In some cases, an itinerary may be adjusted with certain destinations dropped and new ones added. Only in very rare circumstances are the sailings canceled outright. This happened 52 days before sailing. Another point that travelers should understand is that when the news reports low water levels, its not that an entire river has dried up and is impassable. 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. Guests have the option to transfer their reservation to 2022; receive a 100% future cruise credit . 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. #7. The pandemic has not ended, and some sailings have been cancelled due to too many Covid-19 cases onboard. Due to my cancellations, Viking held onto $8,000 of my Funds for about two years. You dont know a week or 10 days in advance what will happen with the water levels. Just got order from Doctor to cancel due to sudden onset of autoimmune kidney disease. 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. Simply make the simple changes to the hotel reservations so that one of the rooms includes two beds. 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. They refuse. Other than the hassle of packing up in the middle of the cruise, travelers still get the full Rhine experience they paid for. *In Canada, trademark(s) of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, used under License. 12 reviews. 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. Another factor that should be considered is trip insurance. We also ensure all reviews are published without moderation. It will take a lot for us to travel with you again. I even requested they review the phone call and they refused. I complained initially that I was not given a direct flight. We were never verbally informed when booking that the actual voucher would expire even if we rebooked again. Instead, in the most extreme cases, AmaWaterways will create a new itinerary. I'm with Robin (see below). Find out how we combat fake reviews. A *** incentive ********** was offered and accepted by us to use toward future booking. Do not book with Viking Cruises ,they turned my cancelled trip into vouchers with expiration dates that I never knew about. An insult! We were issued the vouchers that had an expiration date October 2022. 4. Schreiner gives an example of two identical sister ships, AmaLucia and AmaSiena, that both sail the Rhine. ***. 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. 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. Want all money refunded. We are not asking for anything other than our money back. 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 . I encourage all Americans to do the same. The other typical plan is to put the passengers on buses to get around the affected areas. Anybody got any idea what do I do? 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. is a travel editor for TPG, with a focus on cruise travel. 1. We have a very good rain forecast for this Thursday/Friday, and fairly heavy rains coming, so [the situation] might change.. Cannot recommend whatsoever - there are better cruise lines who deliver & care about providing a decent level of customer experience - avoid them if you can. 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 also paid Port Tax for Honduras even though they chose not to book and pay to use the pier there. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. 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. I was aware that cruise lines' cash flow issues and accepted the voucher. Does anyone know if Trip Mate customers have or are considering a class action suit against the company for fraud? I contacted Viking and was told the vouchers were not refundable because we had not cancelled at least 2 weeks prior to departure. 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. Many passengers were still on board at this time and were unable to flush toilets or wash their hands. I was told Viking doesnt own the hotel and the hotel will not let me make a change since Viking handled the booking. On the next British Airways flight from London to Philadelphia, The After checking cancellation conditions online which indicates $200 up to a certain date I booked a river cruise for 2024 the deposit was $2000pp. 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. Claim your profile to access Trustpilots free business tools and connect with customers. The first example of river distress is the Po River in Northern Italy. 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? I checked with many countries and all their restrictions have been dropped. Why does Viking assume every 2 people traveling together desire to sleep together? Now I see all this advertisement that waives ar fares , deposits and other things we paid for Horrible company in terms of customer service. We paid some #10,000 for premium air. 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. I ask if I could have the number to her managers boss she said no. 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. This complaint has been resolved automatically due to user's inactivity. After many failed conversations with Viking Cruise customer service reps to obtain reassurance that we will automatically receive Booking number 7141933 , 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! Dozens of cruises have been cancelled and some ports in the Caribbean and South America are turning ships away from making . View all of our Luxury Cruise sailings and offers. Cannot go on a cruise if not jabbed even to countries which have no covid requirements any more. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. Submitting a response indicates a willingness to work with customers to make things right. There is rock on the bottom; theres also this little house in the middle of the river. Any help to resolve this matter will be greatly appreciated. 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. He he tried to take the trip solo, he was charged. But all was not lost. Princess Cruises | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. The only problem was it WAS VERY NOISY, couldnt get a full night sleep due the engine and the bed shaking.We will go back to the other suites.The staff was great! We were running between the airlines at ***** to find out what was going on, very frustrating. However, you wont be entirely out of luck if your itinerary changes once you arrive at your ship. Related: Booking your first river cruise? This river begins in the Alps near the Italy-French border and is fed by snowmelt. The Risk-Free Guarantee allows guests to change their cruise date up until 14 days before their planned departureand Viking will waive any fees. 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. Verification can help ensure real people write reviews about real companies. Many passengers were distressed by the lack of fresh water. Since the ships are nearly identical, if you do transfer to another ship, you should be in a similar stateroom as the original ship. While we may have to make changes to some of our itineraries and have had to cancel a few voyages, impacted guests and travel partners have and will receive transparent updates and the opportunity to re-book onto another sailing, shared Ellen Bettridge, president and CEO of Uniworld, in an email to TPG. 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. By. An apology is not good enough. Story Update (September 5, 2022) Viking river cruises have posted an advisory from Danube River cruises that ship swapping may occur. International Association of Better Business Bureaus. This guarantee is combinable with all other Viking offers available. Find the right card for you. A place on the excursion I tried to book. They offered us a voucher for 125% or a cash refund. We appreciate you sharing your experience, Marie, although we regret to hear of your disappointment. We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. We asked to transfer the trip to my son and grandson, but transferring the tickets is not allowed. Our ships have a very low draftabout five feet, he explained. *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 first five miles of headwaters have completely dried up. They can go up, they can go down, rain can come in.. Thu 13 Jan 2022 01.00 EST Last modified on Thu 13 Jan 2022 18.22 EST. 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. We booked the *********** cruise with Viking prior to COVID *****************. I purchased two of each of the following through ACH: After an Booking # XXXXXXX The Rhine River is more sensitive in terms of river flow because it lacks the dams that are on the Danube River. Holland America Cruise Line | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. That's our policy. 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. Viking's river cruises are aboard Viking Longships and have a maximum of 190 guests. Call us at 800-454-0927 to speak to a Cruise Concierge today. 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. Poulsbo, Washington. But due to a serious health issue we along with our Drs said that it was not feasible for us to go. On July 10th, 2022 my husband called Viking to inquire when the schedule becomes available. 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. Voyages offering the excursion to Floriade 2022 operate between July 16 and August 27, 2022 aboard River Empress. Multiple tests were run, including a Covid test, which came back positive. They will charge you a lot of money but would not care for you at the end of the day.The places I saw needed much to be desiredI was told that at the airport someone will help us until we boarded our plane. We will be again canceling our trip. 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. Viking's move follows announcements from other cruise operators saying they are . I could sail on another cruise line for a lot less money. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. 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. Learn more. There are no uniform river flows and water levels are unpredictable. I booked the flight through Viking to a Christmas market river cruise. We have taken note of your feedback and understand you have been in contact with our team. Viking is not a good company to work with. 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. No materials from this website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way. When we arrived ************* to get our boarding pass, we were told that viking booked our tickets but did not pay for the tickets. But there is nothing we can do, your vouchers have expired'. This meant I was unable to book any excursions or drinks package, despite trying as soon as they were released. Unlike ocean cruising, river cruising has a lot of fluctuations in water levels. Viking River Cruises 548 complaints 314 resolved 234 unresolved File a complaint to Viking River Cruises Viking River Cruises contacts (added by reviewer) Phone number +1 800 304 9616 Address 5700 Canoga Ave, California United States Website www.vikingrivercruises.com Category Cruise Lines View full information Most discussed complaints Viking collects 3 fares for a 2 person room. Four excursions that I wanted are already sold out. We called Viking and there is nothing that they will do to be able to use the over $7,000 paid for the trip. Learn more. The US gov has basically declared the "plandemic" over and all other mandates have been drop but Viking still won't change their policy. Karin Price Mueller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. 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. I purchased a cruise for my wife and myself then Covid hit. On 10/12 as our plane was taxiing for departure, my husband suffered a medical emergency. If you are concerned about the water level on your upcoming river cruise, do your due diligence before you take any action. I explain ship swapping in the section: What Happens If Your Cruise Is Affected By Water Level? 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 Oceania officials said Russian and Ukrainian ports would be removed from 2022 itineraries, while Viking River Cruises canceled . That' our policy,. Pharaohs & Pyramids. Last week, the cruise line cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary and said it was evaluating 2022 sailing that call in Russia. TPG values it at $1,600. I hope this is something you can help with. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Coach would have been better. Unfortunately, my husband unexpectedly passed away last month. As a result, river levels are falling to critical levels. Withholding of monies and shore excursion booking system failure. Viking Cruises has ceased all operations in Russia this year in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They just decided to keep our hard earning money. No one expects to have to cancel a cruise. We accepted and paid an additional insurance premium. The trip was for September 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic. On top of that, they are asking for me to pay additional same $ 9,000. amount for me to go on this journey alone! Instead, in the most extreme cases, AmaWaterways will create a new itinerary. My only hope now is for someone to cancel what I want.About time to give my loyalty to another cruise line. Why? Because there was no time for a further delay, we paid the tickets to the airline. Expected weather conditions during the cruise. "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,. At Viking, your experience means the world to us. Seems the generous cancellation risk free ended 30 June and despite booking direct with Viking no mention of the changes was made. We are older and don't want to keep rescheduling this with the hopes of one day being permitted to board their ship. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). My bag didn't make it. Airfares vary on other gateways & departures. My family of 4 has booked a Viking cruise with a pre and post cruise excursion. Sandi. Trip value now ********** On 12 November 2020 we booked another cruise and added an additional ******** to bring our out of pocket total to ********** All transactions took place before before the rollout of a "vaccine", vaccine cards, a Presidential and CDC mandates. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Thank you. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. This was really "The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority," a Viking representative told Travel Market Report. The dream vacation I have waited for 8 years has gone down the drain. Maximum capacities of 164 passengers and 47 crew. We would appreciate any help you can provide in helping us to get the rest of our money back. This complaint was posted by a verified customer. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile. Other ships were docked at the pier. 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. Unlike other river cruise lines, however, were very fortunate that we also operate numerous land tours throughout the region, so we have a fantastic network of local supplier-partners that we can leverage as necessary should alternate arrangements become necessary.. That is all it took, I was hooked. We used these to book on cruise OJUXXXXXX Booking Number XXXXXXX. Just return on our river cruise . Planning a cruise? But it is for us. We were treated like animals. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. When Viking informed me that the alternative flight was booked, I was not told that I had to pay the tickets myself in order to obtain the boarding pass. Submit a complaint and get your issue resolved. What? Share. 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. The departure flight from ******* was delayed due to the storm. Due to Covid pandemic our cruise got cancelled. Winston Folkers. We were given the option of a voucher or cash The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. Labeled Verified, theyre about genuine experiences.Learn more about other kinds of reviews. Is it cheaper to stay out in the bay and use your own tender? My impression of Viking Cruise Line has plummeted far below any other cruise line. **** called finally, apologized and said that he 'misread the rules', misunderstood the rules and this isn't a big deal (his attitude). RHINE GETAWAY. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. In some cases, an itinerary may be adjusted with certain destinations dropped and new ones added. The cruise line offered her future cruise vouchers worth 125 percent of her fare. If you are booked on a river cruise for later this year, do not make any snap decisions. I also booked this trip years ago when there was . 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. Unfortunately, there are still cruises being cancelled in 2022 due to Covid-19 and the uncertainty surrounding it. In 2021, the cruise line plans to launch their seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus. SPRING SALE Special Fares Reduced Airfare Dates: Availability: over night stay we got back to Cincinnati the next day. My experience with Viking River Cruises is that if they cancel, they will either refund your money or . Viking Cruises is a cruise line providing river and ocean cruises, with operations based in Basel, Switzerland. On April 7, Virgin Voyages updated its advisory that all regular Scarlet Lady cruises are canceled through September 17, 2021. Guests and travel agents on impacted departures are in the process of being notified. 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 Really, what is a big deal here? scott@travelcodex.com, For updates: If you have a question or would like to make a press inquiry, please contact: Scott Mackenzie We said yes. 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.. "The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority," a Viking representative told Travel Market Report. **** said he would monitor the schedule and will alert us the very day it comes out. A recent CNN article proclaimed that summer droughts like the current one, plus global warming, could signal a death knell for river cruises in the near future. 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. Not impressed and wi never book another trip with this company. 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. 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! My husband surprised me with the explorer suite,the room was beautiful,the balcony was amazing. In Europe, we dont cruise in January, February and into early March because its too cold, he explained. If, however, we forfeit the ******* spent in anticipation of this vacation, Viking would loose us as customers, but as a sophisticated internet user, my wife will use her homebound time posting this saga on as many travel sites as possible. 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. Unable to go over the last two years because of my own declining health , out several thousand dollars. Call to book now: 1-800-207-7286. In May, Viking canceled that cruise. On 12/20/20 Viking cancelled this cruise. We Vikings inability to resolve an issue with, Withholding of monies and shore excursion, Refusal to honor its cancellation policy, My bag is still missing and I will request. He was assertive and very confident, pushy and eager to make the booking. Having trip insurance may pay you in full depending on your coverage. 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. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Originally booked in 2020, paid in full. 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. Bad cruise experience, shore excursions, bad weather bad handling, cold food, etc. Here's our experience with the Viking cancellation policy. Booking XXXXXXX. They offered us a 150 dollar non refundable credit to be used onboard. Please Note: 1) Terms & Conditions for Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers can be found here. This allowed Viking to retain the majority of our payment since We booked a cruise in 2019 to sail early in 2020. What? It is February 1st today and I went online to book excursions for a trip almost 3 months from now. Tauck says it deals with compensation on a case-by-case basis. It would seem to be a reasonable and simple request. Breeze through security with CLEAR lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. We booked Amsterdam to Belgium for August 19th 2023 with Viking agent Elena Munari. 2. We paid for the trip and had trip insurance. 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. - Refusal to honor its cancellation policy, Viking trip shortened due to weather, no refund. We are unable to meet VRC health requirements to participate in one of their cruises. Viking have done this every year since 2012, knowing they are unable to dock there but still taking Port Tax from every passenger. We were routed to resolution manager who was extremely obnoxious, rude, disrespectful, wasn't listening to the issue, saying 'yes, ok, sales rep make a mistake, mistakes do happen. . . We rebooked yet again and we're told that we had to have the vaccine before we would be able to take our trip. 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. If ships have to lighten their loads to cross shallow water, fewer goods can be transported at once. 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 ********************* ********. 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. Taking over the Hilton in Taupo NZ, they were obnoxious. I thought that Viking was reputable, so I put too much faith in them. This content has not been approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. We booked a river cruise (Danube) for March 2022. Viking Cruises has cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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