Viking China

[SFSusan]

Thanks for posting this. Based on the earlier recommendations on here, I recently read River Town and second (I guess by now quintuple or more) the recommendation. I think I would have found it an excellent book even if I hadn't been planning this trip. (For some reason, I haven't been able to get into Hessler's Oracle Bones as much, but maybe I just need to put that aside for now.) I will put Hersey's book on my list...

 

I also couldn't get into Oracle Bones, but have just finished Dragon Bones by Lisa See (who wrote Shanghai Girls). It's a detective story set along the Yangtze River, featuring a Chinese female detective and her American husband.

 

It's fiction, but I'm assuming the author accurately depicted the folklore of the area, the area's cultural importance and the impact of the dam on the archeology and research that could have been done in the area.

 

In fact, I just bought a book The 3 Gorges and in flipping through it, there are references to the same legends of how the area was formed and the loss of cultural treasures with the flooding.

[SJGSKG]

We are leaving next sat, Oct. 9 on the Imperial Jewels of China--Shanghai to Beijing. We'd like to schedule a shopping tour for a few hours on Mon after the Shanghai Museum and before the dinner and acrobat show.Can anyone tell us how much free time we have that afternoon and the next morning before leaving for Wuhan? Also the info that Viking sent said ATM's were not easy to find. Is this true in bigger cities like Shanghai & Beijing?

Thanks. This board has been very helpful.

[Cathys Cruising]

We are leaving next sat, Oct. 9 on the Imperial Jewels of China--Shanghai to Beijing. We'd like to schedule a shopping tour for a few hours on Mon after the Shanghai Museum and before the dinner and acrobat show.Can anyone tell us how much free time we have that afternoon and the next morning before leaving for Wuhan? Also the info that Viking sent said ATM's were not easy to find. Is this true in bigger cities like Shanghai & Beijing?

Thanks. This board has been very helpful.

 

We just returned from the Sept 10th Imperial Jewels trip. Checking my notes we only had about an hour or so between getting back to the hotel from the museum and getting back on the motorcoach to go to the show. That was our group though - depending on which group you end up in your times may vary as they are all staggered in what they do & when.

Example: On the Tang Dynasty Dinner evening we had time to relax or do what we wanted to for a couple of hours before we went to dinner. Two other groups were taken directly from a tour to the dinner without time to change or wind down. We'd already finished our appetizer when they arrived at the theatre.

The same thing will apply to the amount of time you have before flying to Wuhan. The flight times are staggered with the groups - no way to know in advance.

 

We never used an ATM so can't help on that.

 

 

 

Cathy

[seanf]

We'd like to schedule a shopping tour for a few hours on Mon after the Shanghai Museum and before the dinner and acrobat show.Can anyone tell us how much free time we have that afternoon and the next morning before leaving for Wuhan?

Where the brochure says "free time" it really means you might get 15 minutes to yourself! Apart from on the ship, at no point on my tour did I have any time to myself apart from the very last day and that was only because I had a night flight back to the UK

 

Also the info that Viking sent said ATM's were not easy to find. Is this true in bigger cities like Shanghai & Beijing?

No, every hotel had an ATM (actually I am not sure about the one in Lhasa in Tibet, as I didn't need one there. This only matters on the Roof of the World tour though)

 

Sean :)

[caribill]

We are leaving next sat, Oct. 9 on the Imperial Jewels of China--Shanghai to Beijing. We'd like to schedule a shopping tour for a few hours on Mon after the Shanghai Museum and before the dinner and acrobat show.Can anyone tell us how much free time we have that afternoon and the next morning before leaving for Wuhan? Also the info that Viking sent said ATM's were not easy to find. Is this true in bigger cities like Shanghai & Beijing?

Thanks. This board has been very helpful.

 

The schedule as we were told it would be was back at the hotel by 3:15 PM and meet for dinner at 5 PM. That would leave 1 hour and 45 minutes to get ready for dinner and do the shopping you would like to do.

 

Based on times on pictures I took, there were 2.5 hours between the last picture I took on the bus returning from the museum and the first picture at the restaurant. That 2.5 hours includes completing the return to the hotel, getting ready for dinner, meeting in the hotel lobby, and driving to dinner.

 

We had no free time before flying to Wuhan. We met in the hotel lobby at 9 AM and then visited the silk carpet workshop that had been on the list for the previous day. (I do not know if that is a permanent way of doing things or if it was just for our trip, but there was really no time to fit it in on the first day.) After that visit, we headed straight to the airport.

 

(Note: We actually had more free time for shopping at the end of the day the two late afternoons in Beijing.)

 

As far as ATMs, they were at each airport and at some of the hotels. I suggest getting what you estimate you will need when you first arrive at the Shanghai airport. We used any extra Chinese currency we had at the end to make up part of the tip (rest in US $) for the Viking guide who was with us the entire time in China.

[whp]

We will have a 6 pm flight home from Beijing which leads to a question. Can you get a late checkout at hotel or leave your bags and do some last minute shopping? What time do they shuttle you from the hotel to the airport for such a late flight?

[whp]

Our flight is due to arrive about 3 PM in Shanghai. What time would you get to the hotel and get settled in? With so little time in Shanghai what would you recommend we might see (outside of planned items) and with no included dinner is there a restaurant you could recommend. Also how did jet lag effect you after the long flight?

[caribill]

Our flight is due to arrive about 3 PM in Shanghai. What time would you get to the hotel and get settled in? With so little time in Shanghai what would you recommend we might see (outside of planned items) and with no included dinner is there a restaurant you could recommend. Also how did jet lag effect you after the long flight?

 

We were at the Pudong Shangri-La Hotel in Shanghai.

 

We walked along the river front and near the the Oriental Pearl TV tower.

 

There is a mall across the street from the Hotel with many food opportunites.

[caribill]

We will have a 6 pm flight home from Beijing which leads to a question. Can you get a late checkout at hotel or leave your bags and do some last minute shopping? What time do they shuttle you from the hotel to the airport for such a late flight?

 

If you are having the airport transfer done by Viking, you will probably be leaving the hotel no later than noon.

[no fuss travel]

The airports do have shops that you can spend your last yuan in. The clerks in the store were very patient with me as I was trying to use up the last of the yuan. They actually suggested a couple of small items that totally used up all of the money I had left.

[SFSusan]

As far as ATMs, they were at each airport and at some of the hotels. I suggest getting what you estimate you will need when you first arrive at the Shanghai airport. We used any extra Chinese currency we had at the end to make up part of the tip (rest in US $) for the Viking guide who was with us the entire time in China.

 

So, what would folks estimate they need in cash? I believe I read that onboard tips to ship's staff and the Viking guide can be done with credit card to the shipboard account, and I'm not a big shopper, so we'll need cash for the daily guides/drivers and what else?

 

And for those who are shoppers, did anyone see any yak-wool shawls? It's supposed to be better than pashmina. And speaking of pashmina, is it worth getting a shawl on the trip, and what were the costs?

[caribill]

I believe I read that onboard tips to ship's staff and the Viking guide can be done with credit card to the shipboard account, and I'm not a big shopper, so we'll need cash for the daily guides/drivers and what else?

 

 

Tips for the ship's staff can be either by credit card or cash (US$ fine).

 

You cannot charge the tip to the tour long Viking guide as you give the tip to him the last evening at your hotel, not on the ship.

 

We had $160 worth of Yuan with us and that was more than sufficient. In fact, we made some purchases with Yuan instead of with credit card in order to use it. And, as mentioned earlier, we used what we had left at the end to make up part of the Viking guide's tip.

[SFSusan]

We had $160 worth of Yuan with us and that was more than sufficient. In fact, we made some purchases with Yuan instead of with credit card in order to use it. And, as mentioned earlier, we used what we had left at the end to make up part of the Viking guide's tip.

 

Well, I'll be ok then as we've got $500 US in yuan with us! We're in China for 5 nights prior to the ship tour starting, so we should be good! Thanks!

[whp]

If you are having the airport transfer done by Viking, you will probably be leaving the hotel no later than noon.

yes transfer is by Viking and don't see why we should have to sit at the airport for several hours waiting for flight. It is on Air Canada.

[whp]

Set up the custom air today with the two other couples on the 2 May Imperial China. Seems like that the contracted airfare with united in 2011 is running high so we took the Air Canada for the contracted price. The only other alternative at this time was Delta with a double connect. My advice is that if you are on a 2011 tour at least from the East Coast.that you take the custom air to know your schedule. The price is much bettr than if you did it on your own and you know what you will get. For those going to Beijing first it appears that they will bring you in one day early and give you an extra night in the hotel at no cost as you will probably arrive very late at night.

[Peregrina651]

Set up the custom air today with the two other couples on the 2 May Imperial China. Seems like that the contracted airfare with united in 2011 is running high so we took the Air Canada for the contracted price. The only other alternative at this time was Delta with a double connect. My advice is that if you are on a 2011 tour at least from the East Coast.that you take the custom air to know your schedule. The price is much bettr than if you did it on your own and you know what you will get. For those going to Beijing first it appears that they will bring you in one day early and give you an extra night in the hotel at no cost as you will probably arrive very late at night.

 

Actually, you depart the day before the tour begins and spend that night on the airplane (it is a 14 hour flight from Chicago). Regardless of when you leave home, arrival day in China is considered DAY 1 of the tour and most (not all) direct flights from the US arrive mid-day. If the route you through Hong Kong or Tokyo, that is another story--and another reason to opt for custom air.

 

We connected through Chicago and because of 6:00A departure from our gateway city in order to make a 10:15A flight from Chicago, we opted to spend the night in Chicago. Yes, we had to pay for a hotel room overnight in Chicago, but it was well worth it not to have to worry about whether our 6:00am flight would depart on time.

[PSL Ag]

Responding to a couple of previous questions:

 

Don't exchange cash at the airport. Their rates and fees are high, as usual. The best deal is to exchange cash at the hotel desk. We got an exchange rate of 6.7 at the hotel, whereas credit cards and ATM's were below 6.5. Plus ATM's hit you with fees, etc. no fee at hotel--at least not where we stayed.

 

We also had a late return flight--after 5 pm. Viking arranged late checkout, and the bus to the airport left at 1:30 pm. So, you can keep the room until bus departure time.

 

Air Canada's executive class is more like first class, but priced as business. you will love it.

 

I exchanged $200 for Yuan at the hotel, and didn't use it all. So, don't get a lot of Yuan. As others have noted, bring $50 or so in $1 bills. You will need them for tips for the drivers, the local tour guides, and all the peddlers that you might buy from. Most everyone will take US dollars, hence, no need for many Yuan. We got rid of our remaining yuan with tip for the tour escort.

 

Finally, worst event of the trip? The optional Peking opera! Don't waste your money on that show...horrible. Everyone that went to the opera on our tour regretted it. Find another restaurant to have the peking duck instead!

[no fuss travel]

If you have done the show in Xian before you arrive in Beijing, the opera will be a complete letdown. I would go out for dinner elsewhere and you can shop then.

[caribill]

Responding to a couple of previous questions:

 

Don't exchange cash at the airport. Their rates and fees are high, as usual. The best deal is to exchange cash at the hotel desk. We got an exchange rate of 6.7 at the hotel, whereas credit cards and ATM's were below 6.5. Plus ATM's hit you with fees, etc. no fee at hotel--at least not where we stayed.

 

 

We were getting 6.75 in August using a credit card that charges no fees.

 

By the way, when you make a charge, insist that it be in Chinese currency, not your home country currency.

 

A trick in China and in some other countries is to convert it to your home currency at a poor exchange rate in small print on the receipt. And what you sign says you will not contest the conversion rate.

[Peregrina651]

We were getting 6.75 in August using a credit card that charges no fees.

 

By the way, when you make a charge, insist that it be in Chinese currency, not your home country currency.

 

A trick in China and in some other countries is to convert it to your home currency at a poor exchange rate in small print on the receipt. And what you sign says you will not contest the conversion rate.

 

I just want to say "Ditto" to caribill's observations.

 

Don't use an exchange bureau to change money; the rates are always the worst you will find. Exchanging money before you leave is also an expensive proposition with high rates and fees.

 

We used CapitalOne (no fees on international transactions) for our credit purchases and all purchases were converted at the daily bank rate (which fluctuates daily by thousands of a yuan). We only used the credit card a couple of times for big purchases.

 

The rest of the time, we shopped in yuan which we got from ATMs. We used the ATMs in the hotel lobbies and then one in Wuhan when we had free afternoon to explore the city (Cultural Delights).

[Peregrina651]

Someone said that they were flying Air Canada. I just want to suggest that you find the Canadian version of what is allowed in your carry-on luggage. Their rules are stricter than the US rules and they are confiscation happy. I know that they don't allow nail clippers because the last time we passed through Canadian TSA we saw their collection of them.

 

Boarding in China for the flight home, you will not be permitted to carry any liquids on to the plane and that includes anything that you buy after clearing the security check. No bottles of water; no cups of coffee or soda. There will be a hand-check of your luggage at the gate as you board the plane.

[caribill]

Boarding in China for the flight home, you will not be permitted to carry any liquids on to the plane and that includes anything that you buy after clearing the security check. No bottles of water; no cups of coffee or soda.

 

That was the rule for internal Chinese flights, but we did not have that restriction for the flight back to the USA from Beijing. Just had the usual liquid restrictions going through security.

[EvieMaryland]

you posted: We used CapitalOne (no fees on international transactions) for our credit purchases and all purchases were converted at the daily bank rate (which fluctuates daily by thousands of a yuan). We only used the credit card a couple of times for big purchases.

 

 

Question: We're off the China in 10 days ... how did you use CapitolOne? CapitolOne is our bank ... did you use their ATM card or their credit card?

[Romeosc]

you posted: We used CapitalOne (no fees on international transactions) for our credit purchases and all purchases were converted at the daily bank rate (which fluctuates daily by thousands of a yuan). We only used the credit card a couple of times for big purchases.

 

 

Question: We're off the China in 10 days ... how did you use CapitolOne? CapitolOne is our bank ... did you use their ATM card or their credit card?

 

CapitolOne Visa is taken almost everywhere there. Chinese Goverment controls exchange rate at all hotels and banks to make it same! Convert your money at Hotels, Museums etc!

 

PS. I agree that the opera was a waste, we strolled the streets in Shanghai after museum and told our guide we would meet them back at hotel for dinner. We took a card from hotel to show cab driver.

 

Under the Streets of Shanghai are massive shopping areas, small chinese vendors catering to locals. People are very nice and friendly. I could have made hundreds of dollars charging people who wanted a picture with me! I am over 300 #s and they wanted a picture with AMERICAN BUDDA!

[SFSusan]

Wine is always included with dinner but they advertise it as if it were part of a special deal.

 

Are you talking about just the China cruise, or all Viking River Cruises? I know last year in Burgundy, wine was definitely NOT included with dinner, as we had quite the bill on departure! That was one of the things that attracted us to the China cruise... and 2-for-1 airfare.

 

Susan