Viking China (Part 2)

[shebawalk]

Dear Peregrina651,

 

We're happy to help! In case you haven't seen it, here's a link to the "Packing Tips" page on our website where you'll find a list of items that you, or other guests, may want to bring onboard: http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/about-your-trip/packingtips.aspx. As for items that are prohibited, our rules are consistent with the rules TSA has established. Please visit the TSA website to see the list: http://1.usa.gov/14t6wDw.

 

If you have any other questions about items you can bring onboard (or if you need help locating information on our website), feel free to let us know at TellUs@vikingrivercruises.com so we can assist. Thank you!

 

Best,

 

Viking River Cruises

Wow! I am SO impressed by how responsive VRC is. I appreciate how quickly y'all respond to questions and issues. I can hardly wait until May!

[GoInOnaCruz]

Wow! I am SO impressed by how responsive VRC is. I appreciate how quickly y'all respond to questions and issues. I can hardly wait until May!

I know VRC asked me to send them a review when I got home and then called me to thank me for the review. They are also going to be sure to let our guide's supervisor know how much our group appreciated him :)

 

Be prepared for heavy security as you pass through checkpoints at the airports in China. I have always had a problem getting through security everywhere--I think I look too innocent-- I mean my husband and I have always been checked going back to 1970 (!)--in China I got stopped for a spoon and for no apparent reason whatsoever every single time!, when we were checking our check in luggage for our flight home I had to go into a side room with the Chinese security person and open my case when it turned out that the issue was the extra locks I brought for intra China flights and putting on my carry ons--there is apparently a lot of pilferage if you don't lock your luggage and it is out of your control for hours while VRC transfers it from one hotel through flight and to the other hotel or the ship (they secure it when is sitting outside the hotel waiting to be loaded, etc. I think the issue is the baggage handling at the airport). You will also be wanded at every security check-in (that applied to everyone--usually just me :) ) even after going through whole body scans. Don't buy water after security if you intend to take it onboard--it will be taken away--particularly on the flight out of the country where they have a water check after you are processed at the gate to board. BTW as stated earlier on this thread sometimes you arrive at your hotel prior to your luggage and having an extra outfit packed in carry on allowed us to shower and change into clean clothes after a long day touring and flying--we had to sit on the runway in Xi'An for more than an hour flying to Chongqing (GIANT SANDSTORM all over China--even took the roof off the international terminal in Beijing) and were the last to board the ship--lots of grumbling from those in our group who didn't have their luggage--dinner was served 1/2 hour after boarding. We were fresh as daisies thanks to CC Viking River China part 2 Board--so nice after being sandblasted in Xi'an!

[justmesk]

GoInOnaCruz

 

Are you not allowed any drinks while boarding the plane? I always buy a bottle of water for the flight ...but always after I have been through security, as I have problems with my ears and swallowing helps during take off and landing

[caribill]

Are you not allowed any drinks while boarding the plane? I always buy a bottle of water for the flight ...but always after I have been through security, as I have problems with my ears and swallowing helps during take off and landing

 

Correct. No drinks allowed with you when boarding the plane.

 

Maybe once on the plane you can be given some liquid before takeoff. Maybe.

[GoInOnaCruz]

Correct. No drinks allowed with you when boarding the plane.

 

Maybe once on the plane you can be given some liquid before takeoff. Maybe.

I use something called ear planes--available in most pharmacies--in my pharmacy in the eye care section--which equalize the pressure in the ears--put in once doors close and take out when reaching cruising altitude, put in again when plane starts to descend. They say you can only use them for 2 segments (I think) but I used the same pair for all of the internal Chinese flights and they worked well. They cost around $5 or $6 I think and some pharmacies have them in a generic.

[H2Otstr]

GoInOnaCruz

 

Are you not allowed any drinks while boarding the plane? I always buy a bottle of water for the flight ...but always after I have been through security, as I have problems with my ears and swallowing helps during take off and landing

 

My bottle of water (which I had just purchased) was taken from me as I walked on to the plane. I purchased it in the waiting area before boarding.

[Peregrina651]

Dear Peregrina651,

 

We're happy to help! In case you haven't seen it, here's a link to the "Packing Tips" page on our website where you'll find a list of items that you, or other guests, may want to bring onboard: http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/about-your-trip/packingtips.aspx. As for items that are prohibited, our rules are consistent with the rules TSA has established. Please visit the TSA website to see the list: http://1.usa.gov/14t6wDw.

 

If you have any other questions about items you can bring onboard (or if you need help locating information on our website), feel free to let us know at TellUs@vikingrivercruises.com so we can assist. Thank you!

 

Best,

 

Viking River Cruises

 

So, are you saying that irons, hot plates, coffee makers and candles/incense, forbidden by some cruise lines, can be brought on and used on Viking ships?

 

FSA rules deal with firearms, explosives and security risks. I asked about items that will pass FSA inspection but that could pose a fire hazard on board a ship.

 

Could you please clarify? Thanks.

[Peregrina651]

My bottle of water (which I had just purchased) was taken from me as I walked on to the plane. I purchased it in the waiting area before boarding.

 

This isn't just a China thing. We had it happen to us on a flight out of Paris when all carry-ons were hand-screened and we were patted down at the gate as we boarded the plane and all liquids were confiscated.

[GoInOnaCruz]

This isn't just a China thing. We had it happen to us on a flight out of Paris when all carry-ons were hand-screened and we were patted down at the gate as we boarded the plane and all liquids were confiscated.

That is interesting! I've never had it happen to me anywhere. My husband bought water 2 years ago on his way out of Shanghai and had it (all three bottles) confiscated and has never gotten over it (he is an accountant :) ). I'll be more aware when leaving Paris in the future!!

[justmesk]

I wonder what is the reasoning behind this ....if we already have been through the screening? does anyone know

[bettybc]

I'm not sure but last time we flew home, I had epi-pens in my purse (never go anywhere without them :-( ). In Hong Kong, they did do a second security check at the gate and had to call in the head of security for me to speak to. They were not going to let me on the plane - yup, I know I had a letter from my Doctor but lost it in the travels - YIKES! It took me 10 minutes to convince them that I had to have these with me.

 

What the security officer told me was as the flight I was going on was going through to the US they had to be extra vigilant, even though I was getting off in Vancouver.

 

So not surprised to hear about the bottled water issue.

[Peregrina651]

I'll be more aware when leaving Paris in the future!!

 

It is not just Paris but Paris is the one that sticks in my mind. I don't tend to buy coffee or water to carry on to the plane so I don't always pay attention to what is going on at boarding time but I'm pretty sure that it is now a fairly standard operating procedure outside the US to the point where it now pays to ask before you buy liquids to go on the plane. Rules differ from country to country and flights that are US bound have even different rules.

 

Gate-side bag check even though you have already been screened is probably a last ditch effort to catch that one plot that has arranged to pass the nasties onto the accomplice after the initial screening.

 

Bettybc, carry multiple copies of your doctor's note including digital copies--such as photographing it with your phone or camera.

[sissabagrama]

I enjoyed your very positive review including the Opera! Just a slight clarification about the phrase the children spoke. The Chinese refer to foreigners as DaBizi...Big Noses, but the guide told the children to call you "foreigner." Wai-outside, Gou-Country, Ren-people...outside country people or foreigners;) A few in our groups took exception to being called "Big Noses.":eek:

 

Looking for something to share with the children. Here is a spreadsheet I created to use at the school with useful words/phrase for your travels:

Another item I created are photo cards with our grandchildren photos and names on them:

A generic one to present to the class...

For under $20 and some time on a computer you can give the class you visit something personal and unique. Include an e-mail address on the back if the children of China want to communicate with you or your youngsters. We gave them to the few children we interacted with and left the rest for the teacher to hand out to avoid chaos.Those kids in China will cherish them forever. I create a photo card with the English and Chinese name of each student for the classrooms I volunteer in when I talk to them about China. The students who were in 1st grade in 2009 still have those photo cards today.

The cards include Fengshui and YinYang...phoenix and dragon for eternal marriage,(as the children say "eeewww") YinYang of delicate and bold lettering, the Yin of a girl and the Yang of a boy. Mountains, river, rocks, and trees needed for good Fengshui where you live.

I sent over 200 information packages to travelers last season... E-mail me at mc4nu@aol.com if you would like the information I have gathered.

 

Off subject...the Chairman of China, XiJinLing's, wife, Peng Liyuan, used to be a singer. Her CDs are no longer available for sale in China because performers are considered to beneath the position of the Chairman's wife. China used to have 9 levels of social hierarchy with engineers/teachers at the top and singers/actors at number 9. They have a daughter that attends Harvard, the norm for Communist Party officials in China. Children are educated in the US and remain here.

is a link to her singing "My Motherland"...don't worry it is subtitled in Chinese if you can't understand the lyrics.

Thank you for your ideas and lovely cards - I took the Friendship generic and printed off 24 on photo glossy paper - they are lovely, then I had my second, third and fifth grade students (I'm a Reading Specialist, so see small groups for support) write ni hao, and wo tiao - with the name on the backs, our kids take one third of year of Chinese language and culture from Yu Lao Shi, their Chinese teacher. I added address labels with the name of our school, state, and my school email address in case there is a way or desire to get in touch with me/our school. I also have photos of each group with their first names, so the Chinese students can match their card's writer with a picture. I promised my students pictures of the Chinese students in return (just general photos we take). My students are very excited for me, as one put it, "Wow, you like have to go all around the world to get to CHINA!! (or dig for a long, long time).

Thank you for your idea and your print.

[caribill]

I'm pretty sure that it is now a fairly standard operating procedure outside the US to the point where it now pays to ask before you buy liquids to go on the plane. Rules differ from country to country and flights that are US bound have even different rules. I was on one flight from South America to the USA. (No need to take off your shoes there.) In the jetway to the plane there was an airline employee asking everyone to give any bottles of luiquid and any lighters to him. No search, no x-ray, just asking.

 

Gate-side bag check even though you have already been screened is probably a last ditch effort to catch that one plot that has arranged to pass the nasties onto the accomplice after the initial screening. At some USA airports sometimes the TSA sets up a table next to the gate and hand checks the carryons of "random" passengers. All this tells me is that the TSA does not believe all their screening before that point is effective and somehow checking 10% of the passengers means the other 90% have nothing dangerous on them. (It also means that if you are on Southwest Airlines your boarding is delayed and others later in line get to pick their seats on the plane befopre you do.)

 

 

See above in red

[Kohola]

Thank you for your ideas and lovely cards - I took the Friendship generic and printed off 24 on photo glossy paper - they are lovely, Thank you for your idea and your print.

 

You're welcome...bu keqi. I can send you that photo electronically or make a few different ones with different scenes and/or words you want...only takes a couple of minutes for me to do. Something to keep in mind is the classroom size in China is double or triple a US classroom. We visited a first grade class of 48 and a fourth grade class of 73 during our visits to the schools.

We had the children we interacted with write their names, then we added the pinyin when we superimposed it on the photo. We also did this for all our guides and other people we add contact with.

 

[sissabagrama]

You're welcome...bu keqi. I can send you that photo electronically or make a few different ones with different scenes and/or words you want...only takes a couple of minutes for me to do. Something to keep in mind is the classroom size in China is double or triple a US classroom. We visited a first grade class of 48 and a fourth grade class of 73 during our visits to the schools.

We had the children we interacted with write their names, then we added the pinyin when we superimposed it on the photo. We also did this for all our guides and other people we add contact with.

 

Help!!! Yes, send me a couple more, if you can, and I'll add my groups' names so that more than one kid can get postcard from one of my group. I'll make sure I have 72, and then share them with whatever other Viking guests come along, so every kid gets one in the class we visit. Sound OK?

[pacmom]

Just had a short email from our guide of last year--Daniel. He is the cruise director for the first part of the season. You will enjoy him--he has wonderful stories of his childhood. Enjoy this wonderful trip on the Emerald. Pat

[Kohola]

Help!!! Yes, send me a couple more, if you can, and I'll add my groups' names so that more than one kid can get postcard from one of my group. I'll make sure I have 72, and then share them with whatever other Viking guests come along, so every kid gets one in the class we visit. Sound OK?

Mei wen ti...no problem, but I don't know where to send them? Please provide info to mc4nu@aol.com.

[GoInOnaCruz]

Just had a short email from our guide of last year--Daniel. He is the cruise director for the first part of the season. You will enjoy him--he has wonderful stories of his childhood. Enjoy this wonderful trip on the Emerald. Pat

It was funny because when he first began he was very nervous and kind of made us all uneasy but he loosened up and everyone came to like him a lot. I was lucky enough to win the freshwater pearls grand prize for the school raffle and he played me because when he asked, "Who is going to win this prize?" and I answered "I am." He called the number in Chinese because he remembered I attended the Chinese lesson the day before--luckily I remembered the numbers :)

[ruthlynn]

To everyone going to China: Go to WalMart and go to the camping area. Buy: 3 or 4 rolls of toliet tissue (purse size), a hand held battery operated fan (purse size), small packages of tissues, hand sanitizer. Then go to the office/school area and purchase crayolas (one of the last remaining items that is made in the USA) (several packages) to take to the children at the school. Do NOT miss going to visit the children....the highlight of our trip. Go to the drug area and buy whatever tummy drugs you need plus tylenol or headache medicine you need. We purchased cheap underwear at WalMart and then threw them away daily on our trip to cut down on laundry. Buy some masks so if you have bad pollution days, you can wear a mask....they help. Download translation apps on your phone and that will be all you need to communicate with anyone....we downloaded Translate and ITranslate Voice (both free apps).....English appears, Chinese (mandarin) appears, and voice appears. We took state maps to show to the children....they loved this....and I allowed my little boy to play with my IPhone....I had downloaded the free Talkin' Carl.....I was the hit of the class. You don't have a lot of time to get out the spreadsheet and go over all of that with the children. You don't have ANY down time so take sleep aids if you have problems sleeping because you are up at 5:30 and finally down at 11 or 12 p.m. A great trip....but go prepared!!! If you go to Tibet, please please remember to get elevation medication from your doctor.

[readytogo12/07]

Hi All!

 

Getting more excited...less than a month to go for Imperial Jewels, May 1.

Just had confirmation for BSK..May 12. Yea! Tour ends 5/12 but we are staying a couple of extra days. We have an excursion on 5/13 to Tianjin.

Leave on 5/14.

 

Still can't make up my mind about suitcases. Leaning toward 1 carryon each (checked) and large tote for medicine, liquids etc....and buying a carryon or tote in china. I will probably not decide for awhile.

 

Where is the best place to have dinner in Shanghai on our first night?

 

Have been re-reading the thread and making notes. Love all the helpful

info.

 

Susan

[caribill]

Hi All!

 

 

Still can't make up my mind about suitcases. Leaning toward 1 carryon each (checked) and large tote for medicine, liquids etc....

 

Remember you will need to check that tote when flying since it will contain liquids. And you do not want to check your medicine.

[Peregrina651]

Hi All!

 

 

 

Still can't make up my mind about suitcases. Leaning toward 1 carryon each (checked) and large tote for medicine, liquids etc....and buying a carryon or tote in china. I will probably not decide for awhile.

 

 

 

Susan

 

We had to shop for another suitcase in China and it was just a pain. If you are planning on shopping, then IMHO, come prepared.

 

We did leave home with carry-on luggage only -- one carry-on and one 'personal' item each. We did not check anything on the flights over but once in China, we turned our carry-on bags over to Viking to deal with on the intra-China legs; our 'personal' items (now two each with all the shopping we weren't going to do) came with us. Flying home we checked all our laundry and carried all our shopping on board with us--and then waited 45 minutes in the airport for our checked bags to be delivered. Never again! No more checked luggage!

Edited April 1, 2013 by Peregrina651

[readytogo12/07]

Thanks....I will come prepared and not depend on suitcase shopping. The large tote

would only have travel size liquids...are those still ok for intra china?

[caribill]

Thanks....I will come prepared and not depend on suitcase shopping. The large tote

would only have travel size liquids...are those still ok for intra china?

 

When we went, no liquids were allowed in carryons on the intra-China flights. They did not always check for them, but that was the official policy.

 

I do not know what the official policy is currently.