En route to Hong Kong, China. Arrive on 11-Mar.
Leaving Shanghai
The ship undocked and needed an hour to leave Shanghai and travel down the river to the East China Sea. The sun was setting, so there were some good chances for colorful pictures.
The part of the river nearest the Sea is much more industrial than downtown. Yet the color of one of the cranes leapt out to me.
Exiting the Cooking Class
Across the street from the cooking class is a wedding dress store. I think the gold and white robe is drop-dead gorgeous. I also enjoy that there are cultures that have not totally bought into the “wedding = bride in white flowing dress” Western ideal. In addition: the name “Elfin House” makes me smile.
While the equipment in the teaching kitchen is new, the kitchen is in a rather old building. I visited the bathroom, and discovered the squat toilet. I’ve always heard they can be found in the older areas of Asia and Africa, but have not yet seen one.
Passport Control
All cruise guests have a “key card” that opens our cabin door. It also has written information on the side, including our name, nationality and passport number. With every port we have visited not only do we swipe the key card on the ship’s computer to exit and enter the cruise ship (so the ship can keep track who has not yet returned from touring the port), but we must present the key card to be allowed into the terminal so we can then board the ship.
Some countries require more. For example – as we sailed from Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia an Aussie immigration officer was also on board. Over those two days our passports were examined, and on the morning of docking in Australia everyone met the officer and we placed a green sticker on our key card to indicate our passports have been examined. Thus, the ship kept our actual passports, but our key cards were all that was needed.
Other countries have different processes. Upon docking the Philippines everyone had to march before an infrared camera to ensure no one had a fever (?). Japan had a dozen officers board the ship, complete with computers and fingerprint scanners, and required that everyone carry their actual passports while off the ship. However, we still only needed our key cards to enter the terminal.
China was different. Upon docking everyone had to leave the ship and go thru the passport control in the (still under construction) terminal building, and then directly board the ship again. After that, not only did we need to swipe our key card to exit the ship, but we had to present a certified copy of our passport at the mobile command truck before being allow into the terminal to then walk in Shanghai (The ship kept our actual passports). Upon returning you presented your key card to enter the terminal (like every other port), but then had to show the certified copy of our passport to approach the ship’s gangway, when we then used our key card to enter the ship.
Perhaps the extra rules will change once the actual cruise ship terminal is complete. But China was by far the most strict.