VitaminSea53 Posted June 12, 2022 #1 Share Posted June 12, 2022 (edited) Viking Ocean is leading the way in dropping required Covid testing Pre-Departure (unless destination countries require it). I hope Celebrity follows suit. https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/why-viking/health-and-safety/health-and-safety-program.html Edited June 12, 2022 by VitaminSea53 Clarification 7 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare itsanita Posted June 12, 2022 #2 Share Posted June 12, 2022 Interesting, that would take some of the stress off of us. Wondering if all the planning etc will go to waste if one member of party ends up positive 2 days before cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelayne Posted June 12, 2022 #3 Share Posted June 12, 2022 12 minutes ago, itsanita said: Interesting, that would take some of the stress off of us. Wondering if all the planning etc will go to waste if one member of party ends up positive 2 days before cruise. That would be better than not testing, getting on the ship and ending up quarantined for the cruise. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerelmx Posted June 12, 2022 #4 Share Posted June 12, 2022 One destination country that still requires the test it's Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baron Barracuda Posted June 12, 2022 #5 Share Posted June 12, 2022 This is a major turnaround for Viking which until yesterday was testing guests for covid daily. Those who tested positive on their ocean cruises were quarantined aboard ship but those on River Cruises were put ashore at the next port and sent to hotels until it was deemed safe for them to return home. A cc poster yesterday reported that on one river boat 50 of 150 passengers had tested positive and been disembarked. We're doing a river cruise with them in three weeks and are ecstatic not to have that testing risk hanging over our heads. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmoe38 Posted June 12, 2022 #6 Share Posted June 12, 2022 (edited) 31 minutes ago, gerelmx said: One destination country that still requires the test it's Canada Not sure what you are referencing. We live in Canada and, if you are vaccinated we do not need a test to fly domestically, or return home from international travel. We previously needed a test to fly from a Canadian airport to a US destination but that has now been eliminated. If you are talking about random testing of vaccinated travellers, that has been temporarily suspended for the period of June 11-30/22 and is expected to re-instated July 1/22 for vaccinated travellers. Edited June 12, 2022 by Schmoe38 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted June 12, 2022 #7 Share Posted June 12, 2022 49 minutes ago, itsanita said: Interesting, that would take some of the stress off of us. Wondering if all the planning etc will go to waste if one member of party ends up positive 2 days before cruise. So what are you saying? That if someone in your party tested positive you'd still go on the cruise? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerelmx Posted June 12, 2022 #8 Share Posted June 12, 2022 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Schmoe38 said: Not sure what you are referencing. We live in Canada and, if you are vaccinated we do not need a test to fly domestically, or return home from international travel. We previously needed a test to fly from a Canadian airport to a US destination but that has now been eliminated. To board a cruise ship that will dock in Canada you need the pre boarding negative test https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/cruise Edited June 12, 2022 by gerelmx 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ken the cruiser Posted June 12, 2022 #9 Share Posted June 12, 2022 (edited) I guess the USA is one of those "destination countries requiring it". I wonder what other European, Asian, African and/or Australian "cruise embarkation port" countries still require it? Smart move on Viking's part. If the country doesn't require it, why should they? Testing of Embarking and Disembarking Passengers for Cruise Ship Operators Choosing to Opt into CDC’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships Screening Testing of All Embarking and Disembarking Passengers Passengers with Documentation of Recovery from COVID-19 Passengers Who Are Not Fully Vaccinated Passengers Who Are Fully Vaccinated Passengers Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Pre-embarkation Day Testing Not Applicable Viral (NAAT or antigen test)[*] no more than 3 days before boarding; NAAT is preferred Viral (NAAT or antigen test) no more than 2 days before boarding [†]OR Viral test on embarkation day Viral (NAAT or antigen test) no more than 3 days before boarding† OR Viral test on embarkation day Embarkation Day Testing Not Applicable Viral (NAAT or antigen test)[*]; NAAT is preferred Disembarkation Testing [^] Not Applicable Viral (NAAT or antigen test) Not Applicable Not Applicable Back-to-Back Sailing[¥] Testing Not Applicable Viral (NAAT or antigen test) Recommended Viral (NAAT or antigen test) Recommended Viral (NAAT or antigen test) [*] Either the pre-embarkation day test or the embarkation day test must be NAAT. [†] Fully vaccinated passengers or passengers who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines may use a self-test (sometimes referred to as home test)—see specifications in section below. [^] Disembarkation testing is only required for voyages of more than 4 nights. [¥] Back-to-back sailing refers to passengers who stay on board for two or more voyages. Operations Manual for CDC’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships Operating in U.S. Waters | Quarantine | CDC Edited June 12, 2022 by Ken the cruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denny01 Posted June 12, 2022 #10 Share Posted June 12, 2022 I’m on a Mississippi Viking cruise and it appears pre-testing is still required for Viking itineraries departing from Canada or US ports. den 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deliver42 Posted June 12, 2022 #11 Share Posted June 12, 2022 Any cruise departing from the U.S. still has to pre test, unless there is less than 250 ship capacity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_K Posted June 12, 2022 #12 Share Posted June 12, 2022 4 minutes ago, Denny01 said: I’m on a Mississippi Viking cruise and it appears pre-testing is still required for Viking itineraries departing from Canada or US ports. den Yes, it is, but the new policy didn’t go into effect until today, anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Honolulu Blue Posted June 12, 2022 #13 Share Posted June 12, 2022 Thanks for sharing, OP. Much more interesting to me, IMHO, than the fact that Viking is eliminating pre-boarding testing is the fact that they're eliminating testing entirely onboard, except as needed. They were the one cruise line that installed labs on all their ocean-going ships (not sure about the riverboats) and tested everyone, every day. I wish them well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare itsanita Posted June 12, 2022 #14 Share Posted June 12, 2022 47 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said: So what are you saying? That if someone in your party tested positive you'd still go on the cruise? Sadly no, we would all cancel and stay home. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denny01 Posted June 12, 2022 #15 Share Posted June 12, 2022 40 minutes ago, Mark_K said: Yes, it is, but the new policy didn’t go into effect until today, anyway. I didn’t mean I’m currently on a Viking cruise, I meant yes, Viking is cancelling onboard daily and pre-board testing, but from the statement it appears Viking isn’t cancelling pre-testing for US departures. Since I’m on a Mississippi cruise in Aug, I was told we’d need pretexts unless further changes were made. den Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redtravel Posted June 12, 2022 #16 Share Posted June 12, 2022 I had ultimate confidence in Viking because they tested daily. It made me feel safe. Now that they no longer test, I may not be so quick to book on Viking. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the penguins Posted June 12, 2022 #17 Share Posted June 12, 2022 4 hours ago, VitaminSea53 said: Viking Ocean is leading the way in dropping required Covid testing Pre-Departure (unless destination countries require it). I hope Celebrity follows suit. https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/why-viking/health-and-safety/health-and-safety-program.html A great headline but the caveat is there and of course Viking can now blame whatever country has the requirement and that changes all the time. This piecemeal approach just causes more confusion. Better for testing to stay until every country and cruise line is ready to adopt the same rules. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare prmssk Posted June 12, 2022 #18 Share Posted June 12, 2022 1 minute ago, the penguins said: A great headline but the caveat is there and of course Viking can now blame whatever country has the requirement and that changes all the time. This piecemeal approach just causes more confusion. Better for testing to stay until every country and cruise line is ready to adopt the same rules. That depends on how many countries in a region have a testing requirement. I know that the US and Canada still have this requirement so it isn't hard to have different requirements for North American countries. Are there other countries? I believe Greece was one of the strictest in Europe but I understand they are dropping a lot (maybe all) of their protocols in a couple days. Protocols are disappearing fast. Are there other countries that still require testing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VitaminSea53 Posted June 13, 2022 Author #19 Share Posted June 13, 2022 1 hour ago, the penguins said: A great headline but the caveat is there and of course Viking can now blame whatever country has the requirement and that changes all the time. This piecemeal approach just causes more confusion. Better for testing to stay until every country and cruise line is ready to adopt the same rules. At least it is up to the country, if they want the tourism dollar then skip the futile testing requirement. The passengers will respond and the economy will help to rebound. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallnthensome Posted June 13, 2022 #20 Share Posted June 13, 2022 4 hours ago, Redtravel said: I had ultimate confidence in Viking because they tested daily. It made me feel safe. Now that they no longer test, I may not be so quick to book on Viking. I think the majority would be much quicker TO book if it's gone as you'd be the minority liking any of that daily testing nonsense. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VitaminSea53 Posted June 13, 2022 Author #21 Share Posted June 13, 2022 This is from the Viking website: “Jun 1, 2022 — Italy does not have a testing requirement. You must meet Viking's requirement prior to joining your Viking journey.”. Does the news from Viking on June 10th now mean that Viking won’t require testing for boarding in Rome? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ken the cruiser Posted June 13, 2022 #22 Share Posted June 13, 2022 Then there are the EU pre-cruise testing requirements listed at paragraph 7.4 in the EU Health Gateways Operational Guidelines. Would these be considered similar to CDC guidelines, but applicable to all EU countries? 7.4. Testing of passengers on the day of embarkation All passengers (except children under the age of 12 years) should hold proof of a negative: NAAT performed within 72 hours before embarkation, OR RADT performed within 48 hours before embarkation https://www.healthygateways.eu/Portals/0/plcdocs/EUHG_Operational_guidelines_CoV_June2022.pdf?ver=2022-06-10-140149-413#page26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schittenden Posted June 13, 2022 #23 Share Posted June 13, 2022 I’m really confused about what is so exciting about being able to get onboard a ship infected with a highly contagious virus. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canderson Posted June 13, 2022 #24 Share Posted June 13, 2022 4 minutes ago, schittenden said: I’m really confused about what is so exciting about being able to get onboard a ship infected with a highly contagious virus. I gather you weren't excited when you were finally able to go to a restaurant 'infected with a highly contagious virus', either. Some of us simply have a different risk tolerance. We've been eating out ever since it became possible again. Some people still haven't returned to restaurants. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schittenden Posted June 13, 2022 #25 Share Posted June 13, 2022 1 minute ago, canderson said: I gather you weren't excited when you were finally able to go to a restaurant 'infected with a highly contagious virus', either. Some of us simply have a different risk tolerance. We've been eating out ever since it became possible again. Some people still haven't returned to restaurants. I’ve had some long restaurant meals, but I don’t think any of them have quite made it to 7+ days yet. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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