Viking China (Part 2)

[tommui987]

I have just begun shopping for a new camera as well in anticipation of our China cruise.

I appreciate the discussion of cameras here too.

 

Karl

 

Karl:

 

One of my criteria(criteriae?) for travel photos is to carry a camera that will not break my arm/hand after carrying it for hours.

 

I have used P&S superzooms for travel, the last being a Panasonic FZ100 which has a 25mm-600mm range. It also has the capacity to take JPEG/RAW photos and also take pictures in comparatively low light.

 

In my Viking cruise (and Azamara cruise) in China, I had great success in taking shots of the Terra-Cotta soldiers in Xian, the night lights in Shanghai etc.

 

And of course the camera only weights about a little over a pound! And the flexibility of having a comparatively wide angle and extreme telephone helps!

[tommui987]

Sorry - meant telephoto!!!

[Turtles06]

Sorry - meant telephoto!!!

 

Well, if smartphones have also become cameras, I suppose we should expect our cameras to become phones! ;)

[Romeosc]

Well, if smartphones have also become cameras, I suppose we should expect our cameras to become phones! ;)

 

The iPhone 4s is a good P&S camera.... If Steve Jobs were still alive, he might have made a telephone for your DSLR(LOL)..... I am amazed by how many Apple products I carry on a vacation! (phone, camera, ipad & computer to copy pictures)

[TMLAalum]

I love the idea that smaller groups are formed for the excursions/land tours. But how are they formed? Do you indicate if you prefer mild, moderate or strenuous levels?

 

Currently DH & I are capable of lots of walking, climbing stairs, etc. But who knows how we'll be functioning in 2013....If we are limited in mobility I'd hate to hold others back, but conversely....

[Turtles06]

I love the idea that smaller groups are formed for the excursions/land tours. But how are they formed? Do you indicate if you prefer mild, moderate or strenuous levels?

 

 

Not sure to what you are referring. Unless something has changed since May, at the beginning of the trip, you will be assigned to a specific group, the size of a busload (a bit more than 30 people); your group will have the same Viking tour escort, who will stay with you for the entire trip. Your group will travel together and do the organized tours together. In places where you are given a set time to meet back at the bus, of course you will go off yourself (or with others if you wish) at your own pace.

[caribill]

Not sure to what you are referring. Unless something has changed since May, at the beginning of the trip, you will be assigned to a specific group, the size of a busload (a bit more than 30 people); your group will have the same Viking tour escort, who will stay with you for the entire trip. Your group will travel together and do the organized tours together. In places where you are given a set time to meet back at the bus, of course you will go off yourself (or with others if you wish) at your own pace.

 

Correct.

 

You have no input into which group you will be part of. The groups are basically chosen at random and are not based on activity level.

 

Your group will also be staying at the same hotels and the traveling includes flying on the same planes within China.

[Romeosc]

I love the idea that smaller groups are formed for the excursions/land tours. But how are they formed? Do you indicate if you prefer mild, moderate or strenuous levels?

 

Currently DH & I are capable of lots of walking, climbing stairs, etc. But who knows how we'll be functioning in 2013....If we are limited in mobility I'd hate to hold others back, but conversely....

 

Don't worry, there will be people with all kinds of capabilities on same tour. We had a lady with a motorized cart and also young athletic type. They made concessions for all. Most tours separate for some free time and meet back at bus. The loading of her motorized cart gave many of us more time to shop with the $ vendors.

[SailorSusan]

Has anyone used the airport pickup service provided by the Ritz-Carlton Financial Street Beijing? We are booked on the March 16, 2012 Cultural Delights with Viking and I am sorely tempted to use this service just to get the trip started off on the right foot. The Ritz-Carlton website says that the price is RMB 650 each way but does not say whether that is per person or for the vehicle. I have emailed the hotel but, so far, no response. Does anyone happen to have any experience with this service?

 

Susan

[Command Chief]

I want to thankyou for your posting. I was able to learn a lot from what you provided.

[Turtles06]

Has anyone used the airport pickup service provided by the Ritz-Carlton Financial Street Beijing? We are booked on the March 16, 2012 Cultural Delights with Viking and I am sorely tempted to use this service just to get the trip started off on the right foot. The Ritz-Carlton website says that the price is RMB 650 each way but does not say whether that is per person or for the vehicle. I have emailed the hotel but, so far, no response. Does anyone happen to have any experience with this service?

 

Susan

 

Susan, while we also stayed at the R-C Financial Street in May during the Viking part of our time in Beijing, we didn't use their airport pickup service, but we did at two other hotels in China, and the prices on their web sites were the total prices, not pp. I'm guessing this is the case with the R-C too (particularly since the price would be way out of line if it weren't; we paid RMB 520 to be picked up by the Grand Hyatt in Beijing).

 

If you haven't yet heard back from the R-C, the Front Office Mgr in May was Daniel Darmawan, and his email address was:

 

daniel.darmawanATritzcarltonDOTcom

 

He was very helpful; you might give it a try....

 

Good luck!

[SailorSusan]

Thanks, Turtles06. I did get a reply yesterday from the Ritz Carlton and, as you predicted, the price was for the car, not per person. Unfortunately, the driver does not speak english (we were hoping for a little bit of a tour on the way from the airport) but I think that we will go ahead and book the transfer anyway.

Susan

[Turtles06]

Thanks, Turtles06. I did get a reply yesterday from the Ritz Carlton and, as you predicted, the price was for the car, not per person. Unfortunately, the driver does not speak english (we were hoping for a little bit of a tour on the way from the airport) but I think that we will go ahead and book the transfer anyway.

Susan

 

I think you'll be happy if you do. We'd never done anything like this before, but decided that we'd welcome this after a 14-hour flight halfway around the world, and turning up someplace where we did not speak the language and could not read the signs. Having done it, I can say it was money well spent.

 

And even if you can't converse with your driver, you will sit there looking out the windows, amazed that you are in China!

[Glassespro]

My wife, Gayle, and I are booked on 12 Oct 12 Imperial Jewels. Our hotels will be Beijing--Ritz-Carlton, Financial District; Xian--Westin Xian; Shanghai--Portman Ritz-Carlton. Any info on these hotels will be appreciated.

 

Also, those of you who used the hotel transfer, I'm curious as to why you didn't use the Viking provided transportation? (Our trip document does say it is included if we fly through Viking.)

 

Also, I speak (spoke would be better) Chinese, but it has been almost 40 years since I was fluent, so I am scrambling to relearn my vocabulary. I gamble at a local (LA) casino/card club where most of the dealers are Chinese, or Vietnamese who speak Chinese, so they have all taken me under their collective wing and are speaking to me in Chinese. Very cool.

[BlueDevil75]

5326jan

 

Where have I been for the past six weeks? Answers to your questions.

 

We arranged our air using the Viking Air service. We were looking for the best and most economical connections, but if we had wanated to use a single carrier we could have. We arranged to get in to Shanghai the day before the tours began, but this is day one anyway. Reading other threads many people do arrange to arrive a day early at hteir own expense.

 

There were multiple options for food on the ship. On land you ate what they served, but keep in mind thre were eight to 10 different things to eat - fish, beef, chicken, vegies, etc. My wife was allergic to MSG and another lady was a vegitarian. Our escort made sure both of these ladies had suitable food even if it was special from the kitchen.

 

We were a family of four so our tips were about twice the normal rate. i am a tough tipper. If the guide did agood job I tipped well. if they seemed to be along for the ride I was stingy. I gave the bus driver 20 yuan to $5 per day. I gave the guide anywhere from 20 Yuan to 50 yuan per day.

 

There were safes in all of the hotel rooms and in the ship cabins. Very easy to use.

 

We were on the 2nd deck. there were cabins on the 3rd, 4th andf 5th. Really makes no difference from what i could see. We were very happy in the el cheapo supreme!

[caribill]

Also, those of you who used the hotel transfer, I'm curious as to why you didn't use the Viking provided transportation? (Our trip document does say it is included if we fly through Viking.)

 

 

If you do not arrive on "Day 1" (the day before the touring starts), Viking does not provide the transportation to the hotel.

 

This is because the guides are still with the previous groups and are not available to meet you at the airport, collect your luggage, and meet you at the hotel.

Edited November 23, 2011 by caribill

[Turtles06]

My wife, Gayle, and I are booked on 12 Oct 12 Imperial Jewels. Our hotels will be Beijing--Ritz-Carlton, Financial District; Xian--Westin Xian; Shanghai--Portman Ritz-Carlton. Any info on these hotels will be appreciated.

 

 

If you do a search on this thread, you should find info on these hotels, except the Westin Xi'an, which someone said the other day is new. In fact, I've posted very recently about the Ritz-Carlton in Beijing, which is where we stayed in May.

[recyclelady]

So, I notice that several people know what their hotels will be. We are booked for the Cultural Delights Nov.3, 2012 cruise. When or how will I learn these details?

[Turtles06]

So, I notice that several people know what their hotels will be. We are booked for the Cultural Delights Nov.3, 2012 cruise. When or how will I learn these details?

 

For our May 2011 cruise, Viking told me they would probably know around Aug-Sept. 2010 (and they did). Just give them a call and ask them when they expect to know, then call them around that time if you want. You'll find out faster that way. I always found their phone reps to be friendly and helpful.

[Ryan55]

So, I notice that several people know what their hotels will be. We are booked for the Cultural Delights Nov.3, 2012 cruise. When or how will I learn these details?

 

 

We are on the 11/11/2012 Beijing/Shanghai Imperial Jewels tour and we got our hotel assignments with our initial paperwork this past August. Westin Beijing Financial Street, Crowne Plaza in Xian (looks to be a new hotel opening in early 2012) and Westin Bund in Shanghai. Of course, we are so far out from our trip, that hotel assignments could change, I suppose. Thanks to all who have posted on these Viking China threads. Your tips are invaluable.

[zelker]

For anyone who's stayed on the Main Deck (Cat. E), did you have noise from the deck below you (which must be for crew?)? Thanks.

[beeza]

My wife and I are booked on the Imperial China tour, Sep 20, 2012, have just been talking to travel agent on flights, Detroit gateway, and Viking are trying to book us on an American Airlines filght to Beijing, one stop in Chicago.

 

My reaction to this was why would I book a flight with AA when they are seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Sure they may be sorted by our time to fly, but again they may not be.

 

Looked up various airline ratings AA not rated very highly anyway.

 

What experiences, recommendations do folks have for the flight, no I can't afford 1st class, you're thoughts, recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

[roothy123]

For anyone who's stayed on the Main Deck (Cat. E), did you have noise from the deck below you (which must be for crew?)? Thanks.

 

I didn't hear a thing!

[caribill]

My reaction to this was why would I book a flight with AA when they are seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Sure they may be sorted by our time to fly, but again they may not be.

 

 

 

All the major US airlines except Southwest have been through Chapter 11 and in all of those cases passengers who were booked were able to take their scheduled flights. I would not worry on that account.

 

The flight attendants on our flights were great, even at the back of the coach seating which is where we were. However, the effects of Chapter 11 on their future may affect their level of service.

 

The only thing to be aware of is that you do not want an early flight (before 10 AM) back from Shanghai unless you like to get up extra early in order to get to the airport at least two hours before the flight home. This applies no matter which airline you use.

[roothy123]

My wife and I are booked on the Imperial China tour, Sep 20, 2012, have just been talking to travel agent on flights, Detroit gateway, and Viking are trying to book us on an American Airlines filght to Beijing, one stop in Chicago.

 

My reaction to this was why would I book a flight with AA when they are seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Sure they may be sorted by our time to fly, but again they may not be.

 

Looked up various airline ratings AA not rated very highly anyway.

 

What experiences, recommendations do folks have for the flight, no I can't afford 1st class, you're thoughts, recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

I'm not crazy about AA, but flying to Beijing from anywhere in the U.S. is not easy, so if you only have to change in Chicago, that sounds good to me! I would think that if Viking is providing air fare and AA isn't flying next Sept., they would re-route you. I DO know that Viking is really good about making good if something happens. Two years ago there were unexpected lock problems on the Danube which caused havoc for our cruise. I was really impressed with how Viking handled it (putting us up on short notice in hotels, driving us to cities we were to visit, etc.)

Edited December 4, 2011 by roothy123