kpgclark

Aloha! We are on the same cruise. See you soon. I really hope Viking offers routine shuttles into Budapest and not just for scheduled tours. We were, of course, expecting to dock in town and enjoy the city on our own at our own pace. As that is now impossible Viking should really offer shuttles at defined times to allow passengers to explore Budapest.

Thanks Milling73. We are scheduled for that cruise on Sept. 10th. However our hotel in Paris is The Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile. Did your original paperwork mention that hotel? Just wondering if they changed the Paris hotel. Can you tell me more about the ship swap and if you missed any excursions? Did you do any of the paid excursions in Paris? If so how did you like them?

This is interesting. I spoke to a Viking rep about two days ago and she said the Paris to Swiss Alps cruise has not been impacted whatsoever by low water levels. Please keep everyone posted. We leave for Zurich on September 10th and I'd like to know what to expect. Thanks so much!

Please keep everyone posted. We are scheduled for September for Swiss Alps to Paris and I'd like to know how they are handling things.

The Viking reps at the hotel seem to be wearing masks more often today.

I want to add that we were the only masked people on our flights, the only people masking in the hotel, the only people masking pretty much anywhere.

Viking passengers are “required” to mask even on pre cruise extensions. The Viking reps at the hotel are not wearing masks and there are 4 or 5 of them here. When a guest steps up they try to rush to put on their masks. I have no idea if they have the daily testing Viking ridiculously requires of passengers. There is definitely a level of stress that my husband and I feel as we try to enjoy our vacation prior to boarding the ship in a few days. This is a paid pre cruise extension with Viking. By the way, before being allowed to check into the hotel we had to provide negative COVID test. Then we were told that two days prior to boarding we would have to test again. Then every day on the ship we have to test. Honestly I wish we never came. I spoke with some Viking guests the other day who said several people were tossed off their ship. They also said it put a huge Damper on their enjoyment. We are becoming paranoid when we eat out or enter shops, museums etc. At home we have no such concerns.

As you all know Viking is continuing to test all passengers (who are required to be vaccinated) daily for Covid and, regardless of symptoms, and summarily booting those who are positive off ships along with their cruising companion(s) and/or close contacts who are negative. I know the vast vast majority of customers are against the daily testing based on what I see on social media as well as what friends and family that are scheduled to sail say to me. MANY people are cancelling much anticipated cruises due to the daily stress of taking the test. As far as I know no other companies require daily spit tests. In addition no other place that I know of requires daily testing including anyone working at or visiting hospitals. You don't get tested before going to a restaurant, movie theatre, concerts etc. Minimally Viking needs to change the policy to 'optional daily testing.' I just got a phone call from Viking after sending an email to them last week about this ridiculous daily testing. She was nice to let me vent, but the representative is not a decision maker and doesn't know what the upper management folks are considering at this point. She is very aware that many, many customers are canceling due to the daily testing and that people have been complaining on social media. She understands why people don't like it and she doesn't know why Viking is performing daily testing as they haven't communicated the reasoning down the totem pole. She knows it is anxiety provoking to wait to see every day if you will get booted. I told her perhaps a compromise would be to make testing optional. Anyhow, she said she forwards the email up the chain but has no idea what their current mindset is. So if you are against daily testing (they don't test anyone visiting or working in hospitals folks!) send an email to them.