Viking's new Embarkation testing & mask policy

[voyager23]

With Vikings updated April 1st embarkation policy:

 

• Once you have submitted your first COVID-19 test sample, you may explore the ship while wearing a mask. Upon receipt of negative test results of your embarkation test, you may remove your mask.

 

How does Viking notify you with your results if you are walking around the ship? Does it show up on your cabin tv, so do you have to keep returning to your cabin to check? Are you allowed to go to eat at the World Cafe while waiting?

[TayanaLorna]

Assume it takes 4-6 hours to get your test results.  I am sure they will tell you how you will get results.  On our 2 cruises in 2021 we were never notified if we were negative but it was no big deal because masking was fully in force.  However they searched for anyone positive and would ask you to report immediately over the PA system if you were positive.

 

The mask policy always was wear it unless you are sitting to eat and drink or in a pool or the spa.  So plan on the same scenerio.  

[Peregrina651]

3 hours ago, voyager23 said:

With Vikings updated April 1st embarkation policy:

 

• Once you have submitted your first COVID-19 test sample, you may explore the ship while wearing a mask. Upon receipt of negative test results of your embarkation test, you may remove your mask.

 

How does Viking notify you with your results if you are walking around the ship? Does it show up on your cabin tv, so do you have to keep returning to your cabin to check? Are you allowed to go to eat at the World Cafe while waiting?

 

If you can get it on your TV, you should also be able to get it on Viking Voyager, the on-board mobile app. Download it before you leave home and use it onboard the ship. It won't be operational until you board the ship.

[CILCIANRQTS]

We were asked to wear our mask the entire first day, as it seems impossible to notify 745 pax individually.

Masking has dropped off significantly since then, other than on busses.

[RonnBarb]

We are currently on board Viking Sea. We were not notified at all on embarkation day. I guess it was “no news is good news”.

[longterm]

On 4/8/2022 at 6:13 AM, voyager23 said:

With Vikings updated April 1st embarkation policy:

 

• Once you have submitted your first COVID-19 test sample, you may explore the ship while wearing a mask. Upon receipt of negative test results of your embarkation test, you may remove your mask.

 

How does Viking notify you with your results if you are walking around the ship? Does it show up on your cabin tv, so do you have to keep returning to your cabin to check? Are you allowed to go to eat at the World Cafe while waiting?

We were on Viking Sky in March; we did the on-board test when we boarded in Rome, and were told that we'd be notified and would then be able to leave our staterooms.

 

We were the 1st passengers to board that morning, so we were in our stateroom at about 10:45am.

Never heard a peep. We were told that we'd see a notification on the TV, but we never did. We'd had 5 days in Rome so we didn't really want to go anywhere anyway, so we were happy having room service and watching movies after 5 extremely strenuous touring days in Rome. But still, it would've been nice to know we could move about.

I called GS and they had no information for us, so we resigned ourselves to remaining in the stateroom; finally, at 9pm, our steward came to the room and told us we were "released." 

 

At the end of the cruise, on the comments sheet, I addressed this, and Viking actually followed up and asked us more questions about what had happened. 

Our next Viking cruise, a 29-day cruise to the British Isles and Scandinavia, is a long way off, so I'm assuming this will all be a non-issue next time we step on board. I certainly hope so!

[longterm]

I just saw that the CDC has extended its mask mandate for 15 days:

 

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was extending the order, which was set to expire on April 18, until May 3 to allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant that is now responsible for the vast majority of cases in the U.S."

[PRH]

On our TA out of Buenos Aires, an announcement was made over the PA system.  We were in our cabin from 11am to almost 8pm.  Masking in public areas.  We board the Sea this Friday under new guidelines so we expect testing at boarding, masked until released by negative result.

[CILCIANRQTS]

2 hours ago, PRH said:

On our TA out of Buenos Aires, an announcement was made over the PA system.  We were in our cabin from 11am to almost 8pm.  Masking in public areas.  We board the Sea this Friday under new guidelines so we expect testing at boarding, masked until released by negative result.

Not sure how they notify 700-800 individuals who are wandering the ship.

On current trip we were masked everywhere first day. (so drink heavily in the Explorers Lounge and you can remove your mask!😉)

[CCWineLover]

We were on Orion Panama Canal, out of Ft Lauderdale in late March.  We got onboard fairly early by 11:30.  They told us we could go about the ship as long as we wore a mask (except when eating or drinking).  They also informed us we would only hear from Viking if one of us failed the COVID test (i.e. tested positive).   We met friends for dinner at Manfredi's that first night.  We had wine and some bread and had ordered our meals.  Suddenly at 6:30 PM, over the loudspeaker came the dreaded announcement.  The Viking speaker very carefully and slowly announced 7 or 8 names and room numbers and asked them to immediately report to Guest Services on the 1st floor.  We all pretty much knew what that meant (which was confirmed later) - they were going to escort people off the ship before it sailed.  About an hour later, still another smaller batch was announced (likely from the late arrivals group).  In fact, the ship left 3 hours late (due to this?)  The tension was palpable, sitting at dinner, looking at each other, and dreading our names being announced next.  The ultimate lottery loser.   I think I said I hoped we'd at least get a bite to eat!!

The strange thing is, the positive people could have been dining in Manfredi's or other places and could have been at the bars or other Viking venues with other people.  Didn't make much sense to me.

Edited April 13, 2022 by CCWineLover

[SJD117]

24 minutes ago, CCWineLover said:

We were on Orion Panama Canal, out of Ft Lauderdale in late March.  We got onboard fairly early by 11:30.  They told us we could go about the ship as long as we wore a mask (except when eating or drinking).  They also informed us we would only hear from Viking if one of us failed the COVID test (i.e. tested positive).   We met friends for dinner at Manfredi's that first night.  We had wine and some bread and had ordered our meals.  Suddenly at 6:30 PM, over the loudspeaker came the dreaded announcement.  The Viking speaker very carefully and slowly announced 7 or 8 names and room numbers and asked them to immediately report to Guest Services on the 1st floor.  We all pretty much knew what that meant (which was confirmed later) - they were going to escort people off the ship before it sailed.  About an hour later, still another smaller batch was announced (likely from the late arrivals group).  In fact, the ship left 3 hours late (due to this?)  The tension was palpable, sitting at dinner, looking at each other, and dreading our names being announced next.  The ultimate lottery loser.   I think I said I hoped we'd at least get a bite to eat!!

The strange thing is, the positive people could have been dining in Manfredi's or other places and could have been at the bars or other Viking venues with other people.  Didn't make much sense to me.

I believe you wrote in another comment that the passengers on your ship “partied like it was 2019.” I assume there wasn’t much partying that first night as people waited to see if their names were called.

[Sailor Sam 407]

We were on another luxury line in November and the process was much smoother than what is being described here. Upon arrival, we handed over our luggage and walked into large covered area. After giving our information, we went to one of 12 or so private tables where the test was done. We waited until our number was called and within 15 minutes we were on our way to finalize our checkin. 

We have our first Viking Ocean Cruise in October, so hopefully this whole need for pretesting will be a thing of the past. Fingers crossed.

[CCWineLover]

2 hours ago, SJD117 said:

I believe you wrote in another comment that the passengers on your ship “partied like it was 2019.” I assume there wasn’t much partying that first night as people waited to see if their names were called.

Ha!  No the partying began after the April 1st date when masks were no longer required.  🙂

That first evening was a bit tense, and people were also exhausted from traveling, long lines, and time zone changes....   Good thing the next day was a sea day!

[Editor Colleen]

FYI, on our current Viking Octantis journey, masking was required the first day, then they were optional going forward. 

[shadowlover]

If viking gives everyone a covid test upon boarding is it really necessary to have a copy of a negative result done prior to coming to the ship?    Does viking ask for these results?  I really rather not pay hundreds of dollars to have a test done in another country if it is not even looked at.

[CCWineLover]

58 minutes ago, shadowlover said:

If viking gives everyone a covid test upon boarding is it really necessary to have a copy of a negative result done prior to coming to the ship?    Does viking ask for these results?  I really rather not pay hundreds of dollars to have a test done in another country if it is not even looked at.

Only necessary because Viking's rules say it is.  They make the rules.  We have always gotten the tests but in our 3 post-COVID cruises, at embarkation, we were asked twice for the results and once not.  That time I even asked them don't you want to see my test results and they said no.  Very inconsistent.

 

However, I do not know what would happen if you did not get the test ahead of time and arrived at the pier with nothing.  What would they do?  I suppose they could so you can't board.  Has anyone done this?  A couple variations on this are:  you did the test but the results haven't come back yet, or you did the test but did it too early (like 96 hours ahead or greater than 72 for PCR).....

 

Would be curious if anyone has experienced any of these cases and what happened?

[Twitchly]

59 minutes ago, CCWineLover said:

However, I do not know what would happen if you did not get the test ahead of time and arrived at the pier with nothing.  What would they do?  I suppose they could so you can't board.  Has anyone done this?  A couple variations on this are:  you did the test but the results haven't come back yet, or you did the test but did it too early (like 96 hours ahead or greater than 72 for PCR).....

 

Would be curious if anyone has experienced any of these cases and what happened?

I have asked these questions in cruise groups elsewhere, and so far nobody can think of a situation where Viking denied someone boarding because they either messed up the timing of their tests or just didn’t have them. 
 

Edited April 15, 2022 by Twitchly

[austinetc]

We fortunately live 5 minutes from a CVS that does antigen tests. We're getting tested, though I really don't think we need to given our particular situation. But I'd rather take the time to get tested than spend 14 hours in a plane worrying about the consequences of not getting tested.

 

Also; I could call Viking for clarification, but the person on the phone won't be the person who checks my documentation on the ship. I know from experience that land-based Viking and ship-based Viking does not communicate.

[Let Me Travel!]

Dang it! Just got the email…masks though 4/30…I’m leaving for the Grand European River cruise next Sunday…I’m not excited about wearing a mask for half my trip…

[austinetc]

What did the email say? Was it direccted at only your cruise? We leave next week on an Adriatic Ocean cruise and haven't seen any changes. Masks became optional on board after 3/31.

[CCWineLover]

1 hour ago, austinetc said:

What did the email say? Was it direccted at only your cruise? We leave next week on an Adriatic Ocean cruise and haven't seen any changes. Masks became optional on board after 3/31.

 

I am surmising it was just directed to the European River Cruises.  Since Viking removed the mask mandate on April 1st, these River Cruises have seen a significant rise in positive COVID tests and subsequent removals from the ship to quarantine.  One recent one had 40 out of 160 passengers removed.

Frankly, I'm glad Viking took this step - about time.  Their policy of removing mask requirements but continuing to do daily testing was bound to cause this sort of issue.  I hope that they continue it into May when they revisit things.   Sadly, the River cruises offer much less chance for people to separate, especially with everyone dining together in close quarters at the same time.  On the Ocean ships people have the chance more to eat as couples or foursomes and spread out.

We were quite worried about our upcoming trip and now feel a bit more at ease - we have no problems with mask wearing and just finished an ocean cruise with masks.  Not an issue for us.  For those it bothers, they probably should cancel or reschedule to a later date.

[PRH]

Embarked on the Sea today in Venice.  Saliva test in cabin then free to roam ship masked.  Still no test result at 8:45pm.  Sister arrived at check in with “out of date” PCR test and was given an antigen test at the port before being allowed to check in.  We used the eMed proctored antigen test and no problem.  You are supposed to mask until negative pcr test result.

[austinetc]

2 hours ago, PRH said:

Embarked on the Sea today in Venice.  Saliva test in cabin then free to roam ship masked.  Still no test result at 8:45pm.  Sister arrived at check in with “out of date” PCR test and was given an antigen test at the port before being allowed to check in.  We used the eMed proctored antigen test and no problem.  You are supposed to mask until negative pcr test result.

Interesting. FYI, the Viking Sky, scheduled to dock in Fusina next Friday, has announced that she will instead dock in Ravenna, about 90 miles south. Something about the harbor being closed for environmental studies. Some tours canceled. Credit and future cruise vouchers are being given.

[Blackduck59]

We are just off of the Viking Orion, we checked in having to do a paper form which was basically the same as the "Verifly" questionnaire and show the hard copy of your proof of vaccination. They didn't even ask about Verifly, we did that why? After check in and security, there was a large room to stop and give your saliva sample. From there we boarded with the masks on and that was the standard for the first day. We had lunch in the world cafe where it was mask off while seated but mask on while moving about. The cabins available announcement came at about 1400 hrs. There was an announcement after dinner, about a dozen names to report to customer service immediately. Masks become optional on the second day. I think it was maybe 50/50 masks when moving around the ship for a couple days with more dropping the masks as the cruise went on. In our experience masks were required while on the bus tours. The crew wore masks at all times.

[Let Me Travel!]

Is there still the 7 day prior to the cruise health questionnaire?