Having done research at home and hearing that it's a total chaotic embarkation, it was absolutely fine. We were getting on quantum of the seas with royal Caribbean. Last day of golden week. Be careful travelling into china during this time, a lot of brits got caught up in the change of 144 hr visa restrictions on arrival at Beijing airport. It's 2.5 hours drive from Beijing. It was all well organised and as long as you followed the instructions, all easy. We were on board with an hour of arriving. Any ladies not familiar with the conveniences in China, pic below. I'd done loads of research before our Asia adventure trip and had no idea! The terminal is spotless clean and all the staff very friendly and helpful.

Don’t make the most common mistake and think the cruise terminal is close to Beijing , it’s not. The major city is Tianjin and if you are flying international your airport is Tianjin not Beijing. It has flight from AUS and US as well as Europe. It’s a. Beautiful terminal but don’t expect conveniences of popping outside for Starbucks or kfc, there is a snack bar inside and a noodle bar. Your deep in China so English is not the first language so be patient and be ready, don’t whine that they don’t understand you their market is not westerners it’s Chinese so go with the flow and if your not careful you might learn something. Ge5 your own transport organised to get back to the airport or hotel and again Tianjin is the place to fly into and stay at a hotel. If your coming from Beijing then maybe come the night before. One more thing, there will be lines and some pushing, be ready, your in somebody else’s country, Chinese are not rude they have their own culture and we are guests.