FAQs for the OzBus London to New York and London to Beijing trips.
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What different types of transport are used on this trip?

We use a variety of different transport for this trip, ranging from the traditional OzBus bus to trains and cruise liners. We use the same bus - normally a 53 seater, which allows plenty of space - from London until we board the Trans-Siberian Railway in Moscow, use local operators throughout Asia and, after crossing the Bering Sea in the Diamond Princess cruise ship, we cross North America on a series of buses adapted to carry you to the heart of some amazing landscapes. See the FAQs below for more information on each individual leg.

What is the accommodation provided?

We use a variety of accommodation, depending on the region and our travelling situation. Across Europe we predominantly use hostels - usually situated near the heart of the city - which usually have shared rooms for between four and 10 people and usually single sex. It may be possible to upgrade - please contact us for details. On the Trans-Siberian Railway we use second class cabins, stay in a homestead on Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, and spend the night in a Mongolian Ger in Terelj National Park. We use hotels in China, normally twin rooms, and four person cabins on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The crossing of North America sees a mixture of hostels, sleeper bus and camping. See the indvidual sections below for more details.

 

The Trans-Siberian Railway

What are the second class carriages like?

The second class cabins sleep four people. Sheets, pillows and blankets are provided, while the carriages and toilets - one at each end of the carriage - are cleaned several times daily. All carriages are heated and contain storage space for kit and food, although room is limited - day bags are advisable to prevent constantly moving and accessing bags

Can I upgrade to a first class cabin?

Normally yes. Please contact us for more details.

Can I buy food on the train?

Meals, drinks and snacks can be bought in the buffet car and from vendors on the platforms at each stop - at major stations, the trains make scheduled stops for enough time for you to buy from the platform or the shops which line many of them. However, we do recommend you take your own supply of food and storage/eating utensils which can be bought in Russia or the Baltic States before you board. Each carriage has a constant supply of boiling water, suitable for making noodles, soups, cups of tea and coffee etc.

Where will we stay on Olkhon Island and Terelj National Park?

On the island we stay in a locally-run homestead in heated, comfortable, usually twin rooms. Several rooms also have communal living areas in which you can relax. There is also a communal dining room which will supply all your meals during your stay, while there is a small, limited, shop in the village. This is an excellent way to experience the area and to meet the people, plus it helps to put some money back into the local economy. In Terelj National Park in Mongolia we stay in a Ger - a Mongolian Yurt - the traditional home of the nomadic herders of the region. Complete with comfortable beds and a central fire, the Ger normally houses four people with plenty of room to spare.

 

The Cruise on the Diamond Princess

What cabins will we be in?

The cabins will be inside and based on four sharing. They are en suite and you will have a dedicated steward throughout the cruise. Let us know if you wish to upgrade to a twin/outside cabin and we will let you know the cost and availability.

Can I upgrade to a twin cabin?

Normally yes, dependent on availability. Please contact us for more details.

What is included on the boat?

All accommodation and meals are included. The evening meals - normally four courses - are at specific restaurants on board. If you wish to splash out and eat at some of the special restaurants this will be an additional cost and on certain nights there will be a dress code. A food court serves breakfast, lunch and evening meals buffets and is open 24 hours a day with all food and a selection of drinks included.

What is not included?

Alcoholic drinks, any additional purchases, shore excursions - although free shuttle buses are usually laid on from the port to the nearest town - and certain activities on board such as spa treatments, wine tasting or cyber golf. Internet is also charged to your account (see below).

How do I pay for things onboard?

The ship operates a cashless system. All your onboard purchases from the shops, drinks, gifts, activities, pictures, shore excursions etc are all charged to your account - just produce the personal card you will be given on embarkation and sign the receipt. You can pay in cash, travellers cheques or credit card at the end of your cruise, but you will need to register a credit card beforehand. You can request a copy of your current bill at any point during the cruise.

How are tips handled on the cruise?

The cruise company have tried to make it easier by adding a US$10 tip per person, per day to your shipboard account. This makes it easier for budgeting throughout the cruise, but is by no means mandatory. You may visit the purser and have it removed, increased or decreased as you wish. This tip covers the service you receive in the restaurants and that of your steward. Drinks bills will have a 15% automatic gratuity charge added. For guides and/or drivers on shore excursions, we suggest $1 per person for a half-day trip and $2.50 per person for a full day, paid direct at the end of the excursion. Any other tips are at your discretion.

What is the schedule whilst on board?

There is no fixed schedule - it is down to you to do as much or as little as you like while on board. A full programme of events on board, which normally covers activities from breakfast until well into the evening with shows and films, is outlined in the daily newsletter distributed to each cabin overnight. Feel free to take part in as many activities as you like or opt to kick back and relax. The first week on board features five shore days, stopping at Dalian and Qingdao in China, Busan in South Korea, Vladivostock in eastern Russia and Muroran on Hakkaido, Japan's northern island. You can book various excursions and tours in each port or simply catch a free shuttle bus into town. NB: The shore stops are subject to change at the discretion of the cruise company. Princess Cruises are not currently visiting Japan following the 2011 earthquake.

Can I e-mail and send post from the ship?

There is an onboard internet café on board and laptop users can create a wi-fi account. The charges - you buy a pre-payable package - are charged to your shipboard account by the hour. We advise you write all blogs and e-mails offline before logging on to save money. You can send postcards and letters home using the postbox located at the purser's desk. Stamps are available for purchase.

Is there a dress code on the cruise?

In general you will need to be a bit smarter on the cruise than during the rest of the trip. The cruise company ask that you plan to dress as if going to a 'nice restaurant' at home. Inappropriate dinner wear such as pool or beach attire, shorts, casual jeans (with fraying and/or holes) are not permitted in the dining rooms and shoes must be worn. There are a series of formal evenings on board if want to take appropriate evening wear - you can also have some made or buy at an affordable rate in Beijing - but you can still use certain restaurants and bars without going formal.

 

North America and the sleeper bus

What is the sleeper bus like?

The coaches are custom-designed, hand-made and comfortable. Rather than a traditional coach seating layout, the bus has cushioned bench seats towards the front, a pair of tables in the middle and a cushioned area across the width of the coach towards the back. Reading lights and volume controls for the sound system are located throughout the bus and rows of suspended bunks which provide storage for sleeping bags, coats and day bags - main bags are stored in the luggage hold most of the time. When travelling, the layout provides options to sit and watch the world go by, make use of the tables or crash out on the cushioned area.

Do we always sleep on the bus?

No - the North American leg of the journey sees a mixture of hostels, camping and overnight drives. When we drive through the night - enabling us to cover huge mileage and spend as much time as possible enjoying the sights - the bus will be converted into areas for everyone to sleep. On camping nights, you will normally have the option to sleep on the bus or to camp, usually sharing tents under capacity (ie three or four people in six-man tents) with the bus parked alongside the campsite.

Can everyone sleep on the bus lying down?

Yes.There are a selection of sleeping spaces which are not assigned and are usually allocated on a first come first served basis. You should expect to share close quarters with limited privacy and the less kit you carry on board the bus, the more room you will have.

Do I need to have camping experience?

Camping experience is not necessary. The only equipment you are required to bring is a sleeping bag. If you opt not to bring one from home, you can hire or buy one when you reach Alaska (there will be an opportunity to shop in Anchorage). The campsites we visit range from remote and rustic to full service with showers.

Do I have to help out when camping?

Everyone is expected to pitch in when it is time to put up tents, cook meals, clean the campsite or prepare the bus for sleeping or travelling. If everyone works as a team and does their fair share, it allows more time to relax, enjoy excursions or the surrounding countryside, as well as bringing the group together and making it easier on everyone. It can also be good fun.

Can I take a shower every day?

Showers will be available on certain campsites, but you may not always be able to shower daily. There is no shower on the bus. Some developed campsites have full facilities (including laundry), while others will have washing and toilet facilities but no showers. In places no-soap baths (we don't want to pollute the water source with soap!) may be possible in waterfalls, rivers or lakes. Showers are also available on ferries down Alaska's Inside Passage and we will make stops in places which have showers, such as hot springs or pools.

 

Equipment

Do I need a sleeping bag?

Yes - but you will not necessarily need to buy one before leaving. You will be able to hire or buy a sleeping bag for the American section (Anchorage is an ideal place for this) if you want to travel light, but it may be useful elsewhere on the trip (notably in the Ger in Mongolia, depending on the weather and how successfully you man the fire). We recommend a sleeping bag that will keep you warm down to at least -5C as, even in the early summer, nights can turn cold in Alaska.

Will I need any other special equipment?

No. A suggested packing list will be issued with the Information Pack, but a sleeping bag is all you need to think about as special equipment.

 

Visas

What visas will I need?

You will need a visa for Russia, China, Mongolia and the USA. For America, if you are eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver Programme, you can register for an ESTA online which will allows you to stay in the USA for 90 days from first arriving in Alaska. If you intend to travel further and stay longer than 90 days in America, you will need a travel visa - normally valid for up to six months. We cross the American border up to four times and carrying details of your return flight or evidence of the need to come home (job or mortgage details) can ease your passage through immigration. We send more information on how to get your visas with the Information Pack sent three months before departure. You cannot apply for Russia, China and Mongolia visas before this as they are valid for only 90 days from the date of issue.

 

Money

How much extra spending money will I need?

It is up to you - everybody has their own budget, You will need to budget for meals (included are breakfasts - except on the Trans-Siberian Railway - all the meals on the Diamond Princess, at the Ger, on Olkhon Island and several lunches in China), drinks, optional excursions and spending money for souvenirs, tips etc. For meals and drinks we recommend £15-20 per day averaged over the trip. On the Diamond Princess, there are land excursions available and some activities require a fee.

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