2012 Cruise Companion and Shore Excursions - Uniworld River ...
2012 Cruise Companion and Shore Excursions - Uniworld River ... 2012 Cruise Companion and Shore Excursions - Uniworld River ...
2012 Cruise Companion and Shore Excursions Asia
- Page 2: Symbols and Icons In the following
- Page 6: Cruise Companion Passenger Informat
- Page 10: Cruise Companion Special Diets: Ple
- Page 14: Cruise Companion Upon clearing cust
- Page 18: Cruise Companion Laundry Laundry se
- Page 22: Cruise Companion About Your Uniworl
- Page 26: Cruise Companion Local and Onboard
- Page 30: Cruise Companion What to Wear Prepa
- Page 34: Day 4 | Beijing, fly to Xi’an b d
- Page 38: Day 1 | Beijing b Arrive at the Bei
- Page 42: Day 9 | Shanghai BB, L, D Day 11 |
- Page 46: Day 15 | Phnom Penh BB, L, D Day 16
- Page 50: Day 20 | Siem Reap BB, L Day 21 | S
<strong>2012</strong> <strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> <strong>Excursions</strong><br />
Asia
Symbols <strong>and</strong> Icons<br />
In the following pages, you will find these symbols to help<br />
guide you with the daily excursions. You will get an idea<br />
of the pace of the excursions; you will find out if meals are<br />
provided, <strong>and</strong> you will learn about any special excursions,<br />
such as wine tastings, museum visits, or music concerts.<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> Signature Icons<br />
e Embark/Disembark x<br />
b Motorcoach W<br />
d Flight F<br />
S<br />
f<br />
m<br />
<strong>Shore</strong> Excursion Symbols<br />
Cultural Exchange<br />
Welcome Dinner<br />
Farewell Dinner<br />
Boat/Sampan CB/BB<br />
Continental/Buffet<br />
Breakfast<br />
Special Theme Meal L Lunch<br />
Museum Visit D Dinner<br />
p Performance<br />
Dear Valued Traveler,<br />
Welcome to <strong>Uniworld</strong> <strong>River</strong> <strong>Cruise</strong>s. We want to do<br />
everything we can to ensure you have the most<br />
enjoyable <strong>and</strong> worry-free vacation possible.<br />
With that in mind, we have prepared this booklet for<br />
you, so you can plan your trip with the greatest of ease.<br />
Consider it a guideline to help you get ready for your<br />
upcoming trip. It contains valuable tips <strong>and</strong> advice on<br />
what to pack, your flight <strong>and</strong> transfer experience, onboard<br />
information, day-to-day details, <strong>and</strong> much more.<br />
Thank you for selecting <strong>Uniworld</strong> <strong>River</strong> <strong>Cruise</strong>s. We look<br />
forward to hosting you onboard our beautifully appointed<br />
ships <strong>and</strong> making your vacation the most memorable <strong>and</strong><br />
enjoyable experience possible.<br />
Sincerely,<br />
The <strong>Uniworld</strong> Team<br />
All tours involve walking unless strictly noted as a panoramic tour. In many<br />
cases, the walking takes place over uneven ground, cobblestone, or<br />
flagstone walkways, <strong>and</strong> more than a few tours involve stairs or short uphill<br />
climbs. We strongly recommend that our guests wear comfortable, non-skid<br />
walking shoes while on all of our tours. The symbols below are provided<br />
alongside each tour to give you an idea of what to expect on each program.<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
Easy walking throughout tour, including walking 15 minutes or<br />
less from multiple motorcoach stops to, <strong>and</strong> while in, historical<br />
sights. Possibly some steps, or gentle uphill <strong>and</strong> downhill walks.<br />
Intermediate activity, including walks of up to two hours on<br />
uneven terrain. Limited seating at sites. Multiple stairs <strong>and</strong>/or<br />
uphill/downhill walking.<br />
Most strenuous activity with a combined walking duration at<br />
all sites of up to two <strong>and</strong> a half hours. Many stairs <strong>and</strong> uphill/<br />
downhill passages. Those with physical limitations <strong>and</strong> those<br />
who may need assistance with private arrangements need to<br />
contact the <strong>Cruise</strong> Manager when onboard.<br />
Tour Duration Symbols<br />
Each tour varies in length. The darkened areas of the symbols indicate<br />
approximate tour duration.<br />
4<br />
6<br />
¼ Day AM<br />
½ Day AM<br />
5<br />
7<br />
¼ Day PM<br />
½ Day PM<br />
9<br />
8<br />
¾ Day<br />
Full Day<br />
Cover: The Great Wall, China | Above: Hangzhou, China<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> 1
Table of Contents<br />
Table of Contents<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
Helpful Hints Before You Go<br />
Travel Documents ........................................................ 4 – 5<br />
Passports<br />
Passenger Information Form<br />
Travel Protection<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> Documentation ........................................................5<br />
Final Documentation Includes<br />
Baggage Limitations ..........................................................6<br />
Travel Essentials .......................................................... 6 – 7<br />
Vaccinations ......................................................................7<br />
Health <strong>and</strong> Mobility ..................................................... 7 – 8<br />
Physical Limitations<br />
Medical<br />
Special Diets<br />
Getting There<br />
Airport Security <strong>and</strong> Check-In .............................................8<br />
Transfers ................................................................... 8 – 12<br />
China<br />
Airport Arrival Transfers<br />
Airport Departure Transfers<br />
Late Flight Arrivals/Missed Flights<br />
Vietnam & Cambodia<br />
Airport Arrival Transfers<br />
Airport Departure Transfers<br />
Late Flight Arrivals/Missed Flights<br />
Baggage Delays<br />
Pre-/Post-<strong>Cruise</strong> Included or Optional<br />
Hotel/L<strong>and</strong> Extensions .....................................................13<br />
Hotel Check-In/Hotel Check-Out ........................................13<br />
About Your <strong>Cruise</strong>/Tour Package<br />
<strong>and</strong> Services: China<br />
Dining ............................................................................13<br />
Electrical Current.............................................................13<br />
Elevators on Ships ...........................................................13<br />
Fitness Center in the Hotels <strong>and</strong> on the Ships .................... 14<br />
Gift Shop ........................................................................ 14<br />
Gratuities ........................................................................ 14<br />
H<strong>and</strong>icapped Facilities ..................................................... 15<br />
Internet Access at the Hotel <strong>and</strong> on the Ships .................... 15<br />
Intra-China Domestic Air Tickets ....................................... 15<br />
L<strong>and</strong> Tours <strong>and</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> <strong>Excursions</strong> ...................................... 15<br />
Laundry .......................................................................... 16<br />
Local <strong>and</strong> Onboard Money Matters .................................... 16<br />
Safety Deposit Box........................................................... 16<br />
Shopping ........................................................................ 17<br />
Smoking ......................................................................... 17<br />
Water ............................................................................. 17<br />
Weather .......................................................................... 17<br />
What to Wear ..................................................................18<br />
Visa Requirements for all China Programs ..........................19<br />
About Your <strong>Cruise</strong>/Tour Package<br />
<strong>and</strong> Services: Vietnam & Cambodia<br />
Dining ............................................................................20<br />
Electrical Current.............................................................21<br />
Elevators on Ships ...........................................................21<br />
Emergency Procedures .....................................................21<br />
<strong>Excursions</strong> ......................................................................21<br />
Fitness Center in the Hotels <strong>and</strong> on the Ships ....................21<br />
Footwear .........................................................................21<br />
Going Ashore ...................................................................22<br />
Gift Shop ........................................................................22<br />
Gratuities ........................................................................22<br />
H<strong>and</strong>icapped Facilities ............................................. 22 – 23<br />
Insect Precautions ...........................................................23<br />
Internet Access at the Hotel <strong>and</strong> on the Ships ....................23<br />
Intra-Asia Domestic Air Tickets .........................................23<br />
L<strong>and</strong> Tours <strong>and</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> <strong>Excursions</strong> ......................................23<br />
Laundry ..........................................................................23<br />
Local <strong>and</strong> Onboard Money Matters ....................................24<br />
Morning Call ...................................................................24<br />
Moving about the Ship .....................................................24<br />
Muster Stations ....................................................... 24 – 25<br />
No-Go Areas....................................................................25<br />
Safety Deposit Box...........................................................25<br />
Security ..........................................................................25<br />
Ship’s Office ...................................................................26<br />
Shopping ........................................................................26<br />
Smoking .........................................................................26<br />
Stateroom Amenities ........................................................26<br />
Visa Requirements for Vietnam & Cambodia Programs ... 26 – 27<br />
Water .............................................................................27<br />
Weather ..........................................................................27<br />
What to Wear ..................................................................28<br />
Omissions .......................................................................28<br />
L<strong>and</strong> Tours <strong>and</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> <strong>Excursions</strong><br />
Classic China<br />
Beijing to Shanghai | 10 Days .................................... 29 – 34<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
Beijing to Hanoi | 24 Days ........................................ 35 – 50<br />
Highlights of China & the Yangtze<br />
Beijing to Shanghai | 11 Days .................................... 51 – 56<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> China & the Yangtze<br />
Beijing to Hong Kong | 18 Days ................................. 57 – 65<br />
Wonders of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
Shanghai to Beijing | 17 Days .................................... 66 – 74<br />
Splendors of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
Beijing to Shanghai | 13 Days .................................... 75 – 81<br />
China, Tibet & the Yangtze<br />
Beijing to Shanghai | 14 Days .................................... 82 – 89<br />
Tour <strong>and</strong> General Information<br />
Frequently Asked Questions ...................................... 90 – 92<br />
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Passenger Information Form: By now, you should have<br />
completed the <strong>Uniworld</strong> Passenger Information Form. The<br />
information on this form is used to comply with certain foreign<br />
government <strong>and</strong> airline security restrictions in advance of your<br />
arrival onboard our ships. Please note that the name on your<br />
airline tickets must match your name exactly as it is shown in<br />
your passport. This applies to both international flights as well<br />
as the intra-China flights we will book for you, so please be<br />
sure we have your name correct on your booking. If you have<br />
completed this form, we thank you for your prompt attention.<br />
If you have not completed this form, please visit our website<br />
at uniworld.com <strong>and</strong> complete the online Passenger Information<br />
Form in the “Before You Go” section. Each guest must complete<br />
the form.<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
Travel Protection: <strong>Uniworld</strong> strongly recommends that each<br />
guest purchase a Travel Protection Plan. Please carry all<br />
policy information with you during the course of your trip.<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
Helpful Hints Before You Go<br />
Travel Documents<br />
Passports: All <strong>Uniworld</strong> river cruise/tours require a passport.<br />
In most cases, passports must be valid for six months after<br />
the scheduled return date from the trip. All itineraries will<br />
require visas (except Thail<strong>and</strong> for US <strong>and</strong> Canadian citizens.)<br />
Each guest is fully responsible for obtaining <strong>and</strong> carrying the<br />
travel documents necessary for his or her travel itinerary.<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> will not be responsible for any delays, damages,<br />
<strong>and</strong>/or losses, including missed portions of your trip, related<br />
to improper travel documents.<br />
Visa requirements for these itineraries for US <strong>and</strong> Canadian<br />
citizens can be found on pages 19 <strong>and</strong> 26-27, or on the<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> website, uniworld.com, in the “Before You Go”<br />
section. Non-US or Non-Canadian citizens must contact the<br />
appropriate consular office for entry requirements pertaining<br />
to their particular trip. <strong>Uniworld</strong> provides information on our<br />
website for obtaining the required visa through Zierer Visa<br />
Service as a courtesy only.<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> Documentation<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> sends all final cruise <strong>and</strong> air documents between<br />
21 to 30 days prior to your trip departure, provided that<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> has received a completed <strong>and</strong> signed Passenger<br />
Information Form <strong>and</strong> your booking is paid in full. All<br />
documents are sent via a priority mail delivery service,<br />
such as UPS or Federal Express.<br />
Final Documentation Includes:<br />
• <strong>Cruise</strong> Ticket<br />
• Passenger Ticket Contract (this is binding on each guest)<br />
• Airline Tickets or E-Ticket Confirmation (if international air<br />
ticket was purchased from <strong>Uniworld</strong>)<br />
• <strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
• Baggage Tags<br />
• Leave-Behind Communication Card<br />
• Travel Protection Plan Pamphlet (if <strong>Uniworld</strong> travel<br />
protection was purchased)<br />
• Pre-/Post-Optional <strong>Cruise</strong> Extension Information<br />
(if trip extension was purchased)<br />
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Baggage Limitations<br />
Airline baggage restrictions change frequently, <strong>and</strong> each guest<br />
needs to check with his or her specific air carrier for limitations<br />
concerning baggage weight, baggage size, carry-on regulations,<br />
<strong>and</strong> excess baggage or overweight charges. This information can<br />
be found on the carrier’s website. Remember to check for both<br />
international (over the water) <strong>and</strong> domestic (intracontinental)<br />
regulations since limitations differ depending on flight routings.<br />
Overweight or excess baggage charges vary, <strong>and</strong> guests who<br />
exceed an airline’s recommended limit may be asked by the<br />
airline to pay fees ranging from approximately $25 to $80 US<br />
Dollars (USD), or possibly more, per infraction. For intra-China<br />
air flights, only one (1) suitcase per person can be checked<br />
in, <strong>and</strong> it must weigh no more than 44 pounds (20 kgs).<br />
You may be asked by the airline to pay fees of approximately<br />
$1 USD per pound (0.45 kgs) in excess of this weight limit.<br />
One (1) carry-on is allowed per person. For intra-Vietnam <strong>and</strong><br />
intra-Asia flights, only one (1) suitcase per person can be<br />
checked in, <strong>and</strong> it must weigh no more than 40 pounds (18 kg).<br />
Each checked bag should have dimensions not exceeding<br />
62 inches (157 cm). You may be asked by the airline to pay<br />
fees of approximately $1 USD, or more, per pound (0.45 kg)<br />
in excess of this weight limit. One (1) carry-on is allowed<br />
per person. Your carry-on should not exceed 17" x 14" x 8"<br />
(43 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm) <strong>and</strong> should not weigh more than<br />
10 pounds (4.5 kg).<br />
There are no restrictions concerning the number of bags each<br />
person can bring with them onboard the ships. However, baggage<br />
storage space onboard is limited. Guests are encouraged to<br />
limit their baggage to one (1) piece per person for their own<br />
comfort <strong>and</strong>, in cases of pre- or post-l<strong>and</strong> stays, for their own<br />
convenience.<br />
Keep an eye on your baggage <strong>and</strong> all personal belongings—<br />
they are your responsibility throughout the trip. <strong>Uniworld</strong> is<br />
not responsible for loss, theft, or damage to baggage <strong>and</strong><br />
personal belongings. A Travel Protection Plan covering lost,<br />
stolen, or damaged baggage is highly recommended.<br />
Travel Essentials<br />
The following items are essential to any destination: comfortable<br />
walking shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, an umbrella, <strong>and</strong><br />
a lightweight raincoat or outerwear garment appropriate to the<br />
seasonal weather conditions. It is recommended that you bring<br />
duplicates of prescription eyewear, copies of prescriptions for<br />
any medicine, copies of credit card information, <strong>and</strong> copies of<br />
passport information pages. Make sure that your baggage has<br />
identification tags both inside <strong>and</strong> outside with your contact<br />
information <strong>and</strong> address clearly marked. Do not pack valuables<br />
or important medication in your checked baggage unless required<br />
by the airline to do so. Any valuables <strong>and</strong> important medication<br />
should be carried with you in your carry-on baggage. Please<br />
contact your air carrier for any additional regulations.<br />
Vaccinations<br />
All guests should direct questions about vaccinations to their<br />
personal physician.<br />
As an additional resource, all US guests may consult the<br />
current recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control<br />
(CDC). The CDC website is cdc.gov <strong>and</strong> the phone number is<br />
1-800-232-4636.<br />
Non-US guests should contact the consulates of the<br />
countries to be visited to determine vaccination requirements.<br />
Health <strong>and</strong> Mobility<br />
Physical Limitations: <strong>Uniworld</strong> trips are exciting <strong>and</strong> relatively<br />
active vacations. While there will be plenty of time to relax,<br />
there will also be much to see <strong>and</strong> do. Your included excursions<br />
generally require an extensive amount of walking, as well as<br />
navigation of numerous steps <strong>and</strong> uneven pavement. Access<br />
to sites visited on shore excursions for guests with physical<br />
limitations is generally restrictive. For your safety <strong>and</strong> enjoyment,<br />
we recommend all guests be in good physical condition. This is<br />
particularly important in Tibet, where the high altitude may<br />
make extensive walking difficult.<br />
In addition, river ships, while spacious <strong>and</strong> elegant, are not<br />
in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, <strong>and</strong><br />
most do not have elevators. <strong>Uniworld</strong>, at its sole discretion,<br />
reserves the right to refuse passage or to require a current<br />
passenger to end his or her trip if the passenger’s state of<br />
health or physical condition may affect his or her own health,<br />
safety, <strong>and</strong> enjoyment or that of other passengers.<br />
Medical: There is a clinic with a doctor in most of the hotels<br />
used in China <strong>and</strong> on the Victoria <strong>Cruise</strong>s’ ship on the Yangtze<br />
<strong>River</strong>. There is also a clinic with a doctor very near most of<br />
the hotels used in Vietnam <strong>and</strong> Cambodia, but <strong>Uniworld</strong> does<br />
not employ staff nurses or doctors onboard the <strong>River</strong> Saigon.<br />
Medical care will be at local facilities, <strong>and</strong> medical expenses<br />
are the guest’s own responsibility. Guests should bring their<br />
medications with them. <strong>Uniworld</strong> is not responsible for any<br />
costs incurred as a result of medical service, or for the quality<br />
of medical care received. A Travel Protection Plan covering<br />
medical expenses is highly recommended.<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
6 uniworld.com <strong>Uniworld</strong> 7
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Special Diets: Please advise us in advance of your departure<br />
of any special dietary restrictions. This information will be<br />
provided to the proper personnel. To the extent possible, <strong>and</strong><br />
in consideration of local conditions, every effort will be made<br />
to accommodate your needs. It is the guest’s responsibility to<br />
provide us with as much detail as necessary concerning any<br />
medically related diet concerns. Not all dietary requests can<br />
be accommodated, <strong>and</strong> we appreciate your underst<strong>and</strong>ing in<br />
this matter.<br />
Getting There<br />
Airport Security <strong>and</strong> Check-In<br />
It is advisable to contact the airline in advance of your<br />
departure to verify that there have been no changes to the<br />
flight number or schedule found on your travel documents.<br />
After your travel documents are issued <strong>and</strong> sent to you,<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> is not responsible for notifying guests of any<br />
changes in flight schedules.<br />
Please make sure you arrive at the airport at least two <strong>and</strong><br />
a half (2.5) hours prior to your scheduled departure to<br />
complete check-in <strong>and</strong> security procedures. For peak travel<br />
times, you may even want to arrive three (3) hours prior to<br />
your scheduled departure time.<br />
Transfers<br />
China<br />
Airport Arrival Transfers: You will be greeted by a <strong>Uniworld</strong><br />
representative <strong>and</strong> transferred to the hotel. You will be met<br />
as you exit the secure customs area. Please claim all of your<br />
baggage before exiting the baggage claim area. From the<br />
airport, you’ll be transferred to the hotel. Please note that<br />
transfers are non-refundable.<br />
There may be a waiting period of up to one (1) hour for<br />
scheduled airport transfers, depending on groupings of flight<br />
arrivals. Upon arrival in the tour start city, after you have<br />
cleared customs, look for the <strong>Uniworld</strong> representative outside<br />
the customs area. If you cannot find our representative,<br />
please proceed to the pick-up point in the arrival hall <strong>and</strong><br />
stay there until our representative comes to you.<br />
In Hong Kong, if you cannot find our representative, please<br />
proceed to counter B-12, <strong>and</strong> the representative there will<br />
provide you with further instructions regarding your transfers.<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> will not be responsible for late arrivals or missed<br />
transfers due to delayed flights, missed cruise/tour days, or<br />
extra costs resulting from delayed or canceled flights.<br />
It is required that flight information <strong>and</strong> pre-trip arrangements<br />
for all guests making their own flight arrangements be given to<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> no later than 45 days prior to departure in order for<br />
transfers to be properly arranged. Your flight arrangements must<br />
also be made in accordance with <strong>Uniworld</strong>’s recommended<br />
transfer guidelines. For complete details, please see the Terms<br />
<strong>and</strong> Conditions section of our current brochure or our website,<br />
uniworld.com.<br />
Guests who have purchased an extension or extra nights with<br />
hotel stays will be provided transfers as part of the extension<br />
or extra night purchase.<br />
If your cruise/tour package does not contain transfers (i.e.,<br />
for flights outside of <strong>Uniworld</strong>’s recommended transfer time<br />
guidelines or if flight details have not been communicated to<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> in time), then please make your own way to the hotel<br />
as per your trip itinerary at your own expense.<br />
Airport Departure Transfers: You will be transferred to the<br />
airport for your flight home. For those guests with a postcruise<br />
extension, you will be transferred to the airport or<br />
hotel accordingly.<br />
In accordance with <strong>Uniworld</strong>’s recommended transfer time<br />
guidelines, all guests making their own flight arrangements are<br />
required to provide <strong>Uniworld</strong> with their flight information <strong>and</strong><br />
pre-trip arrangements no later than 45 days prior to departure<br />
in order to receive transfers. For complete details, please see<br />
the Terms <strong>and</strong> Conditions section of our current brochure or<br />
our website, uniworld.com.<br />
Guests who have purchased extra nights with hotel stays will<br />
be provided transfers as part of the extra night purchase.<br />
If your cruise/tour package does not contain transfers (i.e.,<br />
for flights outside of <strong>Uniworld</strong>’s recommended transfer time<br />
guidelines or if flight details have not been communicated to<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> in time), then please make your own way from the<br />
hotel at your own expense.<br />
Late Flight Arrivals/Missed Flights: If your package includes<br />
a <strong>Uniworld</strong> arrival transfer <strong>and</strong> you experience a travel delay<br />
of any kind, please adhere to the following instructions.<br />
Upon arrival at the airport in the tour start city, after you have<br />
cleared customs, look for the <strong>Uniworld</strong> representative outside<br />
the customs area. If you cannot find our representative, please<br />
proceed to the pick-up point at the arrival hall <strong>and</strong> stay there<br />
until our representative comes to you. In Hong Kong, if you<br />
cannot find our representative, please proceed to counter B-12.<br />
The representative there will provide you with further<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
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instructions regarding your transfers. Depending on the nature<br />
of the delay, <strong>Uniworld</strong>’s ground staff can, at times, track flight<br />
changes. If your flight arrangements were drastically altered, it<br />
is unlikely that the ground staff will be notified in time of your<br />
specific flight changes. Due to security protocols enacted post–<br />
September 11, 2001, airlines very rarely provide updated flight<br />
information to third parties.<br />
If you cannot find the <strong>Uniworld</strong> representative, please<br />
contact the Transfer Provider in your arrival city. Their<br />
contact information is shown in the transfer section of your<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> Ticket. The Transfer Provider, if unable to match you<br />
up with a scheduled group transfer, will ask you to make your<br />
own way to the ship or hotel at your own expense. Costs<br />
incurred due to missed transfers are the responsibility of the<br />
guest, <strong>and</strong> in most cases, compensation can be obtained<br />
from your travel protection plan provider or airline carrier.<br />
If your delay is serious enough that you miss the starting point<br />
of your cruise/tour, you will need to get to the next stop on the<br />
tour itinerary at your own expense. Please contact the <strong>Uniworld</strong><br />
Beijing office, using the number on your <strong>Cruise</strong>/Tour Ticket, for<br />
the exact location of the city on your revised date of arrival. The<br />
office personnel will advise you of the best course of action.<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> is not responsible for missed transfers or additional<br />
costs incurred in getting to the next destination due to missed<br />
or delayed flight arrangements.<br />
Vietnam & Cambodia<br />
Airport Arrival Transfers: You will be greeted by a <strong>Uniworld</strong>/<br />
P<strong>and</strong>aw <strong>River</strong> <strong>Cruise</strong>s representative <strong>and</strong> transferred to the<br />
hotel. (P<strong>and</strong>aw <strong>River</strong> <strong>Cruise</strong>s is the operator of <strong>Uniworld</strong>’s<br />
Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong program.) You will be met<br />
as you exit the airport’s secure customs area. Please claim all<br />
of your baggage before exiting the baggage claim area. From<br />
the airport, you’ll be transferred to the hotel. Please note that<br />
transfers are non-refundable.<br />
There may be a waiting period of up to one (1) hour for<br />
scheduled airport transfers, depending on groupings of flight<br />
arrivals. Upon clearing customs in the cruise/tour start city,<br />
look for the <strong>Uniworld</strong>/P<strong>and</strong>aw <strong>River</strong> <strong>Cruise</strong>s representative<br />
outside the secure customs area. If you cannot find the<br />
representative, please remain outside the customs area in the<br />
arrival hall until the representative comes to you. <strong>Uniworld</strong><br />
will not be responsible for late arrivals or missed transfers<br />
due to delayed, changed, canceled, or missed flights; for<br />
missed cruise/trip days; or for extra costs resulting from<br />
delayed, changed, canceled, or missed flights.<br />
Flight information <strong>and</strong> pre-trip arrangements for all guests<br />
making their own flight arrangements must be given to <strong>Uniworld</strong><br />
no later than 45 days prior to departure in order for transfers to<br />
be properly arranged. Your flight arrangements must also be<br />
made in accordance with <strong>Uniworld</strong>’s recommended transfer<br />
guidelines. For complete details, please see the Terms <strong>and</strong><br />
Conditions section of our current brochure or our website,<br />
uniworld.com.<br />
Guests who have purchased an extension or extra nights with<br />
hotel stays will be provided transfers as part of the extension<br />
or extra night purchase.<br />
If your cruise/tour package does not include arrival transfers<br />
(i.e., for flights outside of <strong>Uniworld</strong>’s recommended transfer<br />
time guidelines or if flight details have not been communicated<br />
to <strong>Uniworld</strong> in time), then please make your own way to the<br />
ship or hotel as per your trip itinerary at your own expense.<br />
Airport Departure Transfers: You will be transferred to the<br />
airport for your flight home. Guests who have purchased a<br />
post-cruise extension will be transferred to the airport or<br />
hotel accordingly.<br />
In accordance with <strong>Uniworld</strong>’s recommended transfer time<br />
guidelines, all guests making their own flight arrangements<br />
are required to provide <strong>Uniworld</strong> with their flight information<br />
<strong>and</strong> pre-trip arrangements no later than 45 days prior to<br />
departure in order to receive transfers. For complete details,<br />
please see the Terms <strong>and</strong> Conditions section of our current<br />
brochure or our website, uniworld.com.<br />
Guests who have purchased extra nights with hotel stays will<br />
be provided transfers as part of the extra-night purchase.<br />
If your cruise/tour package does not include departure transfers<br />
(i.e., for flights outside of <strong>Uniworld</strong>’s recommended transfer<br />
time guidelines or if flight details have not been communicated<br />
to <strong>Uniworld</strong> in time), then please make your own way from the<br />
ship or hotel at your own expense.<br />
Late Flight Arrivals/Missed Flights: If your package includes<br />
an arrival transfer <strong>and</strong> you experience a travel delay of any<br />
kind while you are still within North America, please contact<br />
P<strong>and</strong>aw <strong>River</strong> <strong>Cruise</strong>s by calling 1-800-798-4223 <strong>and</strong> advise<br />
them of the situation. They will do their best to ensure you<br />
are met <strong>and</strong> transferred upon your revised arrival. If you are<br />
outside of North America when you experience the travel delay,<br />
please contact P<strong>and</strong>aw <strong>River</strong> <strong>Cruise</strong>s at +1-970-453-2763 for<br />
advice <strong>and</strong> assistance.<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
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Upon clearing customs in the cruise/tour start city, look for the<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong>/P<strong>and</strong>aw representative outside the customs area. If<br />
you cannot find the representative, please remain outside the<br />
customs area in the arrival hall until the representative comes<br />
to you. Depending on the nature of the delay, <strong>Uniworld</strong>’s<br />
ground staff can, at times, track flight changes. If your flight<br />
arrangements were drastically altered, it is unlikely that the<br />
ground staff will be notified of your specific flight changes in<br />
time. Due to security protocols enacted post–September 11,<br />
2001, airlines very rarely provide updated flight information<br />
to third parties.<br />
If you cannot find the <strong>Uniworld</strong>/P<strong>and</strong>aw representative, please<br />
contact the transfer representative in your arrival city. Their<br />
contact information is shown in the transfer section of your<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong>/Tour Ticket. If unable to match you up with a scheduled<br />
group transfer, the transfer representative will ask you to make<br />
your own way to the ship or hotel at your own expense. Costs<br />
incurred due to missed transfers are the responsibility of the<br />
guest; in most cases, compensation can be obtained from your<br />
Travel Protection Plan provider or airline carrier.<br />
If your delay is serious enough that you miss the starting<br />
point of your cruise/tour, you will need to get to the next stop<br />
on the tour itinerary at your own expense. Please contact our<br />
Local Representative, using the number on your <strong>Cruise</strong>/Tour<br />
Ticket, for the exact location of the city on your revised date<br />
of arrival. The office personnel will advise you of the best course<br />
of action. <strong>Uniworld</strong> is not responsible for missed transfers or<br />
additional costs incurred in getting to the next destination due<br />
to missed or delayed flight arrangements.<br />
Post-<strong>Cruise</strong>/Tour Included or Optional<br />
Hotel/L<strong>and</strong> Extensions<br />
All <strong>Uniworld</strong> l<strong>and</strong> programs that are fully hosted include<br />
breakfast daily, transfers, <strong>and</strong> porterage. Most feature at<br />
least one (1) special sightseeing program. Your on-site<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> representative will host a welcome briefing the<br />
evening of your first day to familiarize you with the scheduled<br />
program. Details of your post-cruise l<strong>and</strong> stay are included<br />
with your final documents.<br />
Note: The Tour Manager will not go to Hong Kong; there will be a<br />
local guide.<br />
Please note that every effort is made to ensure that your hotel<br />
room is available <strong>and</strong> ready for occupancy upon your arrival<br />
at the hotel. This is not always possible due to differences in<br />
hotel check-in/check-out times <strong>and</strong> scheduled airport-to-hotel<br />
or ship-to-hotel transfers. A short wait for your room to become<br />
available may be unavoidable.<br />
Hotel Check-In/Hotel Check-Out<br />
Most hotels do not allow check-in earlier than 2:00 pm. If<br />
you arrive at the hotel before 2:00 pm, you may need to wait<br />
until the room becomes available. Hotel check-out must be<br />
no later than 12:00 pm. If your transfer time is later than<br />
12:00 pm, you may ask the hotel to store your baggage <strong>and</strong><br />
take a walk or shop in the city until the pick-up time.<br />
About Your <strong>Cruise</strong>/Tour Package<br />
<strong>and</strong> Services: China<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
Baggage Delays: Baggage delays do unfortunately occur from<br />
time to time, especially during peak travel periods.<br />
First <strong>and</strong> foremost, do not leave the baggage area without<br />
completing a Lost Baggage Report with your air carrier. This<br />
report is essential to the tracking of your claim. If traveling<br />
with a companion, we recommend one (1) person exit the<br />
baggage claim area <strong>and</strong> locate the transfer representative<br />
to inform him or her of the situation. This will allow the<br />
representative to ensure that transfers are properly provided.<br />
Give the air carrier a copy of your travel itinerary <strong>and</strong> the hotel<br />
<strong>and</strong> ship’s contact information. Report your lost baggage to the<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> representative <strong>and</strong> provide him or her with a copy of<br />
your Lost Baggage Report. This will assist our staff in helping<br />
to locate your baggage as quickly as possible. <strong>Uniworld</strong> is<br />
not responsible for loss, theft, or damage to baggage <strong>and</strong>/or<br />
personal belongings. A protection plan covering lost, stolen,<br />
or damaged baggage is available through the <strong>Uniworld</strong> Travel<br />
Protection Plan.<br />
Dining<br />
All breakfasts are American-style buffets. Most other meals<br />
onshore will be held at local restaurants with Chinese cuisine.<br />
Please notify <strong>Uniworld</strong> immediately if there are any special<br />
dietary concerns or considerations that need to be taken into<br />
account while traveling with us. We will do our best to ensure<br />
your request is accommodated but cannot guarantee this will<br />
happen in all cases. Wine can be purchased in most restaurants.<br />
Electrical Current<br />
Voltage is 220/50Hz in all hotels <strong>and</strong> onboard the ship. To use<br />
any electrical product from the United States, you need a 3-pin<br />
plug adaptor <strong>and</strong> a voltage converter.<br />
Elevators on Ships<br />
Only Victoria Anna <strong>and</strong> Victoria Jenna are equipped with an<br />
elevator that services all decks.<br />
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Fitness Center in the Hotels <strong>and</strong> on the Ships<br />
There are fitness centers in all hotels. On the ship, the Fitness<br />
Center is located on the Observation Deck. Hours of operation<br />
are generally from 6:00 am until 10:00 pm but may be adjusted<br />
based on each day’s program.<br />
Gift Shop<br />
There are gift shops in all hotels. There is a gift shop onboard<br />
the ship with a limited selection of toiletries, souvenirs, <strong>and</strong><br />
other sundries. All items may be charged to your shipboard<br />
account. The hours of operation are adjusted to each day’s<br />
program. Hair dryers are not supplied in the staterooms onboard<br />
the ship. Please contact the Front Desk to have one brought<br />
to your room (supplies are limited). Hair dryers are available<br />
in all hotel rooms.<br />
Gratuities<br />
H<strong>and</strong>icapped Facilities<br />
Embarkation/disembarkation facilities may be impossible to<br />
navigate with wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, or any other<br />
mechanical devices. Most of the cruise ships do not have<br />
elevators <strong>and</strong> are not h<strong>and</strong>icapped or wheelchair accessible,<br />
nor are they designed to accommodate physically challenged<br />
travelers.<br />
Additionally, most shore excursions involve walking over uneven<br />
ground. Some excursions are walking tours only, <strong>and</strong> for your<br />
safety <strong>and</strong> enjoyment of the sightseeing tours, we recommend<br />
that all passengers be in good physical condition.<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong>, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to refuse<br />
passage or to require a current passenger to end his or her<br />
trip if the passenger’s state of health or physical condition<br />
may affect his or her own health, safety, <strong>and</strong> enjoyment or<br />
that of other passengers.<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
Gratuities are customary expressions of appreciation for a<br />
job well done, <strong>and</strong> it is our goal to ensure that the service<br />
you receive is as wonderful as the sites you visit. The amount<br />
of the gratuity you choose to give is entirely subject to your<br />
satisfaction with your travel experience. To assist you in<br />
determining the amount of your gratuities, we recommend<br />
the following as a guideline:<br />
• <strong>Cruise</strong>/Tour Manager: $5 to $7 USD per guest, per day<br />
(given on the last day of the tour before departure)<br />
• Local Guides: $3 USD per guest, per day (given at the<br />
end of each city’s stay)<br />
• Drivers: $2 USD per guest, per day (given at the end of<br />
each city’s stay)<br />
• Ship staff <strong>and</strong> crew: $10 USD per guest, per day, to be<br />
shared among all staff <strong>and</strong> crew (added to onboard account<br />
<strong>and</strong> can be paid with a credit card)<br />
• Onboard <strong>River</strong> Guides: $3 USD per guest, per day (given<br />
directly to the guide)<br />
• <strong>Shore</strong> <strong>Excursions</strong>: $1 USD per guest for the local guide<br />
<strong>and</strong> boatmen (per excursion)<br />
Gratuities onboard the ship can be billed to onboard accounts<br />
<strong>and</strong> paid with a credit card. Gratuities onshore <strong>and</strong> for your<br />
Tour Manager cannot be paid with a credit card, so please<br />
ensure that you have cash on h<strong>and</strong> for this expense. It is<br />
suggested that you come prepared to give gratuities onshore<br />
in bills of small denominations.<br />
Internet Access at the Hotel <strong>and</strong> on the Ships<br />
Internet access is available in all hotels. The hotel will charge<br />
approximately $15 – $20 USD per day, <strong>and</strong> possibly more, for<br />
this service.<br />
Onboard the ship, the Internet Café, located in the Main<br />
Lounge, allows you to access the Internet, where you can<br />
send <strong>and</strong> receive email <strong>and</strong> email attachments. To access<br />
your email account, you are required to contact the front<br />
desk <strong>and</strong> select the amount of access time you wish to<br />
purchase. Wireless Internet access is also available to those<br />
passengers who bring their own laptops. Access rates vary<br />
based on the number of minutes you wish to purchase. Once<br />
you choose an access plan, your credit card will be billed the<br />
amount you select by the ship’s onboard payment system.<br />
Internet service may not be available at all times, especially<br />
while cruising through the Three Gorges.<br />
Intra-China Domestic Air Tickets<br />
Your intra-China domestic air tickets are issued in China. Your<br />
Tour Manager will deliver the air tickets to all passengers while<br />
in China. Please note that the name on your airline tickets must<br />
match your name exactly as it is shown in your passport. This<br />
applies to both international flights as well as the intra-China<br />
flights we will book for you, so please be sure we have your<br />
name correct on your booking.<br />
L<strong>and</strong> Tours <strong>and</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> <strong>Excursions</strong><br />
Each tour program features comprehensive included l<strong>and</strong> tour<br />
<strong>and</strong> shore excursions. Details for your particular itinerary are<br />
included on the following pages <strong>and</strong> can also be found at<br />
uniworld.com.<br />
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Laundry<br />
Laundry service is available in all hotels <strong>and</strong> onboard the ships<br />
for a fee. Self-service laundry facilities are not available in hotels<br />
or on the ships.<br />
Local <strong>and</strong> Onboard Money Matters<br />
Currency in China is Renminbi (RMB). The RMB comes in<br />
banknote denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, <strong>and</strong> 100. One<br />
RMB is divided into 100 Cents <strong>and</strong> coin denominations are<br />
1, 2, 5, 10, 20 <strong>and</strong> 50 Cents or RMB 1 <strong>and</strong> RMB 2.<br />
Shopping<br />
Time for shopping is usually but not always allowed for within<br />
the framework of most of the sightseeing programs. The actual<br />
amount of time available for shopping may be limited due to<br />
tour constraints. Shopping recommendations can be made by<br />
your Tour Manager. Larger stores will accept most major credit<br />
cards, while market vendors <strong>and</strong> small stores will usually accept<br />
the local currency only. It is a good idea to take a small amount<br />
of cash to use for on-the-spot gratuities <strong>and</strong> the purchasing of<br />
souvenirs or sundries.<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> features a “cashless” environment onboard, <strong>and</strong> all<br />
charges are billed directly to each guest’s onboard account.<br />
Currency accepted onboard for settlement of final bills is<br />
either USD or RMB or travelers checks. The major credit<br />
cards accepted are MasterCard, Visa, <strong>and</strong> American Express.<br />
The ships do not have ATM machines onboard, but ATMs<br />
linked to major bank networks can be found throughout<br />
China. Most debit <strong>and</strong> major credit cards can be used for<br />
cash withdrawals ashore. Limited currency exchange is<br />
available onboard for the exchange of cash only. Credit<br />
cards cannot be accepted for money exchange. All hotels<br />
have exchange facilities. While onboard, guests can sign<br />
for all purchases <strong>and</strong> pay their charges at the end of the<br />
cruise with their credit card.<br />
Please note currency exchange transactions <strong>and</strong> ATM cash<br />
withdrawals always involve transaction fees. It is always best<br />
to inquire as to the fee before exchanging any money. ATMs<br />
will typically ask you if you accept the fee before enabling<br />
the transaction.<br />
Smoking<br />
The ship enjoys a non-smoking environment in all public areas<br />
<strong>and</strong> in the staterooms. Smoking is allowed only on the upper<br />
Sun Deck. Non-smoking rooms are requested in all hotels. For<br />
those passengers who smoke, we can request a smoking room<br />
in hotels with advance notice. For the comfort of all passengers,<br />
smoking is not permitted on sightseeing or transfer vehicles.<br />
On motorcoach tours, we ask that passengers rotate to allow<br />
everyone to sit near the front.<br />
Water<br />
Please do not drink the tap water. All hotels provide<br />
complimentary bottled water. Additional bottled water<br />
can be purchased throughout China.<br />
Weather<br />
Today, weather forecasts are widely available at the click of<br />
a button on the Internet. <strong>Uniworld</strong>’s favorite resource for<br />
up-to-the-minute international weather is weather.com.<br />
Please contact your bank <strong>and</strong>/or credit card companies to let<br />
them know that you will be leaving the country to avoid any<br />
problems using your credit card(s) overseas.<br />
Safety Deposit Box<br />
There is a safe in your hotel room <strong>and</strong> stateroom onboard.<br />
We urge you to leave valuable jewelry at home. We are not<br />
responsible for any valuables left in the staterooms. Any<br />
charge to return “lost <strong>and</strong> found property” will be at the<br />
owner’s expense. Please beware of pickpockets when ashore.<br />
Average Temperatures<br />
Average Low/High (F)<br />
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct<br />
Beijing 43/70 54/82 63/89 69/90 67/88 56/81 43/69<br />
Shanghai 49/68 59/78 66/84 74/92 74/92 67/84 56/76<br />
Xi’an 46/72 44/81 64/91 70/93 68/90 58/79 47/69<br />
Guilin 58/74 66/83 72/89 75/89 74/93 70/89 61/80<br />
Hong Kong 67/79 74/84 74/84 78/88 79/90 79/90 77/89<br />
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What to Wear<br />
Prepare for a variety of weather conditions depending on your<br />
travel season. Layering clothing items is smart because it<br />
allows each person to adjust to any temperature, including<br />
artificially maintained temperatures, by removing or adding<br />
items throughout the day.<br />
Comfortable, sporty, smart-casual day wear is appropriate<br />
both onshore <strong>and</strong> onboard. For warmer temperatures, we<br />
suggest lightweight clothing that can be layered, such as<br />
a mix of sweaters, lightweight knit shirts, everyday khakis,<br />
slacks, skirts/dresses, <strong>and</strong> walking shorts. Mix-<strong>and</strong>-match<br />
solid color schemes work best to help keep baggage light.<br />
This program is very different from European river programs;<br />
attire is more casual due to the region’s warmer temperatures.<br />
During the cruise portion of your program, comfortable,<br />
lightweight clothing in lighter colors is strongly recommended.<br />
Shorts, cotton shirts, good walking shoes, <strong>and</strong> sun hats during<br />
the day are recommended. We discourage s<strong>and</strong>als <strong>and</strong> the<br />
like during excursions, because they don’t provide the best<br />
stability when boarding sampans. For evenings, we again<br />
recommend casual <strong>and</strong> cool attire; however, we kindly request<br />
that guests not wear shorts at dinner, <strong>and</strong> we require footwear<br />
to be worn at all times in the dining room.<br />
You will engage in a significant amount of walking over uneven<br />
terrain during your time ashore. We recommend comfortable<br />
walking shoes with good ankle support.<br />
Sport jackets <strong>and</strong> cocktail dresses are not needed at any time<br />
during this program.<br />
Don’t forget to pack a lightweight, waterproof jacket (preferably<br />
hooded) or even a heavier-weight windbreaker, for colder<br />
temperatures that can be found in Hanoi <strong>and</strong> Ha Long Bay<br />
in late October through March.<br />
Visa Requirements for all China Programs<br />
All US <strong>and</strong> Canadian citizens need a passport <strong>and</strong> visa for<br />
travel to China. Non-US or Non-Canadian citizens should<br />
contact the Chinese consulate for proper requirements.<br />
It is the passenger’s responsibility to obtain all necessary<br />
documentation. Visa requirements for US <strong>and</strong> Canadian<br />
citizens can be found at uniworld.com, under the “Before<br />
You Go” section. <strong>Uniworld</strong> provides information on obtaining<br />
the required visa through Zierer Visa Service as a courtesy<br />
only at uniworld.com.<br />
Obtaining <strong>and</strong> carrying the proper documents, including<br />
passports, is the sole responsibility of the guest. <strong>Uniworld</strong><br />
will not be responsible for any delays, damages <strong>and</strong>/or losses,<br />
including missed portions of your cruise/tour, which are<br />
related to improper travel documentation. All guests are<br />
strongly advised to obtain the necessary visas well in advance<br />
to avoid unnecessary charges to expedite the processing of<br />
the visas.<br />
When using a visa service, it is highly recommended that the<br />
service be provided with a copy of your entire travel itinerary.<br />
There are times when multiple entry visas may be required<br />
or there are restrictions to entering one country from another,<br />
depending on your nationality. If the service does not have<br />
your full itinerary, this may result in improperly issued<br />
documentation.<br />
For the “China, Tibet & the Yangtze” program, only a singleentry<br />
China visa is required. <strong>Uniworld</strong> will be responsible for<br />
your permit to enter Tibet. Please provide us with a legible<br />
copy of your passport (photo page) <strong>and</strong> a copy of your China<br />
visa no later than 20 days prior to your departure, so that we<br />
may obtain the Tibetan Entry Permit for you.<br />
During the cruise/tour, it is advisable to have copies of important<br />
documents (e.g., first page of your passport, photo, credit card<br />
numbers, <strong>and</strong> bank/credit card company phone numbers) in a<br />
separate packet, in case the originals are lost or stolen.<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
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About Your <strong>Uniworld</strong> <strong>Cruise</strong> Package<br />
<strong>and</strong> Onboard Services: Vietnam & Cambodia<br />
Contact Information<br />
Here are some important numbers for our local representatives<br />
who are available to offer assistance should the need arise<br />
while you are on your trip:<br />
Electrical Current<br />
Voltage is 220/50Hz in all hotels <strong>and</strong> onboard the ship. To use<br />
any electrical product from the United States, you will need a<br />
two-round-pin-type plug adaptor <strong>and</strong> a voltage converter.<br />
Elevators on the Ship<br />
The <strong>River</strong> Saigon does not have an elevator.<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
P<strong>and</strong>aw <strong>River</strong> <strong>Cruise</strong>s<br />
Within North America: 1-800-798-4223<br />
Outside North America: + (1) 970-453-2763<br />
Ho Chi Minh, Ground Operator contact<br />
Indochina Partner Travel – Ho Chi Minh City Office<br />
Tel: + (84 8) 3832 9326<br />
Emergencies Only: Mr. Nguyen Thanh<br />
Tel: + (84) 973 06 8181<br />
Hanoi, Ground Operator contact<br />
Indochina Partner Travel – Hanoi Office<br />
Mr. Phan Thuan Tri<br />
Tel: + (84) 903 73 6773<br />
Bangkok, Ground Operator contact<br />
Viva Voyage – Bangkok Office<br />
Tel: + (66 2) 254 8381<br />
Emergencies Only: Ms. Tharinee Buranapim<br />
Tel: + (66) 8 1838 4513<br />
Dining<br />
All breakfasts both on l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> onboard are American-style<br />
buffets. Most other meals onshore will be held at local<br />
restaurants with local Asian cuisine. Lunch onboard offers a<br />
selection of fresh salads, daily soups, <strong>and</strong> entrées. Dinner is<br />
seated <strong>and</strong> offers soup, salad, a main course, <strong>and</strong> dessert.<br />
Vegetarian options are always available. Please notify <strong>Uniworld</strong><br />
immediately if you have any special dietary concerns or<br />
considerations that need to be taken into account while<br />
traveling with us. We will do our best to ensure that your<br />
request is accommodated but cannot guarantee this will<br />
happen in all cases. During dinners held ashore, wine <strong>and</strong><br />
beer will be included in your program cost. During onboard<br />
dinners, complimentary red <strong>and</strong> white house wine, ice water,<br />
iced tea, draught beer, soft drinks, coffee, <strong>and</strong> tea will<br />
be included.<br />
Note: The Vietnamese Theme Dinner <strong>and</strong> Royal Cambodian Theme<br />
Dinner are served buffet-style<br />
Emergency Procedures<br />
The <strong>River</strong> Saigon is outfitted with modern smoke detectors,<br />
fire alarms, extinguishers, <strong>and</strong> hoses. Alarms are situated at<br />
regular intervals along the Promenade Decks. Fire extinguishers<br />
are located at regular intervals around the Promenade Decks<br />
<strong>and</strong> outside all public rooms.<br />
<strong>Excursions</strong><br />
When moored, you are welcome to come <strong>and</strong> go from the ship<br />
as much as you like. Our next sailing time will be listed on<br />
the Daily Schedule, <strong>and</strong> passengers are requested to note<br />
this before disembarking. Group shore excursions are<br />
organized by the Purser <strong>and</strong> are accompanied by a member<br />
of the ship’s staff. Details about group shore excursions<br />
are posted on the Daily Schedule. Fifteen minutes prior to<br />
casting off, the captain will sound the ship’s horn to warn<br />
you to return to the ship. When disembarking, passengers<br />
should hang their keys on the key board found adjacent to<br />
the gangplank so that we know if anyone has left the ship<br />
<strong>and</strong> not returned. If you go ashore with your cabin keys <strong>and</strong><br />
we leave without you, we cannot be held responsible. For your<br />
comfort, we will attempt to schedule onshore time in the<br />
cool of the early morning or late afternoon.<br />
Fitness Center in the Hotels <strong>and</strong> on the Ship<br />
There are fitness centers in all hotels, with the exception of<br />
the Victoria Angkor Resort. On the ship, the Fitness Center<br />
is located on the Sun Deck. Hours of operation are generally<br />
from 6:00 am until 6:00 pm but may be adjusted based<br />
on each day’s program.<br />
Footwear<br />
Slippers are provided for your comfort onboard the vessel.<br />
When ashore, guests should wear comfortable but safe walking<br />
shoes. At certain times, the river banks <strong>and</strong> paths we use can<br />
be muddy <strong>and</strong> therefore slippery. Due to the possibility of<br />
muddy or, conversely, very dusty walking conditions, we ask<br />
you to remove your footwear when returning onboard so that<br />
we can clean your shoes for you <strong>and</strong> return them to you later.<br />
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<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
Going Ashore<br />
Because of the varying nature of the riverbank, methods of<br />
getting ashore may differ from time to time <strong>and</strong>, on occasion,<br />
access may be difficult. We will ensure that the gangways are<br />
safe <strong>and</strong> that crew members are on h<strong>and</strong> to assist you.<br />
Gift Shop<br />
There are gift shops in all hotels. There is a gift shop onboard<br />
the ship with a limited selection of toiletries, souvenirs, <strong>and</strong><br />
other sundries. All items from this shop may be charged to your<br />
shipboard account. The hours of operation are adjusted to each<br />
day’s program. Hair dryers are supplied in the staterooms<br />
onboard the ship as well as in all hotels.<br />
Gratuities<br />
Gratuities are customary expressions of appreciation for a<br />
job well done, <strong>and</strong> it is our goal to ensure that the service<br />
you receive is as wonderful as the sites you visit. The amount<br />
of the gratuity you choose to give is entirely subject to your<br />
satisfaction with your travel experience. To assist you in<br />
determining the amount of your gratuities, we recommend<br />
the following as a guideline:<br />
• <strong>Cruise</strong>/Tour Manager: $5 to $7 USD per guest, per day<br />
(given on the last day of the cruise/tour before departure)<br />
• Program Managers: $5 USD per guest, per day (given at the<br />
end of each guide’s service to passengers)<br />
• Drivers/Boatmen: $1 USD per guest, per excursion (given at<br />
the end of each excursion)<br />
• Ship staff <strong>and</strong> crew: $5 USD per guest, per day to be shared<br />
among all staff <strong>and</strong> crew (given on the last day of the cruise<br />
before disembarking the ship)<br />
The above is solely a guideline. The amount you give should<br />
depend upon your personal experience <strong>and</strong> level of satisfaction.<br />
Gratuities cannot be billed to onboard accounts or paid with<br />
a credit card, so please ensure that you have cash on h<strong>and</strong><br />
(in bills of small denominations) for this expense.<br />
safety <strong>and</strong> enjoyment, we recommend that all guests be in<br />
good physical condition.<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong>, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to refuse<br />
passage or to require a current passenger to end his or her<br />
trip if the passenger’s state of health or physical condition<br />
may affect his or her own health, safety, <strong>and</strong> enjoyment or<br />
that of other passengers.<br />
Insect Precautions<br />
External doors <strong>and</strong> gauze windows should be kept closed<br />
at all times—day <strong>and</strong> night. At night, if on deck or going<br />
ashore, make sure to rub ankles <strong>and</strong> other exposed skin<br />
with repellent. However, outside urban areas, mosquitoes<br />
are less of a problem than other forms of insect life.<br />
Fortunately, these insects are relatively harmless. Make<br />
sure to switch off lights when leaving your cabin so as not<br />
to lure them in. On the fast-flowing river, mosquitoes are<br />
rarely to be seen.<br />
Internet Access at the Hotels <strong>and</strong> on the Ship<br />
Internet access is available in all hotels. The hotel will charge<br />
approximately $15 – $20 USD per day, <strong>and</strong> possibly more,<br />
for this service. The Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa will offer<br />
this service free of charge.<br />
Wireless Internet is not available onboard. However, there is a<br />
wireless signal while docked in Phnom Penh that passengers<br />
may access free of charge using their own electronic device.<br />
Intra-Asia Domestic Air Tickets<br />
Your intra-Asia domestic air tickets will be issued to you by<br />
your Tour Manager while on the tour.<br />
L<strong>and</strong> Tours <strong>and</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> <strong>Excursions</strong><br />
Each cruise/tour program features comprehensive included<br />
l<strong>and</strong> tour <strong>and</strong> shore excursions. Details for your particular<br />
itinerary are included on the following pages <strong>and</strong> can also<br />
be found at uniworld.com.<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
H<strong>and</strong>icapped Facilities<br />
Laundry<br />
Embarkation/disembarkation facilities may be impossible to<br />
navigate with wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, or any other<br />
mechanical devices. The ship was not designed to accommodate<br />
physically challenged travelers; it does not have elevators <strong>and</strong><br />
is not h<strong>and</strong>icapped or wheelchair accessible.<br />
Laundry service is available in all hotels <strong>and</strong> onboard the ships<br />
for a fee. Self-service laundry facilities are not available in<br />
hotels or on the ships.<br />
Additionally, most shore excursions involve walking over uneven<br />
ground. Some excursions are walking tours only, <strong>and</strong> for your<br />
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<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
Local <strong>and</strong> Onboard Money Matters<br />
Currency in Vietnam is the Dong. In Cambodia the US Dollar<br />
is widely accepted, as is the Cambodian Riel. Thail<strong>and</strong>’s<br />
currency is the Baht.<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> features a “cashless” environment onboard, <strong>and</strong><br />
all charges are billed directly to each guest’s onboard<br />
account. The onboard currency is the US Dollar. While<br />
onboard, guests can sign for all purchases <strong>and</strong> pay their<br />
charges at the end of the cruise with a credit card; cards<br />
accepted include American Express, MasterCard, <strong>and</strong> Visa.<br />
Credit cards will be charged in US Dollars. Alternatively, if<br />
paying by cash, the currency accepted onboard for<br />
settlement of final bills is the US Dollar.<br />
The ship does not have ATM machines onboard, but ATMs<br />
linked to major bank networks can be found throughout<br />
Vietnam, Cambodia, <strong>and</strong> Thail<strong>and</strong>. Most debit <strong>and</strong> major<br />
credit cards can be used for cash withdrawals ashore. All<br />
hotels have exchange facilities. Please note currency exchange<br />
transactions <strong>and</strong> ATM cash withdrawals always involve<br />
transaction fees. It is always best to inquire about the fee<br />
before exchanging any money. ATMs will typically ask you<br />
if you accept the fee before enabling the transaction.<br />
Please contact your bank <strong>and</strong>/or credit card companies to<br />
let them know that you will be leaving the country to avoid<br />
any problems using your credit card(s) overseas.<br />
Morning Call<br />
If you would like to be woken up at a specific time, please<br />
advise the Purser the night before.<br />
Moving about the Ship<br />
It goes without saying that this is a ship rather than a hotel,<br />
<strong>and</strong> as such you will need to take care when moving about<br />
the decks because they can be slippery. Please take extra<br />
care when using the stairs onboard, as they may be steeper<br />
than you are used to. It’s best to always use the h<strong>and</strong>rails.<br />
Muster Stations<br />
In the event of an emergency, the ship’s whistle will blast<br />
repeatedly <strong>and</strong> the alarm bells will ring. If you hear these<br />
sounds <strong>and</strong> you are either in or very close to your stateroom,<br />
put on your life jacket, proceed immediately to Muster Station<br />
One, <strong>and</strong> await instructions. On the back of your stateroom<br />
door is a plan of the ship that shows the position of your<br />
stateroom in relation to the Emergency Muster Stations.<br />
Muster Station One on all ships is located on the Main Deck<br />
midships (where the main gangplank is). In the event that<br />
Muster Station One is not safe, you will be directed by the<br />
crew to Muster Station Two on the Sun Deck. Both Muster<br />
Stations are clearly indicated with signs.<br />
If you are not in your stateroom when you hear the alarm, do<br />
NOT return to it, but proceed at once to the Muster Station<br />
to await instructions. There will be an Emergency Drill during<br />
your voyage. Note that, as with inl<strong>and</strong> water class cruise ships<br />
on European rivers, we are not required by Class Societies to<br />
carry lifeboats; the reason for this is that it is far quicker to<br />
beach the vessel on the nearest s<strong>and</strong>bar or riverbank <strong>and</strong><br />
evacuate by foot than to transfer passengers onto life boats.<br />
No-Go Areas<br />
Some areas are clearly indicated as “Crew Only.” We ask<br />
you to respect these areas as the crew may be working<br />
there <strong>and</strong> your safety cannot be guaranteed. These areas<br />
include: the Main Deck bow area, galley, engine rooms, crew<br />
accommodation, <strong>and</strong> gangways aft of the Sun Deck. Crew<br />
members have been instructed to escort any unauthorized<br />
persons from these areas <strong>and</strong> make a report to the Captain.<br />
Safety Deposit Box<br />
Each hotel room <strong>and</strong> onboard stateroom comes equipped<br />
with a safe. We urge you to leave valuable jewelry at home.<br />
We are not responsible for any valuables left in the staterooms.<br />
Any charge to return “lost <strong>and</strong> found” property will be at the<br />
owner’s expense. Please beware of pickpockets when ashore.<br />
Security<br />
In the countries in which we operate, tourists are rarely targets<br />
of theft; when sailing, most passengers do not bother to lock<br />
their doors. When in port, a 24-hour watch is kept on the<br />
gangplank in order to control access to the ship, but please<br />
keep your deck door locked when it is not in use <strong>and</strong> at<br />
night. All cabins have a combination-type safe; please use a<br />
number you can remember, like the last four digits of your<br />
phone number or your date of birth. The company cannot be<br />
held liable for loss of money, jewelry, or other valuable items<br />
from the ship or while on an excursion ashore during a<br />
voyage. In the Conditions of Carriage, you are required to<br />
have taken out personal travel insurance to cover these<br />
possibilities.<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
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<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
Ship’s Office<br />
The Ship’s Office is located either in the bar or on the upper<br />
deck l<strong>and</strong>ing. The Purser <strong>and</strong> key team members are available<br />
to assist at designated times.<br />
Shopping<br />
Time for shopping is usually, but not always, allowed for<br />
within the framework of most of the sightseeing programs.<br />
The actual amount of time available for shopping may be<br />
limited by tour constraints. Shopping recommendations<br />
can be made by your Tour Manager. Larger stores will<br />
accept most major credit cards, while market vendors <strong>and</strong><br />
small stores will usually accept the local currency only (with<br />
the exception of Cambodia, which widely accepts the US<br />
Dollar). It is a good idea to take a small amount of cash to<br />
use for on-the-spot gratuities <strong>and</strong> the purchasing of souvenirs<br />
or sundries.<br />
required to enter Thail<strong>and</strong>. Any visa(s) or other documentation<br />
required for a particular itinerary is the sole responsibility of<br />
the guest. As a courtesy, our website, uniworld.com, offers a<br />
link to a visa service company in the “Before You Go” section;<br />
this company can provide additional information. Obtaining<br />
<strong>and</strong> carrying required documents is your sole responsibility.<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> will not be responsible for advising <strong>and</strong>/or obtaining<br />
required travel documentation for any passenger, or for any<br />
delays, damages <strong>and</strong>/or losses, including missed portions of<br />
your trip, related to improper travel documentation.<br />
Due to government imposed security/immigration measures,<br />
passport information <strong>and</strong> emergency contact information are<br />
required for all passengers prior to release of documentation.<br />
During the cruise/tour, it is advisable to have copies of important<br />
documents (e.g., first page of your passport, photo, credit card<br />
numbers, <strong>and</strong> bank/credit card company phone numbers) in a<br />
separate packet, in case the originals are lost or stolen.<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
Smoking<br />
The ship enjoys a non-smoking environment in all public areas<br />
<strong>and</strong> in the staterooms. Smoking is allowed only on the upper<br />
Sun Deck. Non-smoking rooms are requested in all hotels.<br />
For those passengers who smoke, we can request a smoking<br />
room in hotels (if available) with advance notice. For the<br />
comfort of all passengers, smoking is not permitted on<br />
sightseeing or transfer vehicles. On motorcoach tours, we<br />
ask that passengers rotate to allow everyone the opportunity<br />
to sit near the front.<br />
Stateroom Amenities<br />
We want you to be as comfortable as possible during your<br />
voyage with us. Our stewarding team will do their best to<br />
ensure the highest possible st<strong>and</strong>ards of cleanliness <strong>and</strong><br />
comfort in your room. Please do not hesitate to ask if you<br />
require anything at all, <strong>and</strong> please let us know if you are not<br />
satisfied with any aspect of our care of you. Note that cabins<br />
do not have mini bars, TVs, or phones. All have their own airconditioning,<br />
mini-safes, luggage storage, wardrobes, writing<br />
desks, <strong>and</strong> amenities, including hair dryers, kimonos, <strong>and</strong><br />
slippers. All upper <strong>and</strong> main deck staterooms have their own<br />
deck space with a table <strong>and</strong> rattan chairs outside the room.<br />
Visa Requirements for Vietnam & Cambodia<br />
Programs<br />
For US <strong>and</strong> Canadian citizens, a multiple entry visa is required<br />
for entry to Vietnam, <strong>and</strong> a single entry visa is required for<br />
entry to Cambodia. For US <strong>and</strong> Canadian citizens, a visa is not<br />
Water<br />
Please do not drink or brush your teeth with the tap water<br />
while onboard or onshore. The ship’s water supply comes<br />
from the river after passing through a sterilization plant. This<br />
water is suitable for washing but should not be consumed.<br />
Complimentary bottled water for drinking is provided<br />
onboard, <strong>and</strong> additional bottled water will be made available<br />
free of charge on excursions. To save water <strong>and</strong> reduce<br />
detergent use, we will only change towels daily if they are<br />
placed on the floor. The ship has copious supplies of hot<br />
water, but you may have to run the water for up to two<br />
minutes before it gets hot.<br />
All hotels also provide complimentary in-room bottled water.<br />
Weather<br />
Today, weather forecasts are widely available at the click of<br />
a button on the Internet. <strong>Uniworld</strong>’s favorite resource for<br />
up-to-the-minute international weather is weather.com.<br />
Average Temperatures<br />
Average Low/High (F)<br />
Jan Feb Mar Sep Oct Nov Dec<br />
Hanoi 57/67 59/68 64/73 77/87 67/88 65/77 60/71<br />
Ho Chi Minh 70/89 73/91 76/93 76/88 76/88 73/88 71/88<br />
Siem Reap 67/90 69/92 79/94 76/90 75/88 72/87 69/88<br />
Bangkok 70/90 74/91 79/95 76/90 76/90 74/89 69/88<br />
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<strong>Cruise</strong> <strong>Companion</strong><br />
What to Wear<br />
Prepare for a variety of weather conditions, depending on your<br />
travel season. Layering clothing items is smart because it<br />
allows each person to adjust to any temperature, including<br />
artificially maintained temperatures, by removing or adding<br />
items throughout the day.<br />
Comfortable, sporty, smart-casual day wear is appropriate<br />
both onshore <strong>and</strong> onboard. For warmer temperatures, we<br />
suggest lightweight clothing that can be layered, such as<br />
a mix of sweaters, lightweight knit shirts, everyday khakis,<br />
slacks, skirts/dresses, <strong>and</strong> walking shorts. Mix-<strong>and</strong>-match<br />
solid color schemes work best to help keep baggage light.<br />
This program is very different from European river programs;<br />
attire is more casual due to the region’s warmer temperatures.<br />
During the cruise portion of your program, comfortable,<br />
lightweight clothing in lighter colors is strongly recommended.<br />
Shorts, cotton shirts, good walking shoes, <strong>and</strong> sun hats during<br />
the day are recommended. We discourage s<strong>and</strong>als <strong>and</strong> the<br />
like during excursions, because they don’t provide the best<br />
stability when boarding sampans. For evenings, we again<br />
recommend casual <strong>and</strong> cool attire; however, we kindly request<br />
that guests not wear shorts at dinner, <strong>and</strong> we require footwear<br />
to be worn at all times in the dining room.<br />
You will engage in a significant amount of walking over uneven<br />
terrain during your time ashore. We recommend comfortable<br />
walking shoes with good ankle support.<br />
Sport jackets <strong>and</strong> cocktail dresses are not needed at any time<br />
during this program.<br />
Don’t forget to pack a lightweight, waterproof jacket (preferably<br />
hooded) or even a heavier-weight windbreaker, for colder<br />
temperatures that can be found in Hanoi <strong>and</strong> Ha Long Bay<br />
in late October through March.<br />
Omissions<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> is not responsible for omissions, printing <strong>and</strong>/or<br />
presentation errors in brochures, on Internet sites, or in<br />
any other media where such information may be presented;<br />
we reserve the right to make corrections as required.<br />
Classic China<br />
Beijing to Shanghai | 10 Days<br />
Discover the wonders of this magnificent l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> immerse<br />
yourself in China’s diverse cultures<br />
China is both a time capsule of ancient culture <strong>and</strong> a gr<strong>and</strong><br />
stage showcasing modern miracles. Your itinerary will take<br />
you to the many majestic sights of this enchanting country.<br />
Explore Beijing, the current capital; Xi’an, the ancient capital;<br />
Hangzhou, a corner of beauty; <strong>and</strong> Shanghai, China’s largest<br />
city. Discover the unique mysteries <strong>and</strong> wonders these cities<br />
have to offer.<br />
Explore Beijing’s vast Forbidden City <strong>and</strong> walk along the<br />
magnificent Great Wall. Travel along the Sacred Way. Enjoy a<br />
family-hosted lunch among the ancient Hutongs in the old<br />
residential area of Beijing. In Xi’an, marvel at the intricately<br />
detailed Terra Cotta Warriors <strong>and</strong> Horses. And visit lovely<br />
Hangzhou <strong>and</strong> its West Lake. Visit the charming ancient town<br />
of Wuzhen. And cap off your journey with a visit to Shanghai,<br />
where you’ll stroll along the city’s famous waterfront<br />
promenade <strong>and</strong> see a performance of the Shanghai Acrobats.<br />
Let your English-speaking local guides share their knowledge<br />
of China’s history, l<strong>and</strong>marks, people, <strong>and</strong> culture with you.<br />
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<strong>Uniworld</strong> 29
Day 1 | Beijing b<br />
Arrive at the Beijing Airport <strong>and</strong> be greeted by a <strong>Uniworld</strong><br />
representative who will escort you to your hotel.<br />
Day 2 | Beijing BB, L, W<br />
At the end of the day, we invite you to indulge in a succulent<br />
Peking Duck Welcome Dinner with wine, where you will receive<br />
an exquisite piece of Chinese folk art as a gift. The city’s<br />
namesake meal is a truly appropriate way to cap off your first<br />
day in Beijing, formerly known as Peking.<br />
Classic China<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City,<br />
Summer Palace, <strong>and</strong> Peking Duck Welcome Dinner with wine<br />
8 2 b f S<br />
Old meets new in China’s capital city of Beijing, where ancient<br />
architecture mixes with modern highrises. The bustling city<br />
has been a cornerstone of Chinese history through the ages.<br />
It has been an important military <strong>and</strong> trading point since the<br />
Qin Dynasty (202 BC) <strong>and</strong> the capital of China since the Yuan<br />
Dynasty (Kublai Khan, 1279 AD), with historical buildings<br />
around just about every corner. Beijing is also a hub of culture<br />
with its temples, art treasures, <strong>and</strong> opulent palaces at every<br />
turn, keeping the city thriving <strong>and</strong> alive.<br />
Begin your first full day in Beijing with an exciting visit to<br />
Tiananmen Square—the heart of Beijing <strong>and</strong> the largest<br />
open city square in the world. Tiananmen Square has been<br />
the site of many important events in China’s history. Among<br />
the many monuments in this area are Tiananmen Tower, the<br />
Monument to the People’s Heroes, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the National Museum of China. Pose for a souvenir group<br />
photo of you <strong>and</strong> your travel companions at Tiananmen Square.<br />
Then, walk through Tiananmen Gate, or the “Gate of Heavenly<br />
Peace” which is the entranceway to the Forbidden City.<br />
The Forbidden City is a 250-acre (97-hectare) complex of<br />
palaces, pavilions, courtyards, <strong>and</strong> gardens. It’s the largest<br />
<strong>and</strong> most complete ancient imperial palace in the world.<br />
Construction of the palace began in 1406, <strong>and</strong> 24 emperors<br />
have ruled China from within its walls.<br />
Continue on to another Beijing gem, the Summer Palace, which<br />
has one of China’s largest <strong>and</strong> best preserved imperial gardens.<br />
In 1998, UNESCO designated the Summer Palace a World<br />
Heritage Site, noting that it is “an outst<strong>and</strong>ing expression of the<br />
creative art of Chinese l<strong>and</strong>scape garden design, incorporating<br />
the works of humankind <strong>and</strong> nature in a harmonious whole.”<br />
You’ll take a boat ride on the lovely Kunming Lake, where you’ll<br />
be able to enjoy the beautiful natural elements of the gardens<br />
as well as the graceful designs of the pavilions, halls, palaces,<br />
temples, <strong>and</strong> bridges.<br />
Day 3 | Beijing BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: The Great Wall, the Sacred Way, <strong>and</strong><br />
Kung Fu show at the Red Theater 8 3 b p<br />
In the morning, you’ll travel 40 miles (64 km) north of Beijing<br />
for a memorable walk on a wonder of the ancient world—the<br />
Great Wall. The Great Wall is the longest manmade structure<br />
on earth. Original construction began in the third century BC<br />
as a way to keep out warring invaders, <strong>and</strong> additional sections<br />
extended the wall over the centuries to its present length of<br />
nearly 4,000 miles (6,436 km)—a distance longer than the<br />
United States is wide! It’s truly an awe-inspiring sight, which<br />
you will never forget.<br />
After your walk along this historic l<strong>and</strong>mark, you’ll travel the<br />
Sacred Way, home to remnants of the Ming Tombs. Here, 13<br />
of the Ming Dynasty’s 16 emperors were laid to rest in lavish<br />
burial chambers. Ming monarchs made an annual pilgrimage<br />
to the tombs to honor their departed ancestors, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>eur of the site <strong>and</strong> its relics convey the importance of<br />
ancestor worship in ancient Chinese culture. You’ll end your<br />
day with an evening at the spectacular Kung Fu show at the<br />
Red Theater.<br />
The best Kung Fu practitioners from all over China perform<br />
in this production. Their average age is just 17! The costumes,<br />
set design <strong>and</strong> special effects are created by some of the best<br />
stage directors <strong>and</strong> designers in China. The performers are<br />
not only skilled in Kung Fu, but are also trained in theatrical<br />
presentation. The dancers <strong>and</strong> acrobats add new dimensions<br />
to the exploration of the movements <strong>and</strong> discipline of Kung Fu.<br />
The action is breathtaking <strong>and</strong> the drama is poignant.<br />
The show has English supertitles shown above the stage to<br />
keep you informed of the story line. The actors do not speak;<br />
the show is all Kung Fu, dance <strong>and</strong> acrobatics. It is the fusion<br />
of modern dance with Chinese traditional arts that makes this<br />
performance unique <strong>and</strong> spectacular.<br />
Classic China<br />
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Day 4 | Beijing, fly to Xi’an b d BB, L, D<br />
Day 6 | Xi’an, fly to Hangzhou b d BB, L, D<br />
Classic China<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Hutongs tour with home-hosted lunch<br />
<strong>and</strong> dumpling dinner in Xi’an 8 1 b f<br />
You will visit a carpet factory, then see the p<strong>and</strong>as at the<br />
Beijing Zoo, then you’ll get an authentic taste of old Beijing on<br />
your last day in the city. Step back in time as you take a ride<br />
in a rickshaw for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hutongs—<br />
the ancient lanes <strong>and</strong> alleyways in the old residential area of<br />
Beijing. The Hutongs, which have been around for more than<br />
700 years, offer a fascinating glimpse of traditional Chinese<br />
life <strong>and</strong> architecture—including the area’s famous courtyard<br />
houses. While here, enjoy lunch with a local family. Later in<br />
the day, fly to Xi’an, a legendary city known as the cradle<br />
of Chinese culture, as well as home to one of the most<br />
significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century—<br />
the life-sized Terra Cotta Warriors <strong>and</strong> Horses. Spend your<br />
first evening in Xi’an savoring a traditional dumpling dinner.<br />
Day 5 | Xi’an BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Terra Cotta Warriors, City Wall, <strong>and</strong><br />
Tang Dynasty dinner <strong>and</strong> performance 8 2 b f p<br />
Xi’an was known in ancient times as Changan. Located along<br />
the famous Silk Road <strong>and</strong> the capital of Shaanxi Province,<br />
it was once one of the largest <strong>and</strong> most cultured cities in<br />
the world. Today, most visitors come to see the site of the<br />
life-sized Terra Cotta Warriors <strong>and</strong> Horses guarding the tomb<br />
of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, one of the 20th-century’s biggest<br />
archaeological finds. The 7,000-plus members of this massive<br />
terra cotta army, which st<strong>and</strong>s guard over the tomb of China’s<br />
first emperor, were first discovered in 1974 by well-digging<br />
farmers. You’ll be amazed by the intricacy of the life-sized<br />
soldier <strong>and</strong> horse figures <strong>and</strong> the gr<strong>and</strong>eur of the tomb complex<br />
—only a small portion of which has actually been excavated.<br />
After your exploration of these fabulous sculptures, you’ll<br />
visit Xi’an’s massive ancient city wall, the oldest <strong>and</strong> bestpreserved<br />
surviving city wall in China. You will also have an<br />
opportunity to visit a jade factory <strong>and</strong> store. In the evening,<br />
indulge in a Tang Dynasty dinner <strong>and</strong> cultural performance<br />
featuring music, dance, <strong>and</strong> traditional costumes. Xi’an<br />
served as the capital city for 13 of China’s great dynasties,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the Tang Dynasty is remembered as the most progressive<br />
<strong>and</strong> prosperous era in the history of China. Tang Dynasty<br />
music <strong>and</strong> dance symbolize the splendor <strong>and</strong> glory of the<br />
Chinese civilization.<br />
Featured Excursion: Lingyin Temple 8 2 b<br />
Fly to Hangzhou—a city so lovely, none other than Marco<br />
Polo pronounced it the finest <strong>and</strong> noblest in the world—<strong>and</strong><br />
transfer to your hotel on the banks of the incomparable West<br />
Lake. In the afternoon, you will visit Lingyin Temple, one of<br />
China’s oldest Buddhist temples <strong>and</strong> home to treasures of<br />
Buddhist literature <strong>and</strong> art. Reflect on the more than 470<br />
carved-stone Buddhist statues, some of which are up to<br />
1,000 years old.<br />
Day 7 | Hangzhou BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: West Lake boat ride <strong>and</strong> tea farm visit,<br />
“Impressions West Lake” show 8 2 b p<br />
Relax during a scenic boat ride on breathtaking West Lake,<br />
where at every turn you’ll see images of such serene natural<br />
beauty, they look like Chinese watercolors come to life.<br />
Surrounded by mountains on three sides, <strong>and</strong> possessing 10<br />
legendary scenic spots, the lake is said to be the incarnation<br />
of one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. In the afternoon,<br />
enjoy a visit to a tea farm, where you’ll learn of the importance<br />
of tea to Chinese culture for thous<strong>and</strong>s of years <strong>and</strong> have a<br />
tasting from the locally grown leaves.<br />
In the evening thrill to the spectacular “Impressions West<br />
Lake,” a multi-sensory performance combining light, water,<br />
<strong>and</strong> hundreds of actors in a dazzling show based on a Hangzhou<br />
legend <strong>and</strong> created by Zhang Yimou, one of China’s foremost<br />
filmmakers <strong>and</strong> the creator of the Beijing Olympics stunning<br />
opening ceremony.<br />
Day 8 | Hangzhou, Wuzhen, Shanghai BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Wuzhen 8 2 b<br />
On the motorcoach ride to Shanghai you’ll stop at Wuzhen,<br />
an ancient water town whose numerous canals make it “the<br />
Venice of the East.” The houses that line the canals have a<br />
charming look, with their white walls contrasting with black<br />
tiles <strong>and</strong> oil-painted-timber framework. Continue on to Shanghai<br />
for dinner at your hotel.<br />
Classic China<br />
32 uniworld.com <strong>Uniworld</strong> 33
Day 9 | Shanghai BB, L, D<br />
Classic China<br />
Featured Excursion: Shanghai city tour with Oriental Pearl TV<br />
Tower <strong>and</strong> Shanghai Acrobats performance<br />
8 2 b m p f<br />
Bustling Shanghai is the commercial capital of China, <strong>and</strong><br />
today’s tour will take you to some of this sprawling city’s most<br />
impressive sights. You’ll go to Old Town—with its teahouses,<br />
temples, narrow alleyways, <strong>and</strong> markets—for a taste of historic<br />
Shanghai. After a dim sum lunch, you’ll stroll along the Bund,<br />
Shanghai’s famed waterfront promenade, which is home to over<br />
50 buildings offering a variety of architectural styles, including<br />
Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, <strong>and</strong> Art Déco.<br />
Visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower—one of the highest towers<br />
in Asia—<strong>and</strong> Shanghai Municipal Museum. This evening, be<br />
dazzled by the amazing Shanghai Acrobats.<br />
Day 10 | Depart Shanghai b CB/BB<br />
Transfer to the Shanghai Airport for your return flight home,<br />
or continue your tour with one of our popular optional extensions.<br />
Note: Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due<br />
to uncontrollable factors.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia &<br />
the Mekong<br />
Beijing to Hanoi | 24 days<br />
Explore the old <strong>and</strong> new, the gr<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> the intimate of this<br />
dynamic region on your Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia Tour<br />
From the formidable Great Wall, snaking across rugged<br />
mountains in the north of China, to the fertile Mekong <strong>River</strong><br />
delta in the south of Vietnam; from the silent Terra Cotta<br />
Warriors of Xi’an to the moving monuments of Cambodia’s<br />
war dead; from the vibrant paintings of the Summer Palace<br />
to the hushed serenity of Angkor Wat, your journey through<br />
Asia will get you up-close to some of the world’s most<br />
magnificent treasures. Along the way you will meet the<br />
citizens of three countries at work <strong>and</strong> at play. You’ll taste<br />
local cuisines <strong>and</strong> enjoy world-class cooking at your hotels,<br />
restaurants, <strong>and</strong> onboard.<br />
34 uniworld.com<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> 35
Day 1 | Beijing b<br />
Arrive at the Beijing Airport <strong>and</strong> be greeted by a <strong>Uniworld</strong><br />
representative who will escort you to your hotel.<br />
Day 2 | Beijing BB, L, W<br />
At the end of the day, we invite you to indulge in a succulent<br />
Peking Duck Welcome Dinner with wine, where you will receive<br />
an exquisite piece of Chinese folk art as a gift. The city’s<br />
namesake meal is a truly appropriate way to cap off your day<br />
in Beijing, formerly known as Peking.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City,<br />
Summer Palace, <strong>and</strong> Peking Duck Welcome Dinner with wine<br />
8 2 b f S<br />
Old meets new in China’s capital city of Beijing, where ancient<br />
architecture mixes with modern highrises. The bustling city<br />
has been a cornerstone of Chinese history through the ages.<br />
It has been an important military <strong>and</strong> trading point since the<br />
Qin Dynasty (202 BC) <strong>and</strong> the capital of China since the Yuan<br />
Dynasty (Kublai Khan, 1279 AD), with historical buildings<br />
around just about every corner. Beijing is also a hub of culture<br />
with its temples, art treasures, <strong>and</strong> opulent palaces at every<br />
turn, keeping the city thriving <strong>and</strong> alive.<br />
Begin your first full day in Beijing with an exciting visit to<br />
Tiananmen Square—the heart of Beijing <strong>and</strong> the largest<br />
open city square in the world. Tiananmen Square has been<br />
the site of many important events in China’s history. Among<br />
the many monuments in this area are Tiananmen Tower, the<br />
Monument to the People’s Heroes, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the National Museum of China. Pose for a souvenir group<br />
photo of you <strong>and</strong> your travel companions at Tiananmen Square.<br />
Then, walk through Tiananmen Gate, or the “Gate of Heavenly<br />
Peace” which is the entranceway to the Forbidden City.<br />
The Forbidden City is a 250-acre (97-hectare) complex of<br />
palaces, pavilions, courtyards, <strong>and</strong> gardens. It’s the largest<br />
<strong>and</strong> most complete ancient imperial palace in the world.<br />
Construction of the palace began in 1406, <strong>and</strong> 24 emperors<br />
have ruled China from within its walls.<br />
Continue on to another Beijing gem, the Summer Palace, which<br />
has one of China’s largest <strong>and</strong> best preserved imperial gardens.<br />
In 1998, UNESCO designated the Summer Palace a World<br />
Heritage Site, noting that it is “an outst<strong>and</strong>ing expression of the<br />
creative art of Chinese l<strong>and</strong>scape garden design, incorporating<br />
the works of humankind <strong>and</strong> nature in a harmonious whole.”<br />
You’ll take a boat ride on the lovely Kunming Lake, where you’ll<br />
be able to enjoy the beautiful natural elements of the gardens<br />
as well as the graceful designs of the pavilions, halls, palaces,<br />
temples, <strong>and</strong> bridges.<br />
Day 3 | Beijing BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: The Great Wall, the Sacred Way, <strong>and</strong><br />
Kung Fu show at the Red Theater 8 3 b p<br />
In the morning, you’ll travel 40 miles (64 km) north of Beijing<br />
for a memorable walk on a wonder of the ancient world—the<br />
Great Wall. The Great Wall is the longest manmade structure<br />
on earth. Original construction began in the third century BC<br />
as a way to keep out warring invaders, <strong>and</strong> additional sections<br />
extended the wall over the centuries to its present length of<br />
nearly 4,000 miles (6,436 km)—a distance longer than the<br />
United States is wide! It’s truly an awe-inspiring sight, which<br />
you will never forget.<br />
After your walk along this historic l<strong>and</strong>mark, you’ll travel the<br />
Sacred Way, home to remnants of the Ming Tombs. Here, 13<br />
of the Ming Dynasty’s 16 emperors were laid to rest in lavish<br />
burial chambers. Ming monarchs made an annual pilgrimage<br />
to the tombs to honor their departed ancestors, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>eur of the site <strong>and</strong> its relics convey the importance of<br />
ancestor worship in ancient Chinese culture. You’ll end your<br />
day with an evening at the spectacular Kung Fu show at the<br />
Red Theater.<br />
The best Kung Fu practitioners from all over China perform<br />
in this production. Their average age is just 17! The costumes,<br />
set design <strong>and</strong> special effects are created by some of the best<br />
stage directors <strong>and</strong> designers in China. The performers are<br />
not only skilled in Kung Fu, but are also trained in theatrical<br />
presentation. The dancers <strong>and</strong> acrobats add new dimensions<br />
to the exploration of the movements <strong>and</strong> discipline of Kung Fu.<br />
The action is breathtaking <strong>and</strong> the drama is poignant.<br />
The show has English supertitles shown above the stage to<br />
keep you informed of the story line. The actors do not speak;<br />
the show is all Kung Fu, dance <strong>and</strong> acrobatics. It is the fusion<br />
of modern dance with Chinese traditional arts that makes this<br />
performance unique <strong>and</strong> spectacular.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
36 uniworld.com <strong>Uniworld</strong> 37
Day 4 | Beijing, fly to Xi’an b d BB, L, D<br />
Day 6 | Xi’an, fly to Hangzhou b d BB, L, D<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Hutongs tour with home-hosted lunch<br />
<strong>and</strong> dumpling dinner in Xi’an 8 1 b f<br />
You will visit a carpet factory, then see the p<strong>and</strong>as at the<br />
Beijing Zoo, then you’ll get an authentic taste of old Beijing on<br />
your last day in the city. Step back in time as you take a ride<br />
in a rickshaw for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hutongs—<br />
the ancient lanes <strong>and</strong> alleyways in the old residential area of<br />
Beijing. The Hutongs, which have been around for more than<br />
700 years, offer a fascinating glimpse of traditional Chinese<br />
life <strong>and</strong> architecture—including the area’s famous courtyard<br />
houses. While here, enjoy lunch with a local family. Later in<br />
the day, fly to Xi’an, a legendary city known as the cradle<br />
of Chinese culture, as well as home to one of the most<br />
significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century—<br />
the life-sized Terra Cotta Warriors <strong>and</strong> Horses. Spend your<br />
first evening in Xi’an savoring a traditional dumpling dinner.<br />
Day 5 | Xi’an BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Terra Cotta Warriors, City Wall, <strong>and</strong><br />
Tang Dynasty dinner <strong>and</strong> performance 8 2 b f p<br />
Xi’an was known in ancient times as Changan. Located along<br />
the famous Silk Road <strong>and</strong> the capital of Shaanxi Province,<br />
it was once one of the largest <strong>and</strong> most cultured cities in<br />
the world. Today, most visitors come to see the site of the<br />
life-sized Terra Cotta Warriors <strong>and</strong> Horses guarding the tomb<br />
of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, one of the 20th-century’s biggest<br />
archaeological finds. The 7,000-plus members of this massive<br />
terra cotta army, which st<strong>and</strong>s guard over the tomb of China’s<br />
first emperor, were first discovered in 1974 by well-digging<br />
farmers. You’ll be amazed by the intricacy of the life-sized<br />
soldier <strong>and</strong> horse figures <strong>and</strong> the gr<strong>and</strong>eur of the tomb complex<br />
—only a small portion of which has actually been excavated.<br />
After your exploration of these fabulous sculptures, you’ll<br />
visit Xi’an’s massive ancient City Wall, the oldest <strong>and</strong> bestpreserved<br />
surviving city wall in China. You will also have an<br />
opportunity to visit a jade factory <strong>and</strong> store. In the evening,<br />
indulge in a Tang Dynasty dinner <strong>and</strong> cultural performance<br />
featuring music, dance, <strong>and</strong> traditional costumes. Xi’an<br />
served as the capital city for 13 of China’s great dynasties,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the Tang Dynasty is remembered as the most progressive<br />
<strong>and</strong> prosperous era in the history of China. Tang Dynasty<br />
music <strong>and</strong> dance symbolize the splendor <strong>and</strong> glory of the<br />
Chinese civilization.<br />
Featured Excursion: Lingyin Temple 8 2 b<br />
Fly to Hangzhou—a city so lovely, none other than Marco<br />
Polo pronounced it the finest <strong>and</strong> noblest in the world—<strong>and</strong><br />
transfer to your hotel on the banks of the incomparable West<br />
Lake. In the afternoon, you will visit Lingyin Temple, one of<br />
China’s oldest Buddhist temples <strong>and</strong> home to treasures of<br />
Buddhist literature <strong>and</strong> art. Reflect on the more than 470<br />
carved-stone Buddhist statues, some of which are up to<br />
1,000 years old.<br />
Day 7 | Hangzhou BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: West Lake boat ride <strong>and</strong> tea farm visit,<br />
“Impressions West Lake” show 8 2 b p<br />
Relax during a scenic boat ride on breathtaking West Lake,<br />
where at every turn you’ll see images of such serene natural<br />
beauty, they look like Chinese watercolors come to life.<br />
Surrounded by mountains on three sides, <strong>and</strong> possessing 10<br />
legendary scenic spots, the lake is said to be the incarnation<br />
of one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. In the afternoon,<br />
enjoy a visit to a tea farm, where you’ll learn of the importance<br />
of tea to Chinese culture for thous<strong>and</strong>s of years <strong>and</strong> have a<br />
tasting from the locally grown leaves.<br />
In the evening thrill to the spectacular “Impressions West<br />
Lake,” a multi-sensory performance combining light, water,<br />
<strong>and</strong> hundreds of actors in a dazzling show based on a Hangzhou<br />
legend <strong>and</strong> created by Zhang Yimou, one of China’s foremost<br />
filmmakers <strong>and</strong> the creator of the Beijing Olympics’ stunning<br />
opening ceremony.<br />
Day 8 | Hangzhou, Wuzhen, Shanghai BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Wuzhen 8 2 b<br />
On the motorcoach ride to Shanghai you’ll stop at Wuzhen,<br />
an ancient water town whose numerous canals make it “the<br />
Venice of the East.” The houses that line the canals have a<br />
charming look, with their white walls contrasting with black<br />
tiles <strong>and</strong> oil-painted-timber framework. Continue on to Shanghai<br />
for dinner at your hotel.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
38 uniworld.com <strong>Uniworld</strong> 39
Day 9 | Shanghai BB, L, D<br />
Day 11 | Ho Chi Minh City BB, L, W<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
Featured Excursion: Shanghai city tour with Oriental Pearl TV<br />
Tower <strong>and</strong> Shanghai Acrobats performance<br />
8 2 b m p f<br />
Bustling Shanghai is the commercial capital of China, <strong>and</strong><br />
today’s tour will take you to some of this sprawling city’s most<br />
impressive sights. You’ll go to Old Town—with its teahouses,<br />
temples, narrow alleyways, <strong>and</strong> markets—for a taste of historic<br />
Shanghai. After a dim sum lunch, you’ll stroll along the Bund,<br />
Shanghai’s famed waterfront promenade, which is home to over<br />
50 buildings offering a variety of architectural styles, including<br />
Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, <strong>and</strong> Art Déco.<br />
Visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower—one of the tallest towers<br />
in Asia—<strong>and</strong> Shanghai Municipal Museum. This evening, be<br />
dazzled by the amazing Shanghai Acrobats.<br />
Day 10 | Shanghai, fly to Ho Chi Minh City CB/BB b d<br />
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City,<br />
Vietnam <strong>and</strong> transfer to the hotel.<br />
Upon arrival at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International<br />
Airport, you will be greeted by a <strong>Uniworld</strong> representative <strong>and</strong><br />
transferred to your hotel. Enjoy a private check-in <strong>and</strong> a welcome<br />
briefing with complimentary drinks at the hotel. An elegant<br />
flower arrangement <strong>and</strong> fruit platter await you in your room.<br />
Tonight, consider popping out to explore the lively Ben Thanh<br />
Night Market or one of the city’s quintessential evening cafés.<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Cu Chi Tunnels, rubber plantation, <strong>and</strong><br />
Ho Chi Minh City tour 8 2 b f x<br />
The Cu Chi Tunnels are an astonishing system of underground<br />
passageways begun by the Viet Minh in 1948 <strong>and</strong> exp<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. You’ll learn about<br />
the tunnels’ astounding history, when they housed everything<br />
from soldiers’ sleeping quarters to hospitals <strong>and</strong> schools.<br />
Examine the frightening traps that once protected the tunnels<br />
from enemy combatants <strong>and</strong>, if you’re feeling adventurous,<br />
step into the tunnels yourself for an up-close look. You’ll also<br />
get to speak with a Viet Cong veteran about his experiences<br />
living <strong>and</strong> fighting in the area. Then it’s on to a local rubber<br />
plantation for an eye-opening lesson on how latex is harvested<br />
<strong>and</strong> processed.<br />
After stopping for lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll enjoy a<br />
panoramic tour of Ho Chi Minh City. Known as Saigon until<br />
1975, this is the largest, most energetic city in Vietnam. Your<br />
tour will introduce you to the city’s storied past <strong>and</strong> its<br />
vibrant present, as you drive past elegant French colonial<br />
buildings <strong>and</strong> teeming new commercial centers. You’ll begin<br />
with a stop at Reunification Palace, which is situated on the<br />
site of the former French governor’s residence. On April 30,<br />
1975, a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through the<br />
gates of the palace, symbolizing the downfall of the South<br />
Vietnamese government <strong>and</strong> the end of the Vietnam War.<br />
You’ll then head a few blocks away to Paris Square, where<br />
you’ll see the stately General Post Office <strong>and</strong> imposing Notre<br />
Dame Cathedral, which was built entirely with materials<br />
imported from France.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
Then hop back on your motorcoach for a drive around the<br />
city to see City Theater, the French-era opera house; City<br />
Hall; <strong>and</strong> the US Consulate. You’ll also stop at a local shop<br />
to visit with lacquer artisans about the history <strong>and</strong> cultural<br />
significance of their beloved craft. Tonight you’ll be treated<br />
to a special Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant,<br />
featuring live music <strong>and</strong> exquisitely presented food.<br />
40 uniworld.com <strong>Uniworld</strong> 41
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
Day 12 | Ho Chi Minh City, transfer to My Tho, Cai Be<br />
b e BB, L, Vietnamese Theme Dinner<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Cai Be sampan cruise, Mr. Kiet’s House,<br />
<strong>and</strong> local rice paper- <strong>and</strong> c<strong>and</strong>y-making establishment<br />
5 2 S x<br />
After breakfast, you’ll check out of your hotel <strong>and</strong> head to My<br />
Tho, where your elegant ship, the <strong>River</strong> Saigon, awaits you. A<br />
few hours of scenic sailing will take you to Cai Be harbor for a<br />
luxurious sampan cruise through its bustling floating markets.<br />
You’ll sail into the city center, past the gorgeous French Gothic<br />
cathedral, for a tour of historic Mr. Kiet’s House. This former<br />
imperial residence boasts beautiful antique furnishings <strong>and</strong><br />
surrounding gardens replete with indigenous fruit. After your<br />
tour of the residence, take a short walk to a local establishment<br />
where workers make everything from rice paper <strong>and</strong> rice wine<br />
to traditional rice c<strong>and</strong>y. Vietnam is one of the world’s largest<br />
producers <strong>and</strong> exporters of rice, <strong>and</strong> the Mekong Delta is known<br />
as the country’s “rice bowl.” You’ll learn all about the amazing<br />
versatility of this staple food <strong>and</strong> its importance to the region.<br />
Later this evening, enjoy a special Captain’s Welcome Reception<br />
<strong>and</strong> a Vietnamese Theme Dinner onboard the ship.<br />
Day 13 | Sa Dec, Cu Lao Gien BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Sa Dec canal cruise, brick-making <strong>and</strong><br />
rice-processing factories, <strong>and</strong> Huynh Thuy Le House<br />
6 2 S x<br />
Featured Excursion: Cu Lao Gien Cathedral 5 2 b x<br />
Sailing on your sampan through Sa Dec’s narrow canals<br />
gives you the perfect opportunity to observe locals going<br />
about their daily routines. Look for children frolicking in the<br />
water, fishermen plying their trade, <strong>and</strong> women caring for<br />
their families. You’ll stop at a factory where bricks <strong>and</strong> tiles<br />
made with mud from the Mekong <strong>River</strong> lie baking in the sun;<br />
here you’ll learn how rice husks from the rice-processing<br />
facility next door are used to fuel the brick factory’s kilns,<br />
<strong>and</strong> how in turn the ashes from the husks are used as<br />
fertilizer—just a few examples of the Vietnamese people’s<br />
remarkable ingenuity.<br />
Later in the day you’ll visit Cu Lao Gien Cathedral, which is<br />
part of a monastic complex built on the isl<strong>and</strong> of Cu Lao<br />
Gien in the late 19th century by French nuns. You’ll tour<br />
the cathedral—the oldest Catholic cathedral in southern<br />
Vietnam—with a Franciscan friar, who’ll tell you about life<br />
in the order. Then you’ll have the opportunity to visit with<br />
residents of the government-supported senior home that is<br />
housed in the former monastery next door.<br />
Day 14 | Chau Doc BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Chau Doc harbor cruise, fish farm, <strong>and</strong><br />
holy temples at the base of Sam Mountain<br />
6 3 S x<br />
In the Mekong Delta, residents live, work, <strong>and</strong> even shop on<br />
the water. Today you’ll get a taste of this way of life during<br />
a sampan tour of lively Chau Doc harbor, which teems with<br />
traditional Vietnamese floating markets <strong>and</strong> homes. You’ll<br />
see housewives paddling their sampans from boat to boat,<br />
bartering <strong>and</strong> socializing with the harbor’s many vendors.<br />
Most merchants attach a sample of their wares—such as<br />
a watermelon, coconut, or cluster of bananas—to a high<br />
wooden mast to make shopping easier for their floating<br />
customers. After you’ve taken in the astonishing array of<br />
goods available at the market, you’ll disembark at a floating<br />
fish farm to learn about Vietnamese aquaculture. The<br />
raising <strong>and</strong> harvesting of seafood is one of Vietnam’s<br />
fastest-growing industries, <strong>and</strong> you’ll be amazed by the<br />
efficiency <strong>and</strong> ingenuity on display at Chau Doc’s floating<br />
farms. You’ll even get a chance to feed the fish!<br />
Reboard your sampan for a quick trip to the main port of<br />
Chau Doc, where you’ll disembark for a brief perusal of the<br />
port’s outdoor market before reboarding the sampan bound<br />
for Nui Sam (Sam Mountain). Sam Mountain, which is thickly<br />
strewn with tombs <strong>and</strong> temples, is one of the holiest sites in<br />
southern Vietnam; it’s estimated that eight to ten million<br />
Vietnamese make a pilgrimage here each year. You’ll have<br />
time to explore the religious sites at the mountain’s base.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
Return to your luxury sampan <strong>and</strong> sail past bustling markets<br />
into the center of town for a tour of majestic Huynh Thuy Le<br />
House, a late-19th-century home made famous by its connection<br />
to best-selling French novelist Marguerite Duras. Duras spent<br />
her teenage years in Sa Dec, <strong>and</strong> her prize-winning novel,<br />
L’Amant (The Lover), is said to be based on her doomed love<br />
affair with Huynh Thuy Le, the son of a wealthy Chinese<br />
l<strong>and</strong>owner. Huynh Thuy Le House is a popular destination<br />
for fans of Duras’s fiction <strong>and</strong> romantics of all stripes.<br />
42 uniworld.com <strong>Uniworld</strong> 43
Day 15 | Phnom Penh BB, L, D<br />
Day 16 | Kampong Chhnang BB, L, D<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Choeung Ek Memorial Stupa <strong>and</strong><br />
grounds <strong>and</strong> Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum<br />
6 1 b m x<br />
Featured Excursion: Phnom Penh city tour with a visit to the<br />
National Museum <strong>and</strong> Royal Palace 7 1 m x<br />
It’s hard to reconcile the peaceful, pastoral beauty of the<br />
orchards <strong>and</strong> rice fields surrounding Choeung Ek with the<br />
horrific mass executions that took place here during the<br />
violent reign of the Khmer Rouge. Today you’ll learn about<br />
the history of these “killing fields” <strong>and</strong> view a Memorial<br />
Stupa filled with the skulls of Pol Pot’s victims—some of<br />
whose bones still protrude from the walkways around you.<br />
From Choeung Ek you’ll travel to the Tuol Sleng Genocide<br />
Museum (also known as “S-21”), a former high school<br />
transformed by the Khmer Rouge into a torture <strong>and</strong><br />
interrogation center. More than 17,000 men, women,<br />
<strong>and</strong> children were taken from S-21 to the killing fields of<br />
Choeung Ek. The fear, sadness, <strong>and</strong> disbelief conveyed<br />
in many prisoners’ mug shots will touch you, while the<br />
brave defiance displayed by others will remind you of the<br />
indomitable strength of the human spirit.<br />
Following your powerful morning excursion, you’ll take an<br />
afternoon cyclo (cycle rickshaw) tour of Phnom Penh. The<br />
city’s wide boulevards <strong>and</strong> French-infused architecture are<br />
remnants of its colonial past, while its splendid pagodas <strong>and</strong><br />
saffron-robed monks remind visitors of its much older Buddhist<br />
roots. Your cyclo will take you to visit the impressive Royal<br />
Palace, which was built in 1866 to house the kings of<br />
Cambodia. In the same walled complex is the famed Wat<br />
Preah Keo Morokat (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which<br />
is commonly known as the Silver Pagoda due to the 5,329<br />
silver tiles covering its floor. In the center of the pagoda<br />
are emerald <strong>and</strong> gold Buddha statues, the latter of which is<br />
studded with nearly 10,000 diamonds. After exploring the<br />
Royal Palace complex, you’ll tour the National Museum,<br />
which features a gr<strong>and</strong> collection of Khmer sculpture. This<br />
is the only national museum in Cambodia <strong>and</strong> the best place<br />
to view the archaeological <strong>and</strong> artistic treasures that have<br />
survived the country’s turbulent history.<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Tonlé Sap <strong>River</strong> cruise <strong>and</strong> Kampong<br />
Chhnang walking tour 5 2 S x<br />
Tonlé Sap is a lake-<strong>and</strong>-river system of vital importance to<br />
the Cambodian people; it includes the largest freshwater lake<br />
in Southeast Asia <strong>and</strong> supports what is thought to be the<br />
most productive inl<strong>and</strong> fishing industry in the world. You’ll<br />
see hundreds of homes <strong>and</strong> fish farms floating on the water<br />
as you glide across the river in your executive sampan. You’ll<br />
stop for a walking tour of Kampong Chhnang, a bustling<br />
riverfront community supported by the fishing trade. Located<br />
near the geographical center of Cambodia, Kampong Chhnang<br />
is renowned for its distinctive clay pots (chhnang is the<br />
Khmer word for pottery). After your tour you’ll reboard the<br />
<strong>River</strong> Saigon for an enchanting sunset cruise on the Tonlé<br />
Sap <strong>River</strong>.<br />
Day 17 | Chong Koh, Angkor Ban BB, L, D<br />
Featured Excursion: Chong Koh walking tour 4 2 x<br />
Featured Excursion: Angkor Ban walking tour 5 2 x<br />
Chong Koh is a small town famous on the Mekong for its silk<br />
<strong>and</strong> cotton weaving; as you walk along the village’s main road<br />
today you’ll see looms under nearly every house <strong>and</strong> women<br />
offering beautiful scarves <strong>and</strong> tablecloths for sale. You’ll pop<br />
into a villager’s home to hear how locals use indigenous fruits<br />
<strong>and</strong> vegetables to treat illness. Afterward, you’ll visit the<br />
community’s Buddhist temple <strong>and</strong> then the village school to<br />
observe <strong>and</strong> interact with the local school children. Don’t be<br />
surprised if your arrival is greeted by squeals of delight—the<br />
children love visitors <strong>and</strong> always appreciate opportunities to<br />
practice their English.<br />
This afternoon you’ll sail to the very rural, very friendly village<br />
of Angkor Ban. You’ll enjoy a two-hour walking tour of this<br />
charming horse-<strong>and</strong>-cart hamlet; your visit includes stops at<br />
traditional Khmer homes, the village school, <strong>and</strong> the local<br />
Buddhist monastery, where you’ll have a chance to talk with<br />
the monks.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
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Day 18 | Wat Hanchey, Kampong Cham<br />
BB, L, Royal Cambodian Theme Dinner<br />
Day 19 | Kampong Cham, transfer to Siem Reap<br />
e b BB, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Wat Hanchey temple complex, Phnom<br />
Pros <strong>and</strong> Phnom Srei Monastery 6 2 b x<br />
Featured Excursion: Siem Reap city tour via tuk-tuk<br />
7 1 b f x<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
Featured Excursion: Nokor Bachey Temple<br />
7 2 b x<br />
Wat Hanchey is a beautifully situated temple complex with<br />
incredible views of the Mekong <strong>River</strong>. Pre-Angkor <strong>and</strong> Angkor<br />
temples mingle with contemporary Buddhist structures,<br />
giving you a sense of Cambodia’s past <strong>and</strong> present religious<br />
life. Take your time enjoying the peaceful atmosphere,<br />
marveling at the quality of the seventh-century artifacts<br />
around you <strong>and</strong> the magnificent rice-paddy views below you.<br />
You’ll receive a traditional water blessing from the local<br />
monks before departing.<br />
Next on the itinerary is another sacred site: the twin holy<br />
mountains of Phnom Pros <strong>and</strong> Phnom Srei (Man Hill <strong>and</strong><br />
Woman Hill), which are rich in both religious monuments<br />
<strong>and</strong> playful monkeys. You’ll see the massive gilded Buddha<br />
statues at the mountains’ base as well as the magnificent<br />
stupas erected here to honor the dead from a nearby Khmer<br />
Rouge killing field. Afterward, you’ll travel to Nokor Bachey<br />
Temple, which was built during the same period as the<br />
Angkor temples. Nokor Bachey boasts a wealth of intricate<br />
wall carvings <strong>and</strong> several ancient Buddha statues. Later this<br />
evening, you’ll be treated to a decadent Royal Cambodian<br />
Theme Dinner to commemorate your last evening onboard<br />
the <strong>River</strong> Saigon. Take your place in the elegant, c<strong>and</strong>lelit<br />
dining room <strong>and</strong> enjoy service provided by staff dressed in<br />
traditional Khmer attire as you sail along the Mekong.<br />
You’ll disembark your ship in the morning <strong>and</strong> transfer via<br />
executive motorcoach to the pleasantly airy town of Siem<br />
Reap. Enjoy a private check-in <strong>and</strong> a welcome briefing with<br />
complimentary drinks at the hotel. An elegant flower<br />
arrangement <strong>and</strong> fruit platter await you in your room. Then<br />
hop on a tuk-tuk (auto rickshaw) for a tour of the city.<br />
You’ll follow the path of the Siem Reap <strong>River</strong> through the<br />
heart of town, passing charming open-air markets on your<br />
way. The tour will introduce you to Siem Reap’s many dining<br />
<strong>and</strong> shopping options, which you’ll have plenty of time to return<br />
to later in the day. You’ll also visit a local stone- <strong>and</strong> woodcarving<br />
establishment, where you’ll observe skilled craftsmen<br />
reproducing famous images from the nearby Angkor temple<br />
complex in s<strong>and</strong>stone, marble, <strong>and</strong> teak. Then you’ll have time<br />
to explore the city on your own before taking in an Apsara<br />
dance show with dinner. Apsara is a traditional Khmer dance<br />
form that tells stories <strong>and</strong> conveys messages using graceful<br />
movements, ornate costumes, codified facial expressions,<br />
<strong>and</strong> distinctive h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> foot positions. The many Apsara<br />
figures that adorn Angkor <strong>and</strong> pre-Angkor temples testify to<br />
the dance form’s long <strong>and</strong> esteemed history.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
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Day 20 | Siem Reap BB, L<br />
Day 21 | Siem Reap BB, D<br />
Featured Excursion: Angkor temple complex 8 2 b f<br />
Irresistible Optional Excursion: Banteay Srei sunrise picnic<br />
4 3 b f<br />
Featured Excursion: Angkor temple complex 8 3 b f<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
Today is the first of two days dedicated to exploring the<br />
incredible Angkor temple complex, ancient capital of the<br />
Khmer Empire. The entire Angkor complex has been designated<br />
a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its exceptional historic<br />
<strong>and</strong> aesthetic value. In order to safeguard Angkor for future<br />
generations, UNESCO has worked with both local authorities<br />
<strong>and</strong> international experts to restore <strong>and</strong> preserve the cultural<br />
treasures you’ll see here over the next two days.<br />
You’ll begin with Angkor Wat, the most recognizable l<strong>and</strong>mark<br />
in Cambodia <strong>and</strong> the largest religious monument in the world.<br />
The temple is breathtaking in size <strong>and</strong> scope <strong>and</strong> boasts the<br />
longest continuous bas relief in the world. Over its nearly<br />
900-year-long history, Angkor Wat has been used as a site of<br />
both Hindu <strong>and</strong> Buddhist worship. You’ll have the morning to<br />
explore the temple <strong>and</strong> its environs at your leisure.<br />
After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll journey to the intricately<br />
decorated South Gate of Angkor Thom <strong>and</strong> the pyramidtemple<br />
of Bayon, which features the enormous carved heads<br />
that have become an iconic symbol of Angkor. You’ll also see<br />
the Baphuon temple, the gr<strong>and</strong> Terrace of the Elephants, <strong>and</strong><br />
the lichen-covered Terrace of the Leper King. While taking in<br />
these magnificent sights, notice also the lively monkeys that<br />
frolic <strong>and</strong> chatter in the lush foliage all around you.<br />
Irresistible Optional Excursion: Banteay Srei sunrise picnic<br />
Start your day with a spectacular sunrise picnic on the grounds<br />
of Banteay Srei, which is considered by experts to be the<br />
pinnacle of artistic achievement in the Angkor period. This<br />
“Citadel of Women”—so named for the intricate Apsara<br />
carvings ornamenting its interior—is smaller than most of<br />
the other Angkor temples but boasts the most beautiful<br />
adornments. Indulge in a sumptuous breakfast of pastries,<br />
seasonal fresh fruit, yogurt, sausage <strong>and</strong> bacon, juice,<br />
coffee, <strong>and</strong> tea on the grounds just outside the temple<br />
before enjoying a tour of Banteay Srei with your local guide.<br />
You’ll feel like Indiana Jones as you approach the ancient<br />
“jungle temple” of Ta Prohm this morning. Unlike most of<br />
the other Angkor temples, which have been painstakingly<br />
excavated <strong>and</strong> restored since their 19th-century rediscovery,<br />
Ta Prohm has been left pretty much as it was found. Massive<br />
trees grow like magic out of stone walls <strong>and</strong> roofs, their<br />
tentacle-like roots pouring over doorways <strong>and</strong> stretching<br />
across courtyards. This manmade wonder has been reclaimed<br />
by the jungle over the course of many centuries, <strong>and</strong> exploring<br />
it is sure to bring out the adventurer in you.<br />
From Ta Prohm you’ll move on to the unfinished templemountain<br />
of Ta Keo. Legend has it that construction on Ta<br />
Keo was suspended when the temple was hit by lightning—<br />
an event that was considered a bad omen. You’ll also see<br />
massive Preah Khan, a monastic complex believed to have<br />
included a Buddhist university that once housed over 1,000<br />
teachers. In the afternoon you’ll take in intricately decorated<br />
Banteay Srei, considered by many experts to be the pinnacle<br />
of artistic achievement at Angkor, <strong>and</strong> Banteay Samré. After<br />
a long <strong>and</strong> exciting day of sightseeing, you’ll indulge in a<br />
lavish dinner with wine <strong>and</strong> live entertainment at a local<br />
French-Indonesian restaurant.<br />
Day 22 | Siem Reap, fly to Hanoi b d BB<br />
Today you’ll fly from Siem Reap to Hanoi <strong>and</strong> check into your<br />
hotel. Enjoy a private check-in <strong>and</strong> a welcome briefing with<br />
complimentary drinks at the stunning lakeside hotel. An<br />
elegant flower arrangement <strong>and</strong> fruit platter await you in your<br />
room. The afternoon <strong>and</strong> evening are yours to spend at<br />
leisure in Vietnam’s charming capital city. You might take in<br />
the 800-year-old Kim Lien (Golden Lotus) Pagoda, which is<br />
conveniently located near to your hotel <strong>and</strong> is considered by<br />
many to be the most beautiful pagoda in Hanoi. Later this<br />
evening, make sure to stroll across the romantic torch-lit bridge<br />
to the hotel’s Sunset Bar, which is set on its own isl<strong>and</strong>.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
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Day 23 | Hanoi BB F<br />
Featured Excursion: Hanoi city tour <strong>and</strong> Ho Chi Minh<br />
Mausoleum 4 1 b<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Asia & the Mekong<br />
Featured Excursion: Colonial Hanoi cyclo tour<br />
5 1 b f x<br />
You’ll spend the morning visiting Hanoi’s most famous<br />
historical <strong>and</strong> cultural sites. Step inside Ho Chi Minh<br />
Mausoleum, a holy place of pilgrimage for many Vietnamese.<br />
The mausoleum, where the former leader’s body lies in state,<br />
was built in the early 1970s <strong>and</strong> modeled closely on Lenin’s<br />
mausoleum in Moscow. Next you’ll see famed One Pillar<br />
Pagoda—which has been built <strong>and</strong> rebuilt since 1049—<strong>and</strong><br />
the massive Temple of Literature. This important Confucian<br />
institution also dates from the 11th century <strong>and</strong> is believed<br />
to have functioned as Vietnam’s first university. Then it’s<br />
time to hop aboard a cyclo for a tour of colonial Hanoi. The<br />
city’s elegant, tree-lined boulevards <strong>and</strong> weathered colonial<br />
buildings are sure to delight you, as are the affable street<br />
vendors selling everything from flowers to ice cream off the<br />
backs of their bicycles. Later tonight you’ll be treated to<br />
a special Farewell Dinner with wine at a local restaurant,<br />
featuring live music <strong>and</strong> an authentic northern Vietnamese<br />
dining experience. It’s the perfect combination of delectable<br />
fare, warm atmosphere, <strong>and</strong> traditional entertainment.<br />
Day 24 | Depart Hanoi CB/BB b<br />
You will be transferred to Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport<br />
for your flight home. Alternatively, you might continue your<br />
tour with our extraordinary optional extension to Ha Long Bay.<br />
Note: Order of sightseeing may change throughout the itinerary.<br />
Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to<br />
water levels <strong>and</strong> other uncontrollable factors.<br />
Highlights of China<br />
& the Yangtze<br />
Beijing to Shanghai | 11 Days<br />
Watch the highlights of China unfold before you during this<br />
incredible adventure<br />
A journey to China is an enchanting odyssey through more<br />
than 5,000 years of history that have been recorded against<br />
a vast <strong>and</strong> stunning l<strong>and</strong>scape. Discover the great diversity<br />
of this fascinating country, from the rustic hamlets lining the<br />
Yangtze to Beijing <strong>and</strong> Shanghai—two of the world’s most<br />
sophisticated cities. This program provides insight into all the<br />
major marvels of this gr<strong>and</strong> country.<br />
Beijing, China’s second-largest city, offers a plethora of<br />
world-class sites—Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City,<br />
the Summer Palace, <strong>and</strong> the Great Wall—all of which you’ll<br />
visit. In Xi’an, see Emperor Qin’s life-sized Terra Cotta Warriors<br />
<strong>and</strong> Horses—a truly unforgettable sight—<strong>and</strong> indulge in a<br />
Tang Dynasty dinner.<br />
Marvel at your stunning surroundings as you cruise the<br />
breathtaking Yangtze <strong>River</strong> with its famous Three Gorges.<br />
And finally, explore Shanghai—China’s largest city <strong>and</strong> home<br />
to the legendary Shanghai Acrobats.<br />
50 uniworld.com<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> 51
Highlights of China & the Yangtze<br />
Day 1 | Beijing b<br />
Arrive at the Beijing Airport <strong>and</strong> be greeted by a <strong>Uniworld</strong><br />
representative who will escort you to your hotel.<br />
Day 2 | Beijing BB, L, W<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City,<br />
Summer Palace, <strong>and</strong> Peking Duck Welcome Dinner with wine<br />
8 2 b S f<br />
Begin your first full day in Beijing with an exciting visit to<br />
Tiananmen Square—the heart of Beijing <strong>and</strong> the largest<br />
open city square in the world. Tiananmen Square has been<br />
the site of many important events in China’s history. Among<br />
the many monuments in this area are Tiananmen Tower, the<br />
Monument to the People’s Heroes, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the National Museum of China. Pose for a souvenir group<br />
photo of you <strong>and</strong> your travel companions at Tiananmen Square.<br />
Then, walk through Tiananmen Gate, or the “Gate of Heavenly<br />
Peace” which is the entranceway to the Forbidden City.<br />
The Forbidden City is a 250-acre (97-hectare) complex of<br />
palaces, pavilions, courtyards, <strong>and</strong> gardens. It’s the largest<br />
<strong>and</strong> most complete ancient imperial palace in the world.<br />
Construction of the palace began in 1406, <strong>and</strong> 24 emperors<br />
have ruled China from within its walls.<br />
Continue on to another Beijing gem, the Summer Palace,<br />
which has one of China’s largest <strong>and</strong> best preserved imperial<br />
gardens. In 1998, UNESCO designated the Summer Palace<br />
a World Heritage Site, noting that it is “an outst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
expression of the creative art of Chinese l<strong>and</strong>scape garden<br />
design, incorporating the works of humankind <strong>and</strong> nature<br />
in a harmonious whole.” You’ll take a boat ride on the lovely<br />
Kunming Lake, where you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful<br />
natural elements of the gardens as well as the graceful<br />
designs of the pavilions, halls, palaces, temples, <strong>and</strong> bridges.<br />
At the end of the day, we invite you to indulge in a succulent<br />
Peking Duck Welcome Dinner with wine, where you will<br />
receive an exquisite piece of Chinese folk art as a gift.<br />
Day 3 | Beijing BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: The Great Wall, the Sacred Way, <strong>and</strong><br />
Kung Fu show at the Red Theater 8 3 b p<br />
You’ll travel outside Beijing for a memorable walk on the<br />
manmade wonder of the ancient world—the Great Wall, a<br />
UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Great Wall is the longest<br />
manmade structure on earth. Original construction began in<br />
the third century BC as a way to keep out warring invaders,<br />
<strong>and</strong> additional sections extended the wall over the centuries<br />
to its present length of nearly 4,000 miles (6,436 km)—a<br />
distance longer than the United States is wide!<br />
After your walk along this historic <strong>and</strong> awe-inspiring l<strong>and</strong>mark,<br />
you’ll travel the Sacred Way, home to remnants of the Ming<br />
Tombs. Here, 13 of the Ming Dynasty’s 16 emperors were laid<br />
to rest in lavish burial chambers. Ming monarchs made an<br />
annual pilgrimage to the tombs to honor their departed<br />
ancestors, <strong>and</strong> the gr<strong>and</strong>eur of the site <strong>and</strong> its relics convey<br />
the importance of ancestor worship in ancient Chinese culture.<br />
You’ll end your day with an evening at the spectacular Kung<br />
Fu show. The best Kung Fu practitioners from all over China<br />
take part in this production. Their average age is just 17!<br />
The costumes, set design, <strong>and</strong> special effects are created<br />
by some of the best stage directors <strong>and</strong> designers in China.<br />
The performers are not only skilled in Kung Fu martial arts,<br />
but are also trained in theatrical presentation. The dancers<br />
<strong>and</strong> acrobats add new dimensions to the exploration of the<br />
movements <strong>and</strong> discipline of Kung Fu. The action is breathtaking<br />
<strong>and</strong> the drama is poignant.<br />
The show has English supertitles shown above the stage to<br />
keep you informed of the story line. The actors do not speak;<br />
the show is all Kung Fu, dance, <strong>and</strong> acrobatics. It is the<br />
fusion of modern dance with Chinese traditional arts that<br />
makes this performance unique <strong>and</strong> spectacular.<br />
Day 4 | Beijing, fly to Xi’an b d BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Hutongs tour with home-hosted lunch<br />
<strong>and</strong> dumpling dinner 8 1 b f<br />
You’ll get an authentic taste of old Beijing on your last day in<br />
the city. Ride in a rickshaw for a behind-the-scenes tour of<br />
the Hutongs—the ancient lanes <strong>and</strong> alleyways located in the<br />
old residential area of Beijing. The Hutongs, which have been<br />
around for more than 700 years, offer a fascinating glimpse<br />
of traditional Chinese life <strong>and</strong> architecture—including the<br />
area’s famous courtyard houses. Today, many of the Hutong<br />
neighborhoods are designated as protected areas in an effort<br />
to preserve this corner of Chinese culture. While here, you<br />
will enjoy a lunch with a local family, offering you a peek into<br />
the residential life of Old Beijing.<br />
Following your visit to the Hutongs, you will have the<br />
opportunity to visit a carpet factory. You will be amazed by<br />
the ancient art of carpet-making, which dates back 3,000<br />
years in China.<br />
Then fly to Xi’an, where you’ll check into the hotel before<br />
indulging in a delicious dumpling dinner.<br />
Highlights of China & the Yangtze<br />
52 uniworld.com <strong>Uniworld</strong> 53
Day 5 | Xi’an BB, L, D<br />
Day 7 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong> BB, L, D<br />
Highlights of China & the Yangtze<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Terra Cotta Warriors, City Wall, <strong>and</strong><br />
Tang Dynasty dinner <strong>and</strong> performance 8 2 b f p<br />
Xi’an was known in ancient times as Changan. Located along<br />
the famous Silk Road <strong>and</strong> the capital of Shaanxi Province,<br />
it was once one of the largest <strong>and</strong> most cultured cities in<br />
the world. Today, most visitors come to see the site of the<br />
life-sized Terra Cotta Warriors <strong>and</strong> Horses guarding the tomb<br />
of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, one of the 20th century’s biggest<br />
archaeological finds. The 7,000-plus members of this massive<br />
terra cotta army, which st<strong>and</strong>s guard over the tomb of China’s<br />
first emperor, were first discovered in 1974 by well-digging<br />
farmers. You’ll be amazed by the intricacy of the life-sized<br />
soldier <strong>and</strong> horse figures <strong>and</strong> the gr<strong>and</strong>eur of the tomb complex<br />
—only a small portion of which has actually been excavated.<br />
After your exploration of these fabulous sculptures, you will<br />
visit a jade factory <strong>and</strong> store. Then you’ll visit Xi’an’s massive<br />
ancient City Wall, the oldest <strong>and</strong> best-preserved surviving city<br />
wall in China. In the evening, indulge in a Tang Dynasty dinner<br />
<strong>and</strong> cultural performance featuring music, dance, <strong>and</strong> traditional<br />
costumes. Xi’an served as the capital city for 13 of China’s<br />
great dynasties, <strong>and</strong> the Tang Dynasty is remembered as the<br />
most progressive <strong>and</strong> prosperous era in the history of China.<br />
Tang Dynasty music <strong>and</strong> dance symbolize the splendor <strong>and</strong><br />
glory of the Chinese civilization.<br />
Day 6 | Xi’an, fly to Chongqing, cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong><br />
b d e BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Big Wild Goose Pagoda <strong>and</strong> Chongqing<br />
Zoo giant p<strong>and</strong>a visit 8 2 b<br />
Start your day with a visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a<br />
well-preserved ancient building, <strong>and</strong> a holy place for Buddhists.<br />
The pagoda is located on the grounds of the still-active Temple<br />
of Thanksgiving, which boasts a park <strong>and</strong> large plaza where<br />
locals sometimes gather to fly kites.<br />
Then it’s time to leave Xi’an <strong>and</strong> fly to Chongqing, the Mountain<br />
City, which is located right in the middle of China. Here, we’ll<br />
stop briefly at the Chongqing Zoo for a glimpse of some cuddly<br />
but endangered giant p<strong>and</strong>as. Then it’s time to board an<br />
elegant Victoria <strong>Cruise</strong>s ship <strong>and</strong> begin your river cruise on<br />
the awe-inspiring Yangtze <strong>River</strong>.<br />
Featured Excursion: Fengdu 7 3 p<br />
The Yangtze <strong>River</strong> is the third-longest river in the world, <strong>and</strong><br />
your cruise will show you some of its most beautiful sights.<br />
Your luxury ship provides the perfect setting for soaking up<br />
the breathtaking views of mist-enshrouded mountains <strong>and</strong><br />
jagged limestone cliffs that surround you on both sides as<br />
you make your way down the river. You’ll also see bucolic<br />
hillside rice paddies, village fishermen at work with their<br />
nets, <strong>and</strong> historic cliff-side carvings.<br />
You’ll visit the bank-side town of Fengdu. This “City of Ghosts”<br />
is famous for its gardens, temples, <strong>and</strong> statues of ghosts, all<br />
modeled after the Chinese Hell in Taoist mythology. A place<br />
of pilgrimage for nearly 2,000 years, Fengdu became an isl<strong>and</strong><br />
accessible only via the Yangtze after the construction of the<br />
Three Gorges Dam. This evening, enjoy a delightful Captain’s<br />
Welcome Reception onboard your ship. After dinner, enjoy a<br />
beautiful fashion show.<br />
Day 8 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong> BB, L, F<br />
Featured Excursion: Lesser Gorges 6 1 S p<br />
In the early morning, your journey will take you through part<br />
of the Three Gorges—Quatang, whose spectacular scenery is<br />
justly celebrated as some of the most beautiful in all of China.<br />
Today you’re in for a real treat. Board a riverboat <strong>and</strong> embark<br />
on a voyage through the enchanting Lesser Gorges of the<br />
Daning <strong>River</strong>. This intimate encounter with the area’s striking<br />
scenery is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. When you<br />
return to your cruise ship, it’s down to Wu Gorge. After your<br />
peaceful trip through rustic Xiling Gorge, the longest <strong>and</strong><br />
deepest of the Three Gorges with cliffs that rise around you<br />
to heights of up to 4,000 feet (1,219 m), you’ll experience<br />
the manmade excitement of the Three Gorges Dam ship<br />
locks. You’ll be amazed by the sheer size of the dam—the<br />
largest in the world—as you sail ever closer to it, <strong>and</strong> you’ll<br />
surely be impressed by the engineering marvel of the fivestage<br />
locks as your ship traverses them.<br />
Later, enjoy a special Captain’s Farewell Dinner on this final<br />
night of your Yangtze <strong>River</strong> cruise. After dinner, sit back <strong>and</strong><br />
enjoy or jump in to show off your own talents, as the crew<br />
performs a cabaret.<br />
Highlights of China & the Yangtze<br />
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Highlights of China & the Yangtze<br />
Day 9 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, Yichang, fly to Shanghai<br />
e b d BB, L, D<br />
Featured Excursion: Three Gorges Dam 6 2 b<br />
You’ll begin your day with a visit to the site of the Three<br />
Gorges Dam. After more than a decade of construction, the<br />
dam body was finished in 2006 (though the final components<br />
of the dam’s underground power plant are not expected to<br />
become fully operational until <strong>2012</strong>). The Three Gorges<br />
Dam harnesses the power of the mighty Yangtze <strong>River</strong> in<br />
order to provide electricity to ever-growing China. In addition,<br />
the dam is designed to provide relief from the loss of life <strong>and</strong><br />
property previously caused by frequent flooding in many<br />
riverside cities.<br />
After your visit to the dam, you’ll disembark your ship in<br />
Yichang <strong>and</strong> fly to Shanghai, where you’ll transfer to your<br />
hotel <strong>and</strong> enjoy a delicious buffet dinner.<br />
Day 10 | Shanghai BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Shanghai city tour, Oriental Pearl TV<br />
Tower, <strong>and</strong> Shanghai Acrobats performance<br />
8 1 b f m p<br />
Bustling Shanghai is the commercial capital of China, <strong>and</strong><br />
today’s tour will take you to some of this sprawling city’s<br />
most impressive sights. Begin with a stroll through Old<br />
Town—with its teahouses, temples, narrow alleyways, <strong>and</strong><br />
markets—for a taste of historic Shanghai. Then, it’s on to the<br />
Bund, Shanghai’s famed waterfront promenade. Built along<br />
the Huangpu <strong>River</strong>, the Bund features exhilarating street life<br />
<strong>and</strong> beautiful architecture; it’s also an ideal spot for taking<br />
pictures of Pudong’s famous skyline. You will also visit a silk<br />
factory while on the city tour. You will enjoy a dim sum lunch<br />
at a local restaurant.<br />
Your next stop is the iconic Oriental Pearl TV Tower. One of<br />
the tallest towers in Asia at 1,535 feet (468 m), the Oriental<br />
Pearl TV Tower provides a bird’s-eye view of Shanghai, the<br />
“Pearl of the Orient.” After your elevator ride to the sky-high<br />
observation decks, you’ll have a chance to explore the Shanghai<br />
Municipal History Museum on the ground floor of the tower.<br />
In the evening, be dazzled by the amazing, gravity-defying<br />
stunts of the Shanghai Acrobats, a perfect ending for your<br />
final night in China.<br />
Day 11 | Depart Shanghai b CB/BB<br />
Transfer to the Shanghai Airport for your return flight home,<br />
or continue your tour with one of our popular optional extensions<br />
or stay an extra day or two in Shanghai.<br />
Note: Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due<br />
to water levels or other uncontrollable factors.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> China<br />
& the Yangtze<br />
Beijing to Hong Kong | 18 Days<br />
Experience the best of China—from its bustling cities to its<br />
breathtaking natural splendors—all in one gr<strong>and</strong> journey<br />
From world-class cities (Beijing, Shanghai, <strong>and</strong> Hong Kong)<br />
to monumental wonders (the Great Wall <strong>and</strong> the Terra Cotta<br />
Warriors <strong>and</strong> Horses) to natural splendors (Suzhou, the Yangtze,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Guilin)—you’ll experience the gr<strong>and</strong> sweep of China on<br />
this extraordinary expedition.<br />
Walk along the Great Wall in Beijing. Come face to face with<br />
the Terra Cotta Warriors <strong>and</strong> Horses in Xi’an. Visit Guilin’s<br />
Reed Flute Cave, a dripstone cave boasting stalactites <strong>and</strong><br />
stalagmites in dazzling colors. Take a cruise down the bucolic<br />
Li <strong>River</strong>. Be awed by the breathtaking UNESCO-designated<br />
Humble Administrator’s Gardens in Suzhou. And sail the<br />
magnificent Yangtze <strong>River</strong> with its spectacular gorges, mistcovered<br />
shrines, <strong>and</strong> fanciful rock shapes.<br />
All along the way, enjoy a plethora of cultural pleasures,<br />
including a Kung Fu show in Beijing, a Tang Dynasty dinner<br />
<strong>and</strong> performance in Xi’an, <strong>and</strong> an acrobatic extravaganza<br />
in Shanghai.<br />
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<strong>Uniworld</strong> 57
Day 1 | Beijing b<br />
Day 3 | Beijing BB, L, D<br />
Arrive in Beijing <strong>and</strong> be greeted by a <strong>Uniworld</strong> representative<br />
who will escort you to your hotel.<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: The Great Wall, the Sacred Way, <strong>and</strong><br />
Kung Fu show at the Red Theater 8 3 b p<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> China & the Yangtze<br />
Day 2 | Beijing BB, L, W<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square,<br />
Temple of Heaven, foot massage, <strong>and</strong> Peking Duck Welcome<br />
Dinner with wine 8 2 b f<br />
Begin your first full day in Beijing with an exciting visit to<br />
Tiananmen Square—the heart of Beijing <strong>and</strong> the largest<br />
open city square in the world. Tiananmen Square has been<br />
the site of many important events in China’s history. Among<br />
the monuments in this area are Tiananmen Tower, the<br />
Monument to the People’s Heroes, Mao Zedong Memorial<br />
Hall, <strong>and</strong> the National Museum of China. You’ll pose for a<br />
group souvenir photo of you <strong>and</strong> your travel companions in<br />
Tiananmen Square. Then, walk through Tiananmen Gate,<br />
which is the “Gate of Heavenly Peace,” the entranceway to<br />
the Forbidden City.<br />
The Forbidden City is a 250-acre (97-hectare) complex of<br />
palaces, pavilions, courtyards, <strong>and</strong> gardens. It’s the largest<br />
<strong>and</strong> most complete ancient imperial palace in the world.<br />
Construction of the palace began in 1406, <strong>and</strong> 24 emperors<br />
have ruled China from within its walls.<br />
You will next make your way to the Temple of Heaven,<br />
constructed between 1406 <strong>and</strong> 1420 by the Yongle Emperor,<br />
who also constructed the Forbidden City. Designated a UNESCO<br />
World Heritage Site, the temple grounds cover 1.7 sq miles<br />
(2.73 sq km) of parkl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Taoist buildings. The complex<br />
was visited each year by the emperors of the Ming <strong>and</strong> Qing<br />
dynasties, who held ceremonies to pray for an abundant harvest.<br />
After your tour, relax with a traditional foot massage, <strong>and</strong> later,<br />
enjoy a succulent Peking Duck Welcome Dinner with wine,<br />
where you will receive an exquisite piece of Chinese folk art as<br />
a gift. The city’s namesake meal is a truly appropriate way to<br />
cap off your day in Beijing, formerly known as Peking.<br />
You’ll travel outside Beijing for a memorable walk on the<br />
manmade wonder of the ancient world—the Great Wall, a<br />
UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Great Wall is the longest<br />
manmade structure on earth. Original construction began in<br />
the third century BC as a way to keep out warring invaders,<br />
<strong>and</strong> additional sections extended the wall over the centuries<br />
to its present length of nearly 4,000 miles (6,436 km)—a<br />
distance longer than the United States is wide!<br />
After your walk along this historic <strong>and</strong> awe-inspiring l<strong>and</strong>mark,<br />
you’ll travel the Sacred Way, home to remnants of the Ming<br />
Tombs. Here, 13 of the Ming Dynasty’s 16 emperors were<br />
laid to rest in lavish burial chambers. Ming monarchs made<br />
an annual pilgrimage to the tombs to honor their departed<br />
ancestors, <strong>and</strong> the gr<strong>and</strong>eur of the site <strong>and</strong> its relics convey<br />
the importance of ancestor worship in ancient Chinese culture.<br />
You’ll end your day with an evening at spectacular Kung Fu<br />
show. The best Kung Fu practitioners from all over China<br />
take part in this production. Their average age is just 17! The<br />
costumes, set design <strong>and</strong> special effects are created by<br />
some of the best stage directors <strong>and</strong> designers in China.<br />
The performers are not only skilled in Kung Fu martial arts,<br />
but are also trained in theatrical presentation. The dancers<br />
<strong>and</strong> acrobats add new dimensions to the exploration of<br />
the movements <strong>and</strong> discipline of Kung Fu. The action is<br />
breathtaking <strong>and</strong> the drama is poignant.<br />
The show has English supertitles shown above the stage to<br />
keep you informed of the story line. The actors do not speak;<br />
the show is all Kung Fu, dance, <strong>and</strong> acrobatics. It is the fusion<br />
of modern dance with Chinese traditional arts that makes this<br />
performance unique <strong>and</strong> spectacular.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> China & the Yangtze<br />
58 uniworld.com <strong>Uniworld</strong> 59
Day 4 | Beijing BB, L, D<br />
Day 6 | Xi’an BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Summer Palace, Hutongs tour with<br />
home-hosted dinner, <strong>and</strong> rowboat ride on Shichahai Lake<br />
8 2 b f S<br />
You will also visit another of Beijing’s historic gems, the<br />
Summer Palace, which is one of China’s largest <strong>and</strong> bestpreserved<br />
imperial gardens. In 1998, UNESCO designated<br />
the Summer Palace a World Heritage Site, noting that it is<br />
“an outst<strong>and</strong>ing expression of the creative art of Chinese<br />
l<strong>and</strong>scape garden design, incorporating the works of humankind<br />
<strong>and</strong> nature in a harmonious whole.” You’ll have time to<br />
take in its beautiful natural elements as well as the graceful<br />
designs of its pavilions, halls, palaces, temples, <strong>and</strong> bridges.<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Terra Cotta Warriors <strong>and</strong> Tang Dynasty<br />
dinner <strong>and</strong> performance 8 2 b f p<br />
Visit the site of the life-sized Terra Cotta Warriors <strong>and</strong> Horses<br />
guarding the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, one of the<br />
20th-century’s biggest archaeological finds. The 7,000-plus<br />
members of this massive terra cotta army, which st<strong>and</strong>s guard<br />
over the tomb of China’s first emperor, were first discovered in<br />
1974 by well-digging farmers. You’ll be amazed by the intricacy<br />
of the life-sized soldier <strong>and</strong> horse figures <strong>and</strong> the gr<strong>and</strong>eur of<br />
the tomb complex—only a small portion of which has actually<br />
been excavated. After your exploration of these fabulous<br />
sculptures, you’ll visit a jade factory <strong>and</strong> store.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> China & the Yangtze<br />
You will also get to visit a carpet factory during the tour. Then<br />
it’s time for an authentic taste of old Beijing on your last day<br />
in the city. Ride in a rickshaw for a behind-the-scenes tour of<br />
the Hutongs—ancient lanes <strong>and</strong> alleyways located in the old<br />
residential area of Beijing. The Hutongs, which have been<br />
around for more than 700 years, offer a fascinating glimpse<br />
of traditional Chinese life <strong>and</strong> architecture—including the<br />
area’s famous courtyard houses. While here, you will enjoy<br />
a traditional Chinese dinner with a local family.<br />
In the evening, take a cruise on the beautiful Shichahai Lake.<br />
A beloved ice-skating spot in the winter, Shichahai Lake is also<br />
delightful in the warmer months; people line its banks, placing<br />
flickering c<strong>and</strong>les in little paper boats <strong>and</strong> launching them on<br />
the water. The charming atmosphere invites you to imagine<br />
yourself back in the days of the Tang or Song dynasties.<br />
Day 5 | Beijing, fly to Xi’an b d BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Welcome ceremony at city wall <strong>and</strong><br />
dumpling dinner in Xi’an 8 1 b f<br />
Fly to the ancient city of Xi’an, known in ancient times as<br />
Changan, which served as the capital city to some of China’s<br />
most important dynasties, including the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Tang. It is currently the capital of Shaanxi province.<br />
Xi’an is also the eastern terminus of the famous Silk Road,<br />
a fact which accounts for the city’s long history of prosperity<br />
<strong>and</strong> exceptional cultural production. In Xi’an, you will be<br />
greeted with a special Royal Welcome Ceremony at the city<br />
gate. After the ceremony, you’ll transfer to the hotel.<br />
In the evening, indulge in a Tang Dynasty dinner <strong>and</strong> cultural<br />
performance featuring music, dance, <strong>and</strong> traditional costumes.<br />
Xi’an served as the capital city for 13 of China’s great dynasties,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the Tang Dynasty is remembered as the most progressive<br />
<strong>and</strong> prosperous era in the history of China. Tang Dynasty<br />
music <strong>and</strong> dance symbolize the splendor <strong>and</strong> glory of the<br />
Chinese civilization.<br />
Day 7 | Xi’an, fly to Shanghai, Tongli, Suzhou<br />
b d BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Tongli tour <strong>and</strong> evening cultural<br />
performance 8 2 b p<br />
From Xi’an, fly to Shanghai <strong>and</strong> then travel to Tongli en route<br />
to Suzhou. One of the most authentic of eastern China’s<br />
famous Water Villages, charming Tongli boasts a picturesque<br />
collection of ancient bridges crisscrossing me<strong>and</strong>ering rivers.<br />
Enjoy strolling through its narrow alleyways <strong>and</strong> past its quaint<br />
tea shops. The village’s cobblestone streets <strong>and</strong> complete<br />
absence of motor vehicles make visiting Tongli feel like a trip<br />
to another—older <strong>and</strong> gentler—world.<br />
Then see the city of Suzhou, known for its beautiful, delicate<br />
gardens. This evening, be treated to an exciting performance<br />
of traditional music <strong>and</strong> dance at the garden of The Master of<br />
the Fishing Nets.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> China & the Yangtze<br />
Later, you’ll be treated to a spectacular dumpling dinner at<br />
a local restaurant.<br />
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Gr<strong>and</strong> China & the Yangtze<br />
Day 8 | Suzhou, Shanghai BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Humble Administrator’s Garden tour<br />
<strong>and</strong> Embroidery Institute visit 8 2 b<br />
The beautiful waterside city of Suzhou is a cultural mecca<br />
known for its magnificent gardens, silk, <strong>and</strong> embroidery.<br />
You’ll begin your day here with a visit to the famous Humble<br />
Administrator’s Garden, which covers over 12 acres (5 hectares)<br />
<strong>and</strong> is the city’s largest <strong>and</strong> most famous garden. Listed as<br />
a UNESCO World Heritage Site <strong>and</strong> originally built in 1509<br />
during the Ming Dynasty, the Humble Administrator’s Garden<br />
is the perfect place for you to explore the elegance of China’s<br />
carefully designed classical gardens.<br />
Afterward, enjoy a visit to the Embroidery Institute, where you<br />
will have the chance to learn more about this intricate art form<br />
<strong>and</strong> the opportunity to buy h<strong>and</strong>made pieces to take home with<br />
you. In the late afternoon, you’ll travel to Shanghai <strong>and</strong> transfer<br />
to your hotel, where you’ll enjoy a delicious buffet dinner.<br />
Day 9 | Shanghai BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Shanghai city tour <strong>and</strong> Acrobats<br />
performance 8 1 b f p<br />
Bustling Shanghai is the commercial capital of China, <strong>and</strong><br />
today’s tour will take you to some of this sprawling city’s<br />
most impressive sights. Begin with a stroll through Old<br />
Town—with its teahouses, temples, narrow alleyways, <strong>and</strong><br />
markets—for a taste of historic Shanghai. You will have the<br />
traditional local food, dim sum, for lunch. Then, it’s on to the<br />
Bund, Shanghai’s famed waterfront promenade. Built along<br />
the Huangpu <strong>River</strong>, the Bund features exhilarating street life<br />
<strong>and</strong> beautiful architecture; it’s also an ideal spot for taking<br />
pictures of Pudong’s famous skyline.<br />
In the evening, be dazzled by the amazing, gravity-defying<br />
stunts of the Shanghai Acrobats.<br />
Day 10 | Shanghai, fly to Yichang b d e BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Oriental Pearl TV Tower <strong>and</strong> Shanghai<br />
Municipal History Museum 8 1 b m<br />
Today, you will visit the iconic Oriental Pearl TV Tower. One of<br />
the tallest towers in Asia at 1,535 feet (468 m), the Oriental<br />
Pearl TV Tower provides a bird’s-eye view of Shanghai, the<br />
“Pearl of the Orient.” After your elevator ride to the sky-high<br />
observation decks, you’ll have a chance to explore the Shanghai<br />
Municipal History Museum on the ground floor of the tower.<br />
Yangtze <strong>River</strong>. The Yangtze <strong>River</strong> is the third-longest river in<br />
the world <strong>and</strong> your cruise will show you some of its most<br />
beautiful sights.<br />
Day 11 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, Three Gorges Dam<br />
BB, L, D<br />
Featured Excursion: Three Gorges Dam 6 2 b p<br />
You’ll begin your day with a visit to the site of the Three<br />
Gorges Dam. After more than a decade of construction, the<br />
dam body was finished in 2006 (though the final components<br />
of the dam’s underground power plant are not expected to<br />
become fully operational until <strong>2012</strong>). The Three Gorges<br />
Dam harnesses the power of the mighty Yangtze in order<br />
to provide electricity to ever-growing China. In addition, the<br />
dam is designed to provide relief from the loss of life <strong>and</strong><br />
property previously caused by frequent flooding in many<br />
riverside cities.<br />
This evening, enjoy a delightful Captain’s Welcome Reception<br />
onboard your ship, followed by a fashion show presenting<br />
beautiful clothes <strong>and</strong> traditional costumes from China’s<br />
history, culminating in the modern styles of China today.<br />
Day 12 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, Lesser Gorges BB, L, D<br />
Featured Excursion: Lesser Gorges 7 1 S p<br />
This morning, you’ll sail through the dramatic shoals <strong>and</strong><br />
verdant cliffs of Xiling Gorge, the longest <strong>and</strong> deepest of the<br />
famed Three Gorges, with cliffs that rise around you to heights<br />
of up to 4,000 feet (1,219 m). Then sail through the Wu Gorge.<br />
In the afternoon, you’re in for a real treat. You’ll board a<br />
riverboat <strong>and</strong> embark on a voyage through the enchanting<br />
Lesser Gorges of the Daning <strong>River</strong>. This intimate encounter<br />
with the area’s striking scenery is truly a once-in-a-lifetime<br />
experience.<br />
Then, return to your cruise ship <strong>and</strong> continue down the<br />
Yangtze. Today’s journey will take you through Quatang<br />
Gorge, whose stunning scenery is justly celebrated as some<br />
of the most beautiful in all of China. Your luxury ship provides<br />
the perfect setting for soaking up the breathtaking views of<br />
mist-shrouded mountains <strong>and</strong> jagged limestone cliffs that<br />
surround you on either side as you make your way down the<br />
river. In the evening, sit back <strong>and</strong> enjoy or jump in to show<br />
off your own talents as the crew performs a cabaret.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> China & the Yangtze<br />
Then you’ll fly to Yichang, where you’ll board your luxurious<br />
Victoria <strong>Cruise</strong>s ship to begin your journey down the mighty<br />
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Day 13 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, Fengdu BB, L F<br />
Featured Excursion: Fengdu 7 3<br />
Day 16 | Guilin, fly to Hong Kong b d BB, L<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> China & the Yangtze<br />
Today, you’ll visit the bank-side town of Fengdu. This “City<br />
of Ghosts” is famous for its gardens, temples, <strong>and</strong> statues<br />
of ghosts, all modeled after the Chinese Hell in Taoist<br />
mythology. A place of pilgrimage for nearly 2,000 years,<br />
Fengdu became an isl<strong>and</strong> accessible only via the Yangtze<br />
after the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. Tonight,<br />
enjoy a Farewell Dinner, then take part in “Emperor <strong>and</strong><br />
Empress night,” where you can try on traditional costumes<br />
of Chinese royalty <strong>and</strong> have your picture taken.<br />
Day 14 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, Chongqing, fly to Guilin<br />
e b d BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Chongqing city tour <strong>and</strong> Chongqing Zoo<br />
<strong>and</strong> giant p<strong>and</strong>a viewing 8 1 b<br />
Disembark in Chongqing, the “Mountain City,” which is located<br />
right in the middle of China. Here, we’ll stop briefly at the<br />
Chongqing Zoo for a glimpse of some cuddly but endangered<br />
giant p<strong>and</strong>as.<br />
Then it’s on to Guilin, located in the most picturesque region<br />
in China: Guangxi. Guilin’s fairytale l<strong>and</strong>scapes—which boast<br />
dramatic rock formations—are sure to enchant you. After<br />
your flight, you’ll transfer to your hotel, where you will enjoy<br />
a delicious dinner.<br />
Day 15 | Guilin, cruising the Li <strong>River</strong> BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Li <strong>River</strong> cruise <strong>and</strong> Yangshuo tour<br />
8 1 b S<br />
Even in a country replete with natural <strong>and</strong> manmade splendors,<br />
Guilin st<strong>and</strong>s out. Its unique l<strong>and</strong>scape has inspired Chinese<br />
artists <strong>and</strong> poets for hundreds of years, <strong>and</strong> today you’ll get to<br />
see Guilin’s most beautiful scenery on a delightful half-day<br />
cruise down the me<strong>and</strong>ering Li <strong>River</strong> to the charming town of<br />
Yangshuo. You’ll float past quaint villages, jagged limestone<br />
peaks, <strong>and</strong> grazing water buffalo. Then, explore Yangshuo, a<br />
leading economic <strong>and</strong> cultural center since the Tang Dynasty<br />
<strong>and</strong> a popular destination for adventure travelers seeking to<br />
hike, bike, or rock climb the nearby peaks.<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Reed Flute Cave <strong>and</strong> Chinese tea farm<br />
8 3 b<br />
Begin your day with a trip to see spectacular Reed Flute Cave<br />
<strong>and</strong> its dazzlingly colorful stalactites <strong>and</strong> stalagmites. Then<br />
visit a tea farm to learn about this most beloved of Chinese<br />
exports before flying to Hong Kong, the city that blends East<br />
<strong>and</strong> West, <strong>and</strong> modern <strong>and</strong> ancient, in truly unique ways.<br />
Day 17 | Hong Kong BB<br />
Featured Excursion: Half-day Hong Kong city tour<br />
6 1 b<br />
Reunited with China in 1997 after years of British rule, Hong<br />
Kong offers its visitors the chance to experience a dynamic<br />
blend of Eastern <strong>and</strong> Western cultures. Today, you’ll have the<br />
opportunity to sample the best that Hong Kong has to offer<br />
—from its famous seafood to its fabulous shopping—on your<br />
exciting city tour.<br />
Start with a trip to Victoria Peak, the “Mountain of Great<br />
Peace,” which features the world’s steepest funicular railway<br />
<strong>and</strong> a not-to-be-missed panoramic view of the city’s glittering<br />
skyscrapers, colonial buildings, <strong>and</strong> romantic harbor. Then<br />
enjoy a trip to the Aberdeen Fishing Village on the south side<br />
of the isl<strong>and</strong>, where one can still find remnants of traditional<br />
Hong Kong fishing life. This area is also famous for its huge<br />
floating seafood restaurants, which you can enjoy during an<br />
optional boat ride. Finally, visit Stanley Market, the bustling<br />
street market long renowned for its excellent bargains.<br />
Note: The Tour Manager will not go to Hong Kong; there will be a<br />
local guide.<br />
Day 18 | Depart Hong Kong b CB/BB<br />
Transfer to the Hong Kong Airport for your return flight home,<br />
or extend your stay in Hong Kong.<br />
Note: Order of sightseeing may change throughout the itinerary.<br />
Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to<br />
water levels or other uncontrollable factors.<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> China & the Yangtze<br />
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Day 1 | Shanghai b<br />
Arrive at the Shanghai Airport <strong>and</strong> be greeted by a <strong>Uniworld</strong><br />
representative who will escort you to your hotel.<br />
Day 2 | Shanghai BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Shanghai city tour, Oriental Pearl TV<br />
Tower, Shanghai Municipal Museum visit, <strong>and</strong> Shanghai<br />
Acrobats performance 8 1 b f m p<br />
Bustling Shanghai is the commercial capital of China, <strong>and</strong><br />
today’s tour will take you to some of this sprawling city’s<br />
most impressive sights. Begin with a stroll through Old<br />
Town—with its teahouses, temples, narrow alleyways, <strong>and</strong><br />
markets—for a taste of historic Shanghai. Then, it’s on to the<br />
Bund, Shanghai’s famed waterfront promenade. Built along<br />
the Huangpu <strong>River</strong>, the Bund features exhilarating street life<br />
<strong>and</strong> beautiful architecture; it’s also an ideal spot for taking<br />
pictures of Pudong’s famous skyline. You’ll savor a traditional<br />
dim sum lunch at a local restaurant.<br />
Wonders of China &<br />
the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
Shanghai to Beijing | 17 Days<br />
Step back in time to explore the wonders of China <strong>and</strong> the<br />
legends of the mighty Yangtze<br />
Start your wondrous journey in Shanghai with its exciting urban<br />
streets, emerging fashion district, <strong>and</strong> pulsating nightlife. From<br />
here, you’ll visit Tongli, one of the most authentic of eastern<br />
China’s famous Water Villages, <strong>and</strong> Suzhou, a beautiful<br />
waterside city known for its gardens, silk, <strong>and</strong> embroidery.<br />
<strong>Cruise</strong> along the mysterious waterway that is the heart of China:<br />
the mighty Yangtze <strong>River</strong>. Watch monkeys frolicking along the<br />
Emerald Gorge <strong>and</strong> see dazzling l<strong>and</strong>scapes along the way.<br />
On your adventure, you’ll see giant p<strong>and</strong>as at the Chongqing<br />
Zoo <strong>and</strong> the life-size Terra Cotta Warriors <strong>and</strong> Horses in Xi’an.<br />
You’ll finish in Beijing, a bustling metropolis that offers worldclass<br />
sites—the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, the Forbidden<br />
City, Tiananmen Square, <strong>and</strong> the Sacred Way—all of which<br />
you’ll visit.<br />
Quiet <strong>and</strong> bustling, ancient <strong>and</strong> ultra-modern, China offers<br />
astonishing contrasts waiting to be uncovered.<br />
Your next stop is the iconic Oriental Pearl TV Tower. One of<br />
the tallest towers in Asia at 1,535 feet (468 m), the Oriental<br />
Pearl TV Tower provides a bird’s-eye view of Shanghai, the<br />
“Pearl of the Orient.” After your elevator ride to the sky-high<br />
observation decks, you’ll have a chance to explore the Shanghai<br />
Municipal Museum on the ground floor of the tower. After<br />
taking in some of the most famous sites of Shanghai, you will<br />
also visit a silk factory before dinner.<br />
Tonight, you’ll be dazzled by the amazing, gravity-defying<br />
stunts of the Shanghai Acrobats.<br />
Day 3 | Shanghai, Tongli, Suzhou BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Tongli canal cruise <strong>and</strong> evening cultural<br />
performance 8 2 b p S<br />
Depart Shanghai for picturesque Tongli. One of the most<br />
authentic of eastern China’s famous Water Villages, charming<br />
Tongli boasts a picturesque collection of ancient bridges<br />
crisscrossing me<strong>and</strong>ering rivers. Enjoy strolling through its<br />
narrow alleyways <strong>and</strong> past its quaint tea shops. The village’s<br />
cobblestone streets <strong>and</strong> complete absence of motor vehicles<br />
make visiting Tongli feel like a trip to another—older <strong>and</strong><br />
gentler—world.<br />
You’ll cruise through Tongli’s canals on a sampan—a<br />
traditional flat-bottomed wooden boat—before going on to<br />
the beautiful city of Suzhou. This evening you’ll enjoy a gala<br />
at the city’s Garden of the Master of the Fishing Nets, where<br />
graceful pavilions <strong>and</strong> rock hills surround a central pond.<br />
Wonders of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
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Wonders of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
Your evening here, complete with a special performance of<br />
native classical music <strong>and</strong> dance, is a rare opportunity to<br />
experience a truly intimate <strong>and</strong> memorable encounter with<br />
traditional Chinese culture.<br />
Day 4 | Suzhou, Shanghai, cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong><br />
b e BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Humble Administrator’s Garden <strong>and</strong><br />
Embroidery Institute 8 2 b<br />
The beautiful waterside city of Suzhou is a cultural mecca<br />
known for its magnificent gardens, silk, <strong>and</strong> embroidery. You’ll<br />
begin your day here with a visit to the Humble Administrator’s<br />
Garden, which covers over 12 acres (5 hectares) <strong>and</strong> is the<br />
city’s largest <strong>and</strong> most famous garden. Listed as a UNESCO<br />
World Heritage Site <strong>and</strong> originally built in 1509, during the<br />
Ming Dynasty, the Humble Administrator’s Garden is the<br />
perfect place for you to explore the elegance of China’s<br />
carefully designed classical gardens.<br />
Afterward, enjoy a visit to the Embroidery Institute, where<br />
you will have the chance to learn more about this intricate art<br />
form <strong>and</strong> the opportunity to buy h<strong>and</strong>made pieces to take<br />
home with you. In the late afternoon, you’ll return to Shanghai<br />
<strong>and</strong> board your elegant Victoria <strong>Cruise</strong>s ship to begin your<br />
cruise down the mighty Yangtze <strong>River</strong>.<br />
Day 5 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, Nanjing BB, L, D<br />
Featured Excursion: Ming Dynasty City Wall Museum<br />
7 2 b p m<br />
Today, your cruise takes you to China’s “Southern Capital,”<br />
Nanjing. The massive Ming Dynasty-era city wall <strong>and</strong> the<br />
various monuments <strong>and</strong> tombs scattered around the city bear<br />
witness to the historical importance of Nanjing, which served<br />
as the capital city of six Chinese dynasties. Your next stop is<br />
at Nanjing’s traditional-style Confucian Temple, which overlooks<br />
the Qinhuai <strong>River</strong>, one of the Yangtze’s tributaries. While the<br />
alleys behind the temple used to be a famous courtesan district,<br />
they now feature shops full of toys <strong>and</strong> fascinating trinkets.<br />
This evening, enjoy a special Captain’s Welcome Reception<br />
onboard the ship. After dinner, enjoy the beautiful Victoria<br />
Fashion Show.<br />
Day 6 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, Huangshan BB, L, D<br />
Featured Excursion: Huangshan Mountain tour 8 3 b<br />
Enjoy a full-day trip to Huangshan Mountain, which boasts<br />
eastern China’s most striking natural l<strong>and</strong>scapes. Not a<br />
single mountain but actually a string of impressive peaks,<br />
Huangshan has long been a favorite subject of traditional<br />
Chinese paintings <strong>and</strong> literature; it also served as a retreat<br />
for many Chinese emperors. You’ll underst<strong>and</strong> its longst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
popularity when you take in the views from both the bottom<br />
<strong>and</strong> the top of the mountain. The foothills below Huangshan<br />
feature picturesque traditional villages with flooded rice<br />
paddies nestled in the shadow of towering peaks. The<br />
mountain itself is dotted with ancient twisted pines <strong>and</strong><br />
strange rock formations <strong>and</strong> shrouded in thick romantic<br />
mists. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is truly one of the<br />
most beautiful <strong>and</strong> memorable places in China.<br />
Note: Depending on river conditions, an alternative tour to<br />
Jiuhuashan Mountain may be substituted.<br />
Day 7 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, Wuhan BB, L, D<br />
Featured Excursion: Ancient Guqin Terrace 5 1 b<br />
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province <strong>and</strong> the political,<br />
economic, cultural, <strong>and</strong> educational hub of central China.<br />
Today you will visit the lovely Guqin, or Heptachord, Terrace.<br />
It was built over 1,000 years ago to commemorate a deep<br />
friendship that arose between an important official who played<br />
the heptachord (an ancient stringed instrument) <strong>and</strong> a humble<br />
woodcutter. Zhong Ziqi was so moved by the beauty of the<br />
music Yu Boya played that it changed them both <strong>and</strong> inspired<br />
a legend.<br />
Day 8 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong> p BB, L, D<br />
The Yangtze <strong>River</strong> is the third-longest river in the world, <strong>and</strong><br />
your cruise will show you some of its most beautiful sights.<br />
Your luxury ship provides the perfect setting for soaking up<br />
the breathtaking views of mist-shrouded mountains <strong>and</strong><br />
jagged limestone cliffs that surround you on either side as<br />
you make your way down the river. You’ll also see bucolic<br />
hillside rice paddies, village fishermen at work with their<br />
nets, <strong>and</strong> historic cliff-side carvings. Today, enjoy a full day<br />
cruising the majestic Yangtze. Enjoy the Victoria Minorities<br />
Show, featuring costumes <strong>and</strong> customs from some of the<br />
56 ethnic groups that make up China.<br />
Wonders of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
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Day 9 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, Yichang BB, L, D<br />
Day 11 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong> BB, L F<br />
Featured Excursion: Three Gorges Dam 7 2 b<br />
Featured Excursion: Fengdu 6 3<br />
Today you’ll sail through the dramatic shoals <strong>and</strong> verdant cliffs<br />
of Xiling Gorge, the longest <strong>and</strong> deepest of the famed Three<br />
Gorges, with cliffs that rise around you to heights of up to<br />
4,000 feet (1,219 m).<br />
You’ll begin your day with a visit to the site of the Three Gorges<br />
Dam—the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. After more<br />
than a decade of construction, the dam body was finished in<br />
2006 (though the final components of the dam’s underground<br />
power plant are not expected to become fully operational until<br />
around <strong>2012</strong>). The Three Gorges Dam harnesses the power<br />
of the mighty Yangtze in order to provide electricity to evergrowing<br />
China. In addition, the dam is designed to provide<br />
relief from the loss of life <strong>and</strong> property previously caused<br />
by frequent flooding in many riverside cities.<br />
Then, return to your ship to sail through the Three Gorges Dam<br />
five-stage ship locks, an engineering marvel that is sure<br />
to impress.<br />
Day 10 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong> BB, L, D<br />
Today, you’ll visit the bank-side town of Fengdu. This “City of<br />
Ghosts” is famous for its gardens, temples, <strong>and</strong> statues of<br />
ghosts, all modeled after the Chinese Hell in Taoist mythology.<br />
A place of pilgrimage for nearly 2,000 years, Fengdu became<br />
an isl<strong>and</strong> accessible only via the Yangtze after the construction<br />
of the Three Gorges Dam. Tonight enjoy the Captain’s Farewell<br />
Dinner. After dinner, enjoy “Emperor <strong>and</strong> Empress night,”<br />
where you can try on traditional costumes of Chinese royalty<br />
<strong>and</strong> have your picture taken.<br />
Day 12 | Chongqing, fly to Xi’an e b d BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Chongqing city tour, Chongqing Zoo<br />
<strong>and</strong> giant p<strong>and</strong>a visit, <strong>and</strong> traditional dumpling dinner in<br />
Xi’an 8 1 b f<br />
Disembark in the morning in Chongqing, the “Mountain City,”<br />
which is located right in the middle of China. Here, you enjoy<br />
a tour of the city, <strong>and</strong> if time allows, we’ll stop briefly at the<br />
Chongqing Zoo for a glimpse of some cuddly but endangered<br />
giant p<strong>and</strong>as.<br />
Wonders of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
Featured Excursion: Lesser Gorges 7 1 S p<br />
Today’s journey will take you through Wu Gorge. In the<br />
afternoon, you’re in for a real treat. You’ll board a riverboat<br />
<strong>and</strong> embark on a voyage through the enchanting Lesser<br />
Gorges of either the Daning <strong>River</strong> or Shennong Stream. This<br />
intimate encounter with the area’s striking scenery is truly a<br />
once-in-a-lifetime experience.<br />
Then, return to your cruise ship <strong>and</strong> continue down the Yangtze.<br />
Today’s journey will take you through Quatang, whose stunning<br />
scenery is justly celebrated as some of the most beautiful in all<br />
of China.<br />
An unforgettable Crew Cabaret is waiting for you in the evening.<br />
Then it’s on to storied Xi’an. Known in ancient times as<br />
Changan, Xi’an served as capital city to some of China’s most<br />
important dynasties, including the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, <strong>and</strong><br />
Tang. It is currently the capital of Shaanxi province. Xi’an is<br />
also the eastern terminus of the famous Silk Road, a fact<br />
that accounts for the city’s long history of prosperity <strong>and</strong><br />
exceptional cultural production.<br />
Spend your first evening in Xi’an savoring a sumptuous<br />
traditional dumpling dinner at a local restaurant.<br />
Wonders of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
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Day 13 | Xi’an BB, L, D<br />
Day 15 | Beijing BB, L, D<br />
Wonders of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Terra Cotta Warriors, City Wall, <strong>and</strong><br />
Tang Dynasty dinner <strong>and</strong> performance 8 2 b f p<br />
Xi’an was once one of the largest <strong>and</strong> most cultured cities in<br />
the world, but today most visitors come to see the site of one<br />
of the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th<br />
century: the Terra Cotta Warriors <strong>and</strong> Horses. The 7,000-plus<br />
members of this massive terra cotta army, which st<strong>and</strong>s guard<br />
over the tomb of China’s first emperor, were first discovered in<br />
1974 by well-digging farmers. You’ll be amazed by the intricacy<br />
of the life-sized soldier <strong>and</strong> horse figures <strong>and</strong> the gr<strong>and</strong>eur of<br />
the tomb complex—only a small portion of which has actually<br />
been excavated.<br />
After your exploration of these fabulous sculptures, you’ll visit<br />
a jade factory <strong>and</strong> store. After the jade factory, you will go<br />
to Xi’an’s massive City Wall, the oldest <strong>and</strong> best-preserved<br />
surviving city wall in China. In the evening, indulge in a Tang<br />
Dynasty dinner <strong>and</strong> cultural performance featuring music,<br />
dance, <strong>and</strong> traditional costumes. The Tang Dynasty is<br />
remembered as the most progressive <strong>and</strong> prosperous era in<br />
the history of China, <strong>and</strong> Tang Dynasty music <strong>and</strong> dance<br />
symbolize the splendor <strong>and</strong> glory of the Chinese civilization.<br />
Day 14 | Xi’an, fly to Beijing b d BB, L, D<br />
Featured Excursion: Summer Palace 8 2 b S<br />
Today, you’ll depart China’s ancient capital city <strong>and</strong> fly to its<br />
current capital: Beijing! Your stay in Beijing will begin with<br />
a visit to one of the city’s most beautiful historic gems—the<br />
Summer Palace <strong>and</strong> the Imperial Gardens, which is one of the<br />
world’s largest <strong>and</strong> best-preserved imperial gardens. In 1998,<br />
UNESCO designated the Summer Palace a World Heritage<br />
Site, noting that it is “an outst<strong>and</strong>ing expression of the creative<br />
art of Chinese l<strong>and</strong>scape garden design, incorporating the<br />
works of humankind <strong>and</strong> nature in a harmonious whole.”<br />
You’ll take a boat ride on the lovely Kunming Lake, where<br />
you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful natural elements of the<br />
gardens as well as the graceful designs of the pavilions,<br />
halls, palaces, temples, <strong>and</strong> bridges. Tonight, you will enjoy<br />
a delicious dinner at your hotel.<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City,<br />
Hutongs tour with home-hosted lunch, <strong>and</strong> Kung Fu show at<br />
the Red Theater 8 2 b f p<br />
Begin your first full day in Beijing with an exciting visit to<br />
Tiananmen Square—the heart of Beijing <strong>and</strong> the largest<br />
open city square in the world. Tiananmen Square has been<br />
the site of many important events in China’s history. Among<br />
the monuments in this area are Tiananmen Tower, the<br />
Monument to the People’s Heroes, Mao Zedong Memorial<br />
Hall, <strong>and</strong> the National Museum of China. You’ll pose for a<br />
group souvenir photo of you <strong>and</strong> your travel companions in<br />
Tiananmen Square. Then, walk through Tiananmen Gate,<br />
which is the “Gate of Heavenly Peace,” the entranceway to<br />
the Forbidden City.<br />
The Forbidden City is a 250-acre (97-hectare) complex of<br />
palaces, pavilions, courtyards, <strong>and</strong> gardens. It’s the largest<br />
<strong>and</strong> most complete ancient imperial palace in the world.<br />
Construction of the palace began in 1406, <strong>and</strong> 24 emperors<br />
have ruled China from within its walls.<br />
Then it’s time to get an authentic taste of old Beijing. Ride in<br />
a rickshaw for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hutongs—the<br />
ancient lanes <strong>and</strong> alleyways located in the old residential area<br />
of Beijing. The Hutongs, which have been around for more<br />
than 700 years, offer a fascinating glimpse of traditional<br />
Chinese life <strong>and</strong> architecture—including the area’s famous<br />
courtyard houses. While here, enjoy a traditional Chinese<br />
lunch with a local family. You will also visit a carpet factory<br />
before dinner.<br />
You’ll end your day with an evening at spectacular Kung Fu<br />
show. The best Kung Fu practitioners from all over China<br />
take part in this production. Their average age is just 17! The<br />
costumes, set design <strong>and</strong> special effects are created by<br />
some of the best stage directors <strong>and</strong> designers in China.<br />
The performers are not only skilled in Kung Fu martial arts,<br />
but are also trained in theatrical presentation. The dancers<br />
<strong>and</strong> acrobats add new dimensions to the exploration of<br />
the movements <strong>and</strong> discipline of Kung Fu. The action is<br />
breathtaking <strong>and</strong> the drama is poignant.<br />
Wonders of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
The show has English supertitles shown above the stage to<br />
keep you informed of the story line. The actors do not speak;<br />
the show is all Kung Fu, dance, <strong>and</strong> acrobatics. It is the fusion<br />
of modern dance with Chinese traditional arts that makes this<br />
performance unique <strong>and</strong> spectacular.<br />
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Day 16 | Beijing BB, L F<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: The Great Wall, the Sacred Way, <strong>and</strong><br />
Peking Duck Farewell Dinner with wine 8 3 b f<br />
In the morning, you’ll travel 40 miles (64 km) north of Beijing<br />
for a memorable walk on a wonder of the ancient world—the<br />
Great Wall. The Great Wall is the longest manmade structure<br />
on earth. Original construction began in the third century BC<br />
as a way to keep out warring invaders, <strong>and</strong> additional sections<br />
extended the wall over the centuries to its present length of<br />
nearly 4,000 miles (6,436 km)—a distance longer than the<br />
United States is wide!<br />
After your walk along this historic <strong>and</strong> awe-inspiring l<strong>and</strong>mark,<br />
you’ll travel the Sacred Way, home to remnants of the Ming<br />
Tombs. Here, 13 of the Ming Dynasty’s 16 emperors were<br />
laid to rest in lavish burial chambers. Ming monarchs made<br />
an annual pilgrimage to the tombs to honor their departed<br />
ancestors, <strong>and</strong> the gr<strong>and</strong>eur of the site <strong>and</strong> its relics convey<br />
the importance of ancestor worship in ancient Chinese culture.<br />
Wonders of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
At the end of the day, we invite you to indulge in a succulent<br />
Peking Duck Farewell Dinner with wine, where you will receive<br />
an exquisite piece of Chinese folk art as a gift. The city’s<br />
namesake meal is a truly appropriate way to cap off your day<br />
in Beijing, formerly known as Peking.<br />
Day 17 | Depart Beijing b CB/BB<br />
Transfer to the Beijing Airport for your return flight home, or<br />
continue your tour with an extension to Hong Kong.<br />
Note: Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due<br />
to water levels or other uncontrollable factors.<br />
Splendors of China &<br />
the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
Beijing to Shanghai | 13 Days<br />
Celebrate China with an endless parade of splendid scenery<br />
<strong>and</strong> spectacular sights<br />
Watch China’s history <strong>and</strong> culture unfold during this incredible<br />
adventure, which ranges from the imperial splendor of Beijing<br />
to the dynamism of Shanghai to the majesty of the Yangtze’s<br />
Three Gorges.<br />
Feel the presence of over 2,000 years of history as you walk<br />
along the Great Wall. And cruise through the heart of China<br />
on the gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, where you’ll see the majestic<br />
12 mountain peaks of Wu Gorge, the dramatic shoals <strong>and</strong><br />
verdant cliffs of Xiling Gorge, <strong>and</strong> the gr<strong>and</strong>est gorge of all—<br />
the Quatang Gorge.<br />
Enjoy a full-day trip to Huangshan Mountain, a UNESCO<br />
World Heritage Site, which boasts eastern China’s most<br />
striking natural l<strong>and</strong>scapes, <strong>and</strong> the mountain itself, which<br />
is dotted with strange rock formations <strong>and</strong> shrouded in thick<br />
mist. In Nanjing, walk up the gr<strong>and</strong> steps to the Mausoleum<br />
of Sun Yat-sen, the father of modern China. China’s memorable<br />
<strong>and</strong> splendid delights await you.<br />
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<strong>Uniworld</strong> 75
Day 1 | Beijing b<br />
Arrive at the Beijing Airport <strong>and</strong> be greeted by a <strong>Uniworld</strong><br />
representative who will escort you to the hotel.<br />
Day 2 | Beijing BB, L, W<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City,<br />
Summer Palace, <strong>and</strong> Peking Duck Welcome Dinner with wine<br />
8 2 b f S<br />
At the end of the day, we invite you to indulge in a succulent<br />
Peking Duck Welcome Dinner with wine—a must for any visitor<br />
to Beijing—where you will receive an exquisite piece of Chinese<br />
folk art as a gift. The city’s namesake meal is a truly appropriate<br />
way to cap off your day in Beijing, formerly known as Peking.<br />
Splendors of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
Old meets new in Beijing as ancient architecture mixes with<br />
modern high rises. The bustling city has been a cornerstone<br />
of Chinese history through the ages. It has been an important<br />
military <strong>and</strong> trading point since the Qin Dynasty (202 BC)<br />
<strong>and</strong> the capital of China since the Yuan Dynasty (Kublai<br />
Khan, 1279 AD), <strong>and</strong> thus it has historical buildings around<br />
just about every corner. Beijing is also a hub of culture, with<br />
its temples, art treasures, <strong>and</strong> opulent palaces at every turn,<br />
keeping the city thriving <strong>and</strong> alive.<br />
Begin your first full day in Beijing with an exciting visit to<br />
Tiananmen Square—the heart of Beijing <strong>and</strong> the largest<br />
open city square in the world. Tiananmen Square has been<br />
the site of many important events in China’s history. Among<br />
the monuments in this area are Tiananmen Tower, the<br />
Monument to the People’s Heroes, Mao Zedong Memorial<br />
Hall, <strong>and</strong> the National Museum of China. You’ll pose for a<br />
group souvenir photo of you <strong>and</strong> your travel companions in<br />
Tiananmen Square. Then, walk through Tiananmen Gate,<br />
which is the “Gate of Heavenly Peace,” the entranceway to<br />
the Forbidden City.<br />
The Forbidden City is a 250-acre (97-hectare) complex of<br />
palaces, pavilions, courtyards, <strong>and</strong> gardens. It’s the largest<br />
<strong>and</strong> most complete ancient imperial palace in the world.<br />
Construction on the palace was begun in 1406, <strong>and</strong> 24<br />
emperors have ruled China from within its walls.<br />
Continue on to another Beijing gem, the Summer Palace,<br />
which is one of China’s largest <strong>and</strong> best preserved imperial<br />
gardens. In 1998, UNESCO designated the Summer Palace<br />
a World Heritage Site, noting that it is “an outst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
expression of the creative art of Chinese l<strong>and</strong>scape garden<br />
design, incorporating the works of humankind <strong>and</strong> nature in<br />
a harmonious whole.” You’ll take a boat ride on the lovely<br />
Kunming Lake, where you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful<br />
natural elements of the gardens as well as the graceful<br />
designs of the pavilions, halls, palaces, temples, <strong>and</strong> bridges.<br />
Day 3 | Beijing BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: The Great Wall, the Sacred Way, <strong>and</strong><br />
Kung Fu show at the Red Theater 8 3 b p<br />
In the morning, you’ll travel 40 miles (64 km) north of Beijing<br />
for a memorable walk on a wonder of the ancient world—the<br />
Great Wall. The Great Wall is the longest manmade structure<br />
on earth. Original construction began in the third century BC<br />
as a way to keep out warring invaders, <strong>and</strong> additional sections<br />
extended the wall over the centuries to its present length of<br />
nearly 4,000 miles (6,436 km)—a distance longer than the<br />
United States is wide! It’s truly an awe-inspiring sight, which<br />
you will never forget.<br />
After your walk along this historic <strong>and</strong> awe-inspiring l<strong>and</strong>mark,<br />
you’ll travel the Sacred Way, home to remnants of the Ming<br />
Tombs. Here, 13 of the Ming Dynasty’s 16 emperors were<br />
laid to rest in lavish burial chambers. Ming monarchs made<br />
an annual pilgrimage to the tombs to honor their departed<br />
ancestors, <strong>and</strong> the gr<strong>and</strong>eur of the site <strong>and</strong> its relics convey<br />
the importance of ancestor worship in ancient Chinese<br />
culture. Then end your day with an evening at the spectacular<br />
Kung Fu show.<br />
The best Kung Fu practitioners from all over China take part in<br />
this production. Their average age is just 17! The costumes,<br />
set design <strong>and</strong> special effects are created by some of the<br />
best stage directors <strong>and</strong> designers in China. The performers<br />
are not only skilled in Kung Fu martial arts, but are also<br />
trained in theatrical presentation. The dancers <strong>and</strong> acrobats<br />
add new dimensions to the exploration of the movements<br />
<strong>and</strong> discipline of Kung Fu. The action is breathtaking <strong>and</strong><br />
the drama is poignant.<br />
The show has English supertitles shown above the stage to<br />
keep you informed of the story line. The actors do not speak;<br />
the show is all Kung Fu, dance, <strong>and</strong> acrobatics. It is the fusion<br />
of modern dance with Chinese traditional arts that makes this<br />
performance unique <strong>and</strong> spectacular.<br />
Splendors of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
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Splendors of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
Day 4 | Beijing, fly to Chongqing b d BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Hutongs tour with home-hosted lunch<br />
<strong>and</strong> Chongqing Zoo 8 1 b f<br />
Today, you will visit a carpet factory, <strong>and</strong> then you’ll get an<br />
authentic taste of old Beijing on your last day in the city.<br />
Ride in a rickshaw for a behind-the-scenes tour of the<br />
Hutongs—the ancient lanes <strong>and</strong> alleyways located in the old<br />
residential area of Beijing. The Hutongs, which have been<br />
around for more than 700 years, offer a fascinating glimpse<br />
of traditional Chinese life <strong>and</strong> architecture—including the<br />
area’s famous courtyard houses. While here, enjoy a traditional<br />
Chinese lunch with a local family. Later in the day, you’ll<br />
fly to Chongqing to visit the p<strong>and</strong>as. Enjoy dinner at the<br />
hotel tonight.<br />
Day 5 | Chongqing, Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong><br />
b e BB, L, D<br />
Featured Excursion: Fengdu 7 3<br />
The mighty Yangtze is the third-longest river in the world, <strong>and</strong><br />
your cruise will show you some of its most beautiful sights.<br />
Your luxury ship provides the perfect setting for soaking up<br />
the breathtaking views of mist-shrouded mountains <strong>and</strong><br />
jagged limestone cliffs that surround you on either side as you<br />
make your way down the river. You’ll also see bucolic hillside<br />
rice paddies, village fishermen at work with their nets, <strong>and</strong><br />
historic cliff-side carvings.<br />
Today, you’ll visit the bank-side town of Fengdu. This “City of<br />
Ghosts” is famous for its gardens, temples, <strong>and</strong> statues of<br />
ghosts, all modeled after the Chinese Hell in Taoist mythology.<br />
A place of pilgrimage for nearly 2,000 years, Fengdu became<br />
an isl<strong>and</strong> accessible only via the Yangtze after the construction<br />
of the Three Gorges Dam. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Reception<br />
before dinner.<br />
Day 6 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, Lesser Gorges BB, L, D<br />
Featured Excursion: Lesser Gorges 6 1 S p<br />
Today’s journey will take you through the first of the Three<br />
Gorges—Quatang, whose stunning scenery is justly celebrated<br />
as some of the most beautiful in all of China.<br />
You’re in for an additional treat today. You’ll board a riverboat<br />
<strong>and</strong> embark on a voyage through the enchanting Lesser<br />
Gorges of either the Daning <strong>River</strong> or Shennong Stream.<br />
This intimate encounter with the area’s striking scenery is<br />
truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<br />
Then, return to your cruise ship <strong>and</strong> continue down the Yangtze.<br />
Today’s journey will take you through Wu gorges, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
dramatic shoals <strong>and</strong> verdant cliffs of Xiling Gorge, the longest<br />
<strong>and</strong> deepest of the famed Three Gorges, with cliffs that rise<br />
around you to heights of up to 4,000 feet (1,219 m).<br />
Later, you’ll sail through the Three Gorges Dam five-stage<br />
ship locks, a true engineering marvel that is sure to impress.<br />
Once you’re through the locks, After dinner, enjoy the beautiful<br />
Victoria Fashion Show.<br />
Day 7 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, Yichang BB, L, D<br />
Featured Excursion: Three Gorges Dam 6 2 b p<br />
You’ll begin your day with a visit to the site of the Three Gorges<br />
Dam—the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. After more<br />
than a decade of construction, the dam body was finished in<br />
2006 (though the final components of the dam’s underground<br />
power plant are not expected to become fully operational until<br />
<strong>2012</strong>). The Three Gorges Dam harnesses the power of the<br />
mighty Yangtze in order to provide electricity to ever-growing<br />
China. In addition, the dam is designed to provide relief from<br />
the loss of life <strong>and</strong> property previously caused by frequent<br />
flooding in many riverside cities. An unforgettable Crew<br />
Cabaret is waiting for you in the evening.<br />
Day 8 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, Wuhan BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Wuhan city tour <strong>and</strong> Hubei Provincial<br />
Museum 7 1 b m p<br />
Tour Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province <strong>and</strong> the political,<br />
economic, cultural, <strong>and</strong> educational hub of central China.<br />
It is also the home of the well-known Hubei Provincial Museum,<br />
which you’ll explore today. The museum has collected over<br />
200,000 important cultural relics, including pottery, porcelains,<br />
jade, bronze vessels, ancient weapons, <strong>and</strong> ancient musical<br />
instruments. Among these cultural relics, 812 are listed as<br />
first-class relics of China, <strong>and</strong> 16 are considered national<br />
treasures. One of its most famous pieces is the Sword of<br />
Goujian, which historians believe was owned by Goujian, the<br />
King of Yue, who ruled from 496 BC to 465 BC. The sword<br />
was discovered in the mid-20th century, <strong>and</strong> even though it<br />
had spent the previous 2,000 years under water, it still had<br />
a sharp blade <strong>and</strong> showed no signs of tarnish when found.<br />
In the evening, enjoy the Victoria Minorities Show onboard,<br />
featuring the costumes <strong>and</strong> customs of some of the 56 ethnic<br />
groups that make up China.<br />
Splendors of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
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Day 9 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, Huangshan BB, L, D<br />
Day 11 | Shanghai e b BB, L, D<br />
Splendors of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
Featured Excursion: Huangshan Mountain tour 8 3 b<br />
Enjoy a full-day trip to Huangshan Mountain, which boasts<br />
eastern China’s most striking natural l<strong>and</strong>scapes. Not a single<br />
mountain but actually a string of impressive peaks, Huangshan<br />
has long been a favorite subject of traditional Chinese paintings<br />
<strong>and</strong> literature; it also served as a retreat for many Chinese<br />
emperors. You’ll underst<strong>and</strong> its longst<strong>and</strong>ing popularity when<br />
you take in the views from both the bottom <strong>and</strong> the top of the<br />
mountain. The foothills below Huangshan feature picturesque<br />
traditional villages with flooded rice paddies nestled in the<br />
shadow of towering peaks. The mountain itself is dotted with<br />
ancient twisted pines <strong>and</strong> strange rock formations <strong>and</strong> shrouded<br />
in thick romantic mists. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is<br />
truly one of the most beautiful <strong>and</strong> memorable places in China.<br />
Note: Depending on river conditions, an alternative tour to<br />
Jiuhuashan Mountain may be substituted.<br />
Day 10 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, Nanjing BB, L, F<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Bazaar, <strong>and</strong><br />
Confucian Temple 8 3 b<br />
Today you will visit China’s “Southern Capital,” Nanjing.<br />
The massive Ming Dynasty-era city wall <strong>and</strong> the various<br />
monuments <strong>and</strong> tombs scattered around the city bear witness<br />
to the historical importance of Nanjing, which served as<br />
the capital city of six Chinese dynasties. The Sun Yat-sen<br />
Mausoleum, which you’ll visit today, is the resting place of<br />
the revolutionary <strong>and</strong> political leader who is considered the<br />
father of modern China. The mausoleum is a tribute to Sun’s<br />
life <strong>and</strong> political philosophy, the Three Principles of the People,<br />
which helped overthrow the imperial system of rule in China.<br />
Tonight enjoy the Captain’s Farewell Dinner. After dinner, enjoy<br />
“Emperor <strong>and</strong> Empress night,” where you can try on traditional<br />
costumes of Chinese royalty <strong>and</strong> have your picture taken.<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Shanghai city tour, Oriental Pearl TV<br />
Tower, Shanghai Municipal History Museum visit, <strong>and</strong><br />
Shanghai Acrobats 8 1 b m p<br />
Disembark your ship in Shanghai, <strong>and</strong> continue your journey to<br />
some of this sprawling city’s most impressive sights. Begin with<br />
a stroll through Old Town—with its teahouses, temples, narrow<br />
alleyways, <strong>and</strong> markets—for a taste of historic Shanghai. Then,<br />
it’s on to the Bund, Shanghai’s famed waterfront promenade.<br />
Built along the Huangpu <strong>River</strong>, the Bund features exhilarating<br />
street life <strong>and</strong> beautiful architecture; it’s also an ideal spot for<br />
taking pictures of Pudong’s famous skyline. You’ll also visit a<br />
silk factory. For lunch, you will have a traditional dim sum meal<br />
before you continue on with your tour.<br />
Your next stop is the iconic Oriental Pearl TV Tower. One of the<br />
tallest towers in Asia at 1,535 feet (468 m), the Oriental Pearl<br />
TV Tower provides a bird’s-eye view of Shanghai, the “Pearl of<br />
the Orient.” After your elevator ride to the sky-high observation<br />
decks, you’ll have a chance to explore the Shanghai Municipal<br />
History Museum on the ground floor of the tower.<br />
Tonight, be dazzled by the amazing, gravity-defying stunts of<br />
the Shanghai Acrobats.<br />
Day 12 | Shanghai, Zhujiajiao B, L, D<br />
Featured Excursion: Zhujiajiao city tour 8 2 b S<br />
Today you will step from the hustle of the metropolitan city to<br />
the calm retreat of one of Shanghai’s most beautiful suburbs.<br />
Also known as “Pearl Stream,” Zhujiajiao is a lovely “water<br />
town,” whose ancient <strong>and</strong> varied bridges crisscross streams<br />
<strong>and</strong> canals overhung with willows dipping their branches in the<br />
cool water. Along the stream side, houses <strong>and</strong> their courtyards,<br />
some st<strong>and</strong>ing for many hundreds of years, provide a beautiful<br />
backdrop to your picturesque visit. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your<br />
Shanghai hotel.<br />
Day 13 | Depart Shanghai CB/BB b<br />
Transfer to the Shanghai Airport for your flight home, or continue<br />
with an optional extension.<br />
Note: Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due<br />
to water levels or other uncontrollable factors.<br />
Splendors of China & the Gr<strong>and</strong> Yangtze<br />
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Day 1 | Beijing b<br />
Arrive in Beijing <strong>and</strong> be greeted by a <strong>Uniworld</strong> representative<br />
who will escort you to your hotel.<br />
Day 2 | Beijing BB, L, W<br />
China, Tibet &<br />
the Yangtze<br />
Beijing to Shanghai | 14 Days<br />
Explore the majestic Yangtze <strong>and</strong> experience the best of<br />
China <strong>and</strong> Tibet<br />
Lhasa means “holy l<strong>and</strong>,” <strong>and</strong> indeed, it is the heart <strong>and</strong> soul<br />
of Tibet. In existence since the seventh century <strong>and</strong> ruled by<br />
the Dalai Lamas from the early 1600s to 1959, Tibet has long<br />
been associated with peace <strong>and</strong> spirituality. Marvel at Lhasa’s<br />
unique architecture—from gilt-roofed temples <strong>and</strong> intricately<br />
decorated monasteries to homes that face south <strong>and</strong> have flat<br />
roofs for energy efficiency—<strong>and</strong> enjoy an inner calm as you<br />
w<strong>and</strong>er through its peaceful gardens.<br />
Along with visiting Beijing, Xi’an, <strong>and</strong> Tibet, you’ll cruise the<br />
most scenic section of the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>. On l<strong>and</strong>, enjoy a virtual<br />
dim sum of China’s highlights: the Great Wall, a Kung Fu show,<br />
a Peking Duck dinner, the ancient Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi’an,<br />
a home visit in Lhasa, <strong>and</strong> a night in lively Shanghai, complete<br />
with a performance by the amazing Shanghai Acrobats.<br />
The majestic scenery, soul-enriching spirituality, <strong>and</strong> wonderful<br />
people of China <strong>and</strong> Tibet will reward you with unforgettable<br />
memories.<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City,<br />
Summer Palace, <strong>and</strong> Peking Duck Welcome Dinner with wine<br />
8 2 b f S<br />
Old meets new in China’s capital city of Beijing, where ancient<br />
architecture mixes with modern highrises. The bustling city<br />
has been a cornerstone of Chinese history through the ages.<br />
It has been an important military <strong>and</strong> trading point since the<br />
Qin Dynasty (202 BC) <strong>and</strong> the capital of China since the Yuan<br />
Dynasty (Kublai Khan, 1279 AD), with historical buildings<br />
around just about every corner. Beijing is also a hub of culture<br />
with its temples, art treasures, <strong>and</strong> opulent palaces at every<br />
turn, keeping the city thriving <strong>and</strong> alive.<br />
Begin your first full day in Beijing with an exciting visit to<br />
Tiananmen Square—the heart of Beijing <strong>and</strong> the largest<br />
open city square in the world. Tiananmen Square has been<br />
the site of many important events in China’s history. Among<br />
the many monuments in this area are Tiananmen Tower, the<br />
Monument to the People’s Heroes, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the National Museum of China. Pose for a souvenir group<br />
photo of you <strong>and</strong> your travel companions at Tiananmen Square.<br />
Then, walk through Tiananmen Gate, or the “Gate of Heavenly<br />
Peace” which is the entranceway to the Forbidden City.<br />
The Forbidden City is a 250-acre (97-hectare) complex of<br />
palaces, pavilions, courtyards, <strong>and</strong> gardens. It’s the largest<br />
<strong>and</strong> most complete ancient imperial palace in the world.<br />
Construction on the palace was begun in 1406, <strong>and</strong> 24<br />
emperors have ruled China from within its walls.<br />
Continue on to another Beijing gem, the Summer Palace,<br />
which has one of China’s largest <strong>and</strong> best preserved imperial<br />
gardens. In 1998, UNESCO designated the Summer Palace<br />
a World Heritage Site, noting that it is “an outst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
expression of the creative art of Chinese l<strong>and</strong>scape garden<br />
design, incorporating the works of humankind <strong>and</strong> nature in<br />
a harmonious whole.” You’ll take a boat ride on the lovely<br />
Kunming Lake, where you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful<br />
natural elements of the gardens as well as the graceful<br />
designs of the pavilions, halls, palaces, temples, <strong>and</strong> bridges.<br />
At the end of the day, we invite you to indulge in a succulent<br />
Peking Duck Welcome Dinner with wine, where you will receive<br />
an exquisite piece of Chinese folk art as a gift. The city’s<br />
namesake meal is a truly appropriate way to cap off your day<br />
in Beijing, formerly known as Peking.<br />
China, Tibet & the Yangtze<br />
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<strong>Uniworld</strong> 83
Day 3 | Beijing BB, L, D<br />
Day 4 | Beijing, fly to Xi’an b d BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: The Great Wall, the Sacred Way, <strong>and</strong><br />
Kung Fu show at the Red Theater 8 3 b p<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Hutongs tour with home-hosted lunch<br />
<strong>and</strong> dumpling dinner in Xi’an 8 1 b f<br />
China, Tibet & the Yangtze<br />
In the morning, you’ll travel 40 miles (64 km) north of Beijing<br />
for a memorable walk on a wonder of the ancient world—the<br />
Great Wall. The Great Wall is the longest manmade structure<br />
on earth. Original construction began in the third century BC<br />
as a way to keep out warring invaders, <strong>and</strong> additional sections<br />
extended the wall over the centuries to its present length of<br />
nearly 4,000 miles (6,436 km)—a distance longer than the<br />
United States is wide!<br />
After your walk along this historic <strong>and</strong> awe-inspiring l<strong>and</strong>mark,<br />
you’ll travel the Sacred Way, home to remnants of the Ming<br />
Tombs. Here, 13 of the Ming Dynasty’s 16 emperors were<br />
laid to rest in lavish burial chambers. Ming monarchs made<br />
an annual pilgrimage to the tombs to honor their departed<br />
ancestors, <strong>and</strong> the gr<strong>and</strong>eur of the site <strong>and</strong> its relics convey<br />
the importance of ancestor worship in ancient Chinese culture.<br />
You’ll end your day with an evening at the spectacular Kung<br />
Fu show. The best Kung Fu practitioners from all over China<br />
perform in this amazing production. Their average age is just<br />
17! The costumes, set design, <strong>and</strong> special effects are created<br />
by some of the best stage directors <strong>and</strong> designers in China.<br />
The performers are not only skilled in Kung Fu martial arts,<br />
but are also trained in theatrical presentation. The dancers<br />
<strong>and</strong> acrobats add new dimensions to the exploration of the<br />
movements <strong>and</strong> discipline of Kung Fu. The action is<br />
breathtaking <strong>and</strong> the drama is poignant.<br />
The show has English supertitles shown above the stage to<br />
keep you informed of the story line. The actors do not speak;<br />
the show is all Kung Fu, dance, <strong>and</strong> acrobatics. It is the<br />
fusion of modern dance with Chinese traditional arts that<br />
makes this performance unique <strong>and</strong> spectacular.<br />
Today, you will visit a carpet factory, then you’ll get an<br />
authentic taste of old Beijing on your last day in the city.<br />
Ride in a rickshaw for a behind-the-scenes tour of the<br />
Hutongs—the ancient lanes <strong>and</strong> alleyways located in the old<br />
residential area of Beijing. The Hutongs, which have been<br />
around for more than 700 years, offer a fascinating glimpse<br />
of traditional Chinese life <strong>and</strong> architecture—including the<br />
area’s famous courtyard houses. While here, enjoy a lunch<br />
with a local family before you fly to Xi’an <strong>and</strong> transfer to the<br />
hotel. Tonight, you’ll be treated to a sumptuous traditional<br />
dumpling dinner at a local restaurant in Xi’an.<br />
Day 5 | Xi’an BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Terra Cotta Warriors, City Wall, <strong>and</strong><br />
Tang Dynasty dinner <strong>and</strong> performance 8 2 b f p<br />
Known in ancient times as Changan, Xi’an—which is located<br />
along the famous Silk Road <strong>and</strong> is the capital of Shaanxi<br />
Province—was once one of the largest <strong>and</strong> most cultured<br />
cities in the world. Today, most visitors come to see the site<br />
of one of the most significant archaeological excavations of<br />
the 20th century: the Terra Cotta Warriors <strong>and</strong> Horses. The<br />
7,000-plus members of this massive terra cotta army, which<br />
st<strong>and</strong>s guard over the tomb of China’s first emperor, were<br />
first discovered in 1974 by well-digging farmers. You’ll be<br />
amazed by the intricacy of the life-sized soldier <strong>and</strong> horse<br />
figures <strong>and</strong> the gr<strong>and</strong>eur of the tomb complex—only a small<br />
portion of which has so far been excavated.<br />
After your exploration of these fabulous sculptures, you’ll visit a<br />
jade factory <strong>and</strong> store. Later, you will get to see Xi’an’s massive<br />
City Wall, the oldest <strong>and</strong> best-preserved surviving city wall in<br />
China. In the evening, indulge in a Tang Dynasty dinner <strong>and</strong><br />
cultural performance featuring music, dance, <strong>and</strong> traditional<br />
costumes. Xi’an served as the capital city for 13 of China’s<br />
great dynasties, <strong>and</strong> the Tang Dynasty is remembered as the<br />
most progressive <strong>and</strong> prosperous era in the history of China.<br />
Tang Dynasty music <strong>and</strong> dance symbolize the splendor <strong>and</strong><br />
glory of the Chinese civilization.<br />
China, Tibet & the Yangtze<br />
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China, Tibet & the Yangtze<br />
Day 6 | Xi’an, fly to Lhasa b d BB, L, D<br />
Today, you’ll fly to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, which has a<br />
fascinating history dating back more than 1,300 years. As<br />
the former seat of the Dalai Lama, Lhasa, which translates to<br />
“holy l<strong>and</strong>” or “place of the gods,” embodies the culture of<br />
Tibetan Buddhism, <strong>and</strong> beautiful temples, monasteries, <strong>and</strong><br />
palaces can be found all over the city. Tonight, enjoy dinner<br />
at local restaurant <strong>and</strong> a quiet night of relaxation as you<br />
adjust to Lhasa’s altitude.<br />
Day 7 | Lhasa BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: The Jokhang Temple, Tibet Museum,<br />
a visit to a Lhasa family home, <strong>and</strong> a folk show<br />
8 2 f m p<br />
Begin your encounter with Tibet by exploring the early<br />
Buddhist Jokhang Temple, which is embellished with Nepalese<br />
<strong>and</strong> Indian touches <strong>and</strong> capped by a golden canopy. Built<br />
in the seventh century <strong>and</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ing in the heart of old town<br />
Lhasa, Jokhang Temple is the most sacred building in Tibet.<br />
Scores of the Tibetan faithful come to the temple to worship<br />
day <strong>and</strong> night. You’ll get to see ancient sculptures, murals,<br />
tapestries, <strong>and</strong>—if you climb the stairs to the ornately<br />
decorated roof—you’ll get a breathtaking view of Lhasa <strong>and</strong><br />
the snowcapped mountains beyond.<br />
Next, learn more about the history of the region <strong>and</strong> traditional<br />
Tibetan life with a visit to the Tibet Museum, which houses a<br />
rich collection of prehistoric cultural relics. Then catch a<br />
glimpse into the life of the local people with a visit to a Lhasa<br />
family’s home, <strong>and</strong> enjoy dinner with a traditional folk show.<br />
Day 8 | Lhasa BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Potala Palace <strong>and</strong> Sera Monastery<br />
8 3 b<br />
Today, you’ll visit Lhasa’s Potala Palace, once the world’s<br />
tallest structure. The original 11-story structure was built in<br />
637, but what you’ll see today is a 17th-century replacement<br />
commissioned by the fifth Dalai Lama. While no longer the<br />
tallest building in the world, this palace of the Dalai Lamas<br />
perched atop Red Mountain still towers over Lhasa. Its 1,000<br />
rooms now serve as a huge museum. Gaze at its jewel<br />
collections <strong>and</strong> tombs, <strong>and</strong> w<strong>and</strong>er the chapels as pilgrims<br />
make offerings at the altars.<br />
After lunch visit Sera Monastery, located three miles (5 km)<br />
north of Lhasa at the base of Mt. Phurbuchok. Founded in<br />
1419, this important Gelugpa monastery once housed more<br />
than 5,000 monks. Monks still conduct daily philosophical<br />
debates under the watchful eye of Manjashuri, the God of<br />
Wisdom, in the courtyard of Sera Je Tratsang temple. Today,<br />
you’ll enjoy a tour of the monastery’s numerous temples, which<br />
are filled with amazing collections of perfectly preserved<br />
murals <strong>and</strong> Maitreya, Bodhisattva, <strong>and</strong> Arhat statuary.<br />
Day 9 | Lhasa, fly to Chongqing, cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong><br />
b d e BB, L, D<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Chongqing city tour, Chongqing Zoo<br />
<strong>and</strong> giant p<strong>and</strong>a viewing 7 1 b<br />
This morning, it’s time to leave beautiful Lhasa <strong>and</strong> fly to<br />
Chongqing, the “Mountain City,” which is located right in the<br />
middle of China. Here, you’ll stop at the Chongqing Zoo for a<br />
glimpse of some cuddly but endangered giant p<strong>and</strong>as before<br />
boarding your elegant Victoria <strong>Cruise</strong>s ship.<br />
Day 10 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong>, Fengdu BB, L, D<br />
Featured Excursion: Fengdu 7 3 p<br />
The mighty Yangtze is the third-longest river in the world, <strong>and</strong><br />
your cruise will show you some of its most beautiful sights.<br />
Your luxury ship provides the perfect setting for soaking up the<br />
breathtaking views of mist-shrouded mountains <strong>and</strong> jagged<br />
limestone cliffs that surround you on both sides as you make<br />
your way down the river. You’ll also see bucolic hillside rice<br />
paddies, village fishermen at work with their nets, <strong>and</strong> historic<br />
cliff-side carvings.<br />
Today, you’ll visit the bank-side town of Fengdu. This “City of<br />
Ghosts” is famous for its gardens, temples, <strong>and</strong> statues of<br />
ghosts, all modeled after the Chinese Hell in Taoist mythology.<br />
A place of pilgrimage for nearly 2,000 years, Fengdu became<br />
an isl<strong>and</strong> accessible only via the Yangtze after the construction<br />
of the Three Gorges Dam. This evening, enjoy a delightful<br />
Captain’s Welcome Reception onboard your ship, followed by<br />
a fashion show presenting beautiful clothes <strong>and</strong> traditional<br />
costumes from China’s history, culminating in the modern<br />
styles of China today.<br />
China, Tibet & the Yangtze<br />
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Day 11 | Cruising the Yangtze <strong>River</strong> BB, L F<br />
Featured Excursion: Lesser Gorges 6 1 S p<br />
Day 13 | Shanghai BB, L, D<br />
In the early morning, your journey will take you through part<br />
of the Three Gorges—Quatang, Wu, <strong>and</strong> Xiling—whose<br />
spectacular scenery is justly celebrated as some of the most<br />
beautiful in all of China.<br />
Later in the morning, you’re in for an additional treat. Board<br />
a riverboat <strong>and</strong> embark on a voyage through the enchanting<br />
Lesser Gorges of the Daning <strong>River</strong>. This intimate encounter<br />
with the area’s striking scenery is truly a once-in-a-lifetime<br />
experience. When you return to your cruise ship, it’s down to<br />
Wu Gorge.<br />
After your peaceful trip through rustic Xiling Gorge, the<br />
longest <strong>and</strong> deepest of the Three Gorges, with cliffs that rise<br />
around you at heights of up to 4,000 feet (1,219 m), you’ll<br />
experience the manmade excitement of the Three Gorges<br />
Dam ship locks. You’ll be amazed by the sheer size of the<br />
dam—the largest in the world—as you sail ever closer to it,<br />
<strong>and</strong> you’ll surely be impressed by the engineering marvel of<br />
the five-stage locks as your ship traverses them.<br />
You’ll enjoy a special Captain’s Farewell Dinner on this final<br />
night of your Yangtze <strong>River</strong> cruise. In the evening, sit back<br />
<strong>and</strong> enjoy or jump in to show off your own talents as the crew<br />
performs a cabaret.<br />
Day 12 | Yichang, fly to Shanghai e b d BB, L, D<br />
Featured Excursion: Three Gorges Dam 6 2 b<br />
Featured <strong>Excursions</strong>: Shanghai city tour, Oriental Pearl TV<br />
Tower, Municipal History Museum visit, <strong>and</strong> Shanghai<br />
Acrobats 8 1 b f m p<br />
Bustling Shanghai is the commercial capital of China, <strong>and</strong><br />
today’s tour will take you to some of this sprawling city’s<br />
most impressive sights. Begin with a stroll through Old<br />
Town—with its teahouses, temples, narrow alleyways, <strong>and</strong><br />
markets—for a taste of historic Shanghai. Then it’s on to the<br />
Bund, Shanghai’s famed waterfront promenade. Built along<br />
the Huangpu <strong>River</strong>, the Bund features exhilarating street life<br />
<strong>and</strong> beautiful architecture; it’s also an ideal spot for taking<br />
pictures of Pudong’s famous skyline. You will then savor a<br />
traditional meal of dim sum for lunch.<br />
Your next stop is the iconic Oriental Pearl TV Tower. One of<br />
the tallest towers in Asia at 1,535 feet (468 m), the Oriental<br />
Pearl TV Tower provides a bird’s-eye view of Shanghai, the<br />
“Pearl of the Orient.” After your elevator ride to the sky-high<br />
observation decks, you’ll have a chance to explore the<br />
Municipal History Museum on the ground floor of the tower.<br />
On your final evening in Shanghai, be dazzled by the<br />
amazing, gravity-defying stunts of the Shanghai Acrobats.<br />
Day 14 | Depart Shanghai b CB/BB<br />
Transfer to the Shanghai Airport for your return fight home,<br />
or continue your tour with an extension to Hong Kong.<br />
China, Tibet & the Yangtze<br />
You’ll begin your day with a visit to the construction site of the<br />
Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric plant.<br />
After more than a decade of construction, the dam body was<br />
finished in 2006 (though the final components of the dam’s<br />
underground power plant are not expected to become fully<br />
operational until <strong>2012</strong>). The Three Gorges Dam harnesses<br />
the power of the mighty Yangtze in order to provide electricity<br />
to ever-growing China. In addition, the dam is designed to<br />
provide relief from the loss of life <strong>and</strong> property previously<br />
caused by frequent flooding in many riverside cities.<br />
You’ll then disembark your ship in Yichang <strong>and</strong> fly to Shanghai.<br />
You’ll transfer to your hotel, where you will enjoy a delicious<br />
dinner.<br />
Note: Order of sightseeing may change throughout the itinerary.<br />
Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to<br />
water levels or other uncontrollable factors.<br />
China, Tibet & the Yangtze<br />
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Tour <strong>and</strong> General Information<br />
Tour <strong>and</strong> General<br />
Information<br />
Frequently Asked Questions<br />
What about the weather?<br />
Prepare for a variety of weather conditions depending on your<br />
travel season <strong>and</strong> the river you will be cruising on. Layering<br />
clothing items is always your best bet, as this allows each<br />
person to adjust to any temperature, including artificially<br />
maintained temperature, by removing or adding items<br />
throughout the day.<br />
What should I wear ashore?<br />
Comfortable, sporty, smart-casual day wear is appropriate<br />
both onshore <strong>and</strong> onboard. For warmer temperatures <strong>and</strong><br />
summer departures, we suggest lightweight clothing that can<br />
be layered, such as a mix of sweaters, lightweight knit shirts,<br />
khakis, slacks, skirts/dresses, <strong>and</strong> walking shorts. For early<br />
spring <strong>and</strong> late fall departures, you’ll find sweatshirts, heavier<br />
cotton or wool tops <strong>and</strong> long-sleeved shirts, <strong>and</strong> corduroy or<br />
heavy khaki pants perfectly suitable. You will engage in a<br />
significant amount of walking over uneven terrain during your<br />
time ashore. We recommend comfortable walking shoes with<br />
good ankle support. Don’t forget to pack a lightweight,<br />
waterproof jacket (preferably hooded) or even a heavierweight<br />
windbreaker for colder temperatures.<br />
I have concerns about my physical ability.<br />
What do I do?<br />
Guests with mobility concerns need to discuss their concerns<br />
with <strong>Uniworld</strong> staff in advance of their departure. Guests<br />
requiring the use of a mobility device, such as a wheelchair,<br />
motorized scooter, or walker, may not be able to participate<br />
in many shore excursions or use them onboard the ships.<br />
Also, guests who are limited in their ability to walk long<br />
distances may also have difficulties as there is often uneven<br />
terrain on many shore excursions.<br />
How accurate are the shore excursion/tour<br />
descriptions?<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> does everything possible to ensure that shore<br />
excursions are performed as promoted <strong>and</strong> as outlined in the<br />
previous pages. In certain circumstances or for reasons beyond<br />
the control of <strong>Uniworld</strong>, it may not be possible or practical for<br />
the excursion to be performed exactly as written. The decision<br />
to not operate, to alter the operation, change content, <strong>and</strong>/or<br />
otherwise adjust or modify any element of the excursion as<br />
advertised is at the sole discretion of <strong>Uniworld</strong>, always taking<br />
into account the safety <strong>and</strong> best interests of the guests, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
intent of the overall product delivery. Any such modifications to<br />
excursions will not result in eligibility for a refund.<br />
Can the itinerary change? What happens if it<br />
does change?<br />
You can count on the value of <strong>Uniworld</strong>’s experience <strong>and</strong><br />
regional knowledge to make sure you enjoy your cruise/tour<br />
even when conditions beyond our control occur. The very<br />
nature of a river, its sources, <strong>and</strong> networks of bridges <strong>and</strong><br />
locks means that there will be times when weather or other<br />
conditions in a region require <strong>Uniworld</strong> to make adjustments<br />
<strong>and</strong> modifications to the operation of an itinerary. Although<br />
every effort is made to keep itineraries as advertised,<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> reserves the right to make changes <strong>and</strong><br />
substitutions as may be necessary to ensure the safety of our<br />
guests <strong>and</strong> the vessels. Itineraries may need to be altered<br />
specifically because of water levels. Time permitting, every<br />
possible effort will be made to alert guests in advance of<br />
boarding of any known changes. Otherwise, all guests will be<br />
informed onboard of changes <strong>and</strong> amendments. Any changes<br />
to itineraries, including the addition of extensive motorcoach<br />
touring to effect delivery of the intended itinerary operation,<br />
will not result in eligibility for a refund.<br />
What time will excursions depart?<br />
On the second day of the l<strong>and</strong> portion of each itinerary the Tour<br />
Manager will brief all guests about what activities will be offered.<br />
All shore excursions are carefully coordinated to the ship’s<br />
daily schedule. Just prior to dinner each evening, or perhaps<br />
earlier, your Tour Manager will brief all guests about what<br />
activities will take place the next day. This briefing includes<br />
information about departure times, specifics about the shore<br />
excursions/tours not covered in this booklet, suggested<br />
shopping <strong>and</strong> restaurant recommendations, <strong>and</strong> other<br />
important information about the port of call. In addition to<br />
the briefing, a daily program will be distributed to each<br />
guest’s stateroom every evening. This program provides a<br />
written overview of all events taking place the next day—<br />
whether onboard or ashore.<br />
How can I book the optional excursions listed in<br />
the booklet?<br />
Reservations for the optional excursions on your cruise can<br />
be made directly with your <strong>Cruise</strong> Manager onboard the ship.<br />
Charges for optional excursions will be added to your onboard<br />
account. On pre- <strong>and</strong> post-cruise extensions, payment for<br />
90 uniworld.com <strong>Uniworld</strong> 91<br />
Tour <strong>and</strong> General Information
Tour <strong>and</strong> General Information<br />
optional excursions will be made directly with your Local Host<br />
via credit cards. We cannot accept cash payments for optional<br />
excursions. A briefing will be held the day prior to go over<br />
any information you may need to make an informed purchase<br />
decision. Operation of optional excursions is subject to a<br />
minimum number of participants. No refunds are available for<br />
any optional excursions canceled by the guest within 24 hours of<br />
the start of the excursion, or if the excursion was pre-purchased.<br />
Does each motorcoach or walking group have its<br />
own tour guide?<br />
Yes. Each motorcoach or walking group has its own Englishspeaking<br />
local tour guide. <strong>Uniworld</strong> tries very hard to ensure<br />
that our guides are of the highest quality, well-versed in their<br />
subjects, <strong>and</strong>, most of all, making sure that you have the best<br />
possible time ashore.<br />
What about tipping?<br />
Gratuities should always be in accordance with each guest’s<br />
personal satisfaction. And <strong>Uniworld</strong> endeavors to work with<br />
the best local guides available. Please refer to the “Gratuities”<br />
section of this book for specific recommendations <strong>and</strong> guidelines.<br />
What is the transportation like on excursions?<br />
<strong>Uniworld</strong> works with some of the world’s best tour companies,<br />
all of which are chosen with exacting st<strong>and</strong>ards in mind.<br />
To ensure your maximum enjoyment of each excursion, all<br />
motorcoaches seat 40 – 45 people <strong>and</strong> are air-conditioned<br />
whenever possible. There are a few destinations where the<br />
equipment may not be of a similar st<strong>and</strong>ard, <strong>and</strong>, in such<br />
cases, the best possible transportation will be arranged.<br />
Rest stops are provided throughout the course of the excursion,<br />
as most motorcoaches used for excursions will not have<br />
onboard toilets.<br />
Is smoking allowed on shore excursions/tours?<br />
Smoking is not allowed while on the motorcoach, <strong>and</strong> many<br />
historical venues now request that visitors not smoke<br />
anywhere on site. We ask all our guests who smoke not to<br />
do so while on excursions/tours.<br />
Responsibility <strong>and</strong> Waiver<br />
The Passenger accepts the terms <strong>and</strong> conditions of the<br />
Passenger Ticket Contract when participating in any organized<br />
shore excursion/tour that is provided by <strong>Uniworld</strong>. Participation<br />
in some shore excursions or tours may also be subject to an<br />
independent operator’s own Terms <strong>and</strong> Conditions.<br />
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<strong>Uniworld</strong> 93
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