COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Information; Relaxed Cancelation & Refund Policy; For the most up-to-date information on suspended sailings click here. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection; Viking River Cruises; . For Further Assistance If you have any questions or need further information please contact Guest Services on 0800 298 97 00, Monday to Friday 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 am - 4pm (closed on bank holidays). People have missed travelingand cruisingand theyre ready to move beyond the fear of catching cruise ship COVID-19. Theyre booking the best cruise lines and eagerly packing for a voyage on the high seas. Viking Health & Safety Program Updated February 6, 2023. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. Viking Cruises has canceled all sailings until at least 2021, the company announced on Wednesday, becoming the latest cruise line to push sailings amid the continuing battle against the. If youre ready to set sail on the high seas, these are some great cruises to book right now. October 1, 2020 December is already known as the most wonderful time of the year, but its about to get a lot better for cruise lovers. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. The situation is evolving, but its essential to know that some lines, like Azamara, still require guests 12 years of age or older to be fully vaccinated to sailthat includes a booster shot, if guests are eligible for one. or activities executed and escorted by Viking-approved tour operators who maintain Viking's level of COVID-19 controls to help limit potential . Viking will test symptomatic guests to confirm presence of COVID-19, if a guest requests a test or if the medical staff determines testing is necessary for treatment. As the leading small ship cruise line with 190-guest river vessels and identical all-veranda 930-guest ocean ships, Viking takes you closer to the heart of the places you want to visit. Choose Viking, the worlds largest and best fleet of deluxe ships built for ocean travel. What Is It Like to Travel to Saudi Arabia. Our fleet of modern, small ocean and river ships feature independent air handling units, which means each stateroom has fresh external air that is not shared with other staterooms or public spaces. The CDC is providing support. Still, the situation isn't anywhere near as dramatic or disruptive as what we saw at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago, when whole ships were being quarantined due to outbreaks of the illness and, eventually, the entire industry shut down. Because individual cruise lines determine their ships' COVID-19-related requirements, your likelihood of catching coronavirus while at sea will depend on the specific ship's guidelines and. River cruises are coming back to Europe this summer. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. particularly from Viking River Cruises and AmaWaterways, has been superb," said John Gawne, an advisor with Cruises Inc. in Virginia Beach, Va. . $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Cruise ships also have had to cancel stops recently at the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaao, and at San Juan, Puerto Rico, due to local worries about COVID-19-positive passengers and crew on board and/or tighter COVID-19-related entry requirements. In other words, you cant eliminate the risk of COVID-19 on a cruise, but you can change your behavior. Plus Ups are excluded. Effective Aug. 1, 2022, we will no longer require guests to complete pre-cruise COVID-19 testing, unless required by local regulations, a spokesperson for the company said. We booked a Viking River Cruise with two other couples a total of six people. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link, Notice to Guests Regarding Advice from US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on COVID-19 and Cruise Ship Travel. The state has not seen the same seasonal workforce it enjoyed before the pandemic, and more jobs in Alaska rely on highly skilled workers with specific licenses for small planes, boats and buses., Even if there are minor staffing issues in select destinations, passenger feedback on Cruise Critic is positive. Older adults and people of any age with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk of severe illness if infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Because individual cruise lines determine their ships COVID-19-related requirements, your likelihood of catching coronavirus while at sea will depend on the specific ships guidelines and restrictions. Developed in coordination with an international team of . If you do go on a cruise during the COVID-19 pandemic: Guests who decide to travel are advised to take the following precautions to protect others for 14 days after their return from a cruise ship voyage: The above warnings and recommendations above are subject to change without notice. If they test negative, they typically are allowed out of their rooms to rejoin the rest of their fellow cruisers on board. Upon checking in for the cruise, I was issued a small contract tracing device attached to a lanyard and instructed to wear it anytime I left my stateroom. Whatever the case, travelers had no choice but to go back to the ship. James Beard Award Finalist in Journalism and award-winning food and travel writer, blogger, book author, social media expert, and culinary travel business owner that is pursuing her passion for food, travel, and experiencing world cultures by working with and sharing the stories of extraordinary destinations and unique culinary artisans around the world. Notably, all 92 cruise vessels currently operating in U.S. waters have recorded at least a handful of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, according to CDC data. All Rights Reserved. . Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. While cruise ships have recorded relatively few cases of COVID-19 over the past year, in part due to unusually strict health protocols, the number of passengers and crew testing positive on ships has been rising sharply in recent weeks along with the greater surge on land. For most travelers, cruise ship travel is voluntary and should be rescheduled for a future date. It took several hours but eventually trustworthy information emerged, confirming that one fully vaccinated, asymptomatic guest had likely tested positive for COVID-19. For what it's worth, more than 80 countries around the world -- including a good chunk of all the places you might want to travel -- are on this list. 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. Nonetheless, like a true warrior, the . Even if you test negative, stay home for the full 7 days. 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? We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. With over 50 riverboats, there are many cruises ships, dates, and itineraries to consider. Review fromElizabeth K. 1 star. The cruise industry is no stranger to staffing issues. Guests must present proof of full vaccination at embarkation and should be prepared to present vaccination documents (original hard copy or electronic) along their journey. If anything, the positivity rate is far lower on ships than on land, thanks to much stricter health protocols (more on that in a moment). July 23, 2020 Plan ahead for sailing along the mighty Mississippi with Viking. On Wednesday, Royal Caribbean . For summer 2022 and into fall, cruising is a value proposition, and so while bookings are not quite at 2019 levels yet, cruise shoppers are taking advantage of these deals., Cruising closer to homeand flying shorter distances, or not at allis also trending in the industry. And our third and final port of call was completely off limits to us. Cruise lines planned a slow, methodical return to cruising, which meant welcoming back just a few ships and itineraries at a timeall with limited capacity on board.. - See 1,280 traveler reviews, 1,000 candid photos, and great deals for Lignan-De-Bordeaux, France, at Tripadvisor. The city's oldest and most elegant hotel still reigns supreme. Viking is bringing its signature Scandinavian style to the U.S., and just released details of its holiday-themed voyages along the Mississippi River. Credits for canceled cruises and pent-up demand meant cruise lines had no trouble filling their ships in 2021. Some passengers who were deemed close contacts of the passengers who tested positive were isolated for a short period while being tested for COVID-19. I was nervous about cruising after 16 months of a largely self-imposed lockdown, but eager to dip my toe back into international waters. Make like Mark Twain on the Mississippi, taste the best of Portugals port wines on the Douro, see the pyramids on the Nile, or go deep into the Mekong Deltaall while enjoying sleek staterooms and regional dining. Most guests remained in good spirits, understanding the risks of traveling amid an ongoing pandemic. For a truly epic river cruise itinerary, it may be worth waiting until June 1, 2023, when AmaWaterways will sail its longest river cruise everthe "Seven River Journey Through Europe.". We recommend our users to update the browser. If your cruise line does not have a specific testing requirement, get tested as close to time of cruise departure as possible (no more than 3 days before you travel). December 11, 2020 Viking Cruises will test all guests and crew for COVID-19 with daily PCR tests when sailings resume, as part of the company's new Viking Health & Safety Program, the cruise line recently announced. We were nearly an hours drive into my first excursion of the daya hiking trip rich in Icelandic folklore about elves, faeries, and trollswhen our tour guide announced that our bus must immediately return to port. Viking Cruises has extended the temporary suspension of its operations until May 31, 2021, due to ongoing travel restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic. - Pre-cruise testing is no longer required. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link. The line clearly followed its protocols to the letter, and did everything in its power to protect its guests and crew. The information included here should be considered current for all guests. 79. Our contact tracing devices were activated, and Viking tracked down any person on board who may have encountered said guests for any meaningful amount of time (determined as 15 or more minutes and within six feet of distance). The 46-night experience will take 144 guests through 14 countries on four different ships. Scrivanich also notes an uptick in last-minute bookings (for sailings within six months), especially in Europe and Alaskano matter the price. Are you requiring that I take a COVID-19 test before traveling to a Viking ship? After an intense exchange in Icelandic, he announced that we were once again being recalled to the shipthis time with a harsh message about violating Icelandic law.. It was smooth sailing for the first half of the trip. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. As the leading small ship cruise line with 190-guest river vessels and identical all-veranda 930-guest ocean ships, Viking takes you closer to the heart of the places you want to visit. Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. On my recent trip to Antarctica, I underwent six COVID-19 tests in just eight days -- three in advance of stepping on board the vessel (including a PCR test required by Chile, where my trip began) and three while on board. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. 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. Discuss cruise ship travel with your healthcare provider. This means that many sailings are going ahead as planned, with little disruption, even when some passengers and crew on the trips test positive for COVID-19. How is the air treated on board Viking ships? 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. Viking Sky cases: 1 fully vaccinated adult; COVID-19 protocol if someone tests positive. Whatever was happening, it wasnt good. The details of the COVID-19 boarding procedures will be provided to guests in an . The reviews from recent cruisers show that onboard service is still stellarratings for crew service remain incredibly high, she says. 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. If you're booked on a cruise in the coming weeks, and you're having second thoughts, there's a good chance you can get out of your trip. 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. Viking's bookings are up more than 40% from the same time in 2019 and guest satisfaction, according to post-cruise surveys, is at least as high as it was pre-pandemic. But youd never guess that based on the state of the cruise industry today. Guests on affected departuresand their travel advisorshave been notified directly. I also witnessed the guest relations staff disinfecting their desks after each passenger transaction. But the positive cases had little impact on most of the passengers on board the vessel, and the voyage went ahead as planned. Should you have additional questions about your voyage, please visit the Viking River Cruises FAQ. Please Note: Guests who have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 1090 days should bring either a physician certificate of recovery or a positive PCR test result from within that time window. So can you still find a deal? I was also impressed by the health and safety measures Viking had instituted since pausing its operations more than a year earlier. Ships with reported cases of coronavirus found on board in 2020 are shown on the live map below LIVE FLEET MAPS : CORONAVIRUS SHIPS: HOSPITAL SHIPS. The Policies and Procedures set out below are in addition to Viking's COVID-19 Terms and Conditions which form Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. I overheard numerous cruisers griping about wearing masks and taking daily PCR tests despite being fully vaccinated, calling the measures excessive; others seemed to appreciate the extra caution. Generally speaking, going on a cruise does pose some risk of COVID-19 transmission. Viking. How frequently do you sanitize public spaces such as the restaurants? Planning a cruise? An ambulance took me to . Please visit the Resources tab in My Viking Journey to see if your country of entry has this requirement. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Adults and crew must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Another large line, Norwegian, just last week extended its pandemic-era Peace of Mind policy to allow passengers to cancel any sailing taking place between now and May 31. While the big-ship cruise lines (carrying 250 or more passengers and crew) have been trying to determine how to deal with coronavirus passenger safety and regulations of individual countries,. The answer is yes. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. Two young unvaccinated passengers on Royal Caribbean cruise test positive for coronavirus. With the discontinuation of the CDCs program, cruise lines are announcing updated COVID-19 protocols. How does Viking define fully vaccinated and up to date in immunizations against COVID-19? For more cruise guides, tips and news, sign up for TPGs cruise newsletter. Citing the growing spread of the new coronavirus, the line late Wednesday said its entire fleet of more than 70 river ships and six ocean ships would stop operating as current sailings come to an end.. All sailings scheduled to start tomorrow through April 30 have been canceled. For 25 years, we have always had the highest standards for health and cleanliness, and our protocol enhancements make Viking even safer. Pricing remained stableno need for the lines to discount faresthroughout the year. Jun 03, 2020 at 4:02 pm. This page contains the most up to date information on conditions that may affect your itinerary. (Surely the jovial attitudes of the exceptionally well-trained staff and 50 percent credit toward future cruises helped.) viking river cruises, inc. general conditions: these are terms and conditions . The number of passengers being quarantined on ships (after testing positive for COVID-19) also is on the rise. Similarly, pools were limited to just four people at a time and whirlpools to only two. Suffice it to say that for now, the Viking cruise experience is alive and well, and Iceland is stunningly beautiful. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Our Viking Health & Safety Program is the same across our fleet of ocean and river vessels. The ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases around the world is causing a growing number of disruptions to itineraries and even some last-minute cancellations of entire voyages.. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Viking, meanwhile, has suspended all of its operations - river and ocean-going cruises - through at least January 2021. Whats more, our temperatures were taken daily at digital kiosks as we entered various venues such as the buffet, which itself is now fully served. Viking Cruises: Viking refusing to refund given COVID risks! or activities executed and escorted by Viking-approved tour operators who maintain Viking's level of COVID-19 controls to help limit potential . If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Here's what it's like on board, according to passengers . (The infected individual would eventually disembark in Reykjavk and move to a shoreside hotel for quarantine.). Plus, a "perfect storm" of soaring COVID-19 cases and rough winter weather has wreaked havoc with airline operations for weeks. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. That may affect your itinerary pent-up demand meant cruise lines and eagerly packing for a period. 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