Covid Protocol on Cruise Ship

[LewiLewi]

We are taking a two week cruise on Viking from Ft. Lauderdale through the Panama Canal to Los Angeles in March.

We are concerned about the Covid protocol on board the ship. I have the following concerns:

1. Beside the negative test needed to board the ship in Ft. Lauderdale, do they test on board the ship? If so, how often?

2. If someone tests positive and is not sick, do they put you off the ship in whatever port you are in? Or are you able to quarantine on the ship? If so, do you stay in your own cabin or are you moved to a certain quarantine area? The same question about someone who is traced as being close to someone who has tested positive.

3. Do passengers wear masks, and is it strictly enforced?

We are really looking forward to this cruise but we want to feel at ease about our choice.

Thank you.

[eylarson]

You should have an email with the current requirements.  The one I have for my March cruise requires a PCR test 72 hours before departure, states a test will be given upon embarking, you’ll be restricted to you cabin until results available. Testing daily and  masks in common areas.   
Independent exploration allowed after 1 March.   
 

What is not spelled out is impacts of a positive test. Following other cruises underway it appears the positive person and all who were in “close” contact as measured by Viking’s monitoring device will be isolated in their assigned stateroom. 

[PGI GUY]

We are on the Orion now on a 32 day South  Pacific  cruise  returning to LA. We are PCR saliva tested every day temperature checked everyday  health survey  completed everyday  on the cabin tv. Masks required and enforced unless in the pool or eating or drinking. A section on deck 3 is closed off for isolation if needed.

Three or five people escorted off the ship who tested positive in LA prior to sailing. We have about 5 or 6 positive cases on a 32 day trip and they were isolated until they tested negative. No one removed from the ship since we left LA.

We were allowed to tour on our own and I think that is where our positive cases happened. 

Covid policy enforced along with everyone vaccinated .

[LewiLewi]

Thank you eylarson and PGI  GUY. We feel much more comfortable about cruising with Viking after reading your replies.

[stretchcruz]

3 hours ago, PGI GUY said:

We are on the Orion now on a 32 day South  Pacific  cruise  returning to LA. We are PCR saliva tested every day temperature checked everyday  health survey  completed everyday  on the cabin tv. Masks required and enforced unless in the pool or eating or drinking. A section on deck 3 is closed off for isolation if needed.

Three or five people escorted off the ship who tested positive in LA prior to sailing. We have about 5 or 6 positive cases on a 32 day trip and they were isolated until they tested negative. No one removed from the ship since we left LA.

We were allowed to tour on our own and I think that is where our positive cases happened. 

Covid policy enforced along with everyone vaccinated .

The last I read someone said 1 case on your cruise. You now have 5 or 6? We are also on the Panama Canal cruise on the Orion from Ft Lauderdale to Vancouver in March. My fear is being put off in Colombia or Costa Rica or Mexico or Panama. I understand that the folks on your cruise are quarantined onboard. Otherwise they'd be in the Pacific Ocean. I really hope that if something happens we can stay onboard.

[TayanaLorna]

5 hours ago, stretchcruz said:

The last I read someone said 1 case on your cruise. You now have 5 or 6? We are also on the Panama Canal cruise on the Orion from Ft Lauderdale to Vancouver in March. My fear is being put off in Colombia or Costa Rica or Mexico or Panama. I understand that the folks on your cruise are quarantined onboard. Otherwise they'd be in the Pacific Ocean. I really hope that if something happens we can stay onboard.

Following the World Cruise, the Ft. Lauderdale to LA segment had several guests and crew test positive.  Columbia denied the ship entry due to Covid on board.  Positives were isolated and no one was put off the ship at any of the other stops.  Probably because the countries did not want them.  From their experience, you should be safe staying on board in those countries.  On other itineraries, it has not been the case as positives and close contacts have been removed from the ship due to the policy of that Country.

[stretchcruz]

6 hours ago, TayanaLorna said:

Following the World Cruise, the Ft. Lauderdale to LA segment had several guests and crew test positive.  Columbia denied the ship entry due to Covid on board.  Positives were isolated and no one was put off the ship at any of the other stops.  Probably because the countries did not want them.  From their experience, you should be safe staying on board in those countries.  On other itineraries, it has not been the case as positives and close contacts have been removed from the ship due to the policy of that Country.

Thanks!!! You've made me feel better.

[PGI GUY]

On the Orion now we have one person in quarantine and one in isolation since leaving French Polynesia 3 days ago. 

Handwashing  mask wearing and other protocols still enforced. We feel very safe traveling with Viking. 

[stretchcruz]

I just received a phone call from a very nice person at Viking. I had sent an email asking if we would be put off if one of us tested positive. She said that yes, that is the protocol and we would be taken care of in a local hotel. Even if it is Mexico, etc. She did say, however, that the ultimate decision was the ship's. If we asked to stay onboard and quarantine onboard that it would be the ship's doctor who would make the final decision.

[CCWineLover]

33 minutes ago, stretchcruz said:

I just received a phone call from a very nice person at Viking. I had sent an email asking if we would be put off if one of us tested positive. She said that yes, that is the protocol and we would be taken care of in a local hotel. Even if it is Mexico, etc. She did say, however, that the ultimate decision was the ship's. If we asked to stay onboard and quarantine onboard that it would be the ship's doctor who would make the final decision.

Thanks for finding out.  Doesn't leave me with a very good feeling.  Wondering what the ship's doctor uses data wise to make a final decision.  Possibly if you have symptoms?

 

Not surprising that the Orion had even more cases come up during/after their Polynesia port excursions and walk abouts and hotel stays.  With Omicron, it seems so many have it but don't know it.  That quite frankly is our biggest fear - I look at everyone as carriers who don't even know it.  And could prevent us from getting onboard and staying onboard.   So many people we know have it (and no real symptoms) - nearly all from their kids or grandkids who get exposed at schools and carry it home.  It seems to be spreading just like the flu and common cold.

At some point, the governments and countries will need to re-examine what is done.  And decide does everyone who tests positive with no symptoms get punished?   Maybe it all changes when everyone gets Omicron (as they say we all likely will).  Cruising will be shut down then if you have to eliminate every positive person.

[stretchcruz]

I did ask her if Viking was going to keep PCR testing every day. She said yes that they wanted to err on the side of caution. My friend who is on a HAL cruise right now only had to do a test prior to boarding. Nothing else while onboard unless they report symptoms to the dr. So who knows how many asymptomatic carriers are onboard and folks will only know after they got home if they get sick.

She did not know what criteria the ships use to decide who can stay onboard. She did say that it depends on the ship. I was really worried about my husband, who has early Alzheimer's, and how he would react if we were put ashore in a non English speaking country. She said that she documented our conversation for the ship. She did say that if one of us had to quarantine on the ship that the other one could decide if they wanted to quarantine together. Hopefully I'm just worrying for nothing, but I want to be prepared. Once we hit California for the 9 day cruise I'm not worried. If we get kicked off at least we are in the USA, English speaking, and close to home in AZ.

[OnTheJourney]

On 1/31/2022 at 7:25 PM, stretchcruz said:

She did not know what criteria the ships use to decide who can stay onboard.

Just checked and Viking website (and I believe someone else mentioned this here or elsewhere) only says that a guest showing positive wil be separated / isolated - whichever way it's stated - nothing specific to having to leave the ship. I've been offered, as part of the March '19 Sky episode, the revised Chairman's cruise on the Mars. One of the things rendering the decision to go or not as being quite difficult is this thing about having to possibly (though hopefully unlikely) leave the ship. I find it hard to believe they actually have done this. What happens to those folks? Cruise is over and time to go home? 

 

On 1/31/2022 at 7:25 PM, stretchcruz said:

I was really worried about my husband, who has early Alzheimer's, and how he would react if we were put ashore in a non English speaking country.

Especially in such a case! Even without this affliction I'd be pretty bummed. Most sorry to hear about your husband having to deal with this. 🙏

Edited February 8, 2022 by OnTheJourney

[OnTheJourney]

I'm a bit confused having come across this from the Viking site (bold print mine):  Guests with a positive COVID-19 test will be isolated on board. Should the destination where the ship is located require those who test positive be disembarked, we will arrange for the guest to recover ashore before returning home once their recovery is complete. Upon their return home, Viking Customer Relations will contact the guest and their travel advisor directly regarding any necessary refunding or rescheduling.

 

So which is done - quarantine onboard or ashore? Sounds like it's determined by port rules. Or is there some other determination made judged on a case-by-case basis. IF ashore and not allowed to continue, does Viking arrange and pay for your transportation home? 

 

Edited February 8, 2022 by OnTheJourney

[Moonlion]

We just got off the January 24th Northern Lights cruise (Venus, from Bergen to London).  We were PCR tested (saliva sample) before embarking ship and had to quarantine in our rooms until the test results came back  (which for us took about 5 hours).  We were tested every morning thereafter and wore a contact tracing device when not in our rooms.  We wore masks in public areas of ship (except when directly eating, drinking or when in the spa) and when on Viking excursions (on bus, museums and even when outside).  We could not do independent tours or leave the "Viking bubble." It all sounds so terrible and restrictive but we totally enjoyed every minute of this cruise and would do it again in a heartbeat!  We quickly got used to all the testing, masking, etc., and didn't allow the "fear" of testing positive spoil our cruise. Others may not be able to do this and should rethink taking a Viking cruise at this time.  The silver lining was that our cruise was less than half full, 418 passengers according to Guest Services. 

 

I ask Guest Services on Day 3 how many people were on board (418 as mentioned above) and if any had been removed from the ship because of Covid.  The Guest Services rep said that 18 people were removed from the ship in Bergen because they or their traveling companion(s) tested positive upon boarding on Day 1 or on Day 2 the next morning. The ship was delayed by a couple of hours in departing from Bergen on Day 2 in part because of the Day 2 positive cases and needing to arrange for these passengers and their traveling companions to leave the ship. I don't know how many of the 18 actually tested positive versus left the ship because their traveling companions tested positive. 

 

We later met a passenger on board who is a travel agent and had accompanied a large group of passengers on this cruise.  She told us that several of the 18 passengers removed from the ship in Bergen were in her group, and probably caught Covid in pre-excursions.  She said they were put in "youth hostel" type accommodations in Bergen and the provisions were not that great; she was in contact with Viking to try to improve their conditions.  We met her again later in the cruise and she said that 4 additional passengers (not from her group) were removed on Day 10 in Trondheim because they or their traveling companions tested positive; she said no one had been removed before that.  Although we have no reason to doubt this account, we were not able to independently verify its accuracy and would treat this information as rumor for now. 

[stretchcruz]

That is my huge fear. I read the account of the couple offloaded from the Jupiter in Chile, separated, and put in a youth hostel. Also the 2 couples in Malta quarantined for almost 2 weeks, and the couple in Turkey with broken glass in their room.  It's a hard decision to make. We are extremely careful here at home.

[Moonlion]

I also asked the Guest Services rep on board Venus about who covers the costs of isolating off the ship.  He said that Viking covers the full costs of the hotel, meals, etc., if not covered by the local government, and refunds passengers for any days not on the cruise. 

[CCWineLover]

20 minutes ago, stretchcruz said:

That is my huge fear. I read the account of the couple offloaded from the Jupiter in Chile, separated, and put in a youth hostel. Also the 2 couples in Malta quarantined for almost 2 weeks, and the couple in Turkey with broken glass in their room.  It's a hard decision to make. We are extremely careful here at home.

 

And how about the woman who tested positive in Ephesus, Turkey but was allowed with her husband to disembark in Rhodes - where they "won" the quarantine lottery.  They stayed in a wonderful villa and were treated like royalty, getting out for walks, and having great meals.

So I guess it totally depends on the country.  Truly a lottery.

[stretchcruz]

1 minute ago, CCWineLover said:

 

And how about the woman who tested positive in Ephesus, Turkey but was allowed with her husband to disembark in Rhodes - where they "won" the quarantine lottery.  They stayed in a wonderful villa and were treated like royalty, getting out for walks, and having great meals.

So I guess it totally depends on the country.  Truly a lottery.

It's nuts!!!!

[Jim Avery]

And how "sick" were these folks?  Asymptomatic but positive?  How long will people spend thousands of hard earned cash (after using FCCs up) continue to take this bad bet?  Probably has a lot to do with 200 or 300 on a voyage. 

[stretchcruz]

2 minutes ago, Jim Avery said:

And how "sick" were these folks?  Asymptomatic but positive?  How long will people spend thousands of hard earned cash (after using FCCs up) continue to take this bad bet?  Probably has a lot to do with 200 or 300 on a voyage. 

From what I've read here and other places, most were asymptomatic, or, at worst, sniffly.

[Moonlion]

14 minutes ago, Jim Avery said:

And how "sick" were these folks?  Asymptomatic but positive?  How long will people spend thousands of hard earned cash (after using FCCs up) continue to take this bad bet?  Probably has a lot to do with 200 or 300 on a voyage. 

We had a lot of interesting discussions on the January 24th Northern Lights roll call about whether to stick it out or cancel.  The consensus was that only the most intrepid (or foolish) would consider international travel right now, given all the hoops to go through.  On the other hand, some on the forum didn't think they had the luxury of waiting it out since Covid is not going away anytime soon: they'd be too old...or dead trying to wait it out.  Epidemiological data shows that this last wave was driven predominantly by the omicron variant which, although extremely contagious, is much milder than previous variants (mostly asymptomatic or mild symptoms).  Unless another highly lethal variant comes along, hopefully the world will learn to live in this "new normal."

[OnTheJourney]

3 hours ago, Moonlion said:

18 people were removed from the ship in Bergen

 

3 hours ago, Moonlion said:

4 additional passengers (not from her group) were removed on Day 10 in Trondheim

 

And....what exactly happens to these people? Sent home? I'm assuming they never get to rejoin the cruise at some point. From what I'm reading (being that I'm trying to decide between canceling an already booked cruise and flying to Europe for this invitational offering), RCL and Celebrity do not remove people from the ship. Everyone is treated on board, and then the cruise line pays for your transportation home. 

3 hours ago, Moonlion said:

She said they were put in "youth hostel" type accommodations

Oh...joy......

2 hours ago, Jim Avery said:

How long will people spend thousands of hard earned cash (after using FCCs up) continue to take this bad bet?

I agree....it's a "lottery" for sure, not only in terms of drawing the omicron card, but then whether or not you get to stay on the ship or have to leave. Insanity.....

 

1 hour ago, Moonlion said:

The consensus was that only the most intrepid (or foolish) would consider international travel right now,

This is really making me lean in the direction of keeping my (non-flying) Bermuda cruise and foregoing the Chairman's. Like my Dad was fond of saying, "decisions, decisions..... "

[OnTheJourney]

2 hours ago, stretchcruz said:

It's nuts!!!!

Yeah that pretty much says it all I suppose. 

[OnTheJourney]

On 1/31/2022 at 5:46 PM, stretchcruz said:

I had sent an email asking if we would be put off if one of us tested positive. She said that yes, that is the protocol and we would be taken care of in a local hotel. Even if it is Mexico, etc. She did say, however, that the ultimate decision was the ship's.

Wow...so it IS a lottery....flip a coin...

[stretchcruz]

3 minutes ago, OnTheJourney said:

Wow...so it IS a lottery....flip a coin...

Look at the Viking Jupiter roll calls. Dec 5 is interesting talking about how many people were taken off. And somewhere in there is the daughter talking about her parents being in a hostel in Chile.