Viking China (Part 2)

[caribill]

To all of you who are going on the China Viking River Cruise. Here is my review:

 

 

Thanks for a great review.

[rahrah50]

glassespro - Thank you for the Shanghai information. The Jewish museum sounds very interesting and since we booked the extra two days in Shanghai we will have time to go there.

 

Thank you to the recent trip reviewers. Each one has something important that makes the next traveler more knowlegeable. I am reading books and surfing the internet for all the info I can find. If only next September 30th were not so far away......

[Glassespro]

Hi all, I have so much to say that it took me 28 pages in a journal I kept. don't think you want to hear all of that, or even most of that, but if anyone does, let me know, and I'll send you an e-mail of the whole thing, once I get it all into the computer. You can e-mail me at jimmydear@aol.com.

 

I'll break this review up over some days, but for now here are many of the positives: Keep in mind, that IMHO your willingness to enjoy the differences and get excited about even the not-so-wonderful things (like non-western bathrooms, don't forget to take a picture), will really determine how much you enjoy any vacation, and certainly China. I remember hearing a person in another of the Viking groups complaining about the walk at the Great Wall, the food, the sounds of the Chinese Opera, and much more. Why did she come? Did she really think she was visiting Chinatown in SF or NYC? This is a great trip, as almost everyone has said, lots of amazing things to see and experience, I know that 99.9% of you will have a great time.

 

The places Viking takes you are wonderful. Some because of the history and size, some because of recent history, some because of overwhelming beauty, and some for what seems so weird to us. With one exception, Gayle and felt the food was wonderful. From my experience, living in Taiwan for over 2 years, the places that Viking picked for food were quite honest in their presentation and flavors. I especially enjoyed the Ming Dynasty show banquet and the farewell banquet in Shanghai. The last one was truly amazing, and I was able to get all the meat from the fish head, since no one wanted it. If you go, it is the sweetest meat on the fish--try it. I was blown away by the beauty of the Summer Palace in Beijing, and the Yu Yuan Garden in Shanghai. The Yangtse, of course, took beauty to new heights, and I urge you to go to the sun deck on the side where one of the ship's crew was narrating. Lots of good info and things to look at, that you'll miss if not aware. Same is true on the smaller boats along the "Lesser 3 gorges" side-trip. Make sure you can hear the narrator. Another great stop was the school. The kids are just wonderful, and really enjoy it when we read to them. I could go on and on and on, but will stop here.

 

Two last comments: One is that most of the info on how to pack and what to take already on this site are pretty accurate, so I won't repeat them, and two, Viking is an amazing company. Just about everything they do, the do well and with the customer in mind. I used to teach Cust Srv, and they do everything right. Bye for now.

[Glassespro]

HomeRun, forgot to respond to your question. We used Air plus, booked a flight that arrived on a Wednesday afternoon, 10/11. The first touring day was 10/13. Viking did meet us at the airport, as there were at least 40 people arriving that day, and also paid for the forced overnight on the 11th. Of course they also paid the overnight the 12th after the free day, and then we began the tour on the 13th. Hope that helps.

[Peregrina651]

T

If the Viking river boat, Emerald, was built only two years ago, then it was obviously built in China....already showing signs of wear and tear.

 

Ruthlynn -- Welcome home! Delightful review!! Full of helpful information. Glad you had a wonderful trip.

 

 

I think that the Emerald is actually more than two years old but has been sailing for Viking for just the past two seasons. Viking is not permitted to own its own ships and must lease them from a Chinese company. The Century Sun (the previous ship that was leased) sailed for Viking and then in the off season served as a restaurant. In other words, it was in constant use.

[Peregrina651]

Hi all, I have so much to say that it took me 28 pages in a journal I kept. don't think you want to hear all of that, or even most of that, but if anyone does, let me know, and I'll send you an e-mail of the whole thing, once I get it all into the computer.

 

Jim --

 

Welcome home. Great review. Loved the comment about the chronic complainers.

 

If you post your journal on a website like Travelblog, then anyone can read it.

[Turtles06]

To all of you who are going on the China Viking River Cruise. Here is my review:

 

. . . .

Went a day early to Beijing. We made reservations at the Black Sesame Seed Kitchen--best meal we had on the trip. Our table was the United Nations: 4 from South America; 2 from Denmark; 3 from NYC; 3 from Florida, and 2 Texans.

 

. . . .

 

All hotels were 5 star...the Hilton in Xian was the least favorite. No one in our group ever figured out the light switches in any hotel!!!

 

. . .

 

 

Ruthlynn from Texas

 

Welcome back, Ruthlynn, and thanks for the great review.

 

Very happy you enjoyed Black Sesame Kitchen -- I feel as though I've started a trend! :)

 

You really made me laugh out loud about the light switches! We totally loved the Westin Bund in Shanghai, but when we went to bed the first night there we absolutely could NOT figure out how to turn off one of the overhead lights, and we could not sleep with it on. We searched high and low all around the room, and just could not find a switch for it. We finally had to call the front desk; they were unable to tell us over the phone what to do, and before we knew it, an engineer appeared at our door. It was a rather odd moment, and your post made me laugh all over again.

 

I love fancy hotel rooms, but when it comes to operating the faucets, shower, or lights, I don't want to have to resort to an owner's manual or hotel staff. :)

[recyclelady]

I am so excited!

 

I'm taking off work tomorrow (Thursday) just to get packed. Then it is off to O'Hare (Chicago) for the 14.5 hour flight to Shanghai on Friday.

 

We are on the Cultural Delights with the 4-day add on of Hong Kong. I'll be sure to report back after Thanksgiving!:D

[kbert92069]

We also found some complainers. There were a few people who it seemed to me were attempting to confirm their own preconceived notions of how terrible China is and were unwilling to open their eyes and hearts and see the real country.

 

what we saw were people with the same hopes and dreams, fears and doubts that we had. I myself was truly surprised how honest and open our guide was. He shared about his family and his hopes for the future and there wasn't anything off limits to discuss. I was not prepared to hear the valid observations or criticisms of his own government or peoples that he had. Sure he was proud of his country but never tried to portray it as something other than what we saw withour own eyes.

 

I also didn't expect honest merchants and also found out otherwise. I had purchased a cheap t-shirt along a long row of vendors tents from one of many who only know enough English to negotiate a price. While walking further along I opened the shirt and noticed some hidden damage to it. I was in the midst of other vendors at the time and they noticed me and noticed what I saw and without any English made it clear to me I should return the shirt to vendor down the street that had sold it to me. My cynical side had assumed I got the good price because the vendor knew of the hidden damage. That clearly was not the case as the chattering and gesturing of the group of ladies surrounding me encouraged me to go back. By the time I had walked back to the prior vendor she knew there was an issue and she yelled in Chinese something to her husband who was elsewhere and he went running. He very quickly returned with a new shirt still in a bag and happily exchanged it. All done without any English used.

 

Some comments here made me leary also of the Chongching zoo but we found it delightful. A big group of young children on an apparent school outing were all wanting to practice their English as they passed by and if you waved or gave them eye contact they were delighted to say "Hello, how are you" to which we could reply Ni hao. There were very few foreign tourists in the zoo so it was a great way to see Chinese people being themselves. There were numerous groups of people practicing tai chi or other excercises together. It was delightful and amazing and clearly this group excercise is a big cultural difference from the US. And that's not even mentioning the many many active pandas we saw.

 

In the big cities I was surprised by the sheer numbers of new Audis, Mercedes', and Buicks mixed with plenty of electric bicycles. Traffic was more like Europe than the US as the guide told us people regarded the red lights and white lines more as suggestions than rules. Walking across the big boulevards in Bejing was frightening and exciting both (obviously we survived :) )

 

My last comment is that things are clearly tremendously different for different people and at different times. For example while we did indeed find it very smoggy in Xi'an we loved the Hilton hotel as it was amongst the most upscale elegant rooms we've ever stayed in anywhere in the world. The electric switches were briefly confusing until we noted English small print on each switch noting what it was for including even operating the drapes in one case.

 

I also thought the ship was in top shape and far more elegant than the discriptions I'd read here led me to believe. Only the outside looked a little worn and blended in well with the other ships. Remember that this is just one opinion too.

 

Karl

Edited November 1, 2012 by kbert92069
Caught one of possibly many typos

[Viking Cruises]

To all of you who are going on the China Viking River Cruise. Here is my review:

 

Do not take robe, slippers, or umbrella...all furnished at all hotels and on boat. Take plenty of toilet paper, toilet seat covers, hand sanitizers, and a hand-held battery operated fan--all to be found in the camping section of WalMart. Take hat. It was VERY humid. I understand that cooler weather has arrived; I'm sure also very welcomed!

 

Went a day early to Beijing. We made reservations at the Black Sesame Seed Kitchen--best meal we had on the trip. Our table was the United Nations: 4 from South America; 2 from Denmark; 3 from NYC; 3 from Florida, and 2 Texans.

 

Bought scarves (do the lighter test to determine whether or not they are 100% silk) at the silk market.....offer 20 to 30 percent of what the vendor is asking. Good place to purchase children's kites. Bought pearls for granddaughters and jade in Beijing. Bought embroidered picture in Shanghai...is being shipped; bought more scarves in Hong Kong; bought chess sets for grandsons and beautiful dolls and fans for granddaughters in Shanghai at the gardens; at wholesale jewelry in Aberdeen bought beautiful carved jade bracelet for a daughter. Prices are not as cheap as one would think they would be anywhere in China. Bought a beautiful embroidered cashmere stole in Tibet at the government store. Most of the time the street vendors and street markets just have junk....beware!!!

 

We were fortunate enough to be in a very homogenous group...all very nice and friendly; no one was rude and only one time was anyone late. Our guide, Leo, was superb. He is the epitome of outstanding kindness, organization, professionalism, and decent human being. He knew where every "happy room" western toilet was everywhere we went, and everything went as planned. We were under heavy security in Tibet but a very interesting city, Lhasa. All hotels were 5 star...the Hilton in Xian was the least favorite. No one in our group ever figured out the light switches in any hotel!!!

 

If you go to Tibet, be sure to get the high altitude medicine. Even some who took this medication experienced problems; two couples had to have oxygen and IVs. The terra cotta warriors were unbelievable...the old farmer is there signing the books that are sold in the museum gift store and you can take a picture of him if you pay him. Go to all of the shows--even the Beijing Opera...the costumes and music are wonderful. Chinese food is very bland but there is an enormous amount of it at every place....the dumpling dinner in Xian was a hoot!!!! 18 different kinds of dumplings....I had to stop after 5!!!

 

Be sure to go to the school...it was the highlight of our trip. The children sing and dance for you and perform for you in the classroom. We took Crayolas (one of the few products still made in the USA) and pencils. My husband was a hit with his Texas map showing them where we were from. The kids all loved playing "Talking Carl" on my iPhone. There is a cash donation box if you don't take gifts.

 

Take a little something from your state or hometown to give to the hostess whose home you visit in the hutongs to have tea. Makes one very humble and grateful for all of our blessings in the USA. We also had tea with a Tibetan family in Lhasa....we took her some little mugs with our hometown and Texas on them.....she really appreciated them.

 

If the Viking river boat, Emerald, was built only two years ago, then it was obviously built in China....already showing signs of wear and tear. The wait staff, Maggie and Eddie, were fabulous and these are such hard-working, talented young kids.

 

Worst memory of China: the constant smell of sewage emanating from the sewer grates wherever you went. Pollution is really bad; two of us had to wear masks on several days. The cloying smell of oil or potpourri in the Fairmont hotel on the Bund in Shanghai was overpowering.

 

The Chinese people were kind and their lifestyles are very difficult for me to comprehend because it is so crowded and there is no personal space for them....to live in 300 square feet and travel so far to work (if they do work) is difficult to understand. We are very grateful for our experience.

 

This is not a trip for the faint of heart nor the lame or crippled. It is a very arduous trip....get in shape before you go or you will be left behind. I cannot imagine going from Shanghai to Beijing with you ending up climbing the Wall and walking the Square, Forbidden Palace, and Summer Palace....thank goodness we went from Beijing to Shanghai...got the worst over with first.

 

Thanks to Leo for a flawless trip; thanks to Viking for the experience; thanks to everyone in our group. Cruise Critic.com helped immensely in our planning on what to take and what to expect. We were the most knowledgeable in our group because of all of the great information you shared with us on this thread.

 

Enjoy your time in China. So glad for the experience, but don't ask us to meet you for Chinese food any time soon!!!

 

Ruthlynn from Texas

 

Dear Ruthlynn,

 

Welcome home from your cruise! We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed your trip and found the children at the Viking-sponsored school to be a highlight. You made a brief mention of the ship “showing signs of wear and tear” and we’d very much appreciate hearing some more specifics around this concern. We’d of course also welcome any other additional feedback that you may have and hope you will contact us at TellUs@vikingrivercruises.com.

 

Very best,

Viking River Cruises

[Peregrina651]

I am so excited!

 

I'm taking off work tomorrow (Thursday) just to get packed. Then it is off to O'Hare (Chicago) for the 14.5 hour flight to Shanghai on Friday.

 

We are on the Cultural Delights with the 4-day add on of Hong Kong. I'll be sure to report back after Thanksgiving!:D

 

WOW!!!! Finally the big day is here. I remember when you were just checking things out! Wishing you a big BON VOYAGE!!

 

We loved the Cultural Delights!! The added stops on the lower river were beautiful, engaging, enchanting -- and a part of China that isn't on the usual cruise tours, so it is somewhat off the beaten track for foreign tourists.

 

Allow plenty of time at O'Hare. We stayed right at the Hilton and it still took us a while from hotel to gate.

[Peregrina651]

We also found some complainers. There were a few people who it seemed to me were attempting to confirm their own preconceived notions of how terrible China is and were unwilling to open their eyes and hearts and see the real country.

 

 

Karl

 

The more I travel, the more I want to sit at the 'glass half full' table!!

[recyclelady]

I'm doing the final touches on my packing. I have the whole Viking package they sent me with lanyards, clips, stickers, etc. I put the red leather luggage tag on my suitcase and stuck the second leather on my husband's bag. Am I supposed to do anything else with the other things or do I just take them along?

[Peregrina651]

I'm doing the final touches on my packing. I have the whole Viking package they sent me with lanyards, clips, stickers, etc. I put the red leather luggage tag on my suitcase and stuck the second leather on my husband's bag. Am I supposed to do anything else with the other things or do I just take them along?

 

Take them along. You make use/need them later in the trip..

 

Have the China itineraries switched over to lanyards and name badges rather than the pins we used in 2010 or are they still using pin on name badges?

[recyclelady]

Take them along. You make use/need them later in the trip..

 

Have the China itineraries switched over to lanyards and name badges rather than the pins we used in 2010 or are they still using pin on name badges?

No pins. Just a plastic card with our name on it and an attachable lanyard.

[Peregrina651]

No pins. Just a plastic card with our name on it and an attachable lanyard.

Bring a sharpie marker so that you can write your escort's cell phone number on the back of that name card. If you ever get separated from the group, you can use that number to find your guide. Just ask anyone with a cell phone to call for you. If you look lost and desperate, it won't take much language skill to get your point across. I heard somewhere, that younger females are your best bet for finding an English speaker.

[caribill]

Bring a sharpie marker so that you can write your escort's cell phone number on the back of that name card. If you ever get separated from the group, you can use that number to find your guide. Just ask anyone with a cell phone to call for you. If you look lost and desperate, it won't take much language skill to get your point across. I heard somewhere, that younger females are your best bet for finding an English speaker.

 

Our guide had his cell phone number on the back of the name pin when he gave it to us.

[recyclelady]

Bring a sharpie marker so that you can write your escort's cell phone number on the back of that name card. If you ever get separated from the group, you can use that number to find your guide. Just ask anyone with a cell phone to call for you. If you look lost and desperate, it won't take much language skill to get your point across. I heard somewhere, that younger females are your best bet for finding an English speaker.

I just stuck a Sharpie in my carryon!

 

Any other ideas from anyone? I have until 8:00 am when the limo picks me up!:D

[kbert92069]

Take them along. You make use/need them later in the trip..

 

Have the China itineraries switched over to lanyards and name badges rather than the pins we used in 2010 or are they still using pin on name badges?

 

You still get the lanyards and badges in the Viking package before you go but your escort will give you a pin with your name and his/her mobile phone number on the back. People quickly forgot the original Viking name cards. Most escorts also put their name in Chinese on the front of the new pin so the drivers could quickly make sure people were getting on the right bus.

 

Our guide also gave us a uniquely colored ribbon to tie on our luggage which matched the ribbon on the top of the Viking flag he carried. I believe the others did this too.

[kbert92069]

I just stuck a Sharpie in my carryon!

 

Any other ideas from anyone? I have until 8:00 am when the limo picks me up!:D

 

I recommend a tiny flashlight. It helps reading the tiny labels on the hotel room light switches. All the rooms had switched night lights but they always seemed either too bright or in the wrong area for me.

[Peregrina651]

Our guide had his cell phone number on the back of the name pin when he gave it to us.

 

I haven't heard if they are still giving out the pins as well but Viking is now sending name badges/ sea-cards and lanyards along with the docs. Maybe someone who traveled this year can bring us up to date.

 

Since I haven't heard how the guides are handling the phone number business, I suggested a sharpie. If the escorts don't give a number, then they can ask for it.

[Glassespro]

Having just returned, you are correct about the lanyards and punched cards. But as already mentioned, the guides (for all of our groups) handed out a smaller name pin which they asked us to wear. It turns out that this was also used to alert some of the entry people at various museums and public sites. They would tell the person, "I've got 32 people with this pin on," and you see the entry folks counting the pins. Worked very well. So after the first day, most of the people wore the pins, with only a few using the lanyards.

[Peregrina651]

Having just returned, you are correct about the lanyards and punched cards. But as already mentioned, the guides (for all of our groups) handed out a smaller name pin which they asked us to wear. It turns out that this was also used to alert some of the entry people at various museums and public sites. They would tell the person, "I've got 32 people with this pin on," and you see the entry folks counting the pins. Worked very well. So after the first day, most of the people wore the pins, with only a few using the lanyards.

 

 

Jim, thanks for update. I just could not remember all that has been said.

[bettybc]

Hi there. Just talked to our travel nurse and she's strongly recommending anti-malaria medication for the river part of the cruise - based on her information, malaria is a real threat while on the river portion of our trip. Wondering if this is necessary - other medications and immunizations are up to date.

Any feedback would be appreciated.:)

[caribill]

Hi there. Just talked to our travel nurse and she's strongly recommending anti-malaria medication for the river part of the cruise - based on her information, malaria is a real threat while on the river portion of our trip. Wondering if this is necessary - other medications and immunizations are up to date.

Any feedback would be appreciated.:)

 

We did not take any anti-malaria medication when we went. It was early August and I do not remember even seeing one mosquito.

 

You may want to check the CDC web site to see what parts of China they feel this medication might be needed.