They feature elegant Scandinavian design, spacious staterooms with large verandas, and both indoor and al . This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). I also booked this trip years ago when there was . You can see why people are worried. Contact your Sales Agent or our Customer Service department online, via email, or by phone at 1-800-427-8473 and ask about potential opportunities for flexible cancellation policies, rebooking opportunities and other options. was 4 units wide . The flight from Amman Jordan to It will take a lot for us to travel with you again. We want our money back since we will never met the requirements to sail and we never agree to those requirements, Our booking number is XXXXXXX and is associated with ********************* ********. Norse Atlantic Airways to Launch NY-Rome Flights. Viking, which operates both ocean and river cruises, has canceled all 2022 departures from its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary . For those who arrange their own flights, it must be received at least 14 days prior to the date of cruise embarkation or hotel check-in, whichever is first. Viking refused to admit to us that we were misinformed, and did not apologize, but their policy will not change. Claire and Stanley Keyles planned a dream vacation for June 2020. Do not book with Viking Cruises ,they turned my cancelled trip into vouchers with expiration dates that I never knew about. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. Viking changed their policy after they took all our money, lured us into taking now worthless vouchers. As a consequence all water amenities, main pool, infinity pool, jacuzzi and spa were closed for the whole of the cruise! We have spent $25,000.00 including air far which we are also going to lose if not used by 12/31/2023. On 10/14, we filed a claim with Trip Mate. The reason given by Viking is that these are vouchers from a previously booked trip (during the COVID pandemic). is a travel editor for TPG, with a focus on cruise travel. Not your fault but took 5 flights, 1 whole day in airport, 1 whole night and 2 hotels to get to the ship 3 1/2 days late. ***. What? Subscribe to Apple News. 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. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. The Rhine River is more sensitive in terms of river flow because it lacks the dams that are on the Danube River. We booked a river cruise from Istanbul to Venice. We booked a Viking River Cruise with AAA travel in August of 2019 for $14,497 for two people which excludes the insurance cost. Refund on premium air payments that we did not receive in premiumservice. AAA travel called Viking many times to rectify this and in December we were finally told that they would give us a $10,000 dollar credit toward another cruise and a $1,500 dollar shipboard credit. The Po River flows 400 miles across the top of Italy from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea. I'm with Robin (see below). Fraud and deception! This account has been claimed by Viking River Cruises customer service / representatives through our verification process. The line confirmed the steps to TTG on Wednesday (2 March) and said it was "deeply opposed" to the . 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. Or, you might have a few port stops changed out for new ones, or spend more time than you prefer in busses or hotels, possibly with shorter visits to destinations that now require longer bus rides. Utter and total joke. Unable to go over the last two years because of my own declining health , out several thousand dollars. I complained initially that I was not given a direct flight. We were given misinformation by their employee, to which their supervisor stated that verbal statements do not count. A sales representative ******. By Alyssa Lukpat and Ceylan Yeginsu. Instead, in the most extreme cases, AmaWaterways will create a new itinerary. Unlike ocean cruising, river cruising has a lot of fluctuations in water levels. Cannot recommend whatsoever - there are better cruise lines who deliver & care about providing a decent level of customer experience - avoid them if you can. At best, youll do a ship swap mid-cruise, a slight inconvenience that will allow you to follow your planned itinerary. Here's our experience with the Viking cancellation policy. The 13-city cruise was supposed to take passengers between St. Paul and New . We feel we should get the $3,494 dollars refunded to us. One of the most popular rivers, the Rhine has river levels falling fast. I have always liked Viking cruises and have been on 13, counting the one I am currently on. 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. 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. 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. We paid for Travel Protection On top of that, they are asking for me to pay additional same $ 9,000. amount for me to go on this journey alone! In some cases, an itinerary may be adjusted with certain destinations dropped and new ones added. The booking # is *******. Reservation changes under the Risk-Free Guarantee will be reimbursed in the form of a Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Voucher in the amount of 100% of all monies paid to Viking. Instead, in the most extreme cases, AmaWaterways will create a new itinerary. Its infuriating and disrespectful. Winston Folkers. After checking cancellation conditions online which indicates $200 up to a certain date I booked a river cruise for 2024 the deposit was $2000pp. We rebooked the trip for 10/12-10/23/22. BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes. Look at the Mekong you dont cruise in May, June, July and August because its too hot. Desired outcome: Refund on premium air payments that we did not receive in premiumservice. Crystal River Cruises has canceled its four remaining Crystal Ravel sailings this December. It is time for Viking to do the same and act like a cruise line instead of a medical facility. ComplaintsBoard.com is a leading complaint resolution website on the Internet. On 12/20/20 Viking cancelled this cruise. 1. In Europe, we dont cruise in January, February and into early March because its too cold, he explained. Its not an American company so they feel like they can treat Americans any way they want. Sandi. I even requested they review the phone call and they refused. 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. Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers are transferable, so that you have the flexibility to gift them to a loved one. This they Viking's move follows announcements from other cruise operators saying they are . This 'placeholder booking' means nothing he assured us. I purchased two of each of the following through ACH: The cruise line said it was evaluating 2022 itineraries that visit Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. Thanks for reaching out, M Mulmech., although we regret to learn of your disappointment with your hotel arrangements. Viking changed our flight schedule at very short notice. 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 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship, A beginners guide to picking a cruise line, The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship, A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines, 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly, 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up, The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. If water levels are low, cargo ships cannot carry their normal loads of freight. Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating, My husband and I took an Antarctica cruise with Viking Octantis Dec 25 to Jan 7' as an all inclusive trip, all airfares and transportations were included . However, you wont be entirely out of luck if your itinerary changes once you arrive at your ship. On July 10th, 2022 my husband called Viking to inquire when the schedule becomes available. In fact, everything we have come to expect from Viking exceptthere were apparently a few cases of a GI infection . We have a very good rain forecast for this Thursday/Friday, and fairly heavy rains coming, so [the situation] might change.. I was told Viking doesnt own the hotel and the hotel will not let me make a change since Viking handled the booking. He made the commissions, we will not sail and lose 14,000 dollars. When I called to cancel they said we did not purchase the insurance. Viking River Cruises The line is canceling all 2022 departures of its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary. During our Antarctica cruise, as suggested by the on board customer services, we submitted our request for the reimbursement with receipts. We were never verbally informed when booking that the actual voucher would expire even if we rebooked again. The couple shore excursions we went on were lame and horrible. Well guide you through the process. 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. Wanted us to travel with 3 flights via 2 countries, when we complained they hid behind T & Cs very sneaky & very poor customer service, they cited they couldnt absorb costs of a more direct flight routing. Cruise delayed because of COVID. Viking Plans A Robust 2021 2022 Cruise Season Despite the canceled 2020 cruise season, Viking has high hopes for 2021 and beyond. Each time I received a pro forma answer saying "it is company policy that future cruise credits have no cash value and cannot be refunded or exchanged once booked." 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. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Viking Cruises has cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The ship can welcome up to 386 passengers, and. We are told now that change is not possible at all because vouchers have expired. The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customers satisfaction. 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. *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. The vaccinations mean nothing anyway. Now I see all this advertisement that waives ar fares , deposits and other things we paid for Horrible company in terms of customer service. For the cabin on the cruise, we indicated separate beds for their cabin. Don't sail Viking unless you are guaranteed of going on the trip. Our flexible deposit policy applies to new reservations only made between 17 December 2022 to 31 March 2023 and is combinable with all other Viking offers available. Seems the generous cancellation risk free ended 30 June and despite booking direct with Viking no mention of the changes was made. Schreiner gives an example of two identical sister ships, AmaLucia and AmaSiena, that both sail the Rhine. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. 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). We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. This insurance company is worthless and doesn't live up to the stated reimbursements as advertised in its' brochure. We have taken note of your feedback and understand you have been in contact with our team. They said they did. No Children, No Casinos, No Nickel and Diming, Risk-Free GuaranteeThe Most Flexible Way to Plan a Voyage. Booking # XXXXXXX They can go up, they can go down, rain can come in.. The departure flight from ******* was delayed due to the storm. You will be cruising, you will be enjoying," he said. With this terrible We understand that some of our guests might be hesitant about making a cruise reservation or traveling at this time. Premium Air. Most river cruise lines do not allow guests to cancel pre-cruise without penalty except for in the most extreme circumstances. My family of 4 has booked a Viking cruise with a pre and post cruise excursion. It, along with the Viking Sky, is classified as a small ship, with 465 staterooms, capable of carrying 930 guests. It was too windy and not safe so decided not to try to use their tender. If ships have to lighten their loads to cross shallow water, fewer goods can be transported at once. - Refusal to honor its cancellation policy, Viking trip shortened due to weather, no refund. I advised Viking that my wife and I could not get the vaccine ever and asked for a refund of our primary payment. We did not see ANY of Spain. I explain ship swapping in the section: . Water levels on the Rhine River are set to fall close to the point where the river cannot hold ships anymore. Customers should not be treated this way. Viking suggested that I should talk to my travel insurance company to reimburse the cost of additional airfare cost. Viking Mississippi is one of Viking's largest river ships, measuring 450 feet (137 meters) long and weighing approximately 5,000 gross tons. "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,. How the Coronavirus Might Impact My Upcoming Viking River Cruise, Update: My Viking River Cruise And Their Coronavirus Response, Reivew: Nile River Cruise on the Grand Princess Amwaj. I was told I would have to pay full retail fare in addition to what had already Viking made an error and owes me reimbursement for charges made on February 1. All other passages from ******* for the same Antarctica cruise with Viking Octantis got their boarding passes with no problem. 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. Disappointed with Viking Cruises cancellation policy. Schreiners advice is simple: Just go. We would appreciate any help you can provide in helping us to get the rest of our money back. Thanks for reaching out, Itom, although we regret to learn of your experience with booking excursions. It turns out that during the second half of the cruise, we were in a heat wave, experiencing very hot temperatures. It is obvious to the casual observer that VRC is not in financial distress as they have added ships to their fleet and the CEO is listed a a billionaire. We booked the *********** cruise with Viking prior to COVID *****************. Booking number: *******. We called our AAA travel agent and she notified Viking on September 17,2022, we were scheduled to leave on September 22,2022. Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises have canceled several trips as the Omicron variant continues to wreak havoc with the cruise . Plus Ups are excluded. Over in Southeast Asia, a new river ship, Viking Saigon, will cruise the Mekong. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. "But its clear that river cruising is not going away anytime soon.". We have been waiting patiently for two years for a refund, relying on the We had planned a trip in 2021 and when Viking changed their requirements we chose to cancel our trip. Simply make the simple changes to the hotel reservations so that one of the rooms includes two beds. We used these to book on cruise OJUXXXXXX Booking Number XXXXXXX. 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. Viking will not honor this request. The trip was for 2021 but was also cancelled and moved to September 22, 2022.On September 16,2022 *********************** and shattered his knee-cap and needed surgery. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. It was our first river cruise it was 23 days Bucharest to Amsterdam with Viking . 2022 is now cancelled and will be replaced with new roundtrip voyages from Southampton to the Caribbean via the Canary Islands and New York. Like most cruise lines, Viking canceled all of its sailings during the pandemic. Some years, low water levels caused disruptions as early as June and some years as late as October. The pandemic has not ended, and some sailings have been cancelled due to too many Covid-19 cases onboard. We were treated like animals. If the water issues are closer to the beginning or end of an itinerary, cruisers may have to spend a few days in hotels or bussing to destinations rather than sailing there.