Certificate of Fitness

[KarNog]

On the Classic Panama Canal cruise, a snorkeling excursion requires a Certificate of Fitness, signed by a health professional, for participants aged 70 and older. I can't find the form and on other message boards, no one has heard of this requirement before. I'd love to go, I'm an experienced snorkeler, but I am old. lol I contacted Viking and the rep suggested a Fitness for Travel form. But that's a totally different thing, isn't it?

Any ideas?

[kctwinmommy]

I found this on a Google search...

 

https://www.padi.com/sites/default/files/documents/padi-courses/2.1.5 rstc medstate v201.pdf

[kctwinmommy]

This too...

 

https://www.uhms.org/resources/featured-resources/recreational-diving-medical-screening-system.html

[Snowcat1]

We are going on the western Caribbean Explorer and hoping to snorkel. Do you think we need this form too?

[CCWineLover]

1 hour ago, Snowcat1 said:

We are going on the western Caribbean Explorer and hoping to snorkel. Do you think we need this form too?

Wonder if it's a new thing?

We did snorkeling in Jamaica on the Classic Panama cruise that OP is referring to and we were 70+ - no one ever asked for anything.

Maybe the specific tour operator had an incident and so it now changing policy.  I know on ours there was a gentleman who was having problems but we got him out of the water.

[KarNog]

3 hours ago, Snowcat1 said:

We are going on the western Caribbean Explorer and hoping to snorkel. Do you think we need this form too?

It's listed as a requirement on one of the excursions for those over 70. I've never seen it before.

[KarNog]

4 hours ago, kctwinmommy said:

I found this on a Google search...

 

https://www.padi.com/sites/default/files/documents/padi-courses/2.1.5 rstc medstate v201.pdf

Thanks but that's for scuba. I'm doing a 45ish minute snorkel.

[kctwinmommy]

@KarNog D'oh! Sorry about that! Here's a British site that links to a PDF that you might be able to use.

 

https://www.bsac.com/document/snorkel-self-declaration-medical-fitness-form-2024/

 

And this one might work...

 

https://media.rainpos.com/3929/snorkeling_medical_statement_with_physc_sign_off_page_2020.pdf

 

Just thinking if you had something like those filled out before you go, it might help, just in case you do actually need it. I know I read not too long ago here on the boards, that someone couldn't even sign up for a snorkeling excursion (not sure which cruise line), because they were older than the age cut off. It's possible, the company's insurance requires this.

[KarNog]

Thank you! I think I'll take bits from various forms and have my doc sign it. I'd hate to pay for the excursion and get refused at the point, but worse yet I would miss out on another tempting excursion. Who doesn't want to go cave tubing?

 

[CCWineLover]

46 minutes ago, KarNog said:

Thank you! I think I'll take bits from various forms and have my doc sign it. I'd hate to pay for the excursion and get refused at the point, but worse yet I would miss out on another tempting excursion. Who doesn't want to go cave tubing?

 

@KarNog  this is interesting.  So it is the Cave Tubing excursion that is requiring this (which isn't snorkeling)  now?     We did Cave Tubing in Belize about a year and a half ago.  No issues.  Again, maybe it is their insurance requiring it.  It was a very "mild" excursion.  The demanding part probably came from the decent walk (20 minutes) carrying your big tube on a rock and dirt trail from the ending point to the beginning point.

[KarNog]

33 minutes ago, CCWineLover said:

@KarNog  this is interesting.  So it is the Cave Tubing excursion that is requiring this (which isn't snorkeling)  now?     We did Cave Tubing in Belize about a year and a half ago.  No issues.  Again, maybe it is their insurance requiring it.  It was a very "mild" excursion.  The demanding part probably came from the decent walk (20 minutes) carrying your big tube on a rock and dirt trail from the ending point to the beginning point.

No, that's my 2nd choice. This is the snorkel trip to the reef. Incidentally I have snorkeled that reef before and found no issues with danger.

[Frenchberet]

1 hour ago, KarNog said:

Thank you! I think I'll take bits from various forms and have my doc sign it. I'd hate to pay for the excursion and get refused at the point, but worse yet I would miss out on another tempting excursion. Who doesn't want to go cave tubing?

 

It sounds like a specific form and medical information is required.  Rather than just making something up, I’d email Viking to inquire.
 

Tellus@vikingcruises.com

[Peregrina651]

As Frenchberet has suggested, instead of contacting Viking via phone or chat, contact Viking by e-mail at tellus@vikingcruises.com. The folks at TellUs are higher up the chain and have time to find the information you need.

 

Be sure to include the following information in the e-mail: your booking number, a phone number, the name of your itinerary, the name of the port where the excursion is taking place, the exact name of the excursion and copy and paste the instruction about the form that you need to have.

 

Ask them to e-mail you a copy of the required form or else an explanation as to why Viking cannot supply said form.

 

Don't forget to check you spam folder.

 

 

[KarNog]

Yeah,the two chats and a phone call didn't work. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll let y'all know what I find out future reference.

[TayanaLorna]

Just looked at all the potential snorkeling trips for our Panama Canal cruise FLL to FLL.  Only Belize Snorkel Barrier Reef requires a Certificate of Fitness.  Cozumel's Scuba excursion says a liability waiver must be signed.  Insurance requirements maybe?  If it says Certificate required and I book the trip, will bring certificate.  They aren't going to know anything at corporate.

Edited August 1 by TayanaLorna

[KarNog]

2 hours ago, TayanaLorna said:

Just looked at all the potential snorkeling trips for our Panama Canal cruise FLL to FLL.  Only Belize Snorkel Barrier Reef requires a Certificate of Fitness.  Cozumel's Scuba excursion says a liability waiver must be signed.  Insurance requirements maybe?  If it says Certificate required and I book the trip, will bring certificate.  They aren't going to know anything at corporate.

So how can I bring a Certificate signed by my physician if I don't have access to the form?

 

I've emailed, called and chatted with Viking with no answers yet.

 

 

 

Edited August 1 by KarNog

[Peregrina651]

1 hour ago, KarNog said:

So how can I bring a Certificate signed by my physician if I don't have access to the form?

 

I've emailed, called and chatted with Viking with no answers yet.

 

 

 

 

Patience.  TellUs may have to call another department or two before they get back to you.

 

Also, don't forget to check your spam folder.

 

If you don't hear by Monday, assume it is lost in the ether and resend your original message. 

[TayanaLorna]

@kctwinmommy posted the best medical certification form that i saw here in post #8.  The scuba or PADI forms contain medical condition questions totally irrelevant to snorkeling.  Absent any definitive answer from Viking or their providing us with a specific paper to complete, i will create my own form based on this form posted by kctwinmommy and bring it to my MD to complete.  I've snorkeled extensively for decades.  Physical abilities required are a decent aerobic capacity, the ability to breathe in and out through the mouth, an awareness of ones surroundings, ability to climb out of water on a ladder and a lack of water fear/anxiety.  A medical statement saying the person does not have (or has under control with medication) cardiac disease, respiratory ailments, mental issues, anxiety disease or serious mobility issues should suffice.  I would bring it to Guest Services when I board, tell them the excursion it is for and ask if it suffices.  If it is not good enough, i cancel excursion.

[KarNog]

I received a call frim Viking today in response to email. Alyssa said there is no form. She suggested that I ask my physician to sign a statement that I am fit to snorkel and show it to the tour leader. 

 

Seems easy enough, right?

 

[rmalbers]

Isn't there a form like this required for the antarctic cruise/s?  It might be buried there somewhere.

[Mike07]

11 minutes ago, rmalbers said:

Isn't there a form like this required for the antarctic cruise/s?  It might be buried there somewhere.

 

 

There is one, but you upload said form to some third-party provider Viking provides links for.

[CurlerRob]

On 8/6/2024 at 4:02 PM, Mike07 said:

 

 

There is one, but you upload said form to some third-party provider Viking provides links for.

 

Here is a version of the Antarctica form - it is massive overkill for snorkeling fitness, but someone may want to abridge it for their physician to sign. 🍺🥌

 

Viking-Expedition-PreBoarding-Medical-Assessment_R02b.pdf