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.". That includes large cruise excursions to Alaska, where governor Mike Dunleavy is . USNS MERCY. Here's a look at everything you need to know if you've got a cruise booked in the coming weeks -- or further out. Stay at least 6 feet/2 meters (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who is not traveling with you. Breeze through security with CLEAR lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. As the CDC states, the virus spreads easily in close quarters on ships, and passengers and crew are all at risk. 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. The Great Cruise Shutdown is finally coming to an end. 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. Viking highly recommends, but does not require, a pre-departure COVID-19 testunless one is required by the destination. GRAND PRINCESS. 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. Viking Sea cruise ship near Fort. Will I be required to wear a face mask when going ashore? Passengers feel safe and . American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. As my colleague Ashley Kosciolek experienced first-hand on a cruise in 2021, close contacts only are being isolated for a short period while they are tested for COVID-19. 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. sent to you for updated policies and procedures related to covid-19 . There are still entry requirements for certain countries and other nuances that will impact travel. At the end of December, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 5,013 COVID-19 cases had been reported on cruise vessels operating in U.S. waters during the last two weeks of the month, up from just 162 cases during the first two weeks of the month. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Things are getting iffy again for cruisers -- at least for those with near-term bookings. This includes both its river cruises and . As it turns out, perhaps the most crucial measures for our sailing were daily testing and contact tracing. Things are getting iffy again for cruisers -- at least for those with near-term bookings. 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. 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. As the leading small ship travel company, Viking takes you closer to the heart of the places you want to visit. The CDC cautions that any travel poses a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, including travel by air, bus or train, automobiles, and cruises. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. The number of passengers being quarantined on ships (after testing positive for COVID-19) also is on the rise. Restaurants are sanitized between every service; all other public spaces are fully sanitized at a minimum every 24 hours, with high touchpoints sanitized more frequently every day. Health authorities no longer are quarantining whole ships when a few -- or even a lot -- of passengers and crew test positive for COVID-19. A 55-year-old traveler on a $1,000 cruise for seven days might pay just over $100 for CFAR insurance. What to Know About Riding on the Alaska Railroad, Katmandu Park Punta Cana Is Opening March 15, 14 of the Best New Cruise Ships Launching in 2023, The Top Hotels in Mexico for a Romantic Getaway. 99.99% of viruses and bacteria in the air are killed. The rates start at $25,999 per person. We called customer service the very next day on March 12th at 1:35pm. 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. The CDC currently advises that travel to some 189 countries presents a very high risk in addition to cruises. - Pre-cruise testing is no longer required. 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. But if youre a rigid traveler who isnt amenable to last-minute changes, or you struggle to find the good or humorous in sometimes lousy situations, you might think twice before undertaking international travel in 2021. 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 annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. CDC has determined that the cruise industry has access to the necessary tools [cruise-specific recommendations and guidance, vaccinations, testing instruments, treatment modalities and non-pharmaceutical interventions] to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 on board.. Sure, you might see the ships crew donning face masks, along with a few passengers. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection; Viking River Cruises; . October 5, 2020 As Viking.TV celebrates six months of offering award-winning programming this week, four astronauts will host a special panel discussion on Friday sharing what its like to live and work in space. The details of the COVID-19 boarding procedures will be provided to guests in an . Cruise lines also are testing all crew members regularly. Europe's Danube River is a frequent route for Viking River Cruises. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link. Guests clearly felt the same, as many opted not to wear them onboard motor coaches. Enrollment required. However,. What happens if I am confirmed to be a close contact with a guest who tests positive? Risk-Free Guarantee: How it Works The Viking cruise ship, which was supposed to launch from New Orleans, has canceled its two-week trip on the Mississippi River due to low water levels south of St. Louis.. To sail with Viking, guests will need to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated: received their second dose in a two-shot series (i.e., Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zenica and Novavax) or single dose of J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccination at least 14 days prior to travel. Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol). 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. Only one Viking passenger, a British woman on a river cruise in Cambodia, has contracted the . 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. 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. A new itinerary from Viking Cruises, it's an eight-day circumnavigation of the island nation, running clockwise from Reykjavk. River cruise lines are enhancing their COVID-19 health and safety protocols as they wait for European borders to reopen . INFECTED SHIPS. (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. 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. Still, it's important to note that most of these "cases" of COVID-19 are asymptomatic or mild, only discovered during routine testing. 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. 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. So, the CDC is basically telling you that now isn't a good time to travel. Time will tell how everything goes after this initial hiccup, but were still onboard Viking this week and will hopefully report on a second sailing without incident. Virgin Voyages January 9, 2020 Number 1: Founded in 1997, Viking River Cruises plies the waterways of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt with its fleet of more than 60 vessels. 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). And our third and final port of call was completely off limits to us. 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. WORLD DREAM. Physical distancing began at embarkation. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). The Viking Star's next scheduled voyage is set to sail Jan. 9. Many cruise ships were docked in ports, while others sat idle at sea. How frequently do you sanitize my stateroom? July 8, 2020 Often credited with popularizing river cruising globally, Viking has in recent years expanded dramatically; the company now has 63 ships sailing in Europe, with additional vessels in Asia and Egypt, and is coming soon to the United States. 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. Even with these painstaking measures in place, who calls the shots and what shots are called can change by the minute. Its current flexible cancellation policy allows passengers to cancel as long as a public health emergency remains in effect and receive 100% of the cruise fare paid in the form of a future cruise credit. 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. All major cruise lines currently are requiring all or nearly all passengers to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, with some also starting to require booster shots, to boot. Easy peasy. COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Information; Relaxed Cancelation & Refund Policy; For the most up-to-date information on suspended sailings click here. I have 7 months before my ocean cruise. Case in point: Lengthyand priceyworld cruises with lines like Viking, Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises sold out in record time. The CDC is providing support. Learn more. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. However, a different approach may be required when in a destination, depending on the local situation at the time. That level of caution turned out to be warranted the day we arrived in Seydisfjrdur, a picturesque town in Eastern Iceland with just 676 residents. For information about your specific voyage, please log onto MyVikingJourney.com. Are Viking guests required to be vaccinated? September 1, 2020 Youd be hard-pressed to find a renowned river that Viking doesnt ply. Cruise passengers are at increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Effective July 25, 2022, it will no longer require pre-cruise testing, except in ports where the country requires it. The total cost was $15,599,. Will I be required to wear a face mask while on board? 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. 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. Adults and crew must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. 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. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Viking has taken the pandemic seriously. Cruise travelers should contact their cruise line directly for more information regarding the protocols and procedures for COVID-19 safety, which may vary among cruise lines.. The city's oldest and most elegant hotel still reigns supreme. While Viking has also launched an award-winning ocean cruise line, the company built its reputation in river cruising. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. Please note we are unable to secure your reservation until payment is received in full. They've spent the past year and a half creating the only full-scale testing labs at sea, putting them into place on every one of their ships (not an. This is one of the biggest risks of taking a cruise right now, and one reason you may consider canceling a sailing scheduled in the short term (see the section on more-flexible cancellation policies below). For information about your specific voyage, please log onto MyVikingJourney.com. 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. Ad Choices. But only the COVID-19-positive passengers are being isolated long term. 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. Guests on affected departuresand their travel advisorshave been notified directly. 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). 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. Pricing remained stableno need for the lines to discount faresthroughout the year. Are you requiring that I take a COVID-19 test before traveling to a Viking ship? When crew test positive, they and their close contacts must stop working and isolate, even if asymptomatic, leaving shipboard venues short-staffed. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Based on a recent survey of Cruise Critics readers, Gray Faust says travelers find cruises more appealing than other activities that carry a high COVID-19 risk. Despite Iceland Public Health clearing Viking Sky for its shore excursions, Iceland Coast Guard prohibited it. Viking Health & Safety Program Pre-Departure COVID-19 Testing Viking is committed to doing all we can to ensure you are healthy and well prepared for international traveland that you will be able to arrive in your destination and embark your ship without incident. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. They were scheduled by Viking well before what . How frequently do you sanitize public spaces such as the restaurants? Whether theyre booking scenic American river cruises or gathering the little ones for a cruise with kids across the ocean, travelers are making the most of the reasonable rates. 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. cruise ships have recorded relatively few cases, requiring all or nearly all passengers to be fully vaccinated, Will I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? 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. 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. 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 infected passenger was isolated onboard, and any spread was curtailed. The information included here should be considered current for all guests. If you don't get tested, it's safest to stay home for 14 days after travel. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on a recently concluded Viking Cruises' voyage. 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