Viking Emerald Review

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Review for Asia Cruise on Viking Emerald
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DFAD
6-10 Cruises • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Aug 2012

Sailed on Viking Emerald from Bejing to Shanghai Aug 3-19. We sailed from Amsterdam to Budapest last year with Viking and so thought I would provide some comparison comments.

Going through China needs to be seen as an educational and cultural experience; it is not necessarily relaxing. Also, this trip is 5 days on land in Bejing/Xiam/Shanghai plus 10 days on the boat. The 2 are not the same!

The land portion is very structured by Viking. You are in hotels, buses, airports, constantly on the move and living out of suitcase. Hotels picked by Viking are absolutely 5 star in every way, however should be noted wine and beer are NOT provided during lunch or dinner. Tours can be long with lots of walking, steps etc. China in August is extremely hot, extremely humid and the tour experience can be diminished by this. If possible, suggest spring/fall departures. Bejing is just a big city; nothing particularly redeeming about it. Xiam is the stop over point before tour of the Terra Cota soldiers; you are just in and out. Shanghai is spectacular; huge, bustling city with stunning architecture and at night the waterfront is lit up like nowhere else in the world. Very impressive. If you plan to extend your stay, suggest you do it in Shanghai. Note many of the lunches/dinners were at chineese style restaurants where you sit at a table and they bring individual plates of chineese food to be shared by all. On several occasions quantity of food was not sufficient since they do not bring a second plate of anything. Viking should address this.

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