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I just received a reply to an email I sent to Barrachina Restaurant.  They store baggage every day 8-5.  Will definitely plan on using them.

16 hours ago, PORT ROYAL said:

if Restaurant Brrachina is open when we get there in December, we will definately do that.  I just like to have an alternate.

Thanks for the info.  Also, the airport is so close, we may drop the bags off and come back.

I am on the same ship.  Would like to find out if there is a place to store luggage at the airport so we can drop it and go back into town.  

1 hour ago, TayanaLorna said:

I did a review of the Quality Hotel if you are interested.  Recommend getting a Superior Room not a Standard Room and one on a higher floor.

We took your recommendation, got superior rooms.  Thought that you might be interested, we could not use Al as our guide because he was leading a Roads Scholar group,  We will do a Lake Janauari trip, a  Negro river trip and a morning trip to the Opera House, market, shopping and other points not covered by viking before being dropped off at the ship,  Not as comprehensive as what you did, but should be fun.  We are really looking forward to it. 

Great descriptions and great pictures.  Thanks again.   We booked the Quality inn for three nights in December ahead of the December 8 Viking tour from Manaus. Have arranged  guided tours for all three days  which will probably take up most of  our time.  Glad to hear that the hotel restaurant is good.  

I loved your detailed reviews and pictures of the cruise and experience post cruise.  It gave so much great information for me and others planning on taking this cruise at a later,date. I am eagerly awaiting your final installments.

We will be arriving in Manaus three days before the December 8 cruise to take local tours in the Amazon region.  I had been considering  Aldinei as a guide and your account inspired  me to reach out to him.  Unfortunately, he is booked for that time.  We did book another guide from tours by locals for a trip on the Rio Negro and are asking him to plan our three days, including the most convenient hotel.  I hope he has the same knowledge of wildlife and birds.  Per you suggestion, we will pre book transport from the airport and to the cruise port. 

We are staying in Manaus or a few extra days prior to Viking cruise during the month of December 2023.  We are considering doing this tour.    Did you have a good overall experience.  We are 78 get around fine,  some minor mobility problems. We can get into motor boats ok, but might have trouble with a canoe.  We walk at a little slower pace and need to rest every mile or so.  Would you still recommend.  This tour.  Do you have any other suggestions for nature, Rainforest and 'Bird related activities or guides in Manaus?  We will be with another couple. We will see the city on the free tour offered by Viking.  We would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks Peregrina651 and Katlew, that clears up my question.

We are traveling with another couple.  When making an advanced specialty dinner reservations, is it possible to make a reservation for four, or does it have to be for two?

My original idea was also to visit the great wall at Mutianyu. I e-mailed several of the tour operators mentioned earlier in this forum, a few of the top tour operators on TA and the concierge at the Kerry Hotel where we stayed, Pretty much all advised me that since I only had one extra day in Beijing and many things to see, not to spend half a day at Mutianyu. Although a little less crowded and touristy than Badaling, it was still similiar, unlike some of the more undeveloped sections in other places. I think it was a very good call. If I were still 30, I would have hiked a more un developed section, but at 71, the hour and one half we had on the wall at Badaling with Viking was enough and I would have missed some of the other things I got to see.. We got there early in the morning, before the worst of the crowds,

After corresponding by e-mail with several Tour operators on destinations and price, I picked Jack's Beijing Tour-Day tours. Website http://www.beijing-privatetour.com/#_=_ Jack really helped me lay out the tour and corresponded quickly. Price for day was $165 for including guide, car and driver and entry for one person into all four attractions I named earlier. My traveling companion did not get there until the next day. I was picked up at 8.00 and got back to the Hotel around 5.30. This was the best price I was quoted for this service and reviews were good. I was Very Happy with the Guide and their service. I could have saved money and gotten a different feel by using the subway, but I don't know if I would have seen everything. You only go to Beijing once.

The restaurant in Shanghai close to the Hilton is Lost Heaven on the Bund. If you walk, get good directions, because you can miss a turn. It would only be a 5 minute cab ride if you choose that way. Ask Concierge.

Just returned from Imperial Jewels cruise May 5-17. Overall a super great experience. Others have reviewed it, I will not. Had Viking Book me a day early in Beijing. After a lot of thought, I hired a guide for the day. Had the guide and driver take me to the Temple of Heaven, The lama Temple, The Confucian Temple and Imperial College and the Summer Palace. All were truly worth seeing for different reasons. She also helped me get a jeweler to change the battery in my watch, took me to a small vegetarian Chinese restaurant for lunch (great eggplant dish, bean dish and cabbage} in addition to sneaking in a visit to a Chinese Herbalist (actually very entertaining but had to resist a hard sell) I firmly declined a visit to a Tea tasting ceremony. Viking does that anyway. Not the least expensive way to go, but taking into consideration everything we saw, well, well worth the money if you want to maximize your time.. It rounded Viking's tour of Beijing. Only regret, we had only about 1 and 1/2 hours at the summer palace.

Don't overthink the amount of money to take. After reading this forum, I took too much change. 50 ones is more than enough for the trip. Outside of tips to guides, bus drivers etc. most smaller purchases should be made in Yuan. Change $100 prior to trip (us banks rip you off) and the rest at the hotel. Maybe another $200 per person, You can always get more later if you need it. Larger purchases can be made by credit card. If you change too much money to Yuan, you can always use it as your tip to the Viking Guide

We skipped the Beijing duck tour and had it in the Hotel. Horizon Restaurant at Kerry. Great decision. Duck was excellent and no Bus. Went to Kung Fu. I was not impressed, but I'm not an action movie fan. Many loved it.

One regret was the tour did not spend nearly enough time in Xi-an. There is so much history there. The first night, We walked to city wall from the Hilton, only a 5 minute walk and very safe. There is a market there to walk through. We thought about going down town, but were just too tired. 2nd night, we went to the Tang Dynasty show. The dumpling dinner was just Okay, but the show was great. Good mixture of real people and electronics. I just regret that we did not pick on night or the other and go down town to walk around the old city and try a local Restaurant. There was simply not enough time to do it all.

In Shanghai, we did decide forgo the Hilton Buffet and go to a local restaurant with about 4 other couples. The concierge recommended we go to the Lost Heaven. It is within walking distance, serving Yunan cuisine and not very expensive. The choice was spot on and we had a great time. The food tasted different and a little spicier than the buffet food, but not out of control. Found out later It is TA's #5 rated restaurant in Shanghai.

One tip for preparation. In addition to reading a couple of books, I really got a lot of great historical background from Wikipedia on the internet. The Dynasties do get confusing, and you can get so much from Wikipedia by clicking on the different links. You tube also has a lot of great films, from the Wall to the Warriors to the Mongols. The internet is a great thing.

Taking Viking May 5 imperial Jewels trip. Arriving on May 4th. Staying at Kerry Hotel. Hired guide for May 5 to go to Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, Confucian Temple and Summer Palace. Looking for one or two people to share expenses.