Heidi13

Unfortunately, with shipbuilding there is no definitive date that a shipowner is notified by the yard that the build will be late. Since this is a first built, it could encounter issues during the sea trials, which could prevent the owner from accepting the tonnage. While that is that is highly unlikely, the sea trials can also identify equipment issues, some of which can be long lead items, if they need replaced. The Mississippi ship has received minimal press releases, so it has been tough to follow.

Thanks Chief.

Insurance is one of the things that shouldn't be purchased based on price, as I find with insurance you really do get what you pay for. Personally, until our Viking 2019/20 World Cruise, we never purchased cruise line insurance, as based on our age, the cruise line insurance was more expensive for less coverage. However, for the 19/20 WC, no local or online broker would accept the risk, so we were stuck with the Viking Tripmate. Having read the policy document thoroughly, it does have some pros & cons. Since we are now over 60 and have pre-existing conditions, the pre-existing condition waiver is definitely a saving, especially if you ever had to make a major claim. The cost model, which is based on a percentage of the fare rather than age/health risk assessment, for us is now cheaper, for comparable coverage. Another cost benefit is that the insurance cost is not based on any vouchers used. The biggest con for us is the very poor level of medical coverage. Therefore, when we purchase the Viking insurance, we also purchase a local medical coverage policy, as we won't travel without at least $5M, over what our Provincial Health will pay for out of Province coverage. I note the Viking insurance provides a cash refund when you cancel for a covered reason. If you cancel with the CFAR, it only provides FCV's, which are only valid for 1-yr. Best thing you can do is download a copy of the Tripmate policy document and compare it to insurance available from a local or online broker.

To enter Canada, you must be fully vaccinated, with only very few exceptions. The requirements for boarding a cruise ship in Canada also require pax to be fully vaccinated, again with very few exceptions. Unless your group meet the exemption criteria, Princess should not be providing waivers.

Not a lot of miles on that hull. 😁

Viking Mars has now departed the builder's yard

Based on the post above, it looks like Viking was aware the crew member was a no show and had made the required report to the US authorities. Shipping companies can be heavily fined when crew members "Jump ship" by not returning from shore leave. Only being an hour out, returning to pick up the crew member could have saved some admin issues/fines, but unfortunately I don't know the US Regs as well as the Canadian ones. Hopefully the Chief can advise. @chengkp75

Viking Mars was delivered to owners today and she has a couple of tugs standing-by. AIS shows she will arrive in Dubrovnik tomorrow, so looks like she is preparing to sail from the shipyard.

I purchased DW a bridge camera, which is a series of options between point & shoots and DSLR/mirrorless. Since I use Canons, we stuck with that brand. The Powershot SX70HS gets good reviews, but they also have older models and other brands also have many options.

It's only on Orion & Jupiter, which have the planetariums installed, which require a dome sticking up on the deck above.

Look at the ports and timing. Since it's a Seattle based ship they don't sail East of Vancouver Island and then they don't stop at Ketchikan, so they don't enter Alaska until Juneau. From Juneau to Skagway is all at night, as is Skagway to G/Bay. The return is directly from Icy Strait to Juan de Fuca. Shameful that a cruise line even considers this an Alaska cruise, it's not even an Alaska sampler. Sadly, this is the reason we ditched Princess after 40 yrs of both working for and cruising with them.

Our invoice is also in pdf format. I would be very surprised that your invoice does not include some link to the daily testing requirement and pre-cruise requirements, since that is a requirement of UK Law. You may elect not to use MVJ, but that doesn't negate the fact the information is most likely included in that resource.

In Canada, Viking provide the information on both our invoice and in MVJ, so I suspect in UK, at least MVJ is consistent. I expect your invoice has a similar link, which takes us to a document outlining pre-cruise requirements and what to expect onboard. The testing requirements were posted on the Viking website in December 2020.

Just to continue your great response. Viking are completely open on the daily testing and implications of testing positive. They have been discussed extensively on this and other forums. If pax don't accept this risk they have the option of cancelling and getting most money back 120+ days out, or a FCV, if within. Therefore, everyone that elects to cruise with Viking at present, accepts this risk and the potential consequences. They may not like the risk, but by continuing with the cruise they have accepted the risk. If you are aware of the risk and have options, hardly grounds for litigation after a cruise.

Royal Yacht is a great choice and so easy to visit from Newhaven.

Couldn't read the article, but have to wonder how the system failed to identify that all crew were not back onboard. Did they not scan the card properly upon departing?

I don't expect my TA to know everything, but if she doesn't know the answer, her response is always that she will get back to us. This is only Viking's 2nd Alaska season, so you may get answers, but you should make your TA do their job and call Viking directly. Make the TA provide you with the answers, that's why they get paid commission. If they don't, time for a new TA.

I concur, this certainly was an avoidable accident, as most are, provided you make good choices. So, I can think of a few options that were available: 1) Call the Purser's Office to have the Cruise Director paged to the Explorers Lounge to resolve the timing issue. With 20 mins to the proper start time, the CD had time to resolve. Even if it re-started late, better and safer for all. 2) Book tickets for another showing 3) Enter an unfamiliar very dark space with tiered stairs from a very bright space, which I note is at the top/fwd end of the ship, which extenuates any ship's movement in a seaway. I certainly hope, upon entering the space, you remained stationary and holding on, for the up to 2 to 3 minutes it takes for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark. I note that as I get older, it takes longer for my eyes to adjust. Then they will consider a multitude of other considerations - glasses (tinted/bi/tri focal, footwear, anything to drink recently, previous gate steady/unsteady, carrying anything, hair partially covering the face, etc. If you failed to provide eye adjustment time, upon entering the dark space, it further compounds a poor decision. Yes, it is poor customer service that the crew started the film early, but that wasn't the root cause of your wife's accident. Unfortunately, you made a poor choice to enter a dark and unfamiliar space on a ship at sea.

Didn't you purchase travel insurance providing that coverage?

Apologies, Jim & I got off track again with sea stories. The situation I mentioned certainly wasn't a Viking ship.

Affirmative.

Brilliant. How about joining the Neptune's Roll Call so we can keep in touch

The reason is because we have experienced free tastings of wines, liqueurs and spirits. Each of the General Managers has some discretion on what they can offer.

From memory, I believe it is over US $800 pp for violations of the US PVSA.

Next to Glacier Bay, scenic cruising through the Inside Passage is my highlight of an Alaska Cruise. Note - Seattle cruise already see minimal Inside Passage. Not arriving Juneau until 14:30 and 3 hrs at Icy Point, it results in Skagway being the only decent port call. Princess should be ashamed to offer this schedule. If they can't provide a decent cruise to Alaska, change to a different region. I would cancel.