All I got was 'you must pay in full for your trip before booking extras'. Other than the hassle of packing up in the middle of the cruise, travelers still get the full Rhine experience they paid for. About 20 poeple's bag on the flight didn't make it. The departure flight from ******* was delayed due to the storm. Learn more. The booking # is *******. From now through March 31, 2022, Viking is offering special rates starting at $599 (not including airfare) on all 2022 and 2023 departures. Our trip was canceled and a voucher was issued. During our Antarctica cruise, as suggested by the on board customer services, we submitted our request for the reimbursement with receipts. The other typical plan is to put the passengers on buses to get around the affected areas. After an Fraud and deception! The difference between what they gave us as a credit for a 2023 cruise (which we booked so we didn't lose all of our money) and what we originally paid is $3,494 dollars. 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. - Refusal to honor its cancellation policy, Viking trip shortened due to weather, no refund. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Scenic. All Mekong River cruises through Vietnam and Cambodia have been suspended until November 30. . London was on an older plane with 3 seats on the left and right. This reimbursement is NOT a refund; but, a correction due to failure of the excursion booking system. Call a Viking Expert at 0800 319 66 60 or see your Travel Advisor. **** said he would monitor the schedule and will alert us the very day it comes out. Viking River Cruises Viking Rolf (Photo: Viking River Cruises) After contacting viking to inform the situation, Viking booked another flight for us. Only in very rare circumstances are the sailings canceled outright. 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 are unable to meet VRC health requirements to participate in one of their cruises. BBB is here to help. Very disappointing. I am writing about booking number 7045921 sailed Jan.12 2023. BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. You dont know a week or 10 days in advance what will happen with the water levels. 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. Viking offered us to support the company and not get a refund if we accepted a voucher of 125% Guests have the option to transfer their reservation to 2022; receive a 100% future cruise credit . We booked a Viking cruise from Venice to Athens in late 2020 for September 2021. If you are concerned about the water level on your upcoming river cruise, do your due diligence before you take any action. We had not received any response from Viking about 10 days. US. Look at the Mekong you dont cruise in May, June, July and August because its too hot. I had to cancel due to ill health and provided over five months notice. Thank you. The Po River flows 400 miles across the top of Italy from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea. We booked a river cruise (Danube) for March 2022. 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. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. Its not an American company so they feel like they can treat Americans any way they want. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. We would much rather be able to post how considerate Viking has been (as well as how much we enjoyed the cruise!) This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Any comments Viking? $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. You will, however, still get a vacation in Europe, even if its not the one you expected. Another section of river that can be negatively affected by low water levels is the Danube, past the last lock in Slovakia heading downriver toward Hungary. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. The draft is the amount of vessel that is below the water line. They offered us a 150 dollar non refundable credit to be used onboard. They said they did. How could we?? ), We booked a cruise in 2019 to sail early in 2020. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Not for the voucher amount. ST PAUL, Minn. There's been a lot of fanfare surrounding America's Great River cruise operated by Viking Cruises. Water levels are unpredictable and can vary day by day, depending on what the weather brings. We have since then tried to book a trip two times, and the required medical of a vaccine status made us cancel again. We have a very good rain forecast for this Thursday/Friday, and fairly heavy rains coming, so [the situation] might change.. Just return on our river cruise . Viking river cruises have posted an advisory from Danube River cruises that ship swapping may occur. I am truly an "out-of-the-box" traveler which has enriched my travel experiences. We appreciate you sharing your experience, Marie, although we regret to hear of your disappointment. I won't be booking any future cruise with them. 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. Viking is probably the most unsympathetic/unprofessional company I have ever experienced. 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. 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. 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. We booked a January 2021 cruise. In 2021, the cruise line plans to launch their seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus. Share. 2022. The Risk-Free Guarantee allows guests to change their cruise date up until 14 days before their planned departureand Viking will waive any fees. Should you wish to change your reservation, you can choose which policy works best for you: Vikings Risk-Free Guarantee or standard cancellation policy. The whole point of purchasing trip insurance, especially in this time of Covid, was to protect ourselves in the event of a last minute emergency. We would appreciate any help you can provide in helping us to get the rest of our money back. Refund on premium air payments that we did not receive in premiumservice. We used these to book on cruise OJUXXXXXX Booking Number XXXXXXX. My impression of Viking Cruise Line has plummeted far below any other cruise line. This river begins in the Alps near the Italy-French border and is fed by snowmelt. Guests and travel advisors with affected departures have been notified. 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. Viking has lost four loyal customers with 10 past cruises between us. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. It is a basic human right to be able to have access to flushing toilets and handwasting facilities. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. 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. Other viking customers from ******* on the same cruise were also booked the same flight. Learn more. A river level that is too high or too low can affect an otherwise great cruising experience. We booked a Viking River Cruise with AAA travel in August of 2019 for $14,497 for two people which excludes the insurance cost. *In Canada, trademark(s) of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, used under License. Viking, which operates both ocean and river cruises, has canceled all 2022 departures from its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary . In May, Viking canceled that cruise. River boats are unique because they can float in just five to six feet of water. Ships might be able to pass through a tricky spot, like Kaub, today but not tomorrow, or cant this week but can next week. Plus Ups are excluded. Beware of Viking excursion policies. I purchased two of each of the following through ACH: This guarantee is combinable with all other Viking offers available. I contacted Trip Mate and was told the vouchers were not covered and that I needed to contact Viking because they handled vouchers. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. If the level is too low, the vessel may run aground or need an alternative docking arrangement. (I doubt theyll get that right). We rebooked our trip but Viking canceled it again and another voucher was issued. Maximum capacities of 164 passengers and 47 crew. My family of 4 has booked a Viking cruise with a pre and post cruise excursion. 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. Mind you, my cruise cost over $27,000. 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. 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. We have taken note of your feedback. 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. In some cases, an itinerary may be adjusted with certain destinations dropped and new ones added. On the last day, all running water was turned off until we left the ship. 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 We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. An apology is not good enough. Simply make the simple changes to the hotel reservations so that one of the rooms includes two beds. 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. Taking over the Hilton in Taupo NZ, they were obnoxious. Thank you. Cannot go on a cruise if not jabbed even to countries which have no covid requirements any more. The problem with river cruises is that they are affected by both high and low water levels. Recent updates have been made to cancellation schedules and refund guidelines for various cruise lines. Ocean cruise ships usually have at least 25 feet or more or more of draft which would preclude them from river cruising. On top of that, they are asking for me to pay additional same $ 9,000. amount for me to go on this journey alone! They will charge you a lot of money but would not care for you at the end of the day.The places I saw needed much to be desiredI was told that at the airport someone will help us until we boarded our plane. Check here before booking an award fare. You dont cruise in Egypt in June/July because its too hot. If you happen to be in the same position there is a group forming to file a class action law suit against Viking. Seems the generous cancellation risk free ended 30 June and despite booking direct with Viking no mention of the changes was made. I was told Viking doesnt own the hotel and the hotel will not let me make a change since Viking handled the booking. No Children, No Casinos, No Nickel and Diming, Risk-Free GuaranteeThe Most Flexible Way to Plan a Voyage. 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. 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. I purchased a cruise for my wife and myself then Covid hit. This was our second cruise, I would have to say our first one was wonderful, this one was not bad. No materials from this website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way. We will be again canceling our trip. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. We also ensure all reviews are published without moderation. Courtesy Sheila Davies. 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. This also had the water turned off and was unable to flush. Viking, please give an explanation. over night stay we got back to Cincinnati the next day. 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 were never verbally informed when booking that the actual voucher would expire even if we rebooked again. Telling us that a voucher has no cash value is a shoddy business practice at best. In the case of low water, the crew can dump the ballast water and reduce the freshwater to 60 tons (two days worth), and just refill as needed. We missed 2 ports of call and 1/3 of our sites to see the auroras. Cruises - Very disappointed with Viking River Cruises - Reservation # 2672768 We were supposed to do a river cruise and ended up doing a motor coach tour due to low river levels. My bag didn't make it. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. At the other end of the Po, ocean water has flooded the last 12 miles of the river damaging crops and contaminating drinking water. This complaint has been resolved automatically due to user's inactivity. We will not cancel any cruises, said Shreiner. How is this hard? I ask if I could have the number to her managers boss she said no. "We will not cancel any cruises," said Shreiner. 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. Labeled Verified, theyre about genuine experiences.Learn more about other kinds of reviews. Schreiner does not hold with that assertion because river cruise lines simply adjust their schedules year after year for optimal weather conditions. Crystal River Cruises has canceled its four remaining Crystal Ravel sailings this December. This years summer drought in Europe could affect your upcoming river cruise, but its highly unlikely your cruise will be canceled outright. This they We accepted and paid an additional insurance premium. The bottom line is, we have ********* at VRC. 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. A place on the excursion I tried to book. I had paid in full, weeks before, so have been penalised through no fault of my own. By the time I could ring Viking, the excursion was sold out and the drinks package price had increased. 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. We are not asking for a refund for the vouchers but to simply have them reissued to be used toward another cruise. I thought that Viking was reputable, so I put too much faith in them. We have spent $25,000.00 including air far which we are also going to lose if not used by 12/31/2023. Water levels on the Rhine River are set to fall close to the point where the river cannot hold ships anymore. Not at all, according to Rudi Schreiner, president and co-founder AmaWaterways as long as youre willing to be a little bit flexible. 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! Fosse's cruise and land tour to Eastern Europe became a casualty of COVID-19. Viking changed their policy after they took all our money, lured us into taking now worthless vouchers. The vaccinations mean nothing anyway. Please Note: 1) Terms & Conditions for Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers can be found here. That's our policy. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. 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. 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. Check with your cruise line on current cruising conditions and what you can expect from them. Sure we were free but that's no excuse. 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. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. I appreciate the time. Travel Codex is owned by Travel Codex, LLC. SPRING SALE Special Fares Reduced Airfare Dates: Availability: The cruise line offered her future cruise vouchers worth 125 percent of her fare. No partial refund was given and I lost the total deposit of $1000.I understand that the T&Cs outline the refund policy. A *** incentive ********** was offered and accepted by us to use toward future booking. She is scheduled to start ************ this week. SA. Then before the departure, Viking cancelled operations and offered us vouchers for future cruises. The flight from Amman Jordan to If have a river cruise planned for the end of the summer or the fall, should you be concerned? The Rhine River is more sensitive in terms of river flow because it lacks the dams that are on the Danube River. Pharaohs & Pyramids. My only hope now is for someone to cancel what I want.About time to give my loyalty to another cruise line. Steve is a life-long avgeek and a points and miles player. This was told to me by two separate employees. Viking is bringing back river cruises to Europe in July. By doing investigation on this subject and timeline of events revealed that we are not alone in this situation. We feel we should get the $3,494 dollars refunded to us. Our ships have a very low draftabout five feet, he explained. Expires March 31, 2023. It's a human right to have access to fresh water and clean sanitation. Really, what is a big deal here? Had a planned eastern European river cruise starting mid-October for over a year. Viking Mississippi is one of Viking's largest river ships, measuring 450 feet (137 meters) long and weighing approximately 5,000 gross tons. I had insurance and filed a claim. 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. 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. Think 3 times before booking with Viking!!! Booked a trip just before covid hit which had to be canceled for obvious reasons. 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. See details. For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs cruise newsletter. Thu 13 Jan 2022 01.00 EST Last modified on Thu 13 Jan 2022 18.22 EST. On the next British Airways flight from London to Philadelphia, The Don't sail Viking unless you are guaranteed of going on the trip. Desired outcome: "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,.

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