Positive For Covid on Viking

[KBs mum]

2 minutes ago, SailorPaulH said:

I believe this is a possibility. I am taking a home test every week during the 90 day window in case I need to get an official positive test and recovery proof. This after a neighbor of mine, who is required to test weekly, tested positive and never had or developed symptoms.

There is a theory among the scientific types that it is possible to be a short term physical carrier of the Omicron varients in the upper respiratory tract, and not get infected to become a medical carrier. No idea if this is the case, the article said research was still a work in progress. Interesting theory though. 

[SJD117]

31 minutes ago, KBs mum said:

We booked before covid tests existed, it's a postponement/changed booking for a cruise that would have been bubble only ashore It is usual for viking cruises to be booked more than a year in advance. They sell cruises up to three years ahead. It is virtually impossible to get a refund of cash paid, unless the cruise is significantly altered or cancelled. Vouchers are not a cash refund, and only delay the problem. Viking's USA cancellation scheme is different to the rest of the world, a full refund is unlikely. Cancel for any reason insurance only exists in the US, most policies that include covid cover only cover government mandates. 

We either have a sub par holiday or loose the cash. We could postpone it again, but again, this only delays the problem. 

Individual country policies affect Viking policy. Some require 12 day quarantine ashore, or masking at all times, precluding quarantine on the ship. 

The point is though, what is the point of testing etc. on the ship when it is not a closed system and the chance of serious illness is slim. Passengers will be mingling with non tested and possibly not vaccinated people as soon as they go ashore. 

Covid is no longer pandemic in the countries I mentioned, its endemic. 

Interestingly, the documents we have from Viking, and promotional leaflets etc don't mention the possibility of getting stuck in a random hotel or a cabin much smaller than the one we paid for. 

 

You deleted my reference to Comment #25. That comment reads in full (my bolding):

 

"Booked it [a cruise] more than a year ago thinking covid would be behind us. When I got to the point of no return where I could get a refund I rolled the dice thinking certainly daily testing would be over by cruise time. The idiocy is on me in that regard. I wish I wouldn't have booked it."

Edited May 2, 2022 by SJD117

[KBs mum]

44 minutes ago, SJD117 said:

 

You deleted my reference to Comment #25. That comment reads in full (my bolding):

 

"Booked it [a cruise] more than a year ago thinking covid would be behind us. When I got to the point of no return where I could get a refund I rolled the dice thinking certainly daily testing would be over by cruise time. The idiocy is on me in that regard. I wish I wouldn't have booked it."

Not relevant, you missed the part where I said a test didn't exist at the time we booked. We booked the original pre covid for last year, then swapped when it became apparent that we would be stuck with group tours if we wanted to leave the ship. 

 

To turn your argument the other way around, why do you expect USA covid rules to apply in the rest of the world? 

[njhorseman]

1 hour ago, KBs mum said:

A thought occurs, given covid is often asymptomatic, are the tests picking up unknown prior 'recovered' infections?

I suppose it's not impossible, but trying to answer that question will send us down a rabbit hole of speculation because there are no reliable data on so-called asymptomatic infections. Due to their very nature we have no idea how prevalent they are, whether the absence of symptoms  is due to low viral load, immunity acquired through previous infection, immunity acquired through vaccination or any combination of reasons.

I'm not inclined to start debating the point .

[SJD117]

1 minute ago, Twitchly said:

 
By golly, you’re right! We could just walk away from the $20K we’ve invested and simply not sail with Viking!

Except, you know, $20K. Stuck in vouchers. Which we took when the “Holy Land” part of our Holy Land cruise fell off the itinerary. 
 

Maybe you and others who have kindly advised us to “just not cruise with Viking” can walk away from $20K, but we’re plebes for whom this is a crapload of money we’d really like to make use of in a vacation that doesn’t feel like we have an anvil over our heads every day. So until either Viking changes its daily testing policy or we finally come through our cruise unscathed, I’m going to advocate for change wherever I think Viking might be listening.

 

I believe you’ve said, in this group, that you won’t cruise with Viking so long as the daily testing policy is in effect. That’s your right of course. Nobody is suggesting otherwise.

 

You’re claiming I said you should “walk away” from $20K. I never said or suggested that. In fact, in my comment above, I listed three financial options for someone who’s booked with Viking, but doesn’t want to sail with the company now due to daily testing. Those options didn’t include “walking away” from $20K or any other amount of money. So please don’t put words in my mouth.

[KBs mum]

10 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

I suppose it's not impossible, but trying to answer that question will send us down a rabbit hole of speculation because there are no reliable data on so-called asymptomatic infections. Due to their very nature we have no idea how prevalent they are, whether the absence of symptoms  is due to low viral load, immunity acquired through previous infection, immunity acquired through vaccination or any combination of reasons.

I'm not inclined to start debating the point .

We have the data in the UK, the office of national statistics has been conducting random sampling throughout the pandemic, which revealed that testing of symptomatic cases and even routine regular testing was missing most. Hence we have stopped free testing in the UK unless lateral flow screening is required to protect those who are clinically vulnerable and require care worker visits. 

[KBs mum]

15 minutes ago, SJD117 said:

 

 

You’re claiming I said you should “walk away” from $20K. I never said or suggested that. In fact, in my comment above, I listed three financial options for someone who’s booked with Viking, but doesn’t want to sail with the company now due to daily testing. Those options didn’t include “walking away” from $20K or any other amount of money. So please don’t put words in my mouth.

The options you mention either result in vouchers, which is not getting the cash back, or are not available outside the US, or are dependent on the insurance available, an offer of vouchers negates a lot of insurance claims. The cruise not being cancelled negates a lot of insurance claims, as does, on paper, it not being significantly altered. None of the options you mention guarantee the cash being returned to your bank account, enabling the booking of an alternative to viking

Edited May 2, 2022 by KBs mum

[Twitchly]

9 minutes ago, SJD117 said:

I believe you’ve said, in this group, that you won’t cruise with Viking so long as the daily testing policy is in effect. That’s your right of course. Nobody is suggesting otherwise.

Only partially correct. We won’t cruise with Viking so long as the daily testing is in effect — after the infernal vouchers have been used. I wouldn’t be banging my head against a wall this hard if I could truly just walk away at this point. 

[SJD117]

1 minute ago, Twitchly said:

Only partially correct. We won’t cruise with Viking so long as the daily testing is in effect — after the infernal vouchers have been used. I wouldn’t be banging my head against a wall this hard if I could truly just walk away at this point. 

Fine. Just don’t put words in my mouth. I don’t appreciate that.

[richanddi97]

So DW and I are booked on the Octantis to board 5-7-22 and doing the pre in Chicago on 5-5-22. We have been looking forward to this trip for two years and like others, one week after we could have cancelled with a $200 penalty they put in effect the daily Covid testing and pre cruise swabbing. We get our swabs today and have been vaccinated and boosted twice. I just do not like the idea of spending my trip on pins and needles worrying is today the day one of us tests positive. I worry about missing Machinac Island or Niagara Falls and  we can never know when we could be exposed to Covid. We self quarantined prior to the trip and will wear a mask on the plane. Viking please back off on testing fully vaccinated people, we paid too much for this trip to have to spend each day worrying about the Covid test.

[Twitchly]

38 minutes ago, SJD117 said:

Fine. Just don’t put words in my mouth. I don’t appreciate that.

I’m afraid I made you a target for some of my frustration up there. I apologize.

 

Many people on various Viking cruise boards have advised people to “just not cruise with Viking” if we don’t like the protocols. I wish that were possible for us, but it’s not, unless we’re willing to walk away from a lot of money. I’m sure I could’ve said that more kindly.  
 

As you pointed out, you offered several solutions earlier. Unfortunately none will work for us. Barring a medical catastrophe, we are going on a Viking cruise this fall. I wish I could look forward to it more.

[sabrefan]

I think Viking should be financially responsible for the time spent in quarantine. You need to be vaccinated and you need a negative test before boarding then tested after you board plus tested everyday while on board. But after getting a negative result from the first covid test that Viking administers, you are free to not wear a mask. It is clear that masks reduce the possibility of getting the virus and yet they still test everyday, this is baffling to me. Would you want a surgeon performing surgery without a mask? It is clear that this virus is not going away. Viking’s covid policy needs to be consistent and daily testing without mask wearing seems to be inconsistent and as such Viking should assume some financial responsibility.

[LindaS272]

Once again, confusion that a lack of a mandate means you must not wear a mask. No mandate just means the responsibility is now on the individual. Masks are still recommended by infectious disease specialists.

[sissy2000]

On 4/30/2022 at 9:36 PM, SJD117 said:

By now, every potential cruiser is fully aware -- or should be aware -- of Viking's testing policy. Some folks like the policy; others dislike it; and still others are neutral. But for now at least, it is what it is. If people want to move to Silversea or another line because of the policy, then they're certainly free to do so. I'm sure Viking has taken possible customer loss into account among the myriad of factors that shape the company's thinking.

What is not taken into account is those of us that are "hostage" because of unused cruise credits.  It is difficult to just chalk those off to a loss and move to another cruise line.  When I have used mine up, if Viking is still daily testing, we will DEFINITELY be moving to another cruise line.

 

[eel]

I tested positive on April 18th on Viking Orion. My wife was also injured in an avoidable accident on the cruise. Here is a summary of what happened 

 

On Day 2 of the cruise, we went to the Explorer's Dome for the Whales and Dolphin's show that we had booked for 3 PM. When we go there a few minutes early, people outside said the show had started about 20 minutes before 3 PM. The group that arrived were surprised. We all went in to get seats. While in the dark theater, my wife Petra fell down the three steps in the rear. There was nothing blocking the steps. After the show, Petra realized she was pretty badly injured. The guy running the show took her to medical. He admitted he had messed up by starting the show way too early. Although X-rays were negative, she was in a lot of pain. She could only walk with crutches for a few days. After that she could use a cane and still has trouble walking. She saw her doctor and may get an MRI this week.

 

While in medical, the doctor told me he was looking for me! Apparently my April 18 COVID test was inconclusive. They test in groups of 4 and one of the samples was positive. They sent me back to my cabin while they tested all four samples individually.

 

I told the doctor I had a recovery letter and emailed him a copy. He told me it was no longer valid as they are only good for 90 days and it was day 91 from my prior infection. A while later the doctor called and said I was the positive test. I had to move to an isolation cabin for the duration of the cruise. My injured, immobile wife had to quarantine in our original cabin for 5 days assuming she continued to test negative. She always tested negative and was released on day 6.

 

Needless to say, we were in shock. I felt fine and had zero symptoms the entire cruise. I kept asking the nurse (who checked me daily) how my subsequent tests were going. She said nothing had changed.

 

On the last day of the cruise, the nurse brought me a "recovery letter" from the doctor along with my positive test report from April 18 and my final test from April 24th. I was shocked that my final test was negative. It is very common to test positive on a PCR for weeks or months after being infected. I asked the nurse to bring me all of my tests. After some pushback, they brought them. I was further shocked to see that after April 18 there were no positive test results! I find this incredible. All the facts point to a false positive.

 

In any case, we made it home fine after the cruise. I took a nasal swab PCR test the next day and that was also negative. When I actually had COVID in January (mild case) I tested positive on a PCR test for at least 5 weeks! No way I would be negative after one day.

 

On board I had spoken to the guest services manager about requesting a refund. She asked through internal channels but was told I should make a formal request to customer relations when I got home. I put together a detailed letter explaining everything and included supporting documentation, including all the negative test reports. 

 

Just today Customer Relations contacted me and said my request for a refund was denied. They offered a partial Future Cruise Credit which we have no interest in. 

 

I asked that this be appealed to management. They agreed to do that. On my own I forwarded my original email to the director of customer relations, the VP of customer contact and the CEO. I have also contacted a Maritime Attorney to see if I have a case.

 

We are one and done with Viking.

[Twitchly]

1 hour ago, eel said:

I tested positive on April 18th on Viking Orion. My wife was also injured in an avoidable accident on the cruise. Here is a summary of what happened 

That is an appalling story on so many levels. Wow.
 

If Viking is going to insist on continuing to test everyone every single day (and limit their post-infection-positive-allowance window to just 90 days instead of 6 months as, say, Canada does), the least they could do is be smart about it and accommodate for false positives. As was so obviously the case in your situation. 

 

It sounds like Viking actually continued to test you after you were put in quarantine — many quarantined passengers haven’t been provided repeat tests — but then they apparently did nothing with the consistently negative results. That’s unconscionable. 

[stretchcruz]

5 hours ago, eel said:

I tested positive on April 18th on Viking Orion. My wife was also injured in an avoidable accident on the cruise. Here is a summary of what happened 

 

On Day 2 of the cruise, we went to the Explorer's Dome for the Whales and Dolphin's show that we had booked for 3 PM. When we go there a few minutes early, people outside said the show had started about 20 minutes before 3 PM. The group that arrived were surprised. We all went in to get seats. While in the dark theater, my wife Petra fell down the three steps in the rear. There was nothing blocking the steps. After the show, Petra realized she was pretty badly injured. The guy running the show took her to medical. He admitted he had messed up by starting the show way too early. Although X-rays were negative, she was in a lot of pain. She could only walk with crutches for a few days. After that she could use a cane and still has trouble walking. She saw her doctor and may get an MRI this week.

 

While in medical, the doctor told me he was looking for me! Apparently my April 18 COVID test was inconclusive. They test in groups of 4 and one of the samples was positive. They sent me back to my cabin while they tested all four samples individually.

 

I told the doctor I had a recovery letter and emailed him a copy. He told me it was no longer valid as they are only good for 90 days and it was day 91 from my prior infection. A while later the doctor called and said I was the positive test. I had to move to an isolation cabin for the duration of the cruise. My injured, immobile wife had to quarantine in our original cabin for 5 days assuming she continued to test negative. She always tested negative and was released on day 6.

 

Needless to say, we were in shock. I felt fine and had zero symptoms the entire cruise. I kept asking the nurse (who checked me daily) how my subsequent tests were going. She said nothing had changed.

 

On the last day of the cruise, the nurse brought me a "recovery letter" from the doctor along with my positive test report from April 18 and my final test from April 24th. I was shocked that my final test was negative. It is very common to test positive on a PCR for weeks or months after being infected. I asked the nurse to bring me all of my tests. After some pushback, they brought them. I was further shocked to see that after April 18 there were no positive test results! I find this incredible. All the facts point to a false positive.

 

In any case, we made it home fine after the cruise. I took a nasal swab PCR test the next day and that was also negative. When I actually had COVID in January (mild case) I tested positive on a PCR test for at least 5 weeks! No way I would be negative after one day.

 

On board I had spoken to the guest services manager about requesting a refund. She asked through internal channels but was told I should make a formal request to customer relations when I got home. I put together a detailed letter explaining everything and included supporting documentation, including all the negative test reports. 

 

Just today Customer Relations contacted me and said my request for a refund was denied. They offered a partial Future Cruise Credit which we have no interest in. 

 

I asked that this be appealed to management. They agreed to do that. On my own I forwarded my original email to the director of customer relations, the VP of customer contact and the CEO. I have also contacted a Maritime Attorney to see if I have a case.

 

We are one and done with Viking.

Did you have trip insurance? Will your trip insurance cover?

[brianw123]

11 hours ago, eel said:

I tested positive on April 18th on Viking Orion. My wife was also injured in an avoidable accident on the cruise. Here is a summary of what happened 

 

On Day 2 of the cruise, we went to the Explorer's Dome for the Whales and Dolphin's show that we had booked for 3 PM. When we go there a few minutes early, people outside said the show had started about 20 minutes before 3 PM. The group that arrived were surprised. We all went in to get seats. While in the dark theater, my wife Petra fell down the three steps in the rear. There was nothing blocking the steps. After the show, Petra realized she was pretty badly injured. The guy running the show took her to medical. He admitted he had messed up by starting the show way too early. Although X-rays were negative, she was in a lot of pain. She could only walk with crutches for a few days. After that she could use a cane and still has trouble walking. She saw her doctor and may get an MRI this week.

 

While in medical, the doctor told me he was looking for me! Apparently my April 18 COVID test was inconclusive. They test in groups of 4 and one of the samples was positive. They sent me back to my cabin while they tested all four samples individually.

 

I told the doctor I had a recovery letter and emailed him a copy. He told me it was no longer valid as they are only good for 90 days and it was day 91 from my prior infection. A while later the doctor called and said I was the positive test. I had to move to an isolation cabin for the duration of the cruise. My injured, immobile wife had to quarantine in our original cabin for 5 days assuming she continued to test negative. She always tested negative and was released on day 6.

 

Needless to say, we were in shock. I felt fine and had zero symptoms the entire cruise. I kept asking the nurse (who checked me daily) how my subsequent tests were going. She said nothing had changed.

 

On the last day of the cruise, the nurse brought me a "recovery letter" from the doctor along with my positive test report from April 18 and my final test from April 24th. I was shocked that my final test was negative. It is very common to test positive on a PCR for weeks or months after being infected. I asked the nurse to bring me all of my tests. After some pushback, they brought them. I was further shocked to see that after April 18 there were no positive test results! I find this incredible. All the facts point to a false positive.

 

In any case, we made it home fine after the cruise. I took a nasal swab PCR test the next day and that was also negative. When I actually had COVID in January (mild case) I tested positive on a PCR test for at least 5 weeks! No way I would be negative after one day.

 

On board I had spoken to the guest services manager about requesting a refund. She asked through internal channels but was told I should make a formal request to customer relations when I got home. I put together a detailed letter explaining everything and included supporting documentation, including all the negative test reports. 

 

Just today Customer Relations contacted me and said my request for a refund was denied. They offered a partial Future Cruise Credit which we have no interest in. 

 

I asked that this be appealed to management. They agreed to do that. On my own I forwarded my original email to the director of customer relations, the VP of customer contact and the CEO. I have also contacted a Maritime Attorney to see if I have a case.

 

We are one and done with Viking.

Shocking. I hope you can take Viking to court. You deserve damages beyond the cost of the cruise. Good luck.

[molymoo]

12 hours ago, eel said:

I tested positive on April 18th on Viking Orion. My wife was also injured in an avoidable accident on the cruise. Here is a summary of what happened 

 

On Day 2 of the cruise, we went to the Explorer's Dome for the Whales and Dolphin's show that we had booked for 3 PM. When we go there a few minutes early, people outside said the show had started about 20 minutes before 3 PM. The group that arrived were surprised. We all went in to get seats. While in the dark theater, my wife Petra fell down the three steps in the rear. There was nothing blocking the steps. After the show, Petra realized she was pretty badly injured. The guy running the show took her to medical. He admitted he had messed up by starting the show way too early. Although X-rays were negative, she was in a lot of pain. She could only walk with crutches for a few days. After that she could use a cane and still has trouble walking. She saw her doctor and may get an MRI this week.

 

While in medical, the doctor told me he was looking for me! Apparently my April 18 COVID test was inconclusive. They test in groups of 4 and one of the samples was positive. They sent me back to my cabin while they tested all four samples individually.

 

I told the doctor I had a recovery letter and emailed him a copy. He told me it was no longer valid as they are only good for 90 days and it was day 91 from my prior infection. A while later the doctor called and said I was the positive test. I had to move to an isolation cabin for the duration of the cruise. My injured, immobile wife had to quarantine in our original cabin for 5 days assuming she continued to test negative. She always tested negative and was released on day 6.

 

Needless to say, we were in shock. I felt fine and had zero symptoms the entire cruise. I kept asking the nurse (who checked me daily) how my subsequent tests were going. She said nothing had changed.

 

On the last day of the cruise, the nurse brought me a "recovery letter" from the doctor along with my positive test report from April 18 and my final test from April 24th. I was shocked that my final test was negative. It is very common to test positive on a PCR for weeks or months after being infected. I asked the nurse to bring me all of my tests. After some pushback, they brought them. I was further shocked to see that after April 18 there were no positive test results! I find this incredible. All the facts point to a false positive.

 

In any case, we made it home fine after the cruise. I took a nasal swab PCR test the next day and that was also negative. When I actually had COVID in January (mild case) I tested positive on a PCR test for at least 5 weeks! No way I would be negative after one day.

 

On board I had spoken to the guest services manager about requesting a refund. She asked through internal channels but was told I should make a formal request to customer relations when I got home. I put together a detailed letter explaining everything and included supporting documentation, including all the negative test reports. 

 

Just today Customer Relations contacted me and said my request for a refund was denied. They offered a partial Future Cruise Credit which we have no interest in. 

 

I asked that this be appealed to management. They agreed to do that. On my own I forwarded my original email to the director of customer relations, the VP of customer contact and the CEO. I have also contacted a Maritime Attorney to see if I have a case.

 

We are one and done with Viking.

I will agree with others that this is an appalling story and you have made some very serious accusations against Viking.  If it is true I wish you well in your endeavors to make things right but ... call me a skeptic ... I am thinking that your story is just that ... a story.  

[eel]

55 minutes ago, molymoo said:

I will agree with others that this is an appalling story and you have made some very serious accusations against Viking.  If it is true I wish you well in your endeavors to make things right but ... call me a skeptic ... I am thinking that your story is just that ... a story.  

I have copies of the tests. It is completely true.

[Squawkman]

My injured, immobile wife had to quarantine in our original cabin for 5 days assuming she continued to test negative. She always tested negative and was released on day 6.

 

Wasn't your wife given the option of quarantining with you? If you had a false positive (as you assert), she wouldn't have contracted Covid and you could have stayed together, eaten together, etc.

 

1 hour ago, molymoo said:

I will agree with others that this is an appalling story and you have made some very serious accusations against Viking.  If it is true I wish you well in your endeavors to make things right but ... call me a skeptic ... I am thinking that your story is just that ... a story.  

There are some pieces to this story which raise questions - like blaming her fall on the show starting early. My wife fell on cobblestone going back to the bus on a Viking excursion in 2019. The Viking doctor said she could have a minor fracture in her wrist, but luckily, it wasn't when she saw her orthopedist when we got back home. Should she have sued Viking because she had to walk on cobblestone to get to the bus? And why should you get cash when everyone else is offered FCC? I'm sure many would prefer cash back, but Viking has no obligation to do so. 

 

 

[PeterPan48]

I am so sorry to hear of the troubles you and your wife experienced on your most recent voyage. I’m glad you requested and received documentation of serialized negative Covid tests while on the ship. Your commentary sounds reasonable without hysteria. I believe what you have said you experienced is true. Best of luck to you in being made whole with additional compensation for having to isolate for the entire trip.

[eel]

29 minutes ago, Squawkman said:

My injured, immobile wife had to quarantine in our original cabin for 5 days assuming she continued to test negative. She always tested negative and was released on day 6.

 

Wasn't your wife given the option of quarantining with you? If you had a false positive (as you assert), she wouldn't have contracted Covid and you could have stayed together, eaten together, etc.

 

There are some pieces to this story which raise questions - like blaming her fall on the show starting early. My wife fell on cobblestone going back to the bus on a Viking excursion in 2019. The Viking doctor said she could have a minor fracture in her wrist, but luckily, it wasn't when she saw her orthopedist when we got back home. Should she have sued Viking because she had to walk on cobblestone to get to the bus? And why should you get cash when everyone else is offered FCC? I'm sure many would prefer cash back, but Viking has no obligation to do so. 

 

 

Yes, my wife was given the option to quarantine with me. At that point I thought that I could have COVID and did not want to infect her. Also, she would have been confined until we got off the ship and would have had to pack up while on crutches. After 5 days she was able to get around with a cane.

 

Your wife fell off-ship. Mine fell on the ship in an area where there should have been a barrier. Later in the cruise, they put a table in front of the stairs so it would not happen again.

 

 

[Heidi13]

14 hours ago, eel said:

I tested positive on April 18th on Viking Orion. My wife was also injured in an avoidable accident on the cruise. Here is a summary of what happened 

 

On Day 2 of the cruise, we went to the Explorer's Dome for the Whales and Dolphin's show that we had booked for 3 PM. When we go there a few minutes early, people outside said the show had started about 20 minutes before 3 PM. The group that arrived were surprised. We all went in to get seats. While in the dark theater, my wife Petra fell down the three steps in the rear. There was nothing blocking the steps. After the show, Petra realized she was pretty badly injured. The guy running the show took her to medical. He admitted he had messed up by starting the show way too early. Although X-rays were negative, she was in a lot of pain. She could only walk with crutches for a few days. After that she could use a cane and still has trouble walking. She saw her doctor and may get an MRI this week.

 

While in medical, the doctor told me he was looking for me! Apparently my April 18 COVID test was inconclusive. They test in groups of 4 and one of the samples was positive. They sent me back to my cabin while they tested all four samples individually.

 

I told the doctor I had a recovery letter and emailed him a copy. He told me it was no longer valid as they are only good for 90 days and it was day 91 from my prior infection. A while later the doctor called and said I was the positive test. I had to move to an isolation cabin for the duration of the cruise. My injured, immobile wife had to quarantine in our original cabin for 5 days assuming she continued to test negative. She always tested negative and was released on day 6.

 

Needless to say, we were in shock. I felt fine and had zero symptoms the entire cruise. I kept asking the nurse (who checked me daily) how my subsequent tests were going. She said nothing had changed.

 

On the last day of the cruise, the nurse brought me a "recovery letter" from the doctor along with my positive test report from April 18 and my final test from April 24th. I was shocked that my final test was negative. It is very common to test positive on a PCR for weeks or months after being infected. I asked the nurse to bring me all of my tests. After some pushback, they brought them. I was further shocked to see that after April 18 there were no positive test results! I find this incredible. All the facts point to a false positive.

 

In any case, we made it home fine after the cruise. I took a nasal swab PCR test the next day and that was also negative. When I actually had COVID in January (mild case) I tested positive on a PCR test for at least 5 weeks! No way I would be negative after one day.

 

On board I had spoken to the guest services manager about requesting a refund. She asked through internal channels but was told I should make a formal request to customer relations when I got home. I put together a detailed letter explaining everything and included supporting documentation, including all the negative test reports. 

 

Just today Customer Relations contacted me and said my request for a refund was denied. They offered a partial Future Cruise Credit which we have no interest in. 

 

I asked that this be appealed to management. They agreed to do that. On my own I forwarded my original email to the director of customer relations, the VP of customer contact and the CEO. I have also contacted a Maritime Attorney to see if I have a case.

 

We are one and done with Viking.

 

I concur, this certainly was an avoidable accident, as most are, provided you make good choices. So, I can think of a few options that were available:

 

1) Call the Purser's Office to have the Cruise Director paged to the Explorers Lounge to resolve the timing issue. With 20 mins to the proper start time, the CD had time to resolve. Even if it re-started late, better and safer for all.

 

2) Book tickets for another showing

3) Enter an unfamiliar very dark space with tiered stairs from a very bright space, which I note is at the top/fwd end of the ship, which extenuates any ship's movement in a seaway. I certainly hope, upon entering the space, you remained stationary and holding on, for the up to 2 to 3 minutes it takes for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark. I note that as I get older, it takes longer for my eyes to adjust.

Then they will consider a multitude of other considerations - glasses (tinted/bi/tri focal, footwear, anything to drink recently, previous gate steady/unsteady, carrying anything, hair partially covering the face, etc. If you failed to provide eye adjustment time, upon entering the dark space, it further compounds a poor decision.

 

Yes, it is poor customer service that the crew started the film early, but that wasn't the root cause of your wife's accident. Unfortunately, you made a poor choice to enter a dark and unfamiliar space on a ship at sea.

 

 

[Squawkman]

13 minutes ago, PeterPan48 said:

I am so sorry to hear of the troubles you and your wife experienced on your most recent voyage. I’m glad you requested and received documentation of serialized negative Covid tests while on the ship. Your commentary sounds reasonable without hysteria. I believe what you have said you experienced is true. Best of luck to you in being made whole with additional compensation for having to isolate for the entire trip.

The routine is the same for all who test positive while on  board. If someone is quarantined in the middle or end of the cruise - or a partner chooses to quarantine together and subsequently becomes positive days later - the quarantine must continue post-cruise until 10 days are completed which the CDC requires to return to the USA.. Usually this is in a hotel, but it may be on the same ship in a quarantine cabin. Sorry, but eel's situation followed the same rules all who tested positive did. 

 

Covid is what it is, and although there will always be issues, Viking does compensate well compared to other cruise lines. Check this out:  https://www.khon2.com/coronavirus/covid-in-hawaii-we-are-in-princess-cruise-jail-now/