Viking China

[Atlanta Cruisers]

Romeo,

Did you bargain with the shopkeepers in the Shanghai underground mall? Where did you exchange $$? You have been wonderful with your advice. Thanks again.

[Romeosc]

Romeo,

Did you bargain with the shopkeepers in the Shanghai underground mall? Where did you exchange $$? You have been wonderful with your advice. Thanks again.

 

 

Yes BARGAIN EVERYWHERE! Even the museum stores! We got Yuans at each of the hotels we stayed at. We exchanged US to Yuans. Most merchants took credit cards. Make sure to check which credit card companies about fees. I got a Capital One card just because they waived the 1% on top of exchange rate that other card companies charge.

 

Some good info here: http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/foreign-transaction-conversion-fees-1276.php

 

 

 

 

The only merchant we didn't bargain with is the older gentlemen who made our custom placque. He was so nice. Spoke NO english and we had 10-20 nice teenagers come by to help explain what we wanted! He had a table full of pre-made keychains etc

 

Make sure that at each stop, if you see something you like bargain and get it, because most items will be different from city to city! I looked for polo shirts with collars and Beijing, or Shanghai on them, but never could find them. Some olympic stuff left over, should have bought them. T shirts everywhere, but when we asked for polo shirts, they showed us Lacoste and US knockoffs. US brands everywhere!

 

Ps wife found pearls & Jade were cheaper on ship that at factory stores. You really have to bargain at Factory stores!

 

Compare bargains with fellow tourists and reward vendors that have good deals by recommending them to fellow shoppers!

[Peregrina651]

 

Ps wife found pearls & Jade were cheaper on ship that at factory stores. You really have to bargain at Factory stores!

 

 

And you do even better on pearls at Pearl City in Shanghai (or similar arrangement in Beijing). This according to my brother who bought a 16 inch string of 8 mm pearls for $125. Pearl City is on the big shopping street in Shanghai (wish I could remember the name off the top of my head). You do have to bargain, that is expected wherever you go, and you should do some homework before shopping so that you know that you are doing better than what you could find at home. Once you choose your pearls and clasp and bargain the price, they string them for you while you wait.

 

Pearl City is not just one store. It is a series of stores/kiosks. It is not a long cab ride from the hotel. The pearl shopping lesson from my brother also included the fact that the pearls were fresh-water pearls and that salt-water pearls are way more expensive.

 

My brother said that they went pearl shopping the afternoon they arrived in Shanghai (they had both slept well on the plane) and again in Beijing before they left for the airport.

[Romeosc]

And you do even better on pearls at Pearl City in Shanghai (or similar arrangement in Beijing). This according to my brother who bought a 16 inch string of 8 mm pearls for $125. Pearl City is on the big shopping street in Shanghai (wish I could remember the name off the top of my head). You do have to bargain, that is expected wherever you go, and you should do some homework before shopping so that you know that you are doing better than what you could find at home. Once you choose your pearls and clasp and bargain the price, they string them for you while you wait.

 

Pearl City is not just one store. It is a series of stores/kiosks. It is not a long cab ride from the hotel. The pearl shopping lesson from my brother also included the fact that the pearls were fresh-water pearls and that salt-water pearls are way more expensive.

 

My brother said that they went pearl shopping the afternoon they arrived in Shanghai (they had both slept well on the plane) and again in Beijing before they left for the airport.

 

 

The place you are talking about is Hongqiao Pearl Market on the corner on Ya'nan Road and Hongmei Road. Prices were good, but almost same as on ship, and Viking guarantees the quality if purchased from them. The only thing that I didn't like about ship was exchange rate changed before we checked out and prices were changed thusly! I felt that it should have been at exchange rate of day of purchase not checkout, but we could have benifited if rate reversed!

[caribill]

The only thing that I didn't like about ship was exchange rate changed before we checked out and prices were changed thusly! I felt that it should have been at exchange rate of day of purchase not checkout, but we could have benifited if rate reversed!

 

Does the ship do the exchange rate conversion from Yuan to US$ or is the final charge made in Yuan and your bank does the conversion to US$?

[Romeosc]

Does the ship do the exchange rate conversion from Yuan to US$ or is the final charge made in Yuan and your bank does the conversion to US$?

 

 

The ship settles up in US Dollars. My only complaint is that we negotiated a $ price for some items in jewelry shop and when we got our bill prior to disembarkment the price was higher since conversion rate changed. I felt that since we picked up merchandise and signed a ticket, the price was set. They told me the merchant is a contractor and doesn't bill Viking until night before docking. It is an accounting thing!

[caribill]

The ship settles up in US Dollars. My only complaint is that we negotiated a $ price for some items in jewelry shop and when we got our bill prior to disembarkment the price was higher since conversion rate changed. I felt that since we picked up merchandise and signed a ticket, the price was set. They told me the merchant is a contractor and doesn't bill Viking until night before docking. It is an accounting thing!

 

Is the conversion rate at least a reasonable one or is there a nice profit for Viking built into the conversion? For China/US, the conversion rate seldom changes.

[Romeosc]

Is the conversion rate at least a reasonable one or is there a nice profit for Viking built into the conversion? For China/US, the conversion rate seldom changes.

 

Exchange rate is actual. By Chinese law all exchange rates are controlled by government. Hotels etc are all same

[carol's cruises]

Hi everyone :D Just booked the Imperial Jewels trip today for Sept 10th. We're also doing the Hong Kong extension.

I must say I've been reading this thread for several days and have been very impressed (and grateful) for all the good information that has been given and shared. This is our first river cruise and trip to China. A whole new ball game! I've got many more pages to read - just wanted to stop by and say hello.

Cathy & Dan

Why does noone ever post that they have booked the Tibet extension? It is magical!!!

[Romeosc]

The grroup who were on our trip booked the Tibet extension, but because we were there during the 60 aniversary of National Day. The border was closed for security reasons. They were treated to a day at a Panda Preserve. Viking had no notice, bit the people were very pleased how Viking handled the change.

[Cathys Cruising]

Why does noone ever post that they have booked the Tibet extension? It is magical!!!

 

 

I would have loved to! But' date=' DH hasn't retired retired yet and only has a certain amount of time for vacation. You work with what ya got.:D I gave up a week in New York City in August (I've never been) just so we could add the Hong Kong extension. Hoping my nephew who is stationed in Japan will be able to meet us there for a couple days.[/size']

 

Cathy

[Atlanta Cruisers]

Where is everybody? Let's keep this thread going. Hope everyone has been able to dig out, if you've had snow.

[gooch47]

We're definitely ready to head for warmer weather!

 

We're looking forward to China, but first we have an Amazon River Cruise in March which is kind of the center of attraction right now.

 

We're also slightly interested in another Viking Cruise for maybe this fall, the Nile River "Pathways of the Pharaohs." I posted another thread asking for any information anyone might have, but no replies yet.

[wallygator]

Where is everybody? Let's keep this thread going. Hope everyone has been able to dig out, if you've had snow.

 

 

 

Just waiting and getting ready for our April China trip. Will be here in a blink of the eye. No snow here. Visa time soon. Bora Bora and Costa Rica then Aruba after China. Great to have somthing to look forward to.:):o

 

Cheers:)

[Dale]

We're definitely ready to head for warmer weather!

 

We're looking forward to China, but first we have an Amazon River Cruise in March which is kind of the center of attraction right now.

Looks as if you will be traveling 2 of the worlds great rivers this year. You will definitely be headed to warmer weather on the Amazon. A quick question are you a “Pollywog” or a “Shellback”? We also sailed the Amazon in May 2006 with Princess from Manaus to Ft. Lauderdale. Here’s a couple of pictures of something you should try while you are on the Amazon. My wife caught a couple of these Piranhas on one of our tours on the river. Several more were caught by other members of the tour. Our guide cleaned and cooked them and we ate them on the tour boat. They weren’t bad.

 

[/img]

[gooch47]

Neat! I had hoped to try some fishing. We had quite a few river trips scheduled.

 

We are Shellbacks many times over, especially since we've been to the Galapagos twice and on that cruise you cross and recross the equator quite a few times sailing around the islands. Here is a neat picture we have of our first visit to Quito:

 

http://i455.photobucket.com/albums/qq279/gooch47/IMG_8200.jpg

 

Let's see, Australia three times, South Pacific twice, South America twice, and the Galapagos twice. We've been above the Arctic Circle once, too, but never below the Antarctic.

[Atlanta Cruisers]

Since we're sharing future travel plans, we're heading to Israel in June. Also booked an Azamara cruise Hong Kong to Singapore in February 2011.

[PINEY10]

Anyone going on the Roof of the World cruise scheduled for around April 22 or 23? Just checking if anyone is out there.

 

Also for those veteran China cruisers--when do you find out on which hotels you are staying at?

 

We're scheduled to get another 10 to 20 inches of snow on top of the 28 inches we have. It is pretty though but roads continue to not be well plowed and hazardous, including the interstates. We're ready though--have plenty of ice melt, food, and a generator should power go out. Good luck to all those other east coasters who are hunkering down for the next snow. Be safe.

 

Thanks.

 

Joan

[Romeosc]

Anyone going on the Roof of the World cruise scheduled for around April 22 or 23? Just checking if anyone is out there.

 

Also for those veteran China cruisers--when do you find out on which hotels you are staying at?

 

We're scheduled to get another 10 to 20 inches of snow on top of the 28 inches we have. It is pretty though but roads continue to not be well plowed and hazardous, including the interstates. We're ready though--have plenty of ice melt, food, and a generator should power go out. Good luck to all those other east coasters who are hunkering down for the next snow. Be safe.

 

Thanks.

 

Joan

 

When you receive your booking contract from Viking hotel confirmations are listed.

[Peregrina651]

We booked through a TA and found out the names of the hotels from the TA not too long after we booked. We haven't yet seen a booking contract like the one shown above. I guess the TA's handle things differently.

 

DC is having a tough winter. Hope you don't need that generator.

 

[Atlanta Cruisers]

Got our second Hep B shots and sent our passports for visas...we're ready to start packing!!

[PINEY10]

We decided to use Generations to get our visa even though we live in the DC area. With all the snow and DC traffic, it ended up being fabulous. Sent it out during a snowstorm and got it within 2 weeks. Much better than braving the streets of DC and possibly waiting a long time at the embassy. I recommend them highly. Got our hotels and now just a few months away.

[wallygator]

We decided to use Generations to get our visa even though we live in the DC area. With all the snow and DC traffic, it ended up being fabulous. Sent it out during a snowstorm and got it within 2 weeks. Much better than braving the streets of DC and possibly waiting a long time at the embassy. I recommend them highly. Got our hotels and now just a few months away.

 

 

We just sent ours out last Saturday and with Presidents Day last Monday should we be getting ours back in about two more weeks?

 

Thanks in advance:):)

 

Wally

 

"Keep the bucket full and no peeking" :p

[PINEY10]

I would think about two weeks or give an extra break for a few days or so with the holiday. With us, no mail was going out during the bad snow but we still got it within about two weeks. They seemed very reliable.

[gooch47]

We used a different service and ours took about 3 weeks. It was at the Brazilian Embassy for over two of those weeks.