The departure flight from ******* was delayed due to the storm. They refuse to let us rebook with the voucher and actually suggested if we want to rebook we would have to pay them all over again. On February 1, the shore excursion booking system opened up for the ocean segment of my trip. 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. Not one thing but some flowers in the rain and unsafe steps and more Booking number 7141933 "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. Viking already runs a number of river cruises. We promise not to send you any unrelated messages, Click here if youd like to unsubscribe from notifications about new complaints of Viking River Cruises. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. This met the 11/30 deadline for a "risk free guarantee" enabling change of plans up to 24 hours before sailing. No partial refund was given and I lost the total deposit of $1000.I understand that the T&Cs outline the refund policy. Why didn't Viking pay to dock? See details. River boats are unique because they can float in just five to six feet of water. Is it cheaper to stay out in the bay and use your own tender? However, the most important part of any cruise, for me is the excursion choice. . Submit a complaint and get your issue resolved. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. Dozens of cruises have been cancelled and some ports in the Caribbean and South America are turning ships away from making . Viking changed their policy after they took all our money, lured us into taking now worthless vouchers. 1. But it is for us. We have rescheduled 2x as we refuse to get the Covid vaccine and Viking will not allow boarding if you are not 100% vaccinated. 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. A place on the excursion I tried to book. Viking Cruises will test all guests and crew for COVID-19 with daily PCR testing when sailings resume, as part of the company's new Viking Health & Safety Program, the cruise line recently announced. This allowed Viking to retain the majority of our payment since We booked a cruise in 2019 to sail early in 2020. This cruise has been sold out for weeks so if Viking reinstates the voucher, the cabin could be resold. This is an awful company to deal with. Viking Ocean Cruises has sailings listed for June, 2021. I was never informed that the vaccine would be required to sail and that our money would not be eligible for a refund. I contacted Viking and was told the vouchers were not refundable because we had not cancelled at least 2 weeks prior to departure. Published on May 21, 2021. 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. We will not be booking with Viking again. In May, Viking canceled that cruise. The Po River flows 400 miles across the top of Italy from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea. (I doubt theyll get that right). Utter and total joke. Story Update (September 5, 2022) Viking river cruises have posted an advisory from Danube River cruises that ship swapping may occur. 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. No materials from this website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way. Schreiners advice is simple: Just go. Viking collects 3 fares for a 2 person room. Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. Just got order from Doctor to cancel due to sudden onset of autoimmune kidney disease. called Business since the middle seats were left vacant. We booked a Viking cruise from Venice to Athens in late 2020 for September 2021. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. . Look at the Mekong you dont cruise in May, June, July and August because its too hot. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. 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. Thanks for reaching out, M Mulmech., although we regret to learn of your disappointment with your hotel arrangements. They feature elegant Scandinavian design, spacious staterooms with large verandas, and both indoor and al . Because there was no time for a further delay, we paid the tickets to the airline. Well guide you through the process. 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. 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. Some years, low water levels caused disruptions as early as June and some years as late as October. This river begins in the Alps near the Italy-French border and is fed by snowmelt. Its not an American company so they feel like they can treat Americans any way they want. 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. Very disappointing. We also ensure all reviews are published without moderation. 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. Their ad is wonderful but after all is said and done it is all crap. Also lost out on the cruise vouchers. Ocean cruise ships usually have at least 25 feet or more or more of draft which would preclude them from river cruising. 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. 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. Spoke to several people today, including a supervisor My husband and I were scheduled to leave for our Viking cruise around Spain on Jan. 11. Fraud and deception! The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. Viking has lost four loyal customers with 10 past cruises between us. It's a human right to have access to fresh water and clean sanitation. River cruise lines do have contingency plans for dealing with river flow problems. 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. The two most popular are the Rhine and the Danube. 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. They also issued non refundable vouchers for our port excursions. Learn more. . Viking offered us to support the company and not get a refund if we accepted a voucher of 125% BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. Want all money refunded. Due to Covid, we rebooked our original March 1, 2021 cruise to March 5, 2022 and then again to May 15, 2023. 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. Does anyone know if Trip Mate customers have or are considering a class action suit against the company for fraud? If the water issues are closer to the beginning or end of an itinerary, cruisers may have to spend a few days in hotels or bussing to destinations rather than sailing there. She really needs this positive experience to look forward to. We said yes. This 'placeholder booking' means nothing he assured us. Call a Viking Expert at 0800 319 66 60 or see your Travel Advisor. Unlike ocean cruising, river cruising has a lot of fluctuations in water levels. Booked a trip just before covid hit which had to be canceled for obvious reasons. 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. Airfares vary on other gateways & departures. Should you wish to change your reservation, you can choose which policy works best for you: Vikings Risk-Free Guarantee or standard cancellation policy. We have taken note of your feedback. Vikings inability to resolve an issue with their on line booking. I asked the captain how deep the ship would be if it sank. The draft is the amount of vessel that is below the water line. Related: Booking your first river cruise? Refund or partial credit. Scheduled and rescheduled elder family care and pet sitting services. What? This years summer drought in Europe could affect your upcoming river cruise, but its highly unlikely your cruise will be canceled outright. Desired outcome: $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. On 10/12 as our plane was taxiing for departure, my husband suffered a medical emergency. This is known as ship swapping. My family of 4 has booked a Viking cruise with a pre and post cruise excursion. By. We paid some #10,000 for premium air. by Steve CaseLast updated September 6, 2022. service we should have received at least a partial refund . The first example of river distress is the Po River in Northern Italy. Only Viking can make the appropriate reservation. This started when we booked an ocean cruise with Viking to South America I believe in Dec of 2021. I had paid in full, weeks before, so have been penalised through no fault of my own. At no point when we rebooked using our vouchers, were we told the vouchers were not covered under the insurance plan. 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). For information about your specific voyage, please log onto MyVikingJourney.com. Virgin Voyages. Note that complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Taking over the Hilton in Taupo NZ, they were obnoxious. Here is a message that appears on the Viking River Cruise webpage: The cruise line may elect to cancel your cruise. I am truly an "out-of-the-box" traveler which has enriched my travel experiences. 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. Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. Mind you, my cruise cost over $27,000. I explain ship swapping in the section: What Happens If Your Cruise Is Affected By Water Level? In 2021, the cruise line plans to launch their seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus. When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints. We could not wash, shower, not wash our hands and NOT able to flush toilets! We Vikings inability to resolve an issue with, Withholding of monies and shore excursion, Refusal to honor its cancellation policy, My bag is still missing and I will request. In some cases, an itinerary may be adjusted with certain destinations dropped and new ones added. That's our policy. Desired outcome: Contact your Sales Agent or our Customer Service department online, via email, or by phone at 1-800-427-8473 and ask about potential opportunities for flexible cancellation policies, rebooking opportunities and other options. One of the most popular rivers, the Rhine has river levels falling fast. This is our third time to book a trip, and in 2023, the medical requirement is still in place. The 766-mile Rhine is one of Europe's most important trade routes, with container ships plying their way around its looping bends. It goes against our guidelines to offer incentives for reviews. Seems the generous cancellation risk free ended 30 June and despite booking direct with Viking no mention of the changes was made. Royal Caribbean International | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. I have had the cruise booked for probably a year but only now would the allow me the opportunity to purchase the spoils. 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". If the level is too low, the vessel may run aground or need an alternative docking arrangement. 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. The only problem was it WAS VERY NOISY, couldnt get a full night sleep due the engine and the bed shaking.We will go back to the other suites.The staff was great! On December 9, 2019 we booked********************************* and paid ********* March 11, 2020 that cruise canceled by Viking due to COVID. 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. Cruises beginning in 2009, this is not the first error and being loyal Cannot recommend whatsoever - there are better cruise lines who deliver & care about providing a decent level of customer experience - avoid them if you can. Other viking customers from ******* on the same cruise were also booked the same flight. 488 total complaints in the last 3 years. The cruise was cancelled due the pandemic ($11,367.50) Viking offered us to support the company and not get a refund if we accepted a voucher of 125% We said yes. I told a member of staff about this and was directed to use a toilet on the top deck. Because of COVID, we had to cancel the cruise, and received a voucher from Viking. 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 . Learn to how to find the cheapest awards. There is rock on the bottom; theres also this little house in the middle of the river. 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. I want Viking to honour its Guest Cancellation Schedule and reimburse the $15,640.19 (Canadian) my husband and I paid for the We appreciate you sharing your experience, Sandy JJ, although we regret to hear of the events you've described here. All other passages from ******* for the same Antarctica cruise with Viking Octantis got their boarding passes with no problem. We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Subscribe to RSS 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. Steve is a life-long avgeek and a points and miles player. Find the right card for you. 2022 is now cancelled and will be replaced with new roundtrip voyages from Southampton to the Caribbean via the Canary Islands and New York. South America & the Chilean Fjords - Ocean Cruise Dates & Pricing South America & the Chilean Fjords From $5,999 | 18 Days | 8 Guided Tours | 4 Countries Itinerary Dates & Pricing Resources For current fares, please call a Viking Expert: 1-866-984-5464 or Request a Quote today. After many failed conversations with Viking Cruise customer service reps to obtain reassurance that we will automatically receive a refund when our cruise vouchers expire on 2/18/23, two years after the email from Viking dated 2/17/21 notifying us that our second cruise was cancelled. All I want if a refund for our primary payment so we can sail on a ship that does not require the vaccine since we can not get it. We were running between the airlines at ***** to find out what was going on, very frustrating. We asked to transfer the trip to my son and grandson, but transferring the tickets is not allowed. Guests and travel agents on impacted departures are in the process of being notified. We were given misinformation by their employee, to which their supervisor stated that verbal statements do not count. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Disappointed with Viking Cruises cancellation policy. We purchased Travel Protection Insurance. 12/21- 12/28/2022 We were treated like animals. Anybody got any idea what do I do? 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. 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 ********************* ********. 4. The confirmation email said cancellation for any reason loss of deposit. Italy is in the worst drought in over 70 years. 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. I took into account the following factors and then made an educated guess: Taking all of these factors into account, we booked for mid-June. These levels can swing widely both up and down. The Rhine River is more sensitive in terms of river flow because it lacks the dams that are on the Danube River. 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. Looks like our September cruise to the Fjords is in the process of being cancelled! Thu 13 Jan 2022 01.00 EST Last modified on Thu 13 Jan 2022 18.22 EST. The trip was for 2021 but was also cancelled and moved to September 22, 2022.On September 16,2022 *********************** and shattered his knee-cap and needed surgery. 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. But this is one American that will never sail with this awful company ever again. Desired outcome: Any comments Viking? 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 BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. However, the same problems do not affect river cruise ships. Weve been cruising since March with no issues until August, said Schreiner. The bottom line is, we have ********* at VRC. In November ******************************************* She had major surgery December 12th. Confirmation attached. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews. SPRING SALE Special Fares Reduced Airfare Dates: Availability: Why? He replied "absolutely no way both medically and because ************ weakens her immune system!" 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.. This complaint was posted by a verified customer. If the whole itinerary is changed, youll get to sail the new itinerary and receive a 100% future cruise credit to book another cruise. On November 26, 2021 when speaking with VRC representative we were informed that out ********* is in the form of a voucher and has no cash value and cannot be refunded. This was our second cruise, I would have to say our first one was wonderful, this one was not bad. BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes. For the cabin on the cruise, we indicated separate beds for their cabin. By doing investigation on this subject and timeline of events revealed that we are not alone in this situation. You can see why people are worried. We have spent $25,000.00 including air far which we are also going to lose if not used by 12/31/2023. Viking Ocean Ships Currently Sailing: Viking Jupiter Viking Orion Viking Mars Viking Neptune Viking Saturn Viking Sea Viking Sky Viking Star Viking Venus Courtesy Sheila Davies. The cruise line offered her future cruise vouchers worth 125 percent of her fare. Jim. My bag is still missing and I will request (!) Check here before booking an award fare. I purchased a cruise for my wife and myself then Covid hit. 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. We will be again canceling our trip. 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 . We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. I contact Viking customer relations, and was first told that the flight tickets were paid by Viking already. I hope this is something you can help with. After checking cancellation conditions online which indicates $200 up to a certain date I booked a river cruise for 2024 the deposit was $2000pp. Viking Ocean Cruises. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. This offer covers all Viking reservations that are made between November 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 on any 2022 voyage. On top of that, they are asking for me to pay additional same $ 9,000. amount for me to go on this journey alone! Desired outcome: Not your fault but took 5 flights, 1 whole day in airport, 1 whole night and 2 hotels to get to the ship 3 1/2 days late. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). And rebooked the following summer My travel partner , my sister, died 6 months before our trip that next summer die to COVID. is a travel editor for TPG, with a focus on cruise travel. Then before the departure, Viking cancelled operations and offered us vouchers for future cruises. Desired outcome: It, along with the Viking Sky, is classified as a small ship, with 465 staterooms, capable of carrying 930 guests. We rebooked yet again and we're told that we had to have the vaccine before we would be able to take our trip. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. "We will not cancel any cruises," said Shreiner. Because these problem spots are well known, river cruise lines can find ways to mitigate the issues with savvy itinerary planning. AMA Waterways | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. The trip was more expensive so we paid with our vouchers as well as cash. 1. 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. For that reason, the Rhine River is feeling greater effects of river flow and sooner than compared with the Danube. We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. Its infuriating and disrespectful. Experts are saying that the current drought in Europe could be the worst in 500 years, with water levels dropping, especially along the Rhine River. Cancellation conditions 2. BBB is here to help. Viking's move follows announcements from other cruise operators saying they are . On 9/12/21 we realized the 2022 sailing impractical and cancelled for cruise credits (#s XXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXX, XXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXX) 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. When Viking informed me that the alternative flight was booked, I was not told that I had to pay the tickets myself in order to obtain the boarding pass. We accepted and paid an additional insurance premium. The other typical plan is to put the passengers on buses to get around the affected areas. Risk-Free Guarantee: How it Works Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. These hotels are Marriott and hilton properties that have such rooms. Telling us that a voucher has no cash value is a shoddy business practice at best. I explain ship swapping in the section: . them to clean my clothes again and every night I am on the cruise, Read full review of Viking River Cruises and 1 comment, 16 years' experience in successful complaint resolution, Each complaint is handled individually by highly qualified experts, Last but not least, all our services are absolutely free. In Europe, we dont cruise in January, February and into early March because its too cold, he explained. It's also a classic cruise itinerary. He was assertive and very confident, pushy and eager to make the booking. The first thing that I noticed when I boarded is that all river ships are built to similar dimensions. He he tried to take the trip solo, he was charged. Service representative escalated our complaint that we were misinformed, tricked, lied to, defrauded - because we cannot sail on that date, we are not healthy and can't sail in the fall or 2023! We would much rather be able to post how considerate Viking has been (as well as how much we enjoyed the cruise!) We have since then tried to book a trip two times, and the required medical of a vaccine status made us cancel again. At this point we feel it's discrimination and want our money refunded. 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. Business Section was crowded 8 units wide while first class just in front An apology is not good enough. About 20 poeple's bag on the flight didn't make it. 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. When we got this schedule yesterday, we asked her ********** if she could rearrange things to take this cruise. We were never verbally informed when booking that the actual voucher would expire even if we rebooked again.

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