Heidi13

Based on the post above, it looks like Viking was aware the crew member was a no show and had made the required report to the US authorities. Shipping companies can be heavily fined when crew members "Jump ship" by not returning from shore leave. Only being an hour out, returning to pick up the crew member could have saved some admin issues/fines, but unfortunately I don't know the US Regs as well as the Canadian ones. Hopefully the Chief can advise. @chengkp75

Viking Mars was delivered to owners today and she has a couple of tugs standing-by. AIS shows she will arrive in Dubrovnik tomorrow, so looks like she is preparing to sail from the shipyard.

I purchased DW a bridge camera, which is a series of options between point & shoots and DSLR/mirrorless. Since I use Canons, we stuck with that brand. The Powershot SX70HS gets good reviews, but they also have older models and other brands also have many options.

It's only on Orion & Jupiter, which have the planetariums installed, which require a dome sticking up on the deck above.

Look at the ports and timing. Since it's a Seattle based ship they don't sail East of Vancouver Island and then they don't stop at Ketchikan, so they don't enter Alaska until Juneau. From Juneau to Skagway is all at night, as is Skagway to G/Bay. The return is directly from Icy Strait to Juan de Fuca. Shameful that a cruise line even considers this an Alaska cruise, it's not even an Alaska sampler. Sadly, this is the reason we ditched Princess after 40 yrs of both working for and cruising with them.

Our invoice is also in pdf format. I would be very surprised that your invoice does not include some link to the daily testing requirement and pre-cruise requirements, since that is a requirement of UK Law. You may elect not to use MVJ, but that doesn't negate the fact the information is most likely included in that resource.

In Canada, Viking provide the information on both our invoice and in MVJ, so I suspect in UK, at least MVJ is consistent. I expect your invoice has a similar link, which takes us to a document outlining pre-cruise requirements and what to expect onboard. The testing requirements were posted on the Viking website in December 2020.

Just to continue your great response. Viking are completely open on the daily testing and implications of testing positive. They have been discussed extensively on this and other forums. If pax don't accept this risk they have the option of cancelling and getting most money back 120+ days out, or a FCV, if within. Therefore, everyone that elects to cruise with Viking at present, accepts this risk and the potential consequences. They may not like the risk, but by continuing with the cruise they have accepted the risk. If you are aware of the risk and have options, hardly grounds for litigation after a cruise.

Royal Yacht is a great choice and so easy to visit from Newhaven.

Couldn't read the article, but have to wonder how the system failed to identify that all crew were not back onboard. Did they not scan the card properly upon departing?

I don't expect my TA to know everything, but if she doesn't know the answer, her response is always that she will get back to us. This is only Viking's 2nd Alaska season, so you may get answers, but you should make your TA do their job and call Viking directly. Make the TA provide you with the answers, that's why they get paid commission. If they don't, time for a new TA.

I concur, this certainly was an avoidable accident, as most are, provided you make good choices. So, I can think of a few options that were available: 1) Call the Purser's Office to have the Cruise Director paged to the Explorers Lounge to resolve the timing issue. With 20 mins to the proper start time, the CD had time to resolve. Even if it re-started late, better and safer for all. 2) Book tickets for another showing 3) Enter an unfamiliar very dark space with tiered stairs from a very bright space, which I note is at the top/fwd end of the ship, which extenuates any ship's movement in a seaway. I certainly hope, upon entering the space, you remained stationary and holding on, for the up to 2 to 3 minutes it takes for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark. I note that as I get older, it takes longer for my eyes to adjust. Then they will consider a multitude of other considerations - glasses (tinted/bi/tri focal, footwear, anything to drink recently, previous gate steady/unsteady, carrying anything, hair partially covering the face, etc. If you failed to provide eye adjustment time, upon entering the dark space, it further compounds a poor decision. Yes, it is poor customer service that the crew started the film early, but that wasn't the root cause of your wife's accident. Unfortunately, you made a poor choice to enter a dark and unfamiliar space on a ship at sea.

Didn't you purchase travel insurance providing that coverage?

Apologies, Jim & I got off track again with sea stories. The situation I mentioned certainly wasn't a Viking ship.

Affirmative.

Brilliant. How about joining the Neptune's Roll Call so we can keep in touch

The reason is because we have experienced free tastings of wines, liqueurs and spirits. Each of the General Managers has some discretion on what they can offer.

From memory, I believe it is over US $800 pp for violations of the US PVSA.

Next to Glacier Bay, scenic cruising through the Inside Passage is my highlight of an Alaska Cruise. Note - Seattle cruise already see minimal Inside Passage. Not arriving Juneau until 14:30 and 3 hrs at Icy Point, it results in Skagway being the only decent port call. Princess should be ashamed to offer this schedule. If they can't provide a decent cruise to Alaska, change to a different region. I would cancel.

The Europa League final kicks-off on Wednesday 18th May, but they will start arriving from Monday. The Scottish team alone can easily bring 100,000 fans to Sevilla.

I'd say the fans will be well over 100,000, as the Scottish team Glasgow Rangers can easily bring 100,000 fans, based on how many they took to Manchester in 2008. They are already booking every available hotel for miles around Sevilla.

Hope to see you in Sydney for the Neptune's 22/23 World Cruise visit. We arrive 16th Feb and are planning a day trip to the Blue Mountains. On the 17th we are sampling some beverages in The Rocks. @Little MontyWe also hopefully have Little Monty joining us in Sydney.

Haha, just like my last ship. When I buried the throttles astern departing the dock, they could make milk shakes without a blender.

As per the previous response, you must submit the request to the Pursers ASAP. Since you embark in Whittier and would disembark at another US Port, this is a violation of the PVSA, which will incur a fine. I expect the cruise line would pass on the cost to you, plus any additional costs.

Unfortunately this is common on almost all ships, when running at full speed, the aft end is susceptible to vibration, cavitation & rumble. Provided the blades are well balanced, Azipods could have less vibration at full speed. Haven't seen an R-class in drydock, but being diesel/electric, they should have a short shaft, so the actual propeller shaft probably wasn't the source of the vibration. If any of the blades had a nick, or otherwise out of balance this can create significant vibration, especially at full speed. This would be the same on a conventional ship or azipod. If the ship was pitching in heavy weather this will result in cavitation.