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. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. I'm with Robin (see below). Wouldnt that booking choice make it clear to Viking that pre and post excursion bookings would also require separate beds? No materials from this website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way. 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. Europe is experiencing unprecedented drought and heat conditions. This insurance company is worthless and doesn't live up to the stated reimbursements as advertised in its' brochure. Claire and Stanley Keyles planned a dream vacation for June 2020. It is time for Viking to do the same and act like a cruise line instead of a medical facility. 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. Why didn't Viking pay to dock? Poulsbo, Washington. Royal Caribbean International | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. In June, there were places along the Po that completely dried up. You can see why people are worried. Also lost out on the cruise vouchers. Please DO NOT add attachments that contain your or other peoples personal information, if you dont want it to be visible to the public. Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating, My husband and I took an Antarctica cruise with Viking Octantis Dec 25 to Jan 7' as an all inclusive trip, all airfares and transportations were included . Viking Ocean Ships Currently Sailing: Viking Jupiter Viking Orion Viking Mars Viking Neptune Viking Saturn Viking Sea Viking Sky Viking Star Viking Venus He was assertive and very confident, pushy and eager to make the booking. As a consequence all water amenities, main pool, infinity pool, jacuzzi and spa were closed for the whole of the cruise! For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs cruise newsletter. Viking Cruise recommends that their customers insure their travel & trip with Trip Mate Travel Insurance. I contacted Trip Mate and was told the vouchers were not covered and that I needed to contact Viking because they handled vouchers. It is the standard architecture that gives the river boat some leeway with rising and falling river levels. "We will not cancel any cruises," said Shreiner. We were being reimbursed for the cash amount paid but not the amount of the vouchers. Plus Ups are excluded. It's a human right to have access to fresh water and clean sanitation. 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. Heres what you need to know. At Viking, your experience means the world to us. Not for the voucher amount. 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. We booked a January 2021 cruise. Special fares plus Free airfare valid on select 2023 departures of Eastern Seaboard Explorer and Canada & New England Scenic Shores. We didn't get to see Honduras as Viking tried to use their own tender to get to shore. The booking # is *******. We used these to book on cruise OJUXXXXXX Booking Number XXXXXXX. We were never verbally informed when booking that the actual voucher would expire even if we rebooked again. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. But this is one American that will never sail with this awful company ever again. 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. If you voluntarily cancel your cruise you may only get a partial or no refund depending on how close to departure you cancel your cruise. Cannot go on a cruise if not jabbed even to countries which have no covid requirements any more. Companies will need more ships to carry the same amount of cargo, increasing transportation costs all of which have a negative impact on the European economy. Viking's treatment of it's customers makes no sense.they combined two of my trips (without asking) into one "butterfly trip" which meant when I had to cancel the first, it cancelled the 2nd. We did not see ANY of Spain. We are older and don't want to keep rescheduling this with the hopes of one day being permitted to board their ship. Posted September 18, 2021. Voyages offering the excursion to Floriade 2022 operate between July 16 and August 27, 2022 aboard River Empress. We paid some #10,000 for premium air. Some years, low water levels caused disruptions as early as June and some years as late as October. The problem with river cruises is that they are affected by both high and low water levels. As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. "The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority," a Viking representative told Travel Market Report. 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. Sure we were free but that's no excuse. We will be again canceling our trip. Learn more. How is this hard? These two rivers are the most popular routes in European river cruising. If the whole itinerary is changed, youll get to sail the new itinerary and receive a 100% future cruise credit to book another cruise. 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 had not received any response from Viking about 10 days. 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. This river begins in the Alps near the Italy-French border and is fed by snowmelt. We rebooked our trip but Viking canceled it again and another voucher was issued. After 5 Viking Viking is probably the most unsympathetic/unprofessional company I have ever experienced. This is due to the cruise line planning on new summer UK domestic cruises for UK vaccinated residents only. This is an awful company to deal with. Maybe 10 years from now we cruise the Danube and Rhine in January/February/March and we stop in the summertime because August is too hot and there are low water areas., We dont know what the future will bring, he continued. The area is protected and thats where you have the low water issues. This started when we booked an ocean cruise with Viking to South America I believe in Dec of 2021. We have taken note of your feedback. ), We booked a cruise in 2019 to sail early in 2020. 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. For that reason, the Rhine River is feeling greater effects of river flow and sooner than compared with the Danube. Verification can help ensure real people write reviews about real companies. 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. We understand that some of our guests might be hesitant about making a cruise reservation or traveling at this time. It, along with the Viking Sky, is classified as a small ship, with 465 staterooms, capable of carrying 930 guests. We paid for the trip and had trip insurance. 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. She and her husband Ed recently took an 8-day cruise on the Viking Venus off the . An insult! "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,. What? Because of COVID, we had to cancel the cruise, and received a voucher from Viking. 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. What? 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 and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 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. BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period. Tauck says it deals with compensation on a case-by-case basis. Thank you. Bad cruise experience, shore excursions, bad weather bad handling, cold food, etc. It was our first river cruise it was 23 days Bucharest to Amsterdam with Viking . In this case, you will receive a full refund of your cruise fare. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. However, the same problems do not affect river cruise ships. 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. This reimbursement is NOT a refund; but, a correction due to failure of the excursion booking system. , I am out the $3500 no matter what) and a friend who will take my place must pay her full share of the room as well! Viking Ocean Cruises. Desired outcome: The flight from Amman Jordan to See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. 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. 05 Aug 2022. Does anyone know if Trip Mate customers have or are considering a class action suit against the company for fraud? Enrollment required. Booking 6819824. Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews. Enrollment required. This content has not been approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. More details in attachment. Not at all, according to Rudi Schreiner, president and co-founder AmaWaterways as long as youre willing to be a little bit flexible. Not impressed and wi never book another trip with this company. Booking # XXXXXXX Simply make the simple changes to the hotel reservations so that one of the rooms includes two beds. The Po River flows 400 miles across the top of Italy from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea. In November 2020, we rebooked, the Cities of Antiquity and Holy Land Cruise, scheduled for Nov-Dec 2022, paying the additional fare. Don't sail Viking unless you are guaranteed of going on the trip. The guest services lady said well you can complain at the Share your photos and videos with others to prove the truth of your words. The plane returned to the gate and he was transported to the local hospital. The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customers satisfaction. (I doubt theyll get that right). The bottom line is, we have ********* at VRC. Beware of Viking excursion policies. Viking allows those who book the most expensive rooms to book first. passengers asked if ports on the new itinerary may close and if there's a chance the cruise could be canceled while underway. Other viking customers from ******* on the same cruise were also booked the same flight. They just decided to keep our hard earning money. This offer covers all Viking reservations that are made between November 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 on any 2022 voyage. Viking has lost four loyal customers with 10 past cruises between us. Multiple tests were run, including a Covid test, which came back positive. 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 booked the *********** cruise with Viking prior to COVID *****************. I advised Viking that my wife and I could not get the vaccine ever and asked for a refund of our primary payment. Read full review of Viking River Cruises There are critical points, like the one on the Rhine River, right in the Rhine Gorge, Schreiner explained. How the Coronavirus Might Impact My Upcoming Viking River Cruise, Update: My Viking River Cruise And Their Coronavirus Response, Reivew: Nile River Cruise on the Grand Princess Amwaj. On the last day, all running water was turned off until we left the ship. Find the right card for you. NEVER BUY A VIKING CRUISE VOUCHERWe will be sailing with a different cruise line and will not be back to Viking. Instead, in the most extreme cases, AmaWaterways will create a new itinerary. This would mean that river cruise lines could face severe disruptions . If the level is too low, the vessel may run aground or need an alternative docking arrangement. I had to cancel due to ill health and provided over five months notice. 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. 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. We paid for Travel Protection Why all other passages under the same situation had no such problem were not explained by Viking. A place on the excursion I tried to book. We accepted the vouchers in good faith. Customers should not be treated this way. 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. Viking River Cruises The line is canceling all 2022 departures of its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 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. 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. 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. 1. Viking Mississippi is one of Viking's largest river ships, measuring 450 feet (137 meters) long and weighing approximately 5,000 gross tons. Desired outcome: Another factor that should be considered is trip insurance. We booked a river cruise from Istanbul to Venice. I told a member of staff about this and was directed to use a toilet on the top deck. Desired outcome: This is known as ship swapping. 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. Due to my cancellations, Viking held onto $8,000 of my Funds for about two years. Unlike other river cruise lines, however, were very fortunate that we also operate numerous land tours throughout the region, so we have a fantastic network of local supplier-partners that we can leverage as necessary should alternate arrangements become necessary.. This was our second cruise, I would have to say our first one was wonderful, this one was not bad. I complained initially that I was not given a direct flight. Viking Venus : cruise round Med and on to Israel.This was a wonderful itinerary , a beautiful ship , excellent food and service. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Having trip insurance may pay you in full depending on your coverage. By doing investigation on this subject and timeline of events revealed that we are not alone in this situation. Posted May 4, 2021. This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback. This is our third time to book a trip, and in 2023, the medical requirement is still in place. Instead, in the most extreme cases, AmaWaterways will create a new itinerary. Not enough for the money hungry cruise line. Many passengers were still on board at this time and were unable to flush toilets or wash their hands. She is scheduled to start ************ this week. On the other end, river boats are built with a shallow draft of about six feet deep to avoid hitting the river bottom. Expires March 31, 2023. This made it impossible to catch the next flight from ***** to buenos Aries. It's been three years now that Viking has held my family's money hostage because we don't wish to take the jab. Their ad is wonderful but after all is said and done it is all crap. $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. This years summer drought in Europe could affect your upcoming river cruise, but its highly unlikely your cruise will be canceled outright. Why? It is February 1st today and I went online to book excursions for a trip almost 3 months from now. Obviously a 2 week notice was impossible in our situation. The photo is from my first premium, international award flight in 2012. Find out how we combat fake reviews. On 10/12 as our plane was taxiing for departure, my husband suffered a medical emergency. Viking Cruises has cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. If the region has had an excess of rain, raising the river greatly, the river ship may have problems clearing bridges and other obstacles. Europe is now seeing the same kind of climate change conditions that are affecting the Western United States. Think 3 times before booking with Viking!!! By. Virgin Voyages. We said yes. I explain ship swapping in the section: . "We are currently evaluating itineraries that call. 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. We are cancelling our river cruise due to viking's heavy handed covid vaccine requirement. Oceania officials said Russian and Ukrainian ports would be removed from 2022 itineraries, while Viking River Cruises canceled . We will not be booking with Viking 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. All Mekong River cruises through Vietnam and Cambodia have been suspended until November 30. . A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. We again purchased Vikings trip insurance through Trip Mate to cover the cost of the trip. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. It turns out that for the most part, if the ship sank, we would be high and dry standing on the sun deck. He will call us immediately - he said. Viking Cruises has ceased all operations in Russia this year in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. *In Canada, trademark(s) of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, used under License. We called our AAA travel agent and she notified Viking on September 17,2022, we were scheduled to leave on September 22,2022. 2023 Trustpilot, Inc. All rights reserved. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. My experience with Viking River Cruises is that if they cancel, they will either refund your money or . I am truly an "out-of-the-box" traveler which has enriched my travel experiences. Unlike ocean cruising, river cruising has a lot of fluctuations in water levels. In 2021, the cruise line plans to launch their seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus. 12 reviews. This may involve the cruise line putting you up in one or more hotels and paying for restaurant meals. Expected weather conditions during the cruise. I thought that Viking was reputable, so I put too much faith in them. #VikingVictims. The good news is that there are not the mass cancellations we saw in 2020. The drought category in England has reached the most severe designation of severe drought. I was sailing aboard the Avalon Vista two months ago on a cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland along the Rhine River. 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. Viking Neptune is a new ship that will join the fleet in 2022. BBB is here to help. In Europe, we dont cruise in January, February and into early March because its too cold, he explained. Because Viking issued a voucher , insurance denied the claim as the voucher was considered a refund Unfortunately, there are still cruises being cancelled in 2022 due to Covid-19 and the uncertainty surrounding it. Learn more. 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. 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. Do your homework and always make informed decisions. We booked a 14 day cruise with extra days upon arrival in ****** and departure in **** in ****. Pharaohs & Pyramids. The confirmation email said cancellation for any reason loss of deposit. ST PAUL, Minn. There's been a lot of fanfare surrounding America's Great River cruise operated by Viking Cruises. 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. Before you decide to. Thank you. RHINE GETAWAY. River boats are unique because they can float in just five to six feet of water. Rather than focusing on the number of complaints, BBB considers how frequently and effectively those complaints are resolved. 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. We booked a Viking River Cruise with AAA travel in August of 2019 for $14,497 for two people which excludes the insurance cost. Steve is a life-long avgeek and a points and miles player. ******************************************************************************************************************************** We were looking for the same cruise we originally booked but for 2024. This met the 11/30 deadline for a "risk free guarantee" enabling change of plans up to 24 hours before sailing. The departure flight from ******* was delayed due to the storm. By March 2020 Viking announced cancellations due to covid, with an additional 25% for a future booking. You could tear down the house and build a dam there, but that is not what is going to happen.. 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. We are unable to meet their requirements and therefore want our funds returned to us. In May, Viking canceled that cruise. The cruise line announced the return of select itineraries in Portugal, France and . Where the European rivers have locks and dams to control water levels, ships can still sail problem-free. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. "But its clear that river cruising is not going away anytime soon.". Viking refused to admit to us that we were misinformed, and did not apologize, but their policy will not change. But now some of those waterway dreams seem set to run aground. Any time theres a heat wave in Europe, especially if coupled with lighter-than-average spring snow melt or rainfall, you can end up with low water in certain parts of Europe. Then in Philadelphia 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. It will take of the expiring vouchers and the booking can be changed with no problem whatsoever once a schedule for 2024 becomes available. Viking Cruises. 12/21- 12/28/2022 Very disappointing. If ships have to lighten their loads to cross shallow water, fewer goods can be transported at once. Business Section was crowded 8 units wide while first class just in front The cruise lines plan their itineraries to mitigate this risk. You dont cruise in Egypt in June/July because its too hot. 4. A weighted-down ship sinks lower in the water and therefore needs more distance from the water line to the river bottom to sail safely without scraping the riverbed. Viking River Cruises Viking Rolf (Photo: Viking River Cruises) Now I see all this advertisement that waives ar fares , deposits and other things we paid for Horrible company in terms of customer service. It goes against our guidelines to offer incentives for reviews. My family of 4 has booked a Viking cruise with a pre and post cruise excursion. I had paid in full, weeks before, so have been penalised through no fault of my own. We used our voucher prior to the expiration of the voucher, to book a cruise for March of 2023. But there is nothing we can do, your vouchers have expired'. 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. 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. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. There is rock on the bottom; theres also this little house in the middle of the river. Viking will not honor this request. This complaint was posted by a verified customer. We will never try Viking again! Here is a message that appears on the Viking River Cruise webpage: The cruise line may elect to cancel your cruise. You will be cruising, you will be enjoying," he said. Call to book now: 1-800-207-7286. I contact Viking customer relations, and was first told that the flight tickets were paid by Viking already. If you book a river cruise, you acknowledge that you might not get the exact itinerary you signed up for. Desired outcome: 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. The couple shore excursions we went on were lame and horrible. My bag is still missing and I will request (!) 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 ********************* ********. The climate in Europe is changing and not for the better. The line said it was also evaluating 2022 itineraries that call in Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary.
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