Cancellation conditions 1. Cruise itself starts 11/25I just sent chat to Viking re: Austria in lockdown for ALL starting 22nd no activities or businesses will be open. air is received. Of course there are unexpected circumstances that may necessitate setting aside policy. Calls to St. Petersburg will be replaced by destinations in Finland and Estonia. The law requires vessels traveling between U.S. ports to carry U.S. crews and to be U.S.-owned, U.S.-registered and U.S.-built. TA's have no problem getting better terms. I called immediately and was given very little information, only that we could reschedule for the trip during 2023 or 2024 with a 110 percent credit, said Richard Pletcher, who is in his 70s. Rivers; Oceans; Expeditions; Complimentary Brochures; Call Viking at 1-800-304-9616 or Contact Your Travel Advisor. They then said it is 21 Business days. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Both packages are priced from USD 50000 per person . Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Since weve been together last 37 years weve done an enormous amount of traveling, Wasserman said. The travel insurance was purchased with Tripmate through Viking, Wasserman said. This may help protect your travel investment, your belongings and most importantly, you, from many unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, including costs of circumstances that may arise related to COVID. But, if youd rather have a refund for your canceled cruise, you need to request it from Viking before August 24, 2020. Orient Express Is Launching the World's Largest Luxury Superyacht, Hurtigruten's 'Northern Lights Promise' Ensures Every Cruiser Sees Auroras, What It's Like to Cruise Around French Polynesia on Windstar's Star Breeze, These Cruise Lines Will Require COVID-19 Vaccines To Sail, Despite What Cruise Lines Say, You Wont Be Setting Sail in May, My Favorite Luxury Cruise Line Is Setting Sail Again. Passengers have called the latter easier said than done as trips fill up years in advance. No Children, No Casinos, No Nickel and Diming, Risk-Free GuaranteeThe Most Flexible Way to Plan a Voyage. I feel a TA may have more influence speaking to Viking, in that they represent MANY customers, while an individual calling for themselves represents a single customer. States further updates from the Chairman in December. The cruise lines should step up and just cancel the season. The ship has now begun sailing with her first guests, but we are still putting the finishing touches on the overall experience and refining the itinerary, the letter continues. @Glammee if you are on board, have a splendid time. Wasserman originally wanted to transfer the cruise to his step-daughter, but the company would not allow it, he said. But they did keep $300 total unrefunded - $100 each cancellation penalty plus $50 each air penalty. Viking Saturn will officially be named in New York on June 6 by its godmother, philanthropist and chairman of the Metropolitan Opera Ann Ziff. It is best for everyone. ", "Cruise Lines Cancel Scheduled Stops in Russia, Ukraine. Just my humble opinion. Two down, 25 in the EU to go. I just got off of the phone with Viking. There is this misconception about when Viking must be paid. Every dollar paid for cruise, air, taxes, fees or surcharges can be paid by echeck, including regular-priced itineraries and airfare, any special offers or Viking Air Plus services. Best New Cruise Ships and Itineraries for Alaskan Cruise! Viking Mississippi will be a brand new ship that is designed specifically to sail on the Mississippi River offering all of the great features their Longships have in Europe. When more than one cruise is booked, deposit and payment policies apply per Cruise Fare. Three weeks ago, we did request refunds on all our extra excursions and these refunds have yet to show up on the credit card. But did cancel some optional excursions and pre paid gratuities just to get a head start in case we do cancel the entire cruise. My post referred to us using a travel agent. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link, Change your cruise date up to 14 days prior to departure, The ultimate flexibility: You have 24 months to select your new cruise date, Combinable with all other Viking offers. We have a cruise in Oct, and like you, they have held our money for a year already. We will be doing the Rhine in December on Crystal. However we are talking a lot of money and there are so many unknowns right now. This guarantee is combinable with all other Viking offers available. I think that was the air plus? that we paid for to have a say in our flights. The page you were looking for may have moved, been deleted or does not exist. If, or rather when, we cancel that one, if we take the FCC that the offer at that time to rebook something later, it's not inconceivable that they would have held our money for up to 3 years! Cruise Industry News. "Cruise Lines Cancel Scheduled Stops in Russia, Ukraine." 2023-2025 RIVER CRUISE AND AIR SAVINGS: Offer applies to bookings made from April 1-30, 2023. 775 0 obj <>stream Yesterday 8 countys in Bavaria were over 1,000, today its 10 - which means the stricter lockdown with closed hotels and restaurants. However, due to ongoing travel restrictions in Europe and the USA, as well as Canadas and Australias ban on cruise shipping, Viking canceled the entire 2020 program in mid-August. Just wanted to add the Cruise Critic editorial team is working hard to try to get answers from all the major river cruise operators now that Austria has gone into lockdown and Germany may follow. 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. In 2021, the cruise line plans to launch their seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus. countries, 11 days Royal Caribbean Group released a statement canceling stops in St. Petersburg for summer 2022 sailings for all its brands, including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silver Sea. Great to hear Viking allowed you to cancel via telephone; the booking contract stated they required it to be in writing. Our cruise was Sept 4. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. 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. Re: Viking River Cruise cancelling. We are currently on this ship, wrote passenger Dean Siddons on the Facebook page, during a trip to St. Paul on Sept. 15. Bathrooms are superb, even at the lowest category, with glassed-in showers, sleek styling, plenty of storage, Freyja toiletries andthe biggest indulgence of allheated tile floors and towel racks.- Cruise Critic, You May Like: What Cruise Line Goes Around Hawaiian Islands. Whether the company is primarily struggling with the national labor shortage, delayed staff trainings or physical considerations such as supply chain issues impacting particular staterooms remains unclear. We can always rebook. Viking is monitoring the situation and evaluating other itineraries that call in Russia this year, which the line says will require modifications. The cancellations add to the ripple effect Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused throughout the travel industry. Asking for our understanding, loyalty and continued support. I want the same policy from every agent.period! I have to correct this mistake. 0 2) Risk-Free Guarantee for guests who made a reservation between March 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021; 3) Risk-Free Guarantee for guests who made a reservation between May 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021; 4) Risk-Free Guarantee for guests who made a reservation prior to April 30, 2020. So some of the rooms are unavailable for these reasons.. Reuters. TheViking Mississippiwas not located in the storms path at the time, and all guests and crew are safe. @garlinn decided to cancel, which leaves another poster. Are there computers, or should I bring my laptop? Forgot to use it? https://www.euronews.com/2021/11/24/slovakia-becomes-the-second-european-country-to-go-into-lockdown-as-covid-cases-surge, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. I didnt want to ante up that large amount of cash knowing that it could not happen as planned. Speaking of lighting, the bathroom lighting was spectacular. My take away is that it depends who you speak with and which supervisor is working the day you call. (Dave Kettering/Telegraph Herald via AP) A Viking river cruise ship heading . Therefore, Viking has discontinued all on board COVID testing fleetwide. Fleetwide operations were planned to resume on October 1, 2020. This is one instance when having a TA can be helpful. We look forward to exploring the world with you, whenever and wherever you choose to sail with us. Local News | We understand that some of our guests might be hesitant about making a cruise reservation or traveling at this time. When you are covered by the Risk-Free Guarantee you may change your cruise reservation with notification to Viking. Poseidon Expeditions Cancels 2022 Russia, North Pole Programs. Viking Cruises has launched several new river and ocean cruise ships that join their impressive fleet, taking passengers on incredible journeys across the world. Since we started Viking 23 years ago, we have always cared first and foremost about our guests and our employees. For us that was a year prior to sailing. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. Just return your expired voucher to Viking. Powered by Invision Community. With Russia's invasion of Ukraine creating an active war zone in the Baltic, Viking River Cruises, Atlas Ocean Voyages, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Oceania Cruises all canceled port stops or . If not worse in a time when the markets were growing. Medieval Prague, "City of a Thousand Spires". When you are covered by the Risk-Free Guarantee you may change your cruise reservation with notification to Viking. On both the Hamburg-to-Kiel itinerary, departing August 26, and the Kiel-roundtrip sailing, departing September 7, World Navigator will call at Kotka and Mariehamn, Finland instead. Sharkster, I believethat you were able to delay your full payment,but our experience was entirely different. I realize that to this point Viking has offered a generous cancellation policycancelup to 24 hours prior and receive a 125% FCC. 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. Viking is still trying to figure out what they will do about rescheduling cruises for that year. February 28, 2022. Astrid is the Senior Special Projects Editor at TripSavvy and has been with the site since 2016. as I mentioned, the earliest we would be able to cruise if we don't end up doing our Oct '20 one is fall of '21, if there are any left, and at that point, Viking will have held my whole full payment for over 2 years. Some media outlets along the river corridor have pointed to likely supply chain challenges. "Update: Cruise Lines Cancel Ukraine and Russia Calls." Also Check: How Cold Is Alaska Cruise In July. Viking River Cruises canceled all Russian river cruises and its planned Kyiv, Black Sea & Bucharest routes this year due to the events. I would not bet on any river cruise line giving up that business "just" because the Covid infection rate is high. 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. So far, only one line -- Avalon Waterways -- has cancelled its Main and Danube voyages for the rest of the year. Following the naming ceremony, the 930-passenger ship will spend her inaugural summer sailing two new sailings: Iconic Iceland, Greenland & Canada, between New York and Reykjavik, and Iceland & Norway's Arctic Explorer, between Reykjavik and Bergen. I also explained that to move the same cruise to next year, or beyond, is going to cost me approx $2000 more than my current value. However, we will continue to provide testing if a guest reports symptoms, requests a test, or if our Medical Team deems necessary. Sober home operators oppose regulations in MN House bill, state officials say changes necessary Poseidon Expeditions is the latest addition, canceling seven itineraries. | 1 You can read the original investigation below. 2 Viking River Cruises canceled all Russian river cruises and its planned Kyiv, Black Sea & Bucharest routes this year due to the events. We are still waiting for Viking to "refund" OUR money to our credit card. The 136-day itinerary visits 56 ports in 27 countries, with 11 port city overnights and 3x new for Viking cruise ports . Posted November 19, 2020 (edited) Update now posted on Viking's website - all cancelled until end Jan 21 + other in later months due to regional issues. That is why Viking is offering a limited-time offerthe most flexible of any cruise lineso that you can plan your voyage with peace of mind. A few days ago we received a cryptic email from Viking that our itinerary might have changed and so here was a voucher for $499 for a future cruise . So far, only one line -- Avalon Waterways -- has cancelled its Main and Danube voyages for the rest of the year. The scenic route was a gentle way to ease back into cruising. Not that that prevents problems. Spent over $13K for a Viking River Cruise and an extended stay in Paris. For your convenience, Viking offers a Travel Protection Plan. Shorter itinerary segments are also available for booking, including the 119-day Viking World Horizons 2022 that visits 49 ports in 22 countries. Should you wish to change your reservation, you can choose which policy works best for you: Vikings Risk-Free Guarantee or standard cancellation policy. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! The luxury river cruise line, Scenic, scrapped all of its 2022 Russia cruises. I am glad I don't have anything booked but do know some who do and wish the cruise lines would just cancel. It might just push us to get a cash refund now and look for someone else. Uefa moved footballs Champions League final from St Petersburg to Paris and Formula One cancelled the Russian grand prix, which is reportedly potentially set to move to Turkey. They said 21 days for refund. If you have any questions regarding these Terms or the Passenger Ticket Contract, please advise us in writing at Viking River Cruises, Inc., 5700 Canoga Avenue, Suite 200, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. March 1, 2022. VIKING RIVER restarted in July 2021 , VIKINGs Egypt boat in August. All bookings made by April 30, 2020, received Risk-Free Guarantee that allows penalty-free cruise cancellation up to 24 hours prior departure. What common spaces are there on the Viking Mississippi? oIK=?d4E_%sn_R)=&[h@1'{[']q[0G/PIAG| D0Y1 0S.fv G2 L Unlike some other cruise line FCCs, these are fully transferable so if you decide not to use it yourself, you can give it to someone else. Jillian Dara is a freelance journalist and fact-checker. Special savings plus Free airfare valid on select 2024 departures. Here is a sample of what you will see on one of our European river cruises: Visits to Germany's charming wine-producing villages. Fortunately for us we booked last November and can cancel up to 24 hours before the cruise and get 100% FCC. I read all the books of Mark Twain, said Frohnert, a former St. Paul resident who now lives in Rochester, Minn. Over the 56 years weve lived in America, mostly Minnesota, we have traveled to over 85 countries., The only thing left that we wanted to do was to sail up the Mississippi, she continued. hb```a`` B@V 3G c?!xa 3a9>_X9ZU,%3$En_' Viking has made an official announcement on there Web Site Itineraries Affected by Temporary Suspension of OperationsUpdated April 6, 2021 On March 11, 2020, Viking was the first cruise line to suspend operations of our river and ocean cruises. On your scheduled departure, we must operate at a reduced capacity as we continue to ramp up service. ), Minnesota Senate passes bill to legalize recreational marijuana, 'Forever chemicals' exacerbate water issues in Lake Elmo, development still on pause, Charley Walters: Way too early to judge Vikings' pick of Jordan Addison, NFL draft: Vikings swap down, then up, to nab pair of LSU defenders, 'Smiley-face killer' theorist accused of St. Paul sex assault at time of Zamlen search, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! The cruise turned into a very expensive and deceptive bus trip through Europe. Im just not sure what will happen to Viking if this hold on river cruises is prolonged. Last year they tried to hold the line on this and got so much pushback that they backed off. There was worse news to come. 3. Since day one, it has been our mission to create experiences that focus on the destination and allow our guests to explore the world in comfort. Is Viking still going to put you on a "no Christmas markets, sorry folks, Austria scenic sailing only, oops, skipping Bratislava, covid emergency in Hungary, disembark in Budapest, hope you have had a great time with Viking, no refund"-cruise? Our hearts go out to all those impacted by the devastating tornadoes across Mississippi and Alabama. As they're a private company details of things like their financing and debtaren't all that visible, but it seems they didn't useall their own money to pay for at least one of their ocean fleet - it's not a coincidence that Viking Sun was namedin Shanghai. | 4 Better to stay at home. Local News | The sailing, a . Yesterday was 22 days so I called. I'm afraid they won't cancel and we'll end up floating for days on end We are literally are in the same boat as you. Please note that Viking is in the process of notifying guests about these changes to the Viking Health & Safety Program, as well as updating specific requirements for all voyages across documents channels, including on MyVikingJourney.com. Additionally, the August 26 voyage will include a transit of the Kiel Canal, while the September 7 sailing will add a stop in Saaremaa, Estonia. We need twin beds; is this possible? Despite the canceled 2020 cruise season, Viking has high hopes for 2021 and beyond. February 24, 2022. %PDF-1.6 % Main downstream from Wrzburg, Rhine and especially Moselle are better places to be. Has anyone cancelled their Viking River cruise? Maybe even mention that upfront----would they want to lose a sale over this policy? When I inquired about how we go about rescheduling a trip in the future, if we even want to, the response was to check everyday and maybe there would be a cancellation, Richard Pletcher said. If you go on Facebook, there are many people who were dumped. Needless to say, my response did not include any of these qualities.. Neither does my Viking agent. Most cruise lines have enacted extremely fair and lenient refund policies for the time being. The Carnival Sunshine, part of Carnival Cruise Lines' Caribbean fleet. 15 days of eating, testing, visiting Christmas markets that are a regulated event with signs and barriers - when they are actually on - and not knowing if you will make it to Budapest on the ship you started in Amsterdam with, is not fun. Fortunately I have many choices for river cruises and can speak with my wallet. Viking OCEANs product was introduced in May 2015 with the launch of its first vessel MV Viking Star. Thank you for this. Local News | Russia has banned UK airlines from its airspace in response to the UK doing the same for Russian carriers as part of a raft of sanctions slapped on Russia in response to its aggression in Ukraine. She clarified that we did indeed get that as FCC also. In mid-July 2020, Viking Ocean announced the companys Viking World Cruise 2021-2022 planned for MS Viking Star. It's been observed again and again, despite what Viking initially tells you. By If you were booked on any of the canceled Viking river or ocean cruises in 2020, you are entitled to a 125% Future Cruise Voucher for whatever amount you have paid. So when they got a brochure to take a 15-day Viking cruise through the Panama Canal and Central America, Wasserman said his wife couldnt resist. Travel Weekly. I can't see why they are putting profits above well being of their crew and passengers. As of this afternoon, their Romantic Danube departure on the Viking Atla on December 5 has been modified with an extra day in Budapest, added day in Bratislava, and a scenic sailing day through Austria before reaching Passau and Regensburg so it seems like they are trying to find a way to operate. Our money was refunded by Tuesday. As long as there are still guided tours and castle visits allowed and there is barely enough rather than not enough water at Kaub, I think they will run. The Blankenships have accepted an offer that allows an extended sail by date. March 15, 2022. WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BOOKINGS? I would prefer a refund but can live with the FCC. Weagreed to it before the world turned upside down. A friend is leaving to go on a Viking Rhine this weekend. For anyone who has China on their bucket list, Viking offers a great way to see many of the major sites in one trip. Theres a 24 month window to apply it to any river, ocean or expedition cruise. When I transferred it to a TA the agency movedthe payment up 2 weeks not a big deal. I understand your point. Not sure what to do now. We were three couples booking at once and they held firm to the payment in full 30 days past initial deposit. March 17, 2022. The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority, a Viking representative told Travel Market Report. Ive done Viking cruises on the Danube, the Rhine, and this was my last wish for travel. A Viking spokesperson said: The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority. Just a day before they cancelled the cruise because of the COVID-19 Pandemic I called to cancel and asked for a refund. I did end my post by wondering if it made a difference that we had a TA dealing with Viking for us. $25 Deposit offer available on all 2023-2025 Viking River Cruises. Viking River Cruises : does not do the right thing when things go wron. Now we will wait and see. Not yet, I am trying to get in touch with my Agent right now. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings also announced that they would remove Russian and Ukrainian ports from 2022 itineraries across their brands, including Norwegian, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas. Viking Cruises has cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. I think that Crystal canceled all remaining cruises - smart move as there isn't "enough" to see with VIE out of the game. And our award-winning bathrooms feature large glass-enclosed showers with easy-to-see controls, premium Freyja toiletries, anti-fog mirrors and heated floors. Viking took care of all the details. We were all set to fly to Prague in a few days to begin our trip from there to Berlin then London. When you look up the UK website you will notice the difference in setup but also in the small print. On September 12, 2023, departs Longitudinal World Cruise II . But, when I contacted Viking yesterday, it was through their chatbot, and the agent was unbending. Then in 2022, they expect the debut of two new expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris. ". Viking is still trying to figure out what they will do about rescheduling cruises for that year. And when travel is less complicated, we are ready to resume operations and explore the world in comfort, again. I even took a picture at night showing the lighting from the ceiling. will apply to such cancellation or amendment and you will be provided with the options set out in clause B.2.1 in these Booking Conditions but no other compensation will be payable. Simply click on the name of your cruise line below to get the details. With today's news of Slovakia being in lockdown for the next two weeks, one has to wonder if the lines that haven't already cancelled the season should cancel the season. Carnival announced via Twitter they will be swapping Russia out of all current cruise itineraries in the coming week "once alternative ports can be confirmed." Risk-Free Guarantee: How it Works. In 2019 the parent company created the brand Viking Expeditions, with a newbuild fleet of two small-sized expedition vessels Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris , plus 2 more same-designed units. A resident of Hamline-Midway, he is married to a Frogtown woman. Poseidon Expeditions is the latest addition to this list after a March 17 statement announcing that seven polar voyages are canceled for the summer. 733 0 obj <> endobj Brutal but true, as much as it hurts me to say that. They then said it is 21 Business days. With shutdown, 21 Cruise ship company's business days will go to the Summer We and two other couples travelling with us cancelled last Friday. The interest or growth potential of them requiring full payment that far in advance is financiallyimmoral. Hopefully when our lives return to a sense of normalcy there will still be a variety ofoptions to choose from when booking a river cruise. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. If you continue to see this message, please call 138 747 (AU) OR 0800 447 913 (NZ). Up front they say they want their $$ 1+ years ahead, but they somewhat readily move final payments up. Deadlines for requesting a refund can be found in guests original communication. 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. countries, Click this link to navigate to the Find A Cruise page, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Richard and Jean Pletcher hoped to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in style. Better to cancel what you have and do it next year. @californiagirland @clojacks, did you folks use a travel agent or were you dealing with Viking on your own? "Our mission is to help Americans better know and understand our neighbors through travel," Steves wrote in a blog post from late February. :Crystal Cruises is reportedly shutting down US operations, With unrest in Eastern Europe, we have adjusted our voyages, President Alberto Aliberti said in a statement. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Due to the Coronavirus crisis, Viking Cruises suspended passenger shipping operations fleetwide by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 12, 2020, through July 2021. Meanwhile, sporting events were moved from Russia. But Baden-Wrttemberg may follow too. There will be another and eighth ocean ship, Viking Mars. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link, Call a Viking Expert, or see your Travel Agent, Call a Viking Expert, or see your Travel Agent 138 747. 125% Future Cruise Vouchers: The Ultimate in Flexibility and Value. Fares started from USD 45000 per person with double occupancy. "It's disappointing because St. Petersburg is one of the crown jewels of the Scandinavian itineraries," said Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, during the company's earnings call last Thursday. He spent nearly six years covering crime in the Dakota County courts before switching focus to the St. Paul mayor's office, city council, and all things neighborhood-related, from the city's churches to its parks and light rail.
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