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Viking China (Part 2)

BlueDevil75

By BlueDevil75,
in River Cruising

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Peregrina651

Peregrina651

Posted
Posted

I just added four more rolls call to the list. Don't wait for me to update the list. If you start a roll call, announce it here (be sure to include a link). Also, put a link to your roll call in your signature file--whatever it takes to make your roll call easier to find.

 

 

 

2015

 

If you haven't posted to your roll call this month, it's time. Active roll calls attract traffic. Roll calls on PAGE ONE are easier to find. Say something. Share something you have found in your research--a link, a picture.

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Carol From California

Carol From California

Posted
Posted
For those of you on the China trip this season' date=' could you let me know how people are spending the extra free time in Xi'an, since the trip now includes two nights there. Is Viking making any arrangements for the free time, such as transportation to any sights?

Thanks.[/quote']

 

We are on the ship as I write this. We will be in Xian in a couple of days so I will let you know. We are disembarking the day after tomorrow, from there going to see the pandas, and then to the airport for our flight to Xian. It seems like we will not get I much before dinner time. Then the next day we will be visiting the Terra Cotta warriors. The following day we leave for Beijing. I don't think there will be much in the way of free time, but I will let you know in a few days.

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Rodie H

Rodie H

Posted
Posted
I just added four more rolls call to the list. Don't wait for me to update the list. If you start a roll call, announce it here (be sure to include a link). Also, put a link to your roll call in your signature file--whatever it takes to make your roll call easier to find.

 

 

 

2015

 

If you haven't posted to your roll call this month, it's time. Active roll calls attract traffic. Roll calls on PAGE ONE are easier to find. Say something. Share something you have found in your research--a link, a picture.

 

I posted on an April 15, 2015 but don't see it listed. Didn't know if something else had to be done.

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Peregrina651

Peregrina651

Posted
Posted
Rodie,

...maybe just direct Peregrina to the roll call thread...located at:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2026466

 

Steve, thank you for the link!

 

Rodie, I've added the April 15, 2015 roll call to the list and it will be there the next time I post the list. Don't know how I missed it the other night when I went looking for new roll calls.

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Rodie H

Rodie H

Posted
Posted
Steve, thank you for the link!

 

Rodie, I've added the April 15, 2015 roll call to the list and it will be there the next time I post the list. Don't know how I missed it the other night when I went looking for new roll calls.

 

Thanks. This website is great. Getting so much info from you folks. Making a file so that later on I can forward to my traveling buds!!

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Peregrina651

Peregrina651

Posted
Posted
Thanks. This website is great. Getting so much info from you folks. Making a file so that later on I can forward to my traveling buds!!

 

Or they can follow Viking China for themselves. So much more fun than getting it second hand. They can join and get digests or they can just check in here on a regular basis. You don't have to be a member just to read these boards.

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Red II

Red II

Posted
Posted

Hi,

 

You must have thought I had dropped off the face of the earth :-) I think that the last time I posted we were just about to fly from Xi'an to Chongqing to board the boat....

 

We arrived home from our trip on Sunday, April 20th. Our trip was fantastic...difficult to put into words what a memorable experience it was!

 

In terms of internet on the boat...they rely on wi-fi rather than satellite so the signal is not always strong. I could often use my iPad (sometimes from my deck 2 cabin but if not I could sit in the lounge beside the internet room and get a signal). No problem downloading email to my iPad and one day I was able to send one message from my iPad but otherwise used the ship's machines (there are 8 of them) to access my webmail to get email out.

 

Some people have commented on the intra China flights...in all cases we boarded a bus to be taken to the plane so there are some advantages to boarding the bus near the end as you are often amongst the first people off the but (of course, the corresponding disadvantage is that you are squished in a bit like a sardine :-) I had a rollerboard carry-on bag with me which met the specified size standards and I had no difficulty in storing the bag in the overhead bin. We also never had our carry-on bags weighed (we did not do the HK extension) and each time we flew my carry-on was about 22lbs. Checked baggage transfers were handled by Viking and all went smoothly. No missing or damaged bags in our group.

 

We thoroughly enjoyed our time on the boat and I took full advantage of the lectures, etc. which were offered. All too soon our five days on the Yangtze were drawing to a close and it was off to Shanghai.

 

Our plane was delayed a couple of times and we ended up going directly to the hotel in time for supper. The next day was a full day of touring (as others have said Yu Garden, Silk Carpet Factory, Silk Embroidery Gallery, lunch, museum...then back to the Westin for a short rest/change before going to dinner (in the Westin Bund Centre) and then the Shanghai Acrobatic Show (which was fantastic). The following morning we made our own way to the airport (left at 07:30 AM for a 10:15 AM flight) -- took a taxi and paid 180 RMB...very easy!

 

We used the Currency Exchange at the airport to convert our remaining RMD...again very easy.

 

This was our second Viking trip and it won't be our last.

 

If you have any questions about our trip please feel free to ask!

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Red II

Red II

Posted
Posted

Oh and in terms of smog...it is very variable...even from hour to hour. We brought 6 - 3M N95 masks with us and us them if the counts were very high during our 11 day pre-cruise stay in Beijing (we were there to attend the Men's World Curling Championship) and I carried them with me on excursions until we boarded the boat. By that time we seemed to encounter more fog than smog. You can check the real-time AQI on the internet (look for the 2.5 count). I used a saline nasal spray regularly and had saline eye drops which we never used. I wouldn't count on buying masks in China. We did not see very many Chinese with the 3M N95 type masks and based on what I have read the surgical type masks do not really have an impact against the fine smog particles. Bottom line is that each person will find their own comfort level based on their sensitivity and tolerence to the mask (they get a bit hot after a while). Hope this helps.

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Peregrina651

Peregrina651

Posted
Posted
. Hope this helps.

 

It sure does! :)

 

The more people talk about their experiences and their reactions to what they saw and did, the more we learn. Each little detail is valuable. Even if no one comments on a particular post, you can be assured that it is being read and used.

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Peregrina651

Peregrina651

Posted
Posted
Please add: Roof of the World, Sept.12, 2014

 

 

:o I'm just a list-keeper. I can't add a roll call that doesn't exist to the list.

 

Someone going on the cruise has to start the roll call first and then give me the information (or wait until I find it).

 

If you want to start the roll call, here is where to put it: ROLLCALL/All River Cruise Roll Calls. Click on the link and then click on the newthread.gif button toward the top of the page (not this one, it's just a demo so you know what to look for). In the Subject line put something like "Viking Roof of the World--September 12, 2014" and then write a post to get the ball rolling.

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Bruin Steve

Bruin Steve

Posted
Posted (edited)
Oh and in terms of smog...it is very variable...even from hour to hour. We brought 6 - 3M N95 masks with us and us them if the counts were very high during our 11 day pre-cruise stay in Beijing (we were there to attend the Men's World Curling Championship) and I carried them with me on excursions until we boarded the boat. By that time we seemed to encounter more fog than smog. You can check the real-time AQI on the internet (look for the 2.5 count). I used a saline nasal spray regularly and had saline eye drops which we never used. I wouldn't count on buying masks in China. We did not see very many Chinese with the 3M N95 type masks and based on what I have read the surgical type masks do not really have an impact against the fine smog particles. Bottom line is that each person will find their own comfort level based on their sensitivity and tolerence to the mask (they get a bit hot after a while). Hope this helps.

 

I bought a 10-pack of masks on Amazon...$16.42 plus tax, free shipping since I included it with other stuff on an order of over $35...

 

There are different models of the N95 mask...After a little research, I decided on the "9211+" model...because it has an "exhalation valve"--which makes it easier to breathe through and doesn't trap as much moisture inside...Also, apparently, the elastic straps on this model are better...

 

The things weigh virtually next to nothing and are folded flat each in a separate sealed plastic package...

 

I'm hoping I don't ever have to use them--because they do tend to look a bit goofy...besides, I'd rather have clear air for all sorts of reasons, including, for example, quality photographs and better views...

 

But, I'd rather buy and pack these masks and end up not needing them than needing them and not having them!

Edited by Bruin Steve
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Peregrina651

Peregrina651

Posted
Posted
Just started this roll call.

 

OOPS! I just double checked the date on the Viking website and I don't see a September 14, 2015 check-in date listed for 2015 for the Roof of the World itinerary. I see Sept 11 and 12.

 

Don't start a new roll call. Use the report.gif button on the right side of the first post of the roll call to report the error and request a correction. Since you are the one who started the roll call, CC should honor the request.

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