Viking China

[whp]

We are on Imperial Jewels 5/5/11. We are in a Category B Cabin. We have received our hotel assignments this past week.

 

Beijing - Westin Financial Street

Xian - Golden Flower

Shanghai - Portman Ritz Carlton

 

Has anyone stayed at any or all of these hotels? If so, what was your experience.

 

Does anyone know how the hotels are assigned? Category Cabin booked or just a random selection.

 

I appreciate any and all information.

how did you get your hotels so early? Did you pay in full first? I am on the 5/2/2011 in the other direction.

[whp]

Hi

My mom and I are leaving for the Imperial Jewels on 9/28, we land at noon in Shanghai and will have most of the day to do a little sight-seeing.....we are staying at the Grand Hyatt-Pudong...can anyone give a few suggestions on a few good places to have lunch or anything we should see within walking distnace to the hotel?

 

Thanks Much

:D

what airline are you on?

[caribill]

.....we are staying at the Grand Hyatt-Pudong...can anyone give a few suggestions on a few good places to have lunch or anything we should see within walking distnace to the hotel?

 

 

You will probably have served enough food on the plane so that you will not be hungry for lunch.

 

However, for dinner I would suggest the multi-story "Super Grand Mall" which is about 2-3 blocks from your hotel. There are many reasonably priced restaurants in it. Your hotel can give you directions.

 

For sightseeing, I would suggest a walk along the riverfront. It is not far from your hotel.

[whp]

We're going next May (anyone else?) and I love that you are all raving about your guides! :)

what sailing are you on? we are going on 2 may shanghai to beijing.

[whp]

Caribill, I'm sorry you're not happy with your situation. I hope your flight TO China is to your liking.

 

It certainly wasn't my intent to make anyone feel bad about their flights or lack of success in changing them. I hope you have the best trip of your life and that the early departure requirement becomes a minor nuisance in your memory!

 

Best wishes,

 

Bob

did either of you pay the extra $50 for the 'custom' air?

[caribill]

did either of you pay the extra $50 for the 'custom' air?

 

We did not.

[whp]

I don't remember when they said the rainy season was over.

 

The new ship will be smaller. Our cruise was only at 50% capacity. Maybe they are having trouble filling the larger ship.

when does the rainy season start?

[whp]

Thanks for the alert on this. Would folks who have recently been there kindly confirm the following re the internal 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.

does anyone know the size of the planes on the internal flights? What airline?

[no fuss travel]

It will be one of the Chinese airlines. I believe we flew with China Eastern. The planes are well maintained and comfortable. You will have assigned seats and sometimes end up not sitting with your spouse or partner but it is no big deal for the short trips.

[caribill]

does anyone know the size of the planes on the internal flights? What airline?

 

We had three internal flights, all on Airbus jets.

Shanghai to Wuhan Shanghai Airlines using an Airbus leased from China Eastern Airlines

Chongqing to Xi'an China Eastern Airlines Airbus A320

Xi'an to Beijing China Eastern Airlines Airbus A300

 

All three flights operated essentially on time.

 

Each group with their guide flew together. Sometimes there were other groups on the plane, sometimes we were the only group. There were regular other passengers on all the flights.

 

Checked luggage was placed outside the hotel room by an announced time. It was delivered to the airport and checked in by Viking.

 

At the destination airport, Viking collected all of the checked luggage themselves. We then had to put tags (provided by Viking) on the luggage to identify which cabin or hotel room the luggage would get delivered.

 

If any checked luggage needed to be hand inspected after X-ray inspection, the owner of the luggage had to open it up and locate the suspicious item(s). In our group two people had to do this in Shanghai. One had a battery in the suitcase that was not in a device. He had to take it out of the suitcase and put it in his carryon bag. No problems at the other two airports with this.

 

At Chongqing airport, our guide said the airline was being tough on weight and that some baggage was overweight. I think our guide covered any extra weight charges after negotiating with the airline.

 

Note: No liquids/gels are allowed on these flights in carryon items. This is more strict that USA rules allowing contains of up to 100ML in a plastic bag. No such restriction on the international flights out of China. The terminals for the internal flights do not have drinking fountains with potable water. There were machines in each airport for warm and hot potable water and small paper cups. Of course, bottled water was for sale after going through security.

[whp]

It will be one of the Chinese airlines. I believe we flew with China Eastern. The planes are well maintained and comfortable. You will have assigned seats and sometimes end up not sitting with your spouse or partner but it is no big deal for the short trips.

but what size are the planes? 737's or large as I don't like planes smaller than say 50 seats.

[caribill]

but what size are the planes? 737's or large as I don't like planes smaller than say 50 seats.

 

As post #3561 indicates, these are commercial Airbus planes.

 

These are 737 size and larger.

[Turtles06]

what sailing are you on? we are going on 2 may shanghai to beijing.

 

We are after you (May 15) in the other direction. Please leave the ship tidy. :)

[Cathys Cruising]

So how much was your VISA per person and where did you get it?

 

We used Generations Visa Service - the Company Viking recommended. Final price p/p was $192.50 since we ordered two at the same time.

Cathy

[Cathys Cruising]

I've read the hotel info we rec'd from Viking and also went to each hotel's website. I know the ship has hair dryers but if the hotel offers a beauty parlor they don't indicate a hair dryer as a room amenity. I don't want to bring one unless I have to, but will need to if they are not available. Can anyone comment if they are in these hotels or not? Pudong Shangri-la, Golden Flower, China World, Sheraton Guilin & Kowloon Shangri-La.

Binoculars - bring or not? If you brought them, did you use them? Or wish you had brought them?

Carry On Luggage - I'm guessing you bring these with you and they are stored on the bus securely while you're touring? While you're on the actual tour you only have to tote the camera, TP, wipes and other personal necessities in a tote or backpack?

Intra China flights - are these a couple of hours in length between cities? Are we shuttled to the airports with the 2 hour wait at check in for each flight like in the US?

I'm sure there may be more questions to follow. :D Everyone has been so generous with their info. Thanks!

Cathy

[JackieSue66]

what airline are you on?

 

 

 

United

[H2Otstr]

JackieSue, what is your flight itinerary? What airport are you leaving from ?

 

Sharon

[JackieSue66]

JackieSue, what is your flight itinerary? What airport are you leaving from ?

 

Sharon

We leave on 9/29 outta cleveland to ORD (Chicago) at 6am, outta ORD at 1024am and then land in Shanghai on 9/30 at 135pm

 

and you?

[caribill]

I've read the hotel info we rec'd from Viking and also went to each hotel's website. I know the ship has hair dryers but if the hotel offers a beauty parlor they don't indicate a hair dryer as a room amenity. I don't want to bring one unless I have to' date=' but will need to if they are not available. Can anyone comment if they are in these hotels or not? Pudong Shangri-la, Golden Flower, China World, Sheraton Guilin & Kowloon Shangri-La. The first three hotels had hair dryers in the room. Did not stay at the last two hotels, but these are all first class hotels and they should have them. If in doubt, go back to the web sites and find an e-mail address to ask them.

 

Binoculars - bring or not? If you brought them, did you use them? Or wish you had brought them? We brought them, but did not use them much. Still glad we had them.

 

Carry On Luggage - I'm guessing you bring these with you and they are stored on the bus securely while you're touring? While you're on the actual tour you only have to tote the camera, TP, wipes and other personal necessities in a tote or backpack? Very safe on the bus.

 

Intra China flights - are these a couple of hours in length between cities? Are we shuttled to the airports with the 2 hour wait at check in for each flight like in the US? Yes, a couple of hours on each plane. By the time we were haded the boarding passes, used restrooms, went through security, made it to the gate, was less than an hour to go until boarding time each time.

 

I'm sure there may be more questions to follow. :D Everyone has been so generous with their info. Thanks!

 

 

Cathy

 

 

See above

[cruisegal#116]

how did you get your hotels so early? Did you pay in full first? I am on the 5/2/2011 in the other direction.

 

whp:

 

We booked our 5/5/11 Beijing to Shanghai trip in April of this year as soon as the books opened for China. The terms of our reservation called for full payment by 5/31/10 so that is when we paid. We received our hotel assignments sometime around August 8. The notification was sent to the Travel Agent and relayed to us.

 

We did our own air using a special BA Miles Promo that allowed us to get 2 First Class seats for the amount of miles usually required for one seat. We are flying into Beijing 1 day early, staying in Shanghai 2 additoinal days after the tour ends, then flying independently to Hong Kong for 4 more days before returning home.

[H2Otstr]

We leave on 9/29 outta cleveland to ORD (Chicago) at 6am, outta ORD at 1024am and then land in Shanghai on 9/30 at 135pm

 

and you?

 

Have no idea about our flights. Viking told me we would not know until 90 days before we leave. We are leaving from Raleigh Durham. I think we might also have flights to Chicago and then on to Shanghai. Could change though, just have to wait and see.

[JackieSue66]

Have no idea about our flights. Viking told me we would not know until 90 days before we leave. We are leaving from Raleigh Durham. I think we might also have flights to Chicago and then on to Shanghai. Could change though, just have to wait and see.

 

 

90 days is about correct, my mom and I are really lucky, we have great flight times......both going and coming back, I have seen horror stories on here

[no fuss travel]

I've read the hotel info we rec'd from Viking and also went to each hotel's website. I know the ship has hair dryers but if the hotel offers a beauty parlor they don't indicate a hair dryer as a room amenity. I don't want to bring one unless I have to' date=' but will need to if they are not available. Can anyone comment if they are in these hotels or not? Pudong Shangri-la, Golden Flower, China World, Sheraton Guilin & Kowloon Shangri-La.[/size']

 

Yes there was hairdryers in each hotel room.

 

Binoculars - bring or not? If you brought them, did you use them? Or wish you had brought them?

 

Yes we brought them and used them extensively during the Three Gorges cruise. We were really glad to have them that day even though we did not use them much otherwise.

 

Carry On Luggage - I'm guessing you bring these with you and they are stored on the bus securely while you're touring? While you're on the actual tour you only have to tote the camera, TP, wipes and other personal necessities in a tote or backpack?

 

The bus driver stays with the bus so you can leave shopping and everything else on the bus.

 

Intra China flights - are these a couple of hours in length between cities? Are we shuttled to the airports with the 2 hour wait at check in for each flight like in the US?

 

We did not find the waits that bad and you do not have to check in your luggage which was fantastic. You have to go through security and that depending on what line you were in could be quick or slow.

 

I'm sure there may be more questions to follow. :D Everyone has been so generous with their info. Thanks!

 

 

Cathy

 

 

See above I answered your questions there.

[Peregrina651]

90 days is about correct, my mom and I are really lucky, we have great flight times......both going and coming back, I have seen horror stories on here

 

Here is my two cents worth: You have already spent thousands of dollars on this trip. For another $50pp (that is less than 1% of what you have already spent), you can choose your own flights and not spend the next year worrying that you will be stuck with 6am departure times or stops in Tokyo or Hong Kong before arriving at your final destination. Do some research (as in check out one of the on-line travel sites) and pick your flights. I believe that Viking's preferred flights are Star Alliance airlines (United, etc.).

 

For no extra airfare, we stayed overnight in Chicago before our 10:40am China departure. We did not have to wake up in the middle of the night to leave for the airport and we did not have to worry that there would be any delays that would prevent us from arriving in Chicago in time to get our flight to China. Just make sure that your home airport departure is less than 24 hours before your China departure and you should not have to pay any extra airfare. Though not the cheapest option available, we stayed at the Airport Hilton, right in the Airport.

 

Other topics: binoculars, we take them but always forget we have them. I usually end up using the telephoto lens on my DSLR.

 

IntraChina flights: Our guide was good at getting us to the airport such that our wait time for boarding was minimal. Some one pointed out that couples are not always seated together. That is true but at least your bus is all seated together in adjoining seats and consecutive row.

 

A note to folks who opt for first class airfare: You are first class ONLY on the international flights.

 

If you can't stand the smell of stale cigarettes in your hotel room, talk to your escort before arriving in Xi'an and request that he secure a non-smoking room for you. Xi'an was the only place we had an issue with this. Same goes for food allergies and other special diets; just let your escort know and he will make sure that you don't starve.

[JackieSue66]

Here is my two cents worth: You have already spent thousands of dollars on this trip. For another $50pp (that is less than 1% of what you have already spent), you can choose your own flights and not spend the next year worrying that you will be stuck with 6am departure times or stops in Tokyo or Hong Kong before arriving at your final destination. Do some research (as in check out one of the on-line travel sites) and pick your flights. I believe that Viking's preferred flights are Star Alliance airlines (United, etc.).

 

 

I agree 100%, I had already done the research......the only reason that we did not fly into Chicago the night before, is that I have meetings all day the previous day for work and couldnt get out of them.....in the grand scheme, a few hundred extra bucks is nothing....I can't wait=)