Just got order from Doctor to cancel due to sudden onset of autoimmune kidney disease. 2023 Trustpilot, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. They offered us a voucher for 125% or a cash refund. The photo is from my first premium, international award flight in 2012. ), We booked a cruise in 2019 to sail early in 2020. Spoke to several people today, including a supervisor My husband and I were scheduled to leave for our Viking cruise around Spain on Jan. 11. We would appreciate any help you can provide in helping us to get the rest of our money back. 3. I am going to seek legal advice to, but this ridiculous policy has added hugely to my grieving. You dont know a week or 10 days in advance what will happen with the water levels. Find the right card for you. Desired outcome: I asked the captain how deep the ship would be if it sank. Viking Ocean Cruises. Why didn't Viking pay to dock? The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. We only wanted our money to be applied to another cruise in 2023. They said they did. Like other river cruise lines, weve dealt successfully with low-water situations in the past, and we have a variety of strategies that we can deploy as necessary. 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. We booked a 14 day cruise with extra days upon arrival in ****** and departure in **** in ****. If water levels are low, cargo ships cannot carry their normal loads of freight. The trip was for September 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic. Check here before booking an award fare. Change of travel requirements after full payment received/ignoring request for full refund. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. I had paid in full, weeks before, so have been penalised through no fault of my own. Viking, which operates both ocean and river cruises, has canceled all 2022 departures from its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary . I was never informed that the vaccine would be required to sail and that our money would not be eligible for a refund. SA. Do not book with Viking Cruises ,they turned my cancelled trip into vouchers with expiration dates that I never knew about. Viking booked the hotels for these excursions. Beware of Viking excursion policies. Karin Price Mueller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. We are not asking for a refund for the vouchers but to simply have them reissued to be used toward another cruise. Bookings with more than 30 persons Conference bookings made by Customers Service and Sales Department Bookings paid by invoice by companies Companies with annual agreements Bookings with more than 5 hotel rooms The specific conditions that apply to your booking can be found in your . 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. The vaccinations mean nothing anyway. Submit a complaint and get your issue resolved. Because these problem spots are well known, river cruise lines can find ways to mitigate the issues with savvy itinerary planning. Holland America Cruise Line | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. In June, there were places along the Po that completely dried up. I have had the cruise booked for probably a year but only now would the allow me the opportunity to purchase the spoils. They can go up, they can go down, rain can come in.. You can see why people are worried. Viking has refused. Want all money refunded. That' our policy,. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. 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. Posted September 18, 2021. Don't sail Viking unless you are guaranteed of going on the trip. 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. I booked the flight through Viking to a Christmas market river cruise. By March 2020 Viking announced cancellations due to covid, with an additional 25% for a future booking. My experience with Viking River Cruises is that if they cancel, they will either refund your money or . In November ******************************************* She had major surgery December 12th. I am truly an "out-of-the-box" traveler which has enriched my travel experiences. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). This offer covers all Viking reservations that are made between November 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 on any 2022 voyage. Viking Venus : cruise round Med and on to Israel.This was a wonderful itinerary , a beautiful ship , excellent food and service. I have three times tried to contact Viking, by phone, email, and chat. It closely resembles one of Viking's highest rated world cruises in the past, Chairman Torstein Hagen said in a live webinar Sunday when passengers were notified of the change. We are older and don't want to keep rescheduling this with the hopes of one day being permitted to board their ship. Premium Air. A river level that is too high or too low can affect an otherwise great cruising experience. My husband and I were excited about our long awaited cruise next May. I was told Viking doesnt own the hotel and the hotel will not let me make a change since Viking handled the booking. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. NEVER BUY A VIKING CRUISE VOUCHERWe will be sailing with a different cruise line and will not be back to Viking. . The climate in Europe is changing and not for the better. Viking Mississippi is one of Viking's largest river ships, measuring 450 feet (137 meters) long and weighing approximately 5,000 gross tons. 4. If have a river cruise planned for the end of the summer or the fall, should you be concerned? AMA Waterways | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. Sheila Davies is a retired gas industry professional based in Northumberland, England. Viking is bringing back river cruises to Europe in July. I told a member of staff about this and was directed to use a toilet on the top deck. We were never verbally informed when booking that the actual voucher would expire even if we rebooked again. Learn more. 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. This made it impossible to catch the next flight from ***** to buenos Aries. The booking # is *******. Looks like our September cruise to the Fjords is in the process of being cancelled! Airfares vary on other gateways & departures. Four excursions that I wanted are already sold out. Why? We would never do a river cruise again, Paid for a cruise in Nov 2021 for an Oct 2022 cruise, 2 days before departure I broke both wrists, contacted Viking about a credit for for a future cruise - a very rude man said Viking would do nothing- they had my money for almost a year and basically told me "to bad". They may run multiple ships back-to-back where you would transfer to another ship where the river is having navigational issues. We paid some #10,000 for premium air. 140 complaints closed in the last 12 months. For information about your specific voyage, please log onto MyVikingJourney.com. TPG values it at $1,600. 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. Bad cruise experience, shore excursions, bad weather bad handling, cold food, etc. This insurance company is worthless and doesn't live up to the stated reimbursements as advertised in its' brochure. All Mekong River cruises through Vietnam and Cambodia have been suspended until November 30. . One of the most popular rivers, the Rhine has river levels falling fast. No one expects to have to cancel a cruise. Steve is a life-long avgeek and a points and miles player. The Risk-Free Guarantee allows guests to change their cruise date up until 14 days before their planned departureand Viking will waive any fees. In 2021, the cruise line plans to launch their seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus. Business Section was crowded 8 units wide while first class just in front In November 2020, we rebooked, the Cities of Antiquity and Holy Land Cruise, scheduled for Nov-Dec 2022, paying the additional fare. Viking's river cruises are aboard Viking Longships and have a maximum of 190 guests. 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. My family of 4 has booked a Viking cruise with a pre and post cruise excursion. them to clean my clothes again and every night I am on the cruise, Read full review of Viking River Cruises and 1 comment, 16 years' experience in successful complaint resolution, Each complaint is handled individually by highly qualified experts, Last but not least, all our services are absolutely free. It's also a classic cruise itinerary. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. Not one thing but some flowers in the rain and unsafe steps and more Booking number 7141933 Claire and Stanley Keyles planned a dream vacation for June 2020. Labeled Verified, theyre about genuine experiences.Learn more about other kinds of reviews. Disappointed with Viking Cruises cancellation policy. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. Only in very rare circumstances are the sailings canceled outright. Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. We purchased Travel Protection Insurance. 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. You could tear down the house and build a dam there, but that is not what is going to happen.. Where the European rivers have locks and dams to control water levels, ships can still sail problem-free. Heres what you need to know. At the time we did we also asked that trip insurance be added. The trip was for September 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic. Viking collects 3 fares for a 2 person room. What? 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). 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. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. 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. We also carry about 500 tons of water, that is ballast and fresh water for the guests.. This is an awful company to deal with. Water levels on the Rhine River are set to fall close to the point where the river cannot hold ships anymore. If you have a question or would like to make a press inquiry, please contact: Scott Mackenzie BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. During our Antarctica cruise, as suggested by the on board customer services, we submitted our request for the reimbursement with receipts. Fraud and deception! I was told to claim on my travel insurance if I had any.I had to send three emails to receive a response and cancellation certificate from Viking Cruises. Passengers wait to board the luxury cruise ship Viking Mississippi, berthed at Lambert's Landing in St. Paul, on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. 1. Viking Cruises has ceased all operations in Russia this year in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We were given the option of a voucher or cash Unfortunately, there are still cruises being cancelled in 2022 due to Covid-19 and the uncertainty surrounding it. 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. January 27, 2018. 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. They feature elegant Scandinavian design, spacious staterooms with large verandas, and both indoor and al . Booking your first river cruise? The plane returned to the gate and he was transported to the local hospital. But it is for us. Related: Booking your first river cruise? Articles are of a general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances. Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers are transferable, so that you have the flexibility to gift them to a loved one. Booking XXXXXXX. Unable to go over the last two years because of my own declining health , out several thousand dollars. It, along with the Viking Sky, is classified as a small ship, with 465 staterooms, capable of carrying 930 guests. 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 . Please Note: 1) Terms & Conditions for Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers can be found here. They have a working relationship with Lufthansa but insist the flight has nothing to do with them, That is a strong cop out. It turns out that for the most part, if the ship sank, we would be high and dry standing on the sun deck. Cannot go on a cruise if not jabbed even to countries which have no covid requirements any more. Viking is probably the most unsympathetic/unprofessional company I have ever experienced. 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. However, the most important part of any cruise, for me is the excursion choice. 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. He he tried to take the trip solo, he was charged. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. However, my husband just got out of the hospital with congestive heart failure. We will not cancel any cruises, said Shreiner. At the other end of the Po, ocean water has flooded the last 12 miles of the river damaging crops and contaminating drinking water. Check with your cruise line on current cruising conditions and what you can expect from them. **** called finally, apologized and said that he 'misread the rules', misunderstood the rules and this isn't a big deal (his attitude). We missed 2 ports of call and 1/3 of our sites to see the auroras. "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,. Viking Celebrates Start Of Inaugural Season In North America's Great Lakes Read More May 17, 2022 Newest Ocean Ship In Viking's Award-Winning Fleet Named By The Countess Of Carnarvon Of Highclere Castle Read More May 12, 2022 Viking Takes Delivery of Newest Ocean Ship Read More April 25, 2022 In some cases, an itinerary may be adjusted with certain destinations dropped and new ones added. Viking River Cruises Viking Rolf (Photo: Viking River Cruises) Enrollment required. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. The cruise line offered her future cruise vouchers worth 125 percent of her fare. We have taken note of your feedback. Published on May 21, 2021. In fact, everything we have come to expect from Viking exceptthere were apparently a few cases of a GI infection . But now some of those waterway dreams seem set to run aground. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Also lost out on the cruise vouchers. The area is protected and thats where you have the low water issues. However, as everyone knows, predicting the weather is not an exact science. We were running between the airlines at ***** to find out what was going on, very frustrating. We booked a Viking River Cruise with AAA travel in August of 2019 for $14,497 for two people which excludes the insurance cost. 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. Guests and travel agents on impacted departures are in the process of being notified. This met the 11/30 deadline for a "risk free guarantee" enabling change of plans up to 24 hours before sailing. An insult! In the same cabin. We asked to transfer the trip to my son and grandson, but transferring the tickets is not allowed. Because of the positive test result as well as his need for further dr evaluation, we had no choice but to cancel the trip. "The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority," a Viking representative told Travel Market Report. Norse Atlantic Airways to Launch NY-Rome Flights. Instead, in the most extreme cases, AmaWaterways will create a new itinerary. Viking Plans A Robust 2021 2022 Cruise Season Despite the canceled 2020 cruise season, Viking has high hopes for 2021 and beyond. Refund or partial credit. As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. In some cases, an itinerary may be adjusted with certain destinations dropped and new ones added. It is getting harder and harder to book excursions on Viking cruises, so I would advise anyone planning a cruise with them to think twice, if excursions are important to them. On top of that, they are asking for me to pay additional same $ 9,000. amount for me to go on this journey alone! I will never travel with Viking . The first thing that I noticed when I boarded is that all river ships are built to similar dimensions. BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. As a result, river levels are falling to critical levels. We did not see ANY of Spain. That's our policy. Booking 6819824. These conditions include: Lately, Europe has seen temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). For every day that is altered, AmaWaterways guests will get 50% of the daily rate they paid as a future cruise credit. Schreiner gives an example of two identical sister ships, AmaLucia and AmaSiena, that both sail the Rhine. Viking suggested that I should talk to my travel insurance company to reimburse the cost of additional airfare cost. Call a Viking Expert at 0800 319 66 60 or see your Travel Advisor. At this point we feel it's discrimination and want our money refunded. Plus Ups are excluded. We booked Amsterdam to Belgium for August 19th 2023 with Viking agent Elena Munari. Yazmin Hope and Libby Gallagher However, I believe the policy is rather onerous. From now through March 31, 2022, Viking is offering special rates starting at $599 (not including airfare) on all 2022 and 2023 departures. Any comments Viking? . 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. He will call us immediately - he said. She is scheduled to start ************ this week. Passes which had been canceled since BA flight had been late. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. The cruise lines plan their itineraries to mitigate this risk. #VikingVictims. The trip was more expensive so we paid with our vouchers as well as cash. If you are concerned about the water level on your upcoming river cruise, do your due diligence before you take any action. Planning a cruise? 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. Viking River Cruises The line is canceling all 2022 departures of its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary. When you are covered by the Risk-Free Guarantee you may change your cruise reservation with notification to Viking. Instead, in the most extreme cases, AmaWaterways will create a new itinerary. It was not a condition of completing this trip. Why? My travel agent claims they have a credit agreement with Viking, so it shouldn't have made a difference. 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 was aware that cruise lines' cash flow issues and accepted the voucher. #6339759. Disassembling the shades on the sun deck. It is a basic human right to be able to have access to flushing toilets and handwasting facilities. Viking Cruises has cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Later after giving our deposit (another $8,000) we found out that ******** become a requirement to sail.My husband and I, both for health reasons can not get the vaccines and Viking to this time has been holding our money ($11,367.50) for 3 years (going to the 4th) even when we have requested several times and even hired an attorney to get our money back.When we booked the 2nd cruise, no one told us that we will loose our chance to get a refund. airfare $2198 Europe is experiencing unprecedented drought and heat conditions. we went to our connecting American Airlines flight with our Boarding Does anyone know if Trip Mate customers have or are considering a class action suit against the company for fraud? When we arrived ************* to get our boarding pass, we were told that viking booked our tickets but did not pay for the tickets. Weve been cruising since March with no issues until August, said Schreiner. After an We booked a Viking River Cruise with AAA travel in August of 2019 for $14,497 for two people which excludes the insurance cost. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. I'm with Robin (see below). Viking Ocean and River is currently operating all upcoming scheduled itineraries. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. Poulsbo, Washington. Enrollment required. 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. Viking refused to admit to us that we were misinformed, and did not apologize, but their policy will not change. , I am out the $3500 no matter what) and a friend who will take my place must pay her full share of the room as well! 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. Desired outcome: Simply make the simple changes to the hotel reservations so that one of the rooms includes two beds. Risk-Free Guarantee: How it Works passengers asked if ports on the new itinerary may close and if there's a chance the cruise could be canceled while underway. We were given misinformation by their employee, to which their supervisor stated that verbal statements do not count. No materials from this website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way. It is February 1st today and I went online to book excursions for a trip almost 3 months from now. We were being reimbursed for the cash amount paid but not the amount of the vouchers. 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. Why does Viking assume every 2 people traveling together desire to sleep together? Royal Caribbean International | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. Editor in Chief It turns out that during the second half of the cruise, we were in a heat wave, experiencing very hot temperatures. Dozens of cruises have been cancelled and some ports in the Caribbean and South America are turning ships away from making . Its not an American company so they feel like they can treat Americans any way they want. I encourage all Americans to do the same. What? 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. A place on the excursion I tried to book. But all was not lost. 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. We again purchased Vikings trip insurance through Trip Mate to cover the cost of the trip. Other viking customers from ******* on the same cruise were also booked the same flight. ComplaintsBoard.com is a leading complaint resolution website on the Internet. Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises have canceled several trips as the Omicron variant continues to wreak havoc with the cruise . Desired outcome: Viking River Cruises has left an official reply on this complaint. London was on an older plane with 3 seats on the left and right. I contacted Trip Mate and was told the vouchers were not covered and that I needed to contact Viking because they handled vouchers. Europe is now seeing the same kind of climate change conditions that are affecting the Western United States. He was assertive and very confident, pushy and eager to make the booking. 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. This is our third time to book a trip, and in 2023, the medical requirement is still in place. Companies will need more ships to carry the same amount of cargo, increasing transportation costs all of which have a negative impact on the European economy. Cailey Rizzo. I was sailing aboard the Avalon Vista two months ago on a cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland along the Rhine River. River flows are never static and are subject to fluctuations that are unpredictable. Viking will not honor this request. This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Winston Folkers. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. They refuse to accept the fact that they changed the terms of the contract. Verification can help ensure real people write reviews about real companies. When we got this schedule yesterday, we asked her ********** if she could rearrange things to take this cruise. The two most popular are the Rhine and the Danube. To date we have sent a certified *** ****** ***** letter to VRC and had no response. Oceania officials said Russian and Ukrainian ports would be removed from 2022 itineraries, while Viking River Cruises canceled . Should you wish to change your reservation, you can choose which policy works best for you: Vikings Risk-Free Guarantee or standard cancellation policy. We rebooked our trip but Viking canceled it again and another voucher was issued.