The whole point of purchasing trip insurance, especially in this time of Covid, was to protect ourselves in the event of a last minute emergency. They just decided to keep our hard earning money. They have no intentions of giving my money back .Do I not have any rights? As a result, river levels are falling to critical levels. I have three times tried to contact Viking, by phone, email, and chat. We have rescheduled 2x as we refuse to get the Covid vaccine and Viking will not allow boarding if you are not 100% vaccinated. In times of high water, river boats can reduce their height by: Another aspect of river cruising is how much water does the ship draft? In Europe, we dont cruise in January, February and into early March because its too cold, he explained. "The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority," a Viking representative told Travel Market Report. Fosse's cruise and land tour to Eastern Europe became a casualty of COVID-19. The plane returned to the gate and he was transported to the local hospital. This is known as ship swapping. One thing Amawaterways and many other river lines do is run two ships simultaneously on the same one-way itinerary, with one ship starting at one end and the other on the opposite end. Anybody got any idea what do I do? In the case of low water, the crew can dump the ballast water and reduce the freshwater to 60 tons (two days worth), and just refill as needed. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. This is due to the cruise line planning on new summer UK domestic cruises for UK vaccinated residents only. The Viking Ocean Cruises 2022 Grand Polynesia Voyage has come to a triumphant completion in Los Angeles. We later booked a future cruise and then learned of the medical requirement which we are advised may be harmful to us because of pre-existing heart conditions. We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. However, as everyone knows, predicting the weather is not an exact science. Schreiner says that the last time Europe experienced extremely low water levels, in 2018, the economic impact was around 5.4 million euros ($5.4 million). Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, The best places to see cherry blossoms around the US this spring, Looking back: How my points and miles strategy has changed over the years, The best increased card offers to sign up for this March. We rebooked the trip for 10/12-10/23/22. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Viking Cruises is a cruise line providing river and ocean cruises, with operations based in Basel, Switzerland. Weve taken note of your feedback and if you'd like discuss your trip further and welcome you to email TellUs@vikingcruises.com with your booking information. Viking Mississippi - As of January 23, 2023 Due to damage from substantial river debris to the Viking Mississippi 's propulsion system, the ship will undergo repairs requiring the cancellation of upcoming departures. We booked the *********** cruise with Viking prior to COVID *****************. I explain ship swapping in the section: . Because of the positive test result as well as his need for further dr evaluation, we had no choice but to cancel the trip. But now some of those waterway dreams seem set to run aground. Because we were given a voucher, we can not get out money back. I have always liked Viking cruises and have been on 13, counting the one I am currently on. Jan. 17, 2022. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. Refund on premium air payments that we did not receive in premiumservice. Our longtime Cruise Specialists Voyage Host, Tom Mullen, shares his thoughts from the last few days of the voyage, which took place January 5 to February 6, 2022. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and theyll be displayed as long as an account is active. . I advised Viking that my wife and I could not get the vaccine ever and asked for a refund of our primary payment. All other passages from ******* for the same Antarctica cruise with Viking Octantis got their boarding passes with no problem. After a further communication with Viking, the second answer was because the flights were on a promotion deal, any delay or cancellation was not covered by Viking. 3. Cancellation conditions 2. That is why Viking is offering a limited-time offerthe most flexible of any cruise lineso that you can plan your voyage with peace of mind. Unfortunately, my husband unexpectedly passed away last month. I could sail on another cruise line for a lot less money. The cruise line said it was evaluating 2022 itineraries that visit Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. Look at the Mekong you dont cruise in May, June, July and August because its too hot. Seems the generous cancellation risk free ended 30 June and despite booking direct with Viking no mention of the changes was made. For that reason, the Rhine River is feeling greater effects of river flow and sooner than compared with the Danube. We did not see ANY of Spain. Tauck says it deals with compensation on a case-by-case basis. If have a river cruise planned for the end of the summer or the fall, should you be concerned? A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. But it is for us. At the time we did we also asked that trip insurance be added. Unfortunately, there are still cruises being cancelled in 2022 due to Covid-19 and the uncertainty surrounding it. That' our policy,. Viking Cruises will test all guests and crew for COVID-19 with daily PCR testing when sailings resume, as part of the company's new Viking Health & Safety Program, the cruise line recently announced. "They disembark in the morning, they go on the shore excursion, and they come back on the other side on the sister ship. We were given the option of a voucher or cash We rebooked for 2022 on 11/30/2020. The 13-city cruise was supposed to take passengers between St. Paul and New . I am writing about booking number 7045921 sailed Jan.12 2023. A longtime editor at Cruise Critic, Erica has also written for The Washington Post, Fodors and Lets Go travel guides, and numerous print and online cruise publications. Viking offered us to support the company and not get a refund if we accepted a voucher of 125% This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback. 2023-2025 OCEAN CRUISE AND AIR SAVINGS: Offer applies to bookings made from March 1-31, 2023. Viking River Cruises Viking Rolf (Photo: Viking River Cruises) My travel agent has since tried to sort this with Viking but they are refusing to help. (I doubt theyll get that right). This was told to me by two separate employees. I paid my travel agent in full for my cruise well before the due date, but was unable to access online booking as Viking claim the payment wasn't made. Well guide you through the process. The 766-mile Rhine is one of Europe's most important trade routes, with container ships plying their way around its looping bends. Having trip insurance may pay you in full depending on your coverage. We said yes. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. We opted for the voucher. What? Under our flexible deposit policy, qualified guests can cancel their booking before final payment due date and receive deposit back in the form of a future cruise voucher. It goes against our guidelines to offer incentives for reviews. Viking Ocean Cruises has sailings listed for June, 2021. Due to my cancellations, Viking held onto $8,000 of my Funds for about two years. Guests and travel agents on impacted departures are in the process of being notified. Cruise was not very happy because this was a Christmas Market cruise and many of the markets were closed or food only due to the dates. Beware of Viking excursion policies. Europe has many rivers where cruise lines operate. The pandemic has not ended, and some sailings have been cancelled due to too many Covid-19 cases onboard. The booking # is *******. If you voluntarily cancel your cruise you may only get a partial or no refund depending on how close to departure you cancel your cruise. Jan 26, 2023 01:33pm. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). The river flows are falling so if you are booked for a cruise this year, check with your cruise line and obtain their current assessment of operating conditions. Guests will have 24 months to select their new date and use their Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Voucher to make a new reservation on any river, ocean or expedition cruise. You dont know a week or 10 days in advance what will happen with the water levels. *Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. Service representative escalated our complaint that we were misinformed, tricked, lied to, defrauded - because we cannot sail on that date, we are not healthy and can't sail in the fall or 2023! Viking Plans A Robust 2021 2022 Cruise Season Despite the canceled 2020 cruise season, Viking has high hopes for 2021 and beyond. The cruise line announced the return of select itineraries in Portugal, France and . We were given misinformation by their employee, to which their supervisor stated that verbal statements do not count. On top of that, they are asking for me to pay additional same $ 9,000. amount for me to go on this journey alone! A place on the excursion I tried to book. The trip was for September 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic. Desired outcome: How is this hard? Thu 13 Jan 2022 01.00 EST Last modified on Thu 13 Jan 2022 18.22 EST. If the level is too low, the vessel may run aground or need an alternative docking arrangement. Global warming is indeed having an effect on European rivers. Multiple tests were run, including a Covid test, which came back positive. We were running between the airlines at ***** to find out what was going on, very frustrating. This was our second cruise, I would have to say our first one was wonderful, this one was not bad. Simply make the simple changes to the hotel reservations so that one of the rooms includes two beds. Don't sail Viking unless you are guaranteed of going on the trip. We have taken note of your feedback. Desired outcome: The two most popular are the Rhine and the Danube. In 2020 we were contacted via email and told that this cruise was also cancelled and we could book another cruise and receive a 125% credit toward a future cruise with a risk free guarantee and it said we could change our plans up to 24 hours before departure. By March 2020 Viking announced cancellations due to covid, with an additional 25% for a future booking. Oceania officials said Russian and Ukrainian ports would be removed from 2022 itineraries, while Viking River Cruises canceled . See details. I complained initially that I was not given a direct flight. The whole experience was a disaster. It's also a classic cruise itinerary. Story Update (September 5, 2022) Viking river cruises have posted an advisory from Danube River cruises that ship swapping may occur. Jim. The cruise was cancelled due the pandemic ($11,367.50) Viking offered us to support the company and not get a refund if we accepted a voucher of 125% We said yes. Why all other passages under the same situation had no such problem were not explained by Viking. return trip Munich to EWR Maximum capacities of 164 passengers and 47 crew. My experience with Viking River Cruises is that if they cancel, they will either refund your money or give you a voucher in excess of the cruise value for you to rebook. Guests and travel advisors with affected departures have been notified. But there is nothing we can do, your vouchers have expired'. Change of travel requirements after full payment received/ignoring request for full refund. Yazmin Hope and Libby Gallagher Passengers from across the country say they've. Only in very rare circumstances are the sailings canceled outright. Enrollment required. Viking is probably the most unsympathetic/unprofessional company I have ever experienced. More details in attachment. "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,. We paid for trip insurance assuming that it would cover this situation but buying trip insurance through Viking seems to cover much less than most trip insurance policies. We accepted the vouchers in good faith. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. The other typical plan is to put the passengers on buses to get around the affected areas. To go on the cruise people do not have to supply a negative covid test so you still go on the cruise in theory even if you have covid. That's our policy. Withholding of monies and shore excursion booking system failure. There is rock on the bottom; theres also this little house in the middle of the river. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Weve taken note of your feedback and while we understand you have already been in contact with our team, if you'd like discuss this matter further we welcome you to email TellUs@vikingcruises.com with your booking information. The confirmation email said cancellation for any reason loss of deposit. The area is protected and thats where you have the low water issues. They have a working relationship with Lufthansa but insist the flight has nothing to do with them, That is a strong cop out. MVJ is locked for this specific cruise , and if you try to book the cruise (UK website) the first available Fjords cruise in now April 2022. I want Viking to honour its Guest Cancellation Schedule and reimburse the $15,640.19 (Canadian) my husband and I paid for the Italian Sojourn cruise scheduled for May 15, 2023. BBB is here to help. Viking Mississippi - As of January 23, 2023 Due to damage from substantial river debris to the Viking Mississippi 's propulsion system, the ship will undergo repairs requiring the cancellation of upcoming departures. "We are currently evaluating itineraries that call. At no point when we rebooked using our vouchers, were we told the vouchers were not covered under the insurance plan. This complaint was posted by a verified customer. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. The food was excellent. Schreiners advice is simple: Just go. Our ships have a very low draftabout five feet, he explained. This made it impossible to catch the next flight from ***** to buenos Aries. He lied. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. We rebooked yet again and we're told that we had to have the vaccine before we would be able to take our trip. Guests have the option to transfer their reservation to 2022; receive a 100% future cruise credit . Viking will not honor this request. A place on the excursion I tried to book. He he tried to take the trip solo, he was charged. Part refund, at least 25%. This complaint has been resolved automatically due to user's inactivity. This is why most lines are not offering flexible cancellation policies or waiving penalties for canceling a river cruise because theyre worried their itinerary will get disrupted due to low water levels. And rebooked the following summer My travel partner , my sister, died 6 months before our trip that next summer die to COVID. Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. 4. After contacting viking to inform the situation, Viking booked another flight for us. We could not wash, shower, not wash our hands and NOT able to flush toilets! Desired outcome: We paid 529+40 USD purchasing fees each for the tickets. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. You will be cruising, you will be enjoying," he said. Just realized that the cruise booked was from Antwerp to Amsterdam. Viking is bringing back river cruises to Europe in July. coach. We booked a Viking River Cruise with AAA travel in August of 2019 for $14,497 for two people which excludes the insurance cost. I want Viking to honour its Guest Cancellation Schedule and reimburse the $15,640.19 (Canadian) my husband and I paid for the We appreciate you sharing your experience, Sandy JJ, although we regret to hear of the events you've described here. BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Subscribe to Apple News. - Refusal to honor its cancellation policy, Viking trip shortened due to weather, no refund. "We will not cancel any cruises," said Shreiner. The Rhine River is the main artery for German and Swiss transportation and also French, said Schreiner. Learn to how to find the cheapest awards. He made the commissions, we will not sail and lose 14,000 dollars. For the cabin on the cruise, we indicated separate beds for their cabin. Not enough for the money hungry cruise line. The guest services lady said well you can complain at the Share your photos and videos with others to prove the truth of your words. He replied "absolutely no way both medically and because ************ weakens her immune system!" We were treated like animals. Viking changed our flight schedule at very short notice. We rebooked our trip but Viking canceled it again and another voucher was issued. I am truly an "out-of-the-box" traveler which has enriched my travel experiences. We are cancelling our river cruise due to viking's heavy handed covid vaccine requirement. Viking River Cruises The line is canceling all 2022 departures of its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary. My husband and I were excited about our long awaited cruise next May. #6339759. We never sign or agree to sail with vaccines passport as requirement.No one respond our emails or our attorney except a woman name ******************************* that behaves like an iron wall to talk to anyone else. Just got order from Doctor to cancel due to sudden onset of autoimmune kidney disease. Why? The draft is the amount of vessel that is below the water line. It turns out that during the second half of the cruise, we were in a heat wave, experiencing very hot temperatures. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Airfares vary on other gateways & departures. The reason given by Viking is that these are vouchers from a previously booked trip (during the COVID pandemic). Planning a cruise? Wouldnt that booking choice make it clear to Viking that pre and post excursion bookings would also require separate beds? This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. In 2021, the cruise line plans to launch their seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. If water levels fall, riverboats can have trouble sailing all the way to Budapest. South America & the Chilean Fjords - Ocean Cruise Dates & Pricing South America & the Chilean Fjords From $5,999 | 18 Days | 8 Guided Tours | 4 Countries Itinerary Dates & Pricing Resources For current fares, please call a Viking Expert: 1-866-984-5464 or Request a Quote today. Viking collects 3 fares for a 2 person room. Viking's treatment of it's customers makes no sense.they combined two of my trips (without asking) into one "butterfly trip" which meant when I had to cancel the first, it cancelled the 2nd. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. But due to a serious health issue we along with our Drs said that it was not feasible for us to go. The dream vacation I have waited for 8 years has gone down the drain. 2022. Not every river cruise line takes the same stance. Do not book with Viking Cruises ,they turned my cancelled trip into vouchers with expiration dates that I never knew about. . Our trip was canceled and a voucher was issued. How could we?? At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. In the end, you will have a fantastic vacation and you will get a future cruise credit according to what you miss., He added: Its better than canceling and sitting at home and not doing anything.. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. We are not asking for anything other than our money back. *In Canada, trademark(s) of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, used under License. These levels can swing widely both up and down. Expires March 31, 2023. We will not be booking with Viking again. was 4 units wide . Crystal River Cruises has canceled its four remaining Crystal Ravel sailings this December. Maybe 10 years from now we cruise the Danube and Rhine in January/February/March and we stop in the summertime because August is too hot and there are low water areas., We dont know what the future will bring, he continued. Most river cruise lines do not allow guests to cancel pre-cruise without penalty except for in the most extreme circumstances. All I want if a refund for our primary payment so we can sail on a ship that does not require the vaccine since we can not get it. We appreciate you sharing your experience, Trevor, although we regret to hear of your disappointment. A river level that is too high or too low can affect an otherwise great cruising experience. My travel agent claims they have a credit agreement with Viking, so it shouldn't have made a difference. It will take of the expiring vouchers and the booking can be changed with no problem whatsoever once a schedule for 2024 becomes available. In May, Viking canceled that cruise. 1. Booking XXXXXXX. US. Viking already runs a number of river cruises. January 27, 2018. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. We could not get a negative covid test in time for Just returned from Classis Panama Canal Cruise (11-21 February 2023) on the last day, running water for the shower, hand basins and toilets had been turned off from 5am to when we left the ship at 10.30am. The sailings. This was really We accepted and paid an additional insurance premium. $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Viking River Cruises has left an official reply on this complaint. By Alyssa Lukpat and Ceylan Yeginsu. The Risk-Free Guarantee allows guests to change their cruise date up until 14 days before their planned departureand Viking will waive any fees. Europe is now seeing the same kind of climate change conditions that are affecting the Western United States. Booked a trip just before covid hit which had to be canceled for obvious reasons. We have a very good rain forecast for this Thursday/Friday, and fairly heavy rains coming, so [the situation] might change.. For every day that is altered, AmaWaterways guests will get 50% of the daily rate they paid as a future cruise credit. Learn more. We paid some #10,000 for premium air. I will never travel with Viking . Their luggage has been moved over automatically so by the time they arrive on the ship they have their luggage, and then they sail on the other ship back to the destination.. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Experts are saying that the current drought in Europe could be the worst in 500 years, with water levels dropping, especially along the Rhine River. This will surely increase the credibility of your complaint. However, the same problems do not affect river cruise ships. Poulsbo, Washington. The vaccinations mean nothing anyway. About 20 poeple's bag on the flight didn't make it. An apology is not good enough. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. These conditions include: Lately, Europe has seen temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The low draft and the adjustability of the ballast allow the ships to navigate through sections of the river where the water levels are not very deep. After 5 minutes she came back and said the manager said nothing they could do but charge a 50 percent fee for canceling. Posted May 4, 2021. This offer covers all Viking reservations that are made between November 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 on any 2022 voyage. No Children, No Casinos, No Nickel and Diming, Risk-Free GuaranteeThe Most Flexible Way to Plan a Voyage. Viking Ocean Ships Currently Sailing: Viking Jupiter Viking Orion Viking Mars Viking Neptune Viking Saturn Viking Sea Viking Sky Viking Star Viking Venus Vikings entire river fleet of over 75 ships is also actively sailing. The US gov has basically declared the "plandemic" over and all other mandates have been drop but Viking still won't change their policy. No partial refund was given and I lost the total deposit of $1000.I understand that the T&Cs outline the refund policy. Viking, please give an explanation. Booking # XXXXXXX I encourage all Americans to do the same. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. Water levels are unpredictable and can vary day by day, depending on what the weather brings. . This was not the case. We also carry about 500 tons of water, that is ballast and fresh water for the guests.. I never come across a big bunch of ignorant, geriatric, moronic a$$holes as this group I had came across today! By doing investigation on this subject and timeline of events revealed that we are not alone in this situation. On the next British Airways flight from London to Philadelphia, The This is our third time to book a trip, and in 2023, the medical requirement is still in place. We also ensure all reviews are published without moderation. We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. Disembark on May 1 2023 they required us to pay us in full in August 2022 which we did.

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