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We going out on the Celeb. Summit, 9/21 ...on-point testing lets you use your own US approved test via tele and charges just $14.99 for each proctor.

My suggestion is that you watch carefully for updates from Viking. We're boarding the Octantis in 4 days. We were to go to the pier to embark, then V. changed it to the airport to check in and get tested, then today, they changed it again and told is to go to the pier directly.

I should have been more clear. We will need to be tested one day before we leave Canada. Viking will provide that test onboard. Interestingly, Viking does not specify what is a Viking pre-cruise event. On our cruise next week, we check in at the airport, not the pier. Since we are arriving one day early independently, we need to go back to the airport on embarkation day and find a Viking rep who will take our luggage to be trucked to the pier. At that point, I'm operating with the belief that we have begun a Viking pre-cruise activity.

Our outbound is less predictable. We're doing the Great Lakes from Milwaukee and they do not have a holding area at the pier or airport. They offered to ship it to a Fed Ex office in Milwaukee where I could pick it up on the way to pier but that involves taking a taxi to the Fedex Office and them getting our luggage to the airport (not a typo, the airport, not the pier). For our cruise, Viking is having check in at the airport, where they'll take our luggage and truck it to the pier. after we check in and pass covid, they'll bus us to the pier. Either way, we're stuck with luggage.

We considered luggage forwarding but thought that if we sent the luggage out, and we failed the covid test at home, we'd never see our luggage again.

We're joining the octantis on June 4, providing our covid tests are negative and we get the results in time. I am taking 3 of them hoping at least one will be timely. We were notified that we will check in at the airport instead of the pier so we'll need to shuttle back to the airport from the hotel we will be at in Milwaukee the night before. Any tips? i heard Viking will provide a complimentary transfer to the airport in Toronto..i know know if that's true or, if so, what the reason is...any tips?

Interesting...on one Viking cruise, a gentleman and his wife asked if they could join us at the buffet area. Apparently, since I was in the same demographic category as the gentleman from Georgia, he apparently incorrected assumed I would agree with him on his view of the 2016 election. I informed him that I didn't and it would be best to avoid discussing politics. He then got quite red in the face and left. His wife remained and apologized for him. I felt badly that he embarrassed her. I found foreigners every interested in our politics and they approach the subject in a very academic manner and polite manner which I don't mind at all. I remember an Irish couple who asked me if I'd mind giving him my thoughts on the election and afterwards, he came over to me and hugged me.

Now Walgreens, via LabCorp, is offering a PCR test to be taken at home, and to, via Fedex send back to LabCorp. There is no proctoring of this self administered test. The LabCorp employee I spoke with said she just returned from a Carnival cruise and it was accepted possibly because the results were certified at the lab/ In Viking's instructions, they're looking for a negative PCR test but say nothing about a need for it to be proctored. On the phone with them, they claim it must be proctored (which makes sense) but I don't understand Viking's lack of clarity in their instructions.

Well, the CDC statement is only a recommendation but Viking's policy prevails since they've elected to use the more stringent of the two. Canada does require testing one day before we leave.

You have fallen into the same trap I had, that is believing what Viking wrote instead of what they intended to mean. My convo with Viking went something like this: Me: so since my first flight is at 3:30 on June 3, I can be tested on May 31 after 3:30 pm, right? V: No. Your flight was not booked with Viking air so 'first flight' is not applicable. Me: the update I just received from Viking says nothing about 'first flight' IF booked thru VA. V: you're correct..(speaks with a superv.) we will send out something to clarify that. Me: if I have to wait until the afternoon of June 1 to be tested (72 hours) and results don't come until the afternoon of June3, I'll be in the air. Then if I land in Milwaukee and find one of us tested positive, even tho our home test indicated negative taken the day before, I'm looking at a 10 day Quarantine in Milwaukee before I can return home. Let me speak with your superv. Convo with Superv. revealed that their 72 limit, at least in the case of domestic flights regardless of if you booked with Viking Air, reallllly means 3 days and I can be tested after midnight on June 1. Now I have that in writing. I'm taking a Celebrity cruise later in the year and they did a super job of clarifying their policy and expectations...Viking should learn from that.

KKap//I just this morning received another update in which Viking did make the correction at least as it pertains to domestic flights ( 3 days) , however, the document which provided the link still makes reference to a 72 limit for first international flight. I do not know if Viking failed to correct that, or if there is a different requirement for an international flight. I suggest you shoot out an email to Viking guest relations and clearing put forth the confusion they're created and clearly indicate your situation and ask for a quick response in writing. To travel to/from within the United States please ensure you have the following: 1. Proof of negative COVID-19 Test (laboratory-certified) • US Guests: Viking does accept select at-home COVID-19 tests. - If "up-to-date" COVID-19 Immunization (includes booster dose when eligible): PCR test taken within 3 days prior to boarding first flight or joining first Viking activity, or - If "fully vaccinated" COVID-19 Immunization (eligible for, but not boosted): PCR test taken within 2 days prior to boarding first flight or joining first Viking activity, or - Or an Antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to boarding first flight or joining first Viking activity - And/or Proof of Recovery: If you have recovered from a COVID-19 infection (within 10–90 days prior to departure) ensure you carry documentation of recovery or a positive PCR test result from the time of infection. • International Guests (non-US) - Must be a NAAT/PCR or antigen test, taken no more than one (1) day prior to flying to the US or a US territory.

I don't want to post the document effective April1, 2022 as it pertains to internation travel because Viking has agreed the document, at least as it pertains to demestic travel, is misleading and said they were going to send out a clarification. Our issue may be different, kkap because our trip to our embarkation point is solely domestic and I don't know if you booked air with Viking or not. Viking says one thing and sent out a notifications with conflicting info. I also have been told by Viking Guest Relations and confirmed by Super. JG, that in our case at least, 72 hours is interpreted to be 3 days. Our flight leaves at 3:30 pm on June 3, but we can be tested after 00:01 on June1 and need not wait until 3:31 or later on June 1. I have that in writing from a Viking rep. in that she refers to "3 days" not 72 hours. If denied boarding because they claim my PCR test was taken several hours too early, it will be litigated. On the other hand, KKap, I notice customers generally post when they're upset. I have not found any posts from Viking passengers who claim they were denied passage based upon exceeding the 72 hour time frame. On the contrary, several have posted that they were not even asked to produce proof of having taken a Covid test prior to board. As frustrating as this process has been, I have a feeling, based upon statements from Viking and an email from Guest Relations, we'll be fine.

I don't know if your statement is accurate or dependent upon a license or permit but that's a better question for Viking to respond to.

Thank you very much...very thoughtful of you. We were told to ask when we board the ship to see if anyone might have cancelled. I was going to do the submarine but with covid so rampant, the thought of being shumshed into a small space with 5 strangers for 45 minutes makes if less appealing.

Yes..Our form omitted, did not address those of us flying independly on domestic flights. Our last communication from Viking, effective April 1, 2022 is different. They did inform me they were going to correct it...did you just receive it? US Guests: Viking does accept select at-home COVID-19 tests. - If "up-to-date" COVID-19 Immunization (includes booster dose when eligible): PCR test taken within 3 days prior to boarding first flight or joining first Viking activity, or - If "fully vaccinated" COVID-19 Immunization (eligible for, but not boosted): PCR test taken within 2 days prior to boarding first flight or joining first Viking activity, or - Or an Antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to boarding first flight or joining first Viking activity