Viking Emerald Review

Jewels of China-Beijing to Shanghai

Review for Asia Cruise on Viking Emerald
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AUTiger72
First Time Cruiser • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Sep 2014

First of all, I recommend doing the strenuous part of the trip first, Beijing to Shanghai. And spend time on the stairmaster and the eliptical prior to your trip! Viking packs the Beijing part of the trip with lots of walking and climbing (Tiennamen Square, the Great Wall, etc.). There is a lot of smog, but it didn't affect our breathing or ability to see.

We enjoyed our trip with Viking so much. The hotels were stunning-Ritz Carlton, Hilton, Shangri-la. Our tour guide, Francis, was outstanding---excellent English, long in patience, and very organized. The Emerald was lovely. The staff was extremely friendly, especially my new friend Jane on her first cruise as a Viking employee. The food was good and the entertainment and lectures were top-notch. Those lectures made the cruise down the Yangtze so much more meaningful. The other stops on our trip were great also. The only complaint I had was the trip to the bronze museum in Xi'an. Viking needs to limit the visit to a short explanation of the bells, followed by the bell performance. The rest of the museum is boring. Shanghai is amazing. I wish we could have spent a bit more time there. The Guilin and Hong Kong extension was wonderful. Worth the extra time and money.

Here are a few observations: If you don't like Chinese food, don't go. If you expect everyone to speak English, don't go. Read (and heed) the literature that Viking sends you, especially the part that says this is a strenuous trip. On the other hand, if you love trying new foods and new ways to eat them, if you are willing to learn and use some phrases in another language, and you want to see and learn as much as you can in a few short days, then start packing now!

Cabin Review

Cabin C

Our cabin was very nice and in a great location. There is plenty of storage- underbed, drawers, bathroom. Plenty of water pressure for the shower, plenty of bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth, decent-sized balcony, comfortable beds.

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