PeabodyMa

4 hours ago, prunderw said:

Captain just reported positive covid case, 12 days without any covid cases.  Close contacts and positive case has been isolated.  No impact currently on tomorrow's port call in Nuku Hiva.

Great open and transparent communication from our Captain and Viking.

Thank you for telling us. Yes, open communication and transparency is important. 

20 hours ago, GKTV32162 said:

World Cruise day 31/152 - Puntarenas, Costa Rica again - one month in, and it's a croc!

 

https://kolbsontheroad.blogspot.com/2022/01/world-cruise-day-31152-puntarenas-costa.html

I love your blog: your descriptions, photos and sense of humor! Thank you for sharing with us. Thank you again for removing the black background. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Enjoy every moment. I look forward to more postings!

1 hour ago, GKTV32162 said:

World Cruise Day 29/152 - Sea Day - Bridge over untroubled waters

 

https://kolbsontheroad.blogspot.com/2022/01/world-cruise-day-29152-sea-day-bridge.html

Your blog is so much easier to read now and the photos are better too. Thank you for removing the black background, which made reading very difficult.

i really appreciate all you do.

Kolbs Blog is fascinating, but removing the black background would be so much better.

27 minutes ago, Diveloonie said:

I am loving all the WC blogs and following along!  I am having a harder time reading the kolbsontheroad.blogspot.com because of the background.  

I agree re: kolbs blog. Maybe the kolbs can get rid of the black background.

2 hours ago, JM0115 said:

Update from the Star. FYI. We cannot make any dining room reservations past the 10th even at the dining reservations desk which is when this segment ends. The systems do not go past this date. Viking Voyager also ends on the 10th.

Of course! Nothing is wrong. The FLL-LA cruises/segment ends on the 1/10. Many lectures will also disappear from the TV. 

12 minutes ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Unable to comment on your blog, so may I suggest a few corrections to your post regarding the Panama Canal operation.

 

Locks - You mentioned that both Pedro Migual & Miraflores have a single lock, stepping down to the Pacific. The last locks (Miraflores) are actually a double set of locks. These are the locks with the Visitor Centre observation platform. The original Canal has a total of 6 locks - 3 up and 3 down.

 

Pilot Boarding - As a Norwegian Flag ship, she most definitely follows OSH requirements, which are outlined in the Ship's Safety Management System Manual, as required by the ISM Code. When the pilot launch is about the same height as the Shell Door, the boat pushes alongside the ship and holds position. The Pilot then steps onboard, and is flanked by a crew member on each side to steady him. If at a different height than the Shell Door the Pilot steps on a ladder, while the boat pulls away as the Pilot climbs the ladder. If the Pilot falls he lands in the water, where he is hauled out, rather than hitting the boat.

 

Pilot - while the ship has a Pilot, in the Panama Canal, the Master/Pilot relationship is the exact opposite of other ports or channels. In other places, the Pilot provides advice to the Master, but in the Canal, the Pilot assume responsibility for the navigation of the vessel from the Master.

 

Mules - the number of Mules depend on the ship's size. On Panamax sized cruise ships, we used 8 mules.

 

Charges River - you only spend a brief period in the river, as after passing Gamboa you enter the Gaillard Cut, which was the portion of the Canal that was dug out.

 

Tug Assistance - on cruise ships, the tugs are not supplied for steering assistance, as the transit speed is above the ship's minimum steerage. As in many ports, they are provided to assist in stopping the ship in the event of a propulsion/steering failure.

 

 

Heidi13, Thank you for sharing your expertise. I learn a lot from your posts.

15 minutes ago, TERRIER1 said:

Didn't that world cruise leave from Miami?

Thank you, Terrier!. Yes, of course. 2017-18 World Cruise left from Miami. I apologize for typing LA, instead of Miami.

Thank you for kindly pointing out my error.

My apologies to all. I stand corrected.

2017-18 WC Corrected Itinerary

12/15 MIAMI

1 hour ago, PeabodyMa said:

Njhorseman- FYI, WC itinerary you found is incorrect.

 

2017-18 World Cruise final itinerary

12/15  LA (San Pedro)

12/16  At Sea

12/17  Cienfuegos, Cuba

12/18  Cienfuegos, Cuba

12/19  Cienfuegos, Cuba

12/20  Ocho Rios, Jamaica

12/21  At Sea

12/22  Puerto Limon (San Jose), Costa Rica  

Corrected Itinerary

12/15 MIAMI

End of Cuba conversation.

13 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

@PeabodyMa, there's no way the itinerary you listed in post #66 is correct.

I was there

Njhorseman- FYI, WC itinerary you found is incorrect.

2017-18 World Cruise final itinerary

2 hours ago, njhorseman said:

 

 

Cuba and Jamaica  aren't  distant  foreign ports. Did it call on any of the ABC islands ?

No ABC Islands., I expect Viking was well-prepared to pay $800 per pax disembarking in LA. No fine on pax continuing on the World Cruise.

56 minutes ago, plmesq said:

Why then was the 2017-2018 Viking World Cruise not also in violation of the PVSA as it left Miami and disembarked passengers in LA without a stop in South America?

It went to Cuba and Jamaica.

Thank you! I appreciate your expertise.

1 hour ago, Heidi13 said:

 

You most definitely do have a potential PVSA issue. The US PVSA has different standards for closed-loop (same embarkation/disembarkation ports) and 1-way voyages (different embarkation/disembarkation ports). This is why you will never see cruises from Seattle to Seward, all Alaska cruises from Seattle are R/T.

 

For a closed-loop cruise you are only required to call at any foreign port.

 

When pax embark in Port Everglades and disembark in San Pedro, the ship must call at a "Distant Foreign Port", which excludes Canada, Mexico, Central America and Caribbean (except ABC Islands). Your call at Cartegena was for compliance with the US PVSA.

Can Viking apply for a waiver for the US PVSA? Are exemptions made for being denied Port entry due to medical issues?

Ask for a later final payment date by calling Viking and speaking directly to a Viking Representative.

Who is the captain? Who is the Future Cruise Consultant? Be safe.

3 hours ago, brosen1 said:

Yes, it's a fillable PDF that an MD has to sign. 

Any chance you can post the blank form? It would be extremely helpful. Thank you.

8 minutes ago, brosen1 said:

We made restaurant reservations for the 1/23 Octantis cruise and just received medical clearance forms from Viking, so things look promising. 

Does an MD need to sign medical clearance forms?

There are touch-free wall hand sanitizers before entering the World Cafe and inside sinks. There are also touch-free wall hand sanitizers inside the World Cafe.

Could shore excursions payment be via e-check or did it have to be via credit card? Thank you.

GenVISA always needs your physical passport.

2 hours ago, LindaS272 said:

Viking’s pre-cruise requirements are always posted on their website (and usually in MVJ as well). 
https://docs.vikingcruises.com/pdf/14-210901-RestartPreCruiseRequirement-Malta-US-UK-FINAL.pdf

Where is it located on website and MVJ?