Viking China

[tampasteve1]

I am going to china in june and do you suggest i use credit cards, exchange to chinese currency, or just us american dollars? Also, how did you get your visa? Thanks, Mike

 

Change US$ into Yuan or use a CC. As has been mentioned street vendors will accept US$, but you will get better rates by using Yuan. Sometimes it is easier to just use a $1 bill rather than do conversions in your head...but think about it. If you give a $1 bill you are going to pay at least $1 for something that will cost you less if you pay in Yuan.

 

And I cannot stress this enough: BARGAIN FOR EVERYTHING! If you do not you WILL be charged at least 50% more than you should pay. They are not trying to rip you off, they just expect that you will bargain for the item you are looking at. This is especially true in stores, markets, and any street vendors. Start by taking their price and offer 50-75% less. They will not be offended, they expect you to bargain. And remember, they will never loose money on a deal, so if you buy something everyone wins - do not be afraid to start walking away, it is great to do when you are bargaining.

 

Bring a calculator with you so you can use it to bargain with. Most vendors will have one, but some will not. Just type in your price and show it to the vendor and let him/her type in their new price.

 

Steve

[Peregrina651]

Steve is so right! Case in point. We saw a silk robe that we really liked but really weren't planning. The clerk approached us and started to make her offers (she may have started around 300 or 350); I don't think we ever gave her a price. She just kept getting lower and lower as we tried to disengage. Our backs were turned and we were walking away when she game back with a price of 100 yuan -- a bargain no matter what fabric the robe was made of -- and so we bought the robe. Armed with this information, we then set out to buy two more robes at the same price for out other 2 daughters, now knowing that we could go that low. Some vendors were willing and others weren't but we eventually found two more robes that we liked and were able to get them at the same 100 yuan.

 

As for the bargaining game, it is a different game when played in stores vs with the street vendors. In the stores, you will probably not be able to get 50% or more off the initial price and it helps to ask your guide what kind of final price you can expect. We did this at the calligraphy store in the Chongqing Zoo when we were buying a wall hanging. We knew from our guide that we would not do much better than 20-25% off the asking price and were able to adjust our offers accordingly.

 

On our way to the Shibaozhao Pagoda, we saw an artist working in front of one of the stalls with his works for sale. We knew that we would be buying one on our way back to the ship. They were beautiful landscape sketches of the Gorges area and we knew that this would be our perfect souvenir of the journey. Bargain here was the most difficult; the initial offer was less than we were willing to pay but we entered into the bargaining process to be polite. Our initial offer knocked just a token amount off the price and by the time we were done (2 rounds) we had knocked less than 10% off the price and felt horrible about doing it.

[H2Otstr]

Peregrina, is there anything that you forgot to take with you on your trip that you wished that you had or needed to purchase?

 

Sharon

[susierailroad]

I've just spent hours reading your blog and then linking to other interesting info. Few questions, please:

 

Did you have the opportunity to do any laundry while on the journey. If so, when and how? I'm so impressed with your packing abilities.

 

We're slated for the Beijing Westin Financial Hotel and Shanghai Portman Ritz Carlton. Think they're of the same quality? Guess you really have no choice in the matter--whatever Viking puts you in; however, I believe they are all 5 star or better.

 

Did I understand you to say there is a tailor shop onboard the boat? If so, was it to tailor something you had purchased or "made to order"?

 

We rarely take escorted trips either, but made China an exception. Also, we have done only one previous Viking trip--Amsterdam to Budapest, which I highly recommend.

 

What month did you travel in to China?

 

I'd also like to talk to you about your '09 Infinity trip to South America as we have that booked for 2012, Valprasio to Buenos Aires. did you add time pre or post?

 

Thanks,

[caribill]

Did you have the opportunity to do any laundry while on the journey. Really not at a hotel long enough to have laundry done there. There is an onboard ship laundry service offered.

 

We're slated for the Beijing Westin Financial Hotel and Shanghai Portman Ritz Carlton. Think they're of the same quality? Guess you really have no choice in the matter--whatever Viking puts you in; however, I believe they are all 5 star or better. We were not at those hotels, but the ones we were at were definitely top of the line.

 

Did I understand you to say there is a tailor shop onboard the boat? If so, was it to tailor something you had purchased or "made to order"? Onboard tailer is there to make garments to order at your request. Takes about 24-36 hours.

 

 

 

I am not Peregrina, but I have answers to some of your questions above. Picture of onboard tailer below.

[Turtles06]

Viking has posted the 2012 China itineraries on its web site, for anyone interested in planning very far ahead! :)

[Romeosc]

Peregrina, is there anything that you forgot to take with you on your trip that you wished that you had or needed to purchase?

 

Sharon

 

 

Not to butt in,

 

 

My wife and I add to our list after every trip, things to bring next time:

 

Here is a condensed version:

 

We now travel to enjoy. We do not pack formal wear. We are there to enjoy not impress. We have made many friends, but we don't want to waste luggage space that we can use for gifts for friends.

 

 

(Pack some small items that come in handy)

 

Portable luggage scale (about $10), Traveling alarm clock, Power Adapters, Pack a couple of cheap extension cords and 3-in-1 adapters(never enough AC outlets to charge everything) (to be left behind)

 

Super Glue, Duct Tape & 2 part epoxy .... be prepared!

 

Cipro (Ciprofloxacin), Ace Bandages, Pepto Bismo and medicine, extra reading glasses, Magic Markers, pens, Travel flashlight, binoculars, anti-bacterial wipes and/or hand sanitizer. Benedryl and Affrin!

 

Electric converter/adapter for North American appliances (220V)

 

Purell wipes, dust masks, small, basic sewing kit / extra buttons; pack scissors in checked bags, Powdered Detergent in Zip Lock bags to do washables in room.

 

We took 5 packs of rain ponchos from dollar store(2 for a $1) I gave them free to friends .... I could of paid for my cruise if I had a case of them (LOL)!

 

SD cards, batteries ( I even carry a second cheap digital camera and at least 1 SD per day.) If camera is stolen or lost, you only loose that 1 days pictures... not the entire cruise!

 

I number SD Cards 1-25 and have a sheet of paper with same numbers and a line so I can fill in where each SD card was used.

 

Take business cards or print personal cards with your contact info... easier than trying to find a piece of paper and pen to write your email and contact info for all your new friends!

 

We pack a folding suitcase in each suitcase to put dirty clothes in and leave room for souvenirs.

 

Pack several size Zip lock bags

 

I take a separate file folder with info about excursions, etc for each port. Later I empty pockets into them every day with receipts, tickets, postcards etc. from each port.

 

I also vacuum pack clothes (SpaceBags) and when we are ready to repack pack small shot glasses etc inside cloths and borrow maids vacuum and reduce to smaller size, and keeps in odors.

 

Take a list of addresses and contacts to send post cards and to call in case of emergency. Have neighbors and friends numbers in case they need to turn off alarm or other emergency. Pre-address postcards to save time and write on plane or during down time.

 

Take business cards or print personal cards with your contact info... easier than trying to find a piece of paper and pen to write your email and contact info for all your new friends!

 

I notify all Credit card companies with list of countries we are visiting!

Make sure you and spouse are taking credit cards with different numbers... if one is stolen and canceled (make photocopies) the others are still usable!

 

Take a unlocked quad band phone and buy a world sim card for it.

Outgoing calls are $0.35 per minute to US. (Give that number to friends and credit card companies in case of emergency.)

 

When returning, we dispose of ponchos, and other weight not valuable enough to return to US!

[Peregrina651]

Peregrina, is there anything that you forgot to take with you on your trip that you wished that you had or needed to purchase?

 

Sharon

 

I shopped a whole lot more than I expected and we had to buy another suitcase. Other than that, I can't really remember.

[Peregrina651]

Did you have the opportunity to do any laundry while on the journey. If so, when and how? I'm so impressed with your packing abilities.

 

While there are no self-service laundry facilities on the ship, there is laundry service (but no dry cleaning). Part of our packing plan is to use the laundry services on the ship. We do hand laundry every day (in the shower usually) and bring some clip hangers with us just for that purpose.

 

The first time we saw folks do a two week trip with just carry-on luggage I decided that on our next trip that would be our goal--and we did it. Sadly, we could not make it home with just carry-on luggage and we had to wait half an hour at Logan Airport while they unloaded the checked baggage.

 

DH is the real problem because all of his stuff takes up so much room; his shoes alone fill half a suitcase. He carried two (and wore one) pairs of pants, a pair of shorts and 5 polo shirts. I carried 4 dresses with some tanks to layer under them. Add to the list outer layers, underwear, meds, netbook, DSLR camera and gear. I did not keep an exact list of everything we brought.

 

The ship supplies ponchos on rainy days; take two or three since they are very flimsy.

 

We're slated for the Beijing Westin Financial Hotel and Shanghai Portman Ritz Carlton. Think they're of the same quality? Guess you really have no choice in the matter--whatever Viking puts you in; however, I believe they are all 5 star or better.

You can can go online (hotel website and TripAdvisor) to check out the hotels but really, you don't have to worry. They are all very fancy business hotels.

 

Did I understand you to say there is a tailor shop onboard the boat? If so, was it to tailor something you had purchased or "made to order"?

Strictly made to order (although I suppose in a pinch he would do a repair). My sister-in law had a jacket made. It turned out beautifully. I wasn't interested in spending that much money for something I might not wear and settled for something off the rack (which I actually found in the gift shop at the dam and still haven't worn).

 

We rarely take escorted trips either, but made China an exception. Also, we have done only one previous Viking trip--Amsterdam to Budapest, which I highly recommend.

 

We decided that for our first, and perhaps only, trip to China that Viking's fully escorted option was the way to go. It was a very good decision for us. We saw things that we might not have otherwise seen because it was already part of the package. We also learned a lot about the people and the culture because of our guides; there are things we might not have picked up on no matter how much we had read.

 

 

What month did you travel in to China?

 

May, and still by the time we got to Beijing, it was too hot for me. Here are a couple of suggestions for dealing with the heat. I carry a wet washrag in a plastic bag; I put the wet cloth on the back of my neck and it helps to cool me off. The Chinese ladies carry umbrellas and I don't think that it is entirely a matter of keeping the sun off their faces.

I'd also like to talk to you about your '09 Infinity trip to South America as we have that booked for 2012, Valprasio to Buenos Aires. did you add time pre or post?

 

We spent a week in BA with an overnight trip to Iguazu Falls. Send me an e-mail and we can talk; there's an e-mail link in my signature.

[susierailroad]

I can't thank you all enough for the insightful info. Romesc sounds enough like me to be my brother! I take all that stuff, too, with a couple of exceptions, but my goal is to hone the goods down to pack more lightly. On the other hand, on a ship in the middle of the night when there's no store to visit or someone to assist, it certainly is handy to have certain necessities along. Our last journey, we did manage with just one checked piece and two carry-ons. At least I'm making progress.

 

Unfortunately, Peregrina651, I cannot make your link work. Can you share your email address? Mine is the same ID @ yahoo. Loved all your input.

[Peregrina651]

I can't thank you all enough for the insightful info. Romesc sounds enough like me to be my brother! I take all that stuff, too, with a couple of exceptions, but my goal is to hone the goods down to pack more lightly. On the other hand, on a ship in the middle of the night when there's no store to visit or someone to assist, it certainly is handy to have certain necessities along. Our last journey, we did manage with just one checked piece and two carry-ons. At least I'm making progress.

 

Unfortunately, Peregrina651, I cannot make your link work. Can you share your email address? Mine is the same ID @ yahoo. Loved all your input.

 

Check your inbox. I sent you an e-mail.

 

I like to be able to get around on my own so I'm packing lighter and lighter as I get older. I've also gotten to the point where I don't want to trust the baggage handlers with anything more than my dirty laundry. It is amazing what I find I can do without when I travel.

[no fuss travel]

Depending on how much of a shopaholic you are you may end up purchasing more than one suitcase while in China. We went from China to Thailand and Cambodia with Viking after the cruise and managed with two suitcases and one carry-on. The spouse's camera qualifies for his carry-on so my carry-on is the one that covers everything else. When we flew from Bangkok to Siem Reap, we were only allowed one carry-on and we managed to pack both of our clothes and other necessities into the bag.

I think we had the biggest shopaholics on our trip. By the end of the trip they had purchased another 6 suitcases for the four of them, that is on top of the 11 suitcases they had arrived with. It became a standing joke amongst the rest of us on whether or not they would be purchasing a suitcase that day or not. The tour guide worked wonders so that they did not have to pay extra baggage fees while we were touring China.

[amarsh]

I will be sailing on the Emerald and would greatly appreciate if anyone has traveled on her or knows what adaptor will I need for it. Are their electrical outlets American, European or Chinese on the Emerald? I would assume in the hotels I will need a China one. Am I assuming corectly? Thanks so much for any response.

[Peregrina651]

The Emerald is a brand new ship making her first sailing for Viking with the 2011 season so none of us can report her her amenities. We eagerly await the report of those on her first sailing. If you read back on this thread, someone has posted pictures of the plugs in the cabins on the Century Sun. My guess is that the plugs on the new ship will be similar.

 

As for the hotels, I have to honestly admit that I can't remember whether I had to use my one and only European style adapter or whether the plugs took my American style 2 prong plugs.

[tampasteve1]

The hotels we stayed in and Viking provided outlets for basic US items such as razors, etc. However, if you were trying to use a more powerful item (such as a powerful hair dryer) then you would need a power adapter - or more. My wife brought her hair dryer and we have the regular travel adapters....the dryer always blew the fuse or just did not work at all, so bring a dual mode hair dryer.

 

All of the hotels Viking stays at are top of the line chain brands, so they will have the best amenities available.

 

Steve

[Turtles06]

The hotels we stayed in and Viking provided outlets for basic US items such as razors, etc. However, if you were trying to use a more powerful item (such as a powerful hair dryer) then you would need a power adapter - or more. My wife brought her hair dryer and we have the regular travel adapters....the dryer always blew the fuse or just did not work at all, so bring a dual mode hair dryer.

 

 

I'm sure you didn't mean to cause any confusion, but the language above is conflating "adapters" and "converters," and thus could be confusing to others. An adapter is merely a gizmo that allows (in this case) our American plugs physically to fit into an electrical socket (outlet) in another country. A "converter" is what allows whatever you have plugged in to actually work with that foreign country's electricity, if your device is not compatible with that country's voltage system.

 

Standard American voltage is 110V;in many other countries, including China, it's 220v. If your American device is only a single voltage device, 110V, then it won't work without a converter, whether or not you can physically fit its plug into the outlet.

 

Fortunately, many if not most of the electronics that travelers are taking abroad, including chargers for cell phone and digital camera batteries, are dual voltage devices that will operate on 100-240V. For these, all that's needed is an adapter so the plug will fit into the socket. (If you have any doubt about whether you have a dual voltage device, just look on the back where it says "input." If it says "100-240V," it's a dual voltage device.)

[tampasteve1]

I'm sure you didn't mean to cause any confusion, but the language above is conflating "adapters" and "converters," and thus could be confusing to others. An adapter is merely a gizmo that allows (in this case) our American plugs physically to fit into an electrical socket (outlet) in another country. A "converter" is what allows whatever you have plugged in to actually work with that foreign country's electricity, if your device is not compatible with that country's voltage system.

 

Standard American voltage is 110V;in many other countries, including China, it's 220v. If your American device is only a single voltage device, 110V, then it won't work without a converter, whether or not you can physically fit its plug into the outlet.

 

Fortunately, many if not most of the electronics that travelers are taking abroad, including chargers for cell phone and digital camera batteries, are dual voltage devices that will operate on 100-240V. For these, all that's needed is an adapter so the plug will fit into the socket. (If you have any doubt about whether you have a dual voltage device, just look on the back where it says "input." If it says "100-240V," it's a dual voltage device.)

 

Exactly, thanks for the clarification. :)

 

Steve

[Sachmo]

I am trying to get some ideas about what to do for the day and a half we have free in Hong Kong - would love some suggestions and anything you felt was not worth doing.

Judy

[Romeosc]

I can't thank you all enough for the insightful info. Romesc sounds enough like me to be my brother! I take all that stuff, too, with a couple of exceptions, but my goal is to hone the goods down to pack more lightly. On the other hand, on a ship in the middle of the night when there's no store to visit or someone to assist, it certainly is handy to have certain necessities along. Our last journey, we did manage with just one checked piece and two carry-ons. At least I'm making progress.

 

Unfortunately, Peregrina651, I cannot make your link work. Can you share your email address? Mine is the same ID @ yahoo. Loved all your input.

 

 

My wife was very popular on the trip. She has a medicine kit with everything a CVS has! We had people lining up for necessities. 2 people needed Cipro after coming down with H1N1! I needed ACE bandage after twisting ankle, 4 needed Pepto Bismo (maybe eating too much!), 1 needed sewing kit, 1 needed duck tape to temporarily repair suitcase and 1 person needed superglue and 2 part epoxy to repair cpap mask. It became a running joke that wife was like a "McIvor".

 

We had a waiting list everyday for people wanting to call home using our jailbroken iPhone with Chinese Sim, no charge, but got several bottles of wine to share with new friends! Phone calls were free with Skype and cheap with Chine sim!

[Turtles06]

Just noticed on the web site of the Chinese Embassy that effective Jan. 1, 2011, they've started using a new (longer) visa application form, but that until June 30, 2011, travelers can still use the old, 2-page form. More info (and new form) here:

 

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ywzn/lsyw/vpna/news/t785547.htm

[Sachmo]

thanks for the info - we get to still use the old form - a question to all - is it necessary to pay the extra $8.00 dollars??? I am afraid that I may not be here to sign for it - sending it certified makes sure that it gets there but what about the return???

Judy

[H2Otstr]

thanks for the info - we get to still use the old form - a question to all - is it necessary to pay the extra $8.00 dollars??? I am afraid that I may not be here to sign for it - sending it certified makes sure that it gets there but what about the return???

Judy

 

I didn't pay extra. $385 total. I did send my application to Generations Service via certified mail. Got my VISAs last week via FedEx.

[mljatsea]

Sorry if I'm asking to repeat info already posted. I know there has been info about metros in Beijing but we have had a MAJOR change in our flights so we arrive Beijing at midnight instead of 1:30 in the afternoon. We will not be using the metro. Should we email our hotel (supposed to be Beijing Regent--will know for sure when we get docs) to arrange pick-up or can we count on a reliable taxi at the airport? We are coming in a day early so Viking transfer is not an option.

[Turtles06]

thanks for the info - we get to still use the old form - a question to all - is it necessary to pay the extra $8.00 dollars??? I am afraid that I may not be here to sign for it - sending it certified makes sure that it gets there but what about the return???

Judy

 

FedEx is very reliable BUT it seems from GenVisa's instructions page that unless you pay the $8, the package will be sent back to you without a requirement for signature upon delivery. Speaking only for myself, I would not want a package with my passport sitting outside my front door or wherever. So unless it's coming to an office with a receptionist or some other place where someone always is during the business day, I'd pay the 8 bucks for signature-required delivery. (You might need to arrange to have FedEx come back with the package if no one is around to sign for it.) In the grand scheme of what this trip is costing, it's pretty small dumplings for that peace of mind and security. Just speaking for myself of course.

[caribill]

Sorry if I'm asking to repeat info already posted. I know there has been info about metros in Beijing but we have had a MAJOR change in our flights so we arrive Beijing at midnight instead of 1:30 in the afternoon. We will not be using the metro. Should we email our hotel (supposed to be Beijing Regent--will know for sure when we get docs) to arrange pick-up or can we count on a reliable taxi at the airport? We are coming in a day early so Viking transfer is not an option.

 

 

The taxis at the airport are reliable.

 

Just be sure to have your destination printed out in Chinese. Should be able to get this from the hotel's web site. Use an ATM at the airport to get Chinese currency first.