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. 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. Guests on affected departuresand their travel advisorshave been notified directly. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. If you get sick with symptoms of COVID-19, stay in your cabin and notify the onboard medical center immediately. April 5, 2020 Vikings long-awaited entry into the domestic river cruise market will bring not only a new player but also a whole new type of sailing experience. The total cost was $15,599,. All rights reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. For now, the cancellation needs to be done by Jan. 31, and the refund would come in the form of a future cruise credit to be used on any sailing that embarks through Dec. 31. . (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=38cf8a01-c7b4-4a61-a61b-8c0be6528f20&cid=877050e7-52c9-4c33-a20b-d8301a08f96d'; cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: "38cf8a01-c7b4-4a61-a61b-8c0be6528f20" }).render("6ea159e3e44940909b49c98e320201e2"); }); During the pause, we worked to carry out protocols that helped make cruising among the safest forms of travel today, and we offered guests a worry-free promise so they could feel confident booking a cruise, knowing they would be covered if their plans changed, says Beth Bodensteiner, senior vice president and chief commercial officer for Holland America Line. The crew scrambled to refund cancelled excursions while adding new lectures and movie screenings to what was now effectively a sea day program. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. 877-66-VIKING. Contact. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. If the trip cost $5,000, the premium would be closer to $500. Read the full article > Cruise Fever: Viking.TV Hosting Astronauts This Week for Space Week Discussions RELATED: Unvaccinated People Will Be Barred From This, Starting Feb. 28. Similarly, pools were limited to just four people at a time and whirlpools to only two. What happens if a guest tests positive for COVID-19 while on their Viking cruise? The line clearly followed its protocols to the letter, and did everything in its power to protect its guests and crew. Do not board a cruise if you are sick, if you know you have COVID-19, or if you were exposed to a person with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. Here's a look at everything you need to know if you've got a cruise booked in the coming weeks -- or further out. Guests on affected departuresand their travel advisorshave been notified directly. Two young unvaccinated passengers on Royal Caribbean cruise test positive for coronavirus. That said, the option to spend your time outdoors versus inside the ship gives you the ability to somewhat lower your risk compared with, say, air travel. The bright return of holiday river cruising in 2021, heralded as the year the European Christmas markets would return, has dimmed even further as the German states of Bavaria and Saxony have also. The details of the COVID-19 boarding procedures will be provided to guests in an . Viking Cruises has extended the temporary suspension of its operations until May 31, 2021, due to ongoing travel restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic. 10405 COVID-19 Policies and Procedures (Ver.1) Page 1 of 3 CST0544-40 . 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. The guest tested positive twice, but all contacts were negative. The current protocol on most ships is to isolate COVID-19-positive passengers and crew but otherwise continue on with voyages as planned. It was still complimentary, but temporarily serving guests by appointment only to limit capacity. (Viking River Cruises) Viking River Cruises is refusing to issue a total refund after canceling . The rates start at $25,999 per person. Hey, whats another year of dreaming? This was to be my wife's birthday cruise for her 60th birthday. Many cruise ships were docked in ports, while others sat idle at sea. 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. The next days itinerary had us docking in Djpivogur, an even smaller hamlet than Seydisfjrdur, so you can imagine our surprise when guests were told that most shore excursions would move ahead as planned. 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. The CDC currently advises that travel to some 189 countries presents a very high risk in addition to cruises. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA | Telephone:(201) 902-2000, What it Was Like Navigating Two Cruises COVID-19 Policies and Protocols, A Guide to the Ocean Cruises Leaving From the U.S. 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). Vikings policy is that close contacts who are fully vaccinated do not have to quarantine. (Proof of a positive test result is required.). (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Take, for instance, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., the parent company for Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 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. Learn more. General information will be listed below, with details of any affected departures. Face coverings are also still required indoors while moving about the ship, in elevators and on tour buses. A 55-year-old traveler on a $1,000 cruise for seven days might pay just over $100 for CFAR insurance. 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. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link. 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. Lines also are dealing with a small but growing number of destinations -- India and Hong Kong, for example -- that are at least temporarily closing to cruising completely, even for ships where no one has tested positive for COVID-19. The new rule, which was first announced on Jan. 5, states that travelers must provide proof of the supplemental shot to board ships at embarkation. This creates an onboard population that is far less likely to experience serious symptoms of COVID-19 than a cross-section of people on land, according to CDC data. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. Less convenient, however, is the thermal suite at the spa. You can also avoid crowded areas to limit your exposure even further. Yet we were still subject to the Icelandic authorities, and thats the cautionary tale here. If a threshold of COVID-19 is detected on board the ship, the voyage will be ended immediately, and the ship will return to the port of embarkation. Things are getting iffy again for cruisers -- at least for those with near-term bookings. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. With the cost and recent challenges with air travel, we are seeing strong interest in cruises that are a short flight or drive from guests homes, Bodensteiner tells us. The reviews from recent cruisers show that onboard service is still stellarratings for crew service remain incredibly high, she says. 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. Nonetheless, like a true warrior, the company stepped up to the challenge. Cruise lines also are testing all crew members regularly. And its backing that up with action: As of July 18, 2022, the CDCs COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships is no longer in effect. As it turns out, perhaps the most crucial measures for our sailing were daily testing and contact tracing. Theres also an increase with guests booking smaller, luxury cruises, she says. The CDC regularly issues travel advisories concerning risks associated with COVID-19. or Vikings River-cruising vessels. In addition to requiring all guests and crew be fully vaccinated before setting foot on board the 930-passenger Viking Sky, the cruise line implemented a robust contact tracing system, daily PCR testing in a dedicated en-ship laboratory, new ventilation technology and a UVC disinfection robot, plus mask mandates and other social distancing protocols (including reduced guest capacity for its first few runs). Ad Choices. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Also awaiting me: empty tubes for daily PCR testing. That means you could call the line right now to back out of a cruise that is just days away. Plus Ups are excluded. Two years ago, the pandemic sent the cruise industry into a tailspin. Viking While the Delta variant of Covid-19 continues to swirl, many travel companies are cautiously churning back to business, albeit with modified protocols. WESTERDAM. Viking Cruises: Viking Coronavirus cancellation policy - See 1,259 traveler reviews, 998 candid photos, and great deals for Lignan-De-Bordeaux, France, at Tripadvisor. 10511 covid-19 policies and procedures (us) page 1 of 3 cst0544-40 covid-19 policies and procedures (international voyages) viking river cruises, inc., d/b/a viking cruises, viking ocean cruises & viking expeditions ("viking") important notice for our us and canadian guestsplease read carefully: the following As of March 11, Viking River Cruises is temporarily suspending operations of all cruises taking place between March 12 and June 30. Sure, you might see the ships crew donning face masks, along with a few passengers. USNS MERCY. Of course, if you do test positive for COVID-19 on a ship, you will, unfortunately, face what could be several days of isolation in a cabin on a ship or on land. One hand hadnt talked to the other, or they were speaking different languages, or simply couldnt agree on whose authority reigned supreme. 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. Here's what it's like on board, according to passengers . Travelers, it seems, are simply happy to be sailing once again. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Find out if you need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise and when each cruise line plans to sail again. Health authorities no longer are quarantining whole ships when a few -- or even a lot -- of passengers and crew test positive for COVID-19. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection; Viking River Cruises; . . For 25 years, we have always had the highest standards for health and cleanliness, and our protocol enhancements make Viking even safer. Can I explore the cities/towns we will visit independently while on my cruise? If you do go on a cruise during the COVID-19 pandemic: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/covid-4/coronavirus-cruise-ship. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. The city's oldest and most elegant hotel still reigns supreme. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link. 99.99% of viruses and bacteria in the air are killed. Learn more. Before leaving the United States, I completed a third-party verification of my vaccination status via VeriFLY, obtained my mandatory pre-registration barcode through the Icelandic government, and took a health survey issued by Viking. Upon their return home, Viking Customer Relations will contact the guest and their travel advisor directly regarding any necessary refunding or rescheduling. 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. So the cruise lines are delivering an experience that is meeting or exceeding expectations.. 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. Scrivanichs clients are also pleased with what they find on board the ships. Cond Nast Traveler does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 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.. Cruisers should stay informed via their travel agent of what to expect when they travel., Reed suggests going straight to the source for COVID-19-related cruise advice. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. To some 189 countries presents a very high risk in addition to Cruises 1 of CST0544-40. Passengers and crew but otherwise continue on with voyages as planned the guest tested positive twice but. For her 60th birthday the premium would be closer to $ 500 are killed at this time, we always... Power to protect its guests and crew line right now to back of... On board the ships crew donning face masks, along with a few passengers complimentary... 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