When we boarded the Viking Sky in Reykjavik, Iceland, little did we know that a suspected case of COVID-19 would be joining us. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. We have approached our fleets full return with the safety of guests, crew members and the communities we visit top of mind.. While health authorities no longer are quarantining whole ships when a few passengers or crew test positive for COVID-19, the presence of the illness on board a vessel still could result in notable disruptions to your itinerary. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. April 5, 2020 As with other travel entities turning to web-based content during COVID-19 related cancellations, Viking Cruises has set a new course with the launch of Viking.TV. The CDC cautions that any travel poses a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, including travel by air, bus or train, automobiles, and cruises. How frequently do you sanitize my stateroom? (Based on an honor system, that last one is more performative than scientific.). Please visit the Resources tab in My Viking Journey to see if your country of entry has this requirement. As the CDC states, the virus spreads easily in close quarters on ships, and passengers and crew are all at risk. I have 7 months before my ocean cruise. In Akureyri, I explored at my own paceogling the pastel blooms in Lystigarurinn, the worlds northernmost botanical garden, and the pop realist works of Icelandic artist Err at the Akureyri Art Museum. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Developed in coordination with an international team of . Related: Will I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? On Viking river cruises, meals are offered in the formal dining room or on the Aquavit Terrace, which has al fresco dining. This is a level of surveillance that is much greater than what is the norm for other travel venues such as land-based resorts or theme parks, and it can give the false impression that the positivity rate for COVID-19 on ships is unusually high as compared to other places. The reviews from recent cruisers show that onboard service is still stellarratings for crew service remain incredibly high, she says. The current protocol on most ships is to quickly isolate COVID-19-positive passengers and their close contacts. Get up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before cruise ship travel. Since this is Viking, where experiences are everything, youll learn the secrets to fine Port wine-blending at a quinta, and taste wine and popular regional delicacies, like bola de carne, an irresistible bread filled with a combination of meats and smoked sausage. Health authorities no longer are quarantining whole ships when a few -- or even a lot -- of passengers and crew test positive for COVID-19. One hand hadnt talked to the other, or they were speaking different languages, or simply couldnt agree on whose authority reigned supreme. Tubes are provided to each cabin in the evening, and stewards conveniently take them to the lab the next morning on every guests behalf. Meanwhile, just getting to ships is becoming increasingly stressful, as getting the pre-cruise COVID-19 test that's often required before cruising is getting more difficult. In November of 2020, Viking cancelled the Jan 2021 cruise and offered all travelers a 125% refund toward a future booking or a full refund. 210515 covid-19 privacy notice us uk (ver.1) page 1 of 4 cst2052644-40 covid-19 privacy notice viking river cruises, inc., and viking river cruises uk limited what is the purpose & scope of this document? Viking Sky cases: 1 fully vaccinated adult; COVID-19 protocol if someone tests positive. Anecdotal reports are that the number of cases on ships is up even more in the first 10 days of the new year. Other lines canceling one or more sailings in recent days include Holland America, Silversea, Atlas Ocean Voyages, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises and Oceania Cruises. While Viking has also launched an award-winning ocean cruise line, the company built its reputation in river cruising. Its culturally-focused content will feature appearances by the Viking executives and crew and subjects relating to its at-sail and at port ventures, plus live video of happenings from around the world. If the recent advisory or relaxed policies do not cover your cruise please refer to these Cancelation Policies and General Conditions, Rules & Regulations. I also witnessed the guest relations staff disinfecting their desks after each passenger transaction. Cruise passengers are at increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Cruises are no exception, and. Viking has taken the pandemic seriously. 2023 Cond Nast. Viking Mississippi - As of January 23, 2023 Due to damage from substantial river debris to the Viking Mississippi 's propulsion system, the ship will undergo repairs requiring the cancellation of upcoming departures. We have also seen a surge in bookings, with June showing our highest booking levels for Alaska cruises since early 2020, she says. Just like the cancellations of airline flights to Asian and European countries, travelers with reservations on several cruise lines may be worried by the growing spread of COVID-19, the disease. Our guide received an emergency phone call from his boss. You can't cancel your trip at . Additionally, some countries may require a booster. I was nervous about cruising after 16 months of a largely self-imposed lockdown, but eager to dip my toe back into international waters. How is the air treated on board Viking ships? or Vikings River-cruising vessels. This digital library, created by the river and ocean cruise company, will showcase experiential programming that Viking guests have access to onboard their respective cruises, on deck levels or their cabin TV. RELATED: Unvaccinated People Will Be Barred From This, Starting Feb. 28. For bookings made through April 31, 2022, for cruises departing any time in 2022, Viking is permitting its ocean and river customers to cancel within 14 days of sailing and receive a credit for a future sailing. Virgin Voyages Cruise terminals are bustling with excited passengers, and cheery crew members welcome voyagers aboard. Still, the Iceland Coast Guard told Viking Sky to leave Seydisfjrdur. The total cost was $15,599,. A line-by-line guide, added cruise ships to its list of "Level 4" destinations, A beginners guide to picking a cruise line, The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship, The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship, A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines, 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The companys first custom vessel, Viking Mississippi, makes its debut in August 2022, though with many of its first voyages sold out, Viking has made additional 2023 sailings available for booking now. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link. Holland America Line visits 225 ports in 91 countries on sailings that are round trip from U.S. ports, including Boston, Fort Lauderdale, San Diego or Seattle. Speaking from firsthand experience, I can tell you that cruise lines are ready to spring into action if someone exhibits symptoms or tests positive while sailing. Iceland Courtesy Viking Cruises Cruise A Vaccinated Passenger Tested Positive for COVID-19 on My Icelandic CruiseHere's What Happened Cruise lines are going to extreme measures to make. For information about your specific voyage, please log onto MyVikingJourney.com. The CDC currently advises that travel to some 189 countries presents a very high risk in addition to cruises. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Credit card showdown: Capital One Venture vs. Capital One Venture X, JetBlue adds 3 new NYC-area routes as Northeast Alliance hangs in the balance, It's back: Best-ever bonus of 70,000 miles on the Alaska Airlines Business card, Thrills for all ages: 6 best rides at Universal Studios Hollywood. Just like in a hospital, we have also designed a solution to implement short-wavelength ultraviolet (or UV-C) lights and new high-density filters that will sanitize the air on our vessels. Viking recommends that guests wear masks while ashore. July 23, 2020 Plan ahead for sailing along the mighty Mississippi with Viking. The Risk-Free Guarantee allows guests to change their cruise date up until 14 days before their planned departureand Viking will waive any fees. When crew test positive, they and their close contacts must stop working and isolate, even if asymptomatic, leaving shipboard venues short-staffed. This solution will ensure that: Yes, our Travel Protection Plan helps protect you from many unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, which could include necessary medical, quarantine or repatriation expenses related to COVID-19. Riviera River Cruises, which operates throughout Europe, says it will . This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Enrollment required. particularly from Viking River Cruises and AmaWaterways, has been superb," said John Gawne, an advisor with Cruises Inc. in Virginia Beach, Va. . Viking Health & Safety Program Below is a list of frequently asked questions related to the Viking Health & Safety Program. Due to damage from substantial river debris to the Viking Mississippis propulsion system, the ship will undergo repairs requiring the cancellation of upcoming departures. The health agency reported that. We called customer service the very next day on March 12th at 1:35pm. Individual cruise lines will determine their own specific COVID-19-related requirements for cruise travel, as well as safety measures and protocols for passengers traveling on board, based on CDC recommendations for reducing the risk of COVID-19, Reed says. For added protection, Viking strongly recommends that guests be up to date with their immunizations. Developed in coordination with an international team of scientific and medical advisors, the Viking Health & Safety Programme is one of the most well-researched and comprehensive COVID-19 prevention and mitigation plans in the travel industry. For starters, there are the vaccine mandates noted above. But only the COVID-19-positive passengers are being isolated long term. GRAND PRINCESS. We cancelled a Holland tulips river cruise scheduled for April 4 days before their "new cancellation" policy and were told that it would not apply to us. And arise it did. Theres a higher level of comfort around taking a cruise than there is flying on an airplane, staying at a hotel, going to an indoor concert, attending an indoor house party and dining in an indoor restaurant, she says. When I wasnt hoofing it through port towns, I was making reservations for the ships thermal spa and fitness centeressential due to COVID caps on group gatherings. For Further Assistance If you have any questions or need further information please contact Reservations at 1-877-523-0579 or email customerrelations@vikingcruises.com, Monday - Friday, 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, PT. And with that, our vacation was over. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on a recently concluded Viking Cruises' voyage. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. As noted above, health authorities no longer are quarantining whole ships when a few -- or even a lot -- of passengers and crew test positive for COVID-19. Also awaiting me: empty tubes for daily PCR testing. Viking has suspended operations through at least March 31, 2021, according to the company -- more than a year after the cruise line first cancelled sailings on March 11, 2020. Should the destination where the ship is located require those who test positive be disembarkedor should guest choose to isolate ashoreViking will help the guest arrange accommodations to recover ashore and help coordinate their travel home. The CDC is providing support. Viking had already operated two Welcome Back circumnavigations of the island nation with zero incidents, and we anticipated the same. Celebrity Cruises from Florida and Viking Cruises from Iceland since June 12. Whatever the case, travelers had no choice but to go back to the ship. Even with these painstaking measures in place, who calls the shots and what shots are called can change by the minute. Still, it's important to note that most of these "cases" of COVID-19 are asymptomatic or mild, only discovered during routine testing. The number of passengers being quarantined on ships (after testing positive for COVID-19) also is on the rise. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. To ensure your journey is smooth and that you are able to fully enjoy your voyage as planned, we highly recommend that all guests take a pre-departure COVID-19 test, no more than three days prior to beginning your journey. In March of 2020, Viking offered all travelers that they could rebook to a later date due to COVID, which we did for Jan 2021. Wear a mask to keep your nose and mouth covered when you are in shared spaces, including when using public transportation. On Dec. 30, the CDC added cruise ships to its list of "Level 4" destinations you should avoid visiting for now due to high levels of COVID-19. Take cruise giant Carnival Cruise Line. Celebrity Cruises this month became the first major cruise line to operate a sailing in the Caribbean since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and several other major lines including Royal Caribbean are in the midst of starting back up in the Caribbean, too.. A growing number of cruise ships also are restarting operations in Europe and . Cruise lines are reporting that the vast majority of passengers testing positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. TPG values it at $1,600. The person was sequestered in a designated part of the ship, along with a second potentially positive case, and instructed to remain in isolation for the duration of the voyage. And of those who have cruised within the past six months, 87% say they felt safe on board.. Meanwhile, passengers are asked to carry a small (slightly larger than a quarter) contact tracing device to be ready for the possibility of a case arising. 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