LindaS272

FlyerTalker—that’s why I only purchase masks from ProjectN95.org and bonafidemasks.com because I’ve checked these companies out and trust that they vetted the masks properly—thorough research through trusted medical professionals.

We’re glad we did too!🤗 No, I believe the KN95 masks from powecom are made in China but they are vetted as the real deal by ProjectN95.org & bonafidemasks where I buy them. I found out about those two organizations through recommendations by epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists in media interviews.

We use the powecom KN95 ear loop masks from ProjectN95.org or bonafidemasks.com. Made it through the TA from SJ to Barcelona, then three days in Barcelona and three days in London, Mar. 19 to April 8 this year.

Yes, and I thought it was reiterated clearly somewhere after masking requirements were dropped—so not just in the ticket contract (which most don’t read, sadly.) I’ll keep looking.

Not really planetariums. They’re IMAX theaters with star shows—generally for northern climates, even when you’re in SE Asia. We were on both ships pre-Covid. There were four different shows, and you had to sign up onboard. Usually early to mid afternoon. We went once and weren’t particularly impressed because it’s not a real planetarium, as mentioned. The theater is small—about 20 viewers—and very cold. Others have said they liked it. YMMV.

Agreed.

No. You just get to be the co-moderator on the Viking FB board with Steve R. 🤣

I guess I was under the mistaken impression that Viking COULD ask you to test if exhibiting symptoms onboard. They just aren’t being quite as onerous with the length & place of quarantine, and not bothering with contact tracing. I will need to review where I thought I saw that information a couple of months ago.

I agree. I saw the reaction on our TA from San Juan to Barcelona. The Viking masking mandate was removed on the Friday before our Sunday disembark (Fri. April 1/Sun. April 3), and you would have thought people had just been let out of jail! We were some of the few who kept our masks on, and ate away from others. Not the least because we were going to be three days in Barcelona and three days in London before having to test to fly home. But geez, we are still masking everywhere at home now and only eating out outdoors. There’s still a pandemic on and we don’t want to get Covid! We have two cruises lined up next year but are foregoing cruising the rest of this year until we see how the Covid debacle shakes out. Big mistake for Viking to do away with the mask mandate, IMO.

Probably. My only example is from Vietnam at Ho Chi Minh City. We were out late with a few other passengers on a late night private street food tour. Some of us left the City in a taxi at about 10 pm, not actually knowing if we could get back on the ship, but seeing nothing in the Daily that would show we couldn’t. It was about an hour to the port and I brought the Daily with the rudimentary port address on it. Our taxi driver didn’t speak English. We got to the port area and it was vast—plus you couldn’t see the ships docked because of trees and other screening. The taxi driver stopped at several gates to docks over the next 45 minutes. I called the ship and asked if someone could speak to the taxi driver to direct him, but guest services refused to find anybody who spoke Vietnamese. Finally, we found the right gate and walked the several blocks to the ship. There were Vietnamese port/border guards at the ramp but they were having a jolly time ribbing us about rolling in at midnight!

At my local grocery store, which is admittedly a bit high end.

So we buy Fever Tree in glass bottles—just sayin’……! 😄

MPC—Mobile Passport Control. Formerly Mobile Passport through a 3rd party, now through CBC (Customs & Border Control). It’s free and it whisks you around lines and straight to baggage claim at most major cities when re-entering the U.S. Can use at Ft. Lauderdale. We’ve been using it for a few years. Love it!

That should be no problem now that the pistachio rolls have fallen victim to supply chain issues! 😂

FYI—You don’t have to have the SS Package to get access to the full wine list. It’s open to all regardless of package.

Hmmm…I detest this kind of militant bureaucracy. One problem you might have going forward is if you plan to go to Canada again sometime in the next few years. If you never got the test into them, you might now be flagged in the system and have a rude surprise the next time you visit!

Of course, but the OP is throwing shade at Viking without citing evidence. Not appreciated.

This is a good way to get rumors started and I’m somewhat dismayed at this. We were on the Sea in March/April and it was in top shape.

We always ask for a kettle in the room upon embarkation because we prefer tea and I bring my own Barry’s Decaf Irish tea bags. We’re not coffee drinkers so we have our room steward take the nespresso machine away—then there’s more room for storage in the cubby hole. I imagine they would give you a kettle too even if you kept the coffee maker. There are tea bags in the WC and at the bars at various times.

If not showing up in MVJ, it’s sometimes available on the main Viking website. Depends on the time of day, though. And it will also show up on weekends.

Yes, here are the ground rules I posted yesterday.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2869818-sea-day-entertainment-on-trans-atlantic-cruises/#comment-63667642

https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/frequently-asked-questions.html “In order to ensure fair usage for all, we reserve the right to limit heavy-bandwidth applications, downloads or software upgrades so that all our guests have access to Wi-Fi. We suggest that guests limit large uploads/downloads and live streaming. Please download your content prior to your cruise, as bandwidth will affect your service and cannot be guaranteed.” Nope “travelbug11”—others on our TA told us too many people were streaming on their devices.

Why is it “not nice” to point out that doing streaming chews up bandwidth so that other pax can’t access the internet?

This could explain why wi-fi was so bad on our TA in March on Viking Sea. Too many people hogging the bandwidth. Is the entertainment on the Viking system not enough?