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15 hours ago, katlew said:

I’m really surprised they are offering you anything! On the Orion over the holidays when they first told us Christchurch, Dunedin, & Hobart we’re cancelled and we were going to add Adelaide, we were told we’d get 50% of the cruise fare in FCC. Of course, it all spiraled from there.

I would be following this up with a question to NZ Ministry of Primary Industries and ask when did Viking get told they could not enter those ports. It is bad form to allow another 800 to 900 passengers board the ship and not be told before they board. 

A Nz media program Fair Go is looking at doing a program on this issue of Viking are there any NZ or passengers from around the world who are willing to reach out to Fair Go and share their story.

Email: fairgo@tvnz.co.nz

If anyone else reads this if you would like to contact me I have further information regarding the Viking Orion cruise Auckland to Sydney Dec 22 to Jan 5th, Please contact me on jorr79@gmail.com. It is of only importance to people that cruised on those dates. 

Were you on the Viking Orion cruise out of Auckland in December 22.

Hi all since returning home on the 7th January I have spent my time researching and gathering more information regarding the VIKING ORION 12-22-2022. Please keep an eye on the news report out of New Zealand further information regarding the VIKING ORION 12-22-2022 is likely to be released within days. The information has been shared with us  but I am waiting a response from Viking.

Please keep an eye on the news report out of New Zealand further information regarding the VIKING ORION 12-22-2022 is likely to be released within days. 

1 hour ago, CurlerRob said:

The problems appear to be continuing - the Oceania board has reports of the Regatta undergoing cleaning and missing ports as of today. By my count that makes 4 ships very recently - belonging to Viking, Princess, Regent and Oceania.

 

I would assume that the inspection level by NZ has been significantly increased to detect multiple ships so recently. Perfectly appropriate by the authorities - as @chengkp75 said earlier, just one more thing for the lines to adapt to.

 

Terribly unfortunate for the pax unlucky enough to have been caught up in this. 🍺🥌

Plus Cunard Queen Elizabeth 

4 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

I'll suggest the report of "Fungus" was the usual lack of fact checking by the media.

Agreed about the fact checking by media or lack off.  I am currently researching and applying to get more information of what exactly was found on the Viking Orion and the date found. Once I have this information I will share it.

A good article we have recently left the Viking Orion and have also been effected by this issue. We feel as though the cruise ships need to improve their responses and support there guests who have booked. We are very unlikely to ever cruise again and certainly not with Viking and have left the ship very disappointed. We are New Zealanders and fully approve our governments actions. These cruise ships owners are fully prepared to sacrifice the world environment for their own greed. We left an on board credit unspent and asked if it could be donated to a charity and they were unable to help us so more money back into the coffers of Viking.

13 hours ago, Triptkr said:

@katlew,

Thank you for keeping all of us in the loop of your situation.  For myself, I appreciate hearing how Viking has handled the whole mess...vouchers, refunds, etc.  Whether they have or haven't refunded and whether it's in voucher or cash, it's helpful for the rest of us to know so we can make the correct decision for our future vacations.

If you don't mind, please continue to keep us apprised if Viking changes or adds anything to the compensation package once you get home.   

We have been told the initial package we will receive, and in the middle of appealing for a satisfactory resolution.  If we had the chance we would have got off in Wellingtion if we had known we could not get to Melbourne and Adelaide. 

On 1/4/2023 at 11:12 AM, Heidi13 said:

 

Jim - Haven't seen anything definitive as to the location or extent of the fouling.

 

As you know, fouling is nearly always present on hulls and we are increasingly restricted on the products permitted, as in many cases the A/F coatings were more damaging than the fouling on the hull. Back in the 70's & 80's we used TBT and/or arsenic coatings, which were banned by IMO Convention about 15 yrs ago.

 

On my ships, due to the age of our hulls, we drydocked twice every 5 yrs, which was a 2 yr interval followed by a 3 yrs interval. Even with the latest self-polishing/ablative coatings, we always had some fouling on the hull, especially iwo the sea chests and boot topping. Newer cruise ships drydock every 5 yrs, so some type of fouling is expected.

 

Just before I retired, International had introduced Intersleek 900, which was still a biocide foul release coating, but had a higher hull smoothness, so produced better fuel economy. I tried developing the business case for the higher cost coating that was more than offset by fuel savings. Unfortunately, I retired before the first drydocking, so can't compare the fouling to older products.

 

I believe I read some time ago that International had developed a new generation of non-biocide foul release A/F coating, which I recall noted something about "Slime'. Might check into it to see if I can refresh my memory. All other suppliers had similar products, but we were contracted to International, so I knew their products. 

 

With respect to the scope, without having any definitive information, my best guess was normal fouling iwo the sea chests, with possibly some weeds/tubeworms/barnacles in various places. If the divers were working over the entire hull, then it would be wide spread and would take many days. If, after surveying the entire hull, they worked in a few specific areas, then that would favour the sea chests. I'll suggest the almost 18 month COVID shutdown didn't help, as the self-polishing/ablative coatings work better when the ship is steaming.

 

If they did required extensive hull cleaning they will get some fuel savings until the 1st Special Survey drydocking, which should be sometime this year, as I recall she was a 2018 build. Wouldn't be surprised to see her drydock in Singapore before heading to Alaska next summer.

We have just heard from a staff member this is to be the case.

2 hours ago, bluesramsrock said:

Katlew - Thanks for your insights into this situation.  Have you arrived in Sydney yet?

We are finally arrived in Sydney, and are about to dock.

1 hour ago, Jim Avery said:

Has anyone seen exactly what type of organism they are hot about?  Anyone of yall who have ever owned a boat in salt water know how fast a variety of barnacles,  tubeworms, algae, etc. can form on even coated hulls and running gear.  I defer to Chengkp75 for all the technical details of modern hull coatings as my sailing days are a few years back.  Back then hull antifoulants were being regulated more and more and were becoming less and less effective.  Modern ablative coatings work better but up to a point.  The growth on a hull in salt water is incessant and these regs will end up costing us all in higher fares.  Cleaning the hull with divers is great but unless they are using some vacuum cleaners the removed organisms will still be alive and floating in the water.  Amazing how a handful of marine growth can turn into a truckload in short order.  But then I made a lot of money cleaning hulls in my small shipyard.🍸

Totally agree, it some a situation my husband and others have been discussing. At no time have we been told what exactly the organism is or was now it has been removed.

https://maritime-executive.com/article/new-zealand-issues-biofouling-guidance

More reading 

1 hour ago, miller1327 said:

Thank you for all the information on this "adventure." Very sorry you had to miss all those ports. As we are taking the same itinerary a month out, we appreciate your "sacrifice" to give us a clean hull - at least for a little while. I do have two questions if someone on board might answer. What is the current Viking COVID testing protocol and how has COVID been on the trip? And my wife wants to ask how the ride was crossing the Tasmanian sea? 

We have not been covid tested yet as a passenger, and regarding the ride across the Tasman Sea sadly my husband was quite sick for one day and stayed in the cabin.

7 hours ago, katlew said:

That is a very confusing article. It almost sounds as if Viking knew there was an issue before our cruise even left Auckland. But it also says it stuck to commercial ports & didn’t go to restricted areas & was still told to leave. What a mess. I certainly hope Viking didn’t just put us all through this knowing we wouldn’t be able to go to most ports.

That is how I am reading the article,  if this is the case it really puts Viking in a poor light. 

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/481818/algae-ridden-cruise-ship-ordered-out-of-new-zealand-waters

The latest update from an interview with a Nz department employee with permission to speak on the matter of the Viking Orion biofoulling.

This is worth a read and puts Viking in a bad light and other cruise ships

1 hour ago, Twitchly said:

I think we’ll pass on cruising to New Zealand. 

Please do visit Nz it is a lovely place well I am biased we live there. May be fly in and rent a car. If you pm privately we  live 20 minutes from Martinborough wine district and offer accommodation. 

1 hour ago, Pushka said:

I just heard this from a very disgruntled passenger on a FB group. I'm so sorry for you all, while compensation will be offered, going on trips like this involves so much planning and organisation for home, possibly work, airfares etc etc that a 'Free cruise' doesn't go far enough. Of course things happen but it seems that this is something that shouldn't have happened. Something has changed in NZ it seems. 

In 2018 Nz made a change to ensure we can maintain our water ways  this is not a new issue. From what I have read 6% of the ships that have entered NZ waters have been requested to clean the hulls.

So far the Captain has never given us the latin name of the "things" on the hull, if he did so that would clear everything up. People would then be able to research it themselves and the rumours may slow down. The comment regarding "sloppy journalism is so accurate and the problem is world wide. 

The cleaning has commenced we believe, the tug is moored directly below our cabin.

12 hours ago, Pushka said:

Orion just made the Channel 10 news in Australia.   They said it was a fungal issue. 🤭  - there was some mention of making Melbourne for NYE.  If they can remove the issue quickly then that's a real possibility. Mars is currently berthed there. 

I think it is quite unlikely we will make Melbourne for the New Year celebrations as it is the morning of the 31st December at 5.38am.

1 hour ago, katlew said:

If you see my latest post, the boat was passed as clean in quite a few countries before this trip. They did not expect the inspection in NZ to be any different. We do have travel insurance & will see what Viking plans to compensate us & then see if we need to contact them. We were getting a 50% voucher but now have been told they will call us about compensation when we get home.

It will be interesting to how it is all resolved, I have been hearing from other cruise passengers with differing names for the cruise. Some them not very friendly.

1 hour ago, katlew said:

I tried yesterday evening, but too many people in blue!

I know I kept looking but it was so crowded tonite we are up on the  upper Explorers until at least 7pm, we are also going to Dolphin and Whales at 8pm if we can get in.

1 hour ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

Agree on a time and a place (some place that isn't usually crowded).   5:30 pm Atrium, Deck 2 by the Future Cruise Desk or Atrium Deck 3 which tends to be even quieter (just decide even side or odd). You can always move the party after you meet up.  

Agreed