2023 Trustpilot, Inc. All rights reserved. At 104 days out before final payment was due, we had to either lose our entire deposit of $2K+ or get a voucher. A sales representative ******. Viking is not a good company to work with. After contacting viking to inform the situation, Viking booked another flight for us. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. By. 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." 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 ********************* ********. I explain ship swapping in the section: . Italy is in the worst drought in over 70 years. This also had the water turned off and was unable to flush. There is rock on the bottom; theres also this little house in the middle of the river. It is a basic human right to be able to have access to flushing toilets and handwasting facilities. 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 problem with river cruises is that they are affected by both high and low water levels. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs cruise newsletter. 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. The confirmation email said cancellation for any reason loss of deposit. 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. Like most cruise lines, Viking canceled all of its sailings during the pandemic. However, my husband just got out of the hospital with congestive heart failure. Europe is experiencing unprecedented drought and heat conditions. I contact Viking customer relations, and was first told that the flight tickets were paid by Viking already. As a result, river levels are falling to critical levels. They just decided to keep our hard earning money. 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. We could not get a negative covid test in time for Just returned from Classis Panama Canal Cruise (11-21 February 2023) on the last day, running water for the shower, hand basins and toilets had been turned off from 5am to when we left the ship at 10.30am. London was on an older plane with 3 seats on the left and right. Desired outcome: But there is nothing we can do, your vouchers have expired'. In fact, everything we have come to expect from Viking exceptthere were apparently a few cases of a GI infection . We have rescheduled 2x as we refuse to get the Covid vaccine and Viking will not allow boarding if you are not 100% vaccinated. However, as everyone knows, predicting the weather is not an exact science. I believe this policy and practice is clearly unfair and rather reckless. But now some of those waterway dreams seem set to run aground. US. Please Note: 1) Terms & Conditions for Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers can be found here. View all of our Luxury Cruise sailings and offers. The first example of river distress is the Po River in Northern Italy. We were given the option of a voucher or cash We are unable to meet their requirements and therefore want our funds returned to us. 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. 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. Editor in Chief The whole experience was a disaster. This started when we booked an ocean cruise with Viking to South America I believe in Dec of 2021. I won't be booking any future cruise with them. You dont cruise in Egypt in June/July because its too hot. They feature elegant Scandinavian design, spacious staterooms with large verandas, and both indoor and al . 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. 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. Fraud and deception! Simply make the simple changes to the hotel reservations so that one of the rooms includes two beds. Viking's river cruises are aboard Viking Longships and have a maximum of 190 guests. My experience with Viking River Cruises is that if they cancel, they will either refund your money or . About 20 poeple's bag on the flight didn't make it. Tauck says it deals with compensation on a case-by-case basis. 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. Here's our experience with the Viking cancellation policy. 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. Viking, which operates both ocean and river cruises, has canceled all 2022 departures from its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary . If water levels are low, cargo ships cannot carry their normal loads of freight. No one expects to have to cancel a cruise. We accepted and paid an additional insurance premium. We paid for Travel Protection I have contacted Watcdog BBC who are interested. 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. 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. A *** incentive ********** was offered and accepted by us to use toward future booking. Enrollment required. As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. 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! "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,. As compensation we have been offered a derisory 200 voucher towards a future cruise. Planning a cruise? Desired outcome: We paid some #10,000 for premium air. Wouldnt that booking choice make it clear to Viking that pre and post excursion bookings would also require separate beds? Viking will not honor this request. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Their ad is wonderful but after all is said and done it is all crap. Any comments Viking? I purchased a cruise for my wife and myself then Covid hit. 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. As a consequence all water amenities, main pool, infinity pool, jacuzzi and spa were closed for the whole of the cruise! Submitting a response indicates a willingness to work with customers to make things right. It was our first river cruise it was 23 days Bucharest to Amsterdam with Viking . Now I see all this advertisement that waives ar fares , deposits and other things we paid for Horrible company in terms of customer service. She and her husband Ed recently took an 8-day cruise on the Viking Venus off the . This is known as ship swapping. I had insurance and filed a claim. We booked a cruise, paid the full booking amount. BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes. In this case, you will receive a full refund of your cruise fare. 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. 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. At the time we did we also asked that trip insurance be added. BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period. In some cases, an itinerary may be adjusted with certain destinations dropped and new ones added. Schreiner says that the last time Europe experienced extremely low water levels, in 2018, the economic impact was around 5.4 million euros ($5.4 million). We look forward to exploring the world with you, whenever and wherever you choose to sail with us. . Thanks for reaching out, Itom, although we regret to learn of your experience with booking excursions. return trip Munich to EWR Courtesy Sheila Davies. We could not wash, shower, not wash our hands and NOT able to flush toilets! I was aware that cruise lines' cash flow issues and accepted the voucher. Only in very rare circumstances are the sailings canceled outright. 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. An apology is not good enough. 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. Expected weather conditions during the cruise. The line said it was also evaluating 2022 itineraries that call in Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. , 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! Viking Ocean Ships Currently Sailing: Viking Jupiter Viking Orion Viking Mars Viking Neptune Viking Saturn Viking Sea Viking Sky Viking Star Viking Venus This will surely increase the credibility of your complaint. Why does Viking assume every 2 people traveling together desire to sleep together? Due to my cancellations, Viking held onto $8,000 of my Funds for about two years. Heres what you need to know. In addition to requiring all guests and crew be fully vaccinated before setting foot on board the 930-passenger Viking Sky, the cruise line implemented a robust contact tracing system, daily PCR. You dont know a week or 10 days in advance what will happen with the water levels. **** said he would monitor the schedule and will alert us the very day it comes out. They are just taking the thousands of dollars we gave them from us and we are getting nothing in return. 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. We purchased Travel Protection Insurance. This cruise has been sold out for weeks so if Viking reinstates the voucher, the cabin could be resold. Sure we were free but that's no excuse. Viking, please give an explanation. I have always liked Viking cruises and have been on 13, counting the one I am currently on. It turns out that during the second half of the cruise, we were in a heat wave, experiencing very hot temperatures. Viking changed our flight schedule at very short notice. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. You could tear down the house and build a dam there, but that is not what is going to happen.. We did not see ANY of Spain. . Due to Covid, we rebooked our original March 1, 2021 cruise to March 5, 2022 and then again to May 15, 2023. I had to cancel due to ill health and provided over five months notice. 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. Poulsbo, Washington. Holland America Cruise Line | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. Look at the Mekong you dont cruise in May, June, July and August because its too hot. On 9/12/21 we realized the 2022 sailing impractical and cancelled for cruise credits (#s XXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXX) I'm now wondering what the cozy deal is between Viking and Trip Mate, considering the vast number of Trip Mate complaints from Viking Cruise customers. I could sail on another cruise line for a lot less money. 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. 12/21- 12/28/2022 We again purchased Vikings trip insurance through Trip Mate to cover the cost of the trip. At the other end of the Po, ocean water has flooded the last 12 miles of the river damaging crops and contaminating drinking water. Telling us that a voucher has no cash value is a shoddy business practice at best. Verification can help ensure real people write reviews about real companies. we went to our connecting American Airlines flight with our Boarding Schreiner does not hold with that assertion because river cruise lines simply adjust their schedules year after year for optimal weather conditions. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). We used our voucher prior to the expiration of the voucher, to book a cruise for March of 2023. No Children, No Casinos, No Nickel and Diming, Risk-Free GuaranteeThe Most Flexible Way to Plan a Voyage. Find out how we combat fake reviews. Articles are of a general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances. An insult! This meant I was unable to book any excursions or drinks package, despite trying as soon as they were released. Taking over the Hilton in Taupo NZ, they were obnoxious. Because of the positive test result as well as his need for further dr evaluation, we had no choice but to cancel the trip. They can go up, they can go down, rain can come in.. Posted May 4, 2021. by Steve CaseLast updated September 6, 2022. We asked to transfer the trip to my son and grandson, but transferring the tickets is not allowed. Jan. 17, 2022. If you happen to be in the same position there is a group forming to file a class action law suit against Viking. My only hope now is for someone to cancel what I want.About time to give my loyalty to another cruise line. . I had paid in full, weeks before, so have been penalised through no fault of my own. Unfortunately, my husband unexpectedly passed away last month. They also issued non refundable vouchers for our port excursions. There are no uniform river flows and water levels are unpredictable. 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. $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. Viking offered us to support the company and not get a refund if we accepted a voucher of 125% I was told Viking doesnt own the hotel and the hotel will not let me make a change since Viking handled the booking. Global warming is indeed having an effect on European rivers. Applies primarily to to bookings with the following content. The vaccinations mean nothing anyway. We called Viking and there is nothing that they will do to be able to use the over $7,000 paid for the trip. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. If you book a river cruise, you acknowledge that you might not get the exact itinerary you signed up for. service we should have received at least a partial refund . Oceania officials said Russian and Ukrainian ports would be removed from 2022 itineraries, while Viking River Cruises canceled . . 1. We also ensure all reviews are published without moderation. This complaint was posted by a verified customer. The Risk-Free Guarantee allows guests to change their cruise date up until 14 days before their planned departureand Viking will waive any fees. Viking allows those who book the most expensive rooms to book first. The line confirmed the steps to TTG on Wednesday (2 March) and said it was "deeply opposed" to the . She is scheduled to start ************ this week. However, you wont be entirely out of luck if your itinerary changes once you arrive at your ship. Other viking customers from ******* on the same cruise were also booked the same flight. ******************************************************************************************************************************** We were looking for the same cruise we originally booked but for 2024. We will not cancel any cruises, said Shreiner. They refuse to accept the fact that they changed the terms of the contract. airfare $2198 For that reason, the Rhine River is feeling greater effects of river flow and sooner than compared with the Danube. 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. This they On the next British Airways flight from London to Philadelphia, The Jan 26, 2023 01:33pm. This is why most lines are not offering flexible cancellation policies or waiving penalties for canceling a river cruise because theyre worried their itinerary will get disrupted due to low water levels. Customers should not be treated this way. Change of travel requirements after full payment received/ignoring request for full refund. We also paid Port Tax for Honduras even though they chose not to book and pay to use the pier there. We booked a 14 day cruise with extra days upon arrival in ****** and departure in **** in ****. Why? The ship can welcome up to 386 passengers, and. They may run multiple ships back-to-back where you would transfer to another ship where the river is having navigational issues. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. 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. Travel Codex is owned by Travel Codex, LLC. I checked with many countries and all their restrictions have been dropped. The drought category in England has reached the most severe designation of severe drought. Another section of river that can be negatively affected by low water levels is the Danube, past the last lock in Slovakia heading downriver toward Hungary. 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. Virgin Voyages. Just return on our river cruise . BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. We booked a river cruise (Danube) for March 2022. They offered us a 150 dollar non refundable credit to be used onboard. Ships might be able to pass through a tricky spot, like Kaub, today but not tomorrow, or cant this week but can next week. Business Section was crowded 8 units wide while first class just in front The Viking Ocean Cruises 2022 Grand Polynesia Voyage has come to a triumphant completion in Los Angeles. The Rhine River is more sensitive in terms of river flow because it lacks the dams that are on the Danube River. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity mentioned herein. Our longtime Cruise Specialists Voyage Host, Tom Mullen, shares his thoughts from the last few days of the voyage, which took place January 5 to February 6, 2022. Learn more. 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 may involve the cruise line putting you up in one or more hotels and paying for restaurant meals. Find the right card for you. We booked a river cruise from Istanbul to Venice. 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. At best, youll do a ship swap mid-cruise, a slight inconvenience that will allow you to follow your planned itinerary. Really, what is a big deal here? Refund or partial credit. 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.. 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. The couple shore excursions we went on were lame and horrible. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. Seems the generous cancellation risk free ended 30 June and despite booking direct with Viking no mention of the changes was made. After 5 Viking Because of COVID, we had to cancel the cruise, and received a voucher from Viking. You will, however, still get a vacation in Europe, even if its not the one you expected. Call a Viking Expert at 0800 319 66 60 or see your Travel Advisor. We were treated like animals. 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. 1. A place on the excursion I tried to book. By Alyssa Lukpat and Ceylan Yeginsu. Other than the hassle of packing up in the middle of the cruise, travelers still get the full Rhine experience they paid for. Weve canceled one cruise on the Danube and have made a few mostly minor alterations to a small handful of cruises on the Rhine, a Tauck spokesman told TPG when asked about this years cruises. 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. Experts are saying that the current drought in Europe could be the worst in 500 years, with water levels dropping, especially along the Rhine River. Our ships have a very low draftabout five feet, he explained.

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