Alan2504

Certainly  "the good stuff" some amazing Armagnacs probably  the best out-with the region 🙂

You can certainly "burn" a few bucks but oooh it so worth it 🙄

Considering my heritage I enjoy a single malt, but Armagnacs are certainly a "guilty pleasure"

31 minutes ago, FirstTimeFreddy said:

That's not what Staysure have just said to me when I called them. This is so confusing. So have Viking told you that your FCDO extension was not acceptable? 

I presume you took out the cruise extension too? 

Can be a bit confusing, there are essentially different FCDO advisories

"advise against travel"

"advise against all but essential travel"

"advise against ALL TRAVEL"

and insurance policies vary at what point they withdraw cover, when it gets to "advise against ALL TRAVEL" you are definitely "on your own" 🙃

18 minutes ago, les37b said:

 

Its unlikely your insurance will cover travel that the government advises against.

 

This is the advisory.

 

There is no problem with cruising in UK waters... just not international. So effectively making your policy null and void.

 

If your policy states you are fine to travel in international waters and to ignore advisories, then you will be fine. I for one would love to know the details so I can buy it.

 

 

Maybe search  "Travel Insurance Against FCDO Advice" ?

Well it looks like the Viking Sea 11th July cruisers are enjoying the sights of Malta, 

Live Cam Grand Harbour - Valletta (skylinewebcams.com)

Currently a lot of tour buses dropping off people from their morning trips

It would good to get some "live" feedback from these lucky cruisers!

4 hours ago, DaveSJ711 said:

With the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, did we place too much faith in the Maltese government? Perhaps -- but then so did Mr. Hagen, Viking, and the thousands of people who, like us, booked a trip out of what we thought was a "supportive" country. Malta has proven to be anything but supportive.

A bit of omphaloskepsis methinks 🙄

We are taking about a very nasty virus and every country has the right to do as it sees fit to protect its citizens.

Source: Maltese government website latest update

Travel To Malta (gov.mt)

Source: Times of Malta

Malta to ban unvaccinated travellers, close language schools (timesofmalta.com)

Viking Sea awaits 😎

Live Cam Grand Harbour - Valletta (skylinewebcams.com)

UK Travellers check the batch no. of the vaccine AZ

"Malta has banned entry to UK travellers who took three particular batches of the Covid-19 vaccine. 

In a travel advisory by the UK's foreign office, travellers were warned that those who were administered the Astrazeneca vaccine with batch numbers: 4120Z001, 4120Z002, 4120Z003 will be denied entry. 

All three batches are of the vaccine manufactured in India by the Serum Institute of India (SII), and known as Covishield."

source: Malta Times

Ultimately the decision whether you can enter Malta will be made the Maltese Immigration officer on arrival.

They will apply the laws that Malta has enacted with regard to whether you enter or are refused entry

to the country.

So that's why it is only sensible, if not essential, to read and understand the information on the Maltese government website, not what a Viking agent assumes or someone's personal  opinion.

I know the all documentation we received from Viking has the caveat to ensure you are familiar with latest information with regard to entry requirements of the country  you visit.

3 minutes ago, eduguy said:

This all I could find on link from above:

”As from 30th June 2021, all arrivals from the UK need to present proof of full vaccination with14 days after the second dose.”

scroll down the page to:

REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAVELLERS ARRIVING IN MALTA FROM COUNTRIES ON THE AMBER LIST

then scroll down through the list of countries and then it states

"Persons travelling to, coming to Malta from the above countries must not pass through transit airports outside these zones."

it requires a lot of scrolling down though 🙃

2 hours ago, Alan2504 said:

If you are flying from an amber listed country/state and relying on a PCR test, rather than a Malta recognised vaccination certificate.

Apologies, I have assumed a visit,  it won't be applicable if you are transiting airside, so not technically in the UK

20 minutes ago, Tom.in.nc said:

FYI to anyone connecting in the UK on their way to Malta, the UK is back on

 the RED LIST and you cannot connect through LHR, LGW, etc., on your way to Malta.

Just confirmed with a call to Malta.

Changing flights now.

Tom

 

If you are flying from an amber listed country/state and relying on a PCR test, rather than a Malta recognised vaccination certificate.

2 hours ago, les37b said:

Oh this is so damn frustrating.

 

I managed to get a reservation for the 24th July sailing from Malta.

 

Malta is green, so not a problem.

 

But Croatia and Montenegro are Amber. Luckily before hitting the "buy" button, the guy reminded me that on return (not day Id be leaving Croatia) I would need to self isolate from 10 days. Lucky he did. I thought it was 5 days and also that double vaccinated that quarantine was being lifted.

 

 

It's all a gamble who knows what will happen, we went for a post cruise stay in Malta to cover for the amber countries, so we don't have the 10day dilemma, if that changes we might re-schedule our return, I think the key is to have flexible ticketing and cancellation options, but it comes with a price though 🙄

2 minutes ago, les37b said:

 

Ive heard of people not being able to board a flight to Malta from the UK after showing them our NHS app proof - which is probably the most secure proof we could provide. Those cards can easily be forged and changed. There is talk Malta is going to accept the app - but not sure that''s approved yet. the certificate we can be sent (dial 119) will be valid.

The one who hold all the cards is the Maltese government and they set the rules and they change regularly if not daily !   Travel To Malta (gov.mt)

A few days ago they were insisting on the production of your original copy of your NHS vaccination certificate to enter Malta.

Interestingly the on-line EU dPLF (digital passenger locator) allows you to upload a copy of your vaccination certificate to the system.

In addition Viking are asking you to use VeriFLY to upload vaccination documentation too !

1 hour ago, les37b said:

After seeing a great Viking Venus intro video last week, I've tentatively looked to book for Iceland but dates couldn't tie up with other commitments, so then looked at the Malta / Dalmatian coast Sailings.

 

Malta might well be turning Green for UK passport holders, but the others seem likely to remain amber. So any UK passport holders would need to quarantine for 5 days and be travelling without insurance as any red or amber counties will be excluded for cover as they are countries we are advised to avoid.

 

So my proposed booking fell at the first hurdle. A real shame, I was pretty impressed with the Viking Venus videos. Whilst the offer to give a FCC was given if we decided not to travel within 14 days, the fact this is a good deal and future prices not as attractive made that offer seem not as good as it sounded....... And if a country turned red - tough - its still sailing and your choice not to go! Those words weren't used but that was the gist. 

 

For me to be able to book, I was going to have to cancel the final of 4 Seacation cruises booked (Don't have unlimited holiday!)..... so unfortunately its the status que now.

 

Whats the thoughts on this scenario for other UK passport holders?

Tack on a holiday in Malta post-cruise to cover the requirement to not to have been in an amber country for 10 days before your arrival back into the UK?

 So with Malta being green you don't have to quarantine, only a test on day 2, as it currently stands.

I know there is talk of fully vaccinated passengers returning from amber countries no longer having to quarantine, but who knows ! 

14 minutes ago, gma1 said:

 Unless Viking tells me differently I believe my  Covid Vaccination Record Card issued by the CDC is sufficient. 

 

At the moment the Maltese government is only recognising the 3 vaccination certificates as I listed earlier, so your "Covid Vaccination Record Card issued by the CDC" will not be accepted, however being in an "Amber" state you can provide a negative 72 hour PCR test to allow you to travel.

3 minutes ago, Empehi said:

After reading the first link it appears that if you live in an Amber country (or state in the US) effective June 30, 2021 you only need proof of a COVID vaccination received 14days or longer from entry into Malta. Am I missing something?

 

e

The Maltese only specify 3 types of vaccination certificate which are acceptable

 1)" A valid official Maltese vaccination certificate (age 12 and over)" 

 2) “NHS COVID Pass “– "NHS Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination record – full course of vaccination with 14 day after last dose"

3) “EU Digital COVID Certificate (Vaccination Certificate) “ full course of vaccination with 14 day after last dose"

If you don't have one of these certificate  and your are from an Amber country you can supply

"A negative 72 hour nasopharyngeal RT-PCR test result (age 5 and over)"

On 7/2/2021 at 9:20 PM, eduguy said:

Is there a %  cap on number of passengers or is Viking going for a sellout?  Will they close off every other dinner table?  Lastly, is the Restaurant still open seating or reservation only?  Appreciate your responses.

The only info I could glean was from the visit Malta site was as follows

Which would suggest they could operate at 65% capacity ?

Now, whether a cruise ship is considered "sea transport" that's another matter ?

Weird, just tried Firefox and got straight into MVJ, yesterday I was getting the unsupported browser message ? 🙄

4 minutes ago, Staffordshirecruiser said:

All sorted.  I rang one of the specialist insurance companies today, and they arranged cruise insurance for travel against FCO advice, so we are good to go!  I took an annual policy to give lots of flexibility.

We were in the same situation but in the fine print our policy only references

"FCO travel advice: Foreign & Commonwealth Office advice against ‘All travel’ or ‘All but essential travel’ to your intended destination "

So it appears simply "advice against" would still be covered?

Viking Ocean Cruise Ships Cabin Guide and Review (viking-cruises-cabin-guide.blogspot.com)

On 6/22/2021 at 7:19 PM, clairol said:

 Next trip kicks off in Istanbul... no car this time but we will be there for a few days before boarding... does anyone happen to have a good wine shop recommendation in Istanbul?

 

Thanks - or should I say "cheers!" 🍷🥂,

Clare

https://culinarybackstreets.com/cities-category/istanbul/2018/grape-expectations/

On 6/14/2021 at 9:18 PM, NeilP57 said:

For Queenie1603 above.

 

I am on the 31/7 sailing on Viking Sky and we booked ShoreX last week.

 

I believe that the 3/8 on Viking Jupiter has had their ShoreX released.

 

But so far that's all for the August departures.

 

 

There was a previous topic on this, might be some helpful info in there?

3 hours ago, tring said:

 

Which cruise is that?  Two of us from the P&O boards have booked the four night Greenock to Liverpool.  DH and I were part considering the next cruise to Harwich of 10 nights around the south coast, but decided a shorter try would be better as well as a lot cheaper, since we have not been on that sort of ship previously.  Also lots of ports on that cruise so would be very disappointed to only be allowed off the ship on excursions, as well as having another pretty big expense.

The West Coast Gems, I think the one prior to the Greenock to Liverpool cruise, hence my comment on the likely weather 🙄

53 minutes ago, seagarsmoker said:

I have waited long enough. Having two cruises already canceled, I am ready to cruise in November, this year!!!

We're in the same boat too 🙃

So doing a short  local cruise in July up the west coast on a tall ship (Golden Horizon) to test it all out

and get back in  to "cruise mode" for 24nights on the Westerdam next summer hopefully! 🙄