Cruise Reviews, Ship Reviews by The Avid Cruiser

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Viking River Cruises’ Wendy Moriarty convinced me. If China isn’t in your immediate cruise future, it needs to be.As an Avid Cruiser and a world-aware traveler, you likely know a good bit about China itself. What was interesting for me to learn was just how much Viking River Cruises shows you on a China cruise.Of course, you’ll spend time cruising on one of two sister ships, built in 2005 and in 2006. These are deluxe, five-deck ships. On board: English-speaking staff and meals that alternate between Western entres and Chinese food tailored for the Western palate. Ashore: Experienced and knowledgeable English-speaking guides. Cruises are all-inclusive, so that you won’t have to pay extra for tours or meals ashore.

The cruise portion is either three, four or nine nights. Each program also includes three nights in Beijing, one night in Xian and two nights in Shanghai - all in 5-star accommodations. Also, the “Roof of the World” itinerary features three nights in Lhasa, Tibet. And, if time is of no consequence, you can add three nights in Hong Kong and one night in Guillin.

You may want to time your visit to coincide with the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.

Cruising China’s greatest challenge: the long-haul flight. “It’s certainly one of the larger hurdles that people need to get over,” says Lisa Juarez, vice president of marketing for Viking River. “The best way to make it is business class, and there are a number of air offers that make the price attractive enough.”

So many spectacular places to visit, so little time. Here are six of our favorites.

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Straddling the seat of a motorbike, my driver and I weave in and out of traffic as we make our way to Ho Chi Minh City’s central market. Traveling at a slow pace, the ride is nonetheless invigorating, with few traffic lights and apparently no traffic laws to impose order. Intersections are chaotic, with motorbikes, cars, busses and pedicabs all competing to make their way through. My driver skillfully brakes, accelerates and toots his horn to glide with astounding finesse through the clutter. ‘You go to market,’ he says, looking over his shoulder at me. ‘I waiting for you.’

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I’ll post a full cruise and ship review in the coming weeks (after Silver Whisper’s drydock in March). In short, the cruise and the ship exceeded expectations. Of the destinations, Ho Chi Minh City certainly was the highlight for many passengers, although for others the pre-cruise night in Bangkok (at The Peninsula) and the post-cruise night in Singapore (at the Ritz-Carlton) ranked high. Brunei was interesting but not captivating. The Malaysian ports of Kuching and Malacca were well worth a day ashore. For a recap of our cruise through video and photos click here.

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