SLOW TRAVEL
Viking Health Protocols = Zero Positive Travelers
Highlighting a solid advantage of small ship sailing, health protocols on our recent Viking river cruise added up to zero passengers testing positive for COVID. That was the announcement on the very last day of our 8-day sailing from Basel to Amsterdam. But to get there, some slight changes to onboard programming, passenger requirements and the physical layout of the ship were needed. We begin with a list of those Viking COVID-related protocols as well as some other elements of the travel experience that were already built in and unique to Viking.
- Test Negative Prior To Travel. Like other cruise lines, every Viking traveler must test negative 72 hours or less before boarding the ship and carry documentation to prove it. To test the test, I tried it two ways. A drive-through test at my local CVS pharmacy on Thursday gave me results on Saturday night. I had a personal deadline of by Saturday morning. When I did not have results in hand I went to a while-you-wait testing facility at Orlando International Airport and walked away with the documentation of my negative results in hand. I’ll probably do it that way in the future as well.
- Only The Fully-Vaccinated. If you want to be aboard a Viking river cruise ship, you will be fully vaccinated. Royal Caribbean, for example, currently requires only those 12 and older to be fully vaccinated. That would scare the hell out of me and others with a health history that includes past or ongoing medical issues. Additional booster shots are highly recommended as well.
- No Kids On Board. A number cruise lines that require COVID testing of adults have more relaxed rules for young children, basically creating a small army of COVID spreaders on any given sailing. Viking has always been a cruise for grown-ups, allowing only those 18 and older to sail.
- Built In Distancing. Nearly invisible plexiglass barriers (see below) provide a bonus measure of distancing at the bar, in seating areas and in other contact places around the ship.
- Pre-Departure Information- A complete and frequently updated Pre-Departure checklist kept us on track to get to the ship safely with all the documentation we needed to board the ship. Additional information clearly outlined what to expect throughout our voyage and provided up to date links to additional resources, should we wish to have even more information.
- Daily Testing. We were asked to spit into a test tube (see below), place it into an envelope pre-printed with our name and stateroom number on it that was left in our stateroom each night for the next day. We then dropped that off at the reception area each day by 7AM for testing. This non-invasive saliva PCR testing method was easy.
- Flexible Passenger Requirements– On our particular sailing, an increase in COVID cases at some places we visited caused Viking healthcare professionals additional concern. That meant we were asked to wear masks when moving around the ship and when on tour off ship.
- Small Ships Make A Big Difference- Daily testing, safely feeding and cleaning up after less than 200 passengers is more efficiently done on small ships. Moving them on and off Viking Longships for embarkation, tours and free time ashore is efficiently safe.
- Viking Health & Safety Program. I have always been impressed with the health and safety protocols in place on Viking Longships. For travelers wondering what to expect before and during their Viking river cruise, easy to access online Viking Health & Safety information provides what we need to know every step of the way.
- Ready To Return. When our sailing was done, we received proof of our negative test prior to travel. It was accepted by my airline and made the process easy with no disruption to travel plans.
Looking back, I felt safe every step of the way. That’s important to me and many others traveling with Viking who may have compromised immune systems or mild to serious health concerns…pretty much anyone in the 55+ age group.
