or activities executed and escorted by Viking-approved tour operators who maintain Viking's level of COVID-19 controls to help limit potential . 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). Nonetheless, the last three of our port visits were impacted. This was to be my wife's birthday cruise for her 60th birthday. A river cruise restart this summer is being tested by a new EU advisory regarding U.S. travelers, specifically in the Netherlands, which is now subjecting vaccinated travelers to a 10-day. Only one Viking passenger, a British woman on a river cruise in Cambodia, has contracted the . Viking is the first cruise line to have a full testing laboratory onboard each of its ocean ships, and guests must spit into a tube every morning to receive a non-invasive molecular COVID-19 test. 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. 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.". You can also avoid crowded areas to limit your exposure even further. For 25 years, we have always had the highest standards for health and cleanliness, and our protocol enhancements make Viking even safer. COVID-19 is known to spread through the air. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. 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. Health authorities no longer are quarantining whole ships when a few -- or even a lot -- of passengers and crew test positive for COVID-19. If a destination requires masks be worn, onboard staff and local guides will confirm the local requirements. 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. When we boarded the Viking Sky in Reykjavik, Iceland, little did we know that a suspected case of COVID-19 would be joining us. According to Scrivanich, cruise lines are currently sailing between 70% and 100% capacity, depending on the destination. If they test negative, they typically are allowed out of their rooms to rejoin the rest of their fellow cruisers on board. 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. This includes both its river cruises and . cruise tour through viking river cruises, inc., d/b/a viking cruises, viking ocean cruises and viking expeditions ("vr"). With the discontinuation of the CDCs program, cruise lines are announcing updated COVID-19 protocols. Does Vikings Travel Protection Plan cover COVID-19 costs (e.g., medical treatment, quarantine, repatriation, etc.)? COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Information; Relaxed Cancelation & Refund Policy; For the most up-to-date information on suspended sailings click here. As the leading small ship travel company, Viking takes you closer to the heart of the places you want to visit. 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. And with that, our vacation was over. 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. 10405 COVID-19 Policies and Procedures (Ver.1) Page 1 of 3 CST0544-40 . Are Viking guests required to be vaccinated? 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. The number of passengers being quarantined on ships (after testing positive for COVID-19) also is on the rise. The decision by the CDC to raise the travel level for cruise is particularly perplexing considering that cases identified on cruise ships consistently make up a very slim minority of the total population onboard far fewer than on land and the majority of those cases are asymptomatic or mild in nature, posing little to no burden on medical resources onboard or onshore, the main trade group for the industry, the Cruise Lines International Association, said in a statement to TPG. Things are getting iffy again for cruisers -- at least for those with near-term bookings. The world's largest cruise operator Royal Caribbean on Friday canceled soon-to-depart sailings on four of its 25 ships, including the next three departures of the world's largest ship, Symphony of the Seas. You can't cancel your trip at . Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Viking. Guests on affected departuresand their travel advisorshave been notified directly. A 55-year-old traveler on a $1,000 cruise for seven days might pay just over $100 for CFAR insurance. particularly from Viking River Cruises and AmaWaterways, has been superb," said John Gawne, an advisor with Cruises Inc. in Virginia Beach, Va. . 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. COVID-19 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES . Upon their return home, Viking Customer Relations will contact the guest and their travel advisor directly regarding any necessary refunding or rescheduling. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. If the trip cost $5,000, the premium would be closer to $500. Tubes are provided to each cabin in the evening, and stewards conveniently take them to the lab the next morning on every guests behalf. 2 104 COVID-19 Policies and Procedures US (Ver.1) Page 1 of 3 CST0544-40 . 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. www.vikingrivercruises.com. Face masks are optional while moving about the ship. Things are getting iffy again for cruisers -- at least for those with near-term bookings. 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. Theres also an increase with guests booking smaller, luxury cruises, she says. 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. For most travelers, cruise ship travel is voluntary and should be rescheduled for a future date. Less convenient, however, is the thermal suite at the spa. Every stateroom is cleaned and sanitized daily. September 1, 2020 Youd be hard-pressed to find a renowned river that Viking doesnt ply. For information about your specific voyage, please log onto MyVikingJourney.com. Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas has also had to make itinerary changes, including canceling port calls, due to at least 55 cases of coronavirus on board. Will I be required to wear a face mask when going ashore? Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. The crew scrambled to refund cancelled excursions while adding new lectures and movie screenings to what was now effectively a sea day program. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. Riviera River Cruises, which operates throughout Europe, says it will . There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. The CDC cautions that any travel poses a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, including travel by air, bus or train, automobiles, and cruises. Passengers are also able to cancel if they test positive for COVID-19. Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not. 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. Cruise giant Viking is suspending operations around the world, effective immediately.. Will I be required to wear a face mask while on board? We are the most knowledgeable, experienced cruise travel company. Today I spent two hours on the phone trying to change my flights. As I saw myself during a cruise to Antarctica in recent weeks, many sailings are operating relatively normally, even when there are COVID-19 cases on board. But only the COVID-19-positive passengers are being isolated long term. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Discover the worldin comforton Viking ocean cruises to . Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. Although no additional positive cases had been detected on board, our final port stopHeimaey Island in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelagowas also cancelled and the Iceland Coast Guard ordered Viking Sky to return to Reykjavk post-haste. For added protection, we strongly recommend that guests who are eligible for a booster receive one before they travel. How many people had tested positive for coronavirus? Always follow state and local recommendations or requirements related to travel. Europe's Danube River is a frequent route for Viking River Cruises. But the positive cases had little impact on most of the passengers on board the vessel, and the voyage went ahead as planned. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link. I spoke to two travel agents onboard, and each considered Vikings health measures, masks in particular, to be excessive for a completely vaccinated ship. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link. The list of things you cant do on cruises anymore is shorter than it was a year ago, so as long as you know what to expect, you can enjoy a vacation in open waters. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. or Vikings River-cruising vessels. Many cruise ships were docked in ports, while others sat idle at sea. 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. 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. The answer is yes. Of course, a requirement for one cruise line may be a nonissue for another. Cond Nast Traveler may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. At present, U.S. port departures remain a no-go under CDC guidelines, despite calls to restart by July 1. 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