Hong Kong Ferry North Point and Kwun Tong

The ferry schedules can be found below.  Need to figure out what time to board cruise ship.

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/hongkong/transportation/ferry2.htm

The Fortune Ferry (Chinese: 富裕小輪) still provides a regular service between Kwun Tong and North Point every half hour. Foot passenger fare HK$5, bicycles $5.50; the journey time is approximately 12 minutes.

From here, hire a taxi to get to Kai Tek cruise port.

Ferry to Macau

Macau Ferry Info - to and from Hong Kong

EMBARKATION / DISEMBARKATION TERMINALS

Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal

3/F Shun Tak Centre, 200 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan

fares and schedule

http://www.turbojet.com.hk/en/routing-sailing-schedule/hong-kong-macau/sailing-schedule-fares.aspx

FARES (in HKD)

	HONG KONG    MACAU    HONG KONG
	ECON. Class	ECON. Class
DAY SERVICE (Weekdays)	$ 159	$ 148
DAY SERVICE (Weekends & Holidays)	$ 172	$ 161
NIGHT SERVICE (Weekdays, Weekends & Holidays)	$ 195	$ 184

Hong Kong Island Tour

Service provider: SSITS
Departure time:  9:20 am on Wed Mar 5, 2014
Details:  meet in hotel lobby and join tour to Victoria Peak, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Fishing Village, Stanley Market and a Jewelry factory.

Would be interested to note where the final stop is and whether we can leave the tour to spend the rest of the afternoon on our own.

Googled SSITS in Hong Kong:  Shanghai Spring International Travel Service
http://www.at0086.com/SSITS/

Hong Kong hotel Harbour Grand hotel

The Harbour Grand Hotel is  situated in the North Point/Causeway Bay area and is a short walk to the Fortress Hill MTR  station.  This hotel is not far from the Metropark Hotel that we stayed in during 2007.

In the map above, one can see the location of the hotel and it's proximity to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal just across Kowloon bay.

Internet access is NOT free at this hotel.   The best and closest wifi hotspot is the Hong Kong central library.
http://www.hongkongshuttle.com/free-wifi-in-hong-kong/

Here is the connection info that is posted on the hong kong government wifi website
http://www.gov.hk/en/theme/wifi/guide/

How to use free GovWiFi service

Visit a government venue where GovWiFiservice is provided (these premises will have GovWiFisignage signage posted, the GovWiFi Locator can help you to locate these premises).
Turn on a Wi-Fi enabled mobile device that is compatible with IEEE 802.11 b/g/n standards.
Establish your Wi-Fi connection (for details, please see Setup Guides).

To use unencrypted connection,
Set the Network ID (SSID) to "freegovwifi" and click "Connect";

To use encrpyted connection,
Set the Network ID (SSID) to "freegovwifi-e" and click "Connect";

Input user name: "govwifi" and password: "govwifi".
(Refer Setup Guides for detail configuration procedures of specific operation systems)
Open your web browser and accept "Conditions of Use and Disclaimers".
Start free surfing.

Hong Kong Schedule and Locations

Will be staying four nights in Hong Kong.

Tue Mar 4:  flight arrives from YYZ at 6:00 am, clear customs, fetch luggage, transit to Harbour Grand, drop off luggage - too early for check in?, grab breakfast - remainder of the day for sightseeing,  check in hotel later, nap, go back out in evening?  peak at night?  - on Hong Kong side?

Wed Mar 5:  sleep in, or when does half day city tour start?  grab early dinner and then evening sightseeing, take ferry to tsimtsatsui?  night markets? - on Kowloon side?

Thu Mar 6:  check out of  Harbour Grand hotel,  arrange to leave extra luggage with hotel until return, transit to airport for 13:00 pm flight to Shanghai.  Do we need to meet with tour rep or group in Hong Kong airport?

* * *

Fri Mar 14:  flight arrives from Shanghai at approx 16:00 pm, clear customs, fetch luggage, transit to Harbor Grand, check in,  head over to tai koo shing for dinner and shopping (uniqlo)? - on Hong Kong side?

Sat Mar 15:  full day - head to Macau?

Sun Mar 16: check out of hotel, take ferry to Kai Tak cruise port, board Celebrity Millennium, still in dock, so eat lunch onboard and go back out until dinner time.  what time do we have to be back onboard? - on Kowloon side

Mon Mar 17:  In port during the day, but need to be onboard before 8 pm sailing.  What's the plan for the day?

* * *

Mon Mar 31: flight from SIN arrives at  approx 17:00 pm, clear customs, fetch luggage, share taxi to Harbour 8 degrees, check in, then dinner, early sleep?

Tue Apr 01: flight for YYZ departs at 17:00 pm, arrange late checkout of hotel, share taxi to airport?

Key Locations

The Hong Kong airport is located on Lantau island.
http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/index.html

The new Kai Tak cruise terminal is located on kowloon bay where the previous airport used to be situated.
http://www.kaitakcruiseterminal.com.hk/

The Harbour Grand hotel is located in North Point near Causeway Bay.
http://www.harbourgrand.com/hongkong/causeway-bay-,location-en.html

HARBOUR GRAND HONG KONG
MTR Fortress Hill Station Exit A,
23 Oil Street,
North Point, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2121 2688
hghk@harbourgrand.com

Getting There - Cathay Pacific Premium Economy

Here's a look at the Seat map of the Boeing 777-300ER (77G) airplane.  There are 32 Premium Economy seats aboard this aircraft.  (Image courtesy of seatguru.com).

      Seating detailsSeat map key

		Pitch	Width	Seating details
	Business	82	21	40 flat bed seats
	Premium Economy	38.0	19.5	32 standard seats
	Economy	32.0	18.5	268 standard seats

Comparing the Premium Economy to Economy seating, there isn't a large difference in seat width, but there's definitely 6 more inches of legroom, which is beneficial for long haul flights to Asia.  Other benefits include dedicated check-in counters and priority boarding, increased baggage allowance and comfort amenities.

Here's what Cathay Pacific has to say about their new Premium Economy seat offering.  http://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_CA/travel-information/inflight/travel-classes/premium-economy-class/premium-economy-class.html

Shanghai Tourist Spots

Here are the distances to the major tourist spots in the Shanghai vicinity.  Really want to see the Bund at night but not sure what time we get to Shanghai and  if the hotel is near enough for a visit.

Nexus Holidays New Jiangnan 9 Days tour

This tour originates in Shanghai China.  A Nexus Holidays tour guide will be at the airport to meet and greet. Hotels listed here have not been finalised, therefore may be subject to change.

Day 1 - Thu 06 Mar - Shanghai
PM:  Transfer from Pudong airport to hotel.
Shanghai Wyndham Hotel - 25 Ningguo Road, Yangpu District Shanghai
http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/china/shanghai/wyndham-bund-east-shanghai/hotel-overview

Day 2 - Fri  07 Mar
Gusu Jinjiang Tower Hotel - 77 Shihu Road, Suzhou
http://www.jinjianghotels.com/hotel/accommodation/590
http://www.vhotel.org/Hotels-11477.html

Day 3 - Sat 08 Mar
Xizhou Hotel - 68 Er Chaun Zhong Road, Xishan District Wuxi
http://www.xizhougardenhotel.cn/en/aboutus.asp

Day 4 - Sun 09 Mar
Wuxi Shanse Hotel - Jiuhuashan Wuxi Shanse Tourist resort
http://www.vhotel.org/Hotels-25244.html

Day 5 - Mon 10 Mar
Junrui Baihe Hotel - 55 Qiyun Road, Tunxi, Huangshan
http://www.vhotel.org/Hotels-13354.html

Day 6 -  Tue 11 Mar
Junrui Baihe Hotel - 55 Qiyun Road, Tunxi, Huangshan

Day 7 - Wed 12 Mar
Hangzhou Braim Canal Hotel - 58 Jinhua Road, Gongshu District, Hangzhou
http://www.vhotel.org/Hotels-9104.html

Day 8 - Thu 13 Mar-  Hangzhou/Shanghai
AM: Hangzhou - Tea Garden
PM: Shanghai
Evening: Shanghai Acrobat show
Shanghai Wyndham Hotel - 25 Ningguo Road, Yangpu District Shanghai

Day 9 - Fri 14 Mar:  Shanghai
AM:  Transfer from hotel to airport

Important Dates

Here's a look at the dates and milestones.

Trip Planning for 2014

This trip flies direct via Cathay Pacific and includes a 4 night stay at the 5 star Harbour Grand Hotel in Hong Kong.  To sweeten the deal, a 9 day air, hotel and meals inclusive China shopping excursion is thrown in.  It originates in Shanghai and visits the scenic Mount Jiuhua and the legendary Yellow Mountains known as Huangshan.  Other freebies include a $250 HKD Octopus card, to be used on the Hong Kong Metro, a half day city tour of Hong Kong, a 5 day tourist Sim card for your smartphone, and a Menchies frozen yogurt gift certficate.

Travel in March 2014.   Booking is handled through The First Travel agency in First Markham Place.