Viking is bringing back river cruises to Europe in July. Viking Cruises chairman: 'COVID is really behind us' - Fortune . Because of COVID, we had to cancel the cruise, and received a voucher from Viking. Also lost out on the cruise vouchers. Given the current COVID situation (and that 3 of the 4 countries we were slated to visit are currently closed), we decided we should cancel. Heres what you need to know about water levels on Europe rivers and what to expect if youre booked on a river cruise or considering booking one. Not every river cruise line takes the same stance. If the region has had an excess of rain, raising the river greatly, the river ship may have problems clearing bridges and other obstacles. This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Expires March 31, 2023. Best Viking River Cruises for 2023, 2024 & 2025 | Danube, Rhine A sales representative ******. Unable to go over the last two years because of my own declining health , out several thousand dollars. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. I explain ship swapping in the section: What Happens If Your Cruise Is Affected By Water Level? Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. We paid for the trip and had trip insurance. "We are currently evaluating itineraries that call. This was told to me by two separate employees. I also booked this trip years ago when there was not a vaccine mandate.They will not return my money of around $22000.00 They told me I did not need vaccinations for 2022 ,now I found out we do .We do not believe in the vaccinations and I told them that right out front. More details in attachment. Why all other passages under the same situation had no such problem were not explained by Viking. We are not asking for anything other than our money back. He lied. In Europe, we dont cruise in January, February and into early March because its too cold, he explained. Telling us that a voucher has no cash value is a shoddy business practice at best. I had to cancel due to ill health and provided over five months notice. We have since then tried to book a trip two times, and the required medical of a vaccine status made us cancel again. It would seem to be a reasonable and simple request. Viking Ocean Cruises has sailings listed for June, 2021. We were informed by the booking person at Viking that we could change the date as necessary for as long of period of time, even years down the road. Viking suggested that I should talk to my travel insurance company to reimburse the cost of additional airfare cost. Multiple tests were run, including a Covid test, which came back positive. 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. He made the commissions, we will not sail and lose 14,000 dollars. The cruise line offered her future cruise vouchers worth 125 percent of her fare. Having trip insurance may pay you in full depending on your coverage. A place on the excursion I tried to book. Not enough for the money hungry cruise line. The food was awful , the service bad some waiters were very rude we were forced to do a lot of included tours or couldnt leave the ship . What? Coach would have been better. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. . #6339759. We were told that since we used vouchers we were not eligible for a refund per policy. I had insurance and filed a claim. I contacted Viking and was told the vouchers were not refundable because we had not cancelled at least 2 weeks prior to departure. 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. I hope this is something you can help with. We opted for the voucher. **** called finally, apologized and said that he 'misread the rules', misunderstood the rules and this isn't a big deal (his attitude). Viking River Cruises - Cancelation of cruises - ComplaintsBoard.com They also issued non refundable vouchers for our port excursions. Viking changed our flight schedule at very short notice. When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints. Then they said (under the Risk Free Guarantee) we could have a voucher, but it would be a combined voucher which could only be used for one future trip. In a statement issued to the Star Tribune, Viking confirmed that some of the ship's first scheduled departures were canceled this summer, and that the luxury vessel is temporarily operating. 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. Viking Cruises is a cruise line providing river and ocean cruises, with operations based in Basel, Switzerland. It is the standard architecture that gives the river boat some leeway with rising and falling river levels. Refund on premium air payments that we did not receive in premiumservice. The Rhine River is the main artery for German and Swiss transportation and also French, said Schreiner. I have three times tried to contact Viking, by phone, email, and chat. Information provided by various external sources. Learn to how to find the cheapest awards. Viking Plans A Robust 2021 2022 Cruise Season Despite the canceled 2020 cruise season, Viking has high hopes for 2021 and beyond. Crystal River Cruises has canceled its four remaining Crystal Ravel sailings this December. This allowed Viking to retain the majority of our payment since We booked a cruise in 2019 to sail early in 2020. Airfares vary on other gateways & departures. 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 trip was for September 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic. Viking collects 3 fares for a 2 person room. 05 Aug 2022. Fraud and deception! I have contacted Watcdog BBC who are interested. Expected weather conditions during the cruise. After contacting viking to inform the situation, Viking booked another flight for us. Labeled Verified, theyre about genuine experiences.Learn more about other kinds of reviews. If water levels are low, cargo ships cannot carry their normal loads of freight. Viking River Cruises The line is canceling all 2022 departures of its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary. My family of 4 has booked a Viking cruise with a pre and post cruise excursion. My bag is still missing and I will request (!) The Risk-Free Guarantee allows guests to change their cruise date up until 14 days before their planned departureand Viking will waive any fees. We missed 2 ports of call and 1/3 of our sites to see the auroras. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. 'Not the cruise I signed up for': 30-fold increase in Covid cases 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 ********************* ********. Viking Polaris Current cruise: 13 days, one-way from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso-Santiago Viking Expeditions Tracker Itineraries Deck plans Accidents Viking Neptune Current cruise: 137 days, one-way from Fort Lauderdale to London-Tilbury Viking Ocean Tracker Itineraries Deck plans Viking Mars Current cruise: 14 days, one-way from Sydney to Auckland The Viking Ocean Cruises 2022 Grand Polynesia Voyage has come to a triumphant completion in Los Angeles. It was our first river cruise it was 23 days Bucharest to Amsterdam with Viking . Poulsbo, Washington. I encourage all Americans to do the same. January 27, 2018. We will be again canceling our trip. The good news is that there are not the mass cancellations we saw in 2020. Then in Philadelphia 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. The sailings. This site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. The US gov has basically declared the "plandemic" over and all other mandates have been drop but Viking still won't change their policy. 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. We only wanted our money to be applied to another cruise in 2023. Customers should not be treated this way. . The river cruise lines will tell you that low water levels are rare, and that few sailings are altered due to water levels but the truth is the risk is always present. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. It goes against our guidelines to offer incentives for reviews. "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 running between the airlines at ***** to find out what was going on, very frustrating. US. After many failed conversations with Viking Cruise customer service reps to obtain reassurance that we will automatically receive a refund when our cruise vouchers expire on 2/18/23, two years after the email from Viking dated 2/17/21 notifying us that our second cruise was cancelled. Jan. 17, 2022. Tauck says it deals with compensation on a case-by-case basis. Very disappointing. If you are booked on a river cruise for later this year, do not make any snap decisions. It is time for Viking to do the same and act like a cruise line instead of a medical facility. Because there was no time for a further delay, we paid the tickets to the airline. You will be cruising, you will be enjoying," he said. This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback. However, BBB does not verify the accuracy of information provided by third parties, and does not guarantee the accuracy of any information in Business Profiles. Guests have the option to transfer their reservation to 2022; receive a 100% future cruise credit . Then when operations started again, we decided to book a cruise to sail November 2021 At the time we booked, vaccines were not a requirement. 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.. After an Enrollment required. We called our AAA travel agent and she notified Viking on September 17,2022, we were scheduled to leave on September 22,2022. . BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period. Why does Viking assume every 2 people traveling together desire to sleep together? Taking over the Hilton in Taupo NZ, they were obnoxious. The couple shore excursions we went on were lame and horrible. Cruise restart dates: when do cruise lines start again? What? "We will not cancel any cruises," said Shreiner. Winston Folkers. 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. This content has not been approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. 2022. 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. It, along with the Viking Sky, is classified as a small ship, with 465 staterooms, capable of carrying 930 guests. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Just got order from Doctor to cancel due to sudden onset of autoimmune kidney disease. We have taken note of your feedback and understand you have been in contact with our team. Share. We were never verbally informed when booking that the actual voucher would expire even if we rebooked again. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. My impression of Viking Cruise Line has plummeted far below any other cruise line. Viking refusing to refund given COVID risks! - Review of Viking Cruises I took into account the following factors and then made an educated guess: Taking all of these factors into account, we booked for mid-June. $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. By doing investigation on this subject and timeline of events revealed that we are not alone in this situation. This is our third time to book a trip, and in 2023, the medical requirement is still in place. NEW! On 9/12/21 we realized the 2022 sailing impractical and cancelled for cruise credits (#s XXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXX) Very disappointed with Viking River Cruises - Fodor's This reimbursement is NOT a refund; but, a correction due to failure of the excursion booking system. - Refusal to honor its cancellation policy, Viking trip shortened due to weather, no refund. A weighted-down ship sinks lower in the water and therefore needs more distance from the water line to the river bottom to sail safely without scraping the riverbed. "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,. We feel we should get the $3,494 dollars refunded to us. Viking changed their policy after they took all our money, lured us into taking now worthless vouchers. I am going to seek legal advice to, but this ridiculous policy has added hugely to my grieving. In fact, how a business responds to customer complaints is one of the most significant components of the BBB Business Rating. Just as with ocean sailings, theres always a risk that weather and river/sea conditions can impact that itinerary, and cruisers must accept that itineraries cannot be set in stone. In some cases, an itinerary may be adjusted with certain destinations dropped and new ones added. Find the right card for you. Should you have any lingering questions ahead of your voyage, we welcome you to call our Service Specialists at [protected] where we would be happy to assist where possible. No partial refund was given and I lost the total deposit of $1000.I understand that the T&Cs outline the refund policy. Some years, low water levels caused disruptions as early as June and some years as late as October. We promise not to send you any unrelated messages, Click here if youd like to unsubscribe from notifications about new complaints of Viking River Cruises. In fact, we specifically asked their travel consultant if the vouchers would be reissued if we had to cancel again and we were told they would. Any time theres a heat wave in Europe, especially if coupled with lighter-than-average spring snow melt or rainfall, you can end up with low water in certain parts of Europe. We would much rather be able to post how considerate Viking has been (as well as how much we enjoyed the cruise!) Viking Chief Health Officer Dr. Raquel . called Business since the middle seats were left vacant. My husband surprised me with the explorer suite,the room was beautiful,the balcony was amazing. Like most cruise lines, Viking canceled all of its sailings during the pandemic. Well guide you through the process. Princess Cruises | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. My Trip - Updates on Current Sailings - Viking River Cruises Cruise lines cancel Ukraine and Russia calls - Travel Weekly We are unable to meet their requirements and therefore want our funds returned to us. We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Viking booked the hotels for these excursions. This years summer drought in Europe could affect your upcoming river cruise, but its highly unlikely your cruise will be canceled outright. She is scheduled to start ************ this week. We were being reimbursed for the cash amount paid but not the amount of the vouchers. Will the drought in Europe affect your river cruise vacation? We said yes. On February 1, the shore excursion booking system opened up for the ocean segment of my trip. Viking Cruises cancels 2022 Kiev and Black Sea sailings Viking Announces Return of European River Cruises in July - Travel Viking, please give an explanation. Europe's Drought: Will It End River Cruises? - Out Traveler In this case, you will receive a full refund of your cruise fare. 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. At the time we did we also asked that trip insurance be added. I have always liked Viking cruises and have been on 13, counting the one I am currently on. 2) Risk-Free Guarantee for guests who made a reservation between March 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021; 3) Risk-Free Guarantee for guests who made a reservation between May 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021; 4) Risk-Free Guarantee for guests who made a reservation prior to April 30, 2020. For Further Assistance If you have any questions or need further information please contact Reservations at 1-877-523-0579 or email customerrelations@vikingcruises.com, Monday - Friday, 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, PT. No materials from this website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way. If the level is too low, the vessel may run aground or need an alternative docking arrangement. coach. We would appreciate any help you can provide in helping us to get the rest of our money back. They have no intentions of giving my money back .Do I not have any rights? 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).