It’s been a minute since I traveled internationally. So, Why Viking Cruises and Why Now? I’m a nervous Nelly and somewhat of a hypochondriac. The pandemic only exacerbated that, and sometimes I think it gave me a mild case of PTSD. So, you can only imagine the amount of thought and research that went into me deciding whether going to Iceland and sailing on Viking would meet my intense scrutinization. Well, how did it measure up? Viking surpassed all expectations, and I had a magnificent, worry-free cruise around Iceland.
Reykjavík to Reykjavík 8 Days | 6 Tours | 1 Country
Science:
I am fully vaccinated. On the Viking Sky, Iceland’s Natural Beauty itinerary, all passengers (and crew) needed to be fully vaccinated to board the ship. In addition, all passengers had to complete a Viking Digital Health Survey and a vaccination validation online. There was a lot of dotting I’s and crossing T’s. I appreciate that.
Iceland’s Requirements:
I had to pre-register for visiting Iceland online. At the time of my trip, all travelers – regardless of origin, had to show either a certificate of full vaccination against COVID or a certificate of previous COVID infection. Updated criteria here.
Life on-board:
Viking’s Health & Safety Program is one of the most well-researched and comprehensive COVID-19 prevention and mitigation plans in the travel industry. All guests and crew were tested daily with a quick and easy non-invasive saliva PCR, processed onboard in a full-scale Viking-dedicated laboratory. Even when all guests and crew are vaccinated, there could be a breakthrough case, although it will significantly reduce occurrences. Viking’s protocol was designed to detect any possible case to be isolated and stop a potential transmission chain immediately.
All staterooms on both Viking ocean and river ships feature independent air handling units that do not share air with other areas of the ship. The crew was constantly deep cleaning public areas. While passengers slept, new sanitization robots (an industry first) treated surfaces in guest and crew public areas utilizing UV-C light. Only 6 guests were permitted in the spa area at one time, and reservations were required. Masks were worn in public areas of the ship throughout our journey.
So, did it diminish my experience?
Absolutely NOT! In fact, I was comforted knowing that everything humanly possible was being done to ensure a healthy and enjoyable cruise. The food was incredible, the ship meticulous, the stateroom roomy and well-appointed, and the extraordinary crew was hardworking, thoughtful, and had superpowers to anticipate your every need and want.
More to come …..