One region particularly affected is Alaska, where the shoreside personnel staffing levels have impacted excursion availability and staffing, Gray Faust says. So, the CDC is basically telling you that now isn't a good time to travel. The CDC regularly issues travel advisories concerning risks associated with COVID-19. Please Note: Guests who have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 1090 days should bring either a physician certificate of recovery or a positive PCR test result from within that time window. On Dec. 30, the CDC added cruise ships to its list of "Level 4" destinations you should avoid visiting for now due to high levels of COVID-19. Get up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before cruise ship travel. Itll still publish guidelines so cruise ships can provide a safe environment for passengers and crew members. Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not. River cruises are coming back to Europe this summer. COVID-19 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES . WORLD DREAM. How many people had tested positive for coronavirus? Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. For 25 years, we have always had the highest standards for health and cleanliness, and our protocol enhancements make Viking even safer. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. There are still entry requirements for certain countries and other nuances that will impact travel. Several ships recently had to skip port calls in Mexico, for instance, after passengers and crew on board the vessels tested positive for COVID-19. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Things are getting iffy again for cruisers -- at least for those with near-term bookings. To ensure your journey is smooth and that you are able to fully enjoy your voyage as planned, we highly recommend that all guests take a pre-departure COVID-19 test, no more than three days prior to beginning your journey. If the recent advisory or relaxed policies do not cover your cruise please refer to these Cancelation Policies and General Conditions, Rules & Regulations. For all adults ages 18 years and older, the cumulative COVID-19-associated hospitalization rate is about eight times higher in unvaccinated persons than in vaccinated persons, according to the latest CDC data. If you do go on a cruise during the COVID-19 pandemic: Do not board a cruise if you are sick, if you know you have COVID-19, or if you were exposed to a person with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. What happens if a guest tests positive for COVID-19 while on their Viking cruise? For a truly epic river cruise itinerary, it may be worth waiting until June 1, 2023, when AmaWaterways will sail its longest river cruise everthe "Seven River Journey Through Europe.". We may earn a commission from your purchases. If a threshold of COVID-19 is detected on board the ship, the voyage will be ended immediately, and the ship will return to the port of embarkation. Are Viking guests required to be vaccinated? Today I spent two hours on the phone trying to change my flights. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. The anxiety was palpable. or Vikings River-cruising vessels. (Proof of a positive test result is required.). New Details Released. Holland America Line visits 225 ports in 91 countries on sailings that are round trip from U.S. ports, including Boston, Fort Lauderdale, San Diego or Seattle. Places on the Level 4 list currently include Canada, much of Europe and nearly every country in the Caribbean. DIAMOND PRINCESS. You can't cancel your trip at . Even with these painstaking measures in place, who calls the shots and what shots are called can change by the minute. If they test negative, they typically are allowed out of their rooms to rejoin the rest of their fellow cruisers on board. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Reducing regulations and restrictions regarding COVID-19 has been the cruise industrys focus since the pandemics beginning. Viking is bringing its signature Scandinavian style to the U.S., and just released details of its holiday-themed voyages along the Mississippi River. Less convenient, however, is the thermal suite at the spa. Although an unfortunate situation, no one seemed upset with Viking, and all healthy parties were able to disembark as scheduled at the end of the cruise. With the new CDC announcement regarding the technicality for pre-cruise testing requirements, no onboard mask requirements and even vaccine requirements being relaxed, I think its important to stress that cruise lines may interpret this differently, says Annie Scrivanich, senior vice president of Cruise Specialists, a Seattle-based luxury travel agency. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Despite Iceland Public Health clearing Viking Sky for its shore excursions, Iceland Coast Guard prohibited it. If you don't get tested, it's safest to stay home for 14 days after travel. We have also seen a surge in bookings, with June showing our highest booking levels for Alaska cruises since early 2020, she says. Of course, if you do test positive for COVID-19 on a ship, you will, unfortunately, face what could be several days of isolation in a cabin on a ship or on land. I overheard numerous cruisers griping about wearing masks and taking daily PCR tests despite being fully vaccinated, calling the measures excessive; others seemed to appreciate the extra caution. The cruise industry has been highly critical of the designation, arguing that cruise ships are far safer places to be right now than almost anywhere else, given their strict health protocols. or activities executed and escorted by Viking-approved tour operators who maintain Viking's level of COVID-19 controls to help limit potential . I have 7 months before my ocean cruise. Please visit the Resources tab in My Viking Journey to see if your country of entry has this requirement. Ships with reported cases of coronavirus found on board in 2020 are shown on the live map below LIVE FLEET MAPS : CORONAVIRUS SHIPS: HOSPITAL SHIPS. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Find the right card for you. People have missed travelingand cruisingand theyre ready to move beyond the fear of catching cruise ship COVID-19. Theyre booking the best cruise lines and eagerly packing for a voyage on the high seas. Viking Cruises has extended the temporary suspension of its operations until May 31, 2021, due to ongoing travel restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Time will tell how everything goes after this initial hiccup, but were still onboard Viking this week and will hopefully report on a second sailing without incident. Viking is committed to doing all we can to ensure you are healthy and well prepared for international traveland that you will be able to arrive in your destination and embark your ship without incident. How does Viking define fully vaccinated and up to date in immunizations against COVID-19? Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol). In April, the country was considered a Level 1 destination by the U.S. Department of State, indicating a low level of COVID-19 cases, making it an attractive destination for our family. All Rights Reserved. A 55-year-old traveler on a $1,000 cruise for seven days might pay just over $100 for CFAR insurance. As arguably the hardest-hit industry in the tourism sectorcruise ship COVID-19 fears meant 81% fewer passengers embarked on a cruise in 2020 versus 2019ships are more than ready to be back and sailing at full capacity. In March of 2020, Viking offered all travelers that they could rebook to a later date due to COVID, which we did for Jan 2021. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Most guests remained in good spirits, understanding the risks of traveling amid an ongoing pandemic. or Vikings River-cruising vessels. Set to launch in December 2022, highlights of the sailing include light displays, Cajun cuisine, and VIP access to Graceland. Based on a recent survey of Cruise Critics readers, Gray Faust says travelers find cruises more appealing than other activities that carry a high COVID-19 risk. And with that, our vacation was over. They were scheduled by Viking well before what . Your subsequent travel home may be restricted or delayed. Guests who had disembarked on the morning the COVID-19 case was discovered were returned right back to the ship by local Icelandic authorities. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. As the leading small ship travel company, Viking takes you closer to the heart of the places you want to visit. Restaurants are sanitized between every service; all other public spaces are fully sanitized at a minimum every 24 hours, with high touchpoints sanitized more frequently every day. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Viking on Sunday was forced to announce a major revision of its soon-to-begin, 120-day world cruise after India notified the line it was closing to cruise ships. Things are getting iffy again for cruisers -- at least for those with near-term bookings. bars and lounges. The ports have since reopened after Mexico's Health Department overruled the decisions of local port officials. Physical distancing began at embarkation. Below is a list of frequently asked questions related to the Viking Health & Safety Program. Virgin Voyages: August 2021. As noted above, cruise lines also are requiring passengers to undergo COVID-19 tests before boarding ships -- a screening process that is keeping many COVID-19 positive people from ever stepping on board a vessel. They would fly to Italy and take an 8-day Viking River Cruise called "Italian Sojourn," which would travel around Italy's boot from Civitavecchia to Venice. WESTERDAM. They have kept all . www.vikingrivercruises.com. The health agency reported that. Virgin Voyages We cancelled a Holland tulips river cruise scheduled for April 4 days before their "new cancellation" policy and were told that it would not apply to us. Passengers feel safe and . Viking's recent sailing in Iceland departed from Reykjavik before a positive COVID-19 case was discovered onboard. Vikings policy is that close contacts who are fully vaccinated do not have to quarantine. If youre ready to set sail on the high seas, these are some great cruises to book right now. While Viking has also launched an award-winning ocean cruise line, the company built its reputation in river cruising. Yet we were still subject to the Icelandic authorities, and thats the cautionary tale here. Tubes are provided to each cabin in the evening, and stewards conveniently take them to the lab the next morning on every guests behalf. All major cruise lines currently are requiring all or nearly all passengers to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, with some also starting to require booster shots, to boot. Viking, meanwhile, has suspended all of its operations - river and ocean-going cruises - through at least January 2021. The cancellation is. This voyage, by contrast, ports in lesser-trafficked idylls like the spectacular Westfjords and small fishing villages dotting the the east coast. If a destination requires masks be worn, onboard staff and local guides will confirm the local requirements. We are the most knowledgeable, experienced cruise travel company. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection; Viking River Cruises; . If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected. Alas, I wasnt two miles into a nature walk through fields of Alaskan lupine when it was dj vu all over again. Fair enough. The cancellations come as lines struggle to maintain adequate staffing levels on some ships due to crew members testing positive. By the summer of 2020, most cruise lines had suspended operations worldwideand the entire travel industry came to a standstill. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. Is there a difference between what I can expect on a Viking ocean ship and a Viking river ship? Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Credit card showdown: Capital One Venture vs. Capital One Venture X, JetBlue adds 3 new NYC-area routes as Northeast Alliance hangs in the balance, It's back: Best-ever bonus of 70,000 miles on the Alaska Airlines Business card, Thrills for all ages: 6 best rides at Universal Studios Hollywood. Adults and crew must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. But if youre a rigid traveler who isnt amenable to last-minute changes, or you struggle to find the good or humorous in sometimes lousy situations, you might think twice before undertaking international travel in 2021. This page contains the most up to date information on conditions that may affect your itinerary. Lack of rainfall in . The CDC is providing support. So we have seen pricing become very attractive for consumers, particularly when other forms of travel, such as flights, hotels and gas, have record-high prices, Gray Faust says. As noted above, health authorities no longer are quarantining whole ships when a few -- or even a lot -- of passengers and crew test positive for COVID-19. Cond Nast Traveler does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 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