"The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority," a Viking representative told Travel Market Report. The whole point of purchasing trip insurance, especially in this time of Covid, was to protect ourselves in the event of a last minute emergency. After 5 minutes she came back and said the manager said nothing they could do but charge a 50 percent fee for canceling. 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. We were being reimbursed for the cash amount paid but not the amount of the vouchers. For every day that is altered, AmaWaterways guests will get 50% of the daily rate they paid as a future cruise credit. At best, youll do a ship swap mid-cruise, a slight inconvenience that will allow you to follow your planned itinerary. 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 . Disassembling the shades on the sun deck. Learn to how to find the cheapest awards. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). That is all it took, I was hooked. . Rather than focusing on the number of complaints, BBB considers how frequently and effectively those complaints are resolved. Cruises - Very disappointed with Viking River Cruises - Reservation # 2672768 We were supposed to do a river cruise and ended up doing a motor coach tour due to low river levels. 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. Coach would have been better. We are unable to meet their requirements and therefore want our funds returned to us. In November ******************************************* She had major surgery December 12th. Thats because the weight of the cargo such vessels carry affects their draft (the distance between the ships bottom and the water line). Thank you. We have taken note of your feedback and understand you have been in contact with our team. These two rivers are the most popular routes in European river cruising. The Rhine River is more sensitive in terms of river flow because it lacks the dams that are on the Danube River. Cruise delayed because of COVID. Viking is probably the most unsympathetic/unprofessional company I have ever experienced. Because Viking issued a voucher , insurance denied the claim as the voucher was considered a refund They offered us a voucher for 125% or a cash refund. Having trip insurance may pay you in full depending on your coverage. On 11/22 we received an email from Trip Mate regarding the resolution of our claim. I have always liked Viking cruises and have been on 13, counting the one I am currently on. Anybody got any idea what do I do? Viking already runs a number of river cruises. Looks like our September cruise to the Fjords is in the process of being cancelled! Viking River Cruises, Inc. | Complaints | Better Business Bureau Profile River cruise cancellation fears loom as Rhine threatens closure Schreiner gives an example of two identical sister ships, AmaLucia and AmaSiena, that both sail the Rhine. If you are concerned about the water level on your upcoming river cruise, do your due diligence before you take any action. 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. Not every river cruise line takes the same stance. Ive asked that one room in the hotels have two separate beds for our two adult children who do not want to share a bed. 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. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. In a statement issued to the Star Tribune, Viking confirmed that some of the ship's first scheduled departures were canceled this summer, and that the luxury vessel is temporarily operating. #6339759. 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. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. The 13-city cruise was supposed to take passengers between St. Paul and New . Scenic. 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. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. By. We are unable to meet VRC health requirements to participate in one of their cruises. Viking cancels all Russian river cruise itineraries - TTG Viking has responded to his passing by cancelling the nearly $9,000 I paid for my husbands share of the trip. 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. But there is nothing we can do, your vouchers have expired'. Withholding of monies and shore excursion booking system failure. 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. River flows are never static and are subject to fluctuations that are unpredictable. 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. We booked a river cruise from Istanbul to Venice. Viking has cancelled all 2022 departures of its Russian river cruise itineraries and ceased all operations in the country for the remainder of the year. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. Not enough for the money hungry cruise line. 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. Check here before booking an award fare. The other typical plan is to put the passengers on buses to get around the affected areas. We paid some #10,000 for premium air. If you happen to be in the same position there is a group forming to file a class action law suit against Viking. We also paid Port Tax for Honduras even though they chose not to book and pay to use the pier there. Thank you. 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. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Any comments Viking? passengers asked if ports on the new itinerary may close and if there's a chance the cruise could be canceled while underway. 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. Passengers from across the country say they've. 2022 is now cancelled and will be replaced with new roundtrip voyages from Southampton to the Caribbean via the Canary Islands and New York. By the time I could ring Viking, the excursion was sold out and the drinks package price had increased. Viking changed their policy after they took all our money, lured us into taking now worthless vouchers. This is due to the cruise line planning on new summer UK domestic cruises for UK vaccinated residents only. Couple fights to get full cash refund on $15K Viking River Cruise A *** incentive ********** was offered and accepted by us to use toward future booking. 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. NEW! 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. I told a member of staff about this and was directed to use a toilet on the top deck. We are older and don't want to keep rescheduling this with the hopes of one day being permitted to board their ship. All I got was 'you must pay in full for your trip before booking extras'. Media Center - Press Releases - Viking Cruises Maximum capacities of 164 passengers and 47 crew. took the call and told us that schedule wouldn't be available most likely till January 2023. Not at all, according to Rudi Schreiner, president and co-founder AmaWaterways as long as youre willing to be a little bit flexible. Telling us that a voucher has no cash value is a shoddy business practice at best. In this case, you will receive a full refund of your cruise fare. 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. By Alyssa Lukpat and Ceylan Yeginsu. The sailings. Yazmin Hope and Libby Gallagher 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. See details. European Cruise River Levels Are Falling To Critical Levels - Travel Codex Dozens of cruises have been cancelled and some ports in the Caribbean and South America are turning ships away from making . Viking, which operates both ocean and river cruises, has canceled all 2022 departures from its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary . Several Cruise Lines Cancel Scheduled Stops in Russia, Ukraine 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. Voyages offering the excursion to Floriade 2022 operate between July 16 and August 27, 2022 aboard River Empress. I explain ship swapping in the section: What Happens If Your Cruise Is Affected By Water Level? ComplaintsBoard.com is a leading complaint resolution website on the Internet. Refund on premium air payments that we did not receive in premiumservice. RHINE GETAWAY. No one expects to have to cancel a cruise. Posted September 18, 2021. They have a working relationship with Lufthansa but insist the flight has nothing to do with them, That is a strong cop out. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. The trip was for September 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic. Oceania officials said Russian and Ukrainian ports would be removed from 2022 itineraries, while Viking River Cruises canceled . 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. "But its clear that river cruising is not going away anytime soon.". Just as with ocean sailings, theres always a risk that weather and river/sea conditions can impact that itinerary, and cruisers must accept that itineraries cannot be set in stone. ***. We feel we should get the $3,494 dollars refunded to us. Cannot go on a cruise if not jabbed even to countries which have no covid requirements any more. Like most cruise lines, Viking canceled all of its sailings during the pandemic. Thanks for reaching out, M Mulmech., although we regret to learn of your disappointment with your hotel arrangements. But our plea was denied. As compensation we have been offered a derisory 200 voucher towards a future cruise. Now I see all this advertisement that waives ar fares , deposits and other things we paid for Horrible company in terms of customer service. is a travel editor for TPG, with a focus on cruise travel. 2023 Trustpilot, Inc. All rights reserved. Companies can ask for reviews via automatic invitations. (I doubt theyll get that right). My Trip - Updates on Current Sailings - Viking River Cruises Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Just realized that the cruise booked was from Antwerp to Amsterdam. We only wanted our money to be applied to another cruise in 2023. They feature elegant Scandinavian design, spacious staterooms with large verandas, and both indoor and al . Viking Cruises has ceased all operations in Russia this year in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I believe this policy and practice is clearly unfair and rather reckless. A sales representative ******. It will take of the expiring vouchers and the booking can be changed with no problem whatsoever once a schedule for 2024 becomes available. As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period. . Viking Cruises cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev (Kyiv, Ukraine), Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary in response to Russia's conflict with Ukraine. Should your cruise be canceled, the cruise line will also offer compensation. I never come across a big bunch of ignorant, geriatric, moronic a$$holes as this group I had came across today! I was never informed that the vaccine would be required to sail and that our money would not be eligible for a refund. Information provided by various external sources. We appreciate you sharing your experience, Trevor, although we regret to hear of your disappointment. They just decided to keep our hard earning money. I have had the cruise booked for probably a year but only now would the allow me the opportunity to purchase the spoils. "But this is not a problem at all" - he said, because all we need is to make a booking for any date, just as a placeholder. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Risk-Free Guarantee - Viking River Cruises Please DO NOT add attachments that contain your or other peoples personal information, if you dont want it to be visible to the public. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. We hope that the flexibility provided by this guarantee truly puts your mind at ease when it comes to the decision of whether or not to travel. More details in attachment. Viking Cruises, and Other Lines, Changes Plans Because of Ukraine News I advised Viking that my wife and I could not get the vaccine ever and asked for a refund of our primary payment. 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. Refund on premium air payments that we did not receive in premiumservice. During our Antarctica cruise, as suggested by the on board customer services, we submitted our request for the reimbursement with receipts. If you are booked on a river cruise for later this year, do not make any snap decisions. Originally booked in 2020, paid in full. Then in Philadelphia If you have a question or would like to make a press inquiry, please contact: Scott Mackenzie Man finally takes fully-paid Viking cruise canceled by COVID - nj 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 exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. Heres what you need to know. The area is protected and thats where you have the low water issues. This was a question that I asked myself before booking my Rhine River cruise. Many passengers were distressed by the lack of fresh water. 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. Booking your first river cruise? Posted May 4, 2021. He was assertive and very confident, pushy and eager to make the booking. I have contacted Watcdog BBC who are interested. Seems the generous cancellation risk free ended 30 June and despite booking direct with Viking no mention of the changes was made. Booking # XXXXXXX My husband and I were excited about our long awaited cruise next May. Plus Ups are excluded. Don't sail Viking unless you are guaranteed of going on the trip. "We will not cancel any cruises," said Shreiner. Passes which had been canceled since BA flight had been late. 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. This they Special Cruise Savings | Viking Ocean Cruises Courtesy Sheila Davies. 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. River Cruises Respond to Austrian Lockdown, Impact on Sailings Jan 26, 2023 01:33pm. Enrollment required. Viking Cruises Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of If the whole itinerary is changed, youll get to sail the new itinerary and receive a 100% future cruise credit to book another cruise. Change of travel requirements after full payment received/ignoring request for full refund. Call a Viking Expert at 0800 319 66 60 or see your Travel Advisor. Find the right card for you. We are told now that change is not possible at all because vouchers have expired. 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. He he tried to take the trip solo, he was charged. It is time for Viking to do the same and act like a cruise line instead of a medical facility. The booking # is *******. How could we?? We missed 2 ports of call and 1/3 of our sites to see the auroras. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. Will the drought in Europe affect your river cruise vacation? However, the most important part of any cruise, for me is the excursion choice. Viking River Cruises has left an official reply on this complaint. Cruise was not very happy because this was a Christmas Market cruise and many of the markets were closed or food only due to the dates. Where the European rivers have locks and dams to control water levels, ships can still sail problem-free. No partial refund was given and I lost the total deposit of $1000.I understand that the T&Cs outline the refund policy. Desired outcome: Simply make the simple changes to the hotel reservations so that one of the rooms includes two beds. 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. But it is for us. 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 The cruise line announced the return of select itineraries in Portugal, France and . Viking Cruises' New Safety Protocols Include Daily COVID-19 Testing The Po River flows 400 miles across the top of Italy from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea. 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 rebooked yet again and we're told that we had to have the vaccine before we would be able to take our trip. The 766-mile Rhine is one of Europe's most important trade routes, with container ships plying their way around its looping bends. Guests have the option to transfer their reservation to 2022; receive a 100% future cruise credit . It's a human right to have access to fresh water and clean sanitation.