Viking China

[gooch47]

They told us the Emerald would be smaller. They also hinted that they were getting a new ship because their competitor was getting one first.

[H2Otstr]

Did you have any Yuan before you went on your trip? If not, how much did you get at the ATM?

Sharon

[Maddle]

[quote name='seanf']They used to have both the Viking Century Sun and Viking Century Sky, but the Sky is now offers cruises for locals only. We docked alongside the Sky one day and they look identical. Next year they will replace the Sun with the Viking Emerald, although I am not sure why as the Sun is lovely

Sean :)[/QUOTE]

Thanks Sean - glad I wasn't imagining things! Just checked my paperwork, and we are scheduled for the Century Sun (Imperial Jewels, 22July to 02August.)

Linda - was your air conditioning inadequate for the humidity, or was it off during the day while you were touring?

Maddle

[gooch47]

We took $500 in US$ in yuan with us, about 2600 yuan I think it was. Got them through our AAA membership.

You need small bills, though. We exchanged the $100 yuan bills we got from AAA with no problem at the hotel and on the boat.

We didn't try to use any ATMs.

I really suggest you contact your credit card company before leaving to tell them you will be using their card in China. We did ... no problems. Another woman didn't and they wouldn't let her use hers at the ATM. She had a heck of a time trying to get it reinstated.

[gooch47]

The AC was on full time. Even at the highest (lowest?) setting it didn't help one bit.

[caribill]

[quote name='gooch47']
Another possible gotcha at the Beijing Airport. It appears that if you buy bottled water after going through security you still can't take it on the plane. We saw that same thing in Santiago, Chile, recently.[/quote]

It has been pointed out that no liquids are allowed on the internal China flights.

Do they allow any liquids in the small plastic bag for the flight back to the USA?

[Maddle]

Linda - thanks for the information - both air conditioning and cash requirements. It's very helpful to communicate with someone that has just been there.

Did you tip the guide with USD or yuan, and did you personally give him/her cash? How about other staff members on the ship ?

Thanks for your help.

Maddle

[gooch47]

This wasn't the internal flight. This was the flight from Beijing to Chicago. I suppose the rules might have been the same, but in the US you can take water purchased after security onto the airplane. That was what I was trying to say.

You don't have to put the small gells or liquids in a plastic bag. They can be loose in your carry-on luggage. But if you are coming home and have a connecting flight they will obviously still have to be segregated in the bag.

We paid our guide in US$. It was all we had left. We gave him the cash the night before we left. He had a little "goodbye" get-together in the lobby of the hotel.

We put the recommended tips for the staff members on our bill on the ship and then gave a little extra to Maggie, her helpers and our room stewardess.

[Turtles06]

[quote name='caribill']It has been pointed out that no liquids are allowed on the internal China flights.

[/quote]

Thanks for the alert on this. Would folks who have recently been there kindly confirm the following re the [I]internal[/I] China flights:

1. if you buy a bottle of water (or other beverage) after you go thru airport security, you can't bring it on the plane?

2. no little (3 oz. max) bottles of liquids in your carry-on (as allowed in the U.S.), it all has to go in checked luggage?

Also, for anyone who has recently flown from Shanghai to the U.S., are the rules above the same on these international flights as well? (I did see the post above re the Beijing-US flights.)

Thanks in advance for the info; this thread is a great resource.

[gooch47]

I'm sorry, but I've even confused myself now.

I am fairly certain that NO liquids or gels could be in your carry-on luggage for the inter-China flights. I don't know about buying water after you go through security. I don't remember them searching carry-on luggage before boarding the plane.

I know I had gels in a plastic bag on my carry-on on the flight from Beijing to Chicago because I got it out and put it on the belt separately when we went through security again in Chicago. No liquids, just gels. But they did search carry-ons just before boarding and my husband said they were confiscating bottles of water.

[seanf]

[quote name='Turtles06']1. if you buy a bottle of water (or other beverage) after you go thru airport security, you can't bring it on the plane?

2. no little (3 oz. max) bottles of liquids in your carry-on (as allowed in the U.S.), it all has to go in checked luggage?[/quote]Yes and yes, these were not allowed when I travelled in April

Sean :)

[caribill]

[quote name='gooch47']We weren't thrilled with our flights home. We had to leave the hotel at 4:15 a.m. for a 6:55 a.m. flight home which we made with not all that much time to spare.[/quote]

How many other people from your group were on this early flight?

[gooch47]

There were only two other couples. The majority seemed to be on United later in the morning. Since we were flying to Chicago, AA seemed strange. You'd think we'd be on United.

[Turtles06]

We're experienced cruisers, but our Viking China trip next year will be our first river cruise. I'd very much appreciate info about who to tip on the boat. Obviously, our cabin steward, but what other staff/crew? From Viking's web site, it sounds like it's open seating for meals; how is tipping of the servers generally handled?

Also, suggested amounts per person?

Thanks so much!

(Obviously, we know we'll have guides we'll want to tip as well.)

[saramana]

We are leaving Monday for the Roof of the World tour which begins on July 22 in Beijing. We board the Century Sun on July 29. Anyone else?

[Stargateman3325]

We too just returned from the China's Cultural Delights tour which started on June 25 and Linda's assessment pretty much mirrored our thoughts as well. Hi Linda! Our tour guide was Terry who we thought was excellent and in the dining room we too had Maggie and Eddie as our waitstaff.

 

Our weather was not the best - but it was really an adventure. Although not mentioned much, we definitely had respiratory challenges in the big cities; the smog and pollution is certainly in the air.

 

As for the ship, the air conditioning was poor. Ours was on 7/24 on the highest setting the entire trip and even then the air was moist and barely cool. Other items that Viking should add in the next ship are refrigerators in the rooms and better access to ice. In this ship, one had to go to the bar just to get a bucket of ice. On the Russian tour with Viking, there were refrigerators in our room and an ice machine in the "coffee room" on the ship.

 

Another disappointment was that we ordered a China By River book a month before we left. We used the same folks for their Russia by River book on our Russian cruise and it was very helpful as an companion for the river journey. Unfortunately, despite several emails and calls, there were no replies. We have still not received this book although our credit card was charged immediately. This is not part of the Viking Cruise Ship package but I though it should be mentioned.

 

Regardless, this was indeed an adventure vacation and we saw alot of very neat and interesting China sights - some rich folks and many poor folks. There are a lot of people in China and on the tour, you will see this too along with very aggressive street vendors.

 

Our favorite parts of the trip were the Shanghai Museum, the Hubei Provincial Museum, the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Three Lesser Gorges boat ride, and the optional Tang Dynasty dinner and show in Xian. I am certain you will have your own favorites as well.

 

I would be happy to answer any specific questions future cruisers may have about this journey. Happy Cruising!

[caribill]

We're experienced cruisers, but our Viking China trip next year will be our first river cruise. I'd very much appreciate info about who to tip on the boat. Obviously, our cabin steward, but what other staff/crew? From Viking's web site, it sounds like it's open seating for meals; how is tipping of the servers generally handled?

 

 

From the information you will receive in the mail about a month before your trip:

 

Tips are not included in your cruise price, but are a way of showing satisfaction for good service. You may tip onboard staff in cash or charge your tips to your credit card at the end of the cruise. We suggest a gratuity of $10-$12 U.S. per guest, per day which is distributed among the ship's staff including your Program Director, as well as $10-$12 U.S. per guest, per day for the Viking River Cruises Tour Escort.

 

Additional tipping is at the guest's discretion.

[gooch47]

Tips can be handled like on a large cruise ship. We had them put $12 per person per day (for 10 days) right on our account. That is shared among all the crew. We then gave our server, her helpers and our cabin stewardess extra money. We stuck with the same server, Maggie, for all our meals since she was so nice.

 

The guide that accompanies you on the whole trip, both land and water, is NOT included in the on-board tipping. We gave our guy $12 per person per day, too, for the whole 17 days.

 

We left a little money on the table for our hotel based meals, but it apparently wasn't always expected. One server came running after us trying to give it back. We also left a little in the hotel room after each stay.

[Turtles06]

Thank you caribill and Linda (gooch) for the tipping info. It was exactly what I was looking for! :)

 

Linda, how were you able to "stick with the same server" on the boat? Did she have specific tables and so you made sure to sit at one?

[caribill]

We left a little money on the table for our hotel based meals, but it apparently wasn't always expected. One server came running after us trying to give it back. We also left a little in the hotel room after each stay.

 

From a friend who married a Chinese national:

For mainland China, she says tip nothing. This is not expected.

For example, we left NO tip to any of the following --

taxi drivers in Shanghai or Harbin,

the bus tour driver and guide in Shanghai,

the hotels in Shanghai and Harbin,

the guy who brought the bags up to the room in Shanghai and Harbin,

the maids in either hotel,

the restaurants in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Harbin,

the Harbin place where we got scissor haircuts.

I never saw extra money left on table or handed back to waiter.

But if you hand them extra, I bet they will take it.

But if you get a tour guide that is handling Western tourists, they maybe are looking for it.

 

Of course, this couple was not on a guided tour like Viking Cruise does.

[gooch47]

I'm sure you're right about it not being expected. But being appreciated? I think it was.

 

We were told a "recommended" amount to tip the bus drivers and the local guides. It wasn't much. Sure didn't account for much of our budget for the trip, that's for sure. We didn't mind sharing with them.

 

For an American ingrained with the idea that tipping is normal, it just feels funny not to, I guess.

 

The servers had the same tables for all meals. We just tried to get there early enough to get Maggie each time and we were successful. I think the word got around that she was such a darling, because it got harder and harder to get there first.

[Maddle]

Another monetary question for those who have recently toured -

 

How/when did you pay for the optional dinners in Xian and Beijing? Cash? (USD or Yuan?)? Credit card? At the hotel or on the ship or at the show?

 

Thanks -

 

Maddle

 

So many details....

[seanf]

How/when did you pay for the optional dinners in Xian and Beijing? Cash? (USD or Yuan?)? Credit card? At the hotel or on the ship or at the show?

They are put on your ship account and are charged in Yuan

 

So many details....

Yes, but when you are there your guide will handle every single detail for you, so there really is no need to worry :)

 

Sean :)

[Maddle]

Yes, but when you are there your guide will handle every single detail for you, so there really is no need to worry :)

 

Sean :)

 

Sean - Thanks, I needed that - because believe me, I have worried quite a bit. I'm kind of a spaz when it comes to imagining all the pitfalls I could encounter.

 

Maddle

[Quince]

More questions about food -- Are the breakfasts in the hotel served buffet style, and are they just Continental or are full American breakfasts available?

 

If you want to do dinner on your own, can you leave the group at the big Chinese restaurant and go to a hotel nearby to order dinner? or a McDonalds?

 

Did people on your tour bring candy bars and snack foods to supplement their diets?

 

(As you can see, I'm traveling with someone who wants to see the sights but is not a big fan of the cuisine.)