Status of Viking Orion passengers ..

[Cleopatra99]

From local news service;

 

Viking Orion cruise liner docked in Port Melbourne this afternoon as Australia's international lockdown measures came into effect.

A Border Force spokesman said about 724 people were on board the cruise ship, including 27 Australians.

The ship entered Australian waters just before Prime Minister Scott Morrison's ban on international cruise ships came into effect at midnight on Sunday.

"Everyone will be subject to the 14 day self-isolation period if they remain in Australia," the Border Force spokesman said.

About 40 people will stay on the ship before catching a flight out of the country tomorrow.

The remaining passengers were either entering self-isolation in hotels or other accommodation, or trying to book flights out of Australia.

A Viking spokeswoman said the passengers had been provided with the latest information about mandatory self-isolation and the company was arranging flights for anyone who wanted to return home.

Viking also announced last week it would temporarily suspend all cruise operations until May.

[Clay Clayton]

Huh, I was under (obviously incorrect) the impression that Orion has stopped cruising a week or more ago. We are hoping we won’t have to enter mandatory isolation when we disembark Sky tomorrow in Miami 🤞

[Frenchberet]

On 3/16/2020 at 2:50 AM, Cleopatra99 said:

From local news service;

 

Viking Orion cruise liner docked in Port Melbourne this afternoon as Australia's international lockdown measures came into effect.

A Border Force spokesman said about 724 people were on board the cruise ship, including 27 Australians.

The ship entered Australian waters just before Prime Minister Scott Morrison's ban on international cruise ships came into effect at midnight on Sunday.

"Everyone will be subject to the 14 day self-isolation period if they remain in Australia," the Border Force spokesman said.

About 40 people will stay on the ship before catching a flight out of the country tomorrow.

The remaining passengers were either entering self-isolation in hotels or other accommodation, or trying to book flights out of Australia.

A Viking spokeswoman said the passengers had been provided with the latest information about mandatory self-isolation and the company was arranging flights for anyone who wanted to return home.

Viking also announced last week it would temporarily suspend all cruise operations until May.

 

I was on Orion and the news article isn't quite accurate.  Our cruise was scheduled to end in Sydney on March 20.  We were scheduled to stop in Tasmania on March 15 but there was word that Australia was locking down the borders.  The captain skipped Tasmania and headed for Sydney.  Later that day we were diverted to Melbourne.  We docked and went through Customs at the cruise terminal on March 16.  The Australians got off the ship and I assume went home.  The rest of us got back on the ship.  Nobody self-isolated in hotels or other accommodations.  Viking offered to rebook all the flights or we could make our own flight arrangements to leave on March 17. 

 

The Viking staff was terrific and helped everyone through the process.  Very sorry we missed Australia but under the circumstances, happy to be home.

[MSEm]

We also were on the Viking Orion.  Viking was very helpful in getting people rebooked for flights home.  As a last option Viking was offering free economy air back home for passengers.  Viking also transported us to the airport even though we had not booked transfers with Viking.

We were  originally scheduled to leave then ship in Sydney and then travel to Port Douglas on a private booking.

I contacted our travel agent (it was about 5:30 pm on Sunday March 15 for her, 7:30 AM Monday, March 16 for us) about the  our cruise ending in Melbourne.  By 8 AM, Monday, March 16 I had our new flight scheduled. Our original Mar 25 flights were changed to Tuesday, March 17.

 

Our many thanks to Viking, Delta Airlines and of course our Travel agent for changing the bookings and getting us quickly back home.

[Ontario/AZ]

We were on the Orion until we disembarked in Melbourne.  We cannot say enough about the Orion staff and crew.  They went above and beyond.  Many went without sleep for I am sure more than one night.  We booked Syndney to Bangkok for next March 2021.  Can't wait.  Thank you Viking!!