Viking China (Part 2)

[GoInOnaCruz]

:D The next 10 days may go very slowly but the next two weeks or so after that are going to fly by!!

 

Yes, a year is a long, long,long period of anticipation but having this thread to while away the months really helped. Even though we had a good roll call, this thread was even better because it was full of experienced people who could answer questions and share their stories and pictures. IMHO, you need both!;)

Most definitely. I have a lot to do here at home before we leave so I'm trying to force myself to focus on that so I won't be constantly thinking about the trip--easier said than done. This coming week will be crazy so that will help! :)

[donburger]

Has anyone taken their CPAP with them on the trip. If so did you have any problems?

 

Thanks

Don

[Peregrina651]

Has anyone taken their CPAP with them on the trip. If so did you have any problems?

 

Thanks

Don

 

Don, you should contact Viking directly and discuss this with them. There may be things that they need to arrange in advance to accommodate you (such as if you need to have distilled water). We can talk about our general experiences, but this is one where you should be talking directly with Viking to get accurate information.

 

From the Viking website:

Guests who have any medical, physical or other special needs should check the

fleet information

on our website to gain an understanding of the layout of any particular ship, and should contact Viking River Cruises, Inc., at 1-877-668-4546 (1-877-66VIKING) directly with additional questions and to obtain a copy of our Policy Statement.

 

 

 

[GoInOnaCruz]

Hi, If I send my jeans/pants to the laundry aboard ship will they bring them back to me wet to hang dry? Thanks!

[Peregrina651]

Hi, If I send my jeans/pants to the laundry aboard ship will they bring them back to me wet to hang dry? Thanks!

 

If no one answers, call Viking and ask. I used the laundry service but we had everything washed and dried. They did a great job. Quick turn around. No mishaps.

 

Whatever you find out, don't wash jeans yourself. They will never dry.One of our dinner table companions tried and it took days until she could put them on again. Between not being able to wring them out and not enough circulation in the bathroom ('cause you can't leave them on the balcony all day), it just took forever. I'm just talking jeans here. Undies/sox will dry over night.

[GoInOnaCruz]

If no one answers, call Viking and ask. I used the laundry service but we had everything washed and dried. They did a great job. Quick turn around. No mishaps.

 

Whatever you find out, don't wash jeans yourself. They will never dry.One of our dinner table companions tried and it took days until she could put them on again. Between not being able to wring them out and not enough circulation in the bathroom ('cause you can't leave them on the balcony all day), it just took forever. I'm just talking jeans here. Undies/sox will dry over night.

Thanks Peregrina. If no one answers I'll just go ahead and bring them and then if they can't do the return wet and let me dry I'll just have to live with having them dry them. I don't dry any of my clothes at home and jeans in particular but I'll live. It was just about the only question I had left out of the many that I had when I started looking at this forum--most of which I never had to ask because someone else had and it was answered--I was talking to a guy the other day who had gone on a trip to China with our local Chamber of Commerce and everything he told me I already knew (thanks to CC). Trying to get the initial packing done today so I'll only have the last minute things to do on Saturday/Sunday. I hate having to bring checked luggage but I won't be able to dress for the many climates that we are going to encounter on this trip--easier to pack later in the year when it is just hot, hotter, and hottest but I'm glad I'm going now when it's cold, cool, warmish. I'm still not bringing a lot--leaving room for shopping--I usually don't like to shop but I think I HAVE to on this trip :)

[tarzana traveler]

I'm in the process of reviewing our final documents for our trip starting March 27. I have a few questions that someone probably can answer. Pleeease

 

1. Can we put tips for the ships staff on our shipboard account? I'd like not to have to carry cash for this purpose.

 

2. Opinions on the Tang Dynasty event. Is it worth going?

 

I realize these questions may have already been addressed in the past but your perspective would be appreciated.

 

Thanks, Tarzana Traveler

[pacmom]

You can put the tips on your credit card. The Tang Dynasty show was excellent--highly recommend it. Pat

[Peregrina651]

You can put the tips on your credit card. The Tang Dynasty show was excellent--highly recommend it. Pat

 

Ditto. DITTO. I agree with pacmom. The Tang Danasty show was very well done. The performances are beautiful and the food wasn't bad considering the venue (where have you ever been to a tourist show/dinner theater where the food was outstanding?).

 

 

 

 

 

[Turtles06]

If no one answers, call Viking and ask. I used the laundry service but we had everything washed and dried. They did a great job. Quick turn around. No mishaps.

 

Whatever you find out, don't wash jeans yourself. They will never dry.One of our dinner table companions tried and it took days until she could put them on again. Between not being able to wring them out and not enough circulation in the bathroom ('cause you can't leave them on the balcony all day), it just took forever. I'm just talking jeans here. Undies/sox will dry over night.

 

I want to second this advice -- wet clothes like jeans will not dry in your cabin for days. It is just too humid in there.

[Turtles06]

I'm in the process of reviewing our final documents for our trip starting March 27. I have a few questions that someone probably can answer. Pleeease

 

...

2. Opinions on the Tang Dynasty event. Is it worth going?

 

I realize these questions may have already been addressed in the past but your perspective would be appreciated.

 

Thanks, Tarzana Traveler

 

I'll be the contrarian here. I've posted this before: we found the Tang Dynasty dinner theatre to be one of the very few disappointing things about our entire (otherwise fantastic!) trip. It felt totally made up for tourists, and the food was really mediocre (everyone at our table thought so).

 

I wish Viking had a real alternative to that evening, like seeing the City Walls. I'm not saying not to go, particularly if the only alternative is staying in your hotel. But we'd read so many good things on here about that evening, and it really didn't live up to them.

[donburger]

I see talk about using 1, 5, 10, and 20 dollar bills. What about larger bills for the tour

guide at the end of the trip.

[SteadyAT]

I see talk about using 1, 5, 10, and 20 dollar bills. What about larger bills for the tour guide at the end of the trip.

 

Don, as we're on the same trip, I don't know from experience. But from all that I've read in this thread, you can pay in a combination of USD and CNY (whatever you have left to get rid of). I would suspect it's also OK to give higher denominations ($50s / $100s as long as they are newer bills), since the guides will likely receive a lot of USD and have a way to convert what they need.

[GoInOnaCruz]

I'll be the contrarian here. I've posted this before: we found the Tang Dynasty dinner theatre to be one of the very few disappointing things about our entire (otherwise fantastic!) trip. It felt totally made up for tourists, and the food was really mediocre (everyone at our table thought so).

 

I wish Viking had a real alternative to that evening, like seeing the City Walls. I'm not saying not to go, particularly if the only alternative is staying in your hotel. But we'd read so many good things on here about that evening, and it really didn't live up to them.

I haven't been yet--just a few days!--but I would like an alternative too--maybe Vikinig River is lurking?--I don't really care for canned tourist shows (don't like Vegas shows either) and would love a guided tour of the City Walls.

[Turtles06]

I see talk about using 1, 5, 10, and 20 dollar bills. What about larger bills for the tour

guide at the end of the trip.

 

At the end of the trip, you can give your tour guide anything and everything. Big bills, little bills, a mix of US and RMB, they will take whatever you have....:)

 

BTW, a "tip" from our tour guide about tipping the local guides and bus drivers, particularly along the river: best to tip them in RMB. Unlike the tour guide, who can pretty readily get rid of US dollars (and is also getting a lot more cash), it's not that easy for these folks. Our Viking guide told us this directly.

[Peregrina651]

I see talk about using 1, 5, 10, and 20 dollar bills. What about larger bills for the tour

guide at the end of the trip.

 

Hi, Don --

 

Just to keep the billfold thin, I did take a couple of $100s for our guide and for the crew. No problems.

 

I can't remember how we handled the local drivers and guides. DH is in charge of the cash and I don't pay attention.

[donburger]

At the end of the trip, you can give your tour guide anything and everything. Big bills, little bills, a mix of US and RMB, they will take whatever you have....:)

 

BTW, a "tip" from our tour guide about tipping the local guides and bus drivers, particularly along the river: best to tip them in RMB. Unlike the tour guide, who can pretty readily get rid of US dollars (and is also getting a lot more cash), it's not that easy for these folks. Our Viking guide told us this directly.

 

This is a change on tipping after all the talk of new one dollar bills. Any more comments on using US dollars or RMB while in China. My bank just provide me 100 dollars in new bills.

[tarzana traveler]

Thanks for your thoughts on this event. As this event comes late on our itinerary we will defer making a decision on whether to go until later on.

 

While we don't want to miss something unique, we don't usually care for tourist driven type shows. Also, we want good meals.

 

One of you mentioned seeing the city walls as a possible alternative. Is this a real possibility for an evening outing? I'm sure we would be able to get guide if we chose this as an option.

 

TT

[Peregrina651]

Thanks for your thoughts on this event. As this event comes late on our itinerary we will defer making a decision on whether to go until later on.

 

While we don't want to miss something unique, we don't usually care for tourist driven type shows. Also, we want good meals.

 

One of you mentioned seeing the city walls as a possible alternative. Is this a real possibility for an evening outing? I'm sure we would be able to get guide if we chose this as an option.

 

TT

 

Actually, you have to make the decision early on in the trip because you will be paying for it on your ship account.

 

If you want to arrange for a guide for the evening in Xi'an, you might talk to your tour escort and see what he can help you arrange rather than waiting until you get to Xi'an --which won't be until close to dinner time for most people. That is if you don't arrange something ahead of time.

[tarzana traveler]

Thanks for your info, I'll keep the timing of the decision in mind.

 

TT

[Turtles06]

Thanks for your thoughts on this event. As this event comes late on our itinerary we will defer making a decision on whether to go until later on.

 

While we don't want to miss something unique, we don't usually care for tourist driven type shows. Also, we want good meals.

 

One of you mentioned seeing the city walls as a possible alternative. Is this a real possibility for an evening outing? I'm sure we would be able to get guide if we chose this as an option.

 

TT

 

I mentioned it only to say it is the one thing in Xi'an I wish we could have seen that we didn't. Whether it's a real alternative, I'm not sure, and very likely depends on where your hotel is. Our Viking hotel in Xi'an was out in the boonies, and the traffic getting into the city in the evening for the Tang Dynasty show was pretty heavy. In fact, one of the guides said they had been planning to drive by the city walls but the traffic made that impossible.

 

If you wind up in a hotel closer (or close) to the walls, perhaps you could see them on your own, or with a guide.

 

Since our trip (May 2011), Viking has responded to requests to include the City Walls by adding them to the new China Explorer itinerary (altho it may only be a drive by, it's unclear from the web site), but not in the other itineraries.

[Viking Cruises]

I haven't been yet--just a few days!--but I would like an alternative too--maybe Vikinig River is lurking?--I don't really care for canned tourist shows (don't like Vegas shows either) and would love a guided tour of the City Walls.

 

Dear GoInOnaCruz,

 

With your cruise just a few days away, we wanted to make sure you know that the Tang Dynasty dinner is an optional excursion – which you can of course opt out of! When you meet your Tour Escort who will join you throughout your cruise, we encourage you to start a conversation with them about your desire to do something else with your evening in Xian. They should be able to offer some alternative suggestions or help you arrange a private tour. Should you have any last minute questions before your cruise, please don’t hesitate to email us at TellUs@vikingrivercruises.com – we’d also love to hear your feedback when you return.

 

Wishing you a wonderful trip and a delightful time in China (including Xian)!

 

Best,

Viking River Cruises

[GoInOnaCruz]

Dear GoInOnaCruz,

 

With your cruise just a few days away, we wanted to make sure you know that the Tang Dynasty dinner is an optional excursion – which you can of course opt out of! When you meet your Tour Escort who will join you throughout your cruise, we encourage you to start a conversation with them about your desire to do something else with your evening in Xian. They should be able to offer some alternative suggestions or help you arrange a private tour. Should you have any last minute questions before your cruise, please don’t hesitate to email us at TellUs@vikingrivercruises.com – we’d also love to hear your feedback when you return.

 

Wishing you a wonderful trip and a delightful time in China (including Xian)!

 

Best,

Viking River Cruises

Wow! Thank you so much for your reply! If the rest of the tour is as responsive to our wishes as this (and we hear it is from this board) we are in for a treat! I was just generally wishing--we will probably go to the Tang show--but thank you for the ideas on how to do something else. I just read my new cruise brochure for next year and see that you have already responded to the issue of "not enough time to do it all" in Xi'an in 2014 by adding an extra day to the tour which includes a free morning in Xi'an which should give people the time to visit the walls if they wish to. Thanks so much again and we can't wait to go and will definitely post feedback to the cruise which is sure to be extremely positive. We plan to cruise Europe with you at some point too--the options look incredible and I know my husband is going to want to try the new China tour when he has enough free time to do so!

[sissabagrama]

How about hair dryers? Anyone else flying from Chicago Apr. 2?

[Turtles06]

How about hair dryers?

 

I can't remember the last time I traveled with a hair dryer. No need to schlep.