vslparis

14 hours ago, temerarious said:

Can anyone tell me if Viking Ocean has bar soap or liquid hand soap in the cabin bathroom?  (I typically pack liquid soap because I can't stand the bar soap, but last time I was on Celebrity, they changed to a liquid soap dispenser -  I'm hoping Viking offers it as well...)  Thanks in advance for your reply.

Just looked in my bathroom on the Sky and there is a bar of soap by the sink, but there is also Body Wash tube ( along with shampoo , conditioner, and Body lotion tubes ) on the shelf . So technically no liquid soap, but I would imagine the Body Wash would be an OK substitute. Not sure if there is a difference between the two .

36 minutes ago, Snit13 said:

Is this menu for Chef's Table or what?

Yes , it is the Xiang menu which is being served in Chef’s Table for the first 3 nights. Then is changes to the British menu .

38 minutes ago, PeabodyMa said:

Please, what is the brand name of the tracking device (contact tracer)? My friend wants to ensure it will not interfere with her medical device. If there's also a model number, then that would be helpful.

 

Thank you for taking time to help us.

I scanned the barcode on the back which brought up a company called Twilio. Also printed on there is -TTAT 198331.  Have no idea if that is a model number or not but perhaps this will help

11 hours ago, PeabodyMa said:

Could you order something from the Room Service menu before getting test results or were you limited to the sandwich and donut they gave you?

 

Have an amazing journey! Thank you.

Yes, you could order room service while waiting for test results.

6 hours ago, SantaFe1 said:

We got both!!

What’s up with that ! Although do I really need a donut ; but still ......😉

2 minutes ago, bbubeck said:

We're leaving from Newark on Thursday.

Our flight was pretty crowded . Make sure that you check in with the gate agent there so that they can verify you have your vaccination card and your pre_registration bar code from the Icelandic government . They will mark your boarding  pass Docs OK  so that when it is time to board the person scanning your boarding pass will see that and let you board. It was a short 4 1/2 hour flight for us from EWR to Reykjavik. Hopefully you won’t have to do the test and wait for results thing !   If you are looking for a good restaurant for dinner on Friday, the Old Iceland place is very

good ( although I would recommend a reservation before you arrive or at least on line when you arrive) ,  and for a lovely wine bar, Port 9 a hidden gem .

5 hours ago, SantaFe1 said:

It was so full that they were asking people in the main cabin to check their roll aboards for free because there wasn’t room for them all.

Same for us leaving from Newark on Wednesday .

1 hour ago, PeabodyMa said:

Could you order something from the Room Service menu before getting test results or were you limited to the sandwich and donut they gave you?

 

Have an amazing journey! Thank you.

Yes, you are encouraged to order from room service if you wisj something different .

1 hour ago, FLORIDA FLOUNDER said:

Not sure if it's too early to tell but is the ship at half capacity as the Viking rep said it would be?

Have been told several times that there are about 470 passengers on board. 

32 minutes ago, gramfrog said:

Question to all of you who are enjoying your first day onboard:  How did dining go?  I expect that you, like all of us wannabes, made dining reservations.  But unfortunately Viking allowed only one stateroom at a time to reserve a table, whether at Chef's Table, or Manfredis, or The Restaurant, even if you are traveling with friends.  Were you allowed to have more than two at tables, and if so, how many?  Is that wonderful eight to ten person round table still available at the aft of The Restaurant? thanks. 

Too early to tell as most people are awaiting the on board test results. However I know that we will have the answers to those questions as we move forward. 

We are on board too but , hey, we didn’t get any donuts. Got a sandwich though . But not as exciting as a donut 🤣.

On 6/22/2021 at 10:13 PM, eylarson said:

On World Cruise 2019 after departing Robinson Crusoe Island we had lobster for two days running. 

 

We were on the segment that went from Santiago to Sydney where is was served !  It was amazing , I know I had at least two.  The chef went out that morning with the local fisherman and brought back these amazing lobsters. Literally just hours between being caught and served.    

17 minutes ago, SantaFe1 said:

Yes, jet lag strikes again.  

Been there, done that 😉

13 minutes ago, DaveSJ711 said:

Alaska lupines. They’ve proliferated in Iceland, to the joy of many and the consternation of others. (The plant is an invasive species.)

Ok, that is why they look like bluebonnets ( which is also a lupine ) . I can see why they are known to be invasive. They seem to be everywhere. 

17 minutes ago, bobchico said:

Please clarify "you know need a negative test"

Pretty sure that phrase was an “autocorrect “ issue . More than likely the agent said, “ no you don’t need a negative test ; because you don’t😉.

Our check in agent told us we did and I had to point out to her where the 

“vaccination exemption “ notes were on the kiosk screen😬

14 minutes ago, DaveSJ711 said:

Here’s a picture to make you remember why you’re coming to Iceland. The ship will travel down this fjord en route to Akureyri.

Lovely photo !  I meant to ask our guide today what those flowers are.  They seem to be everywhere across large batches of the landscape.

1 minute ago, jeremybe said:

 

Thank you!!! Thats kind of what I thought..  Hope you had a great tour! Guess we'll wait a week or so and see..

I believe the official word at the moment is the Covid test requirement is to be suspended on 01 July according to the covid.is site. 

48 minutes ago, jeremybe said:

Has anyone had any success finding a Reykjavik to Blue Lagoon shuttle/bus? We are coming in early and wanted to hit the Blue Lagoon on the way from the airport - It looks like all the bus lines are suspended - Anyone have any other luck/advice??

 

Thanks 

They have stopped those busses ; Blue Lagoon is  not allowing anyone to come directly from the airport . However, that will most likely be changed shortly as Iceland suspends the Covid test on arrival program .

our guide today said that Iceland is suspending that restriction tomorrow, but I haven’t confirmed that ( just got back from our Golden Circle tour ) .

16 hours ago, TayanaLorna said:

Texts are through cell signal not Internet or WiFi.

I can receive texts on my IPad which does not have cellular .  In fact, my cellular  service was not working when I first arrived in Iceland, but I was able to text Sprint via my hotel Wi-Fi to get it fixed.

37 minutes ago, ericfromri said:

i've been here a month.  no need for any cash, you can use credit for anything.  haven't seen anyone use cash

Technically true, but he did ask. Actually 2 people behind me at the hot dog place used cash and someone in a restaurant tonight did.

@SantaFe1 I did ask at the airport about how someone without a smartphone would be notified of their results. They said they didn't know as they never had that come up. Kind of doubt that, but if you don’t give a phone number, I imagine that they would have to email. 

However, you will have internet on the ship and can get the text alert that way . I have no doubt that Viking will help you out.

49 minutes ago, JM0115 said:

Thank you for the update!  How much is the famous hot dog and do they accept cash or just credit card?

You can use either cash or credit card. The cost for two everything hot dogs and a small soda was 1250 krone ( which is about $10.20.

We received our negative test results in about 4 1/2 hours . The test itself wasn’t bad and it was quick and efficient . The airport has lots of people handling the logistics of going from place to place.

like @GVHarrier, we too went out for a walk around town after a quick nap.  Had one of the famous Reykjavik hot dogs with everything on it,  stopped to see the Harpa concert building and the Sun Boat

sculpture , all a fairly easy walk around town .When we were down by the water we could see the VikingSky in the cruise port just waiting for all of us!

Once you receive your negative test you don’t need to wear a mask around town. Need it on the public bus  and possibly in some places according to the hotel. Didn't’ t see anyone with a mask on .  The city is not very crowded at all so it is very easy to social distance.

Flew into Reykjavik this morning - some airport observations

1 . Be prepared to have your documents checked at the kiosk and again at the gate as soon as the agent gets there. At United they marked the boarding pass to show the Docs were OK. Pretty sure all airlines will do this

2. Saw several passengers who had not done the Pre registration , but just did it at the gate ( I don’t recommend that 😉) 

3. No customs form on plane to declare anything. They have the typical Green sign for Nothing to Declare and Red for Something to Declare . This comes after baggage pick up and on the way to the check point for pre-registration bar code, and vaccination card check.  BTW , we bought some scotch at Duty Free in Newark and just followed the signs for Nothing to Declare. 

4. Arrival in KEF pretty streamlined , follow the signs to Arrivals and baggage claim , but more than just passport control these days.  That came first ( don’t need to show barcode here )  , then down to baggage claim, then get on line to first show the barcode to a worker, walk past the Nothing/Something to Declare section, and then you are directed to a line to have the Pre-Registration barcode scanned, vaccination card check, you verify your phone and email, tell them where you are staying and how you are getting there, and get your test tube for the Covid test.  Hopefully from the next set of passengers on,  won’t need that. 

You will have to show documents of some type several times so keep them handy. 

We had reservations for FlyBus which was easy to find ( although the bus say Reykjavik Excursions ) . You can buy tickets on the bus. Just make sure you have the name of your accommodation handy so they can tell you which bus stop to to get off at. For most hotels, you need to change at their main bus station and get another bus that goes into the main part of town. They direct you where to get that bus.

of course if you are arriving the day of the cruise and taking Viking transfers you dont have to worry about FlyBus 😉

Let me know if you have specific questions and I will try to answer as best I can while the experience is still fresh in my mind.

36 minutes ago, SantaFe1 said:

This is sort of disconcerting.  Has anyone who has already arrived had this trouble with Delta?  I have valparis’  language marked and I have the link to Timatic saved.  

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36 minutes ago, SantaFe1 said:

This is sort of disconcerting.  Has anyone who has already arrived had this trouble with Delta?  I have valparis’  language marked and I have the link to Timatic saved.  

Yes it can be and honestly , to me , not unexpected for some check ins .   It is just good to knwo that it could happen and to not be overly concerned ; be confident in the fact that a Covid test is not required if you are vaccinated and if the agent still insists , point out the tabs and/ or insist on a supervisor. The rules are changing so quickly for these airport personnel and it is not unusual for them not be up to date .