Of course there are unexpected circumstances that may necessitate setting aside policy. Our money was refunded by Tuesday. I did end my post by wondering if it made a difference that we had a TA dealing with Viking for us. Fares started from USD 45000 per person with double occupancy. My second cruise to China was a bit more complicated. Every dollar paid for cruise, air, taxes, fees or surcharges can be paid by echeck, including regular-priced itineraries and airfare, any special offers or Viking Air Plus services. Itappears the rule at Viking is that if you are a TA or speak with the right person the policy is changed. The FCC is valid for 24 months , for any Viking cruise itinerary and fully transferable. The cancellations add to the ripple effect Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused throughout the travel industry. Ive done Viking cruises on the Danube, the Rhine, and this was my last wish for travel. You can read the original investigation below. Up front they say they want their $$ 1+ years ahead, but they somewhat readily move final payments up. I called immediately and was given very little information, only that we could reschedule for the trip during 2023 or 2024 with a 110 percent credit, said Richard Pletcher, who is in his 70s. We were three couples booking at once and they held firm to the payment in full 30 days past initial deposit. February 24, 2022. Theres a 24 month window to apply it to any river, ocean or expedition cruise. Rescheduling a trip three years from now sounds unlikely to her. No mention of any waiting period, let alone a 21 day waiting period. So some of the rooms are unavailable for these reasons.. Russian stops on Viking's ocean itineraries will be modified, and impacted guests and travel advisors will be notified. Two down, 25 in the EU to go. We canceled our Viking Oberammergau cruise for September the week that our final payment was due. The ship has now begun sailing with her first guests, but we are still putting the finishing touches on the overall experience and refining the itinerary, the letter continues. Signature destinations include Central America, Panama Canal transit, USA West Coast, Hawaii, Transpacific crossing to New Zealand and Australia, Asia, Middle East, Suez Canal transit to Europe and the UK. With today's news of Slovakia being in lockdown for the next two weeks, one has to wonder if the lines that haven't already cancelled the season should cancel the season. Oceans; Expeditions; Walking to my stateroom the first day, the corridor was so peaceful with the soft lighting and easy and attractive decor. https://www.euronews.com/2021/11/24/slovakia-becomes-the-second-european-country-to-go-into-lockdown-as-covid-cases-surge, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Im just not sure what will happen to Viking if this hold on river cruises is prolonged. If you have any questions or need further information please contact Reservations at 1-877-523-0579 or email customerrelations@vikingcruises.com, Monday Friday, 6:00 AM 6:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 AM 4:00 PM, PT. Jillian Dara is a freelance journalist and fact-checker. Viking is still trying to figure out what they will do about rescheduling cruises for that year. Earlier in March, travel expert and television personality Rick Steves announced he would be canceling all Russian tours that his company, Rick Steves' Europe, had planned this year. Germany is locking down for unvaccinated but stores etc. As far as I know river cruises on the Rhine are still on. Read Also: What Does The Average Cruise Cost, Norwegian Cruise Line is removing planned stops in St. Petersburg from its 2022 sailings due to the escalated situation between Russia and Ukraine.. Unfortunately, this means that some staterooms need to be cancelled, and we are contacting you today because yours is among them.. This policy in itself is really really pushing me away from Viking, and we had really been eyeing them up for an Australian cruise. Departing on December 22, 2022, from Port Everglades , Viking World Voyage 2022 visits ports in Central America, follows Panama Canal transit and sailing up North Americas West Coast. The ships will sail everywhere from Antarctica to the Great Lakes to Ireland and Norway. air is received. I didnt want to ante up that large amount of cash knowing that it could not happen as planned. A booming business -- for now. Maybe even mention that upfront----would they want to lose a sale over this policy? Learn what to expect if you decide to cancel your booked sailing, rather than waiting to see if your cruise line cancels it. ". Are they giving you the option of a refund if you cancelled due to the itinerary change? It may be that you folks unfortunately booked during that period. Claire and Stanley Keyles planned a dream vacation for June 2020. This may help protect your travel investment, your belongings and most importantly, you, from many unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, including costs of circumstances that may arise related to COVID. Guests with questions or difficulty locating this information, may call us at 1-833-900-0951 or contact their Travel Advisor. Rivers. When you are covered by the Risk-Free Guarantee you may change your cruise reservation with notification to Viking. We will see. Great to hear Viking allowed you to cancel via telephone; the booking contract stated they required it to be in writing. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. If you push back they provide better final payment dates. Guests will enjoy these unique and rarely visited destinations and immersive shore excursions to take in the rich cultures and breathtaking vistas of the Baltic.. Atlas Ocean VoyagesVisits to St. Petersburg have been dropped from Atlas summer Baltic itineraries. 2 Viking River Cruises canceled all Russian river cruises and its planned Kyiv, Black Sea & Bucharest routes this year due to the events. My third cruise was with my mom, Penny and we sailed on the 11 -day Passage to Eastern Europe Viking Danube Cruise. Some media outlets along the river corridor have pointed to likely supply chain challenges. To be covered by this guarantee, you must make a reservation on a 2022 voyage between November 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. Calls to St. Petersburg will be replaced by destinations in Finland and Estonia. I only hope that Viking has not overextended themselves and alreadyspentthe paymentson other expenses with the expectation that bookings would continue perpetually. Poseidon Expeditions Cancels 2022 Russia, North Pole Programs. Sounds bad, here is one report: https://www.euronews.com/2021/11/24/slovakia-becomes-the-second-european-country-to-go-into-lockdown-as-covid-cases-surge. And our award-winning bathrooms feature large glass-enclosed showers with easy-to-see controls, premium Freyja toiletries, anti-fog mirrors and heated floors. All except $100 future cruise credit each. Rejuvenate in a king-size bed with a soft duvet and goose-down pillows. The Pletchers arent the only couple who have been bumped from Vikings new Mississippi River cruises at the last minute. She clarified that we did indeed get that as FCC also. So when they got a brochure to take a 15-day Viking cruise through the Panama Canal and Central America, Wasserman said his wife couldnt resist. The 450-foot-long Viking Mississippi, the largest of Viking's global fleet of river ships, departed on its current sailing on Saturday, October 1. Therefore, Viking has discontinued all on board COVID testing fleetwide. Both packages are priced from USD 50000 per person . 775 0 obj <>stream Viking Cruises has launched several new river and ocean cruise ships that join their impressive fleet, taking passengers on incredible journeys across the world. Three weeks ago, we did request refunds on all our extra excursions and these refunds have yet to show up on the credit card. There is this misconception about when Viking must be paid. So May 20th now. Our cruise was Sept 4. Just a day before they cancelled the cruise because of the COVID-19 Pandemic I called to cancel and asked for a refund. Thank you for this. Fully refunded were also all prepurchased through Viking packages and services. The sailing, a . ", "Cruise Lines Cancel Scheduled Stops in Russia, Ukraine. I am glad I don't have anything booked but do know some who do and wish the cruise lines would just cancel. Our cruise is not until November 2020 and the current FCC/cancel for full refund policy does not apply to us. The new ship is currently scheduled to start operations with a Viking World Cruise 2022-2023. Vali has 3 days in Austria. INTRODUCTION Your contract is with Viking River Cruises UK Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (Co. No.01283655) whose The couple has pictures in Paris, Vienna and places around the world. States further updates from the Chairman in December. But they did keep $300 total unrefunded - $100 each cancellation penalty plus $50 each air penalty. I feel a TA may have more influence speaking to Viking, in that they represent MANY customers, while an individual calling for themselves represents a single customer. Rivers; Oceans; Expeditions; Complimentary Brochures; Call Viking at 1-800-304-9616 or Contact Your Travel Advisor. @garlinnin view of the fact that the Rhine River and the Danube River are lowandthe situation on the Rhine and Main are uncertain as regards Christmas markets, it would be more sensible for Viking to call off the Grand European. 6 Russian stops on Viking's ocean itineraries will be modified, and impacted guests and travel advisors will be notified. The Oberammergau play is being rescheduled for 2022. jAi Has anyone cancelled their Viking River cruise? You are sailing towards snow , You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Call a Viking Expert at 1-800-2-VIKING or see your Travel Advisor. "Update: Cruise Lines Cancel Ukraine and Russia Calls." @californiagirland @clojacks, did you folks use a travel agent or were you dealing with Viking on your own? March 17, 2022. You will receive a 3.3% discount and there is no fee for this service. I had the same experience as you, and personally, I don't feel like playing "agent roulette". 3. As you may be aware, due to circumstances beyond our control, construction of the custom-built Viking Mississippi was delayed, impacting the ships delivery date and the preparations necessary to welcome guests on board, reads a Sept. 8 letter from Viking to a California-based passenger who opted for a full refund. Wasserman originally wanted to transfer the cruise to his step-daughter, but the company would not allow it, he said. Bathrooms are superb, even at the lowest category, with glassed-in showers, sleek styling, plenty of storage, Freyja toiletries andthe biggest indulgence of allheated tile floors and towel racks.- Cruise Critic, You May Like: What Cruise Line Goes Around Hawaiian Islands. Harvey Wasserman and his wife Arleen have always loved to travel. I had that same happy feeling till the last day of my cruise. The final balance is due based on offer at None of these would normally be on the ship. When more than one cruise is booked, deposit and payment policies apply per Cruise Fare. (Per the woman I spoke to when cancelling the cruise.) The law requires vessels traveling between U.S. ports to carry U.S. crews and to be U.S.-owned, U.S.-registered and U.S.-built. Generous closets, plentiful USB ports and US/EU outlets, plush robes and slippers add to your comfort. Our vaccine requirement for all guests and crew remains in placeand for the time being, our crew will keep testing as needed and will wear masks at all times. There are numerous ship repair/maintenance people onboard and they are taking up rooms. MSC Cruises, which had four ships scheduled to call in St. Petersburg beginning this May, announced it had suspended all Russian stops and was in negotiations for possible alternative options, including Stockholm, Helsinki, and Tallinn. It would be real interesting to see a movement by their customers against refusing to make full payment 1 and 2 years in advance. The travel insurance was purchased with Tripmate through Viking, Wasserman said. Norwegian Cruise Line canceled a majority of its Baltic sailings on the Norwegian Getaway.Some cruise lines are forgoing modification and canceling their itineraries outright. Better to stay at home. 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 . I read all the books of Mark Twain, said Frohnert, a former St. Paul resident who now lives in Rochester, Minn. Over the 56 years weve lived in America, mostly Minnesota, we have traveled to over 85 countries., The only thing left that we wanted to do was to sail up the Mississippi, she continued. Recent updates have been made to cancellation schedules and refund guidelines for various cruise lines. @2~@, F[&G0&~6]_@u19,GKgx$po.4(=^iF@kfc`P 6'#*FM 2Q* Whether the company is primarily struggling with the national labor shortage, delayed staff trainings or physical considerations such as supply chain issues impacting particular staterooms remains unclear. The 386-passenger ship, custom-built for the river, departed St. Pauls Lamberts Landing as planned, but the Pletchers were not aboard it. Further details can be found here. But they did keep $300 total unrefunded - $100 each cancellation penalty plus $50 each air penalty. We are currently on this ship, wrote passenger Dean Siddons on the Facebook page, during a trip to St. Paul on Sept. 15. We had two ports of call, aka shore days, in Liverpool and Falmouth. I would prefer a refund but can live with the FCC. We are scheduled to leave Sunday and are going to spend 3 days independent in Amsterdam. I am falling behind with the news. Then in 2022, they expect the debut of two new expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris. The same for their Grand European Tour. Edited November 19, 2020 by Heidi13. New Viking Ocean Cruise Ships: Viking Venus - Launched in 2021, the Viking Venus accommodates 930 passengers and features a variety of staterooms, including suites with balconies. The cruise company said they had already notified passengers and travel partners with affected departures. Dreaming of and Planning for Future Travels with the Ultimate Flexibility and Value, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, After 24 months, if you are unable to use your. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Frederick Melo was once sued by a reader for $2 million but kept on writing. Due to the current virus the company Viking River . I was looking forward to it. And when travel is less complicated, we are ready to resume operations and explore the world in comfort, again. Also Check: Do Alaskan Cruises Have Pools. That $300 was not given as FCC but simply lost. ), Minnesota Senate passes bill to legalize recreational marijuana, 'Forever chemicals' exacerbate water issues in Lake Elmo, development still on pause, Charley Walters: Way too early to judge Vikings' pick of Jordan Addison, NFL draft: Vikings swap down, then up, to nab pair of LSU defenders, 'Smiley-face killer' theorist accused of St. Paul sex assault at time of Zamlen search, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. An additional four Arctic sailings have new itineraries. WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BOOKINGS? 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. If, or rather when, we cancel that one, if we take the FCC that the offer at that time to rebook something later, it's not inconceivable that they would have held our money for up to 3 years! %PDF-1.6 % Will wait a bit longer before getting the credit card company involved. I'm afraid they won't cancel and we'll end up floating for days on end We are literally are in the same boat as you. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Michelin Guides, Hemispheres, DuJour, and Forbes. We saw all of the major sites, including the Great Wall, the Terra Cotta Warriors and a sail on the Yangtze to the Three Gorges Dam. Any time there's 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 . The price has shot up quite a bit from what we paid. Funky Fusion FoodsJ, November 19, 2021 in River Cruising. Richard and Jean Pletcher hoped to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in style. Even though the service is great on the ships as many thousand past cruisers can attest. Owned & operated fleet, with the best docking locations in Europe. I am sorry that I see their demise and re-organization with lots of travelers left with only memories of the cruise that did not happen. Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers are transferable, so that you have the flexibility to gift them to a loved one. Local News | Another record in daily infections reported today by Reuters. A Viking spokesperson said: The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority. Viking, which had once planned to debut its new cruise ship in 2017, delayed the launch five years while it worked through federal regulatory challenges under the Jones Act, otherwise known as the . Brutal but true, as much as it hurts me to say that. Well, I booked with Viking and had it transferred to my TA, that I have used for quite a few cruises. On 11/19/2021 at 4:29 PM, Funky Fusion FoodsJ said: 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Special Event: Q&A with Rudi Schreiner, President, Co-Founder & Co-Owner - AmaWaterways River Cruises, Q&A with Avoya Travel: Learn How to Turn Your Passion into Success by Becoming an Independent Travel Advisor. On both the Hamburg-to-Kiel itinerary, departing August 26, and the Kiel-roundtrip sailing, departing September 7, World Navigator will call at Kotka and Mariehamn, Finland instead. I am glad to have a wide choice of operators in Europe other than Viking and I hope it stays that way. This has always been Vikings ambition and will remain so. Local News | This and the fact that the Christmas Markets have been cancelled for all 5 stops in Bavaria has made us decide to cancel the cruise. Quite frankly, at this point in time, if I was booked on a river cruise and flying from the US, I would cancel it and come over on a land trip to stay in a mountain self-catering place with food and drink. Heres Why Im So Excited, Aurora Expeditions' Newest Ship Is Specifically Designed for Sailing Antarctica, The 8 Best Cruises for Solo Travelers of 2023, Hurtigruten Announces Three New Pole-to-Pole Cruises in 2023. After six decades of arts education, founder of St. Paul-based ArtStart to retire We, along with 188 other passengers anticipated our Viking River Cruise on the Idun departing Nuremberg on June 1. Airfare does not have to be . In 2013, the company launched its new brand Viking Ocean Cruises. The logistics of booking a trip that included an extensive itinerary that Viking covers would have been impossible to do on my own. Viking River Cruises Cancellation and Refund Policy. Viking has had OUR money for over a year, and still hanging on to it. Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all 2022 departures of our Kyiv, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary. Sister brand Regent Seven Seas Cruises plans to remove the Solovetsky Islands, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk and St. Petersburg, Russia, from its 2022 sailings, along with Odesa, Ukraine. endstream endobj 734 0 obj <. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. Just wanted to add the Cruise Critic editorial team is working hard to try to get answers from all the major river cruise operators now that Austria has gone into lockdown and Germany may follow. After all, this too shall eventually pass. The scenic route was a gentle way to ease back into cruising. countries, Click this link to navigate to the Find A Cruise page, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. They said 21 days for refund. My second Viking Cruise was with my husband, Todd and we sailed on the 8-day Danube Waltz Cruise with stops in Passau , Linz, Melk, Vienna , Bratislava , and Budapest . A friend is leaving to go on a Viking Rhine this weekend. 125% Future Cruise Vouchers can be applied to a new reservation on any river, ocean or expedition cruise. The Travel Protection Plan includes a non-insurance . Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. 758 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<3B2B7E0F41F04746806E97F249047B35><0B2C10FC3CE5DD4FA2FE110046A04FF1>]/Index[733 43]/Info 732 0 R/Length 116/Prev 410459/Root 734 0 R/Size 776/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Local News | With three Viking River Cruises under my belt, I thought it was high time to share why this is one of my favorite companies to travel with. February 28, 2022. I also explained that to move the same cruise to next year, or beyond, is going to cost me approx $2000 more than my current value. Reporter who fled Taliban now writes for fellow refugees in St. Paul Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Submit to Stumbleupon (Opens in new window), Viking Mississippi cancels some cruise passengers four days ahead of departure, Sober home operators oppose regulations in MN House bill, state officials say changes necessary, Ward 1 convention ends in walk-out, no endorsement after grueling 9 1/2 hours, After six decades of arts education, founder of St. Paul-based ArtStart to retire, Reporter who fled Taliban now writes for fellow refugees in St. Paul, For sale: A green thumbs house on Summit Avenue (with a conservatory! The language barriers are real and the country is vast. On June 10, 2022, the U.S. announced it is eliminating the COVID testing requirement for air travelers to enter the country. Airfares vary on other gateways & departures. Orient Express Is Launching the World's Largest Luxury Superyacht, Hurtigruten's 'Northern Lights Promise' Ensures Every Cruiser Sees Auroras, What It's Like to Cruise Around French Polynesia on Windstar's Star Breeze, These Cruise Lines Will Require COVID-19 Vaccines To Sail, Despite What Cruise Lines Say, You Wont Be Setting Sail in May, My Favorite Luxury Cruise Line Is Setting Sail Again. Just my humble opinion. On September 12, 2023, departs Longitudinal World Cruise II . I would not bet on any river cruise line giving up that business "just" because the Covid infection rate is high. By Culinary delights in Lyon, France. We need twin beds; is this possible? You May Like: Where Does Norwegian Cruise Lines Sail Out Of. Entire boat trips planned from St. Paul in July and August were canceled this summer, and interior work aboard the ship has apparently continued right through the first departure from St. Paul toward St. Louis, Mo., on Sept. 3. Try checking the URL for errors or explore the world of Viking Cruises by clicking one of our links below. I tried doing as you said and they wouldnt budge. "Poseidon Expeditions Cancels 2022 Russia, North Pole Programs." Im also still annoyed at Vikings policy that full payment is required so far in advance. My angle was that I gave Viking $12000 in Sept of 19, for a cruise in Oct 20, that I might not be able to take until 21 or 22. Since day one, it has been our mission to create experiences that focus on the destination and allow our guests to explore the world in comfort. Frohnert, a world traveler who is Irish by birth but has lived in the U.S. most of her life, had planned to fly to New Orleans and travel back to Minnesota by water for what she assumed would be her final voyage. That mountain hut in the Vosges mountains is getting more attractive by the day, though. Let us help you navigate your way to what you're looking for - using the search bar or helpful links. Viking has made an official announcement on there Web Site Itineraries Affected by Temporary Suspension of OperationsUpdated April 6, 2021 On March 11, 2020, Viking was the first cruise line to suspend operations of our river and ocean cruises. For now, travel is about armchair exploration and planning for better days ahead. 125% Future Cruise Vouchers: The Ultimate in Flexibility and Value. Being a retired infection control nurse I would be very surprised to see European river cruises happening at all this summer. Featured review. The Risk-Free Guarantee allows guests to change their cruise date up until 14 days before their planned departureand Viking will waive any fees. Last year they tried to hold the line on this and got so much pushback that they backed off. We too were very unhappy with Vikings pay in full policywe paid in full 18 months before the cruise is scheduled to run. Should any significant itinerary modifications become necessary, guests and their Travel Advisors will be notified directly by Viking. 2. Re: Viking River Cruise cancelling. However, we will continue to provide testing if a guest reports symptoms, requests a test, or if our Medical Team deems necessary. This offer covers all Viking reservations that are made between November 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 on any 2022 voyage. But, again, this policy of full payment due with a very short time frame is costing us money we should have. For us that was a year prior to sailing. Main downstream from Wrzburg, Rhine and especially Moselle are better places to be. Also Check: How Cold Is Alaska Cruise In July. country, 12 days The health and safety of all guests and crew at The Scenic Group continues to be at the forefront of all decisions, a spokesperson said. $25 Deposit offer available on all 2023-2025 Viking River Cruises. Theyll refund the vouched amount to you. Little more than a week ago, just four days before the first trip of the Viking Mississippi from the Mississippi Rivers headwaters to its mouth, the company informed them by mail that their reservation had been canceled. hbbd```b``"WH R,>!"A$}&MP*%&H@q';bW2;?MLL9 n? Call to book now: 1-800-304-9616. I realize that to this point Viking has offered a generous cancellation policycancelup to 24 hours prior and receive a 125% FCC. How long did they tell you it would be before you actually received your refund? If you have any questions or need further information please contact Reservations at 1-877-523-0579 or email customerrelations@vikingcruises.com, Monday - Friday, 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, PT. I hope not. Travel Weekly. Atlas Ocean Voyages, a luxe expedition cruise line based in Florida, is adjusting two of its late-summer Baltic itineraries. Passengers from across the country say theyve received letters from the cruise company informing them their reservation, paid for more than two years in advance, had been canceled just days ahead of departure.

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