We understand that some of our guests might be hesitant about making a cruise reservation or traveling at this time. Labeled Verified, theyre about genuine experiences.Learn more about other kinds of reviews. Part refund, at least 25%. was 4 units wide . I hope this is something you can help with. They offered us a voucher for 125% or a cash refund. Viking Ocean Ships Currently Sailing: Viking Jupiter Viking Orion Viking Mars Viking Neptune Viking Saturn Viking Sea Viking Sky Viking Star Viking Venus The cruise was cancelled due the pandemic ($11,367.50) Scheduled and rescheduled elder family care and pet sitting services. took the call and told us that schedule wouldn't be available most likely till January 2023. 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. They are just taking the thousands of dollars we gave them from us and we are getting nothing in return. Viking Chief Health Officer Dr. Raquel . Should your cruise be canceled, the cruise line will also offer compensation. Posted September 18, 2021. Ocean cruise ships usually have at least 25 feet or more or more of draft which would preclude them from river cruising. The first thing that I noticed when I boarded is that all river ships are built to similar dimensions. ***. 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.. Global warming is indeed having an effect on European rivers. By the time I could ring Viking, the excursion was sold out and the drinks package price had increased. At this point we feel it's discrimination and want our money refunded. Viking Cruises has cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "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. #6339759. Posted May 4, 2021. Cruises beginning in 2009, this is not the first error and being loyal They said they did. I had insurance and filed a claim. The photo is from my first premium, international award flight in 2012. Special fares plus Free airfare valid on select 2023 departures of Eastern Seaboard Explorer and Canada & New England Scenic Shores. The flight from Amman Jordan to The departure flight from ******* was delayed due to the storm. 1. Viking's river cruises are aboard Viking Longships and have a maximum of 190 guests. An apology is not good enough. ************************************* Cruises that was set to sail in April 2020. I used my airline mile and hotel points to travel well and cheap. Due to my cancellations, Viking held onto $8,000 of my Funds for about two years. Then before the departure, Viking cancelled operations and offered us vouchers for future cruises. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity mentioned herein. Coach would have been better. Obviously, we cannot go on the trip. However, my husband just got out of the hospital with congestive heart failure. Their ad is wonderful but after all is said and done it is all crap. The pandemic has not ended, and some sailings have been cancelled due to too many Covid-19 cases onboard. It was not a condition of completing this trip. Related: Booking your first river cruise? Instead, in the most extreme cases, AmaWaterways will create a new itinerary. We were told that since we used vouchers we were not eligible for a refund per policy. Unfortunately, my husband unexpectedly passed away last month. 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. However, I believe the policy is rather onerous. Call to book now: 1-800-207-7286. We used these to book on cruise OJUXXXXXX Booking Number XXXXXXX. My husband and I were excited about our long awaited cruise next May. Fraud and deception! 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. 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. Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews. 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. It is the standard architecture that gives the river boat some leeway with rising and falling river levels. I want Viking to honour its Guest Cancellation Schedule and reimburse the $15,640.19 (Canadian) my husband and I paid for the Italian Sojourn cruise scheduled for May 15, 2023. 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. They feature elegant Scandinavian design, spacious staterooms with large verandas, and both indoor and al . Wouldnt that booking choice make it clear to Viking that pre and post excursion bookings would also require separate beds? The Rhine River in general is not that deep. Viking is bringing back river cruises to Europe in July. . ComplaintsBoard.com is a leading complaint resolution website on the Internet. I paid my travel agent in full for my cruise well before the due date, but was unable to access online booking as Viking claim the payment wasn't made. Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises have canceled several trips as the Omicron variant continues to wreak havoc with the cruise . We accepted and paid an additional insurance premium. The Viking Ocean Cruises 2022 Grand Polynesia Voyage has come to a triumphant completion in Los Angeles. After 5 minutes she came back and said the manager said nothing they could do but charge a 50 percent fee for canceling. $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. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. The two most popular are the Rhine and the Danube. If water levels are low, cargo ships cannot carry their normal loads of freight. I have had the cruise booked for probably a year but only now would the allow me the opportunity to purchase the spoils. You will, however, still get a vacation in Europe, even if its not the one you expected. They also issued non refundable vouchers for our port excursions. Subscribe to RSS Heres what you need to know about water levels on Europe rivers and what to expect if youre booked on a river cruise or considering booking one. The area is protected and thats where you have the low water issues. This was really The Rhine River is the main artery for German and Swiss transportation and also French, said Schreiner. Anybody got any idea what do I do? NEW! 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. Because Viking issued a voucher , insurance denied the claim as the voucher was considered a refund Find out how we combat fake reviews. We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Risk-Free Guarantee: How it Works They have no intentions of giving my money back .Do I not have any rights? Call a Viking Expert at 0800 319 66 60 or see your Travel Advisor. The trip was more expensive so we paid with our vouchers as well as cash. She really needs this positive experience to look forward to. Verification can help ensure real people write reviews about real companies. 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. 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. In May, Viking canceled that cruise. . A place on the excursion I tried to book. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. 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. Because there was no time for a further delay, we paid the tickets to the airline. What? Not one thing but some flowers in the rain and unsafe steps and more Booking number 7141933 $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Vikings' policy allows no refund under the circumstances (i.e. This guarantee is combinable with all other Viking offers available. *In Canada, trademark(s) of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, used under License. We also ensure all reviews are published without moderation. Most river cruise lines do not allow guests to cancel pre-cruise without penalty except for in the most extreme circumstances. On the last day, all running water was turned off until we left the ship. The Rhine River is more sensitive in terms of river flow because it lacks the dams that are on the Danube River. I have three times tried to contact Viking, by phone, email, and chat. Viking River Cruises is probably the best known European river cruising company, and has a wide range of river cruise options in Europe. I am writing about booking number 7045921 sailed Jan.12 2023. Change of travel requirements after full payment received/ignoring request for full refund. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. We paid for the trip and had trip insurance. Utter and total joke. Taking over the Hilton in Taupo NZ, they were obnoxious. Europe has many rivers where cruise lines operate. Its infuriating and disrespectful. If the level is too low, the vessel may run aground or need an alternative docking arrangement. Karin Price Mueller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. over night stay we got back to Cincinnati the next day. Viking Cruise recommends that their customers insure their travel & trip with Trip Mate Travel Insurance. I am going to seek legal advice to, but this ridiculous policy has added hugely to my grieving. Refund or partial credit. (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business. One of the most popular rivers, the Rhine has river levels falling fast. My family of 4 has booked a Viking cruise with a pre and post cruise excursion. We have been waiting patiently for two years for a refund, relying on the We had planned a trip in 2021 and when Viking changed their requirements we chose to cancel our trip. Learn more. However, the same problems do not affect river cruise ships. In this case, you will receive a full refund of your cruise fare. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. 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. Want all money refunded. This happened 52 days before sailing. This content has not been approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. I was sailing aboard the Avalon Vista two months ago on a cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland along the Rhine River. Viking Cruises has ceased all operations in Russia this year in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We were being reimbursed for the cash amount paid but not the amount of the vouchers. He made the commissions, we will not sail and lose 14,000 dollars. Viking Ocean Cruises. The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customers satisfaction. Multiple tests were run, including a Covid test, which came back positive. In 2021, the cruise line plans to launch their seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus. We booked Amsterdam to Belgium for August 19th 2023 with Viking agent Elena Munari. We appreciate you sharing your experience, Trevor, although we regret to hear of your disappointment. For more than 15 years we have helped nearly 50000 customers resolve their issues and will never stop striving to ensure further improvements on our platform for a better communication between companies and customers. With this terrible 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. 12 reviews. 05 Aug 2022. The dream vacation I have waited for 8 years has gone down the drain. That is why Viking is offering a limited-time offerthe most flexible of any cruise lineso that you can plan your voyage with peace of mind. This is due to the cruise line planning on new summer UK domestic cruises for UK vaccinated residents only. He was assertive and very confident, pushy and eager to make the booking. We were given the option of a voucher or cash $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Not enough for the money hungry cruise line. Because of the positive test result as well as his need for further dr evaluation, we had no choice but to cancel the trip. Passengers from across the country say they've. Some years, low water levels caused disruptions as early as June and some years as late as October. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Sheila Davies is a retired gas industry professional based in Northumberland, England. I was never informed that the vaccine would be required to sail and that our money would not be eligible for a refund. Schreiners advice is simple: Just go. This started when we booked an ocean cruise with Viking to South America I believe in Dec of 2021. Many passengers were still on board at this time and were unable to flush toilets or wash their hands. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. We booked a January 2021 cruise. It turns out that for the most part, if the ship sank, we would be high and dry standing on the sun deck. Do your homework and always make informed decisions. 2. We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. My experience with Viking River Cruises is that if they cancel, they will either refund your money or . Viking River Cruises 548 complaints 314 resolved 234 unresolved File a complaint to Viking River Cruises Viking River Cruises contacts (added by reviewer) Phone number +1 800 304 9616 Address 5700 Canoga Ave, California United States Website www.vikingrivercruises.com Category Cruise Lines View full information Most discussed complaints Instead, in the most extreme cases, AmaWaterways will create a new itinerary. If you have a question or would like to make a press inquiry, please contact: Scott Mackenzie Not every river cruise line takes the same stance. This also had the water turned off and was unable to flush. It is a basic human right to be able to have access to flushing toilets and handwasting facilities. Our trip was canceled and a voucher was issued. We then Our Viking cruise embarkation was delayed by 2 days, shortening our trip from 12 to 10 days. Why all other passages under the same situation had no such problem were not explained by Viking. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. We booked a Viking River Cruise with AAA travel in August of 2019 for $14,497 for two people which excludes the insurance cost. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Claim your profile to access Trustpilots free business tools and connect with customers. We only wanted our money to be applied to another cruise in 2023. A river level that is too high or too low can affect an otherwise great cruising experience. Water levels on the Rhine River are set to fall close to the point where the river cannot hold ships anymore. Published on May 21, 2021. The other typical plan is to put the passengers on buses to get around the affected areas. 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. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. We are older and don't want to keep rescheduling this with the hopes of one day being permitted to board their ship. We paid for Travel Protection At the time we did we also asked that trip insurance be added. There is rock on the bottom; theres also this little house in the middle of the river. But our plea was denied. We could not wash, shower, not wash our hands and NOT able to flush toilets! For that reason, the Rhine River is feeling greater effects of river flow and sooner than compared with the Danube. By Alyssa Lukpat and Ceylan Yeginsu. I was told Viking doesnt own the hotel and the hotel will not let me make a change since Viking handled the booking. Viking River Cruises Viking Rolf (Photo: Viking River Cruises) Not every river cruise line takes the same stance. We used our voucher prior to the expiration of the voucher, to book a cruise for March of 2023. Since the ships are nearly identical, if you do transfer to another ship, you should be in a similar stateroom as the original ship. 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. We look forward to exploring the world with you, whenever and wherever you choose to sail with us. 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. Pharaohs & Pyramids. When I called to cancel they said we did not purchase the insurance. We did not see ANY of Spain. 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. Thank you. Claire and Stanley Keyles planned a dream vacation for June 2020. Tauck says it deals with compensation on a case-by-case basis. What? 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. This requirement was enacted after we booked this trip .