Cruising

Has anyone done the Viking cruise of CHINA. Shanghai to Beijing via the Three Gorges?? Husband has booked for later this year and I am not feeling so intrepid these days!! Any thoughts or tips anyone?

Haven't been to China for nearly 20 years but friends whose children work in Beijing say the pollution in Beijing is fearful. Face masks like the Japanese? The pollution was bad when we went. If you like reading travel books Isabella Bird on her travels in China is eye opening.

I have just watched a TV documentary programme about a cruise ship. I was totally gobsmacked! We both thought that it looked like our idea of ultimate hell! I would have dived over the side rather than stay there.

Queuing up to go on land and having a badge stuck on your chest, like processed chickens on a factory line. Hyperactive staff trying to create false jollity. All that food.....I felt sick just looking at it.

Someone tell me what they see in it! I know there are enthusiasts on this site.

My idea of a wonderful holiday is a quiet and secluded cottage overlooking the sea.

Each to his own I guess.

Luckygirl - I agree with you, I couldn't be doing with all that stuff and I especially object to being told what I must wear to eat my dinner! Incidentally, there has been a thread about cruising which seemed to indicate about half of GNers felt like us but the other half were in love with cruising. So, as you say, each to her own!

If you spent all the time on your own struggling to cook for yourself. You would appreciate the company and service on a cruise ship. You do not have to queue up for excursions. You can organise your own. I usually do as I find that there are not many suitable for disabled people.
It may not be your cup of tea, but for others it's a very welcome break.

I am guessing that different cruise companies have different styles and regimes on their ships. The one on this film was dire - people really were queuing up (a very long queue) to leave the boat - and badges were being stuck on their chests as they were "processed" and checked off on a list.

I would be interested to hear your comments galen on the programme - I think it is a series and the one I saw was the first.

We are off on our first ever cruise in just over 2 weeks time. We watched the first of that series on cruising, and my husband said that he truly hopes ours isn`t like that! So do I.

I watched the"cruise" programme on tv. They always show the most "over the top"people on these programmes. I've been on lots of cruises and you do meet the "odd" person now and again. Before my first cruise I worried that everyone would be posh and glamorous as portrayed in the holiday brochures. The people we met were ordinary people like ourselves who'd worked and saved hard for their holiday.
Our first cruise was supposed to be a one off for a special occasion but we were hooked. Your holiday is what you make it. We don't do organised trips anymore, we do what we want when we want and enjoy dressing up for the evening. We find cruising the most relaxing way to holiday.
Numberplease enjoy your cruise, you'll love it [ smile]

Yes - have a good time. Come back and let us know how it was!

Kitty's I agree with you. We have never been 'stickered' but of course if most. People are leaving the ship there will be a queuing. Just have to wait for a short while and you are off quickly. As for being processed, all we have ever done is scan our card . There has to be some way to know who gets off the ship so that the right people get back on. The attraction for us is seeing different parts of the world whilst doing most of the travelling when we are asleep or enjoying other things and being look after.

Ginny I love it when we arrive at the dock hand over our luggage and car keys and get on the ship. Holiday started! No hassle, instant relaxation.
When we did land based holidays it would take my OH a few days to get into relaxation mode, now soon as we're on ship he's happy. Food and entertainment provided, no cooking washing up or cleaning , bed made cabin cleaned. Perfect!

We had a bit of good news today, regarding our cruise. We were booked into the very cheapest cabin with no window, we`ve now been upgraded to one with an ocean view. That was one of the things bothering me, that I wouldn`t be able to look outside as soon as I woke up.

Good news number. Have fun. Be interested to hear your experiences.

That's great news number! Be sure to let us know how cruise went.
I'm sure you'll be booking your next one when you get back.

Nonnie, P&O do short mini cruises. Southampton to Guernsey for example. My DH was very anti cruise " What all those people ?" But we took the whole family for our 50th wedding anniversary , 6yrs old-70, and we all loved it.

Our cruise tickets arrived this morning, so it looks as if we`re really going!