Heidi13

Although cruise ships are continuously renovated by the onboard crew, the capital projects are completed by shipyards and owner's contractors during the special survey dry-dockings, which are required by Flag/Class, every 5-yrs (newer ships), or 2 drydocks every 5 yrs (older ships). The Viking Star completed her first special survey drydocking in Genoa in December 2019, just prior to the COVID shutdown, when they completed some hotel projects, although most of the work was mechanical, painting and regulatory. Prior to the World Cruise, I recall her spending a few days at Grand Bahamas Shipyard, where they did some additional hotel work for the World Cruise. Not aware of any of the Viking ships drydocking during the COVID shutdown, so any refurbishment was completed by onboard crew, or owner's contractors. The Orion's Planetarium was installed during the newbuild and a Planetarium also installed on the next ship Jupiter. It was not included on Venus.

Best guess is maintaining reduced capacity, for both providing quarantine cabins and enhancing social distancing, although we have never experienced crowding issues, even with the ship at capacity. Can't comment on other premium/luxury cruise line's operational policies, as we haven't cruised with them, so have no previous experience to compare. If you check the 22/23 WC, you'll find the cabin's being cancelled at PIF date, are quickly loaded onto the website for resale.

At the latest, you are re-tested the following day.

First consideration should that Seattle is about 100 miles further from Alaska than Vancouver, and the Seattle ships must stop in a Canadian port for a few hours. Both these facts reduce your time in Alaska. As previously noted, the Seattle ships head West of Vancouver Island, so spend many hours cruising the Pacific Ocean rather than the scenic Inside Passage. When in the Pacific Ocean, the Seattle ships are also susceptible to heavy weather, as we had a severe storm last week.

Therefore, you prefer not to know you have an infectious disease, so that you can continue with your expensive holiday. How sad, as you clearly have no concerns with infecting other pax and crew. Your comment that pre-COVID no one was quarantined or removed from a Viking ship is not even close to the facts. Any communicable disease, which must be reported by the Master to local authorities, will get you quarantined aboard a ship. Lately, the most common was Noro. With respect to whether you are discharged for medical care, it is not normally the patient's decision, it is the Ship's Doctor operating under the authority of the Master. Even pre-COVID you saw lots of pax being medically disembarked.

Totally agree that Viking make brilliant birthday cakes. This is Judi's from Viking Sun. She doesn't like fruit so lots of chocolate.

I believe we get the same instructions as the US, as mine even states I require a US passport. Although our Guest Statement only mentions 72 hrs before the 1st International flight, the link to the more detailed instructions clearly includes a qualifier, that if travelling independently, the timing is prior to joining Viking. This information is also included in MVJ. We have our own flights booked for the Trans-Atlantic and having read all the information that Viking supply, I was well aware of the testing requirements before we join Viking, rather than before our flight.

Affirmative, it changed a few years ago, as it was Noon (Pacific) in Aug 2019.

Don't recall seeing them in 4000 on Viking Sun, so possibly they added heaters to the newer ships.

A number of cruise lines offer Pacific Coastal cruises early/late season that spend a full day in Victoria, as do a few of the Seattle based ships going to Alaska. However, the full day in Victoria normally means minimal exposure to Alaska. As a previous reply mentioned, check out the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority schedule once it is published for 2023. It provides ship names, dates and arr/dep times.

In addition to the information the Chief provided. I research both the UK & Canadian foreign office websites for requirements for visiting other countries. They often include information on any medication restrictions and provide links to the regulations of the country you are visiting. I expect the US Govt provides a similar service.

It depends on the cruise line and the countries you are visiting. Standards continue to change frequently, so someone's experience last week/month, may be different this week. As of last month, Barbados required a negative antigen COVID test before you could go ashore. Also, last month, Israel required a negative PCR before going ashore. Our preferred cruise line still does pre-boarding and daily PCR (saliva) tests.

This all depends on the requirements of the country you are visiting. In some countries, you are quarantined at the discretion of the local government. The cruise line has zero input.

Respectfully disagree. We have experience being forcibly disembarked from a ship, many years ago, to a quarantine hotel that had armed guards in each alleyway and could best be described as a slum. More recently, I believe some pax in S/America and possibly Germany had less than stellar experiences in a quarantine hotel. The quality of the facility is definitely a risk, especially in countries where the local Government dictates where you quarantine, and more importantly, when you can leave. In addition, you are responsible for the hotel costs, and if your claim is denied you won't be re-imbursed. You may even have issues with flights.

That could be a risky option, as many insurance companies, could deny your claim, as the cruise line provided onboard quarantine, but you specifically requested to be put ashore.

When docked overnight, unless in a country that requires Immigration every time you go ashore, the gangway is usually open 24/7. In Stockholm you should be able to head ashore at any time, if overnight alongside.

Congratulation, enjoy Alaska. This is how we also booked Alaska cruises, since Vancouver is our home port.

Still remember that one. Sure glad I'm retired and not still working the coast. That was one of the earliest storms I recall. I seem to recall one of the Seattle ships had to run for refuge inside of Vancouver Island. The other consideration is Hecate Strait is fairly shallow, especially the Queen Charlotte Island (QCI) side. We always encountered worse seas when crossing Hecate Strait from Prince Rupert to QCI.

It's a frontal depression with trough of low pressure, not a mid-Lat cyclone. Marine forecasts show 65 kt winds at the north end of Vancouver Island and 45 - 55 kt winds elsewhere. Not uncommon winds for this coast, but must admit, this late in May, the SE'ly's have most often been replaced with summer NW'ly's.

This covers Norway, Iceland & Greenland. They also have shorter cruises that visit less ports. https://www.vikingcruisescanada.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/multi-region/greenland-iceland-norway-and-beyond/index.html

Congratulations on trying Viking. What cruise did you book?

We had a similar experience

To put it into perspective, Viking's oldest ship Viking Star only entered service in April 2015, so it is only 7 yrs old. Still new for a passenger ship, since I have commanded many that were 40 to 60 yrs old. Viking operates a Safety Management System in accordance with the ISM Code, which requires all safety, propulsion, navigation, communication, etc equipment is maintained in accordance with OEM and/or Flag/Class requirements. So yes, all ships meet the current standards.

Tellus is a higher-level customer service, which in our experience, is similar to the World Cruise Desk, in that they have more experienced agents. I have never seen the address published anywhere. Only found out about it on Cruise Critic.

Yes, Viking Ocean