kcpvwill

Perhaps this might become a new thread as the live western med is now over.  We don’t all have the same rules.  Eg UK, US and places we visit like Norway all have their own rules and terminology which is confusing.  
We have 8 weeks of Viking cruising throughout 2022 ( all postponed from 2020 and 2021) Northern Lights, Into Midnight Sun, British Isles Explorer and Paris to the Swiss Alps (river) and we are keeping a watchful eye on the rules for UK and countries we visit.  
Happy cruising all!  

Not sure if there will be as many vacancies as Janet & David suggest, as there are many people (us included) who have rebooked using the Future Cruise Credits that we got from the Covid cancellations.  We have 8 weeks of fully paid cruises ( including a Northern Lights) knocked on from 2020 and 2021 to 2022 and there are probably many like us.  
 

We returned from a Malta and the Greek Isles cruise last week and there were 540 on board with 147 from UK.  This suggests that people were reluctant to travel with restrictions or were not ready yet with Covid still around, even at a great price.
 

After the flights,  once Viking were ‘in charge’ the organisation and logistics were exemplary, so congratulations to Viking.  As a matter of interest, Viking now have the facilities to live stream things from the Star theatre into the cabins instead of the 2 hour wait from pre-Covid times.  This means those who want to can watch away from other passengers in the cabin without masks.  We did this many times. 
 
Sold outs change regularly so good luck uktog!  

Have you considered changing your date of travel?  There appear to be a few (but not many) PV or above in January, February and March.  Just a thought.

Totally agree with your last anything other!  

We are flying on SAS from Manchester to Bergen via Oslo in February for a Northern Lights cruise.  Flights booked by Viking.  Previously we have got to Bergen using KLM via Amsterdam, and another time on SAS via Copenhagen.  I liked SAS but KLM was also good.  All booked by Viking.
 

Travelling from Heathrow you will probably have other choices that we didn’t have.  
 

We are just coming back from our 8th Ocean cruise (+ 7 River cruises) with Viking.  We are hooked!  
 

Hope this helps.

PS I’ve not heard of the airline that you asked about, but Viking only seem to have contracts with the main nation flag carriers.  

All change again, now going to Souda Bay for Chania Crete.  

High winds prevented us from getting to Heraklion, Crete today so heading back to Malta with another sea day today.  

12 hours ago, zelker said:

Can you point me to the announcement please?  Thx. 

The announcement was made by the cruise director on board Venus. I’ve no idea if it is available in written form anywhere yet.  

The announcement said it was for all Viking ships (subject to local rules) .  In Malta we could go ashore independently but Greece yesterday at CDC level 4 meant we had to stay in the Viking bubble.  Now the person in charge of all the safety Covid rules  in head office (Chief Medical Officer) has said the Viking rules have changed and so we can stay ashore after our tours and wander around  on our own.  So it doesn’t seem to be the itinerary as it applies to all ships.  
Happy exploring! 

Subject to local rules, tonight Viking announced on Venus that independent travel can resume tomorrow.  

We are on board Venus at present doing Malta and the Greek Islands.  We were allowed independent trips in Malta but are now sailing towards Greece and as CDC has placed it in level 4 we cannot go ashore except in the Viking excursion bubbles.  We also have to carry our vaccination status  evidence with us in Greece.  
 

There are 540 passengers on board but I don’t know the nationality break down.  
 

The organisation for embarkation once Viking was in charge was impressive.  

5 hours ago, WannabeDiamondGeezer said:

Just managed to check in for Air Malta flight, booked for us by Viking, and also choose seats.

Hi 

Were you able to check in online or was this at the airport?  How much time did you do this before your flight?  We were told that we couldn’t do online check in as our PLF had to be seen in person at the airport.  We fly on Wednesday from Manchester to LHR and then change terminals to fly out on Air Malta.  

8 hours ago, MarkCruises said:

Did you get an answer to this question?   We are leaving from Atlanta on Sunday, August 30 to Newark and onto the charter and have the same question.

 

Maybe someone knows?

 

Thank you.

 

Mark

7 hours ago, cboyle said:

 

 

This seems confusing because there is a separate booking number for the United flight to EWR and for the charter flight on Lufthansa from EWR to MLA.

 

When you check in for your United flight, your bags will be checked through to MLA. You do NOT need to collect them in EWR; they are automatically transferred to the charter flight. However, after you arrive in EWR, you will need to leave security, go to the International Terminal (Terminal B), and go through security again before you can go to the gate for the charter flight.

 

It is on the way BACK to EWR that you have to collect your bags when you arrive and go through US Customs. Then you recheck your bags with United in the  special transfer area. You do NOT take your bags down to the United check in counters where people are checking in for United flights. After you recheck your bags, you will exit security, go to the terminal for your domestic United flight, and go through security again to reach the gate for your domestic flight.

 

There is one wrinkle in this if you have TSA Precheck: the boarding pass you receive in Malta for your United flight cannot be read by TSA, even though it may say "TSA Precheck" on it. You will need to take the boarding pass you got in Malta down to the United check in counters and use the self-service kiosks to get a new United boarding pass. After that, you can go through security and proceed to the gate for your domestic flight.

 

I hope that helps!

 

https://www.newarkairport.com/at-airport/connecting-flights

 

 

 

 

We have to collect luggage and recheck in to Air Malta at LHR as the flights are two separate tickets and Air Malta will not let us check in online as we have to show evidence of double vax and a passenger locator form.  

On 8/24/2021 at 7:29 PM, catswin said:

This is good info.  I am a bit concerned about these walks as have issues with walking and standing these days.  Hoping there will be enough places to park my bum for a few minutes and I will be good for another walk!

I have bought a Flipstick (easy find searching internet)  for perching when there are no seats.  You’ve reminded me to pack mine 

On 8/12/2021 at 1:56 PM, FirstTimeFreddy said:

I've received an email from Viking to say that our cruise on 22nd September 2021 has an itinerary change relating to the island of Crete. Instead of visiting Souda Bay on 30th September, the ship will call at Heraklion instead.

 

Have any other cruises in September on the Greek itinerary been impacted by this change?

We got the same email and quickly booked the included Heraklion excursion after cancelling the included Souda  Bay on foot one which would have been a long way to walk!  

1 hour ago, geordie_jim said:

UK guest question: Malta departing 23/8

 

on myvikingjourney a new document (effective 29th July)  has appeared which references the tasks you should do before the cruise. In the section "before your flight" it states -  assemble your documents and have a "valid passport" - makes sense , but also "UK guests: Valid residency visa (in addition to a valid passport) ......

 

Any ideas what this visa is and how I go about getting one??

 

JIm

We wondered about that.  Couldn’t find any reference to needing a visa from UK .  I will await any replies. We don’t travel till September.  

Viking Star appears to be heading to Iceland.  Not sure what she should have been doing but it was not Iceland. Does  anyone know why?  Could it be to do with the Covid problems on Sky and Jupiter?  

Viking Star appears to be heading to Iceland.  Not sure what she should have been doing but it was not Iceland. Does  anyone know why?  

Is she doing a cruise with passengers which I didn’t spot on the UK site or is she sailing empty of pax to Valletta.  She set off very early from Portsmouth, hardly time to load new pax and get Covid tests done after disembarking previous cruise passengers.  

Looks like Venus is heading to Malta, arriving in Valletta 13th July.  Today 3rd July she is in Portsmouth but nothing posted on the UK site for a sailing.  

1 hour ago, photopro2 said:

We are keen walkers and so, if the weather is reasonable, plan to head up to the viewpoint overlooking the viaduct for when the train crosses at about 10.45. I have also just added Inveraray Castle (which gained additional fame as a "Downton" location) to our itinerary as it has now reopened 😁

We can recommend Inverewe Gardens if you’re on the west coast, although much further north  than Inveraray Castle.  Just started watching the Viking sponsored Downton again for the third time, the second being on a Viking ship.  

J an D, thanks for the reply.   I didn’t spot there was a different one, I thought they were all England’s Scenic shores. This one appears to be Scenic British Isles.   Was it because one or more of the ports couldn’t accommodate them or just to offer an alternative?     Perhaps someone might have done a B2B just to celebrate being back on board!  
I hope all on board are enjoying the cruise.  

Sorry I should have said where is she going but was too late to edit.  Sorry Venus.  

Just spotted Venus is off the west coast of Scotland today near the Inner Hebrides.  Where is it going?  Scotland isn’t allowing cruise ships at present.  

Thanks I knew it should be obvious but I couldn’t work it out.