Cruising on the Yangtze
Mar 28th, 2004, 03:47 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cruising on the Yangtze
Author: Retired_teacher
Date: 03/28/2004, 10:49 am
Message: My husband and I are seriously considering booking a cruise on the Yangtze River on Viking's Century Star. This is the first year that Viking has included China among its extensive river cruise options, so I know that no one will be able to share that experience with us. We would be interested in hearing from anyone who has either sailed with Viking River Cruises in Europe or has taken a cruise on the Yangtze River recently with another company for any advise you can offer... Viking's Century Star sails from Chongging to Wuhan. Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer.
Date: 03/28/2004, 10:49 am
Message: My husband and I are seriously considering booking a cruise on the Yangtze River on Viking's Century Star. This is the first year that Viking has included China among its extensive river cruise options, so I know that no one will be able to share that experience with us. We would be interested in hearing from anyone who has either sailed with Viking River Cruises in Europe or has taken a cruise on the Yangtze River recently with another company for any advise you can offer... Viking's Century Star sails from Chongging to Wuhan. Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer.
May 12th, 2004, 08:31 AM
#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello,
We took a Viking River tour from Amsterdam to Basel last Sept. and thought it was wonderful. We would not hesitate to book another trip with Viking. We also are very close to booking one of the China trips for Sept.Was hoping to find someone that has taken one of the 16 day trips but no luck yet. Let us know if you find any information and we will contact you if we do. Have you booked your trip? Which one are you interest in?
Donna
We took a Viking River tour from Amsterdam to Basel last Sept. and thought it was wonderful. We would not hesitate to book another trip with Viking. We also are very close to booking one of the China trips for Sept.Was hoping to find someone that has taken one of the 16 day trips but no luck yet. Let us know if you find any information and we will contact you if we do. Have you booked your trip? Which one are you interest in?
Donna
May 14th, 2004, 12:48 PM
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you for your input regarding Viking River Cruises. We booked their 16 day trip 'In the Footsteps of Marco Polo' that leaves on 8/30. At the time that we made our reservations, there were very few open cabins on that sailing. I suspect that was due to Viking's $99 airfare incentive that was being offered on trips to China in July and August. You may still be able to find open cabins on the September sailings. I will keep an eye out for any messages from you on this post throughout the summer.
May 22nd, 2004, 10:48 PM
#4
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello,
We have booked the 16 day Ancient Kingdom of Siam trip and will be checking into a hotel in Beijing on 8/31/04. I looked your trip up on the Viking web site and it appears that both tours meet and are on the same cruise. We live in Seattle--what part of the country do you live in? Look forward to meeting you in China. Donna
We have booked the 16 day Ancient Kingdom of Siam trip and will be checking into a hotel in Beijing on 8/31/04. I looked your trip up on the Viking web site and it appears that both tours meet and are on the same cruise. We live in Seattle--what part of the country do you live in? Look forward to meeting you in China. Donna
May 23rd, 2004, 01:13 PM
#5
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just returned yesterday from a tour booked through Ritz tours. Went from near Shanghai to Chongcing.. however you spell it.. The boat company was Victoria Cruises and we were on the Victoria Rose.. I really can't complain other than Ritz does not give you very much information. Everything worked out fine other than the lack of information and their visa department sent my passport back saying I didnt have enough empty pages.. I had 3 empty pages and only 2 would have been needed. We were not aware of the outgoing fees in each of China's airports. The food was good on the Victoria Rose and their laundry service was cheap.. Beware of your luggage weight..It cost me $75.00 U.S. extra to go from Beijing to Chonchou.
Jun 4th, 2004, 08:50 AM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry that I didn't get back to you sooner, Donna. My husband and I have been busy the last couple of weeks moving his parents into a assisted living facility and this is my first day back online. We live in the Chicago suburbs, but have taken two trips to the Seattle area in the past two years. Let's come up with a 'password' that we can use to identify ourselves on the cruise.... something like, "I understand that not too many fodorites have sailed on the Century Star", or something along those lines. 
Pooky, thank you for the information regarding your Visa and luggage problems in China. How much over the weight limits were your bags? Also, do you remember how much the outgoing fees were at the different airports and did you need to pay in local currency? The big move has taken up a great deal of our physical and mental energy in the last few weeks and we need to start refocusing on our trip to China soon.
Pooky, thank you for the information regarding your Visa and luggage problems in China. How much over the weight limits were your bags? Also, do you remember how much the outgoing fees were at the different airports and did you need to pay in local currency? The big move has taken up a great deal of our physical and mental energy in the last few weeks and we need to start refocusing on our trip to China soon.
Jun 4th, 2004, 02:34 PM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am sure you will enjoy the trip on the Yangtze. I made it before the flooding started [July 01 Victoria Cruise - up river- Wuhan/Chongquing]
Just a couple notes:
Usually the tour company makes arrangement for the departure airport fees to be paid....I would check on that.
Chongquing: Zoo has pandas, General Stillwater Museum, silk factories/stores, and the "Great Hall of the People"[Tianeman Square is pretty, Great Hall of the People in Chongqing has character]
Weather: Possibly still hot...very humid
Just a couple notes:
Usually the tour company makes arrangement for the departure airport fees to be paid....I would check on that.
Chongquing: Zoo has pandas, General Stillwater Museum, silk factories/stores, and the "Great Hall of the People"[Tianeman Square is pretty, Great Hall of the People in Chongqing has character]
Weather: Possibly still hot...very humid
Jun 4th, 2004, 09:24 PM
#9
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello,
Look forward to meeting you on the ship. I believe all the fees at the airport are included in our Viking price. I hope to take less than 44 lbs. Not much of a shopper but don't want to leave maxed out. My direct email address is [email protected] if you would like to contact us directly. Seems like life is hectic at any age. Both of our mothers have had a lot of health issues this last year--we will be spending 2 weeks with my husbands mother in Ontario in July and I drive over the mountains every week to spend time with my mother and help with chores etc. See you on the ship. Donna
Look forward to meeting you on the ship. I believe all the fees at the airport are included in our Viking price. I hope to take less than 44 lbs. Not much of a shopper but don't want to leave maxed out. My direct email address is [email protected] if you would like to contact us directly. Seems like life is hectic at any age. Both of our mothers have had a lot of health issues this last year--we will be spending 2 weeks with my husbands mother in Ontario in July and I drive over the mountains every week to spend time with my mother and help with chores etc. See you on the ship. Donna
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Kate Burden
Asia
8
Jun 8th, 2002 07:56 AM
