madrone

14 hours ago, Wander58 said:

Yes.  Just make sure to check the date if you are staying longer.  They gave us printed results for the 22nd.  I called Guest Services and asked them to  print our results from the 23rd as we were flying on the 25th.  I wanted the extra day just in case of any flight delays.  You can also get an extra spit tube and results for morning you leave the ship if you are staying a few more days - they will email it. 

We requested and received two tubes the morning of departure.  Left our samples with them as we disembarked and they emailed our results within 24 hours.

7 hours ago, VI_Lounger said:

Yes, but the cubes were out to sea and not many left. On the glacier side, the floating cubes were stunning. Still waiting to get my pictures posted but the other half is in need of a quick nap!

Oh my I'm disappointed as Diamond Beach was something I was SO looking forward to seeing!  I had asked if they were on the beach during Summer and was told absolutely they were.  That's ok though - I know it's going to be stunning anyway!

2 hours ago, C-sea said:

The main dining room "The Restaurant" may ease up on needing any reservation and may have an open seating policy as some cruise itineraries have already adopted.

I recall reading a post from someone who is on the Iceland cruise right now and they said their reservation at Restaurant was at 8:30, however they went at 6:30 just to check to see if they could change it and were seated immediately.  That flexibility could change for the next cruise that begins the 10th as I believe there will be more passengers onboard.  

1 hour ago, drsue said:

For those making their own flight arrangements, are we to meet directly at the ship or are we to meet at the concert hall? I couldn't find it in any of my Viking literature.

Viking will shuttle passengers to the The Concert Hall from the airport.  Around 11:00 they will begin to then transfer passengers to the ship.  I "think" this only applies to those who are either flying Viking or who have purchased a transfer from Viking.   My guess is that you need to get your own transportation to the ship unless you purchase a transfer and I think that it may be too late for that.  

2 hours ago, SantaFe1 said:

Sorry, all I remember is that they run until 9.

I saw a screen shot of the Daily and it said that passengers would be dropped off at Harpa Concert Hall and that there would be Viking reps there to assist. 

3 hours ago, SantaFe1 said:

Yes, to both questions.

Is that result from BOTH the Keflavik AND Viking tests before you can go explore? 

Once you have your negative test result and can leave your cabin, are you allowed to leave the ship and go explore Reykjavik on your own?  Are there going to be Viking shuttles into town?

1 hour ago, bardstowntraveller said:

We are on 8/3 cruise and are using Viking transfers to ship.  Given the likelihood we will be able to explore on own, we would like to visit Reykjavik on day one. Can someone tell me if a shuttle is available from ship to downtown?  If not, are cabs available?  How is the walk from port to downtown?

I understand that there are not a huge number of taxis, that it's about a mile walk into town and at this point not sure about ship shuttles.  Hopefully the first folks to embark tomorrow will let us know - can't wait!!!!

Regarding weather in Iceland today - here is a quote from a Viking cruiser who arrived early for the June 26th departure.    "Everyone in town is dressed in hiking boots and tactical pants. It’s been in the high 40’s/low 50’s. The wind is very cold. I have a rain jacket with removable down vest. It’s perfect. Rain is expected in the next few days."

SO grateful for the CC "new policy" regarding vaccination discussion !!!!!  My favorite board on another site is filled to the brim with speculation - accusation - complaining and has become ever so tiresome.  Glad we can use this one for more interesting topics. 

12 minutes ago, molymoo said:

I don’t know what the testing protocol was but nowhere was it suggested that no second test was taken.  According to the Bermuda rules you are subject to quarantine if you are in close contact with an affected person for more than 15 minutes and unmasked.  I have little doubt that the during the four hour tour the masks came off at least at some point.  There is the problem!

 

The gentleman involved in the quarantine stated that Bermuda would not allow the second test - they made their decision based on the one positive covid test. 

1 minute ago, patchicago said:

I contacted Tellus@vikingcruises.com and after providing a little bit of background on the four people on the Viking Orion I posed a couple of questions. I understand that, while not common, false positives are going to happen. My concern is that a 2nd confirming test is not done or that I’m put off the ship because I stood next to someone and they tested positive and I’m deemed to have been “in close contact”. There were probably additional questions I should’ve asked but they didn’t occur to me.

 

So, two questions then:

(1) What are Iceland‘s rules regarding a second test to confirm a positive Covid test.

(2) How is Viking defining “close contact”?

Exactly!  Those are my two biggest questions.  I too sent them an email asking them to address these two questions.  The close contact has me concerned mostly regarding the tour buses.  If they socially distance us properly, is it safe to assume we are not close enough to be considered for quarantine if someone on our bus tests positive?  I will share any info i may get back from Viking. 

1 minute ago, tupperny said:

What is concerning to us is that, if I read correctly, someone tested positive and was not allowed a second test (to see if the first was real or false).  There are several examples of false positive tests.

One false positive and many people are in quarantine for 2 weeks.  

 

Does Iceland allow for multiple tests?

 

If we are on a tour bus with say 30 other people and one tests positive, is the entire bus in quarantine?

 

We are really getting twitchy.  We are on the July 13 cruise, but our 15 day window to cancel is rapidly approaching.

 

Thoughts?

BIll

 

That is the question we all have and instead of waiting for an official statement from Viking, I believe we should all be contacting Viking via Reps and TellUs@Vikingcruises.com requesting more detailed info about this and what Iceland's protocol is and if it is contrary to Viking - what are the ramifications. 

1 hour ago, shipster60 said:

A few people have commented that they have done the same. I made a direct call to the Keflavik airport Enterprise office. They said the Enterprise facility at the port is still closed and probably will be in July. The closest drop off location is at a bus terminal that's a 10 min. drive from the port.  We would then need to take a bus or taxi to the port. I wanted to report this for those that assumed, like us, that if they let you choose the port drop off location online, it would be available. 

We've decided against this route. Our goal was to go to the Blue Lagoon after arriving at 7 am on the way to the port. We thought a rental car would allow us to do a little touring of Reykjavik on our way. We're now renting a private car with driver from AirportDirect. It will cost a little more but will be easier for us. 

We are renting from Iceland Car Rental.  They have an office in Reyjavik and at the airport.  Our plan is to taxi from ship to office to pick up car then we will return the car at the airport right before we check in for our flight back home. 

57 minutes ago, DaveSJ711 said:

Lots to report on our arrival today in Iceland. The flight was half an hour early, meaning we were off our IcelandAir plane (only about 1/3 full) before 6 am local time. Mostly cloudy, temperature in the mid-30s with a brutal wind, brrrr!

 

Even though other flights arrived at the same time, the airport didn’t feel especially crowded. Only a few minutes to go through passport check. Beginning in Seattle, we were asked multiple times for our CDC card and our pre-registration bar code, but each time our documents passed with flying colors. 
 

The last step was the Covid test. This was my 4th test — unlike the first three, this was two-part, down the throat and up the nose. Not especially pleasant (especially the nasal part), but at least it’s over. Then it was off to get our rental car for our 100-mile drive to the Hotel Anna on the South Coast, where we have an apartment for the next 3 nights. That nap sure felt good!

 

Unfortunately, it’s been 11 hours since our test and we’re still waiting for results. Much longer than what we expected given the short lines and accounts by other travelers. Now we have to decide what to do about dinner at the hotel. 
 

More later as we explore this beautiful country over the next 16 days!

I heard about the test and its unpleasantness...  ugh.  Oh  how I hope by July 10th we don't have to have that done!!  Wishing you luck - that is much longer than what has been stated as the wait time for the test result.  Does the hotel have room service? 

3 hours ago, MS52 said:

Not sure if anyone answered yet but that’s what we did.  $49 per person, each way so a total of $196

We purchased the transfer and Viking included red stickers in our packet to identify ourselves to shuttle service once we land at Keflavik.  This is the first time we have tried this. 

4 hours ago, cfgrandma said:

We are using Hreyfill Taxi www.hreyfill.is on disembarkation day to go to the Siica Hotel (next to the Blue Lagoon) for the night and probably to the airport the next afternoon. 

 

Carolyn

Have you booked a taxi ahead of time for this ?  We are going to need a taxi ride from port to the Iceland Car Rental in downtown Rekyjavik.

5 hours ago, LindaS272 said:

By midnight PDT tonight we’ll be landing at KEF. I’m getting my rain jacket out of my luggage and putting it with my carry-on! (Raining here too today).

So excited for you!  Please give us daily reports - I think we are all anxious to start hearing some first hand experiences in Iceland right now!  Safe travels!

11 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

I will be very happy if the weather for July 10-17 is exactly what is shown above. 
 

But as I said, I haven’t found the forecasts to be that good, this far out. 

Wow isn't that the truth!!  If that forecast holds then we are golden!! 

8 hours ago, Heartgrove said:

Cold weather predicted for the week of the 1st cruise. Forecast goes three weeks out from now.

Where did you find the 3 weeks out forecast? 

2 hours ago, philw1776 said:

My GUESS:
Viking takes us 6AM and later arrivals directly to ship. Departing guests all confined on lower decks 1-3 as usual assembling to leave. Cabins being cleaned per usual.
New arrivals all on Deck 7: Aquavit, World Cafe, Pool, Wintergarden, Explorer waiting for cabin cleaning. Eating at World Cafe, Pool Grill etc.
Maybe by 11AM to noon as disembarkers have all left they open up the normally closed for lunch restaurant for a special lunch, or not.

I think that's a VERY good guess!

7 minutes ago, Milliegirl229 said:

We are booked for the Iceland cruise at the end of the summer and when we booked we knew that this would not be the usual experience. I feel everyone's frustrations about booking dining and excursions and understand that the cruise is costly and everyone has certain expectations based on cost. I also think that those that are not able to be flexible and expect (in some cases seems demand) the same experience or they will cancel, should cancel. You don't want to be on a vacation that doesn't meet your expectations and fellow passengers don't want you on the cruise being miserable. If you don't get your way or feel Viking is not providing the value you expect please cancel. Those that are willing to be flexible and take the opportunity to finally get to travel will enjoy to the experience. I'm tired of so many being negative on this site, don't go but don't make everyone else miserable. Yes this is a site to share experience but limit it to your experience and leave out "if I don't get what I want I'll cancel", just comes off as a spoiled child.

1 hour ago, Mpc524 said:

We had no trouble booking with Avis for a 7/10 rental. Have you tried them?

We had no problem booking - we booked with Iceland Car Rental but that was a few weeks ago.  If they are getting bombarded with requests for reservations I just want to make sure they still have OURS!  Of course  i have an email with booking # so I'm not too concerned. 

3 hours ago, Heartgrove said:

If anyone on any of the "Iceland's Natural Beauty" cruises is considering extending their stay and  renting a car, the rental companies are beginning to be totally sold out.

 

With all of the fiasco regarding the shore excursions, checking our options I contacted the company that I have rented a car for a week post-cruise beginning July 24. I wondered if I cancelled the July 17 cruise would I be able to add an additional week in front of my scheduled rental on July 16. The response was that they were almost sold out for July and that I would need to decide almost immediately.

 

Thankfully I didn't need to cancel, but we did come close.

 

Yikes!  I have booked a car rental but I think I will confirm just to make sure all is in order...thanks for the heads' up!

2 hours ago, eldercruser1 said:

Just what we thought would happen!

Exactly.  This completely puzzles me.  Not up to Viking standards even if it is under unusual circumstances.