NeilP57

1 hour ago, SkystheLimit said:

We thought the specialty entertainers were very good. Paoblo with his guitar and singing was outstanding

From what we have heard so far, we would totally agree. 

3 hours ago, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

SO happy to hear more slots opened up on Vigur.  I desperately want to go but booked too late to get in.  And I heard one week's cruise had no new open slots, so nothing's guaranteed.  I'll hope for the best.  I'd be interested to hear if there were actually 30 people on the boat or more like 20.

Hi Ruth, 

Hi Ruth, firstly we hope you have a safe and stress free journey to Iceland as I know you are on Jupiter tomorrow. 
 

I hope you get on the Vigur Island trip as I recall from a previous picture you posted of your slippers you are big puffin fan. 
 

Looking forward to hearing your version of Live reporting over the coming days. 
 

Neil

3 hours ago, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

Howard absolutely loves World Cafe.  I love it for the views and the chance to eat outside, but the food's pretty good too.  Do they have the area outside open or is it too chilly in the evenings?

The outside tables were not set for dinner. It was cool and breezy as we were at sea. However, I am sure if you are brave enough to sit outside they will look after you. 

Sorry forgot to say that there are 682 on board at the moment. 

Live from Viking Sky following Golden Circle tour and dinner in World Cafe (seafood buffet). 
 

An excellent tour, well worth the $199 cost. We all have views about ShoreX pricing especially given this tours highlights did not charge any entrance fees, but whether they charge or not the sights seen were well worth the cost. 
 

Earlier comments in response to a previous question covered the 100% mask wearing on the coach and a logical arrangement for seating at the lunch stop.  
 

Dinner in the WC was a first for us having done 21 nights on VO previously it was a change to visit the WV for dinner. We really enjoyed the extra space and the opportunity to chose what we had for dinner by seeing the food first. Tonight was the seafood buffet and it was busy early on when we had a quick look following a post excursion tea and cake from mamsens, quickly followed by a post excursion beer and cocktail in the Explorers Lounge, literally without leaving our seat. 
 

After getting ready for dinner we watched the first 15 minutes of the ABBA show and this confirmed our long held view that this continues to be an area that Viking can improve on. However, so much else with Viking is so good that we are happy to accept that the entertainment product will not be as good as other cruise lines. 
 

We arrived at the WC 7:45 and there plenty of space and many attentive staff. Unlike the previous night in the MDR where we sat in the middle of a row 3 two top tables we had a four top table to ourselves in plenty of space with great views across the sea. 
 

Food and drink offering was excellent. There has been much discussion about the benefits of the silver service drinks package and we all drink different quantities so it may work for some and not others. I would just like to plug the drinks package, not from a quantum perspective, but from the opportunity to try a variety of wines that you would not normally chose. Tonight was a lovely oaked Chardonnay from California that went well with seafood buffet. 
 

Great views off the Starboard side as we pass the snow covered mountain  of the Snaelfelness peninsula on the west coast of Iceland. If you are yet to book, remember the best views on an clockwise tour are from the starboard side. 
 

Looking forward to our trip to Viigur Island tomorrow in full expectation of some wonderful puffin sightings. Followed by the afternoon included tour. 
 

Whilst the Vigur island tour  was showing as sold out previously, the sheet of excursions provided in the stateroom shows extra trips have been added and availability for booking whilst on board. So if you missed out on this trip to see the puffins do not despair. 
 

That’s enough for tonight. TTFN 

4 minutes ago, jayray said:

Does anyone know if you're allowed to go ashore in Reykjavik to see the sights after you first board the ship?

The current situation is that yes you can, although Viking have said they reserve the right to change that in the future. 
 

 Most people check in at the concert hall in Reykjavik and you can also stay in the city and there are shuttles running all day 1 between the city and the ship. The shuttle ran every 30 minutes from noon and the last shuttle bus returned to the ship at 9pm. 

1 hour ago, photopro2 said:

Thank you everyone, that was just the info I was looking for.

We have a zero exchange fee credit card, so buying onboard should be a small saving 🙂🍷🍾 

That’s exactly what I have done on our current Iceland cruise. £108 if purchased pre cruise in the UK or $139 if purchased on board. So a small saving by buying on board given current FX rate plus the added bonus of one less expense if for whatever reason you don’t travel. 
 

1 hour ago, susanlik said:

Thanks for great info

Looking to forward to hearing about hoe social distancing is handled t

On your golden circle as we are considering a small tour instead

Live from Sky (or more accurately 2/3 around the Golden Circle)

Coach was about 2/3 full. 100% compliance with mask wearing on the coach. 
 

Off the bus, some carried on wearing masks. However we chose to take ours off unless we were close to others. The new quiet vox had good range and you could easily dawdle at the back and hear the guide. 
 

Lunch tables were organised by Viking and we shared a table for 4 with somebody sitting nearby on the coach. 
 

Will post overall perspective on tour when we get back to Viking Sky. 
 

2 hours ago, Jay23 said:

Did you find and fill out a Registration Form as we discussed a week ago?  If so where was this "form".     We have found out where we can get an Antigen test very close to our home.  J

Yes it’s the Iceland Pre registration form on the Covid.is website. Perhaps someone will post a link as I am currently away from the ship working from my phone. 

1 hour ago, peribit said:

Which test did you use in the U.K.?

Breath Assured via the British Airways Covid page

Live from Sky. 
 

Dinner in the restaurant last night, just walked in when it suited us. It would have been good of Viking to let people know this was the situation as our MDR reservations were still showing in the calendar on the tv screen. 
 

Food and serving staff was as excellent as we remember from previous VO cruises. 
 

We were seated on a 2 top in between two other 2 top tables. It felt a little uncomfortable but we will probably get use to it. As a result we probably did not engage in as much conversation with our neighbours as normal  Again, that will likely change as the week passes. 
 

The dress code was displayed on the desk and I did see one gentleman being spoken to about wearing jeans. 
 

I have some really good quality smart dark denim jeans that I enjoy wearing with a shirt and jacket but these are left at home.  So when I am seated next a gentleman wearing a baseball cap at dinner I do find it all difficult to accept. This is probably just me being British though. 
 

After dinner went for a walk and walked through the World Cafe and  we said we wished we had dinner in the WC. Which we have never done before, breakfast and lunch yes, but never dinner. Again maybe a British thing but I like my dinner served. 
 

The reason we said we would rather have had dinner in the WC is that it was more spacious and you chose where to sit. On the first night in Reykjavik, you either look out over the car park at the dock or over water to a beautiful vista. We had dinner overlooking the car park whereas we could have chosen a table overlooking the water. We know the food, wine and staff are all excellent so we will likely give it a go during this trip. 
 

I think it may be the seafood buffet that I have heard mentioned on CC tonight, so tonight could be when we try it. 
 

Early start on day 2, a 7:30 meet for an 8:00 departure on the Golden Circle tour. For some reason we were moved from the 8:30 to the 8:00. So early morning breakfast tray ordered for the room and if we have enough time the plan is to visit Mamsens for some wonderful fruit and yoghurt as well as they open early (6:30) as well as the WC. 
 

Really looking forward to the Golden Circle tour, we were in Iceland on a two week self drive trip 13 years ago and obviously did the GC sights but all are worthwhile revisiting after such a time and even better when somebody else does the driving. I wonder how busy the excursion buses will be? 
 

Will let you know later. TTFN
 

4 hours ago, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

Haven't cruised yet.  However, I don't think you'll need anything to block any light leakage at night.  From what I've seen on webcams recently, it is actually getting pitch black at night in Iceland!

Keep an eye on times though. 
 

Sunset tonight is circa 10:30 and sunrise 4:30. So it will get dark (ish) as we move into August but maybe an issue for some  We have a little light seepage at the bottom of the blackout blind but it is no issue at all for us. 

4 hours ago, peribit said:

Thanks for posting.  How about entry to Iceland?  Did you encounter any problem at the boarder with the video-supervised antigen test?

No problems at all. We arrived on July 31 with our negative supervised antigen certificate and entry was easy. 

1 minute ago, Wander58 said:

I know this.  What I would like to know is if the ABBOTT ID NOW test has been accepted?  It is a molecular NAAT test which is better than antigen but not quite PCR.

I seem to recall a chat feature on the Covid.is site when we registered a few days ago. You could always ask the Icelandic authorities if you can’t get an answer here. 
 

Personally even if somebody on this site suggests it is accepted, if there is any doubt I would prefer to get a definitive response from the Icelandic authorities before commencing my flights. 
 

Live from Viking Sky. 
 

Left Harpa concern hall at scheduled time of 12:00. 
 

We were told there was a small delay with boarding, so coach did a small tour of Reykjavik and instead of 10 minute trip to Viking Sky in took just over 30 min with a pleasant and knowledgeable local guide. 
 

Then waited a further 20 minutes before leaving the bus and climbing the rather steep gangway (we were okay but a few struggled) and then we stepped into what many of us have one to love over recent years. 
 

We were shown to a designated space (for us the MDR) where we received a short personal safety  briefing and then we were free to go. 
 

Stateroom were not ready at this point so we headed to the World Cafe for a fabulous small lunch. On the way we called in at the reception area of the two speciality restaurants and made a booking for both Manfredi’s and the Chefs Table both a times that suited us. 
 

In the World Cafe we were able to sign up for the drinks package with one of the Wine Steward and a rather nice glass of South African pinotage was consumed with lunch overlooking a fabulous view across to a headland with some higher ground in the background. 
 

An announcement that all Staterooms  were available for passengers at 1:35pm. 
 

Safety video and the first of many saliva samples (after the required 30 minute delay ) were provided. 
 

It feels so good to be back. 
 

Feel free to fire off any questions that are appropriate for this live thread. 

11 minutes ago, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

Thanks, Neil!  I'm just curious about what time your plane landed, as I assume you came from the UK and perhaps didn't land in the very busy very early morning.  I'm trying to guess what the crowds will be like after landing (if any) on my 6:30 AM arrival.  

We landed about 9:00 am local time. We were about 10 minutes early coming in from London. 

5 minute wait on the bus for the line to clear inside. 
 

5 minute wait in line to check in. Repeat questions on health questionnaire to make sure answers not changed. 
 

Have picture taken again. 
 

it only took a couple of minutes to do comfort check in before we departed but as others have said it is ignored. 
 

Plus they take a picture of your credit card. Just hope the images are stored securely. 
 

Weather warm and cloud clearing. Grabbed a quick coffee and then a walk around harbour and a quick photo stop at Icelandic boat sculpture. 
 

Departing to ship at 12:00 which is 10 mins drive away. 
 

We have been at the concert hall about 1:45 hrs. 

Live from KEF airport after arriving from London. 
 

Antigen test fully accepted. 
 

From landing to boarding coach no more than 30 minutes. 5 minute wait on coach and we are off. 
 

Coach 1/3 full. 

1 minute ago, peribit said:

It is good to know that they allow Ellume/Azova test.  The Iceland Covid test rule said "no self-test" are allowed.

You have to assume that a supervised self test is accepted. 
 

Nobody supervises the spit PCR sample which is used to provide our certificates to return home to the US or Uk. So in some ways a supervised antigen test is better than an unsupervised PCR test. Not necessarily by virtue of accuracy but identification of who actually provides the sample. 
 

I have my video supervised antigen test in 30 minutes ahead of our 31 July departure. Hopefully no more dramas today please. 

6 minutes ago, bardstowntraveller said:

We are on 8/3 Jupiter cruise. How can we tell which ports are tender ports for us?

Your final documents from Viking which you should have received by now will show the itinerary and latest timings. The ports which are tendered are denoted by a little anchor. 
 

We are on the departure a few days before you (31 July) and we are tendering at the last three ports. Just hope the weather is good and the spacing on tenders generous. 
 

7 minutes ago, les37b said:

And it's gone.......................

 

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cruise-ship-travel

 

 

Happy days.

Not even “going, going……”

But as you say.  “Gone”

8 minutes ago, Silver Spectre said:

UK Gov has just changed their international cruising advice, so that’s fixed the insurance issue. 😀

This has just been reported in Travel Weekly. 
 

A statement from the Department for Transport confirmed: “Following the close monitoring of epidemiological evidence, gained through the restart of the domestic cruise industry earlier this year, the UK government has also confirmed the go ahead for international cruise sailings to restart from England in line with Public Health England guidance.

“International cruise travel advice will be amended to encourage travellers to understand the risks associated with cruise travel and take personal responsibility for their own safety abroad.”

It added: “To further support the safe restart of international cruise travel, the Government and cruise industry have signed a breakthrough Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help the industry build back from Covid-19 while protecting British nationals from future pandemic-related disruption.”

Elsewhere it reports it is from 2nd August.
 

Interestingly the quote says that it relates to cruises from England. So it hard to know whether they will remove the advisory notice completely or amend it further to allow international cruising from England but not fly cruises elsewhere. So it is currently unclear whether this bring the Iceland and Malta cruises under normal insurance. 
 

We will need to await the updating of the relevant pages on the FCO website. 

6 hours ago, patchicago said:

Jupiter 8/3

I’m not seeing any additional information about Jupiter. No idea what the fate is of the 71 quarantined passengers (are they in hotels? For how long? Did anyone else test positive? ) or what happens with the new 7/27 passengers. Were they able to board on time? If Iceland has quarantined 70+ passengers is that an issue that might change current Viking protocols and procedures? 

Does anybody have any further information on this topic. I am reluctant to start a new thread but if 71 are in quarantine after getting off Jupiter then that is big news.

14 minutes ago, jtwind said:

didn't anybody else realize how crazy this response from Viking was?

No, probably just you. 
 

Thank you for sharing your personal first hand account. First hand accounts are so valuable.