peggy655

I am usually comfortable booking own flights as long as I plan on arriving a day earlier than embarkation. The Covid pandemic flight schedules have tipped the scales to pay the additional $100 pp to Viking Air plus. I am scheduled for the 9/28/2022 and noticed no direct flights from my home airport to Bergen, Norway. The connecting flights from airlines and their hubs had very long waiting times in between for next flights or multiple stopovers. Viking Air Plus had availability on connecting flights shown as sold out(probably buys blocks of seats) which made my travel arrangements much more convenient. I believe if they can’t book flights that you find suitable then their fee is refundable. Not sure if that has changed with Covid or if they have different rules for business class requests.

1 hour ago, ninaks said:

I am currently booked to do a Uniworld cruise for October on the Rhine and Moselle.  Trying to decide if need to cancel and reschedule or not.  Does anyone know the policy if you were to get sick while on the cruise, how is that handled?  I am just concerned with the Delta variant being so contagious, even though i am fully vaccinated.  Do they do testing during the cruise at all?   Would you need to quarantine on the ship or off?  Who would pay for that if you have to leave the ship and how would this all impact the person you are sharing a cabin with?  I know, so many questions.....  My gut is telling me I should cancel, oh but my heart really wants to go on this trip.....

Just wondering if any passengers can comment on how Covid safety precautions affected their cruise experience during the European River cruise restart period. I will be traveling  on Viking Rhine Getaway in September and eager to travel again. Although I am vaccinated have some reservations about possibly having positive Covid test even if totally asymptomatic. Not having a balcony cabin this cruise I think I would go stir crazy in cabin. Also wondering if there was any time allotted to visit any local pubs or store in “Viking Excursion travel pods” Not sure how I feel taking included excursions and then returning to sit on ship rest of day. Looking for your input if you felt a minor inconvenience or major disappointment with current  situation. Thanks in advance for your observations. I know many cruise critic members eager to hear your experiences on any River cruise line. 

Thank you for your replies. 

Any current river cruises sailing on Rhine River affected by recent flooding and damages to bridges? Wondering if cruise lines a changed itineraries or have been using buses to transport passengers to different ports.  I know Viking was scheduled to start Rhine river cruises on 7/18/21 and wondering if it happened? 

Just got off a Zoom call and Viking will be doing PCR Covid testing daily on all their river cruises. You will be able to get test results prior to flying back into the US.

No problem logging in this morning.  Notification that spas open for reservations for April 2021 cruise.

That is very good information to know.  I have had two cruises out of three  cancelled and accepted FCC vouchers.  I know I used the vouchers on a rescheduled cruise that has a credit of several hundred dollars that I was expecting to use for gratuities and excursions when I got on board. Will make sure I pay in advance on boarding with this information. 

I did encounter one issue with Viking as they automatically applied two vouchers to a new cruise booked for 2022 without my permission when I made reservation and paid deposit.  I had intended to use those two vouchers for a final payment different cruise in 2021.  My travel agent never authorized that action and my booking never reflected Viking's action. It took multiple phone calls and speaking with several supervisors before they would rectify their action.  I think we all recognize cruise lines are going thru difficult times but if we are willing to allow them to keep our money for future cruises I think it should be very clear how FCC's are used and that they expire on boarding day and not when you disembark from ship. 

Just wondering why unused the unused portion of Viking voucher would vanish on boarding day? I was led to believe that the unused portion of voucher would be available for shipboard credit for use of optional tours, silver spirit packages, gratuities on that specific cruise booked. Anyone else told that??