Our Experience Viking Jupiter with COVID positive passenger, Tours and Packing List

[Doc who loves to travel]

We've put together a video playlist, articles and packing list from our recent Iceland cruise on Viking Jupiter.

We were on a cruise where one of the other passengers tested positive for Covid about half way through the voyage, and we missed one port as Viking worked out the kinks, unlike the Viking Sky. 

 

In our opinion, positives were and are bound to happen statistically.  Viking should have had action plans in place for each and every port with local, regional and national officials and airport in Reykjavik for departure. This is how they failed their passengers.  The Viking Sky passengers received a voucher for 50% off a future cruise.  Viking Jupiter passengers who missed one port, and may we say one of the ports we were most anticipating, will not receive any compensation. We do not know how the quarantined passengers on Viking Jupiter will be compensated, if at all.  They received a letter from the guest services manager and the captain and hopefully, they will be fair.  The right trip insurance policy should cover out of pocket expenses for them.  In addition, we wish Viking was more transparent about the policies that will be followed when you are "traced" to a Covid positive passenger, so that future travelers can make their own decisions whether they are willing to trek to a distant place only to be quarantined.  Here is our full written review of the covid situation.  And we documented our experience as it unfolded onboard - at the time we knew some information from the announcements and other passengers and were aware of the Viking Sky saga.. 

 

We flew into Reykjavik on Delta through JFK.  Air travel is really busy right now and even though people are wearing masks, many are eating and drinking in lounges without their masks, then getting on close quarter in a plane overnight.  People are eating and drinking without masks onboard and likely have falling masks when sleeping and snoring away. Perhaps this is the risk period for travelers? 

 

This was our first cruise with Viking Ocean after more than 50 cruises worldwide and we were impressed with the quality of the ship, lack of "nickel and diming" and level of service. Despite all of the snafu's we will return to take more Viking Ocean Cruises in the future.

 

In Reykjavik we visited the new Sky Lagoon.  See our full review here. and a brief introductory video here. We met with the marketing director for a better understanding of the new geothermal bath.

We saw the Volcano area and a lava tunnel.  Video introductions to come. 

For Viking excursions we took:

Golden Circle Tour - rainy and cold but beautiful - We took the viking umbrellas which we were glad to have. The waterfall was our favorite. 

We planned kayaking in Isafjordur but it was canceled.  We ended up on included Isafjordur and Bolungarvik tour. This was lovely, especially Bolungarvik. We went for a long jog otherwise in the town along the fjord. It was cold and windy. 

We had an unanticipated sea day in Akureyi due to Covid scare, so we missed Northern Iceland's Natural Beauty. 

Seydisafjord - we did included walking tour and went for a long jog around the fjord and town. It was 45 degrees and really windy. 

Djupivogur - Took the long bus ride to the Ice Lagoon.  We have our warmest day of about 60 degrees there.  Sunny and beautiful.  We did a short video at the lagoon here. We felt the bus ride was long but worth it to see the varied terrain of East Iceland. We brought Ipads to watch downloaded movies if we got bored. 

Heimaey - this is a beautiful island full of history and we took the Eldfell hike.  You could do this on your own as it is within 1 mile of the tender stop and easy to find but we enjoyed the insight our guide gave us.  It was really sunny and windy and the wind was cold.  There was a mist in the air from the volcano near Reykjavik. We did a short video about Eldfell here.  It is worth going to the museum to see the history of the eruption. There are shuttles back to the tender from the museum or you can walk about 1 mile back. 

 

 

It was colder and windier than we expected July 11-20.  We used everything we had from lightweight teeshirts to fleece and jackets. We didn't use our hiking poles but we are pretty fit people.  Lots of passengers  used them. Here is what we packed and/or wished we had.  Some have links to find them.  

 

Women’s Fleece pants https://amzn.to/2oGqugs
Eddie Bauer men’s https://amzn.to/3zcIFJf
Fleece jacket full zip to remove easily on hot bus https://amzn.to/3wQkrD4
Rain suit pants https://amzn.to/3iFGQxZ
Rain suit jacket get one size larger to fit over jacket/fleece https://amzn.to/3wTR2aR
I brought my thermoball jacket - lightweight and felt great over a fleece. https://amzn.to/3BeHmv4
Backpack rain cover https://amzn.to/3exXhLm
Gloves with touchscreen fingers for phone https://amzn.to/2UVS6xN
Selfie stick with quick release clips easy to use with gloves https://amzn.to/34rERUE
Backpack https://amzn.to/3irNcAO
Hiking trail sneakers https://amzn.to/3Bt4shV
Long socks
Entertainment for bus ride
Battery with two charging cords for bus https://amzn.to/3zddb5B
Knit hat great for windy days rather than a baseball cap https://amzn.to/3BnKrsY
Head mesh for midges https://amzn.to/3kxlkhb
Covid vaccine card cover https://amzn.to/3rjQh9X
Kiwi camp spray use on question able things before you leave https://amzn.to/2VRvejq

 

We donate profits from our sites to charity and hope to inspire meaningful and healthy travel. This was truly an experience for both of us! We truly enjoyed Viking despite everything that happened. We are optimistic they will work out the kinks.  Iceland was an incredible place to see and we will probably return in the future! Great people and definitely lots of "Natural Beauty!" We'll update this post as we get information together! PLEASE ask any questions that you have...tipping, taxis, gear, etc...

 

Glenn and Michelle 

 

 

[LindaS272]

Interesting read about your experience with a case on your cruise. I was struck by this sentence:

”Unfortunately the contact traced passengers were subject to protocols that are necessary.”

 

Not sure I agree with that. I believe protocols from the CDC, & what I recall of Viking’s with a Bermuda case, is that close contacts do not need to quarantine if vaccinated and test negative. I sure would like to know more from Viking if they indeed did require contacts to quarantine for days or if this was Iceland’s requirement.

 

With this kind of news, we have been wanting to know what protocols will be on the cruises out of Malta for close contacts. You can do everything right for your own risk and then be inadvertently nearby—on a Viking excursion—and be forced to quarantine despite a negative test and no symptoms. Glad to hear, as you stated in your narrative, that Viking will now assign seats on buses and tenders.

 

Thank you for sharing all this info with us!