While I have four trips booked with Viking, I have never been on one of their tours yet. This has been of some concern, but Maxine, my travel agent, has assured me that they are a quality organization that she has used for a number of years. This week however, has caused me a great deal of concern.
Back on February 20, I received an email from Viking discussing the need for a Chinese Visa AND a Tibet Entry Permit. At that time, I did not remember hearing about a Tibet Entry Permit. The email stated:
For the Roof of the World itinerary you will need a China visa and a Tibet Entry Permit.
Tibet Entry Permits will be provided to you in destination and are arranged by our China staff. In order for them to obtain your permit we must receive color photocopies of your PASSPORT INFORMATION PAGE and CHINA VISA PAGE no later than 60 days prior to departure.
If you obtain a visa through our partners Generations Visa they will submit your copies on your behalf as long as they are aware you are booked with Viking and if the proper visa application was processed. If for any reason they are unable to provide them on your behalf you will be responsible to provide them and will be contacted by Viking accordingly.
The details provided must show all information on each page clearly and must be recognizable. For best results, we recommend scanning or using a digital camera to take a picture of these pages and email them to us at operations@vikingcruises.com.
I read and reread this several times. The initialized and underlined paragraph shown above led me to believe I had nothing to do and nothing to worry about. I discussed this with Maxine and she came to the same conclusion.
On March 14, Viking sent out the exact same email. I did not get it but Maxine forwarded the one she received to me. I sent a note to Maxine and said that I had not received any contact from Viking telling me I needed to send them anything, so I again assumed everything was OK.
Maxine called to say that she thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and send Viking copies of the passport and visa...just to be sure. I resisted, telling her that if they wanted me to do that, why didn't they say so. We went around and around and finally, Maxine said she would call them to get clarification. She did and was told the only way to communicate with Viking Operations was via email, so she sent an email. She also had called GenVisa and was told that they had sent both Laura's and my passport and visa photos to Viking. Mine was sent to them on February 12.
Maxine received and forwarded the email response from Viking Ops which said that the photo of Laura was not acceptable because there was a black line through the photo and Laura needed to send new photos. As a footnote, the email said I also needed to submit photos of my passport and visa. I asked Maxine what happened to the GenVisa photos of me that they sent on February 12 and why had they not let us know that we needed to submit photos as their notices said they would. Maxine sent them another email with those questions and also asking what would have happened if we had not inquired?
I was very upset due to the apparent loss of confidence that I could trust Viking. Maxine suggested I could call them and "discuss" it with them. I agreed and told her I would do so. This morning, after calming down overnight, I decided to go ahead and send photos of my passport and visa to Viking Ops. I requested an acknowledgement of receipt and confirmation that they were acceptable for use. I also decided to wait until Maxine had received a response to her email.
I also noticed that the notice Viking sent out both on February 20 and March 14 stated that Viking needed the photos no less than 60 days prior to the trip. The trip begins on May 27, so they would want the photos no later than March 27...12 days from now!! While this did not concern me, I knew that David and Diane had just mailed their visa application to GenVisa last week. My visa took 31 days to be received. I sent an email to Maxine and she suggested David needed to call GenVisa immediately and probably needed to expedite the visa process...at a cost. I sent the recommendation to David and also called him. I explained my concern. He subsequently called both Viking to confirm the deadline (they did and said there was little "wiggle room" and then called GenVisa and authorized expediting the visa application. It still will be very close.
Friday, March 15, 2019
Monday, February 25, 2019
Monday, February 25, 2019; Flight Changes
Maxine forwarded an email from Viking stating there was a change in our flights. Unfortunately, there was no attachment, so I went on the Delta site and downloaded the current flight information and seat selection.
The change from the update we received on February 6 is the flight from Atlanta back to IAH. That trip is now on a different flight and will depart and arrive an hour later than the previous flight. That gives us a 3 hour and 20 minute layover in Atlanta, arriving in IAH at 7:07 pm. They also have changed some of our seats. The seats between DTW and PEK were no longer selected, so I selected the same ones we had previously. Here are the current selections:
I went on the Delta site and changed the seats back to the original window seats.
They showed no seats selected for the PVG to ATL, so I selected the same seats we had previously.
Thinking about it however, I decided to go ahead and change the PVG to ATL seats to port-side window seats as well.
The change from the update we received on February 6 is the flight from Atlanta back to IAH. That trip is now on a different flight and will depart and arrive an hour later than the previous flight. That gives us a 3 hour and 20 minute layover in Atlanta, arriving in IAH at 7:07 pm. They also have changed some of our seats. The seats between DTW and PEK were no longer selected, so I selected the same ones we had previously. Here are the current selections:
 |
| IAH to DTW |
Originally, we were in seats 2D and 3D on the flight from Detroit to Beijing. Now they are showing us in center seats 5B, 5C.
 |
| DTW to PEK |
 |
| DTW to PEK revised on 02/25/2019 |
 |
| PVG to ATL |
 |
| PVG to ATL revised 02/25/2019 |
 |
| ATL to IAH |
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Wednesday, February 20, 2019: Tibet Entry Permit????
Today, Maxine forwarded two emails to Laura and I from Viking Cruises. One was a copy of our Guest Statement (invoice) and the other was a note stating that, in addition to the Chinese visa, we will also have to have a Tibet Entry Permit. Never heard of that one before!
To obtain the permit, they needed a photo of our passport information page and a photo of the China visa page. With this information, they would obtain the permits and present it to us on the trip. But, they needed the photos no less than 60 days prior to departure, which would mean before the end of March.
The note stated that if we had used Generations Visa to obtain our China visa, that company would submit the necessary photos to obtain the permit if they knew we would be traveling to Tibet and if the proper application forms were used. However, if Generations Visa was not, for any reason, able to provide the needed permit information, the responsibility was on the guest AND Viking would notify them of that situation.
Laura and I did use the Generations Visa service and the application form supplied by Viking for this specific tour along with the itinerary.
I responded back to Maxine that if I am interpreting the email correctly, we should assume that Generations Visa will submit the needed information for the permits OR someone will contact us. Laura has not received her visa back from Generations Visa yet. She submitted on January 28, so it should show up in the next week or so. Mine took just under five weeks from the time I submitted.
I copied Dave and Diane on my note back to Maxine. They booked the trip through a different travel agency. Whether they used Generations Visa to get their visa, I do not know.
Laura and I are speculating whether or not Viking just now found out about the Tibet Entry Permit issue? There is not much time if someone has not started the visa process in order to get the visa back and the entry permit photos submitted more than 60 days before departure.
To obtain the permit, they needed a photo of our passport information page and a photo of the China visa page. With this information, they would obtain the permits and present it to us on the trip. But, they needed the photos no less than 60 days prior to departure, which would mean before the end of March.
The note stated that if we had used Generations Visa to obtain our China visa, that company would submit the necessary photos to obtain the permit if they knew we would be traveling to Tibet and if the proper application forms were used. However, if Generations Visa was not, for any reason, able to provide the needed permit information, the responsibility was on the guest AND Viking would notify them of that situation.
Laura and I did use the Generations Visa service and the application form supplied by Viking for this specific tour along with the itinerary.
I responded back to Maxine that if I am interpreting the email correctly, we should assume that Generations Visa will submit the needed information for the permits OR someone will contact us. Laura has not received her visa back from Generations Visa yet. She submitted on January 28, so it should show up in the next week or so. Mine took just under five weeks from the time I submitted.
I copied Dave and Diane on my note back to Maxine. They booked the trip through a different travel agency. Whether they used Generations Visa to get their visa, I do not know.
Laura and I are speculating whether or not Viking just now found out about the Tibet Entry Permit issue? There is not much time if someone has not started the visa process in order to get the visa back and the entry permit photos submitted more than 60 days before departure.
Friday, February 15, 2019
Friday, February 15, 2019: Visa received
I got my passport back with the Chinese visa pasted to one of the pages. It is good for multiple entries between now and January 29, 2029. That means my passport will expire about six months before the visa expires. I can stay for a maximum of 60 days for each visit. I received it 31 days from the day I mailed it to Generations Visa Services.
Monday, January 21, 2019
Monday, January 21, 2019: VISA Update
Last Tuesday, I sent off the visa application to Generations Visa Services via FedEx. They said it would be delivered by Friday, January 18. Laura let me know later in the week that she was ready to submit her application. I suggested she wait a bit to see if they had any issues with my submital. She agreed that might be a good idea. On Thursday, January 17, I got a confirmation from Generations Visa Services that the package had arrived and I would hear from them if they had any problems.
Yesterday evening (Sunday), I got an email from Rachelle of Generations Visa Services. She said she was reviewing my application and noticed I did not include a flight itinerary in and out of China. She said I could email that to her. This morning, I replied to her and attached my flight information. I copied Laura and David and Diane to notify them that I should have included this information. Laura acknowledged getting copy and would include her itinerary with her submittal. I suggested that she still wait a few more days to see if they found anything else deficient.
Yesterday evening (Sunday), I got an email from Rachelle of Generations Visa Services. She said she was reviewing my application and noticed I did not include a flight itinerary in and out of China. She said I could email that to her. This morning, I replied to her and attached my flight information. I copied Laura and David and Diane to notify them that I should have included this information. Laura acknowledged getting copy and would include her itinerary with her submittal. I suggested that she still wait a few more days to see if they found anything else deficient.
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Saturday, January 12, 2019: China Visa Application
Based upon my cursory investigation previously, I had come to the conclusion that we needed to apply for our China visa after the New Year. On my journey home this past week from Houston upon completion of our European train trip, I got an email from Dave. Apparently he also was starting to study the visa situation. His email however made some statements that did not match up with my previous investigation, including when the application needed to be submitted and how long the visa was good for. Essentially he had come to the conclusion that the visa was only good for three months and therefore we shouldn't submit the application until a month or two before the trip started in May. I responded that I would look into the matter upon my arrival home. I also forwarded his email to Maxine.
When I got home, I reread Dave's email and noticed that he was drawing his information from a source different that I was using. I had downloaded a visa kit recommended by the tour company, Viking, specifically for this trip. I had shown this kit to Dave, and where to find it. when I visited them before Christmas. The kit recommended by Viking utilized a third party (Generations Visa Service) to take the information I submitted, along with my passport, and do all the necessary processing, returning to me my passport with the visa incorporated into it. The Service stated that it normally took five weeks to return the finished visa from the time they get the application package. The resulting visa would be a "multiple entry" visa which would be effective for 10 years.
I filled out the application form and went down to the local AAA to get a new photo since they say it needs to be taken within the past six months. The last time I got passport photos from AAA (February 2018), there was no charge due to my Plus membership. That changed last Fall. Now my membership level meant I only had to pay $8.00 for the photos. An amazing $2.00 savings off the non-member price. I also decided to get a new International Driving Permit (IDP). These are only good for one year and are not renewable. My last one expired in 2016. The IDP cost $20.00 (up from $15.00 last time) and also required a photo, so there was another $8.00.
When I told them the photo was for a China visa, the people at AAA had serious reservations that their photo would be acceptable. They said there are some strict measurements with respect to the photo and they had had problems before. The visa kit I was using indeed dedicated an entire page on the photo and what is required.
Using the passport photo I had had taken at AAA last year, I got out my micrometer and determined that I could, with a bit of careful trimming, make the passport photo meet the requirements. I tried to explain this to the AAA people, but they were very doubtful. But, since I was paying for it, they went ahead and took my photo. When I got home, I again got out the micrometer and my utility knife and went to work. Result is that the photo I will submit with my application is within the stated dimensional requirements.
The only other "issue" I had with completing the visa application was understanding the nuisances regarding the apparent sensitivities to Tibet. The tour includes a visit to Lhasa, Tibet. The visa kit stated in a bold red font that:
Tibet is within mainland China and does not require an additional entry. Please do not include any Tibet information on the visa form and any supporting documentation provided by the tour operator, such as itemized travel itinerary, and apply for your China visa 180 days before departure!
The application also requires a listing of all the hotels that will be stayed in while in China and that this information was not optional. OK, which is it? Supply all information regarding where we will be staying or don't say anything about Tibet? I called Generations Visa Services and asked. They said simply not to make any mention at all about Tibet. OK, no mention of the two hotels we will be staying at while in Tibet.
I think it is ready to submit. All told, there are about ten pages plus my passport. I will get a manila shipping envelope and post it via a "traceable" method next week. I sent a copy of the completed application to both Dave and Laura, who needs to fill out her own.
When I got home, I reread Dave's email and noticed that he was drawing his information from a source different that I was using. I had downloaded a visa kit recommended by the tour company, Viking, specifically for this trip. I had shown this kit to Dave, and where to find it. when I visited them before Christmas. The kit recommended by Viking utilized a third party (Generations Visa Service) to take the information I submitted, along with my passport, and do all the necessary processing, returning to me my passport with the visa incorporated into it. The Service stated that it normally took five weeks to return the finished visa from the time they get the application package. The resulting visa would be a "multiple entry" visa which would be effective for 10 years.
I filled out the application form and went down to the local AAA to get a new photo since they say it needs to be taken within the past six months. The last time I got passport photos from AAA (February 2018), there was no charge due to my Plus membership. That changed last Fall. Now my membership level meant I only had to pay $8.00 for the photos. An amazing $2.00 savings off the non-member price. I also decided to get a new International Driving Permit (IDP). These are only good for one year and are not renewable. My last one expired in 2016. The IDP cost $20.00 (up from $15.00 last time) and also required a photo, so there was another $8.00.
When I told them the photo was for a China visa, the people at AAA had serious reservations that their photo would be acceptable. They said there are some strict measurements with respect to the photo and they had had problems before. The visa kit I was using indeed dedicated an entire page on the photo and what is required.
Using the passport photo I had had taken at AAA last year, I got out my micrometer and determined that I could, with a bit of careful trimming, make the passport photo meet the requirements. I tried to explain this to the AAA people, but they were very doubtful. But, since I was paying for it, they went ahead and took my photo. When I got home, I again got out the micrometer and my utility knife and went to work. Result is that the photo I will submit with my application is within the stated dimensional requirements.
The only other "issue" I had with completing the visa application was understanding the nuisances regarding the apparent sensitivities to Tibet. The tour includes a visit to Lhasa, Tibet. The visa kit stated in a bold red font that:
Tibet is within mainland China and does not require an additional entry. Please do not include any Tibet information on the visa form and any supporting documentation provided by the tour operator, such as itemized travel itinerary, and apply for your China visa 180 days before departure!
The application also requires a listing of all the hotels that will be stayed in while in China and that this information was not optional. OK, which is it? Supply all information regarding where we will be staying or don't say anything about Tibet? I called Generations Visa Services and asked. They said simply not to make any mention at all about Tibet. OK, no mention of the two hotels we will be staying at while in Tibet.
I think it is ready to submit. All told, there are about ten pages plus my passport. I will get a manila shipping envelope and post it via a "traceable" method next week. I sent a copy of the completed application to both Dave and Laura, who needs to fill out her own.
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Wednesday, November 21, 2018: Hotel Changes
Received an email from Viking yesterday informing us that our hotels in Xi'an and Lhasa have changed. Originally, we were scheduled to stay in the Shangri-la Xian and the St. Regis Resort in Lhasa.
Now, we are scheduled to stay at the Hyatt Regency Xi'an and the Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa.
Now, we are scheduled to stay at the Hyatt Regency Xi'an and the Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa.
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