CLIA Ocean-Going Cruise Line Members Voluntarily Extend Suspension of U.S. Operations
3 November 2020
Our tourism arrivals won’t necessarily be able go back to the same levels prior to COVID-19 for the next two or three years – AG
4 November 2020
Non-invasive saliva test
This new facility on board Viking Star enables PCR testing of crew and passengers with a non-invasive saliva test. The laboratory has enough capacity for daily testing of every crew member and passenger, which provides flexibility to respond to COVID-19 prevalence levels around the world.
Viking Star has capacity for 930 passengers.
This laboratory will undergo a series of extensive tests to ensure the procedures and protocols that have been designed are fully effective.
‘The only way to safely operate’
‘We have been working on this for a number of months, and today is important as it moves us one step closer to operating cruises again, without compromising the safety of our guests and crew,’ said Matt Grimes, VP maritime operations for Viking.
‘The recently announced [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines are clearly aligned with our public health research, and we welcome the agency’s push toward testing, as we believe this is the only way to safely operate,’ Grimes continued. ‘In our view, continuous PCR testing, along with our extensive on-board hygiene protocols, will lead to making Viking ships a safe place to get away to and explore the world.’
Viking will be demonstrating the PCR laboratory, as well as new design and operating procedures, when Viking Star visits Oslo in mid-November.
(Source: Seatrade Cruise News)
