank i am with charges $5 per atm transaction when made from an international location.

Since the question of the exchange rate has been answered I would like to add another perspective...check to see if your bank waives fees for using an ATM at a foreign bank which has a working relationship with your bank. For instance Bank of America doesn't charge the $5 transaction fee if you use a China Construction Bank ATM. Also keep in mind that you'll need sufficient funds to pay your tour escort in cash at the end of the trip which can amount to several hundred dollars in cash you will be carrying the entire trip.

An anecdote from our trips to China...the hotels in the north tend to round your exchange to the lowest whole yuan(元)...if you convert $100 it would correspond to 613.885元, but you will only receive 613元. The hotels make money 一角(one jiao, 1/10 of a yuan) at a time, but in the south they do their best to get as close as possible to the actual exchange rate. Incidentally, dollar in Chinese is meiyuan(美元). Mei translates as beautiful, good or U.S. 美国(meiguo) is U.S.A and 中国(zhongguo) is China...pronounced more like jongguo. If someone speaks to you in Chinese you will probably hear MeiGuo from them, asking if you are American. A reply of 是美国 (shimeiguo)...yes, America will really impress them.

Considering the 13 day Viking Imperial jewels trip. Is it better to start in Bejing or Shanghai? Probably not spending any additional days there.

Thanks

PR

In addition to the trade off between Hutongs and Pandas, the timing on the river changes the scenery quite dramatically. I have done the Cultural Delights Tour twice, once in either direction and I found originating in Beijing was better for enjoying the scenery on the river. But if you only go once you'll never know the difference.

Going from ChongQing towards Shanghai you will enter QuTang Gorge, the most dramatic of the three in the morning when it is shrouded in China Mist. This gorge is a blind turn, once so narrow that two ships couldn't pass...but the dam has changed that. The mystery of the blind turn is only apparent going downstream...going upstream in the afternoon the gorge loses most of the dramatic effect.

View of QuTang Gorge headed towards Shanghai.

QuTang Gorge headed towards ChongQing. Quite a difference in the beauty and mystery.

QuTang gorge as we exited it headed toward ChongQing in the late afternoon, no longer a blind turn from the opposite river bank.

Headed toward ChongQing there is a hanging coffin vary visible, that can't be seen headed towards Shanghai because of the Mist and distance to the opposite bank.

Headed toward ChongQing you enter WuGorge in the early morning so the river guide only provides a running commentary for about 30 minutes, while going the opposite direction, his talk lasts a couple of hours. Headed toward Shanghai you enter the Three Gorges Dam locks around midnight which makes it possible to sleep through most of it. While headed towards ChongQing you are in the locks from the afternoon into the evening. Personally I would rather see 4 to 5 hours of river scenery than being inside concrete walls, but this is only my opinion since I have experienced hundreds of locks.

 

On a cultural note...many Chinese celebrate the winter solstice Dongzhi Festival, 冬至 (literally extreme of winter) by feasting on lamb.

 

Their children are tested weekly in school and the rankings are made public to the class. Much better if your student is in the Top 10 out of 75 students than lowly 74 of 75. Typical day for a child is school from 8 to 5 then homework until late in the evening. I get questions about English from kids in Middle and High school as late as two in the morning China time.

 

The wealthier Chinese can buy merchandise from American retailers on line at many of the same websites as we do, paying US prices. The shipping rates are similar to what we pay and they receive their goods in 7 to 10 days. It is amazing how many Chinese speak English quite well. I routinely speak with Chinese from 40 to around 60 years old in English, women are more likely to know English. I expect someone younger than 30 to speak English.

[Chelsea Cruiser]

With a little advance planning on the packing it really isn't a problem.

 

We packed things we would both need for the period from Beijing up to the river cruise in one suitcase and left the other one pretty much untouched until we got on the ship.

 

It really wasn't a problem at all.

 

Thank you Mark, good advice

[cruzersky2]

Hi All!

I'm doing the Imperial Jewels 6/13/15 Shanghai/Beijing. Didn't know about the extra day :( Just thought the finale would be better??? Oh well...

 

I'm trying to figure out how much money to bring. Last summer I did Viking Paris/Normandy with two on our own add-ons in France & Spain, so I got $1000 in Euros through my bank before I left. I was able to use it for extra hotels, meals etc... I don't want to be stuck with Yuan. $100 too much/too little? I'm not planning on doing too much shopping. I don't need any more STUFF!!! It looks like tips in $$ is ok. Any advice???

 

Thanks!

Nancy

[Chloe's mom]

We ended up spending about $700 worth of yuan, but we had two extra nights in Beijing and Shanghai, and we used the money for private guides, taxis, restaurants and entry fees. My suggestion is to take a minimal amount of yuan with you for incidentals such as a taxi to your hotel, but otherwise to take dollars and exchange at your hotel as needed. You can use up any extra yuan as tips to your guide at the end of the trip. By the way, at the Beijing Westin where Viking put us up, they had a machine to exchange dollars, and there was a fee for using the machine. One couldn't exchange money with the hotel concierge/desk.

 

In terms of the direction to take, I think most people were satisfied with the direction that they did, whichever it was, which means that you are unlikely to be disappointed with whatever choice you make. We went from Shanghai to Beijing, and I liked that because I was more rested at the point that we were doing intensive sightseeing and walking in Xi'an and Beijing. Also, the part of the river at the beginning of the Shanghai-Beijing direction was less interesting, so I felt I could spend more time relaxing because there wasn't as much to see. I also liked the fact that at the point we boarded the ship we weren't so accustomed to being with our own bus group, and therefore we were more open to spending time with other people on the ship. Finally, re the pandas vs. hutong, I don't know if this is the same on every trip, but we were able to see the pandas when we disembarked the ship in Chongqing, and were also able to visit a hutong and have a rickshaw ride the day we arrived in Beijing.

[Mark_T]

I don't know if this is the same on every trip' date=' but we were able to see the pandas when we disembarked the ship in Chongqing, and were also able to visit a hutong and have a rickshaw ride the day we arrived in Beijing.[/quote']

 

It isn't even the same for everyone on the same trip :)

 

It all depends on flight times, delays etc.

 

In our case I'd say about 1/4 of the people arrived in time to see the pandas, the rest didn't arrive until sometime after we were already on the ship.

 

So you have to view it as having a guarantee of one of those visits in each direction and the possibility of the other if the flights work out.

 

Flight delays are common due to congested airspace and priority being given to military and other 'official' aircraft, commercial comes last.

Edited December 31, 2014 by Mark_T

[Mark_T]

I don't want to be stuck with Yuan. $100 too much/too little? I'm not planning on doing too much shopping. I don't need any more STUFF!!! It looks like tips in $$ is ok. Any advice???

 

Tips on the ship and the cost of any optional trips during the entire tour can be paid using a credit card on the day you disembark, so no need to worry about that part.

 

Your main tour guide has to be paid in cash, but will take USD or Yuan so that is they way to use up any left over currency.

 

We tipped coach drivers and the city tour guides in Yuan, the amounts are small and it didn't seem fair to give them the problem of exchanging USD when it was so easy for us to do that. On that point, you will need smaller bills and the hotels in Beijing and Shanghai were very willing to break 100 Yuan notes.

 

You will probably also be asked to tip the porters handling your main suitcases during the trip. You will not see them for the most part, but your guide will take care of that for you and that again should really be in Yuan.

 

Also, anyone going to BSK will need Yuan for that as they do not take credit cards.

 

So in short, $100 is not enough, I'd suggest taking at least $300 in Yuan and if by some miracle you have any left at the end simply use it for the main tour guide.

[Peregrina651]

We have just finished our first river cruise on Viking, to be honest I went into this trip a little concerned (in my case particularly) if I could enjoy river cruising as against ocean cruising which we have always enjoyed. Anyway to cut a long story short my wife and I had a fantastic time, and we both can't wait to do it again.

The reason for this question is that the thing I love about cruising is unpacking and then the boat becomes your home for however long the trip is. We would like to go to China and do the Roof of the World cruise on Viking, my worry is that a lot of these days in China require internal flying, different hotels, and some river cruising, not sure how others have got on knowing you have to pack your case a few times to accomodate the hotel stays and flights, was this an inconvenience, or am I making too much of it? Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

Most definitely. Don't sweat the small stuff. Honestly, this trip to China with Viking is so, so, so amazing in so, so, so many ways that the minor annoyance of packing and repacking just disappears. Everything runs like a well oiled machine. All of the escorts are "the best I've ever had." All of the sights are like nothing you have ever seen. Read even half of this thread. Read my blog. Read kohola's blog. Read any other blogs you can find links for on this thread.

 

Pack as light as possible. Dress is casual day and night. Plan to do laundry while on the ship. Take only machine washables as there is no dry-cleaning on the ship -- and many more packing and wardrobe tips as you read through this thread.

 

 

 

...

[zumaqueen]

We have just finished our first river cruise on Viking, to be honest I went into this trip a little concerned (in my case particularly) if I could enjoy river cruising as against ocean cruising which we have always enjoyed. Anyway to cut a long story short my wife and I had a fantastic time, and we both can't wait to do it again.

The reason for this question is that the thing I love about cruising is unpacking and then the boat becomes your home for however long the trip is. We would like to go to China and do the Roof of the World cruise on Viking, my worry is that a lot of these days in China require internal flying, different hotels, and some river cruising, not sure how others have got on knowing you have to pack your case a few times to accomodate the hotel stays and flights, was this an inconvenience, or am I making too much of it? Any advice would be much appreciated.

.

Yes, it is an inconvenience, but if you pack what you need for your 2 hotel nights at the top of your case you don't really need to unpack at all. the hotel are fabulously roomy, have wi fi, good food and are in safe walking areas in the evening. Enjoy.

[cruzersky2]

Thanks Mark T! $300 sounds like a reasonable amount.

 

Also, we are considering the Silver Spirits drink pkg. $30 per day (vs. approx. $9-10 per drink) sounds like a fair deal knowing our "socializing habits" :). We have a $100 cabin credit which I'm planning on spending half on laundry so I can bring less clothes. Any suggestions on how to spend the other $50 on board?

[Mark_T]

We have a $100 cabin credit which I'm planning on spending half on laundry so I can bring less clothes. Any suggestions on how to spend the other $50 on board?

 

Remember, any optional excursions such as the Peking Duck, Summer Palace or the Tang Dynasty show go onto your on-board bill, so using up your cabin credit shouldn't be a problem.

 

Also, don't underestimate the temptations of the on-board shops. I know you don't want to accumulate too much stuff, but the Tailor for example is excellent, he made a beautiful dress for my wife and has many other options as well. The artist is also excellent and the seal maker too has some great products to offer.

[zumaqueen]

Thanks Mark T! $300 sounds like a reasonable amount.

 

Also, we are considering the Silver Spirits drink pkg. $30 per day (vs. approx. $9-10 per drink) sounds like a fair deal knowing our "socializing habits" :). We have a $100 cabin credit which I'm planning on spending half on laundry so I can bring less clothes. Any suggestions on how to spend the other $50 on board?

there are 2 different shopping opportunities on each deck. they offer light weight smalls like tea, silk scarves, jewelry etc. That $50 credit will be used, trust me.

[cruzersky2]

Thanks! I talked my trip-mate into the Silver Spirits by offering to "buy-out" her portion of the cabin credit. I learned after the last cruise I WANT LAUNDRY. I think I can find some goodies to buy on-board. One cruise I spent $6 on a roll of TUMS!

[Kohola]

These pictures were sent to me at midnight from downtown ChongQing so I could see the celebration my friends were having. Instead of firecrackers which are dangerous in large crowds they carry balloons to celebrate the occasion. Via their cell phone I could take part in their celebration real time...listening and seeing the sights and sounds of Chinese at play!

I would encourage anyone that wants to experience China through their eyes to make contact with someone that lives in a city that Viking visits for more than a few hours. The Chinese will invite you into their home for a meal and even a place to stay just for the opportunity to meet a foreigner.

Balloons and Minnie Mouse

[Going Coastal]

Thanks for posting. Great pictures!

[GoInOnaCruz]

With a little advance planning on the packing it really isn't a problem.

 

We packed things we would both need for the period from Beijing up to the river cruise in one suitcase and left the other one pretty much untouched until we got on the ship.

 

It really wasn't a problem at all.

Additional comment on this--I read every post on this forum and while they were all SO helpful the best one was to be sure to pack your evening clothing for the day you arrive on the ship in your carry-on. We were the last group to arrive and the only ones I know of who did this. We were feeling particularly grubby having been caught in Xi'An in a sand storm at the warriors venue and then at the airport (where we sat for quite a while on the plane waiting for clearance to take off). We had time for a quick, quick, quick shower before dinner (husband and I were literally the last to board) and if we had not had a change of clothing in our carry-on we would have been out of luck since they delivered our luggage either during or after dinner. I can't remember who gave this advice but it was the BEST!

[Mark_T]

Additional comment on this--I read every post on this forum and while they were all SO helpful the best one was to be sure to pack your evening clothing for the day you arrive on the ship in your carry-on.

 

Always good advice to have a change of clothes in carry-on just in case bags go astray as well.

 

Doesn't need to be anything special for the ship though as dress code is casual throughout the tour, but any change of clothes would be welcome in the circumstances you describe.

[Going Coastal]

Chloe's mom,

If you still check in I have some questions re: mobility issues.

We are on March 18, Cultural Delights this year.

I use a three wheel walker/rollator normally but have acquired a Norwegian four wheel version especially made for outdoor hiking and climbing. Have just returned from Maachu Pichu where it was a huge help at getting up and down wet stone steps.

From your descriptions, which were very encouraging, I gather that a wheelchair would still be in order at Tianenmen Square and the Forbidden City but the ramps at the Terra Cotta Warriors are probably doable on my own.

The stairs at Chongqing where we are embarking is the primary concern to me. Are the steps close together or more widely spaced where you had a few level footsteps between each riser.

Thank you for the information and any other hints you can pass on. You are welcome to message me at gulfbeach@live.com.

Thanks again!

[Mark_T]

Hopefully you'll get a response from Chloe's mom, but I'll add a couple of comments just in case.

 

At Xi'an for the Warriors, we only encountered steps in two places, once when exiting from the main hall and again right at the end when leaving the final hall. In both cases there were alternative routes out that would have avoided the stairs, but would have added a significant amount to the distance walked so you may need to factor that in to allow time for the alternative routing.

 

Regarding Chongqing, the steps are both narrow and steep. They are one after the other with no flat distance between them, but the number you have to traverse depends very much on the level of the river at the time.

 

When we went, there was little more than about 10-15 steps down then we had to cross the floating walkway to the ship. This part is flat for the most part with small differences in height as you move from one pontoon to the other.

 

Some pictures earlier in this thread give an idea of the steps can look like:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1495597&page=72

 

Just remember it is not always that bad and they are used to helping people down to the ship, or even carrying wheelchairs etc. so just make sure your guide knows you will need assistance.

[Going Coastal]

Thanks, Mark_T,

Really appreciate that input. I have noted the pictures and am grateful for your clarification. I usually manage pretty well if I am prepared, and all these 70 pages has been a huge help.

 

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk

[Chloe's mom]

I've sent an email to the address in your post.

[caribill]

Neighborhood banks and credit unions are another source of fee free ATM/debit cards. My bank and credit unions deal with so few foreign transaction in a year that it just isn't worth the cost of trying to collect them. I have a separate account for travel that is not linked to my other accounts and has its own ATM card that can access only that one account. I can't make transfers from account to another online but that's okay with me.

 

Two things to be aware of:

 

a) Some merchants will charge a 2% fee for using a credit card. This is a merchant charge, not a bank charge. No way to avoid it if you wish to use a credit card at those merchants.

 

b) Some merchants will use "dynamic conversion" to convert your Yuan charge into US $ at a poor exchange rate. The credit card slip will show this. Ask the merchant to keep the charge in Yuan. If you are with your Viking guide, ask him/her to translate to the merchant your request for the charge to be in Yuan.

[Going Coastal]

I've sent an email to the address in your post.

 

 

Thanks, I will check my email.

[Live4cruises]

We're thinking about which restaurant to go to for Peking Duck. I am very clear about Taste of China, and curious about Da Dong. Are there two Da Dong restaurants? From a Google search, I find one at 22 Dongsi 10th Alley; from TripAdvisor I find Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant WangFuJing. Which is the right one??

Thanks!