At the time we did we also asked that trip insurance be added. Viking River Cruises The line is canceling all 2022 departures of its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary. Other than the hassle of packing up in the middle of the cruise, travelers still get the full Rhine experience they paid for. The booking # is *******. 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. Booking 6819824. by Steve CaseLast updated September 6, 2022. I have contacted Watcdog BBC who are interested. Guests have the option to transfer their reservation to 2022; receive a 100% future cruise credit . I used my airline mile and hotel points to travel well and cheap. Scheduled and rescheduled elder family care and pet sitting services. 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. This requirement was enacted after we booked this trip . By. Schreiner gives an example of two identical sister ships, AmaLucia and AmaSiena, that both sail the Rhine. These two rivers are the most popular routes in European river cruising. Cannot recommend whatsoever - there are better cruise lines who deliver & care about providing a decent level of customer experience - avoid them if you can. 2022 is now cancelled and will be replaced with new roundtrip voyages from Southampton to the Caribbean via the Canary Islands and New York. That trip was cancelled do to covid, and we were assured by Viking that everything was fine and we rebooked for Jan 2022. Desired outcome: Mind you, my cruise cost over $27,000. Like most cruise lines, Viking canceled all of its sailings during the pandemic. About 20 poeple's bag on the flight didn't make it. Royal Caribbean International | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. If ships have to lighten their loads to cross shallow water, fewer goods can be transported at once. 'Not the cruise I signed up for': 30-fold increase in Covid cases Articles are of a general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances. Travel Codex is owned by Travel Codex, LLC. Well guide you through the process. 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. Maximum capacities of 164 passengers and 47 crew. If you search Viking the risk free still pops up you have to read the fine print to realise its all over so be aware. We booked a Viking River Cruise with AAA travel in August of 2019 for $14,497 for two people which excludes the insurance cost. Before you decide to. Verification can help ensure real people write reviews about real companies. Has Viking Cancelled Any 2022 Cruises - CruiseInfoClub.com Not every river cruise line takes the same stance. This allowed Viking to retain the majority of our payment since We booked a cruise in 2019 to sail early in 2020. The Risk-Free Guarantee allows guests to change their cruise date up until 14 days before their planned departureand Viking will waive any fees. One thing Amawaterways and many other river lines do is run two ships simultaneously on the same one-way itinerary, with one ship starting at one end and the other on the opposite end. We accepted and paid an additional insurance premium. Viking Cruises cancels 2022 Kiev and Black Sea sailings Tauck says it deals with compensation on a case-by-case basis. Because we were given a voucher, we can not get out money back. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Scenic. Oceania officials said Russian and Ukrainian ports would be removed from 2022 itineraries, while Viking River Cruises canceled . I encourage all Americans to do the same. They said they did not think we could get a refund as our money had been converted to a voucher and vouchers were not refundable with our insurance. I am writing about booking number 7045921 sailed Jan.12 2023. We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. Don't sail Viking unless you are guaranteed of going on the trip. I was sailing aboard the Avalon Vista two months ago on a cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland along the Rhine River. What? BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. Where the European rivers have locks and dams to control water levels, ships can still sail problem-free. We asked to transfer the trip to my son and grandson, but transferring the tickets is not allowed. 2023-2025 OCEAN CRUISE AND AIR SAVINGS: Offer applies to bookings made from March 1-31, 2023. If have a river cruise planned for the end of the summer or the fall, should you be concerned? Really, what is a big deal here? Received most monies back but they held $1400 back which had to be used by 4/22.Just booked a $25000 trip with them and ask them to extend $1400 to July which they refused. This meant I was unable to book any excursions or drinks package, despite trying as soon as they were released. We are unable to meet their requirements and therefore want our funds returned to us. This guarantee is combinable with all other Viking offers available. 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. If you are concerned about the water level on your upcoming river cruise, do your due diligence before you take any action. 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." On the last day, all running water was turned off until we left the ship. I specifically mentioned this scenario when I used the voucher and we were told as long as it was 120 days before departure we could rebook using our voucher. Only Viking can make the appropriate reservation. I had insurance and filed a claim. Viking Announces Return of European River Cruises in July - Travel If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile. Why all other passages under the same situation had no such problem were not explained by Viking. We feel we should get the $3,494 dollars refunded to us. Disappointed with Viking Cruises cancellation policy. This complaint was posted by a verified customer. The Rhine River is more sensitive in terms of river flow because it lacks the dams that are on the Danube River. 2023 Trustpilot, Inc. All rights reserved. Pharaohs & Pyramids. We booked a river cruise with Viking which we cancelled due to Covid and received travel vouchers from Viking for the amount of the trip. My Trip - Updates on Current Sailings - Viking River Cruises 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. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. I hope this is something you can help with. We paid for Travel Protection Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers are transferable, so that you have the flexibility to gift them to a loved one. Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. Booking your first river cruise? 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. Winston Folkers. We are cancelling our river cruise due to viking's heavy handed covid vaccine requirement. It was not a condition of completing this trip. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. We said yes. To date we have sent a certified *** ****** ***** letter to VRC and had no response. We opted for the voucher. Also lost out on the cruise vouchers. is a travel editor for TPG, with a focus on cruise travel. More Cruises Canceled as Omicron Spreads - The New York Times Risk-Free Guarantee: How it Works They have no intentions of giving my money back .Do I not have any rights? 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. River Cruises Respond to Austrian Lockdown, Impact on Sailings But this is one American that will never sail with this awful company ever again. Booking number: *******. The line confirmed the steps to TTG on Wednesday (2 March) and said it was "deeply opposed" to the . European Cruise River Levels Are Falling To Critical Levels - Travel Codex Is it cheaper to stay out in the bay and use your own tender? 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. 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 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. 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. Recent updates have been made to cancellation schedules and refund guidelines for various cruise lines. The first five miles of headwaters have completely dried up. 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 purchased a cruise for my wife and myself then Covid hit. We used our voucher prior to the expiration of the voucher, to book a cruise for March of 2023. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Desired outcome: Viking Mississippi cancels some cruise passengers four days ahead of Viking Cruises | Cruise Ship List - Delta Skymiles Cruises Viking river cruises have posted an advisory from Danube River cruises that ship swapping may occur. River cruise cancellation fears loom as Rhine threatens closure . He will call us immediately - he said. Other viking customers from ******* on the same cruise were also booked the same flight. But our plea was denied. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link, Change your cruise date up to 14 days prior to departure, The ultimate flexibility: You have 24 months to select your new cruise date, Combinable with all other Viking offers. The typical characteristics of river boats regardless of cruise line are about the same. Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. This was really TPG values it at $1,600. We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Please Note: 1) Terms & Conditions for Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers can be found here. This was our second cruise, I would have to say our first one was wonderful, this one was not bad. BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. 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. Sheila Davies is a retired gas industry professional based in Northumberland, England. A sales representative ******. Looks like our September cruise to the Fjords is in the process of being cancelled! It will take a lot for us to travel with you again. The trip was more expensive so we paid with our vouchers as well as cash. Because Viking issued a voucher , insurance denied the claim as the voucher was considered a refund 3. Their ad is wonderful but after all is said and done it is all crap. Confirmation attached. Viking Cruise recommends that their customers insure their travel & trip with Trip Mate Travel Insurance. The low draft and the adjustability of the ballast allow the ships to navigate through sections of the river where the water levels are not very deep. Viking Cruises, and Other Lines, Changes Plans Because of Ukraine News Viking offered us to support the company and not get a refund if we accepted a voucher of 125% Crystal River Cruises has canceled its four remaining Crystal Ravel sailings this December. An apology is not good enough. Norse Atlantic Airways to Launch NY-Rome Flights. He he tried to take the trip solo, he was charged. Norwegian Cruise Line | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. We have a very good rain forecast for this Thursday/Friday, and fairly heavy rains coming, so [the situation] might change.. Not at all, according to Rudi Schreiner, president and co-founder AmaWaterways as long as youre willing to be a little bit flexible. We booked the *********** cruise with Viking prior to COVID *****************. "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. Airfares vary on other gateways & departures. 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. I am going to seek legal advice to, but this ridiculous policy has added hugely to my grieving. 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. Only in very rare circumstances are the sailings canceled outright. Cruise Canceled Due to Low Water Levels Guests will have 24 months to select their new date and use their Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Voucher to make a new reservation on any river, ocean or expedition cruise. Viking changed their policy after they took all our money, lured us into taking now worthless vouchers. Instead, in the most extreme cases, AmaWaterways will create a new itinerary. And rebooked the following summer My travel partner , my sister, died 6 months before our trip that next summer die to COVID. The other typical plan is to put the passengers on buses to get around the affected areas. We were given misinformation by their employee, to which their supervisor stated that verbal statements do not count. All I got was 'you must pay in full for your trip before booking extras'. We booked a cruise, paid the full booking amount. Fosse's cruise and land tour to Eastern Europe became a casualty of COVID-19. 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. She is scheduled to start ************ this week. Several Cruise Lines Cancel Scheduled Stops in Russia, Ukraine Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity mentioned herein. On April 7, Virgin Voyages updated its advisory that all regular Scarlet Lady cruises are canceled through September 17, 2021. Thats because the weight of the cargo such vessels carry affects their draft (the distance between the ships bottom and the water line). The food was excellent. Call to book now: 1-800-207-7286. Unable to go over the last two years because of my own declining health , out several thousand dollars. . For information about your specific voyage, please log onto MyVikingJourney.com. Viking River Cruises has left an official reply on this complaint. RHINE GETAWAY. This happened 52 days before sailing. 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. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. There are no uniform river flows and water levels are unpredictable. #7. I was never informed that the vaccine would be required to sail and that our money would not be eligible for a refund. No partial refund was given and I lost the total deposit of $1000.I understand that the T&Cs outline the refund policy. This is our third time to book a trip, and in 2023, the medical requirement is still in place. The climate in Europe is changing and not for the better. Simply make the simple changes to the hotel reservations so that one of the rooms includes two beds. Just realized that the cruise booked was from Antwerp to Amsterdam. Multiple tests were run, including a Covid test, which came back positive. "You might see some cities you might not have expected to see and you might miss some you wanted to see. (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business. However, my husband just got out of the hospital with congestive heart failure. 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. ***. These hotels are Marriott and hilton properties that have such rooms. Viking cancellation policy - Viking Ocean - Cruise Critic Community Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Passes which had been canceled since BA flight had been late. We booked a river cruise (Danube) for March 2022. service we should have received at least a partial refund . At best, youll do a ship swap mid-cruise, a slight inconvenience that will allow you to follow your planned itinerary. the Lufthansa person told me I need to fill out the form required for returning Americans to USA and she was not helpful .I missed my flight and had to stay overnight to a dingy hotel in tears in a French country who doesn't really want to help you . . Italy is in the worst drought in over 70 years. It's a human right to have access to fresh water and clean sanitation. Language and Region - sales.vikingline.com Expected weather conditions during the cruise. I am extremely disappointed that a once in a lifetime trip I have been looking forward to for two years is now marred before we even get on the ship. They feature elegant Scandinavian design, spacious staterooms with large verandas, and both indoor and al . 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. Viking Venus : cruise round Med and on to Israel.This was a wonderful itinerary , a beautiful ship , excellent food and service. 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. 4. I was told Viking doesnt own the hotel and the hotel will not let me make a change since Viking handled the booking. The sailings. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. Telling us that a voucher has no cash value is a shoddy business practice at best. I asked the captain how deep the ship would be if it sank. However, the same problems do not affect river cruise ships. over night stay we got back to Cincinnati the next day. 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. At this point we feel it's discrimination and want our money refunded. The good news is that there are not the mass cancellations we saw in 2020. What does Viking do Nothing. I could sail on another cruise line for a lot less money. Viking Cruise Offers Just return on our river cruise . Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. 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. River boats are unique because they can float in just five to six feet of water. We called our AAA travel agent and she notified Viking on September 17,2022, we were scheduled to leave on September 22,2022. The cruise line offered her future cruise vouchers worth 125 percent of her fare. Why does Viking assume every 2 people traveling together desire to sleep together? This was not the case. How is this hard? I won't be booking any future cruise with them. 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. They just decided to keep our hard earning money. They also issued non refundable vouchers for our port excursions. Viking Chief Health Officer Dr. Raquel . 12 reviews. Thank you. Ocean cruise ships usually have at least 25 feet or more or more of draft which would preclude them from river cruising. More details in attachment. Viking Cruises' New Safety Protocols Include Daily COVID-19 Testing I booked the flight through Viking to a Christmas market river cruise. Regent Seven Seas Cruises was the cruise line forced to change the most stops planned for Russia, which included visits to the Solovetsky Islands, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk and St. Petersburg, as well as Odessa, Ukraine. He lied. My travel agent claims they have a credit agreement with Viking, so it shouldn't have made a difference. Guests and travel advisors with affected departures have been notified. Because these problem spots are well known, river cruise lines can find ways to mitigate the issues with savvy itinerary planning. Feb 1, 2023. 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. ), We booked a cruise in 2019 to sail early in 2020. "The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority," a Viking representative told Travel Market Report. We were being reimbursed for the cash amount paid but not the amount of the vouchers. Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews. The problem with river cruises is that they are affected by both high and low water levels. Claire and Stanley Keyles planned a dream vacation for June 2020. I contacted Trip Mate and was told the vouchers were not covered and that I needed to contact Viking because they handled vouchers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The whole experience was a disaster. 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. After 5 minutes she came back and said the manager said nothing they could do but charge a 50 percent fee for canceling. When we got this schedule yesterday, we asked her ********** if she could rearrange things to take this cruise. Steve is a life-long avgeek and a points and miles player. As a consequence all water amenities, main pool, infinity pool, jacuzzi and spa were closed for the whole of the cruise! 1. Here is a message that appears on the Viking River Cruise webpage: The cruise line may elect to cancel your cruise. Call a Viking Expert at 0800 319 66 60 or see your Travel Advisor. . 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. In Europe, we dont cruise in January, February and into early March because its too cold, he explained. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. 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. Over in Southeast Asia, a new river ship, Viking Saigon, will cruise the Mekong. Posted September 18, 2021. Submitting a response indicates a willingness to work with customers to make things right. We appreciate you sharing your experience, Marie, although we regret to hear of your disappointment. They offered us a voucher for 125% or a cash refund. It, along with the Viking Sky, is classified as a small ship, with 465 staterooms, capable of carrying 930 guests. The cruise line said it was evaluating 2022 itineraries that visit Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. Viking European River Cruises - 6 Key Must-Knows Before You Go You dont cruise in Egypt in June/July because its too hot. "They disembark in the morning, they go on the shore excursion, and they come back on the other side on the sister ship. You can see why people are worried. If water levels fall, riverboats can have trouble sailing all the way to Budapest.