Viking's Welcome Back Program

[Peregrina651]

1 hour ago, philw1776 said:

Taking wife, daughter and 18 yr old HS senior granddaughter on 3 July cruise. Got shut out of 17th cruise. Got quoted another $8,500 for business class by Viking!!!  Hate Iceland Air economy.

 

Cost me about $3100 for both of us. If I booked the night before, it would have cost me around $2800. It would be cheaper for you to fly in the day before and stay in a hotel than to book with Viking.

Edited April 11, 2021 by Peregrina651

[NeilP57]

17 hours ago, librarylady19 said:

Any sign of shore excursions yet? We are on 7/3 sailing.

Sorry if I missed this in the earlier part of the thread. Have Viking mandated that you must only go ashore as part of a Viking excursion bubble on the Iceland and Bermuda Welcome Back cruises?

 

On the Welcome Back - UK cruises, exploring on your own is not permitted.

[librarylady19]

19 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

Cost me about $3100 for both of us. If I booked the night before, it would have cost me around $2800. It would be cheaper for you to fly in the day before and stay in a hotel than to book with Viking.

We are on 7/3 cruise too and booked direct with Iceland Air for $700 pp; Viking Air was $1,098 pp! We have been to Iceland before and transport is very well organized there. I am fine with Iceland Air Economy, it's only a 6 hour flight from Chicago and was more "comfortable" than many United Economy flights we've taken to Europe.

[Clay Clayton]

5 hours ago, NeilP57 said:

Sorry if I missed this in the earlier part of the thread. Have Viking mandated that you must only go ashore as part of a Viking excursion bubble on the Iceland and Bermuda Welcome Back cruises?

 

On the Welcome Back - UK cruises, exploring on your own is not permitted.

Yes, that is my understanding. You can read Viking’s sailing protocols here which includes that excursions may be limited. 
https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/my-trip/health-and-safety/health-and-safety-program.html

Edited April 11, 2021 by Clay Clayton

[Peregrina651]

3 hours ago, librarylady19 said:

We are on 7/3 cruise too and booked direct with Iceland Air for $700 pp; Viking Air was $1,098 pp! We have been to Iceland before and transport is very well organized there. I am fine with Iceland Air Economy, it's only a 6 hour flight from Chicago and was more "comfortable" than many United Economy flights we've taken to Europe.

 

Our last flight in economy was 6 hours of misery for both of us. This time, we are splurging, part of the return to travel celebration. 🎈

[dressagenow]

On 4/6/2021 at 11:43 AM, SantaFe1 said:

As soon as the Dogsitter commits, we are booking Iceland!

Good for you.

 

[Peregrina651]

6 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Yes, that is my understanding. You can read Viking’s sailing protocols here which includes that excursions may be limited. 
https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/my-trip/health-and-safety/health-and-safety-program.html

 

 

Also read: https://docs.vikingcruises.com/pdf/210405_COVID-19PoliciesAndProcedures_Ver1.pdf  which spells out even more details including this statement about Shore Excursions:

 

SHORE EXCURSIONS. During the initial return to sailing, guests will only be allowed to participate in excursions or activities executed and escorted by Viking-approved tour operators who maintain Viking’s level of COVID-19 controls to help limit potential exposure. Throughout the duration of the shore excursion, guests will be asked to remain with their cruise companions. There may be additional restrictions during shore excursions depending on local conditions. Noncompliance by guest or members of guest’s traveling party with COVID-19 Policies and Procedures shall be grounds for refusal to re-board after going ashore

[Clay Clayton]

6 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

 

Also read: https://docs.vikingcruises.com/pdf/210405_COVID-19PoliciesAndProcedures_Ver1.pdf  which spells out even more details including this statement about Shore Excursions:

 

SHORE EXCURSIONS. During the initial return to sailing, guests will only be allowed to participate in excursions or activities executed and escorted by Viking-approved tour operators who maintain Viking’s level of COVID-19 controls to help limit potential exposure. Throughout the duration of the shore excursion, guests will be asked to remain with their cruise companions. There may be additional restrictions during shore excursions depending on local conditions. Noncompliance by guest or members of guest’s traveling party with COVID-19 Policies and Procedures shall be grounds for refusal to re-board after going ashore

Thanks.  I tried to find that as I knew I had read it but couldn’t. 

[Peregrina651]

2 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Thanks.  I tried to find that as I knew I had read it but couldn’t. 

 

Right, because they hide the link in the footer of every webpage (reader slaps forehead), along with

 

• Booking Terms & Conditions
• Passenger Ticket Contract
• COVID-19 Policies and Procedures
• Risk-Free Guarantee Program
• Carrier Information
• Vessel Security & Safety Act

fine reading all.

[vslparis]

19 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

Our last flight in economy was 6 hours of misery for both of us. This time, we are splurging, part of the return to travel celebration. 🎈

Good for you ! I like to say that if you don’t treat yourself well, who will 😄

[fudgbug]

On 4/8/2021 at 5:30 PM, Clay Clayton said:

We ended up having two more from our roll call join us so (based on the current 5 folks) for $74 per person, we get picked up, at KEF, driven to the Blue Lagoon, driver waits with our luggage for up to 3 hours and then drives us to the cruise port. I need to figure out whether we will do Flybus or a private shuttle back to the airport upon disembarkation.  

Some years ago, we visited the Blue Lagoon that was very relaxing.  I did get lava in a toe that took a number years to work its way out and I still have problems.  If you go to the Blue Lagoon wear water shoes as you can't see the lava.

[MarkBearSF]

On 4/8/2021 at 9:11 AM, Azulann said:

Great to hear from you. I will be on the Viking Orion ! So excited . Yes , I will post a running review while on board. July 13 -20. I figure Viking will have all the kinks out by our sailing. Looking forward to seeing Bermuda .

We'll be on board that cruise as well. Looking forward to meeting you. I assume you're on the roll call.

[SempreMare]

On 4/14/2021 at 3:22 PM, fudgbug said:

Some years ago, we visited the Blue Lagoon that was very relaxing.  I did get lava in a toe that took a number years to work its way out and I still have problems.  If you go to the Blue Lagoon wear water shoes as you can't see the lava.

OMG ! 

 

What exactly does that mean... you got “lava in a toe”

IN your toe? 

[fudgbug]

7 hours ago, SempreMare said:

OMG ! 

 

What exactly does that mean... you got “lava in a toe”

IN your toe? 

While walking in the pool, I stepped on some ragged lava and a piece stabbed into my big toe.  The water in the lagoon is milky so you can't see the bottom.  Do wear water shoes!  When in Iceland again, we will go back to the Blue Lagoon as it was a pleasant, relaxing experience.

[Clay Clayton]

15 minutes ago, fudgbug said:

While walking in the pool, I stepped on some ragged lava and a piece stabbed into my big toe.  The water in the lagoon is milky so you can't see the bottom.  Do wear water shoes!  When in Iceland again, we will go back to the Blue Lagoon as it was a pleasant, relaxing experience.

So the bottom isn’t the soft bottom they describe? 😢

[Jim Avery]

12 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

So the bottom isn’t the soft bottom they describe? 😢

Yes and no. Soft flat sand with random lumps of lava scattered around. Blue milky water so you can’t see the lava lumps.😳

[fudgbug]

36 minutes ago, Jim Avery said:

Yes and no. Soft flat sand with random lumps of lava scattered around. Blue milky water so you can’t see the lava lumps.😳

Exactly!

[vslparis]

The in water massage there  looks pretty good !

[Jim Avery]

11 minutes ago, vslparis said:

The in water massage there  looks pretty good !

Did not have a massage but the water itself is very comfy.  Warm and soft.  You can find hot vents  and let the water beat on you.  Loved it...

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

I just want to express my condolences to anyone that has booked the June 15th Bermuda “cruise”, ol’ Ragnar will be aboard.  There is still time to change your reservation.

[Jim Avery]

11 minutes ago, Ragnar Danneskjold said:

I just want to express my condolences to anyone that has booked the June 15th Bermuda “cruise”, ol’ Ragnar will be aboard.  There is still time to change your reservation.

Aaarrrgghhh! Raggy, how could you do that to Viking when they are trying so hard to get restarted? People will be transferring to Carnival so desperate to get away from Ragnar the Foul.🍸🍺🥃😱

[JM0115]

2 hours ago, Ragnar Danneskjold said:

I just want to express my condolences to anyone that has booked the June 15th Bermuda “cruise”, ol’ Ragnar will be aboard.  There is still time to change your reservation.

I wish I had seen this before I booked the cruise! 🙂

[JM0115]

On MVJ, is it possible to UN-BOOK a dinner reservation?  We booked The Restaurant but want to change it to the Chef's Table and it does not seem possible to do so.

[SantaFe1]

I was told to go to the calendar where your restaurant reservations are shown and cancel from there.  However, I never got to try that, because when I was eligible to book the speciality reservations, MVJ wasn’t working for me and I had to call Viking and have them do it, which they did.  And that is your second option, I guess, just to call.

[Jim Avery]

6 minutes ago, JM0115 said:

On MVJ, is it possible to UN-BOOK a dinner reservation?  We booked The Restaurant but want to change it to the Chef's Table and it does not seem possible to do so.

Don't hold me to it but I believe if you book the Chef's Table it will then show both bookings and you can choose which one to keep.  Might have changed since I last did this.