Viking China (Part 2)

[jayfan]

Hi Lori

 

Thanks so much for your postings. I am right behind you, leaving this Saturday on the Shanghai to Beijing route and getting very excited after reading your posts. Sounds like a fantastic trip !

Wondering about the temperature, you mentioned it was cool in the morning doing tai-chi (which I am looking forward to trying). Are you wearing long pants, capris or shorts in the daytime ? Is the ship cool in the evening, do you wear long sleeved tops and slacks ?

Enjoy the rest of the trip and please keep talking !

[kbert92069]

My daughter just dropped off our visa applications this morning at the Chinese consulate in LA on our behalf (she lives near there) and she was told she'll need to show our "plane tickets" in order to pick up the visas on Friday.

 

I'm surprised by this. Anyone have similar experience? Obviously tickets per se are a thing of the past but I have the electronic confirmation I can print out and give them. I also have my purchase documentation with Viking I suppose I can give her to show.

[swanny727]

NO.

 

 

IMHO--PACK LIGHT, especially on the way over and especially if you are a shopper. The less stuff you have to worry about on the transfers, the happier you will be--especially in Chongqing and even more so if it is raining. The good thing about Viking is that you don't need two outfits per day. You don't need formalwear and men don't even need a sports jacket. Dress is casual and there is laundry service on-board the ship. The less you start out with, the more room you will have for shopping. If you are a shopaholic, bring an extra bag (it is easier than trying to shop for one at the last minute, when you realize that you have over done it and it won't all fit!!:eek::eek:)

 

 

 

 

 

I agree with Peregrina about packing light. Many days there is not time to change before dinner. I packed a lot of "travel" tops that could be washed in the sink and dry by the next morning. A cheaper option, than designated travel clothes, is to purchase workout clothes or golf clothes. On the ship however, we found the rooms quite humid and it tool 2 days for some things to dry. If you have shipboard credit, you can use it towards laundry. Travel size bottles of Downy Wrinkle and Fabreeze can help extend the life of your shorts/pants for more than one day :)

[caribill]

My daughter just dropped off our visa applications this morning at the Chinese consulate in LA on our behalf (she lives near there) and she was told she'll need to show our "plane tickets" in order to pick up the visas on Friday.

 

I'm surprised by this. Anyone have similar experience? Obviously tickets per se are a thing of the past but I have the electronic confirmation I can print out and give them. I also have my purchase documentation with Viking I suppose I can give her to show.

 

A printout of your electronic confirmation will satisfy the proof of ticket requirement.

Edited September 4, 2012 by caribill

[recyclelady]

I sent in our application and passports back on August 16. I used the service thru Viking. I was amazed that they were delivered back to me today (Sept. 4) via FedEx. Really fast service!

[cruisingatsea2]

BTW, the buffet in the ShangriLa is huge and you have to go all the way back to find the omelet bar and to check out some of the other non-American breakfast food stations. There are more food choices than you can even sample in a single meal!

 

I have a question regarding coffee (and water)! We will have plenty of bottled water for drinking during the day and brushing our teeth. I understand that we should not drink any other type of water in China - other than bottled. My question is - how do we get coffee in the morning? This question applies to hotels and the river cruise. How can we be sure it is made with boiled water? Is it safe to drink? The same applies to the juices - are they reconstituted or fresh? Should we buy coffee beans to chew so that we don't end up with caffine withdrawal???? We're counting the days now - can't wait to experience everything we've been reading about.

[caribill]

My question is - how do we get coffee in the morning? This question applies to hotels and the river cruise. How can we be sure it is made with boiled water? Is it safe to drink? The same applies to the juices - are they reconstituted or fresh? Should we buy coffee beans to chew so that we don't end up with caffine withdrawal???? We're counting the days now - can't wait to experience everything we've been reading about.

 

The hotels that Viking uses and on the ship itself only use purified water for beverages.

[Viking Cruises]

Yes, we just got back from that - gorgeous! I have a good pic of the hanging coffin. Weather is very clear and sunny.

 

We got little gifts from Viking upon our return to the ship today. I got a dress made at the tailor - it was done in less than a day - and it is beautiful! When we come back from an excursion, the crew greets us with hot towels and juice - lovely! Anyone who has not taken this cruise yet and are wondering if Viking is the right company to go with, I can only tell you we have been very, very satisfied with them - everything is first class and has been terrific.

 

Dear Lori,

 

It sounds like you’re having a wonderful time on your cruise! We’re delighted that you’ve found everything, from the service to the food, to be “first class.” Thank you for the recommendation and for the updates. We hope you enjoy the remainder of your trip and we look forward to hearing more about it!

 

If you'd like to contact us directly with additional feedback after your cruise, we'd be happy to hear from you at TellUs@vikingrivercruises.com.

 

Sincerely,

Viking River Cruises

[Romeosc]

I agree with Peregrina about packing light. Many days there is not time to change before dinner. I packed a lot of "travel" tops that could be washed in the sink and dry by the next morning. A cheaper option, than designated travel clothes, is to purchase workout clothes or golf clothes. On the ship however, we found the rooms quite humid and it tool 2 days for some things to dry. If you have shipboard credit, you can use it towards laundry. Travel size bottles of Downy Wrinkle and Fabreeze can help extend the life of your shorts/pants for more than one day :)

 

 

We packed light. My wife brought clothes that were out of date and had our guide write a note in chinese for our room attendant to give to someone who might want them. This allowed her more room for new outfits and shopping!

 

Iowa (our guide) told us not to worry about luggage restrictions, he would help us since we were supporting Chinese economy!

 

We brought back 4 full suitcases, a silk rug, and 2 backpacks of fake terra cotta warriors!

 

 

Enjoy!

[caribill]

On one internal flight our guide told us that there was a charge for the group checked luggage being overweight and he paid for it. No way to tell whose luggage was actually over the limit.

[Donray]

Dear Lori,

 

It sounds like you’re having a wonderful time on your cruise! We’re delighted that you’ve found everything, from the service to the food, to be “first class.” Thank you for the recommendation and for the updates. We hope you enjoy the remainder of your trip and we look forward to hearing more about it!

 

If you'd like to contact us directly with additional feedback after your cruise, we'd be happy to hear from you at TellUs@vikingrivercruises.com.

 

Sincerely,

Viking River Cruises

 

Just returned from China's Cultural Delights on August 31 and I agree that most everything is first class. I cannot agree that the food on the ship was first class.

The food was at best was fair with an occaisacl good item in the evening. The Breakfast buffet was good, but again an average breakfast.

My wife thought that Tony the chief had a machine that sucked the flavor out of things.

Sorry, but the food was not great at all. Some dishes were good to very good, but not great.

[Glassespro]

Kbert, I went to the LA Consulate this past week (will p/u tomorrow) and had no issues. I did take a copy of the itinerary, which has the flight info on them. It didn't even look like the lady checked anything except signatures. I will let you know what happens after I pick them up. Wonder if I saw your daughter and didn't even know it???

 

So here's the fun part. My wife and I carefully assembled all the info, drove down to the consulate, got out of the car, and casually asked each other where the stuff was. Guess what--it was very neatly sitting on our dining room table. We had both forgotten it! Oh well, at least I knew where to go when I returned the next day!!!!:):confused::)

[kbert92069]

Kbert, I went to the LA Consulate this past week (will p/u tomorrow) and had no issues. I did take a copy of the itinerary, which has the flight info on them. It didn't even look like the lady checked anything except signatures. I will let you know what happens after I pick them up. Wonder if I saw your daughter and didn't even know it???

 

So here's the fun part. My wife and I carefully assembled all the info, drove down to the consulate, got out of the car, and casually asked each other where the stuff was. Guess what--it was very neatly sitting on our dining room table. We had both forgotten it! Oh well, at least I knew where to go when I returned the next day!!!!:):confused::)

 

Ah yes, the things we all forget. Been there done that. :) Fortunately you're not traveling far to get to the consulate. My daughter said she had to wait in line so clearly we're not the only ones going. :)

 

Late yesterday I got a call from a number I didn't recognize in LA and turns out it was a lady calling from the consulate to directly tell me to have my daughter bring copy of plane tickets to pick up the visas on Friday. I thought that a nice personal touch. I'll email 'em to my daughter and she can print them out and take them in. It should all work out.

[Viking Cruises]

Just returned from China's Cultural Delights on August 31 and I agree that most everything is first class. I cannot agree that the food on the ship was first class.

The food was at best was fair with an occaisacl good item in the evening. The Breakfast buffet was good, but again an average breakfast.

My wife thought that Tony the chief had a machine that sucked the flavor out of things.

Sorry, but the food was not great at all. Some dishes were good to very good, but not great.

 

Dear Donray,

 

Welcome home from your cruise. We’re happy to hear that you and your wife found most everything about China’s Cultural Delights and Viking Emerald to be enjoyable. And it hopefully goes without saying that we are disappointed to learn that the food during the cruise portion of your trip did not suite your tastes. While we understand that food is a subjective topic and what one person loves another may not, we would still like to get a better understanding of your personal experience and opinions regarding the dining on board — along with any other feedback you’d like to share with us.

 

We hope that you will contact us directly at TellUs@vikingrivercruises.com. Once again, welcome home and thank you for sailing with us!

 

Sincerely,

Viking River Cruises

Edited September 5, 2012 by Viking River Cruises

[recyclelady]

Again, I am sure I am asking questions that have already been addressed. Thank you to all of you who patiently answer my questions!

 

How much currency do I need? I prefer to pay everything I can with credit cards. So what things (not necessarily little incidentals) must I make sure I have money for?

 

Thanks!

[Turtles06]

Again, I am sure I am asking questions that have already been addressed. Thank you to all of you who patiently answer my questions!

 

How much currency do I need? I prefer to pay everything I can with credit cards. So what things (not necessarily little incidentals) must I make sure I have money for?

 

Thanks!

 

I think the biggest cash outlay will be the tip to your Viking escort at the end of the trip. This can't be put on a credit card. (BTW, it can be any mix of currency you want, and it's a good opportunity to get rid of your RMB if you have a lot left.)

 

You'll also want cash (small bills) for the local guides and the bus drivers.

 

We left cash tips (with thank you cards) for our cabin stewards and our dining room servers on board the Emerald; there is a box in the atrium of the Emerald for this and you may want to have cash on hand for that. Ditto for the housekeepers in your hotel rooms.

 

If you will be arriving before the Viking tour starts and/or staying on after it ends, you'll want cash for taxi cabs (and also if you made your own air arrangements and are taking cabs to/from the airports).

 

You'll want cash for shopping in situations where you can't use a credit card (e.g., the must-have $5 waving Mao watch that you bargained for on the street in Beijing :))

 

You'll want cash for buying food and water in the airports

 

I think these are the most common cash requirements, and I hope this is helpful. I'm sure I've forgotten things, but I'm confident others will chime in if I have. :)

 

You must be getting very excited now that your trip is so close!

[mginfl]

Just back from the tour. We were lucky - everything went smoothly, thanks to our guide, Richard, who worked night and day to see that nothing went amiss. I don't know how he kept smiling through everything. He never seemed to be allowed to sleep. But he was always pleasant, even though the altitude bothered him in Tibet. But then he did have a lot of help from his "cousins".

 

Speaking of Tibet, I don't think Viking stresses enough the necessity for altitude sickness medicine. My companion and I both took the medicine and had no signs of altitude sickness. No one else in the group had the medicine, and almost everyone had at least a headache, if not worse.

 

This is a very physically demanding trip. Be prepared for long walks in high humidity and many steps. You should really be in good shape if you are considering this trip.

 

If you arrive in Beijing and have free time before the tour starts, I highly recommend going to the Lama Temple on your own. It is one of the suggestions from Viking and was a very good addition to the trip. It is a short and cheap cab ride from the hotel. But be sure to get a card from the hotel with its address and map. The cab driver we had to get back to the hotel needed the map all the way. He had refused to take us until I showed him the map.

 

The Forbidden City was a disappointment. You are no longer allowed inside any of the buildings. Some have open doorways blocked by a barrier. It was a mob scene of people trying to press their way up to the door. It was hot, humid and foggy. Not Viking's fault. Just don't expect to see much except the outside of the buildings.

 

Some people avoid the Beijing Opera, but it is something you should experience. And there are subtitles on the side of the stage so you know what is going on. We were told that it is harder to train for the Opera than it is to train for the Olympics. Singing, dancing and acrobatics have to be mastered.

 

The Tang Dynasty show in Xi'an is beautiful, and Viking had secured perfect seats for us. Take the walk to the Night Market, if only to see the Drum Tower lighted.

 

Lhasa is amazing - 4 lane streets, lots of cars, expressways, power lines running over the mountains. Lots of yak meat, yak stew and yak butter tea. And the hotel is magnificent. Free Wi-Fi, would you believe in Tibet? Don't be afraid to opt out of climbing all the way to the top of the Potala Palace. Special arrangements were made so that we could climb a bit, then be guided back to the bus. If you find postcards, the hotel will mail them for you. I'm eagerly awaiting their arrival.

 

Chongquin is a big city. Because of fortunate timing, we were given an extra tour of the city, with a stop at the Hall of the People, a beautiful building modeled after the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

 

The Emerald is a good boat, and the rooms are comfortable. But the dining room is not comfortable. The noise level is so high that you can only talk to the people next to you, and then you need to lean towards them. It also seems like they should hire more waiters. Service could be very slow, and it wasn't the waiters fault. They were working hard. They just had too much to do.

 

Don't miss either of the crew shows. They are very good.

 

It is a long walk to the Shibaozhai Pagoda, all uphill. Then you climb 99 steps to the top. We were all dripping wet when we got to the top, so we didn't mind walking back through a thunderstorm. Before you go, check out the things you might want to buy on the boat and look for them in the stalls along the way. I paid 80 yuan for a small screen that sold on the boat for 580.

 

We had a beautiful day for the trip through the gorges - clear and sunny.

We went through the locks in the evening. The drop in the locks is amazing. But our day to visit the dam was so misty we could not see across the dam. They say it is always misty because of the location and the humidity.

 

The school kids were delightful. Two girls adopted me and taught me a hand game. I let them take pictures with my camera, and they were tickled.

 

Don't miss the cruise director's talk on China Today. It was excellent. I took 5 pages of notes. Not only informative, but also entertaining.

 

In Shanghai, be sure to walk on the Bund at night. The crowd of people was surprising, but it was a Saturday night with a full moon. Everyone was out, taking in the sights and taking pictures. Every person there had a camera. It is perfectly safe, and all the people are friendly and polite.

 

The acrobatic show was good, but no photos are allowed.

 

I brought 900 photos back from the trip, but others took eve more. Be sure to have plenty of batteries.

 

This is an exhausting trip but worth it to see the modern China and its people, with a surprising amount of things in common with us here in the states.

[Turtles06]

Welcome back, mginfl! Thanks for taking the time to post and share your experiences with us. So glad (but not suprised) that you had a wonderful time. (We did not go to Tibet, and I'm always interested in hearing about that.)

 

Only 900 photos? You're a slacker! :)

[caribill]

The acrobatic show was good, but no photos are allowed.

 

That's a change. We were able to take (no flash) pictures.

[caribill]

How much currency do I need? I prefer to pay everything I can with credit cards. So what things (not necessarily little incidentals) must I make sure I have money for?

 

Thanks!

 

All I can do is tell you our experience.

 

First of all, for onboard tips, you can tip in cash or have it placed on a charge card. If you are using cash for that, take enough for the onboard tipping following the Vinking guidelines.

 

China in general is not a tipping society, so you will not need cash to tip hotel personnel or if you eat on your own in a restaurant.

 

Tipping for your group escort can only be done in cash. This can be in either US $ or yuan. We made about half of this tip in yuan to use up yuan that we had. So, take along enough US $ cash per Viking guidelines and if you have yuan to use up, just use less of the US $.

 

Tipping for local tour guides and tour bus drivers (an exception to the no tipping policy in China) would be a couple of dollars per person per tour.

 

If you are not shoppers, you might still purchase items from street venders (hats, book about the Great Wall, etc.) bring along a bunch of US 1$ bills and a few 5$ bills. I suggest $30 in ones and $30 in fives for this. Remember, you cannot get US$ exchanged for smaller bills in China, so bring the small bills with you.

 

Eating on your own before the Viking part of the tour starts or after it ends will require yuan. Same if you buy some ice cream or have some coffee while having free time on a tour or buy food at an airport. Same if you take a taxi cab or use a subway.

 

You can get yuan from an ATM at the airport when you arrive in China or at the Viking hotels at the front desk. If doing it at the front desk, bring US$ to exchange.

 

Having said all that, we ended up using less than $50 worth of yuan (not including the leftover we used as part of the tip or shopping items). US cash, other than Viking tips or shopping, but including items from street venders, was also less than $50. We did not use taxis, so none of this was for transportation.

 

However, I would have a little more cash with you in case you have unexpected desires.

 

By the way, if you do charge items in China, many places add a 3% charge to the amount owed. This is in addition to any fees your bank may add (use CapitalOne charge cards to avoid bank fees on foreign charges).

 

Also, some places will show you the amount owed on a charge card in US$ using a poor exchange rate. Insist that the charge be in yuan. If on a Viking tour, have your guide make this point to the merchant who tries to do the conversion at this poor rate.

Edited September 6, 2012 by caribill

[Lori Dobson]

Hi Lori

 

Thanks so much for your postings. I am right behind you, leaving this Saturday on the Shanghai to Beijing route and getting very excited after reading your posts. Sounds like a fantastic trip !

Wondering about the temperature, you mentioned it was cool in the morning doing tai-chi (which I am looking forward to trying). Are you wearing long pants, capris or shorts in the daytime ? Is the ship cool in the evening, do you wear long sleeved tops and slacks ?

Enjoy the rest of the trip and please keep talking !

 

 

Sorry for the delay in answering - was just able to get back on!

 

We arrived in Xi'an today, fortunately the flight only left 30 min late!

 

I have been wearing shorts almost the entire trip - I had one pair of jeans which I wore twice on the ship - for dinner on the more "dressy" nights. Although there was one or two suit and evening gown couples, most people were in shorts, capris, jeans or khakis - those and a nice collared shirt for guys will do nicely.

 

It was hard to leave the ship - we had such a great time and they could not do enough for us! We went to the Shizobai ( spelled wrong) pagoda yesterday - it was sunny and hot - bring lots of sunscreen and a hat ! You can buy $1 hats almost everywhere we have gone if you forget.

 

I was very pleased with everything on the ship - i thought the food was great, we had lobster thermodore for the last night and it was fantastic! - and the restaurant food everywhere else we have gone has been very good. Just open your mind, take a chance and try new things!

 

Bring lots of $1 and $5 for little gifts or you can change money for small bill yuan at the hotels. We are at the Crowne Plaza Xi'an tonight - cannot believe how luxurious it is! Terra cotta warriors tomorrow, then off to Beijing!:D

[Lori Dobson]

Sorry, forgot about the evenings - light slacks and a short sleeve top are perfect - a light sweater or wrap if you tend to get cold. As has been mentioned before, you are so tired every night you don't want to do much in the evenings - except maybe a drink in the deck 5 bar and a stroll around the dance floor.

 

Hope you have a Fantastic time on your cruise!

[jayfan]

Thanks so much Lori for taking the time to post. I really appreciate all your information. I'm getting so excited and will definitely go with an open mind and positive attitude. It's going to be an amazing "adventure"

Enjoy the remaining time of your trip in Beijing and have fun climbing the Great Wall !

 

Ruth

[Viking Cruises]

Just back from the tour. We were lucky - everything went smoothly, thanks to our guide, Richard, who worked night and day to see that nothing went amiss. I don't know how he kept smiling through everything. He never seemed to be allowed to sleep. But he was always pleasant, even though the altitude bothered him in Tibet. But then he did have a lot of help from his "cousins".

 

Speaking of Tibet, I don't think Viking stresses enough the necessity for altitude sickness medicine. My companion and I both took the medicine and had no signs of altitude sickness. No one else in the group had the medicine, and almost everyone had at least a headache, if not worse.

 

This is a very physically demanding trip. Be prepared for long walks in high humidity and many steps. You should really be in good shape if you are considering this trip.

 

If you arrive in Beijing and have free time before the tour starts, I highly recommend going to the Lama Temple on your own. It is one of the suggestions from Viking and was a very good addition to the trip. It is a short and cheap cab ride from the hotel. But be sure to get a card from the hotel with its address and map. The cab driver we had to get back to the hotel needed the map all the way. He had refused to take us until I showed him the map.

 

The Forbidden City was a disappointment. You are no longer allowed inside any of the buildings. Some have open doorways blocked by a barrier. It was a mob scene of people trying to press their way up to the door. It was hot, humid and foggy. Not Viking's fault. Just don't expect to see much except the outside of the buildings.

 

Some people avoid the Beijing Opera, but it is something you should experience. And there are subtitles on the side of the stage so you know what is going on. We were told that it is harder to train for the Opera than it is to train for the Olympics. Singing, dancing and acrobatics have to be mastered.

 

The Tang Dynasty show in Xi'an is beautiful, and Viking had secured perfect seats for us. Take the walk to the Night Market, if only to see the Drum Tower lighted.

 

Lhasa is amazing - 4 lane streets, lots of cars, expressways, power lines running over the mountains. Lots of yak meat, yak stew and yak butter tea. And the hotel is magnificent. Free Wi-Fi, would you believe in Tibet? Don't be afraid to opt out of climbing all the way to the top of the Potala Palace. Special arrangements were made so that we could climb a bit, then be guided back to the bus. If you find postcards, the hotel will mail them for you. I'm eagerly awaiting their arrival.

 

Chongquin is a big city. Because of fortunate timing, we were given an extra tour of the city, with a stop at the Hall of the People, a beautiful building modeled after the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

 

The Emerald is a good boat, and the rooms are comfortable. But the dining room is not comfortable. The noise level is so high that you can only talk to the people next to you, and then you need to lean towards them. It also seems like they should hire more waiters. Service could be very slow, and it wasn't the waiters fault. They were working hard. They just had too much to do.

 

Don't miss either of the crew shows. They are very good.

 

It is a long walk to the Shibaozhai Pagoda, all uphill. Then you climb 99 steps to the top. We were all dripping wet when we got to the top, so we didn't mind walking back through a thunderstorm. Before you go, check out the things you might want to buy on the boat and look for them in the stalls along the way. I paid 80 yuan for a small screen that sold on the boat for 580.

 

We had a beautiful day for the trip through the gorges - clear and sunny.

We went through the locks in the evening. The drop in the locks is amazing. But our day to visit the dam was so misty we could not see across the dam. They say it is always misty because of the location and the humidity.

 

The school kids were delightful. Two girls adopted me and taught me a hand game. I let them take pictures with my camera, and they were tickled.

 

Don't miss the cruise director's talk on China Today. It was excellent. I took 5 pages of notes. Not only informative, but also entertaining.

 

In Shanghai, be sure to walk on the Bund at night. The crowd of people was surprising, but it was a Saturday night with a full moon. Everyone was out, taking in the sights and taking pictures. Every person there had a camera. It is perfectly safe, and all the people are friendly and polite.

 

The acrobatic show was good, but no photos are allowed.

 

I brought 900 photos back from the trip, but others took eve more. Be sure to have plenty of batteries.

 

This is an exhausting trip but worth it to see the modern China and its people, with a surprising amount of things in common with us here in the states.

 

Dear mginfl,

 

Welcome home from your cruise! It sounds like overall you had a great time exploring China during your trip; and we’re glad that you took in the sights and activities that were available to you – specifically the optional visit to the Peking Opera. We agree that it’s not to be missed! The feedback you shared about the altitude in Tibet, touring the Forbidden City, and dining onboard is appreciated. Your suggestions will be passed along to the appropriate personnel, but in the meantime you can share any additional feedback with us at TellUs@vikingrivercruises.com.

 

Again, we’re thrilled that you had a wonderful time on our Roof of the World itinerary. We hope to welcome you onboard again soon!

 

Sincerely,

Viking River Cruises

Edited September 6, 2012 by Viking River Cruises

[cruisingatsea2]

The hotels that Viking uses and on the ship itself only use purified water for beverages.

Drinking water safety. My TA double checked with Viking and the water on the ship is "filtered". There is no information about the type of filter, how often it is changed, etc. Our pre-cruise 5* hotel in Beijing confirmed via email that they use tap water to make coffee, etc. To be totally safe I will not be drinking any water (or anything made with water) while in China unless I see it coming out of a sealed bottle! On the same note, does anyone know (or remember) if there are coffee pots in the hotel rooms (standard item in most North American hotels) - 4 cup or single serving. Thanks for the great info.