OceanPatter

Sorry for duplicating this post on another thread. I was told that in order to get the pre-existing medical condition coverage, the policy must be purchased within a certain number of days from the cruise deposit. However, if the pre-existing medical condition is waived, there doesn't seem to be a time limit on when the insurance needs to be purchased. Is this true?

Terry, thanks for highlighting the various news sources. The last one about Royal Caribbean sailing with vaccinated crew is interesting - as the other cruise lines (Crystal, etc.) starting up in the Bahamas, haven’t committed to a vaccinated crew ... to the best of my knowledge.

Wow, awesome photos of the Sun alongside the impressive urban landscape of Shenzhen (particularly that captivating second photo). Thanks for following the Sun’s long journey, Cruise Wonderland.

It has been reported on the Crystal board that the Serenity will start up 7-day cruses in July in the Bahamas. And Crystal has long stipulated that all  passengers will need to be vaccinated, in addition to showing a negative COVID test. So there is some movement there ...

Jim, Porcupine 52, SantaFe1, and Cruiselvr04 — such poignant stories you’ve given us. It says a lot about the community you’ve made here. And about your unsinkable optimism.

And Jim, you are so right ... it’s about time.

Thank you, chengkp75, for your insightful analysis, as always.

8 minutes ago, Jim Avery said:

Hi OP.

Yall are still in San Francisco.  You must be getting lonely as our neck of the woods is being covered up with folks moving from California.  Haha, just kidding.  Know you love SF.  Can you believe it has been so long since the Fall of '19?  Hope to sail with you guys again soon.

J & L

Hi Jim! Can't wait to cruise with you and L again ... in the meantime, you have an open invite to stay with us in SF (reverse migration). While the ban on indoor gyms (like restaurants) has just been lifted somewhat (10% capacity), we've been using an outdoor swim/tennis club that's right downtown. One of us takes water aerobics classes there weekly (masked-up, of course). Wish you were here!

Thanks for checking, Andy. To mitigate the language barrier, it may stand to reason that the staff will be predominantly Chinese. 

57 minutes ago, Jim Avery said:

 Ok, if not, when do we drop all this stuff and get on with life?  ...  I am more worried about lots of other stuff.  If we worried about weird diseases we would have never wanted to spend a couple of weeks up the Amazon.  😳

Thanks for raising such rational points, Jim ... you’ve always been the man-of-reason. Here in the Bay Area (where the ban on indoor dining has just been lifted - up to 25%), COVID is the least of my health worries. There are many other issues that are of greater threat than COVID.

Jim and Andy - the irreplaceable, dynamic duo! Thank you for continuing to enliven this board.

For those who didn't google-translate the article shared by Cruise Wonderland, here's a small extract (written from the perspective of a Chinese employment agency):

"First, I will show the results of the recent Viking Cruises interview with everyone. Congratulations to the 13 students of our school for successfully passing the Viking Cruises interview. It is expected to board the ship in March. In January 2021, Viking Cruises began to recruit in China. 13 students from our school signed up to participate in the video trial in early January.

In early February, the trainees successively accepted video retests from Viking Germany at their homes."

What's interesting is Viking's apparent involvement in the selection/training of the staff. I wonder if Viking's role in the joint venture is more than just its contribution of the Sun. Anyone know?

Wow, thanks for the informative ‘finds,’ Cruise Wonderland. Great scoops! 
 

I loved our cruise on the Viking Sun and I love traveling in China. When flights open up again, I may consider going over and getting Chinese friends to join me on the Viking Sun ... that is, assuming I can actually purchase a cruise for myself, given that there may restrictions.

Thank you, snoozecrooze ... awesome info and video.

Photo Is not as clear as those taken by alphawave7, but here’s the Grand leaving under the Golden Gate this afternoon:

Grand Princess seen leaving San Francisco Bay ... wishing  it a safe journey.

Always appreciate your comments, Chengkp75, which are always a fresh air, objective and balanced. Thank you.

Thank you, cruisathoning, for bringing up such valid concerns about future cruising, especially your first point. Tossing around at sea with no sure route/passage home is a non-starter for me ... despite how much I love to cruise. 
 

You made great points - food for considerable thought.

To azulann and photopro2–such wonderful memories of sailing with you on the Sea from San Juan to Barcelona.

To Jim and Lois—so nice sharing drinks with you on that early segment of the Sun’s journey.

Hoping we can all go ‘a Viking’ together. Soon. Again.

Until then, safe travels to the entire Viking family.

(Toasting with Aperol Spritz, with Golden Gate Bridge in distance.)

Thank you, chengkp75, for your continued presence on these boards and for your incredible knowledge.

Thank you, outerdog and sednabokos and others, for your screenshots/tracking of the Grand’s whereabouts. Great near real-time info.

Alas, we also depart in Montreal. 

To CurlerRob - so nice to ‘meet’ you on this thread.

To Tom from NC - I met a lot of nice men on the ship, asking them if they were you (the bearded ones), but finally gave up (out of embarrassment).

To Mr. Avery - please keep us entertained and enthralled. And keep downing those Old Fashions!

To all who are continuing on - wishing you fair winds and following seas. (And sea days when the roof actually retracts.)

Enough thread drift, Mr Avery and MadMarine!

Back to the important matter at hand, here is yet another fjord to add to CurlerRob’s portfolio: Saguenay Fjord, QE, Canada. (Yet another cold and rainy day.)

Nice try, CurlerRob! The first two drinks are actually a Dark + Stormy and an Aperol  Spritz. (The empty Manhattan and Martini belong to our inimitable Jim Avery.)

In contrast to CurlerRob’s Name that Fjord, can you name the drinks below:

There was a sighting of the aurora/northern lights last week, so perhaps you did see it on the webcam. The resident astronomer has been holding nightly sessions on deck 9 to spot the aurora. While we are a bit south, it’s still possible.

Sunset tonight, which lasted 30 minutes:

For those of you interested in the Bergen - Montreal segment of this world cruise (known as In the Wake of the Vikings), here are some observations so far, two-thirds into the voyage:

- weather: cold, wet and grey

- outside temps: 40 to 55 F

- seas: rough

- no. of days retractable roof has been open: 0 (I think)

- no. of sea days: six, out of 12 sailing days ... which amounts to 50% sea days

- no. of missed ports: two

- most picturesque port: Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

- biggest regret: not getting off the bus in Iceland to see the black sand and basalt beach (which was the main reason some passengers took this cruise)

 - nicest Viking gesture: greeting us with rum as we came back from a cold port

- most unique experience: searching for the elusive aurora with the resident astronomer on deck 9 in the cold, starry night

- most friendly encounter: meeting Jim and Lois at the Living Room bar

Best place to be in the North Atlantic: Viking Sun (you saw that coming, right?).