A recent CNN article proclaimed that summer droughts like the current one, plus global warming, could signal a death knell for river cruises in the near future. All I got was 'you must pay in full for your trip before booking extras'. Desired outcome: I have had the cruise booked for probably a year but only now would the allow me the opportunity to purchase the spoils. I booked the flight through Viking to a Christmas market river cruise. But it is for us. It is time for Viking to do the same and act like a cruise line instead of a medical facility. 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 complaint has been resolved automatically due to user's inactivity. Viking Chief Health Officer Dr. Raquel . When you are covered by the Risk-Free Guarantee you may change your cruise reservation with notification to Viking. "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,. Look at the Mekong you dont cruise in May, June, July and August because its too hot. All other passages from ******* for the same Antarctica cruise with Viking Octantis got their boarding passes with no problem. My bag is still missing and I will request (!) Viking Cruises, and Other Lines, Changes Plans Because of Ukraine News 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.. I asked the captain how deep the ship would be if it sank. This cruise has been sold out for weeks so if Viking reinstates the voucher, the cabin could be resold. No materials from this website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way. Vikings' policy allows no refund under the circumstances (i.e. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Viking changed their policy after they took all our money, lured us into taking now worthless vouchers. Other viking customers from ******* on the same cruise were also booked the same flight. Royal Caribbean Group's Celebrity Cruises has canceled four sailings from March 26 through April 16 aboard the Celebrity Eclipse, which has yet to return to service, a spokesperson for the. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. I am going to seek legal advice to, but this ridiculous policy has added hugely to my grieving. Maximum capacities of 164 passengers and 47 crew. The departure flight from ******* was delayed due to the storm. Europe is experiencing unprecedented drought and heat conditions. I explain ship swapping in the section: What Happens If Your Cruise Is Affected By Water Level? 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. We accepted and paid an additional insurance premium. SA. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. By doing investigation on this subject and timeline of events revealed that we are not alone in this situation. With many Christmas markets closed, river cruise lines cancel sailings Why? No partial refund was given and I lost the total deposit of $1000.I understand that the T&Cs outline the refund policy. This was a question that I asked myself before booking my Rhine River cruise. ST PAUL, Minn. There's been a lot of fanfare surrounding America's Great River cruise operated by Viking Cruises. airfare $2198 Viking will not honor this request. Planning a cruise? Booking XXXXXXX. We booked the *********** cruise with Viking prior to COVID *****************. We accepted the vouchers in good faith. It's a human right to have access to fresh water and clean sanitation. Obviously, we cannot go on the trip. A place on the excursion I tried to book. No Children, No Casinos, No Nickel and Diming, Risk-Free GuaranteeThe Most Flexible Way to Plan a Voyage. We were given the option of a voucher or cash Learn to how to find the cheapest awards. by Steve CaseLast updated September 6, 2022. An insult! Don't sail Viking unless you are guaranteed of going on the trip. My only hope now is for someone to cancel what I want.About time to give my loyalty to another cruise line. Viking is bringing back river cruises to Europe in July. 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. Like most cruise lines, Viking canceled all of its sailings during the pandemic. Simply make the simple changes to the hotel reservations so that one of the rooms includes two beds. 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, you wont be entirely out of luck if your itinerary changes once you arrive at your ship. ComplaintsBoard.com is a leading complaint resolution website on the Internet. After checking cancellation conditions online which indicates $200 up to a certain date I booked a river cruise for 2024 the deposit was $2000pp. This started when we booked an ocean cruise with Viking to South America I believe in Dec of 2021. Learn more. Read full review of Viking River Cruises What It's Like Aboard an 8-Day Cruise With Viking River Cruises 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 . Viking offered us to support the company and not get a refund if we accepted a voucher of 125% On February 1, the shore excursion booking system opened up for the ocean segment of my trip. Guests have the option to transfer their reservation to 2022; receive a 100% future cruise credit . 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. In the same cabin. is a travel editor for TPG, with a focus on cruise travel. Sandi. Booking number: *******. Our trip was canceled and a voucher was issued. 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. That trip was cancelled do to covid, and we were assured by Viking that everything was fine and we rebooked for Jan 2022. Expires March 31, 2023. A place on the excursion I tried to book. The pandemic has not ended, and some sailings have been cancelled due to too many Covid-19 cases onboard. 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. Call to book now: 1-800-207-7286. 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. Yazmin Hope and Libby Gallagher Business Section was crowded 8 units wide while first class just in front We booked a Viking River Cruise with AAA travel in August of 2019 for $14,497 for two people which excludes the insurance cost. 4. The photo is from my first premium, international award flight in 2012. 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". Cruise delayed because of COVID. This is known as ship swapping. I even requested they review the phone call and they refused. We were issued the vouchers that had an expiration date October 2022. US. I contacted Trip Mate and was told the vouchers were not covered and that I needed to contact Viking because they handled vouchers. We have since then tried to book a trip two times, and the required medical of a vaccine status made us cancel again. These two rivers are the most popular routes in European river cruising. How is this hard? The trip was for September 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic. Viking Mississippi cancels Oct. 15 cruise due to low river levels An apology is not good enough. Heres what you need to know. 2023-2025 OCEAN CRUISE AND AIR SAVINGS: Offer applies to bookings made from March 1-31, 2023. Passengers wait to board the luxury cruise ship Viking Mississippi, berthed at Lambert's Landing in St. Paul, on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. About 20 poeple's bag on the flight didn't make it. service we should have received at least a partial refund . Schreiner gives an example of two identical sister ships, AmaLucia and AmaSiena, that both sail the Rhine. #VikingVictims. Its not an American company so they feel like they can treat Americans any way they want. We asked to transfer the trip to my son and grandson, but transferring the tickets is not allowed. We paid for Travel Protection ), We booked a cruise in 2019 to sail early in 2020. There are no uniform river flows and water levels are unpredictable. Claim your profile to access Trustpilots free business tools and connect with customers. Not for the voucher amount. Viking Plans A Robust 2021 2022 Cruise Season Despite the canceled 2020 cruise season, Viking has high hopes for 2021 and beyond. Booking your first river cruise? In June, there were places along the Po that completely dried up. We are not asking for anything other than our money back. We were running between the airlines at ***** to find out what was going on, very frustrating. I purchased two of each of the following through ACH: "We are currently evaluating itineraries that call. Media Center - Press Releases - Viking Cruises I contact Viking customer relations, and was first told that the flight tickets were paid by Viking already. Ocean cruise ships usually have at least 25 feet or more or more of draft which would preclude them from river cruising. I checked with many countries and all their restrictions have been dropped. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. #1. Over in Southeast Asia, a new river ship, Viking Saigon, will cruise the Mekong. He made the commissions, we will not sail and lose 14,000 dollars. Information provided by various external sources. 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. We booked a Viking cruise from Venice to Athens in late 2020 for September 2021. This may involve the cruise line putting you up in one or more hotels and paying for restaurant meals. I have three times tried to contact Viking, by phone, email, and chat. Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Airfares vary on other gateways & departures. By Alyssa Lukpat and Ceylan Yeginsu. Unfortunately, my husband unexpectedly passed away last month. If you search Viking the risk free still pops up you have to read the fine print to realise its all over so be aware. At the time we did we also asked that trip insurance be added. We also ensure all reviews are published without moderation. Why? However, the most important part of any cruise, for me is the excursion choice. Viking Ocean and River is currently operating all upcoming scheduled itineraries. (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business. Cruise lines scrap Russian, Ukrainian ports from 2022 itineraries 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. The vaccinations mean nothing anyway. Desired outcome: However, as everyone knows, predicting the weather is not an exact science. The Rhine River is the main artery for German and Swiss transportation and also French, said Schreiner. Jan. 17, 2022. As a result, river levels are falling to critical levels. Having trip insurance may pay you in full depending on your coverage. 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 For the cabin on the cruise, we indicated separate beds for their cabin. The line confirmed the steps to TTG on Wednesday (2 March) and said it was "deeply opposed" to the . I purchased a cruise for my wife and myself then Covid hit. Dozens of cruises have been cancelled and some ports in the Caribbean and South America are turning ships away from making . Review for Viking Osiris to Middle East Swirling Kilt 2-5 Cruises Age 60s Read More Sail Date: December 2022 Cabin Type: Suite with Veranda Helpful Christmas on the Mississippi Review for. Utter and total joke. But our plea was denied. I am writing about booking number 7045921 sailed Jan.12 2023. Fraud and deception! Tauck says it deals with compensation on a case-by-case basis. This is why most lines are not offering flexible cancellation policies or waiving penalties for canceling a river cruise because theyre worried their itinerary will get disrupted due to low water levels. Viking Venus : cruise round Med and on to Israel.This was a wonderful itinerary , a beautiful ship , excellent food and service. 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. Call a Viking Expert at 0800 319 66 60 or see your Travel Advisor. We again purchased Vikings trip insurance through Trip Mate to cover the cost of the trip. 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. This also had the water turned off and was unable to flush. Viking Ocean Cruises has sailings listed for June, 2021. 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. Refund on premium air payments that we did not receive in premiumservice. We paid for the trip and had trip insurance. If the whole itinerary is changed, youll get to sail the new itinerary and receive a 100% future cruise credit to book another cruise. Subscribe to RSS 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. On 10/14, we filed a claim with Trip Mate. We only wanted our money to be applied to another cruise in 2023. We rebooked our trip but Viking canceled it again and another voucher was issued. Or, you might have a few port stops changed out for new ones, or spend more time than you prefer in busses or hotels, possibly with shorter visits to destinations that now require longer bus rides. It also stated that if we were unable to use the voucher we could be refunded the original amount we paid to Viking. Thank you. Pharaohs & Pyramids. I had to cancel due to ill health and provided over five months notice. The booking # is *******. The drought category in England has reached the most severe designation of severe drought. over night stay we got back to Cincinnati the next day. Poulsbo, Washington. NEVER BUY A VIKING CRUISE VOUCHERWe will be sailing with a different cruise line and will not be back to Viking. For that reason, the Rhine River is feeling greater effects of river flow and sooner than compared with the Danube. 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. I thought that Viking was reputable, so I put too much faith in them. Then in Philadelphia She is scheduled to start ************ this week. 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 They have a working relationship with Lufthansa but insist the flight has nothing to do with them, That is a strong cop out. Its infuriating and disrespectful. Reservation changes under the Risk-Free Guarantee will be reimbursed in the form of a Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Voucher in the amount of 100% of all monies paid to Viking. Princess Cruises | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. This they 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. Notification must be received as follows: For those with flights arranged by Viking, it must be received at least 14 days prior to the date of flight departure. But this is one American that will never sail with this awful company ever again. Because of COVID, we had to cancel the cruise, and received a voucher from Viking. Crystal River Cruises has canceled its four remaining Crystal Ravel sailings this December. Viking European River Cruises - 6 Key Must-Knows Before You Go He was assertive and very confident, pushy and eager to make the booking. Viking have done this every year since 2012, knowing they are unable to dock there but still taking Port Tax from every passenger. I also booked this trip years ago when there was . The even occurred in February of 2023. Does anyone know if Trip Mate customers have or are considering a class action suit against the company for fraud? Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. On July 10th, 2022 my husband called Viking to inquire when the schedule becomes available. The 13-city cruise was supposed to take passengers between St. Paul and New . The low draft and the adjustability of the ballast allow the ships to navigate through sections of the river where the water levels are not very deep. Viking Cruises, and Other Lines, Changes Plans Because of Ukraine News Now I see all this advertisement that waives ar fares , deposits and other things we paid for Horrible company in terms of customer service. My husband and I were excited about our long awaited cruise next May. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Booked a trip just before covid hit which had to be canceled for obvious reasons. 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. 2023, International Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc., separately incorporated Better Business Bureau organizations in the US, Canada and Mexico and BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, Inc. All rights reserved. We called Viking and there is nothing that they will do to be able to use the over $7,000 paid for the trip. This insurance company is worthless and doesn't live up to the stated reimbursements as advertised in its' brochure. The cruise was cancelled due the pandemic ($11,367.50) Any comments Viking? Companies can ask for reviews via automatic invitations. The 766-mile Rhine is one of Europe's most important trade routes, with container ships plying their way around its looping bends. There are critical points, like the one on the Rhine River, right in the Rhine Gorge, Schreiner explained. Viking changed our flight schedule at very short notice. In November ******************************************* She had major surgery December 12th. The confirmation email said cancellation for any reason loss of deposit. Plus Ups are excluded. Only in very rare circumstances are the sailings canceled outright. I was never informed that the vaccine would be required to sail and that our money would not be eligible for a refund. MVJ is locked for this specific cruise , and if you try to book the cruise (UK website) the first available Fjords cruise in now April 2022. Our ships have a very low draftabout five feet, he explained. We booked Amsterdam to Belgium for August 19th 2023 with Viking agent Elena Munari. Royal Caribbean International | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. 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. Check here before booking an award fare. Because these problem spots are well known, river cruise lines can find ways to mitigate the issues with savvy itinerary planning. Refund on premium air payments that we did not receive in premiumservice. Viking Cruises has cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. When I called to cancel they said we did not purchase the insurance. We have rescheduled 2x as we refuse to get the Covid vaccine and Viking will not allow boarding if you are not 100% vaccinated. Due to my cancellations, Viking held onto $8,000 of my Funds for about two years. Italy is in the worst drought in over 70 years. They can go up, they can go down, rain can come in.. We are older and don't want to keep rescheduling this with the hopes of one day being permitted to board their ship. ************************************* Cruises that was set to sail in April 2020. Couple fights to get full cash refund on $15K Viking River Cruise Viking refusing to refund given COVID risks! - Review of Viking Cruises Then they said (under the Risk Free Guarantee) we could have a voucher, but it would be a combined voucher which could only be used for one future trip. We appreciate you sharing your experience, Marie, although we regret to hear of your disappointment. 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). The area is protected and thats where you have the low water issues. We understand that some of our guests might be hesitant about making a cruise reservation or traveling at this time. Yazmin Hope and Libby Gallagher Thanks for reaching out, Itom, although we regret to learn of your experience with booking excursions. Cannot go on a cruise if not jabbed even to countries which have no covid requirements any more. They have no intentions of giving my money back .Do I not have any rights? After 5 minutes she came back and said the manager said nothing they could do but charge a 50 percent fee for canceling. Viking Neptune is a new ship that will join the fleet in 2022. Find out how we combat fake reviews. Should you wish to change your reservation, you can choose which policy works best for you: Vikings Risk-Free Guarantee or standard cancellation policy. "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. River flows are never static and are subject to fluctuations that are unpredictable. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile. Other than the hassle of packing up in the middle of the cruise, travelers still get the full Rhine experience they paid for. This site is for entertainment purposes only. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. 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 ship can welcome up to 386 passengers, and. In order to catch the next flight from ************ to ******* to get to the cruise on time we had to pay the tickets ourselves. The dream vacation I have waited for 8 years has gone down the drain. SPRING SALE Special Fares Reduced Airfare Dates: Availability: Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers are transferable, so that you have the flexibility to gift them to a loved one. We are told now that change is not possible at all because vouchers have expired. 05 Aug 2022. passengers asked if ports on the new itinerary may close and if there's a chance the cruise could be canceled while underway. Norse Atlantic Airways to Launch NY-Rome Flights. 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. Four excursions that I wanted are already sold out. The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship, A beginners guide to picking a cruise line, The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship, A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines, 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly, 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up, The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Risk-Free Guarantee - Viking River Cruises Call us at 800-454-0927 to speak to a Cruise Concierge today. My Trip - Updates on Current Sailings - Viking Cruises Scenic. "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,. This allowed Viking to retain the majority of our payment since We booked a cruise in 2019 to sail early in 2020. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The food was excellent. 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. This made it impossible to catch the next flight from ***** to buenos Aries. Here is a message that appears on the Viking River Cruise webpage: The cruise line may elect to cancel your cruise. The Rhine River in general is not that deep. More details in attachment. **** said he would monitor the schedule and will alert us the very day it comes out. Not every river cruise line takes the same stance. We have one ship starting in Amsterdam and one ship starting in BaselIf they cannot pass Kaub [the critically low water point on the Rhine], then [the passengers] all disembark on either side," he explained. Many passengers were distressed by the lack of fresh water. 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. Viking already runs a number of river cruises. He will call us immediately - he said. 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. called Business since the middle seats were left vacant. Passes which had been canceled since BA flight had been late. Viking, which operates both ocean and river cruises, has canceled all 2022 departures from its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary . Disembark on May 1 2023 they required us to pay us in full in August 2022 which we did. Editor in Chief Find the right card for you. Taking over the Hilton in Taupo NZ, they were obnoxious. Viking has responded to his passing by cancelling the nearly $9,000 I paid for my husbands share of the trip. This offer covers all Viking reservations that are made between November 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 on any 2022 voyage. To date we have sent a certified *** ****** ***** letter to VRC and had no response. Guests and travel agents on impacted departures are in the process of being notified. Check with your cruise line on current cruising conditions and what you can expect from them. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either.