Viking China (Part 2)

[caribill]

Hi everyone. My Husband and I are going on the Viking Emerald June 1,2012, for the Imperial Jewels of China tour. This is our first river cruise after many cruises. Do they give you time to get cleaned up for dinner? I know it is casual. Also going in the summer, do you need bug repellent?

 

 

When on the ship, you will have sufficient time to clean up for dinner. Most of the shore excursions are in the AM and you are back on the ship by lunchtime.

 

When flying to a new city, the amount of time you will have to get ready for dinner will depend on your flight time. On one day, we went to dinner before checking in at the hotel.

 

We went in August and took bug repellent (deet) with us as a precaution, but never had to use it.

[Kodi'smom]

Thank you, Kodismom, for all of the valuable information. We are going on the Roof of the World tour October 8...leaving a couple of days early. Planning on making reservations at Black Sesame Kitchen...have read lots of good things about it. Did you have problems with baggage with the intraChina flights? Just one bag plus a carry-on for each person or did you have more than one bag? We are also taking the extended trip to Hong Kong. Thanks again for all of the information.

We had no problem with the intraChina flights except when we flew from the mainland to Hong Kong. They weigh all the passengers on Viking as one heap, so to speak. Our weight was over the allowance and word had it that our guide had to pay a bribe to get us through. Our hand luggage was never weighed and we took a bag each plus a large camera case and large purse. On our return to North America from Hong Kong they weighed our luggage and we were 2 lbs over which same as here they made us shift stuff around to our hand luggage. Thjey were stricter on the international flight home than the intraChina flight. Go figure! Have a great trip.

[meddykay]

I cancelled my Viking Air in November with my Viking agent. It was quite easy as I had not been ticketed yet (I go on the April 22nd Imperial Jewels cruise.) The Viking agent did all the work. She told me it could take up to 30 days for the refund to be credited to my credit card. That was Nov. 28 and a credit has still not been posted. As i made my own flight reservations using that same credit card, I am getting concerned. Also my Viking agent has not answered the last 2 e-mails I sent her about this. Anyone else had a problem like this?

[Peregrina651]

I cancelled my Viking Air in November with my Viking agent. It was quite easy as I had not been ticketed yet (I go on the April 22nd Imperial Jewels cruise.) The Viking agent did all the work. She told me it could take up to 30 days for the refund to be credited to my credit card. That was Nov. 28 and a credit has still not been posted. As i made my own flight reservations using that same credit card, I am getting concerned. Also my Viking agent has not answered the last 2 e-mails I sent her about this. Anyone else had a problem like this?

 

Did you check your junk mail folder for the responses? That happens sometimes.

[ballfamily]

Re Cultural Delights tour -- my question concerns tipping. I know to plan for about $350/couple (in cash) for the tour escort. What was the total amount of tips you gave (or was expected) at the end of the river cruise for ship's crew, cabin steward & servers? Second, about how much did you tip the bus drivers and hotel porters? We're on the Cultural Delights tour the end of march 2012 and are looking forward to the experience.

[caribill]

Re Cultural Delights tour -- my question concerns tipping. I know to plan for about $350/couple (in cash) for the tour escort. What was the total amount of tips you gave (or was expected) at the end of the river cruise for ship's crew, cabin steward & servers? Second, about how much did you tip the bus drivers and hotel porters? We're on the Cultural Delights tour the end of march 2012 and are looking forward to the experience.

 

The booklet you receive from Viking before the cruise will list the suggested tipping for ship's personnel. It covers almost every employee on the ship, not just your steward and servers.

 

You can do it in cash (US $ or Chinese Won) or can charge it in a seperate charge from other ship charges.

 

A dollar or two for the tour bus drivers will be appreciated by them.

 

As far as hotel personnel go, China is basically a non-tipping society and the hotel porters do not expect tips although they will not turn down any.

[ballfamily]

The booklet you receive from Viking before the cruise will list the suggested tipping for ship's personnel. It covers almost every employee on the ship, not just your steward and servers.

 

You can do it in cash (US $ or Chinese Won) or can charge it in a seperate charge from other ship charges.

 

A dollar or two for the tour bus drivers will be appreciated by them.

 

As far as hotel personnel go, China is basically a non-tipping society and the hotel porters do not expect tips although they will not turn down any.

Thanks, Caribill. We haven't received the booklet yet. I appreciate the info.

[Turtles06]

Re Cultural Delights tour -- my question concerns tipping. I know to plan for about $350/couple (in cash) for the tour escort. What was the total amount of tips you gave (or was expected) at the end of the river cruise for ship's crew, cabin steward & servers? Second, about how much did you tip the bus drivers and hotel porters? We're on the Cultural Delights tour the end of march 2012 and are looking forward to the experience.

 

 

 

A dollar or two for the tour bus drivers will be appreciated by them.

 

 

Ballfamily: in addition to the Viking tour escort who stays with you for the entire trip, you will have local guides join you for the day (or part of the day) in certain cities and towns. You can tip them (along with the bus driver) when you get off the bus with them for the final time that day.

 

Our Viking escort was great about letting us know when that would be. He'd say something like "And this is where we say goodbye to [name]. ...":)

 

Have a great trip!

[weislett]

Important to remember when tipping your tour escort at the end of the trip that You CANNOT put the tour escort's tip on your credit card on the boat. It has to be cash. This point is a little unclear in Viking's material and some people were caught a little short of cash at the end of the trip.

[caribill]

Important to remember when tipping your tour escort at the end of the trip that You CANNOT put the tour escort's tip on your credit card on the boat. It has to be cash.

 

And we used that opportunity to use our remaining Yuan so the tip we gave was a combination of US $ and Chinese Yuan.

[Glassespro]

Just a note to say Hi, we're still here. Getting very excited about the trip, which is still far off, but getting closer. Just read the tipping info, very informative. I thank everyone who participates in this board and is helping to set up a great trip!

 

FYI, I have set up a Roll Call for our trip (see below for link) and a couple of people are joining in, so if anyone out there is on the same date, give it a look. I know river cruise roll calls are hard to keep populated, but one never knows....

[meddykay]

Did you check your junk mail folder for the responses? That happens sometimes.

 

My VIking agent has not responded to 3 e-mails and 1 phone message (nothing in Junk Mail). I have moved on to other customer service reps. After almost 2 months, the credit that was issued for the cancelled air fare is way short of what I paid. I'll get back on the phone today. This issue has not strengthened my confidence in Viking service. I really expected better, and hope to see better on the cruise.

[Viking Cruises]

My VIking agent has not responded to 3 e-mails and 1 phone message (nothing in Junk Mail). I have moved on to other customer service reps. After almost 2 months, the credit that was issued for the cancelled air fare is way short of what I paid. I'll get back on the phone today. This issue has not strengthened my confidence in Viking service. I really expected better, and hope to see better on the cruise.

 

Dear meddykay,

 

We truly apologize if you’ve been having trouble contacting us. Please write to us at tellus@vikingrivercruises.com with your contact information and we’ll be sure to reach out to you personally.

 

Warm Regards,

Viking River Cruises

[recyclelady]

I plan to go through my travel agent soon (she had suggested February) to set up our flights for our November Cultural Delights trip. I don't plan on spending any more than the amount set by Viking, but I do plan on spending the additional $50 pp for custom. I have a feeling that I will not get the non-stop flight from Chicago to Shanghai without shelling out a lot of extra $$. So I am at peace with this and will accept a connecting flight, if necessary!

 

So my questions are kind of basic:

 

1. What time of day should I try to be getting into Shanghai at?

 

2. What time of day should I plan to leave Bejing on the return flight?

 

I think that I should be OK, if I know these times.

 

Thanks all!

[Turtles06]

I plan to go through my travel agent soon (she had suggested February) to set up our flights for our November Cultural Delights trip. I don't plan on spending any more than the amount set by Viking, but I do plan on spending the additional $50 pp for custom. I have a feeling that I will not get the non-stop flight from Chicago to Shanghai without shelling out a lot of extra $$. So I am at peace with this and will accept a connecting flight, if necessary!

 

So my questions are kind of basic:

 

1. What time of day should I try to be getting into Shanghai at?

 

2. What time of day should I plan to leave Bejing on the return flight?

 

I think that I should be OK, if I know these times.

 

Thanks all!

 

First, good decision to spring for Custom Air. Tell your TA to press hard for the nonstops.

 

As for the flight times, I would imagine you'll likely be flying United out of and back into Chicago. I doubt there are that many flight options in any event. I'd start by doing a search for what's out there, and deciding what you want your TA to be asking Viking to get you. That's why you are paying for Custom Air.

[recyclelady]

Thanks, Turtles, for the reply.

 

I agree that nonstops would be wonderful. What time should I be shooting for getting into Shanghai (am, pm, etc) and what time should I look to leave Bejing at the end. I seem to remember some people saying that their flights returning were too early.

[Turtles06]

Thanks, Turtles, for the reply.

 

I agree that nonstops would be wonderful. What time should I be shooting for getting into Shanghai (am, pm, etc) and what time should I look to leave Bejing at the end. I seem to remember some people saying that their flights returning were too early.

 

Sorry if I wasn't clear -- you should be deciding the time you want to leave Beijing, and asking Viking to get you on a specific flight. (Again, this is the whole purpose of Custom Air, to work directly with a real human being at Viking, not a computer, to get you the flights you want.) Figure a good hour or so out to the airport from your Beijing hotel, factor in whatever time the airlines tell you to be at the airport for an international flight, and work from there. Maybe you want to spend the day touring on your own and see if there's a late flight home?

 

As for arrival in Shanghai, are you arriving on what Viking calls Day One? (That is, if your tour starts on a Sunday, are you arriving that day?) I'd want to get there as early in the day as possible, to give myself time to check in, relax a bit, see some of the city on my own....

 

I hope this is helpful...

[caribill]

So my questions are kind of basic:

 

1. What time of day should I try to be getting into Shanghai at?

 

2. What time of day should I plan to leave Bejing on the return flight?

 

I think that I should be OK, if I know these times.

 

Thanks all!

 

Odf course you are at the mercy of airline schedules, no matter what time you would like to arrive in Shanghai or depart Beijing. Also, you are at the mercy of Viking whose negotiated fares are not available on all flights.

 

I suggest arriving in Shanghai in the afternoon.

 

I suggest not departing Beijing before 11 AM. Any earlier and that last morning is not a relaxing wakeup with a hotel breakfast.

[Peregrina651]

I plan to go through my travel agent soon (she had suggested February) to set up our flights for our November Cultural Delights trip. I don't plan on spending any more than the amount set by Viking, but I do plan on spending the additional $50 pp for custom. I have a feeling that I will not get the non-stop flight from Chicago to Shanghai without shelling out a lot of extra $$. So I am at peace with this and will accept a connecting flight, if necessary!

 

So my questions are kind of basic:

 

1. What time of day should I try to be getting into Shanghai at?

 

2. What time of day should I plan to leave Bejing on the return flight?

 

I think that I should be OK, if I know these times.

 

Thanks all!

 

I know that things change from year to year but we were on the non-stop United flights in and out of Chicago and it did not cost us anything extra, other than the custom air fee. In fact, we even arranged to fly from Boston to ORD the day before the flight without incurring any additional fee. Moreover, we didn't opt into custom air until like January before a May flight. Of course this is no guarantee but at least it isn't a horror story. The United flight to Shanghai leaves around 11am and gets in around 2pm. The flight home left at 4pm and arrived in ORD at 4:13pm--and we all remember that because we joked about the 13 minute flight.

 

Do however, allow three hours for check in at ORD; the place is a zoo and it seemed like everything is on the other side of the airport.

[weislett]

I plan to go through my travel agent soon (she had suggested February) to set up our flights for our November Cultural Delights trip. I don't plan on spending any more than the amount set by Viking, but I do plan on spending the additional $50 pp for custom. I have a feeling that I will not get the non-stop flight from Chicago to Shanghai without shelling out a lot of extra $$. So I am at peace with this and will accept a connecting flight, if necessary!

 

So my questions are kind of basic:

 

1. What time of day should I try to be getting into Shanghai at?

 

2. What time of day should I plan to leave Bejing on the return flight?

 

I think that I should be OK, if I know these times.

 

Thanks all!

 

With custom air you should be able to select from any flights Viking has arrangements with,especially this far in advance. There shouldn't be any additional costs beyond custom air. We were originally routed from Chicago through Toronto to Beijing. At that point we discovered custom air, a well kept secret, paid the $50 and requested non-stop flights both ways. We were ready to cancel if we couldn't get a non-stop flight. Viking came through with new flights. Going to Beijing we left late and arrived late, about 1am. But due to this late arrival they scheduled an extra day zero, completely open to give us time to acclimate before the real touring began on Day 1 of the itinerary. Apparently last year a lot of the flights Viking booked had very late arrivals Worked out,since we had an entire day on our own to explore. Our return flight from Shanghai was late afternoon and we preferred not rushing that morning. Viking arranged a late checkout so we had the hotel room until we left. Both flights worked out well

[meddykay]

Dear meddykay,

 

We truly apologize if you’ve been having trouble contacting us. Please write to us at tellus@vikingrivercruises.com with your contact information and we’ll be sure to reach out to you personally.

 

Warm Regards,

Viking River Cruises

 

Thank you for your interest. I e-mailed my booking number and contact info to you last night. I have been told twice in the last week that someone in the Viking Air Department would sort this out and call me back. No one has called me back or sorted anything out. Perhaps you can assist.

[recyclelady]

Thank you to everyone who has given me advice on the timing of our flights in and out of Shanghai/Bejing. My travel agent and I will work on this in early February (for our November trip). I'm encouraged to hear that some have gotten the nonstop Chicago-Shanghai flights at a cost no more than the custom air add-on.

 

I'll post back in February and let you know what we settled on.

[Peregrina651]

With custom air you should be able to select from any flights Viking has arrangements with,especially this far in advance. There shouldn't be any additional costs beyond custom air. We were originally routed from Chicago through Toronto to Beijing. At that point we discovered custom air, a well kept secret, paid the $50 and requested non-stop flights both ways. We were ready to cancel if we couldn't get a non-stop flight. Viking came through with new flights. Going to Beijing we left late and arrived late, about 1am. But due to this late arrival they scheduled an extra day zero, completely open to give us time to acclimate before the real touring began on Day 1 of the itinerary. Apparently last year a lot of the flights Viking booked had very late arrivals Worked out,since we had an entire day on our own to explore. Our return flight from Shanghai was late afternoon and we preferred not rushing that morning. Viking arranged a late checkout so we had the hotel room until we left. Both flights worked out well

 

Yes, last year Viking had a lot of problems with too many late arriving flights into Beijing and for that reason added an extra day to the itinerary for those who would be arriving on those late night flights AT NO COST to the passengers rather than deal with the complaints. I haven't heard any talk yet about it for this year. This was only for itineraries starting in Beijing.

 

BTW, that extra day did not include meals (just as arrival day for anyone does not include meals).

[wegogo]

We were offered an extra hotel day. We are leaveing in April on the Beijing, Shanghai route and will leave on Monday arriving Tuesday and tour will start Wednesday. We also did Viking custom air on Air Canada a Star Alliance partner for the miles.

Gene & Loretta

Seattle

[beeza]

My wife and were extremely disappointed with the Custom Air program, we tried to book a direct flight from Detroit MI to Beijing on Delta, to get air miles and they said it would be a lot more money to book those flights, they have "rack rates" set up with other companies, they then said we'll book you on a AA flight from O'hare direct to Bejing, checked the seats (seatguru.com) thet were the worst seats on the plane, at the very back next to the toilets and Galley, we had to battle with Viking to change seats, so much for custom air, I told my TA that I want a refund. Not only that AA have files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. So not only would Viking give us what we thought we were paying for IE Custom Air, they have us booked on fligt with a company seeking bankruptcy, doesn't sound right to me, but my TA seems to think it's okay, so we'll see