bbtondo

I highly recommend you do the math. For me, taking the "free" excursions and booking 5 excursions was the best value.

Excellent question. I would also like to know this answer as I am considering the Prestige Select+Package .

Freedom is a wonderful thing. You can decide not to have a "smart phone and crap", others can decide to get that " crap", and countries can decide what their rules are. You are free to decide where you'd like to travel. Which I believe you are doing. No need to get constantly angry .

Last fall for my Viking Ocean Med cruise my checked luggage was "lost" for 46 days. I have posted about my experience before, so I won't re post that. LOL BUT, tell your friend to talk to Viking guest services onboard and ask for free laundry. Viking immediately gave us free laundry services when our luggage didn't show up on the ship.

I'm hopeful that the precruise test will no longer be needed for boarding Oceania by the time I sail this August. Keeping fingers crossed!

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Link? So excited!

Viking accepted our Rapid PCR test last November and not a Antigen Test. I'm a little confused with what information you have written?

Does this mean that a US citizen flying into PR from another country won't need a negative covid test? What if that flight to PR has a layover in the US. Is test still needed I wonder.

Friends of mine just returned from a Viking River cruise. They said they got tested for the first 3 days and then nothing until they had to fly home to the US. So.... Everyone that is happy with Viking testing everyday on Ocean, would you take a Viking River cruise that only tests first three days? I would imagine that everyone that is happy being tested every day and being kept safe, would not be OK on Viking River.

This is JMHO I felt that there were a lot of "educated" people on the cruise 😃, who were way more interested in every detail of a tour. The people adding their own "facts" to the Viking excursion guide. You know the students that constantly raise their hands in class and ask a million questions? It was just a bit too much for me. I didn't experience that on the tours I did in Rome after the cruise. I loved the Vatican Museums. Amazing! Yes, older demographic for sure. Well travelled. Nothing wrong with that! I'm no spring chicken, but felt that cruise life was too sedate for me. I'm not interested in big shows or casinos by the way. Most of the people we spoke to liked to talk about their employment and college stories from long ago... Too much for my taste. This is what I experienced and my likes and dislikes. I'm going on Oceania soon. I'll let you know how it is compared to Viking.

Keeping fingers crossed that the US does away with requiring testing to fly into the US!

After sailing on VO last fall besides the covid issues, I've come to the conclusion that Viking is just not for me. As you say they are going for a different demographic. It also saddens me, as I expected a different experience.

Yes, I also have been reading the Oceania thread. At this point in time, I am in agreement how Oceania tests. Only if you request it. It's certainly not perfect, but it's more to my liking than Viking.

Thanks so much! Keeping fingers crossed that testing before flight to US is over for my Oceania cruise in August. Jumped ship from Viking due to testing every day. I personally know a lot of friends who were loyal Viking customers that are also jumping ship. Curious how all this testing is affecting Viking's profits?

I just read in the Washinton Post dated May 23, 2022: "Spain eased its entry requirements for travelers from outside the European Union over the weekend, allowing Americans who are not fully vaccinated against the coronavirus to enter as long as they present negative test results. Previously, unvaccinated travelers from places such as the United States and Britain could only enter the country if they could prove a recent case of the coronavirus, meaning they had developed natural protections." "As of Saturday, tourists traveling by air or sea from non-E.U. and associated Schengen Area countries can show either proof of vaccination, a certificate of recovery or a negative test result to enter, according to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism. Before the change, U.S. tourists had to show either proof of vaccination or documentation of recovery from the disease." Are you concerned about the test requirements for non vaccinated travelers to Spain? I don't see where fully vaccinated travelers need a test?

I had the same question as the OP. I am also on this cruise. I am going with seasoned travelers who are traveling to Positano for the day with me and other friends that are going. I'm really looking forward to it.

That is very impressive! My thought about sitting at this table with you and your teen, is the entire conversation going to revolve around the teen? Not saying you are like this, just have experienced some parents control every conversation about how wonderful their kid is.

It is carried by a magical covid dragon that spreads the covid dust in the air. Lol my covid dust remark was a joke.

What crew members/titles are actually performing the covid tests in the lab onboard? How many crew have touched the covid tubes before the person in the lab touches it to perform the test? Many people on my cruise left their tubes outside their door to be picked up. Technically anyone could have touched the tubes or kicked up "covid dust" as they walked by. LOL Just wondering what the quality control is.

Is it just me? I have been trying to book online to get an idea of price and the website is chock full of problems and won't let me finish to get a price. This has been going on for a few days.