Viking China (Part 2)

[sailaway5]

We just returned from the Mar 27-Apr 13 China Cultural Delights cruise. We don’t cruise a lot so I registered with CC and gained some wonderful insight from all the postings on this thread. I didn’t want to give a detailed day to day experience but thought a general summary of our experience might be beneficial and a means of returning the favor to other future cruisers. I apologize for the length in advance but hopefully a lot of information in one place will be helpful.

 

1. This was the trip and experience of a lifetime. You’ll see the great, good and not so good. The Chinese and their culture are fascinating. We Americans could learn a lot from them and vice versa. This will be something I’ll remember forever.

 

2. We started our cruise in Shanghai. There's a lot of debate as to whether Shanghai or Beijing is the better starting point. At the end, most of us would have dreaded starting from Beijing. Some specifics:

 

a. The Yangtze River is incredibly polluted. If you’ve cruised in Europe you’ll be shocked. The lower Yangtze is nothing more than thousands of smoke belching ships running on a cargo shipping highway. West of the Three Gorges Dam it all changed to beautiful scenery and the water was a nice emerald green.

 

b. Everyone was suffering from serious jet lag and the three days in Beijing are the by far the most physically demanding. The Great Wall is a strenuous climb. As tired as we were the first couple of days I would have hated to start in Beijing.

 

c. For most of us the highlights of the trip are in Xian and Beijing so the scenery and experiences gradually got better each day and it was good to end the trip on a high.

 

3. To say Viking is organized is an incredible understatement. After going through Chinese customs (quick and easy) it was the last time we would have to physically move our luggage. Viking collected our luggage and it was waiting for us at the hotel. Viking pre-checks you in at each hotel and gives you your room key while on the bus from the airport. When flying from city to city, they pick up your luggage from your room, take it to the airport, and put it through security. They take it off the carousel once we land and transport it to the next hotel. It was incredible.

 

4. On the bus from the Shanghai airport we were given our guide assignments. This person will be your “mother” for the entire trip and they are wonderful. Consider yourself VERY lucky if you get Larry.

 

5. The excursion to the school was touching. Don’t miss it.

 

6. Take a small bottle of hand sanitizer everywhere you go and wash your hands frequently.

 

7. Take some toilet paper with you every time you leave the ship. There’s not a Western sit down toilet everywhere you go and toilet paper is a luxury. Also be prepared for no paper towels at sink and the hand blowers are useless. It was comical to see everyone leaving the toilet shaking their hands or wiping them on their jeans.

 

8. We went to the both the Tang Dynasty Dinner in Xian and the Peking Opera and were glad we did. It was a beautiful experience.

 

9. I used Google Translator on my iPhone and it came in very handy. Type it in and show them the Chinese translation.

 

10. Ignore the Viking instructions about the 44 lb luggage limit and 11 lb carryon limit. It’s not enforced. They stated they can’t change their literature as these limits are China law but it’s never enforced. While on the planes we saw Chinese passengers bringing on carryon luggage so big it would have never been allowed in the States.

 

11. Leave the converters and adapters at home. The hotels and the ship have plenty of them and most outlets now are “adapters” and accept multiple types of plugs. The bathroom on the ship and every hotel has a 110v plug.

 

12. The ship and all hotels have umbrellas. We should have left ours home. We were VERY lucky as it only rained one day. My poncho came in very handy as I didn’t have to hold an umbrella and take pictures.

 

13. The air pollution is staggering. I had expected it but never anticipated it would be as bad as it is. If you have any type of breathing issues be sure to bring your meds. Visine is also a must.

 

14. Bring every type of over the counter medication you can think of…heartburn, nausea, diarrhea (bring an entire bottle of Imodium), constipation, allergies etc. We had Cipro which I would encourage you to do. On our 4th day on the cruise about 20 guests, including myself, came down with diarrhea. Nothing real serious for anyone. My wife was fine but I spent the day in the room. 36 hrs later most of us were about 75% and getting better.

 

15. Unlike in Europe, Viking doesn’t own the ship rather they lease it from New Century. The “Officer” level staff and Tour Escorts work for Viking but the food servers, room attendants etc are employed by New Century. From the outside, the ship is not overly exciting but the inside is beautiful and the crew keeps it spotless.

 

16. The food on the ship is good but not great. We did the Viking Grand European Tour two years ago and the food was significantly better. You’ll eat several meals in Chinese restaurants and again, some were good, but most were ok…just like in the U.S. Real Chinese food is not like what you get at your local place. It’s new dishes, flavors and textures we’re not used. Go with an open mind and try it. The ship wait staff is an entirely different story. They are the hardest working people on the ship and they will do anything to help you. Again, consider yourself lucky if you get Maggie or May as your server. They are sweet hearts.

 

17. The street food is beautiful. Photograph it but don’t eat it…ever. I read that some posters have but Larry strongly advised against it.

 

18. A number of the excursions are nothing more than getting you into a sales room (silk, jade or pottery and rugs to buy something. You’ll go on a 10-15 min tour of the factor then spend the next 30-45 min in the showroom. While some liked to shop I thought the tour portion was interesting but the shopping was a huge waste of time and would have preferred to go walking and exploring. We skipped the ceramic tour not wanting to endure a 4 hour round trip bus ride.

 

19. Pick pockets are everywhere. It won’t take you long to recognize the likely culprits. Leave your wallet and documents in the safe. I put money in my front pocket. I carried a fanny pack and kept it in front of me. If you wear it in the back it’s too easy for them to unzip it and take something.

 

20. The internet is hit or miss but MUCH better than the European cruise. A number of people complained about no or slow access but it wasn’t a big inconvenience.

 

21. Our time in Xian was just too short. Viking, if you read this, many of the passengers would have gladly given up one of the other days (especially one of the shopping excursions) to have an extra time in Xian. It’s a fascinating city and we didn’t have much time to go explore.

 

22. The hotels were a surprise. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Shanghai. It’s quite a way from the Bund and we would have preferred to stay in the Shangri-La with another group right in the middle of the city. In Xian we stayed at the Hilton and in Beijing the Westin. The last two were new 5 star hotels. You will not be disappointed.

 

23. The Chinese people are so friendly. When we skipped the ceramic tour a group of us took off to explore the local city. I would strongly encourage you to do this. Be brave and adventurous. My iPhone GPS worked like a charm but you really don’t need it. Chinese stopped to stare at us and wanted their picture taken with us. We learned later that very few Viking guests do this so we were likely the first live Westerners they had ever seen. It was one of the most memorable experiences of the cruise. The Chinese are very proud of their children. We took hard candy from the ship and gave it out which was a huge it. Always “ask” if it’s ok to take their picture. Just point to your camera. They get it. I would suggest getting a short set of phrases like “May I take your picture”. Also on your first or second day learn to say “Please”, “Thank You” and “You’re welcome” in Chinese. (The ship has a basic Chinese class but it’s not till about a week into the cruise.) The Chinese are really surprised and appreciative when you extend these basic courtesies in their language. They are taught English starting in the first grade so don’t be surprised to run across some that speak very good English.

 

24. Dress on the ship and daily excursions is informal. You did see a couple of sports coats but it was the exception. Jeans were the norm and many wore shorts daily. Don’t try to pack for all 17 days. We used the ship laundry several times and it’s reasonable.

 

25. You’ll be provided an unlimited supply of bottled drinking water every day. On the ship, they serve water from pitchers but it’s from bottles. We had no concerns about the ice on the ship or in the hotels and were assured it was very safe and we had it every day with our water and drinks. The bus has plenty of bottled water for the excursions. In the local restaurants you are provided bottled water but stay away from the ice.

 

26. My debit card worked fine everywhere. Just be sure to use the ATM in the hotels or the big international banks like Bank of China. Bank of China ATMs have an English option. The ATMs in smaller local banks won’t work and you may not get your card out of the machine. The money is all RMD. On the ship they can't exchange money but can give your change for larger RMB bills.

 

27. Money. We read several posts about taking $150 in $1.00 bills for tips. I think $100 is more than enough. On our excursions we gave the local guide $3.00 and the bus driver $2.00.

 

28. Local venders. You love them or hate them. Some just won’t leave you alone. If you’re going to return to the same place after an excursion NEVER say “later” because they have a great memory and when you get back they will just not leave you alone. We were advised not to make eye contact with them. If you start talking to them saying you’re not interested then they don’t understand a lot of English so they think you’re bartering with them and they persist. Some of you may not agree with what I’m about to say here but so be it. It was fun bartering. It’s amazing how far they will come down in price. It’s a game and always smile. But don’t take it to an extreme. These people are poor beyond your imagination. Sure I could have worked them even more to get the price even lower but I might only save $1-$2 more. We’ll spend $6-$10 on a glass a wine and not give it a second thought. These people are trying to scrape out a meager living and if I give them a couple of dollars more then I was ok.

 

In closing be prepared for the experience of a lifetime. Be flexible and and you’ll be warmly welcomed by the Chinese. We are hooked on Viking and hope to go back to Europe next year.

 

Thank you for your great review. We were going to be on exactly this trip one year from now. However, unfortunately, we have had to cancel this river cruise due to DH's respiratory problems and Doctor's orders. We had put our deposit down with Viking and they charged us a $200 cancellation fee, even though our trip isn't until April, 2013. I was quite surprised at that. We have never had this happen before when we had to cancel or change one of our cruises so far in advance. We were taking the Diamond Princess from Beijing to Vancouver after this Viking Cruise and Princess did not charge us a fee. We will be replacing our cruises with ports that have better air quality (probably Europe). We have previously sailed Uniworld in Europe and were anxious to try Viking. We do regret we will be unable to walk on the Great Wall.

 

This thread has been most informative and I wish all who are yet to cruise safe travels and bon voyage...

Edited April 20, 2012 by sailaway5

[Kohola]

 

We’re so pleased to hear that you are enjoying your Cultural Delights tour, and we hope China continues to astound you. We’re sorry to hear about your unexpected detour in Shanghai, especially if you booked transfers with Viking River Cruises and had unexpected taxi costs. When you return home please contact us at tellus@vikingrivercruises.com so we can discuss reimbursement for the taxi.

 

Wishing you a wonderful trip and a very happy “family reunion!”

 

Warm regards,

Viking River Cruises

Viking contacted us within an hour with a check in the mail after I e-mailed them as stated in their post. On a previous tour we had a snafu with Visas for Turkey...Viking not only reimbursed us for the Visas, but gave us a sizable credit which we used for our China trip...we have nothing but great things to say about Viking!

 

In addition, we discussed including the various hotel names listed in their travel documents in the native language of the respective country for countries like China and Russia where the cab driver may not read English. So hopefully someone in Viking with decision making ability will make this happen;-)

 

I didn't realize the Imperial Jewels didn't stop at Fengdu until reading one Andrea's great posts...this was one of our favorite stops. First time for Snow Jade Cave and the city tour this time. The city tour is a lot of mingling with the locals with your guide and a local guide providing the opportunity to have a translated conversation if you so choose. Visit a park to interact with some very active seniors, then a local strip mall to shop or people watch and finally a public market...the Chinese bring live pigs and chickens on some of their public buses, here you can have the opportunity to purchase a live chicken too;-)

 

For anyone trying to decide between the two cruises I would encourage you to think long and hard about Cultural Delights...the cruises are only at the beginning and end of the season when the weather is cooler. Suzhou near Shanghai is well worth visiting especially since they added a canal cruise to the itinerary. We enjoyed both our trips to Mt JiuHua, the setting is beautiful and there are a lot of Chinese on pilgrimages that don't regularly see foreigners. Jingdezhen is a great folk museum about the origins of pottery, but you have the option to walk around the city of JinJiang which provides the amazing opportunity to see experience a tourist free China. The YueYang tower is one of only 3 towers of its kind in China...but a tower is a tower.

[jimhawkins]

Thanks for the info. Planning a trip in October, we are undecided about that itinerary, wondering if you found it too much river time. There are options with 4 river days instead of 10. I'm thinking it might be a less rushed itinerary than some others.

[Kohola]

Thanks for the info. Planning a trip in October, we are undecided about that itinerary, wondering if you found it too much river time. There are options with 4 river days instead of 10. I'm thinking it might be a less rushed itinerary than some others.

 

It's best if you compare the two cruises going from Beijing to Shanghai because both itineraries begin in ChongQing late on Day 5. On IJ you depart the ship on Day 10 in Wuhan while CD you're in Wuhan on Day 12. CD takes two extra days to cover the same distance because CD includes stops at Fengdu and YueYang.

 

Shibaozhai is only a 3 hour visit as is the Dam tour on either cruise. The Lesser 3 Gorges is a tour on a smaller vessel so you don't touch dry land there. So with either cruise you experience a lot of time on a steel deck...with IJ this is in the most scenic areas. In Wuhan, the IJ cruise only visits the Hubei Museum while CD includes a free afternoon to explore on your own. (I'm basing the IJ info on the literature since I haven't been on that cruise.) On CD, you're on the ship an additional three nights to visit the porcelain factory at Jingdezhen and MtJiuHua before disembarking at Nanjing for a long bus ride to Suzhou then another bus ride to Shanghai. In Suzhou you visit a silk factory making duvets, a traditional Chinese garden and cruise the canals of Suzhou.

 

We wanted to maximize the length of our visit to China the first time since it's a long flight over and back. Also we travel with the intention of meeting the locals to foster friendships for future visits so having the extra time on the ship was a plus for us. We did the CD cruise again because we knew people who were still on the ship from 2009. We also had the opportunity to visit with a young lady we met who has since married and now has a 6 month old baby something we couldn't do on the IJ cruise.

 

Many people on our last cruise as well as in 2009 said the time between Wuhan and Nanjing was too long and boring. Every river cruise we've taken; this was our 5th, is in the 10 day range so it didn't seem excessive to us.

[Peregrina651]

Many people on our last cruise as well as in 2009 said the time between Wuhan and Nanjing was too long and boring. Every river cruise we've taken; this was our 5th, is in the 10 day range so it didn't seem excessive to us.

 

I goggle every time I hear this. Boring!? I thought every day was absolutely exciting. The tour is called Cultural Delights and that is exactly what we were given. I saw places that I would not have seen otherwise. China is not all mega-million cities and I was enthralled with the countryside and how people lived. We saw how they cultivate fields, where they live, where they bury their dead, where they go to school, how they worship, their arts, their crafts, their history. It was all new. It was all fascinating. I loved the contrast between the upper river and the lower river, between the flood plains and the flooded gorges. I just guess it depends on your attitude.

 

While Bob and I are encouraging everyone to do Cultural Delights, I guess our entreaties are falling on deaf ears because they have actually cut back the number of CD cruises. Viking used to have two ships on the Yangtze; now they only have one. There were 8 CD cruises when we went in 2010 and now they are only doing 6 per year (March, August and October/November). CD cruises are always done in pairs because once they send the ship down to Nanjing, they have to sail it back up river, and they aren't going to sail empty.

[HokiePoq]

On the ship: Western style

In hotels you go for lunch: Western style (some very fancy)

At shops such as carpet factory, jade factory, etc: Western style

At evening venues such as the T'ang Dynasty Show: Western Style

At tourist attractions such as the Forbidden City: A restroom may have one Western style and plenty of oriental style. There may be a very long line at the single Western style.

 

Thanks to all of you who are addressing this topic...one I need to think about before booking. I wonder if the camping funnels my son got for his wife would work.....

[Peregrina651]

Thanks to all of you who are addressing this topic...one I need to think about before booking. I wonder if the camping funnels my son got for his wife would work.....

 

LOL. But honestly, there is no reason to obsess over this issue; Viking knows its audience and there will always be a Western option. Don't let this issue stop you from traveling to this most fascinating and amazing country. It is a non-issue.

[Kohola]

Since toilets have become the topic, I want to let you know they are everywhere...you just have to be observant. The first photo is proper etiquette if you do happen to win the lottery and get to use a Western style toilet. The second photo is a line of honey buckets which surround Tiananmen Square...since the Square can hold upwards of a million people, the Chinese provided a solution to that age old problem of where's the nearest tree;-)

 

Seriously, the Chinese understand the difference in Western lifestyle and are currently increasing their restroom facilities...new restrooms will have twice as many female stalls.

 

This evening 4/21/12 Chinese time on the Emerald an usually high number of passengers ordered salmon and were upset because the kitchen was behind so the dining room staff endured what they thought were very uncalled for remarks;-( Please be sensitive to another culture...it is an honor for most of that staff to serve you and they treat it that way so what we think is just a bit of witty sarcasm is taken very personally and as a great insult to some wonderful young people.

 

Here are a few quotes that I feel are appropriate for anyone planning a trip to China, a country rich with culture, tradition, and people who are very genuine;-)

 

"A sense of humor is what makes you laugh at something that would make you mad if it happened to you."

 

"The traveler is active; he goes strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes "sight-seeing.""

 

"You reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home." ~James Michener

[Peregrina651]

Saw this the other day at the MFA in Boston and just had to share it. It is a wedding headdress:

 

[bayerisch]

Laugh out loud. Can't wait till July. For me, the the whole purpose of going to a foreign culture is to experience their way of life.

[swanny727]

Just did our shots and they tried to get us to do one called Japenese something for the brain. We skipped it since that is in rural areas but did the MMR booster and thypoid, too long since Egypt when we had our last one. Yes very sore but pain reliever and working it shortens the time. They wanted us to do the malaria meds too but mmmm some have bad side effects like Hallucinations.

 

We are thinking of making some postcards of our home states and handing them out to people who approach us. We won't write anything on them in English incase someone gets upset thinking we are spreading propaganda. Any thoughts on this? Also thinking of taking packaged flower seeds for the school and thoughts on this? So far only items from infected areas for plants are not allowed and these will be packaged.

 

Since nothing is required, I guess each clinic makes their recommendations for vaccines. You are talking about the one for Japanese encephalitis - a serious illness carried by mosquitos, but, my clinic advised it only for camping and traveling in rural areas. DEET seems to be the suggestion for the trips we are taking.

And MMR booster was not mentioned to me.

 

 

As for typhoid, I was offered the pills, $55 or the shot, $70. 4 Pills are taken every other day for a week (e.g. Day 1, Day 3, Day 5 and 7). No alcohol during this week. Side effects can be nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. This affords 5 years of 70% (I think) immunity. Shot is once and done, rare side effect of headache, same amount of immunity but, only good for 2 years. I took the shot and had arm soreness for 4 days - not as bad as a tetanus shot.

[HokiePoq]

LOL. But honestly, there is no reason to obsess over this issue; Viking knows its audience and there will always be a Western option. Don't let this issue stop you from traveling to this most fascinating and amazing country. It is a non-issue.

 

Thanks...I think you are right about Viking taking care of its customers. Too many women wouldn't book!

 

(Guess my fears come from my son who took a graduate school class tour of Southeast Asia. His roommate got an intestinal problem and there were just holes in the floor...)

[bayerisch]

Yes, I opted for the typhoid shot as well and won't fill the malaria script. I think repellant will be enough. I am going to the roof though and will start taking Aspirin a month prior to going to help with the altitude sickness. I googled the side effects of the altitude meds and they are severe, so I would rather not take them.

I mailed in my application for the visa on Friday. I also called Viking about flight reservations because some members posted that they had them many months in advance. I was told the flights would not be booked until 75 days prior to the trip so I'll have to be patient a couple more weeks.

As far as luggage goes, I have a carry-on but I also think I should find a backpack for daytrips. Haven't found one yet that is light weight but holds a good amount of stuff.

If someone has a good brand, please recommend.

I am planning on taking my trusty Cannon EOS camera with me, but in case something happens to it, like falling in the river :) I thought in China one ought to be able to purchase a camera. What are the thougths on that?

Since I live in Florida, I know how to dress for hot and humid weather. So I wasn't going to pack any jeans, just very lightweight cotton and linen. Are the restaurants cold and airconditioned to where one would need to bring sweaters?

I am so excited I feel like Peregrina's little avatar.

[Peregrina651]

I am planning on taking my trusty Cannon EOS camera with me, but in case something happens to it, like falling in the river :) I thought in China one ought to be able to purchase a camera. What are the thougths on that?

You will not have time in China. Whatever happens to your camera will happen at THE most inopportune moment and you will be days without a camera.

 

If you are using an EOS, then you are picky about your camera. Take the time now to shop for one and learn how to use it (and charge the batteries before you go). After my 1-year old digital died on my first day in Venice, I always travel with two cameras. (Yes, fortunately I had my SLR with me as well)

 

Right now I am partial to my daughter's Sony digital which stitches together panoramas right in the camera (and I like the quality of the pictures). I am not happy with Lumix that I bought even though it has a good zoom on it (that is what I used to shoot the close-up that I just posted) and am this close to buying a new P&S if I didn't think that my husband would freak out because the Lumix is just a year old. (That is not to say that all Lumix are bad; it just refers to my camera).

 

And make sure you have a second battery for the EOS--and plenty of flash cards (unless you are planning to download to a computer each night). I managed to take hundreds of photos each day.

 

Finally, let me introduce you to photoblog.com. I use Shutterfly when I want to make a website with tons of pictures but I use Photoblog to tell the story in 5 or 6 photos per day. It forces me to really look at what I have shot that day and pick 5 or 6 photos that tell the story. It is a fun exercise and most people are more willing to look at a handful of photos, then to slog through every single picture that I took.

 

I am so excited I feel like Peregrina's little avatar.

Yes, she is dancing up a storm, right now!! She is ready to travel.

[pacmom]

Peregrina, this is off thread, but wish you a wonderful trip in LESS than 2 weeks. Your advice has been so helpful--like you want to spend as much time as possible on the river in whatever country. Have a wondeful trip and looking forward to hearing about the trip. Pat:):)

Edited April 22, 2012 by pacmom

[bayerisch]

Thank you for the tips. I have 2 batteries, charging now. Several flash cards, maybe I'll purchase more. I thought of uploading to my Kindle Fire during the trip, although I am sure there will be plenty of nights when I'll be too tired. I could also take a small notebook computer, but wasn't really planning on taking it unless it is more convenient than the Kindle. I'll need to check that out. The Kindle would require WI-Fi though. The canon was my husband's and I fell in love with it when I started using it; I can't even remember what I used before then. I will need to check out the Sony, the panoramic feature sounds attractive. Photoblog is not available right now, but I'll try to sign on. I second Pacmom's sentiments, have a lovely trip.

[Kohola]

Thank you for the tips. I have 2 batteries, charging now. Several flash cards, maybe I'll purchase more. I thought of uploading to my Kindle Fire during the trip, although I am sure there will be plenty of nights when I'll be too tired. I could also take a small notebook computer, but wasn't really planning on taking it unless it is more convenient than the Kindle. I'll need to check that out. The Kindle would require WI-Fi though. The canon was my husband's and I fell in love with it when I started using it; I can't even remember what I used before then. I will need to check out the Sony, the panoramic feature sounds attractive. Photoblog is not available right now, but I'll try to sign on. I second Pacmom's sentiments, have a lovely trip.

WiFi is available throughout the ship with a password. It appears people with Smartphones get better results with connecting to the internet. I was Video chatting yesterday with someone on the Emerald via their iPhone as the ship navigated the 3 gorges locks...beautiful reception! There is free WiFi in the lobbies of all the hotels we stayed at...Ritz Carlton, Shanghai; Hyatt, Xian, and Westin Chaoyang in Beijing, but it runs about $.50/min in your room, capped around $15/use or there are some plans available.

 

Electronics are more expensive in China than in the US...our Chinese friend recently paid $1000 USD for an iPhone 4S and no Siri;-( My iPhone worked great for messages and the like in China...I didn't need a data plan so I can't speak to its internet capability.

[jimhawkins]

Thanks for the advice. It confirms our hunch that the CD tour best suits our interests and pace. We are set for 11/3 starting in Shanghai, and adding the HK/Guilin extension. First time to Asia!

[jimhawkins]

Thanks for the advice. It confirms our instinct that the CD itinerary will allow a more leisurely pace and a bit more cultural interaction. Why else make the journey? Our first to Asia.

[Kohola]

Thanks for the advice. It confirms our hunch that the CD tour best suits our interests and pace. We are set for 11/3 starting in Shanghai, and adding the HK/Guilin extension. First time to Asia!

 

Enjoy your cruise! We loved every minute of it...well maybe not crossing the streets, but the rest was amazing;-)

 

One item I keep forgetting to mention is name tags...VRC provides a set in your travel documents, but you will given another one from your tour escort in China. It will have their name usually in Chinese, a place for your name, and most importantly on the back is their cell phone number. Both in 2009 and again this year we had people get separated from the group in the Forbidden City...the last time the individuals thought they had to use their personal cell phone, which neither had, to call and never asked anyone for help. Fortunately for them the VRC guide supervisor found both of them wandering and stayed with them at the exit until we finished the tour. One individual became separated not once, but twice.

 

If you get separated and feel the need to contact the tour escort...approach the nearest guide or Chinese person, point to your TEs name and the cell phone # on the back and they will be more than happy to assist you in calling your TE.

[Peregrina651]

WiFi is available throughout the ship with a password. It appears people with Smartphones get better results with connecting to the internet. I was Video chatting yesterday with someone on the Emerald via their iPhone as the ship navigated the 3 gorges locks...beautiful reception! There is free WiFi in the lobbies of all the hotels we stayed at...Ritz Carlton, Shanghai; Hyatt, Xian, and Westin Chaoyang in Beijing, but it runs about $.50/min in your room, capped around $15/use or there are some plans available.

 

( My iPhone worked great for messages and the like in China...I didn't need a data plan so I can't speak to its internet capability.

 

See, this is what I don't understand. My provider says I need an international plan if I want to use my phone overseas for data. Am I missing something here? Can I just use the wi-fi and therefore circumvent the mobile data charges? I don't want to make phone calls but if I can send messages home via wi-fi, that would be all I need. I don't want to experiment while I am traveling because coming home and finding out that I've racked up hundreds in data charges would simply cause me to blow a gasket. Oh, and the other question is whether I would have to do something to my sim card for it to work overseas even if just on wi-fi. Then, if I can use just the wi-fi, can I set up Skype? (Heck, why didn't I ask these questions when I was in the phone store the other day??)

 

BTW, ethernet connection for my notebook was free in our hotel rooms (Shangri-La Pudong and China World, can't remember Xi'an). I keep a little retractable ethernet cord in my travel kit; very handy.

 

Bayerisch, I carried a notebook as well as a 320GB portable expansion drive. Between us, we shot close to 30GB. There was time most days to download pictures and back them up to the portable drive (yes, I'm a belt and suspenders kind of gal). Don't forget to format the memory cards every now and then.

 

Thank you for the bon voyage wishes.

[Kohola]

See, this is what I don't understand. My provider says I need an international plan if I want to use my phone overseas for data. Am I missing something here? Can I just use the wi-fi and therefore circumvent the mobile data charges? I don't want to make phone calls but if I can send messages home via wi-fi, that would be all I need. I don't want to experiment while I am traveling because coming home and finding out that I've racked up hundreds in data charges would simply cause me to blow a gasket. Oh, and the other question is whether I would have to do something to my sim card for it to work overseas even if just on wi-fi. Then, if I can use just the wi-fi, can I set up Skype? (Heck, why didn't I ask these questions when I was in the phone store the other day?).

 

I had an international plan for calls and messages only in case of emergency since we were in Thailand on an independent tour prior to China. My data roaming was turned off to ensure I didn't incur data charges. My phone always asked if I wanted to connect to the ship's WiFi whenever I powered it up, but I never tried it so see it I could by pass roaming charges. I didn't have any trouble sending or receiving messages with data roaming off. One issue is the randomness of the ship's WiFi signal...in Ukraine the signal is directly related to the ship's movement.

 

Our friend on the ship does not have an international plan so I couldn't call her from Deck 4 to Deck 1, but I could send and receive her messages. She uses an iPhone to video call us using Skype or using their Facebook on steroids social networking site QQ. I could put the QQ app on my iPhone and communicate directly with her without international charges, but I have some trust issues with Chinese websites.

 

Can't speak to any alterations of sim cards that may be required.

 

Mtlycrew1 spoke of using the GPS on his smartphone so he could probably tell you if data usage was free with the ship's WiFi.

[recyclelady]

Thanks for the advice. It confirms our hunch that the CD tour best suits our interests and pace. We are set for 11/3 starting in Shanghai, and adding the HK/Guilin extension. First time to Asia!

We are on your 11/3 trip and have also added the HK/Guilin extension!

[at_nyc]

Oh, and the other question is whether I would have to do something to my sim card for it to work overseas even if just on wi-fi. Then, if I can use just the wi-fi, can I set up Skype? (Heck, why didn't I ask these questions when I was in the phone store the other day??)

Sim card has to do with making and receiving calls. If you don't plan to use it as a phone, you don't even need a sim card.

 

My provider says I need an international plan if I want to use my phone overseas for data.

You can't do mobile data without the phone plan. However, you can use your phone as a (poor man's) laptop by connecting to wi-fi when it's available. Just keep in mind it's a lot slower than a proper laptop.

Am I missing something here? Can I just use the wi-fi and therefore circumvent the mobile data charges? I don't want to make phone calls but if I can send messages home via wi-fi, that would be all I need.

You can always use your phone as a computer and nothing more. But since you're already carrying a laptop, you'll be better off just use that instead. Phones are a poor substitute for computer. Sometimes I don't take my laptop with me and use my phone as a computer. Always find it frustratingly slow.

[Peregrina651]

Thanks, at nyc and Kohola. I'm beginning to understand. :D