Viking China (Part 2)

[Peregrina651]

Does any one travel with a CPAP ? I need distilled water for my machine, I have just gotten my and haven't been able to find out if distilled water is available on the ship or the hotels.

 

Icemom and anyone else with special medical needs--distilled water, refrigeration for drugs, gluten free, etc. -- you should contact Viking directly at least a month before you leave to make arrangements for such accommodations. If you booked with a Travel Agent, your TA may have to make this call.

 

From the Viking website: Guests who have any medical, physical or other special needs should check the fleet information on our website to gain an understanding of the layout of any particular ship, and should contact Viking River Cruises, Inc., at 1-877-668-4546 (1-877-66VIKING) directly with additional questions and to obtain a copy of our Policy Statement.

[Peregrina651]

Thanks, SFL, for the Westin rundown. I will send them my Starwood number before we leave.

We fly out on St Patricks Day and will see you when we gather the first morning.

Safe travels

 

Just keep in mind that even if you are a Starwood member, the benefit may not be available to you for any one of a number of reasons --like it wasn't booked online or because you are booked at the group rate. Darn that fine print.

[Bruin Steve]

I have a CPAP...

I enquired of the company regarded distilled water and they told me that, if distilled water was unavailable, my unit would work just fine using ordinary bottled filtered drinking water instead...

 

But, for traveling, with my unit, the humidifying unit is actually detachable from the main unit...and, when traveling, I take along only the main unit--which is much smaller and does not require water of any kind...making it much easier to travel with...Yes, the air pumping through is drier, but it really doesn't bother me in the least...

[Bruin Steve]

As to WiFi, we had free WiFi at every hotel we stayed at...It was NOT always free to ALL hotel guests (IIRC, there was a charge at the Xi'an Hilton), but Viking arranged for its guests to have the WiFi at no charge and they provided us with a special code when asked...

[Viking Cruises]

Dear All

Thankyou all for your helpful hints on your Viking China experience. We leave in a few days for our 28 hour endurance flight to Beijing. I hope the Viking service on land is better than the less than friendly customer service of Viking Air.

For those of you staying at the Westin here is the schedule of WIFI/Internet Charges. Its about 12USD per day:

INTERNET ACCESS

Free internet is available to all SPG Members when booking on Starwood websites, mobile sites and SPG apps. Benefits vary by membership level. Le

Wired And Wireless High Speed Internet Access In Guest Rooms

Fee: 90 CNY per day

Wireless High Speed Internet Access In Public Areas

Fee: 3-90 CNY per day

High Speed Internet Access In Business Center

The Business Center offers guests complimentary wireless High Speed Internet Access and wired High Speed Internet Access for CNY 3 per minute.

High Speed Internet Access In Executive Club Level

Guests staying in Executive Club Level rooms or suites receive complimentary High Speed Internet Access.

See you at the airport:D

 

Dear SFL,

 

We’ve made note of your displeasure with the service you received from our air department; please accept our apologies. We strive to meet high service standards in all areas of our business -- within every department and on every ship. If you would like to provide us with more direct feedback about your particular experience, we would welcome hearing from you at TellUs@vikingcruises.com.

 

If you’re unable to contact us before you leave home for your journey to China, please consider contacting us when you return. We wish you a fabulous trip and hope to hear from you sometime soon.

 

Kind regards,

Viking Cruises

[Mark_T]

Just keep in mind that even if you are a Starwood member, the benefit may not be available to you for any one of a number of reasons --like it wasn't booked online or because you are booked at the group rate. Darn that fine print.

 

If it helps, I had no problems adding my Starwood number to our room when we were at the Westin Bund Center in Shanghai, but it also wasn't necessary as the wifi is provided free in all rooms.

 

There was also free Wifi at the Kerry in Beijing and the Crown Plaza in Xi'an.

[SFL]

Hi All

We arrived in Beijing. Internet in the rooms is free at the Westin.. so on your free day, behind the hotel is a great Chinese restaurant called the Mei Zhou Dong Po. They have a smoked roasted duck that is fabulous. The only problem is communication. Our waitstaff did not speak english, so we ordered from a picture menu and sign language. It added to the fun, but the meal stood up on its own merits. The prices were surprisingly low for the taste, cleanliness and quality. The tour of the Emperor's Palace and Temple were well worth the added expense.

Viking's ground game is starting out right on.

Jet lag is setting in.. so will write again when I can:D

[Going Coastal]

SFL, Thanks for those two important bits of info. You solved the internet question and good place to eat all in one posting. We are ten days behind you and appreciate the informative post. Safe travels.

 

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk

[Rodie H]

Thanks for the report Going Coastal. If you get a chance, what is the weather really like? I am still almost a month away but when I check reports they range from 32 as the high to 71!

 

Do enjoy and I join the others in waiting for reports whenever you get a change.:confused:

 

 

Gilda

[Going Coastal]

Since we are flying Tuesday, I have been using current temps. This week has warmed up to 40s at night and 50s daytime there. I will try to check in while in Beijing with more precise numbers.

[Going Coastal]

PS

And will note if "clear" actually is!

[Live4cruises]

We've been carefully planning lightweight and easily rinsed out clothes. This evening though, we looked at Viking's laundry prices on line, and have some questions for those who have actually been there.

The list shows the currency symbol for RMB, and laundry for a pair of trousers is 6.00. Great bargain - just about $1 USD. Then we looked at the European list. It looks just the same, except where the RMB symbol is for China, the Euro symbol is for Europe. All of the NUMERALS, though, are the same. So, a pair of trousers in Europe, is 6.00 Euro, $7 or $8. Same situation with Russia, although the currency isn't specified, the list just says "price units", again trousers are 6.00 of them.

 

Can anybody confirm China laundry costs on board - at least a ball park figure?

 

Thank you!

[Going Coastal]

Will try to remember to look next week. SFL is there now, I believe.

[Live4cruises]

Going Coastal, we're leaving tomorrow and will be on the same sailing as you are! :)

 

For anyone who went in 2014, do you happen to recall anything about relative laundry prices?

[Peregrina651]

We've been carefully planning lightweight and easily rinsed out clothes. This evening though, we looked at Viking's laundry prices on line, and have some questions for those who have actually been there.

The list shows the currency symbol for RMB, and laundry for a pair of trousers is 6.00. Great bargain - just about $1 USD. Then we looked at the European list. It looks just the same, except where the RMB symbol is for China, the Euro symbol is for Europe. All of the NUMERALS, though, are the same. So, a pair of trousers in Europe, is 6.00 Euro, $7 or $8. Same situation with Russia, although the currency isn't specified, the list just says "price units", again trousers are 6.00 of them.

 

Can anybody confirm China laundry costs on board - at least a ball park figure?

 

Thank you!

 

 

NO. It is not a buck to have a pair of trousers washed. It will be closer to the $6 that you see on the chart but I can't quote you an exact price. I can only say from past experience that it was not a dollar for any item.

 

Your shipboard account will be charged in RMB for all shipboard purchases.

 

Maybe someone who is there now can photograph and post the laundry price list. There is one in each cabin.

 

We did use the laundry service when we were there five years ago and were very happy with it. No problem with shrinkage. Everything came back either folded or on hangers --and usually the same day.

 

We hand-washed our undies but nothing larger. After wrapping in a towel and squeezing out as much water as possible, they were ready to wear 24 hours later. Unless we were in the room, we did not put anything on our balcony to dry-and then only when we were underway. At night, we ran the fan in the bathroom for some circulation; the bathrooms get very humid. Anything larger than undies we sent out to be laundered.

 

Someone tried washing jeans in the bathroom sink. It took days for them to finally dry --and we were traveling in May.

[Live4cruises]

Thanks, Peregrina, that confirms the logic, that there was no way laundry would be (essentially) free. We will leave our lightweight clothes packed as planned and leave the jeans at home.

 

Grinning from ear to ear about finally getting ready to GO!

[icemom5120]

Is any one posting here on the Cultural Delights starting on March 31st?

[Going Coastal]

Sorry, icemom, we are CD, March18. And to Liv 4cruises, see you very soon!

 

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk

[Donray]

.

 

Maybe someone who is there now can photograph and post the laundry price list. There is one in each cabin.

 

 

http://wpc.475d.edgecastcdn.net/00475D/PDF/china_laundry_list.pdf

[caribill]

NO. It is not a buck to have a pair of trousers washed. It will be closer to the $6 that you see on the chart but I can't quote you an exact price. I can only say from past experience that it was not a dollar for any item.

 

 

http://wpc.475d.edgecastcdn.net/00475D/PDF/china_laundry_list.pdf

 

 

Looks like 6 RMB for a pair of trousers per that price list.

[Peregrina651]

Looks like 6 RMB for a pair of trousers per that price list.

 

Actually, the link is for the laundry list that is posted on the Viking website, which is the same list that has Live4 confused.

 

I asked if someone could photograph the price list that is being used on the ship in hopes that it would give the prices in yuan.

[Going Coastal]

Maybe SFL will see this and send a pic. They should be on the river by now. Our group will not be on Emerald for another week but I will definitely be having laundry done and will try let you know.

[oceanbreeze999]

We finally booked and paid the “Imperial Jewels of China” on Viking Emerald extended to Guilin and Hong Kong ( May 15 to 31, 2015)

 

I naively thought that for all the $$ we paid; Viking would make all arrangements and organize our days/time on the trip. After reviewing the itinerary I realized that there is a lot and I mean LOT of “free time” and “dining on your own” I must admit I am not very skilled/resourceful to organize my ..”free time”..

 

Would some more skilled and seasoned traveler please help/advise what to do with all that ..”Free time”.. and perhaps suggest where to go for our ..”Dinners on our own”..??

 

We arrive in Shanghai, on May 15, 2015 at 3:15 pm afternoon and transfer to hotel Ritz-Carlton financial district. Meals are on our own. Any suggestions where to eat and what to do for rest of the day (after 14 hr flight)

 

Day 4| Yueyang, any option to visit of an elementary school?? (I really, really need to spend some time away from any elementary school…)

 

Day 5 | Any options to Three Gorges Dam? (I do not visit dams back home…)

 

Day 8 | Chongqing, How long is a “ brief tour” of Chongqing Zoo? is there enough time to see giant pandas? After flight to Xian/transfer to Sheraton North City hotel…what to do with free time in Xian?

 

Day 9 | Xian, another.. “free time”.. after lunch” any suggestions??

 

Day 10 | Check in to your hotel Beijing Ritz-Carlton and ..”enjoy free time”...

Day 12 | Beijing, another..” free time”.. to explore Beijing on our own”.. any suggestions??

 

Day 13 (EXT 1) | fly to Guilin.. evening is ..”free to relax”..

Day 14 | (EXT 2) Guilin fly to Hong Kong ..”enjoy free time”..”dinner is on your own”..

Day 15 |(EXT 3) Hong Kong..”afternoon free time”.. “Lunch and dinner on your own”..

Day 16 | (EXT 4) Hong Kong ..”full day on your own” ..”Lunch and dinner on your own”..

 

Day 17 |(EXT 5) Hong Kong after breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight to Toronto. My flight is at 3:00 PM!! Do I have to spend a day at airport??

 

THANK YOU ALL FOR ADVISE

OCEANBREEZE

[Bruin Steve]

My comments in red:

 

We finally booked and paid the “Imperial Jewels of China” on Viking Emerald extended to Guilin and Hong Kong ( May 15 to 31, 2015)

 

I naively thought that for all the $$ we paid; Viking would make all arrangements and organize our days/time on the trip. After reviewing the itinerary I realized that there is a lot and I mean LOT of “free time” and “dining on your own” I must admit I am not very skilled/resourceful to organize my ..”free time”..

 

Would some more skilled and seasoned traveler please help/advise what to do with all that ..”Free time”.. and perhaps suggest where to go for our ..”Dinners on our own”..??

 

Actually, if you consider that it does include hotels in Giulin and 3 nights in Hong Kong and air to Giulin and Guilin to Hong Kong and some tours, it is not all that bad...

 

They had us staying at the Shangri La Kowloon and we were a little tired of all of the "local" food by that point in the trip and found there were a lot of Western restautrants within a block or two of the hotel... We ate in an Italian place right across the street and in the Outback Steakhouse around the corner...

 

As to free time in Hong Kong (We did have a very good tour as part of the package one day that took us all over the area...and the tour escorts actually threw in an unscheduled walking tour for the group one day), we took the ferry across the harbor, then the series of escalaters up to the top of the mountain and walked down, visiting the Synagogue on the way down... In the evening one night, we walked along the Kowloon Waterfront to a view spot for the "Light Show"...

 

We arrive in Shanghai, on May 15, 2015 at 3:15 pm afternoon and transfer to hotel Ritz-Carlton financial district. Meals are on our own. Any suggestions where to eat and what to do for rest of the day (after 14 hr flight)

 

We did this in reverse--started in Beijing--so we didn't have any dinners on our own in Shanghai, just in Beijing...

 

Day 4| Yueyang, any option to visit of an elementary school?? (I really, really need to spend some time away from any elementary school…)

 

My wife is a school psychologist for the LA City schools...but, even she enjoyed this visit...it really isn't that long a visit...nothing really else to do here...

 

Day 5 | Any options to Three Gorges Dam? (I do not visit dams back home…)

 

Again, not much else to see here...Most consider this a highlight of the visit to China...You are not just seeing the dam, you are seeing the scenery.

Day 8 | Chongqing, How long is a “ brief tour” of Chongqing Zoo? is there enough time to see giant pandas? After flight to Xian/transfer to Sheraton North City hotel…what to do with free time in Xian?

 

Day 9 | Xian, another.. “free time”.. after lunch” any suggestions??

 

Day 10 | Check in to your hotel Beijing Ritz-Carlton and ..”enjoy free time”...

Day 12 | Beijing, another..” free time”.. to explore Beijing on our own”.. any suggestions??

 

We took a taxi to the Lama Temple...Very interesting. For meals on your own, there are a number of restaurants right out the nack door of the Ritz and across the street...If you can't find them, just ask the hotels staff...one of them walked us out the door and pointed us in the right direction.

 

Day 13 (EXT 1) | fly to Guilin.. evening is ..”free to relax”..

Day 14 | (EXT 2) Guilin fly to Hong Kong ..”enjoy free time”..”dinner is on your own”..

Day 15 |(EXT 3) Hong Kong..”afternoon free time”.. “Lunch and dinner on your own”..

Day 16 | (EXT 4) Hong Kong ..”full day on your own” ..”Lunch and dinner on your own”..

 

Day 17 |(EXT 5) Hong Kong after breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight to Toronto. My flight is at 3:00 PM!! Do I have to spend a day at airport??

 

Everyone in our group hung at the hotel and left van by van in accordance with our flight times.

 

THANK YOU ALL FOR ADVISE

OCEANBREEZE

[Mark_T]

I'll attempt a few answers, but we did the trip the other way around and without the extension so some parts may vary:

 

"Day 4| Yueyang, any option to visit of an elementary school?? (I really, really need to spend some time away from any elementary school…)"

 

There will be no official alternative and the area where the ship docks is not particularly good for independent walking, but talk to your guide and see if they can arrange transport (at your cost) to somewhere else that you might find more interesting, but given the area I suspect it is only going to be a regional shopping center or similar.

 

"Day 5 | Any options to Three Gorges Dam? (I do not visit dams back home…)"

 

The dam is very much the point of the stop and is worth a visit if only for the views you get from the top and the experience of seeing this amazing structure up close. Nothing else really close by from memory, but again you can always ask...

 

"Day 8 | Chongqing, How long is a “ brief tour” of Chongqing Zoo? is there enough time to see giant pandas? After flight to Xian/transfer to Sheraton North City hotel…what to do with free time in Xian?"

 

The brief part refers to the tour of the town, not the zoo. You'll have plenty of time to see the pandas and there are plenty of them to see as well. The only thing that can alter the time available is the timing of the flights on the day, but they are usually after lunch so should not be a problem.

 

Once in Xi'an you will not really have long before dinner which is arranged for you and you will need some time to relax anyway. Flight times dictate how much time you'll have and delays are not uncommon so it isn't practical for them to arrange anything special that evening.

 

"Day 9 | Xian, another.. “free time”.. after lunch” any suggestions??"

 

The town is typically just a short walk from the hotel and that is what most people elected to do on our visit although once again, this was not a long period of time so some just relaxed in the hotel before dinner and the show in the evening.

 

"Day 10 | Check in to your hotel Beijing Ritz-Carltonand ..”enjoy free time”... "

 

Another flight time dependent day. You may get to Beijing in time to have a good wander around the area surrounding your hotel or you may arrive a little before dinner, no way to be sure at the moment which is why nothing is planned for that day.

 

"Day 12 | Beijing, another..” free time”.. to explore Beijing on our own”.. any suggestions?? "

 

The afternoon was where they used to offer an optional 'Summer Palace' tour, even if it is not official you could still go there on your own, or visit one of the many other places easily reached via taxi or metro. Your guide will be able to offer suggestions and help there.

 

I'll leave the HK comments for others who have done it, but in general the free time seems to fall around the uncertainties of flight times and the fact that there are many things to do and places to see in HK, some of which are suggested in the itinerary and others your guide will help with but most people appreciate some flexibility to make their own choices there.

 

"Day 17 |(EXT 5) Hong Kong after breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight to Toronto. My flight is at 3:00 PM!! Do I have to spend a day at airport??"

 

With a 3pm departure they are going to want to get you to the airport around midday, so a late breakfast is going to have you packing and checking out just before they want you ready to leave anyway.