When Viking River Cruises canceled my cruise in 2021 for Covid, they gave me a cruise voucher for 125% and some optional packages as an incentive to rebook. In fact, everything we have come to expect from Viking exceptthere were apparently a few cases of a GI infection . 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. This is due to the cruise line planning on new summer UK domestic cruises for UK vaccinated residents only. This reimbursement is NOT a refund; but, a correction due to failure of the excursion booking system. 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. We missed 2 ports of call and 1/3 of our sites to see the auroras. Coach would have been better. That's our policy. 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 766-mile Rhine is one of Europe's most important trade routes, with container ships plying their way around its looping bends. I also called the insurance company and was told that to get a refund we had to notify them two weeks before the trip start date. 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. Voyages offering the excursion to Floriade 2022 operate between July 16 and August 27, 2022 aboard River Empress. Travel Codex is owned by Travel Codex, LLC. But there is nothing we can do, your vouchers have expired'. River boats are unique because they can float in just five to six feet of water. Water levels on the Rhine River are set to fall close to the point where the river cannot hold ships anymore. I never come across a big bunch of ignorant, geriatric, moronic a$$holes as this group I had came across today! On the last day, all running water was turned off until we left the ship. Booking # XXXXXXX Viking suggested that I should talk to my travel insurance company to reimburse the cost of additional airfare cost. An apology is not good enough. The cruise line said it was evaluating 2022 itineraries that visit Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. Part refund, at least 25%. The cruise line offered her future cruise vouchers worth 125 percent of her fare. Viking changed their policy after they took all our money, lured us into taking now worthless vouchers. Pharaohs & Pyramids. A sales representative ******. The two most popular are the Rhine and the Danube. This also had the water turned off and was unable to flush. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Oceania officials said Russian and Ukrainian ports would be removed from 2022 itineraries, while Viking River Cruises canceled . Telling us that a voucher has no cash value is a shoddy business practice at best. My husband and I were excited about our long awaited cruise next May. 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. Europe has many rivers where cruise lines operate. We called Viking and there is nothing that they will do to be able to use the over $7,000 paid for the trip. Weve taken note of your feedback and if you'd like discuss your trip further and welcome you to email TellUs@vikingcruises.com with your booking information. 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. 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 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. Bad cruise experience, shore excursions, bad weather bad handling, cold food, etc. It turns out that for the most part, if the ship sank, we would be high and dry standing on the sun deck. Sandi. Read full review of Viking River Cruises For Further Assistance 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. 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. Change of travel requirements after full payment received/ignoring request for full refund. The departure flight from ******* was delayed due to the storm. I am extremely disappointed that a once in a lifetime trip I have been looking forward to for two years is now marred before we even get on the ship. This happened 52 days before sailing. Plus Ups are excluded. We have spent $25,000.00 including air far which we are also going to lose if not used by 12/31/2023. If the whole itinerary is changed, youll get to sail the new itinerary and receive a 100% future cruise credit to book another cruise. We used these to book on cruise OJUXXXXXX Booking Number XXXXXXX. Only in very rare circumstances are the sailings canceled outright. The pandemic has not ended, and some sailings have been cancelled due to too many Covid-19 cases onboard. It would seem to be a reasonable and simple request. 2023-2025 OCEAN CRUISE AND AIR SAVINGS: Offer applies to bookings made from March 1-31, 2023. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. **** called finally, apologized and said that he 'misread the rules', misunderstood the rules and this isn't a big deal (his attitude). About 20 poeple's bag on the flight didn't make it. Please view our privacy policy for details about the information we share with our partners. "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,. Viking's river cruises are aboard Viking Longships and have a maximum of 190 guests. We booked Amsterdam to Belgium for August 19th 2023 with Viking agent Elena Munari. These hotels are Marriott and hilton properties that have such rooms. Scenic. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. This was a question that I asked myself before booking my Rhine River cruise. I was sailing aboard the Avalon Vista two months ago on a cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland along the Rhine River. But due to a serious health issue we along with our Drs said that it was not feasible for us to go. 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. The couple shore excursions we went on were lame and horrible. International Association of Better Business Bureaus. My family of 4 has booked a Viking cruise with a pre and post cruise excursion. I have always liked Viking cruises and have been on 13, counting the one I am currently on. 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. The Po River flows 400 miles across the top of Italy from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea. 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. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. The Viking Ocean Cruises 2022 Grand Polynesia Voyage has come to a triumphant completion in Los Angeles. We also carry about 500 tons of water, that is ballast and fresh water for the guests.. Weve been cruising since March with no issues until August, said Schreiner. After an 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. SPRING SALE Special Fares Reduced Airfare Dates: Availability: This insurance company is worthless and doesn't live up to the stated reimbursements as advertised in its' brochure. 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. Many passengers were distressed by the lack of fresh water. Expires March 31, 2023. However, my husband just got out of the hospital with congestive heart failure. This allowed Viking to retain the majority of our payment since We booked a cruise in 2019 to sail early in 2020. We paid for Travel Protection They feature elegant Scandinavian design, spacious staterooms with large verandas, and both indoor and al . Where the European rivers have locks and dams to control water levels, ships can still sail problem-free. Holland America Cruise Line | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. 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. Desired outcome: Cancellation conditions 2. 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. Expected weather conditions during the cruise. Had a planned eastern European river cruise starting mid-October for over a year. Viking is bringing back river cruises to Europe in July. Desired outcome: Guests will have 24 months to select their new date and use their Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Voucher to make a new reservation on any river, ocean or expedition cruise. They offered us a 150 dollar non refundable credit to be used onboard. 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. It turns out that during the second half of the cruise, we were in a heat wave, experiencing very hot temperatures. As a result, river levels are falling to critical levels. If water levels are low, cargo ships cannot carry their normal loads of freight. We were running between the airlines at ***** to find out what was going on, very frustrating. Booking number: *******. This is an awful company to deal with. . I encourage all Americans to do the same. We also paid Port Tax for Honduras even though they chose not to book and pay to use the pier there. They said they did not think we could get a refund as our money had been converted to a voucher and vouchers were not refundable with our insurance. The draft is the amount of vessel that is below the water line. What does Viking do Nothing. Not one thing but some flowers in the rain and unsafe steps and more Booking number 7141933 Viking Mississippi - As of January 23, 2023 Due to damage from substantial river debris to the Viking Mississippi 's propulsion system, the ship will undergo repairs requiring the cancellation of upcoming departures. Since the ships are nearly identical, if you do transfer to another ship, you should be in a similar stateroom as the original ship. The even occurred in February of 2023. You dont know a week or 10 days in advance what will happen with the water levels. 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. We paid for the trip and had trip insurance. Thanks for reaching out, M Mulmech., although we regret to learn of your disappointment with your hotel arrangements. Viking refused to admit to us that we were misinformed, and did not apologize, but their policy will not change. All Mekong River cruises through Vietnam and Cambodia have been suspended until November 30. . In fact, how a business responds to customer complaints is one of the most significant components of the BBB Business Rating. Posted May 4, 2021. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. During our Antarctica cruise, as suggested by the on board customer services, we submitted our request for the reimbursement with receipts. Only in very rare circumstances are the sailings canceled outright. A river level that is too high or too low can affect an otherwise great cruising experience. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. #VikingVictims. Unfortunately, my husband unexpectedly passed away last month. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. This is known as ship swapping. Risk-Free Guarantee: How it Works I advised Viking that my wife and I could not get the vaccine ever and asked for a refund of our primary payment. These conditions include: Lately, Europe has seen temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). My bag is still missing and I will request (!) By doing investigation on this subject and timeline of events revealed that we are not alone in this situation. We look forward to exploring the world with you, whenever and wherever you choose to sail with us. Cruise was not very happy because this was a Christmas Market cruise and many of the markets were closed or food only due to the dates. Ships might be able to pass through a tricky spot, like Kaub, today but not tomorrow, or cant this week but can next week. Due to Covid pandemic our cruise got cancelled. *In Canada, trademark(s) of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, used under License. Courtesy Sheila Davies. took the call and told us that schedule wouldn't be available most likely till January 2023. We accepted and paid an additional insurance premium. We were told that since we used vouchers we were not eligible for a refund per policy. However, you wont be entirely out of luck if your itinerary changes once you arrive at your ship. 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. 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. We are told now that change is not possible at all because vouchers have expired. Not for the voucher amount. The photo is from my first premium, international award flight in 2012. ******************************************************************************************************************************** We were looking for the same cruise we originally booked but for 2024. My bag didn't make it. Refund on premium air payments that we did not receive in premiumservice. the Lufthansa person told me I need to fill out the form required for returning Americans to USA and she was not helpful .I missed my flight and had to stay overnight to a dingy hotel in tears in a French country who doesn't really want to help you . This offer covers all Viking reservations that are made between November 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 on any 2022 voyage. 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 ********************* ********. We rebooked our trip but Viking canceled it again and another voucher was issued. He will call us immediately - he said. 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.. Scheduled and rescheduled elder family care and pet sitting services. It goes against our guidelines to offer incentives for reviews. We hope that the flexibility provided by this guarantee truly puts your mind at ease when it comes to the decision of whether or not to travel. Instead, in the most extreme cases, AmaWaterways will create a new itinerary. They said they did. Information provided by various external sources. 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. Feb 1, 2023. We used our voucher prior to the expiration of the voucher, to book a cruise for March of 2023. Viking has lost four loyal customers with 10 past cruises between us. Companies can ask for reviews via automatic invitations. But it is for us. Europe is now seeing the same kind of climate change conditions that are affecting the Western United States. Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews. Karin Price Mueller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. By. I contacted Viking and was told the vouchers were not refundable because we had not cancelled at least 2 weeks prior to departure. The bottom line is, we have ********* at VRC. We booked a river cruise from Istanbul to Venice. To date we have sent a certified *** ****** ***** letter to VRC and had no response. 2023 Trustpilot, Inc. All rights reserved. After many failed conversations with Viking Cruise customer service reps to obtain reassurance that we will automatically receive Booking number 7141933 . Refund on premium air payments that we did not receive in premiumservice. Now I see all this advertisement that waives ar fares , deposits and other things we paid for Horrible company in terms of customer service. We accepted the vouchers in good faith. This would mean that river cruise lines could face severe disruptions . For information about your specific voyage, please log onto MyVikingJourney.com. On July 10th, 2022 my husband called Viking to inquire when the schedule becomes available. "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. I am going to seek legal advice to, but this ridiculous policy has added hugely to my grieving. The ship can welcome up to 386 passengers, and. 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. But now some of those waterway dreams seem set to run aground. This requirement was enacted after we booked this trip . 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. SA. Posted September 18, 2021. . Viking has cancelled all 2022 departures of its Russian river cruise itineraries and ceased all operations in the country for the remainder of the year. We will never try Viking again! For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs cruise newsletter. Published on May 21, 2021. Heres what you need to know. This met the 11/30 deadline for a "risk free guarantee" enabling change of plans up to 24 hours before sailing. In a statement issued to the Star Tribune, Viking confirmed that some of the ship's first scheduled departures were canceled this summer, and that the luxury vessel is temporarily operating. Call us at 800-454-0927 to speak to a Cruise Concierge today. Simply make the simple changes to the hotel reservations so that one of the rooms includes two beds. Winston Folkers. The dream vacation I have waited for 8 years has gone down the drain. 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. How could we?? Viking Cruise recommends that their customers insure their travel & trip with Trip Mate Travel Insurance. Sure we were free but that's no excuse. They are just taking the thousands of dollars we gave them from us and we are getting nothing in return. Sheila Davies is a retired gas industry professional based in Northumberland, England. 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. The sailings. Italy is in the worst drought in over 70 years. over night stay we got back to Cincinnati the next day. 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. Many passengers were still on board at this time and were unable to flush toilets or wash their hands. You can see why people are worried. We are cancelling our river cruise due to viking's heavy handed covid vaccine requirement. Viking Neptune is a new ship that will join the fleet in 2022. It is the standard architecture that gives the river boat some leeway with rising and falling river levels. He was assertive and very confident, pushy and eager to make the booking. Please Note: 1) Terms & Conditions for Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers can be found here. Because of the positive test result as well as his need for further dr evaluation, we had no choice but to cancel the trip. I have three times tried to contact Viking, by phone, email, and chat. He replied "absolutely no way both medically and because ************ weakens her immune system!" It is a basic human right to be able to have access to flushing toilets and handwasting facilities. 4. Why didn't Viking pay to dock? We never sign or agree to sail with vaccines passport as requirement.No one respond our emails or our attorney except a woman name ******************************* that behaves like an iron wall to talk to anyone else.