But our plea was denied. Subscribe to Apple News. Other viking customers from ******* on the same cruise were also booked the same flight. That trip was cancelled do to covid, and we were assured by Viking that everything was fine and we rebooked for Jan 2022. Like most cruise lines, Viking canceled all of its sailings during the pandemic. My bag is still missing and I will request (!) 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. Viking Shores and Fjords - SEPT 2021 - Cancelled? If the region has had an excess of rain, raising the river greatly, the river ship may have problems clearing bridges and other obstacles. 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. Claim your profile to access Trustpilots free business tools and connect with customers. In order to catch the next flight from ************ to ******* to get to the cruise on time we had to pay the tickets ourselves. She really needs this positive experience to look forward to. When you are covered by the Risk-Free Guarantee you may change your cruise reservation with notification to Viking. Viking Mississippi cancels some cruise passengers four days ahead of In the end, you will have a fantastic vacation and you will get a future cruise credit according to what you miss., He added: Its better than canceling and sitting at home and not doing anything.. Many passengers were still on board at this time and were unable to flush toilets or wash their hands. He he tried to take the trip solo, he was charged. The food was excellent. Then before the departure, Viking cancelled operations and offered us vouchers for future cruises. We missed 2 ports of call and 1/3 of our sites to see the auroras. 1. Viking have done this every year since 2012, knowing they are unable to dock there but still taking Port Tax from every passenger. We used these to book on cruise OJUXXXXXX Booking Number XXXXXXX. In some cases, an itinerary may be adjusted with certain destinations dropped and new ones added. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. However, you wont be entirely out of luck if your itinerary changes once you arrive at your ship. Some years, low water levels caused disruptions as early as June and some years as late as October. We didn't get to see Honduras as Viking tried to use their own tender to get to shore. Viking Cruises is a cruise line providing river and ocean cruises, with operations based in Basel, Switzerland. Viking Cruises chairman: 'COVID is really behind us' - Fortune 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. Learn more. I hope this is something you can help with. By. We will never try Viking again! They just decided to keep our hard earning money. 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. After a further communication with Viking, the second answer was because the flights were on a promotion deal, any delay or cancellation was not covered by Viking. Then they said (under the Risk Free Guarantee) we could have a voucher, but it would be a combined voucher which could only be used for one future trip. Enrollment required. Norwegian Cruise Line | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. We opted for the voucher. An apology is not good enough. Viking is not a good company to work with. Four excursions that I wanted are already sold out. Viking Cruise Offers We accepted and paid an additional insurance premium. Winston Folkers. We are unable to meet their requirements and therefore want our funds returned to us. Guests and travel agents on impacted departures are in the process of being notified. But this is one American that will never sail with this awful company ever again. If have a river cruise planned for the end of the summer or the fall, should you be concerned? There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. . Its not an American company so they feel like they can treat Americans any way they want. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. Disembark on May 1 2023 they required us to pay us in full in August 2022 which we did. Only in very rare circumstances are the sailings canceled outright. Having trip insurance may pay you in full depending on your coverage. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. Very disappointed with Viking River Cruises - Fodor's Europe is experiencing unprecedented drought and heat conditions. The first thing that I noticed when I boarded is that all river ships are built to similar dimensions. 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. Yazmin Hope and Libby Gallagher On December 9, 2019 we booked********************************* and paid ********* March 11, 2020 that cruise canceled by Viking due to COVID. 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. Really, what is a big deal here? The even occurred in February of 2023. What It's Like Aboard an 8-Day Cruise With Viking River Cruises January 27, 2018. I was aware that cruise lines' cash flow issues and accepted the voucher. It turns out that during the second half of the cruise, we were in a heat wave, experiencing very hot temperatures. Well guide you through the process. The first five miles of headwaters have completely dried up. That is all it took, I was hooked. We rebooked for 2022 on 11/30/2020. In fact, everything we have come to expect from Viking exceptthere were apparently a few cases of a GI infection . In the same cabin. Viking Mississippi cruise passengers hit by cancellations Booking number: *******. I explain ship swapping in the section: . The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. For information about your specific voyage, please log onto MyVikingJourney.com. We asked to transfer the trip to my son and grandson, but transferring the tickets is not allowed. This is known as ship swapping. When I asked to speak with a supervisor the "customer service" representative said "I am not allowed to transfer you - the supervisor will give you the same answer." This complaint has been resolved automatically due to user's inactivity. Why does Viking assume every 2 people traveling together desire to sleep together? Not a problem for him at all. These hotels are Marriott and hilton properties that have such rooms. 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. Posted May 4, 2021. This was really Is it cheaper to stay out in the bay and use your own tender? On top of that, they are asking for me to pay additional same $ 9,000. amount for me to go on this journey alone! Thanks for reaching out, M Mulmech., although we regret to learn of your disappointment with your hotel arrangements. As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. We could not wash, shower, not wash our hands and NOT able to flush toilets! 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. If you are booked on a river cruise for later this year, do not make any snap decisions. The key dimensions of the Avalon Vista are: River boats are built in such a way that for bridge clearance, the mast, pilot house, and sun shades can be lowered. The Po River flows 400 miles across the top of Italy from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea. ******************************************************************************************************************************** We were looking for the same cruise we originally booked but for 2024. Viking will not honor this request. In this case, you will receive a full refund of your cruise fare. Risk-Free Guarantee: How it Works 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. 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. These two rivers are the most popular routes in European river cruising. 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. Jan 26, 2023 01:33pm. In fact, how a business responds to customer complaints is one of the most significant components of the BBB Business Rating. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. The departure flight from ******* was delayed due to the storm. I am going to seek legal advice to, but this ridiculous policy has added hugely to my grieving. Desired outcome: I also called the insurance company and was told that to get a refund we had to notify them two weeks before the trip start date. 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. 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. The line said it was also evaluating 2022 itineraries that call in Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. 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. Withholding of monies and shore excursion booking system failure. This account has been claimed by Viking River Cruises customer service / representatives through our verification process. Any comments Viking? We also carry about 500 tons of water, that is ballast and fresh water for the guests.. As a consequence all water amenities, main pool, infinity pool, jacuzzi and spa were closed for the whole of the cruise! Viking Ocean Ships Currently Sailing: Viking Jupiter Viking Orion Viking Mars Viking Neptune Viking Saturn Viking Sea Viking Sky Viking Star Viking Venus Thanks for reaching out, Itom, although we regret to learn of your experience with booking excursions. They would fly to Italy and take an 8-day Viking River Cruise called . Telling us that a voucher has no cash value is a shoddy business practice at best. Viking's 2022 World Cruise Sold Out so Quickly, It's Offering - Leisure You could tear down the house and build a dam there, but that is not what is going to happen.. we went to our connecting American Airlines flight with our Boarding The bottom line is, we have ********* at VRC. Viking collects 3 fares for a 2 person room. Since the ships are nearly identical, if you do transfer to another ship, you should be in a similar stateroom as the original ship. We booked a Viking River Cruise with AAA travel in August of 2019 for $14,497 for two people which excludes the insurance cost. We will not cancel any cruises, said Shreiner. . But it is for us. 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. Viking Cruises' New Safety Protocols Include Daily COVID-19 Testing This happened 52 days before sailing. 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. . The area is protected and thats where you have the low water issues. Had a planned eastern European river cruise starting mid-October for over a year. Most all other cruise lines have dropped this mandate. We had not received any response from Viking about 10 days. 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. However, as everyone knows, predicting the weather is not an exact science. Call us at 800-454-0927 to speak to a Cruise Concierge today. Oceania officials said Russian and Ukrainian ports would be removed from 2022 itineraries, while Viking River Cruises canceled . Viking River Cruises, Inc. | Complaints | Better Business Bureau Profile We were given misinformation by their employee, to which their supervisor stated that verbal statements do not count. Thank you. Viking River Cruises is probably the best known European river cruising company, and has a wide range of river cruise options in Europe. We booked a cruise, paid the full booking amount. At the other end of the Po, ocean water has flooded the last 12 miles of the river damaging crops and contaminating drinking water. 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. If you happen to be in the same position there is a group forming to file a class action law suit against Viking. She is scheduled to start ************ this week. What? This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback. Wouldnt that booking choice make it clear to Viking that pre and post excursion bookings would also require separate beds? Viking offered us to support the company and not get a refund if we accepted a voucher of 125% "You might see some cities you might not have expected to see and you might miss some you wanted to see. Over in Southeast Asia, a new river ship, Viking Saigon, will cruise the Mekong. 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. With this terrible 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. Now I see all this advertisement that waives ar fares , deposits and other things we paid for Horrible company in terms of customer service. This offer covers all Viking reservations that are made between November 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 on any 2022 voyage. They feature elegant Scandinavian design, spacious staterooms with large verandas, and both indoor and al . . In 2021, the cruise line plans to launch their seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus. A sales representative ******. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. South America & the Chilean Fjords - Viking Cruises 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. It goes against our guidelines to offer incentives for reviews. I used my airline mile and hotel points to travel well and cheap. Submit a complaint and get your issue resolved. 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 . $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Cailey Rizzo. Instead, in the most extreme cases, AmaWaterways will create a new itinerary. Published: Aug. 08, 2022, 9:30 a.m. Richard Andersen booked a fully-paid Viking cruise with his partner but it was canceled because of COVID. River cruise cancellation fears loom as Rhine threatens closure We were issued the vouchers that had an expiration date October 2022. My only hope now is for someone to cancel what I want.About time to give my loyalty to another cruise line. One of the most popular rivers, the Rhine has river levels falling fast. Viking Ocean and River is currently operating all upcoming scheduled itineraries. *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. In some cases, an itinerary may be adjusted with certain destinations dropped and new ones added. Viking Announces Return of European River Cruises in July - Travel An apology is not good enough. Here's our experience with the Viking cancellation policy. 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. Unfortunately, there are still cruises being cancelled in 2022 due to Covid-19 and the uncertainty surrounding it. We were given the option of a voucher or cash Viking suggested that I should talk to my travel insurance company to reimburse the cost of additional airfare cost. This made it impossible to catch the next flight from ***** to buenos Aries. For the cabin on the cruise, we indicated separate beds for their cabin. ************************************* Cruises that was set to sail in April 2020. Viking Cruises, and Other Lines, Changes Plans Because of Ukraine News Then in Philadelphia The plane returned to the gate and he was transported to the local hospital. We were told that since we used vouchers we were not eligible for a refund per policy. From now through March 31, 2022, Viking is offering special rates starting at $599 (not including airfare) on all 2022 and 2023 departures. 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". I was told Viking doesnt own the hotel and the hotel will not let me make a change since Viking handled the booking. Just got order from Doctor to cancel due to sudden onset of autoimmune kidney disease. 2. 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. This they But now some of those waterway dreams seem set to run aground. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Viking is bringing back river cruises to Europe in July. 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 ********************* ********. Will the drought in Europe affect your river cruise vacation? This matter has not been properly escalated to the legal department.Our time is running off to recover our money and we can not travel due the vaccines requirements and the only absurd respond that we get is to transfer our vouchers.We are extremely disappointed of Viking Cruises after we decided to support the company. In November 2020, we rebooked, the Cities of Antiquity and Holy Land Cruise, scheduled for Nov-Dec 2022, paying the additional fare. 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 My husband and I were excited about our long awaited cruise next May. Vikings inability to resolve an issue with their on line booking. This 'placeholder booking' means nothing he assured us. My husband surprised me with the explorer suite,the room was beautiful,the balcony was amazing. We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. We booked a 14 day cruise with extra days upon arrival in ****** and departure in **** in ****. Jim. They have a working relationship with Lufthansa but insist the flight has nothing to do with them, That is a strong cop out. Poulsbo, Washington. Sandi. Do your homework and always make informed decisions. Pharaohs & Pyramids. This site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Cannot go on a cruise if not jabbed even to countries which have no covid requirements any more. Weve been cruising since March with no issues until August, said Schreiner. After 5 Viking Viking Cruises has cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Travel Codex is owned by Travel Codex, LLC. The pandemic has not ended, and some sailings have been cancelled due to too many Covid-19 cases onboard. 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. 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. If you are concerned about the water level on your upcoming river cruise, do your due diligence before you take any action. Simply make the simple changes to the hotel reservations so that one of the rooms includes two beds. 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. The problem with river cruises is that they are affected by both high and low water levels. At this point we feel it's discrimination and want our money refunded. Because of the positive test result as well as his need for further dr evaluation, we had no choice but to cancel the trip. Photos: Major Cruise Lines Are Postponing Sailings Amid Covid It will take a lot for us to travel with you again. Viking has responded to his passing by cancelling the nearly $9,000 I paid for my husbands share of the trip. 140 complaints closed in the last 12 months. "We are currently evaluating itineraries that call. 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. The sailings. We booked a January 2021 cruise. Viking River Cruises Cancellation and Refund Policy Unlike ocean cruising, river cruising has a lot of fluctuations in water levels. If water levels are low, cargo ships cannot carry their normal loads of freight. On July 10th, 2022 my husband called Viking to inquire when the schedule becomes available. Articles are of a general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances. The US gov has basically declared the "plandemic" over and all other mandates have been drop but Viking still won't change their policy. Booking your first river cruise? Viking Cruises, and Other Lines, Changes Plans Because of Ukraine News The couple shore excursions we went on were lame and horrible. Vikings' policy allows no refund under the circumstances (i.e. 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. No partial refund was given and I lost the total deposit of $1000.I understand that the T&Cs outline the refund policy. Scheduled and rescheduled elder family care and pet sitting services. I advised Viking that my wife and I could not get the vaccine ever and asked for a refund of our primary payment. coach. It would seem to be a reasonable and simple request. 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. **** called finally, apologized and said that he 'misread the rules', misunderstood the rules and this isn't a big deal (his attitude). My bag didn't make it. Cruise restart dates: when do cruise lines start again? They may run multiple ships back-to-back where you would transfer to another ship where the river is having navigational issues. We used our voucher prior to the expiration of the voucher, to book a cruise for March of 2023. Airfares vary on other gateways & departures. On 11/22 we received an email from Trip Mate regarding the resolution of our claim. The food was awful , the service bad some waiters were very rude we were forced to do a lot of included tours or couldnt leave the ship . Special Cruise Savings | Viking Ocean Cruises Should you wish to change your reservation, you can choose which policy works best for you: Vikings Risk-Free Guarantee or standard cancellation policy. Why all other passages under the same situation had no such problem were not explained by Viking. Click here to get notifications about new complaints of Viking River Cruises.