Viking China (Part 2)

[Peregrina651]

 

We fly from Shanghai to Wuhan to board the Emerald and join people who left Shanghai a few days earlier on the longer trip (Cultural Delights?)

 

I hope it won't be a disappointment but Imperial Jewels and Cultural Delights don't end up on the ship at the same time. The ship would have to sail partially full between Nanjing and Wuhan, which is not cost effective, especially considering that the Delights trips pretty much sell out. When you board, the Emerald in Wuhan, it will have just come down-river from Chongqing.

 

The ship sails as far as Nanjing only three times per year (making only 6 Delights departure dates). The rest of the cruise year, it is plying back and forth between Chongqing and Wuhan. The five day cruise is more profitable since they can do twice as many trips in the same period of time. Also, the Delights itinerary has two stops between Wuhan and Chongqing that are not part of the Jewels itinerary (Yueyang Tower and Fengdu).

 

 

 

[claudiane]

The October trips have all been sold out for many months for this year. There are different trips all leaving slightly different days. Like others here we have not found anyone yet on our exact dates.

 

We leave Oct 19th (in less than 3 weeks) on the Imperial Jewels itinerary. What is yours? We fly from Shanghai to Wuhan to board the Emerald and join people who left Shanghai a few days earlier on the longer trip (Cultural Delights?)

 

Yes we are on the Cultural Delights but it does not look like it's ours :( since we begin our trip in Beijing on the 22nd; we'll be three days in a half in this great city then we'll fly for 1 day in Xian and fly again to Chongqing to board the ship for 11 days on the 26th. Sorry you must be with the group just before us.

 

I hope that you'll find someone who's on your trip before you leave.

 

Have a magnificent time !

 

Diane

[kbert92069]

I hope it won't be a disappointment but Imperial Jewels and Cultural Delights don't end up on the ship at the same time. The ship would have to sail partially full between Nanjing and Wuhan, which is not cost effective, especially considering that the Delights trips pretty much sell out. When you board, the Emerald in Wuhan, it will have just come down-river from Chongqing.

 

The ship sails as far as Nanjing only three times per year (making only 6 Delights departure dates). The rest of the cruise year, it is plying back and forth between Chongqing and Wuhan. The five day cruise is more profitable since they can do twice as many trips in the same period of time. Also, the Delights itinerary has two stops between Wuhan and Chongqing that are not part of the Jewels itinerary (Yueyang Tower and Fengdu).

 

I really had no idea how it worked. :) Thanks for the explanation. That makes more sense. This is my first river cruise and my first cruise in 8 years that I've not encountered anyone on the same trip here on Cruise Critic. I understand the probabilities/math but that is still just a bit of a disappointment. We've even run into randomn people on the street going to China on Viking but they're never on our same itinerary. In any case in just slightly over 2 weeks for us and I'm sure we'll be meeting wonderful fellow travelers in person.

 

Karl

[Peregrina651]

I really had no idea how it worked. :) Thanks for the explanation. That makes more sense. This is my first river cruise and my first cruise in 8 years that I've not encountered anyone on the same trip here on Cruise Critic. I understand the probabilities/math but that is still just a bit of a disappointment. We've even run into random people on the street going to China on Viking but they're never on our same itinerary. In any case in just slightly over 2 weeks for us and I'm sure we'll be meeting wonderful fellow travelers in person.

 

Karl

 

Yeah, roll calls don't really work for river cruises but they are so small that you will very quickly get to meet people. Hope you have a great time.

[pacmom]

DH needs to know what the wall receptacles look like. Will out dual voltage chargers fit. Sounds like the hotels are fine--what about the boat. Pat:)

[Turtles06]

DH needs to know what the wall receptacles look like. Will out dual voltage chargers fit. Sounds like the hotels are fine--what about the boat. Pat:)

 

You should find this info earlier in the thread, but here goes again. The hotels we stayed in had "universal" adapters that fit our American plugs (and we only had dual voltage electronics with us). Still, I would not travel internationally without the appropriate adapter(s); just too important to depend on what's in the wall in a hotel.

 

As to the Emerald, some folks have reported on here that their cabin had an outlet that would accommodate American plugs. There was none that would in ours. We had adapters with us, so there was no problem using the Chinese outlets.

 

Again, my feeling is -- they are relatively small -- don't leave home without one. :)

Edited October 3, 2012 by Turtles06

[Peregrina651]

You should find this info earlier in the thread, but here goes again. The hotels we stayed in had "universal" adapters that fit our American plugs (and we only had dual voltage electronics with us). Still, I would not travel internationally without the appropriate adapter(s); just too important to depend on what's in the wall in a hotel.

 

As to the Emerald, some folks have reported on here that their cabin had an outlet that would accommodate American plugs. There was none that would in ours. We had adapters with us, so there was no problem using the Chinese outlets.

 

Again, my feeling is -- they are relatively small -- don't leave home without one. :)

Let the safety warnings continue...

 

and a plug adapter is not the same as a current converter.

 

The adapter makes your plug fit in the holes. The converter changes the current from 220v to 110v. You can't use a 110v appliance in a 220v plug without converting the current or you will fry whatever it is you just plugged in.

 

If you are taking a three-prong plug, you will need a three-pronged adapter.

 

Read the small print on the devices you are bringing to make sure that you have the proper choice of adapter or converter with you. A lot of electronic stuff is already dual current and for those items, you don't need a converter but you will need an adapter. As turtles says, don't leave home without one.

 

While I'm at it -- make sure you have all the power cords, USB cords, battery chargers, spare batteries, etc. for your cameras, notebooks, tablets, ereaders, etc. I can't tell you how much time our guides wasted on my last trip taking people to camera shops, etc. to try to find replacement accessories for essential items left home--usually a waste trip other than to buy a brand new camera.

 

More advice, bring the manual for your camera, too. (A lot of them are available on the manufacturer's website as a pdf that you can load right on to your computer or smart-device).

Edited October 3, 2012 by Peregrina651

[pacmom]

We have our reservation for Made in China--the evening of the Opera. DH nixed going to the Opera. Thanks for the info about the outlets. We should be fine. Pat

[Turtles06]

We have our reservation for Made in China--the evening of the Opera.

 

Makes me hungry just thinking about it. If you haven't done so already, you can pre-order your duck....

 

Yummm. Enjoy!!

[claudiane]

Makes me hungry just thinking about it. If you haven't done so already, you can pre-order your duck....

 

Yummm. Enjoy!!

 

Oh it is supposed to be great ! The Da Dong restaurant is also recommended for the duck.

 

Do you know the name of the restaurant where Viking is briging everybody the night of the opera and is this dinner included in the price of the opera ticket ?

 

Hey Pat, I think that you are also arriving one day earlier in Beijing, are'nt you ? We do too. That night , we'll probably have dumplings that night at Din Tai Fung or it looks like the Black Sesame Kitchen is wonderful but we need to make reservation and must arrive early to be seated in the kitchen.

 

Ohhhhh I'm so excited :)

[caribill]

Do you know the name of the restaurant where Viking is briging everybody the night of the opera and is this dinner included in the price of the opera ticket ?

 

 

The dinner is included in the price of the opera.

[Turtles06]

or it looks like the Black Sesame Kitchen is wonderful but we need to make reservation and must arrive early to be seated in the kitchen.

 

Ohhhhh I'm so excited :)

 

Our dinner at Black Sesame Kitchen was one of the most memorable dining experiences of our lives... If you have the chance to eat there, by all means, leap at it. And do arrive early to be seated in the kitchen. (Remember, it's private dining, not a restaurant, so you must reserve well in advance.)

 

Here is "Chairman Wang" making THE most perfect dumplings I've ever eaten and probably ever will:

 

 

(photo by turtles06)

Edited October 6, 2012 by Turtles06

[Lori Dobson]

Add my kudos to the Black Sesame Kitchen... Incredible food and a very fun experience!:D

[rahrah50]

I just looked up the website for Black Sesame Kitchen. Did you have the wine and dine dinner? More details please......

[Turtles06]

I just looked up the website for Black Sesame Kitchen. Did you have the wine and dine dinner? More details please......

 

Yes, the Wine 'N Dine. Ten course meal served family style in their little place in the hutongs. The location alone is worth the visit, and then there's the food! OMG. Just incredible, and you watch everything being prepared right in front of you (again, if you are sitting at the table in front of the kitchen). The whole "event" takes about 3 hours, and part of the enjoyment is also sharing the meal with and talking to the other guests (typically expats and people they've brought with them).

 

I can't recommend this enough if you have a free evening in Beijing and the timing is right.

[rahrah50]

Thank you so much for the information. I can skip a Viking cruise included dinner for this!!!! Also plan to go to Made in China for Peking duck.. Any recommendaions for Shanghai as we plan to stay for a few extra days.

[Glassespro]

We leave in a couple of days--can't wait!!! Have a question about the free day in Beijing. We leave LAX on the 10th, arriving on the 11th. Is our free day the rest of the 11th or the 12th? On the 11th, just by chance, there is a basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Miami Heat. We got tickets, thought is would be fun to go to the Olympic Arena, surrounded by Chinese, to see the game. Cost is out of sight, but what the heck. So if that is our free day, it is taken care of. If it is the next day, we have to find things to do--shouldn't be hard!

 

'Talk' to you when I return.

[caribill]

We leave in a couple of days--can't wait!!! Have a question about the free day in Beijing. We leave LAX on the 10th, arriving on the 11th. Is our free day the rest of the 11th or the 12th? On the 11th, just by chance, there is a basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Miami Heat. We got tickets, thought is would be fun to go to the Olympic Arena, surrounded by Chinese, to see the game. Cost is out of sight, but what the heck. So if that is our free day, it is taken care of. If it is the next day, we have to find things to do--shouldn't be hard!

 

'Talk' to you when I return.

 

If this was a Viking arranged flight, then the day of arrival has nothing scheduled once you get to the hotel and the tour starts the following day.

 

Hope you can stay awake for the game.

[Peregrina651]

If this was a Viking arranged flight, then the day of arrival has nothing scheduled once you get to the hotel and the tour starts the following day.

 

Hope you can stay awake for the game.

 

Actually, this isn't quite accurate. There are some Viking-arranged flight plans that arrive in Beijing so late in the evening that Viking has arranged for these people to arrive one night ahead of everyone else. While everyone else is arriving on Day 1 of the itinerary, these folks will have a full day to themselves, after a full night's sleep. Touring begins Day 2 of the itinerary.

 

On the Viking itineraries, Day 1 is always arrival day and that is always the day that is listed in the brochures as the start date of the cruise. Most people will start their journey the previous day in order to be landing in the arrival city on arrival day. This is very important to know if you are booking your own tickets.

[Glassespro]

Gayle and I leave in about 1 hour for LAX for our flight to Beijing. Hard to believe that it is actually here. It is now 3:24 am, which is an ungodly hour, but what sacrifices we make????

 

If I can, I'll try to post mid-trip, but if not, I'll check in upon our return. 'Talk' to you all soon. Thanks for all the wonderful info, ideas, and other valuable stuff.

[seanf]

Have a great time!

 

Sean :)

[caribill]

Gayle and I leave in about 1 hour for LAX for our flight to Beijing. Hard to believe that it is actually here. It is now 3:24 am, which is an ungodly hour, but what sacrifices we make????

 

If I can, I'll try to post mid-trip, but if not, I'll check in upon our return. 'Talk' to you all soon. Thanks for all the wonderful info, ideas, and other valuable stuff.

 

Have a Great Trip.

[CTGirl]

Gayle and I leave in about 1 hour for LAX for our flight to Beijing. Hard to believe that it is actually here. It is now 3:24 am, which is an ungodly hour, but what sacrifices we make????

 

If I can, I'll try to post mid-trip, but if not, I'll check in upon our return. 'Talk' to you all soon. Thanks for all the wonderful info, ideas, and other valuable stuff.

You're probably on your way now. Have a wonderfultime. I look forward to hearing about your trip when you get back.

[claudiane]

Our dinner at Black Sesame Kitchen was one of the most memorable dining experiences of our lives... If you have the chance to eat there, by all means, leap at it. And do arrive early to be seated in the kitchen. (Remember, it's private dining, not a restaurant, so you must reserve well in advance.)

 

Here is "Chairman Wang" making THE most perfect dumplings I've ever eaten and probably ever will:

 

 

(photo by turtles06)

 

Our reservasion at the Black Sesame Kitchen is official ! I am impatient to experiment this "cooking laboratory" :)

 

Until then I just learned an information that is troubling me ! My TA told me that in our intra-China flights our friends and us won't be able to fly together. That is inconcievable ! Our friends are retired and not used to traveling so far. Therefore they are counting on us for the whole trip. Also (we are French-Canadian) they are depending on us for the translation from English to French. Does someone know what can we do about that situation ? No way I will accept it :mad:

 

Thanks

[kbert92069]

Until then I just learned an information that is troubling me ! My TA told me that in our intra-China flights our friends and us won't be able to fly together. That is inconcievable ! Our friends are retired and not used to traveling so far. Therefore they are counting on us for the whole trip. Also (we are French-Canadian) they are depending on us for the translation from English to French. Does someone know what can we do about that situation ? No way I will accept it :mad:

 

Thanks

 

Did you read the Viking book they sent you? On intra-China flights the Chinese computer assigns the seats and you might not even be assigned to sit with your spouse. It is their normal disclaimer. Viking doesn't control the airline. That's at least until you agree to swap places with others once on the plane.

 

I'm sure your escort will help to get you seats together and I'm sure others in your party will work with you. Let's face it, most of us don't speak their language so we all will need the escort to help.