Viking Venus & Sisters Take Onboard PCR Testing to New Heights

Cruising 10 days roundtrip from Valetta, Malta this fall on Viking Venus, the newest of Viking’s 930-passenger ocean vessels, I discovered that this ship -- launched in 2021 -- may just be the world’s safest ship when it comes to pandemic era protocols. 

Of course, that's anecdotally just "my call," but I've experienced robust health/safety protocols on eight other cruise ships of major cruise brands in 2021 too. All those ships -- big or small, ocean or river -- had well-thought-out protocols, most more robust than what I've experienced this year on land or in the air. 

So what's making Viking Venus (and her five sister ships) so different within the cruise industry and far ahead of many land-based venues? Here's some insight...

Safety First 

While nearly 20,000 passengers traveled this summer on Viking ships through late August, only 32 people tested positive for COVID-19. Only four of were symptomatic. That’s less than 1 percent.  Only two people were hospitalized. 

Certainly, that's partly attributable to Viking’s strict protocols for its ocean vessels that include vaccinations for all guests/crew on the ships, daily temperature checks, daily health questionnaires, social distancing, masking requirements and capacity controls (about 400-500 people sailing on each ocean cruise, rather than the maximum of 930 normally), among other steps. But other lines have adopted these and other protocols too.

So what's special? Here's where Viking Venus and her sister oceangoing ships stand out with these added protections: :  

  • A state-of-the-art PCR testing laboratory on each ocean ship -- the only ones at sea for major lines within the cruise industry; 
  • A mandatory, daily PCR saliva testing requirement for all guests and crew; and
  • UV technology disinfection as two large, high-technology robots roam ship corridors and public spaces at night, similar to what's done in hospitals.

"It's been a heck of a year," Torstein Hagen, Viking's chairman, told reporters on our sailing. “ "The vaccine has helped a lot but it's not enough." 

Daily PCR Tests

This is placed in every accommodation on Viking's ships, with vials for PCR saliva testing, hand sanitizer, masks and more.
Viking's guests receive this tray -- positioned on their bed upon embarkation -- with PCR saliva test tube vials, hand sanitizer, masks, sanitary wipes and a daily health questionnaire.   (Photo by Susan J. Young)

Arriving in my suite on embarkation day, I discovered a COVID-19 prevention/protection/PCR saliva testing kit placed in a try on my bed. The tray also held freebies for guest use, such as masks and hand sanitizer. It also had a health questionnaire which needs to be completed daily submitted to the cabin steward, or completed on the Viking app. 

Plus, the tray held a contact tracing device that guests are asked to take with them while traveling around the ship and ashore on shore trips. It can be worn around the neck or tucked away in a purse or pocket. Allan Conoval, travel consultant, cruise specialist and franchise owner, Cruise Planners in Wanaque, NJ, sailed on a Viking ocean ship recently and liked the contact tracers for guests as "an added precaution." 

Viking is clear that the device is not used to track guest movements during the cruise; it only detects which guests may have come in contact with a guest who has tested positive for COVID-19. That way, the line can take appropriate measures such as more testing.

PCR-Testing Laboratory

Viking's state-of-the-art PCR laboratory onboard its ocean ships can run 1,500 PCR saliva tests for guests and crew daily. Each lab is staffed by two dedicated technicians who run the daily tests, and a doctor who reviews and evaluates results.

One high-tech process extracts the RNA from the guest’s saliva sample. Then the samples are evaluated by a second machine that detects COVID-19. Results are available typically within four hours.

Travel Agent toured the shipboard lab while sailing on Viking Venus and learned that the goal is to detect COVID-19 early in any guest or crew member before an antigen test would ever pick up the presence of the virus. If the guest or crew member tests positive, they're given a second saliva test and a swab test.

But most importantly, those people testing positive and confirmed to be that via the second test can be identified and taken off the ship “before” causing any more extensive outbreaks among other guests. 

PCR saliva testing laboratory on Viking oceangoing ship

While Viking’s river vessels do not have a PCR lab on board, they’re close to destinations so the line uses the same daily PCR saliva test process but partner labs ashore handle the testing and report results to the line. 

The PCR Test Process

Every morning in the privacy of their accommodations, guests spit in the small test-tube-like vial and with enough saliva to fill "up to a certain mark." That's done before they drink any coffee or brush their teeth for the day. 

Sometimes, getting the amount of saliva needed for testing can be a challenge as guests on our cruise mentioned to each other. But I hunkered down and did it. One gets the hang of it after a day or two.

If leaving for breakfast, I’d put the vial within a sealed plastic bag and place it on my in-suite countertop or on the tray or bed. Presto, it would be picked up by the cabin steward. If I was having breakfast via room service, I’d simply pop my head outside into the corridor and usually quickly find my cabin steward and hand it to him. 

If a guest has not submitted a daily PCR sample by 9 a.m., the doctor says he's on the phone with housekeeping to ask where the sample is. Bottom line? Expect proactive cabin stewards to be knocking on your door after 9 a.m. to retrieve the vial. That will occur even if the “do not disturb” sign is on your door, as we discovered one day. 

But many guests welcomed the tests. "The daily tests didn't bother me," Conoval said, "and yes, I felt safer." 

Testing, Pro and Con

"I think we have done the right thing," Hagen says about the onboard daily testing requirement, noting that other lines don't do that "because they don't want to spend the money. We spend as much on testing as on fuel."

Many travelers on my cruise seemed happy that everyone on the ship was being tested every day. While opinions of the need (or not) for such stringent regulations vary, I personally did not feel the daily testing or other protocols detracted from my enjoyment of the cruise experience.

In fact, it was just the opposite – giving a sense of calm and safety.

The line’s perspective and that of other cruise lines we’ve talked with shows that positive tests do and will occur, as they will on land too. It’s how they’re handled that impacts any potential spread. And again, frankly, the processes at sea to prevent the virus’ spread seem quite robust.

Saliva tests are completed by late afternoon in Viking Venus’ onboard lab. By 4 p.m. or shortly thereafter, if anyone tests positive the doctor and hotel director are showing up at the guest’s cabin. The guest is asked to quickly pack, moved to a separate isolation area cabin and must remain there until the results of a second test to confirm the diagnosis are evaluated.

If results are confirmed as positive, the guest is taken off the ship as soon as it’s near an appropriate port. Viking has agreements with every port so it’s known in advance that guests testing positive will be accepted ashore and how the situation for them will be handled.

Viking Ocean ship in Iceland
A Viking oceangoing ship is shown above in Iceland.  (Viking)

That varies by government. For example, on our Malta cruise, if anyone tested positive they were taken off and went into immediate two-week quarantine set by the Maltese government. Viking told us they paid for the stays in quarantine accommodations.

But it's highly recommended to have travel insurance with COVID-19 protection too. Each government is different in terms of their policies. Cruise line policies for guest assistance "after" being taken off the ship also vary.

One interesting point? While many governments recognize the validity and benefits of the PCR saliva test, as yet that's not the case with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But Viking believes that more solid results from the testing program this year will be a good way to demonstrate the benefits. 

In fact, the doctor briefing reporters onboard Viking Venus  told the media that the line believes the PCR saliva test is more effective in finding any cases “earlier” than the norm – thus preventing a bigger problem.

"There is testing and then there is 'testing,'" says Hagen, emphasizing the robust nature of Viking's program. For example, on most other cruise lines’ ships, normally once a guest boards, cruise lines don’t typically retest until mid-way through a cruise or even last-day and mostly that's so the guest has an antigen test result for re-entering the U.S. 

But Viking’s daily testing may find those cases two or three days before the guest would show up with symptoms, or in asymptomatic guests, find it when guests have no clue they're sick. The daily test frequency cuts that time frame and often the number of people exposed.

Robots Disinfect with UV Rays

Viking Venus has two robots that spend nights roaming corridors and public spaces to use disinfecting UV ray technology.
(Photo by Susan J. Young)

Many other health and safety protocols are at work on Viking's ships too. We observed Viking’s crew constantly disinfecting and wiping railings, elevator touch areas and other surfaces around the ship that guests touch.

At one point, I had forgotten to wear my mask while transiting a public area and a crew member immediately asked if I had one. I didn't have it on me, so the crew member “hold on, let me get you one.”

I liked the fact that they asked people without a mask to put one on “nicely,” rather than simply ignoring those who weren’t following the rules. 

"I know of no other cruise line with such robust COVID-19 protocols, including daily temperature monitoring, daily testing through its onboard labs, a daily health questionnaire, and an enforced mask mandate," says well-known travel writer Judi Cuervo, a frequent contributor to Porthole, a consumer cruise magazine. She also sailed on Viking Venus this year. 

One of the health/safety steps undertaken by Viking that's cool is that nightly, two high technology robots on each ocean ship circulate through public spaces, restaurants, the spa, gym, lounges, the theater, corridors and other public spaces.

The robots use UV ray technology to disinfect – just as medical facilities and hospitals do on land. 

Other safety and health protocols or procedures offered by Viking? On our cruise, there was a Lufthansa air charter nonstop from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to and from Malta.

It was a "bubble" as all air travelers on the flights were Viking's guests only and thus all were vaccinated.

The nonstop flight provided a better safety net than a connecting flight to Europe, transiting a major hub and reboarding another plane, where all guests on both flights were not necessarily vaccinated nor tested.

Just Right or Too Much? 

"COVID-19 safety measures trigger passionate debate, pro and con, everywhere and that certainly extends to cruising," Cuervo says. 

Some travelers feel that being vaccinated is all that’s needed for them to feel safe while traveling and cruising. They may not want too many other restrictions or protocols.

But for others -- like me -- who’ve seen the statistics for breakthrough COVID-19 infections on vaccinated people, a more stringent onboard protocol program is welcome.

From my end, at the outset, the daily PCR saliva testing did take getting used to. But by the end of the second day, given this and other protocols, I felt very safe onboard.

Also, Viking is holding down capacity so at times the ship was empty in certain public spaces, plus the line has many al fresco dining spaces and is essentially adults only right now.Just pack patience and a go-with-the-flow attitude for any cruise.Things change daily.

On my Viking Venus voyage, the self-serve buffet was adapted to staff only service. That was the case on Cuervo's cruise too, until it wasn't. In addition, the day that self-serve buffet returned, the ship also adopted a "no dancing" policy.

"Bubble" shore trips (where guests aren't permitted to roam freely in destinations) or the normal ones guests are accustomed to (with exploring on their own) depend solely on the policies of local ports and nations. One country may require a bubble, another may not worry about vaccinated guests going out and mingling with locals. 

Viking's publishes online information about its overall approach to health and safety protocols. Individual requirements for certain itineraries will be communicated directly to advisors and guests as well. 

In addition, Viking TV offers a video interview with Dr. Rachel Bono, the line’s chief medical officer, and a former retired vice admiral of the U.S. National Naval Medical Corps. She also previously led Washington state’s response to the pandemic. 

Conoval not only sailed on Viking but on two other major oceangoing lines' voyages this year. When it comes to health/safety protocols and the daily PCR testing,  he's emphatic:  "Nothing compares to the standard of Viking."

From Hagen's perspective, "it's safer than being at home." Frankly, based on our onboard Viking Venus experience, we'd have to agree.