gramfrog

5 minutes ago, Snit13 said:

SIRI says Florida Sand Fleas are Midges.  Know them well.  Are the Icelandic Midges at every port stop?  Will Deep Woods spray help keep them off you?  We used it when hunting in GA and FL.

Any mosquito repellent will work on midges!  Be sure to rub on hands and then through your hair and back of your neck... .  I just try to be natural biologic and kind to my skin; that's why lavender and tea tree oil; I suppose oils from  natural citronella plant would work too....  

Midges-- did the Icelanders say how long they last in the summer?  Should we plan on bringing lavender and/or tea tree oil as a natural repellant, or will they be gone soon?  thanks.

If anyone takes either the Elves excursion on day five, or the Beluga Whale excursion, dear seven, could you please give your feedback?  And has anyone taken the Horseback excursion on Day 2 (Reykjavik)?  We are booking today (hallelujah!) and this is getting pricey haha

1 hour ago, VI_Lounger said:

Is it safe to re-think packing the heavier weight Helly jacket or better safe than sorry in Iceland. I'm just surprised by the big change in temps from what I've been watching the past few weeks. All good news but hate to drag that jacket around if I can get by with a lightweight with a vest/layers! 

Check your Helly's inside pocket.  It most likely has a large sturdy nylon attached "bag" where you can stuff, from outside in, the entire jacket, making it packable.  Two of my Helly's have that feature!  Will be making packing easier, and so I'll bring both.  

1 hour ago, Peregrina651 said:

Repeating the thread guidelines for those who are new to the party.

 

This "LIVE from" thread is about what is happening right now on board the ship and nothing else.

 

If you aren't heading to the ship or on it, you are a member of the audience and are asked to refrain from posting here unless it is a specific question for those on board. Members of the audience, even those who have already sailed, are also asked to refrain from answering questions.  Unruly audience members will be reported.

 

 

 

THANK you, Peregrina!  Awesome-- and thanks to those LIVE on the ship for taking time out to answer our questions! 

30 minutes ago, vslparis said:

Too early to tell as most people are awaiting the on board test results. However I know that we will have the answers to those questions as we move forward. 

Thank you!  Guess I jumped in too soon..... 

Question to all of you who are enjoying your first day onboard:  How did dining go?  I expect that you, like all of us wannabes, made dining reservations.  But unfortunately Viking allowed only one stateroom at a time to reserve a table, whether at Chef's Table, or Manfredis, or The Restaurant, even if you are traveling with friends.  Were you allowed to have more than two at tables, and if so, how many?  Is that wonderful eight to ten person round table still available at the aft of The Restaurant? thanks. 

8 minutes ago, TayanaLorna said:

Well that is interesting.  We bought Brenivin at KEF, stayed one night in Iceland and continued on to Bergen the next morning.  No one told us we couldn't drink it at our hotel.  Was planning to purchase it again on the way in so i could put it into checked luggage on the way home.

We were also told that the seal couldn't be broken on a purchase if we were entering Iceland... so we waited until we departed.

2 hours ago, SantaFe1 said:

Just got an email from Viking for the June 26 cruisers with a checklist of what we should be doing and bringing with us.  It includes the following:

 

Travel Document Preparation

• Valid Passport (Passport must be valid for 6 months beyond your planned trip dates.)
• Confirmation of pre-registration for visiting Iceland – Either print your barcode or have the email confirmation available to click the link and show upon arrival to Iceland.
• Proof of FDA/WHO approved COVID-19 vaccine
• Cruise Itinerary (Viking Journey Summary emailed to you by Viking) – to verify your "Address in Iceland"

Tip: While digital documents on your phone are accepted, they will slow your clearance through the checkpoints in the Iceland arrival terminal, so we suggest printing your documentation and having it available throughout your journey.

 

what it the “Cruise Itinerary” they say they emailed us?  I don’t seem to have such an email or summary.  I have the printout of the calendar from MVJ, but that’s all.

Check your Viking room

reservation.  On the bottom of that it has your cruise itinerary.

3 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

That corresponds to information I’ve learned from YouTube, Lonely Planet, and other “research” I’ve done. Hopefully Linda will respond if they didn’t get snowed in. 

When we were there last year (Feb 2020), we were told to purchase for personal use at Duty Free before leaving the airport.  Alcohol is scarce to find in a bottle form and REALLY expensive...  Of course, if you have the Silver Spirits package onboard Viking, you don't have to worry about that...

23 minutes ago, SantaFe1 said:

Thanks, Peregrina!

Thank you for setting this up!!

8 hours ago, JM0115 said:

I don’t understand this. The first circle says that you have to quarantine if you are in contact with someone with COVID. Not sure what the second circle means?

RE: the two circled points: 1) if you are in contact with a person positive for Covid, you must quarantine.  That is considered close contact.  2) if you had sat next to someone, for example, or at their table, who has to quarantine because they were near a C+ person, YOU don't have to quarantine.  Example: in a school room, regular desks, person A tests positive.  He is sent home, as are the people who sit in front, back and immediate sides- four people sent home to quarantine who did NOT test positive (that's the "close contact").  Those others in the classroom do not have to  quarantine.  Real life example:  one child tested positive while in class (mom called it in, and child was taken to nurse).  The four around him had their parents called to take them home to quarantine and test.  One child, my grandson, was one of the quarantined close contacts.  His twin sister, who of course lives in the same household and is in the same classroom, but several seats apart, was not quarantined.  

56 minutes ago, Donaghadee said:

If anyone has an interest in bird watching, Merilin is a really handy app.  It's published by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and has "Packs" specific to regions.  They just happen to have one for Iceland. 

Available for Apple or Android phones.  It's free, but you have to provide your email address so they can pester you for donations.  Look in your app store under "Merlin".

Thanks, Donaghadee!  Just added to my apps.  I suppose we will have walk around WIFI while we are watching and identifying birds???

9 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Blue Lagoon has a luggage storage service on site. 

Yes, and it works well!  In February 2020 we flew in around 6:30 AM, got on the Blue Lagoon bus from the airport with our luggage, had a 8 or 8:30 AM ticket to enjoy the Blue Lagoon.  The attendant gave us our ticket in exchange for our luggage (cost, around $6 each piece; we had a suitcase and/or a backpack), and off we went, enjoying the  Blue Lagoon and lunch afterwards.  We took a bus back to the Icelandair Reyjavik Natura Hotel around 1PM and checked in.  What a great way to start off a vacation and shake off the jet lag cobwebs!  

6 minutes ago, johnnyswitzerland said:

My sailing's shorex have not opened yet, but to be prepared, I inquired with Viking yesterday to find out whether it's okay to call or if we must use MVJ.  I was curious if having booked the cruise with a travel agent made a difference (I'm a Viking newb but know that other lines won't speak to you directly if you booked via TA).

 

The rep replied that shorex should be booked using MVJ by either the guest or the guest's travel agent.  He said that Viking CSRs are not supposed to be booking excursions for guests.

 

But we know that it's worked for others on this thread previously.  So I'm not sure I should even mention it – don't want to worry people!  Maybe the reps helped with shorex previously only because of the website issues?  Or maybe what I was told was inaccurate.

Johnny, don't worry yourself.  In the eight years I have booked Viking for myself and a multitude of clients, I've NEVER experienced such a variety of answers from the phone-in personnel. I've NEVER experienced such (hopefully temporary) chaos from Viking itself.  CHAOS! Don't misunderstand, I love the product and still promote it.  It's just that  I've learned to trust a couple of experienced Viking phone agents and to contact them directly.  

40 minutes ago, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

Vabeachlady, hello from Maryland.  If you just want a concise, easy to read document which describes  excursions, see the attached document I received from peregrina.  It's for the July 3 cruise, but probably pretty close to what's reflected on AKexplorer's spreadsheet.  However, times may be slightly off, plus I think there were a few additions/subtractions made by Viking after the document came out.

ICE ShoreExcursions Descriptions (1).pdf 181.25 kB · 3 downloads

Does anyone know if they are the same shore excursions for Jupiter in August?

Viking reads these posts, also, so that's good....

7 hours ago, LibertyBella said:

Just decided to skim this thread and see what is different from our Bermuda thread.  I just booked my Viking cruise a week ago and I am traveling at the end of this month, so I had a lot to accomplish in a short time. I am also taking my 85 year old mother!  Bermuda has a lot of strict Covid requirements that  require constant testing and online entry. Those of you not traveling until August should have patience--it will all come together. 

I am actually going to Iceland for Thanksgiving on a land tour--this will be my third time in the country.  I am fascinated that it is so wild and natural.  Do not miss the waterfalls and geysers-- and perhaps a swim in the Blue lagoon.  The sheepskin rugs are fabulous.  Have a wonderful cruise!

ég elska ísland

Hi, fellow Philly girl!  Interestingly, we booked the Bermuda for June with 10 of our friends, and finally cried Uncle when the hoops were just too narrow to jump through to enjoy preparing for our Viking Bermuda Cruise.  So we are all going to Iceland, which I have visited several times in winter.  Such a fabulous and friendly country.  Have a wonderful time with your mom. 

I hate it when I get a dummkopf on the Viking line...  can anyone tell me definitively when the Iceland excursion bookings begin?  A number of us are on the August 24-31 cruise; our reservation says June 18;  I read on cruise critic June 11; and the agent on the Viking site said either June 16 or June 17.....  he "wasn't quite sure"...  

and at what hour can you book?  he said "around midnight".  when I asked whose midnight, Pacific time, Eastern time (where my client it), Central time (where we live)?  and his reply was, "like, maybe my time midnight?  So is that earlier or later on the east coast?"  

At that point I just said thanks buhbye

31 minutes ago, Glenndale said:

So I wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb if I decided to wear a dressy top, and maybe even a sparkly top at e.g. The Chefs Table?

I do like an excuse to get my glad rags out on a cruise and the opportunities for that have been lacking over the last year 🙃

Oh, goodness no!  I am soooooo tired of wearing t-shirts and sweats....  I'm bringing lots of Lilly Pulitzer.  BUT.... remember-- layers for daytime outside.  On Alaskan cruises you get used to seeing people in much more casual clothing in the evening.  So you might see both!!  

4 minutes ago, philw1776 said:

Received luggage tags + iPad sized case & phone battery empt from TA
To prepare mentally for the cruise I'm now wearing my red Viking sticker on my forehead

But just to be sure, the only thing you received from Viking is the paper envelope containing the red sticker, info paper, and the two leather luggage tags, correct?  No gifts, like the wool zipper bag or other gifts? Or a booklet about the country? 

Just now, Clay Clayton said:

It is my understanding that you can also purchase at the duty free on arrival.  That’s what I’m planning on doing (unless we decide to get Silver Spirits)

We could not purchase and then drink it in Iceland in January 2020 (just before everything shut down).  Things could have changed.... 

8 hours ago, JM0115 said:

 

If you'd like to try a great and different Icelandic liqueur , pick up Björk at the Keflavik airport. I is made from birch, and has a trademark branch  inside the bottle.  BTW, alcohol is SO expensive to purchase by the bottle in the country (our Icelandic tour person told us that was to keep people from drinking too much...) that you need to purchase your bottles at the duty free in the airport on the way home.  Leave room!!!  

2 hours ago, Heartgrove said:

Has anyone sailed on a repositioning cruise aboard Viking? We are starting to get serious with the "Iberia, the Mediterranean, and Malta" cruise aboard Viking Venus.  Sue is chatting with Viking for the second time right now.  Hearing today that the 4th Viking Sky cruise is close to capacity and with all of the removal of furniture from the public spaces, I would not want to switch if the Viking Venus has a similar situation and a similar configuration. Just found out that the shore excursions are still under review as well!  Leaves in less than a month!  30 Days till it sails.

 

Add in that they are planning on the availability of 930 passengers, full capacity.

 

 

we sailed a 14 day transatlantic with them in 2018.  It was a blast.

1 hour ago, SantaFe1 said:

 

No, this is not the latest from Viking.  We are on the first cruise, and got this yesterday: (it’s now on MVJ, under before you go, embarkation requirements)

 

Embarkation Procedure (Iceland): Upon arrival, you will be required to take a COVID-19 test administered by the Icelandic Government. This test will be in addition to the embarkation test required by Viking.
Special Note: The ship is designated as an Iceland quarantine area for Viking guests. You will be transferred to your ship as you await confirmation of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. You will then proceed to your stateroom where you will be required to provide a saliva sample. Please refrain from consuming any food or beverage item or smoking for at least one hour before submitting your saliva sample. While waiting for your test results, you will be able to use the public spaces on board observing current mask and social distancing requirements.
You will also need to undergo the following COVID-19 screening prior to your cruise:
• Temperature check (a temperature reading of less than 100.4°F/38°C).
• Questions in relation to your general health, COVID-19 symptoms, or possible exposure.
• Accept and agree to using contact-tracing technology during your cruise.
• Complete any required check-in procedures.
 

Thank you for this!  Info from VIking can change at a dime's flip.  These are the times we live in!  Hopefully by August 24 there will be no nonsense to comply with.