Insanityx4

We were offered a voucher or a full refund (which we received immediately) when we "Cancelled for any reason" with Viking. We did not have Tripmate but were using another insurance company which gave us a voucher for further bookings Our cancellation for our cruise was when Viking was offering a "No risk cancellation" which might be a different type of CFAR cancellation, just to clarify.

Just got another email from Viking saying due to a system error many people have not received emails about their changed/rebooked cruise. Our decision to cancel has been extended a week. Don't know if this helps!

Curious as to how you paid for your trip? We also had "cancel for any reason" which we used when we cancelled a cruise last year. We had paid using e-pay and the money was refunded into our checking account right away. We got a check for the $1,000 deposit within a few weeks which we had paid for with a credit card.

Apparently you were supposed to get on the Polaris when we were to disembark in Ft. Lauderdale. It makes sense that you would be moved to the Octantis but I can't believe you weren't notified. Viking just rebooked our reservation a week earlier but at least sent an email telling us what they did. Dear Viking Guest, Thank you for choosing Viking for your upcoming voyage, Panama & Scenic South America. We would like to take a moment to advise you of a change to your journey. In order to complete necessary stateroom repairs, the Viking Polaris needs to be taken out of service for a short time beginning in March 2023, and unfortunately, this will impact your voyage. However, our identical sister ship, the Viking Octantis, is sailing the same itinerary, within a week of your original departure. To ensure you are still able to enjoy this fantastic region near your planned dates of travel, we have automatically transferred your booking. We have also secured your booking in the same stateroom category or better.

We were offered a full refund of monies spent and an extension of our vouchers should we decide to cancel. We have to make our decision by today.

When Viking cancelled three cruises we were booked on during Covid, we were fully refunded the Tripmate insurance cost. However, with the fiasco with vouchers we have decided to use outside venders through our travel agent. We have an upcoming cruise using vouchers and used Trip Insured International which covers both our precruise (on our own) and the time from when we leave home until we get back home. It was about the same cost as Tripmate.

We just received notification a few days ago that our Viking Polaris cruise has been cancelled and the Polaris will be taken out service, presumably for repairs from damage done by the rogue wave. We have been rebooked on the Octantis for the week prior to our scheduled cruise, same itinerary. Apparently the repairs will take place beginning in March and into April. Our cruise was to start April 1st. I assume the repairs will take place on South America as our cruise is from Santiago, through the Panama Canal to Ft. Lauderdale.

We have an upcoming cruise on the Polaris. Have they given any time frame as to when final repairs are going to take place? With their current schedule it doesn't seem like there is any time for this unless some cruises are cancelled.

I believe they left today for their scheduled Antarctic Explorer cruise, according to passengers on board.

Polaris is on the move heading away from the pier. I don't know if they are mooring to make room for another ship or heading back to Ushuaia after repairs. People from the Jupiter posted pictures and reported that the windows had been repaired when they docked in Punta Arenas this morning before Polaris moved away from the pier.

She and her husband, who both tested positive a day apart, were in BA Argentina when she posted, not Chile. To my knowledge, Argentina never took passengers off of the ship during Covid and Viking quarantined them for 10 days/deck 3 forward port side. I believe this was the protocol in every country except Chile in South America. Most of the other SA countries just wouldn't let the ship dock in their ports. Obviously rules have changed since 2020 and 2021, but I'm just trying to get the latest update on Chile. The Jupiter docks there tomorrow, Dec. 12.

Please post what happens when you arrive in Chile and if there are any passengers who test positive for Covid what the current protocol is for them? I'm wondering if they are removed from the ship or allowed to quarantine on board? In the midst of Covid they were removed from the ship by Chilean authority and put in government run youth hostels with deplorable conditions. We are also going to Valparaiso and are concerned about being removed from the ship. Thanks!

i have read on Facebook and other media sources that there is a possibility and some speculton that a whale or other large animal tried to breach under the Zodiac which threw people up in the air, caused a man to fall overboard, and a woman to seriously break her leg. It's just a theory but seems like a possible cause after hearing accounts from those on board the Zodiac when the incident occurred.

One more question! Would it even be possible to see a rogue wave coming in the middle of the night? I realize crew on the bridge are on watch at all times and I understand the wave comes without warning, but wondering if it could be seen before hitting, especially in the dark?

I didn't realize the Expedition ships were built in Romania. I guess it was the Ocean ships that are built in Italy. Thanks for the correction.

This is off the topic of ship design, windows breaking, Zodiac explosions, and the death of a passenger which was tragic, but I am wondering if anyone knows how and where the Polaris is being repaired and where the parts are coming from? I assume since the ship was built in Italy they would have to come from there. Also, I noticed all Octantis and Polaris cruises have just been listed as "SOLD OUT" until March. Does anyone know if there are more cancellations for safety reasons? Thanks Andy and the Chief for sharing all of your knowledge from your many years at sea.

This is the reason i originally posted. It seems to be a crap shoot as to what Viking does and doesn't do with testing and quarantining. Even management on the ships don't know what Viking passengers are told before boarding. We have either cancelled or have had Viking cancel 4 cruises because of Covid. In Chile, during the midst of Covid, Viking removed passengers from the ship as per Chilean authority and were placed in Chilean government run youth hostels without any resources from Viking. As many as 16 days with terrible accommodations, terrible food, more like a prison camp. Not even coffee, salt and pepper, etc. We have a cruise lined up that starts in Chile and we are really concerned what Viking will do and we have only a few days left to cancel without losing our vouchers. No one at Viking has any idea as to what is going on or why. The daily testing and quarantining seems to be a Viking thing, not something that is mandated by the countries they are visiting. We are loyal Viking cruisers but are really frustrated at this point. Our loyalty is definitely waning and will start looking at other cruise lines with more definitive guidelines.

We booked a Viking Polaris trip using vouchers which Viking wouldn't insure. We had a travel insurance voucher from another cancelled cruise through Travel Insured International. We used their voucher plus payed the difference in cost for the new trip on Polaris which was more expensive. Try Travel Insured International. Their prices are competitive and they honor vouchers and FCC's.

I am wondering if the 1% Covid rate was on the ship or in Casablanca?

We will be in South America. The Polaris and Octantis are there right now and they are requiring daily testing. I had read about the Princess ship with 800 positive cases, yikes! We were in Australia and Indonesia in 2020 on the Viking Sun when Covid hit. We ended flying out of Bali and it took us about 50 hours to get home (through Dubai to San Francisco). I believe Australia has just recently opened to cruise ships. They have been very cautious.

When is your cruise? Ours isn't until April 1 and nothing is mentioned yet on MVJ. We have a way to go before our cruise and of course, things can always change by then but curious as to what is happening now. Thanks for posting.

I have been following the roll calls of a few cruises where pax have mentioned they have gone back to daily Covid testing or pax being contacted by Viking saying their upcoming cruise will be doing daily testing, especially on cruises in the Southern Hemisphere. Are there any updates on which ships, which itineraries, and which countries are requiring daily testing?

I have tried all of the cold sandwiches but have never seen the warm ones listed on the menu.They serve a lobster and shrimp stew/soup which I have only found once and it was amazing. The best berries on the ship are usually served in the morning to go with the waffles. I have never tried the waffle but the berries are so good.

Made to order benny with extra hollandaise or made to order omelette with hollandaise, crisp bacon, and a warm croissant with butter! Maybe some fresh fruit too! I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Looking forward to our next cruise on the Polaris but don't know if their options are the same as on the larger ocean ships. I'm not sure if they serve breakfast and lunch in the dining room. There is no Chef's Table, but they do have Manfredi's and Mamsen's.

We just booked a cruise on the Polaris and about $16,000 of the cost was paid for in FCC vouchers. Viking Insurance WILL NOT cover the vouchers even though they were for a cancelled by Viking, paid in full cruise, just the additional amount to be paid for the trip, in our case about $9,000. We were able to get full coverage for the entire cost of the cruise through Travel Insured International for about the same price as Viking would charge if we had not used vouchers. It is very disappointing that Viking insurance will only cover the additional monies paid. If we had not purchased the additional insurance through TII our $16,000 would not be covered. Terrible customer service by Viking.