China Imperial Jewels Tour and Cruise

May 11 through May 23, 2009

In 2006, Gretchen and I had the opportunity to take a group of KIRO Radio listeners on a two week tour of China. Everything about the tour was outstanding, from the friendly and knowledgeable tour staff to the comfort of accommodations throughout, to the variety and presentation of the meals we enjoyed.

Our itinerary was similar in scope to the one presented here. I decided to drop some cruise days from the lower end of the Yangtze in lieu of an opportunity to have more time to participate in either the Guilin/Hong Kong Tour extension (offered by Viking River Cruises) or a Japan extension to Kyoto/Nara/Osaka after we wrap things up in Shanghai.

I have chosen May to travel to China because it is generally the best month for weather. The humidity levels start to rise dramatically at the beginning of June. I would rather pay a bit more for enjoyable weather than travel during the hot, sticky summer months. The air pollution levels are generally less in May than they might be in the summer months.

Our itinerary

This itinerary gives you China’s key highlights in just 12 days. In Beijing, explore historic imperial treasures like The Forbidden City, Great Wall and famed Summer Palace. Next, visit Xian, home of the Terra Cotta Warriors Next, cruise the legendary Yangtze from Chongqing, starting with a cruise through the wildly beautiful Three Gorges and Lesser Gorges, stopping for a tour of the Three Gorges Dam, one of the engineering marvels of the 20th century. Finally we reach Wuhan, where we disembark the ship to fly to cosmopolitan Shanghai, China’s most cutting-edge modern city.

Fine Dining

This cruisetour includes 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 10 dinners, plus a welcome cocktail reception. Most of the meals served both in the hotels and aboard ship are western style with continental cuisine. During tour days, lunches will generally be taken at a local restaurant chosen by the tour company. As much as I like Chinese food, having to eat locally would get somewhat monotonous. Viking realizes this, offering excellent choices aboard their ships and in the hotels in Beijing and Shanghai.

Inclusive Pricing

The price of this fully escorted Viking River Cruises vacation includes all meals, shore excursions, 12 guided tours with tour headphones, entertainment and activities, 6 nights in 5-star hotels and intra-China flights.

Your tour includes:

• 5-night Yangtze River Cruise with balcony cabin onboard the new, deluxe Viking Century Sun. Full description of this ship appears below.
• 5-star hotel accommodations: 3 nights Beijing, 1 night Xian, 2 nights Shanghai.
• 12 tours with private English-speaking guides: Beijing/Tiananmen Square/Forbidden City/Summer Palace/ Great Wall/Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs/Hutongs & Silk Carpet Workshop; Xian/Terra Cotta Army; Lesser Three Gorges; Three Gorges Dam; Viking River Cruises school; Wuhan Museum; Shanghai/Bund/Children’s Palace
• 31 meals: 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches & 10 dinners with select meals at local Chinese restaurants
• Welcome Cocktail & Farewell Dinner
• Cultural Highlights: Peking Opera; Peking Duck Dinner; Tang Dynasty dinner show; Chinese acrobatic performance
• Fully escorted vacation from airport arrival to departure
• All intra-China flights & appropriate hotel/airport/ship transfers
• All port charges included

Our prices include round trip air fare from west coast gateways, and the associated hotel/airport transfers. If you plan to use mileage or purchase your own airfare, the credit is $1225. If you arrange for your own air transportation, transfers from the airport to the hotel in Beijing and from the hotel to the airport in shanghai will be available at an additional charge of $40-$60 per person.

I am including the cost of the Viking Cruise Line air program and the associated transfers in the costs of this tour. If I can negotiate better fares with the airlines on a group or individual basis, or obtain discount fares through the various consolidator agencies, I will do so. Air schedules and rates are not available until 11 months from date of travel. I should have information about lower pricing for airfare at the end of July. The Viking River Tour cost is not unreasonable and is exactly the same cost as published fares at this time.

The Ship

The Viking Century Sun is a brand new ship, built specifically for western travelers. By overseeing the build of this new ship, Viking River Cruises ensured that it is the most deluxe river cruise ship in China with her identical sister ship Viking Century Sky. With the intimacy of no more than 306 passengers, it offers all of the comfort and amenities you would expect from a 5-Star hotel. The Viking Century Sun features spacious, all-outside cabins, all with private balconies. Each cabin is equipped with a phone and color television. In addition to the lobby-level main restaurant, the ship boasts a sun deck and bar with breathtaking 360-degree views, a coffee bar and observation lounge. You can relax over cocktails in the lobby bar or work out in the gym. In any case, you will cruise in comfort knowing that the ship features state-of-the-art navigation and safety systems, and the same high standard of service as the European vessels.

Each cabin has a balcony which allows you get outside to hear the sounds of the river. The lower cost cabins aboard ship are virtually the same as the more expensive cabins, but the locations are typically located farther from the public areas.

Updated: Tuesday, April 29, 2008