Do your homework and always make informed decisions. ComplaintsBoard.com is a leading complaint resolution website on the Internet. Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers are transferable, so that you have the flexibility to gift them to a loved one. 488 total complaints in the last 3 years. Most all other cruise lines have dropped this mandate. The bottom line is, we have ********* at VRC. by Steve CaseLast updated September 6, 2022. Europe is experiencing unprecedented drought and heat conditions. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. 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. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Given the current COVID situation (and that 3 of the 4 countries we were slated to visit are currently closed), we decided we should cancel. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. Don't sail Viking unless you are guaranteed of going on the trip. We didn't get to see Honduras as Viking tried to use their own tender to get to shore. In 2020 we were contacted via email and told that this cruise was also cancelled and we could book another cruise and receive a 125% credit toward a future cruise with a risk free guarantee and it said we could change our plans up to 24 hours before departure. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This was our second cruise, I would have to say our first one was wonderful, this one was not bad. If you are booked on a river cruise for later this year, do not make any snap decisions. Then in Philadelphia 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. RHINE GETAWAY. We booked a 14 day cruise with extra days upon arrival in ****** and departure in **** in ****. We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. 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. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. 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. Most river cruise lines do not allow guests to cancel pre-cruise without penalty except for in the most extreme circumstances. This met the 11/30 deadline for a "risk free guarantee" enabling change of plans up to 24 hours before sailing. Viking is bringing back river cruises to Europe in July. Sandi. Due to my cancellations, Viking held onto $8,000 of my Funds for about two years. When I asked to speak with a supervisor the "customer service" representative said "I am not allowed to transfer you - the supervisor will give you the same answer." 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. On the last day, all running water was turned off until we left the ship. 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. I am writing about booking number 7045921 sailed Jan.12 2023. This was really The food was awful , the service bad some waiters were very rude we were forced to do a lot of included tours or couldnt leave the ship . The Rhine River is the main artery for German and Swiss transportation and also French, said Schreiner. Why didn't Viking pay to dock? We would appreciate any help you can provide in helping us to get the rest of our money back. 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. When I called to cancel they said we did not purchase the insurance. "They disembark in the morning, they go on the shore excursion, and they come back on the other side on the sister ship. If have a river cruise planned for the end of the summer or the fall, should you be concerned? 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. Instead, in the most extreme cases, AmaWaterways will create a new itinerary. I explain ship swapping in the section: . I was told Viking doesnt own the hotel and the hotel will not let me make a change since Viking handled the booking. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. 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. Booking # XXXXXXX
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 they said (under the Risk Free Guarantee) we could have a voucher, but it would be a combined voucher which could only be used for one future trip. This complaint has been resolved automatically due to user's inactivity. Applies primarily to to bookings with the following content. I had to cancel due to ill health and provided over five months notice. 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. 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. You could tear down the house and build a dam there, but that is not what is going to happen.. However, I believe the policy is rather onerous. River boats are unique because they can float in just five to six feet of water. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. was 4 units wide . Viking suggested that I should talk to my travel insurance company to reimburse the cost of additional airfare cost. After checking cancellation conditions online which indicates $200 up to a certain date I booked a river cruise for 2024 the deposit was $2000pp. This was told to me by two separate employees. 12/21- 12/28/2022 airfare $2198 Viking River Cruises Viking Rolf (Photo: Viking River Cruises) If you have a question or would like to make a press inquiry, please contact: Scott Mackenzie After many failed conversations with Viking Cruise customer service reps to obtain reassurance that we will automatically receive a refund when our cruise vouchers expire on 2/18/23, two years after the email from Viking dated 2/17/21 notifying us that our second cruise was cancelled. We will never try Viking again! In the same cabin. Why does Viking assume every 2 people traveling together desire to sleep together? 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. They can go up, they can go down, rain can come in.. The trip was for September 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic. Weve canceled one cruise on the Danube and have made a few mostly minor alterations to a small handful of cruises on the Rhine, a Tauck spokesman told TPG when asked about this years cruises. 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. We said yes. Withholding of monies and shore excursion booking system failure. This may involve the cruise line putting you up in one or more hotels and paying for restaurant meals. This is our third time to book a trip, and in 2023, the medical requirement is still in place. 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. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. The US gov has basically declared the "plandemic" over and all other mandates have been drop but Viking still won't change their policy. 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. Ships might be able to pass through a tricky spot, like Kaub, today but not tomorrow, or cant this week but can next week. The first example of river distress is the Po River in Northern Italy. I checked with many countries and all their restrictions have been dropped. Before you decide to. Bad cruise experience, shore excursions, bad weather bad handling, cold food, etc. Risk-Free Guarantee: How it Works The sailings. I booked the flight through Viking to a Christmas market river cruise. When Viking informed me that the alternative flight was booked, I was not told that I had to pay the tickets myself in order to obtain the boarding pass. Why? We are unable to meet VRC health requirements to participate in one of their cruises. A place on the excursion I tried to book. 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. I advised Viking that my wife and I could not get the vaccine ever and asked for a refund of our primary payment. Note that complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. 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. 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! We did not see ANY of Spain. We will not cancel any cruises, said Shreiner. 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. Viking Plans A Robust 2021 2022 Cruise Season Despite the canceled 2020 cruise season, Viking has high hopes for 2021 and beyond. This complaint was posted by a verified customer. 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 . In this case, you will receive a full refund of your cruise fare. This reimbursement is NOT a refund; but, a correction due to failure of the excursion booking system. Karin Price Mueller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. What does Viking do Nothing. We rebooked our trip but Viking canceled it again and another voucher was issued. January 27, 2018. Poulsbo, Washington. We paid some #10,000 for premium air. Just got order from Doctor to cancel due to sudden onset of autoimmune kidney disease. . Booked a trip just before covid hit which had to be canceled for obvious reasons. I never come across a big bunch of ignorant, geriatric, moronic a$$holes as this group I had came across today! The vaccinations mean nothing anyway. Not for the voucher amount. Find out how we combat fake reviews. Not one thing but some flowers in the rain and unsafe steps and more Booking number 7141933 "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. Learn more. Desired outcome: 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: Multiple tests were run, including a Covid test, which came back positive. Desired outcome: 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 . 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. That' our policy,. At Viking, your experience means the world to us. I could sail on another cruise line for a lot less money. However, BBB does not verify the accuracy of information provided by third parties, and does not guarantee the accuracy of any information in Business Profiles. Viking Chief Health Officer Dr. Raquel . Call to book now: 1-800-207-7286. 4. 1. I want Viking to honour its Guest Cancellation Schedule and reimburse the $15,640.19 (Canadian) my husband and I paid for the We appreciate you sharing your experience, Sandy JJ, although we regret to hear of the events you've described here. Viking refused to admit to us that we were misinformed, and did not apologize, but their policy will not change. Plus Ups are excluded. Special fares plus Free airfare valid on select 2023 departures of Eastern Seaboard Explorer and Canada & New England Scenic Shores. It is obvious to the casual observer that VRC is not in financial distress as they have added ships to their fleet and the CEO is listed a a billionaire. Because we were given a voucher, we can not get out money back. Or, you might have a few port stops changed out for new ones, or spend more time than you prefer in busses or hotels, possibly with shorter visits to destinations that now require longer bus rides. It closely resembles one of Viking's highest rated world cruises in the past, Chairman Torstein Hagen said in a live webinar Sunday when passengers were notified of the change. Voyages offering the excursion to Floriade 2022 operate between July 16 and August 27, 2022 aboard River Empress. Viking changed their policy after they took all our money, lured us into taking now worthless vouchers. She is scheduled to start ************ this week. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Feb 1, 2023. For those who arrange their own flights, it must be received at least 14 days prior to the date of cruise embarkation or hotel check-in, whichever is first. The 766-mile Rhine is one of Europe's most important trade routes, with container ships plying their way around its looping bends. Water levels are unpredictable and can vary day by day, depending on what the weather brings. The next indicator of river flow problems is the Thames River in England. Desired outcome: Thank you. Thu 13 Jan 2022 01.00 EST Last modified on Thu 13 Jan 2022 18.22 EST. Why all other passages under the same situation had no such problem were not explained by Viking. I purchased a cruise for my wife and myself then Covid hit. Story Update (September 5, 2022) Viking river cruises have posted an advisory from Danube River cruises that ship swapping may occur. My bag didn't make it. Tauck says it deals with compensation on a case-by-case basis. 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. These hotels are Marriott and hilton properties that have such rooms. We had not received any response from Viking about 10 days. Due to Covid pandemic our cruise got cancelled. Airfares vary on other gateways & departures. The problem with river cruises is that they are affected by both high and low water levels. Very disappointing. Review for Viking Osiris to Middle East Swirling Kilt 2-5 Cruises Age 60s Read More Sail Date: December 2022 Cabin Type: Suite with Veranda Helpful Christmas on the Mississippi Review for. - Refusal to honor its cancellation policy, Viking trip shortened due to weather, no refund. On 11/22 we received an email from Trip Mate regarding the resolution of our claim. I hope this is something you can help with. We booked a river cruise (Danube) for March 2022. The even occurred in February of 2023. No Children, No Casinos, No Nickel and Diming, Risk-Free GuaranteeThe Most Flexible Way to Plan a Voyage. I won't be booking any future cruise with them. Viking Neptune is a new ship that will join the fleet in 2022. Winston Folkers. It is getting harder and harder to book excursions on Viking cruises, so I would advise anyone planning a cruise with them to think twice, if excursions are important to them. 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. Editor in Chief Simply make the simple changes to the hotel reservations so that one of the rooms includes two beds. By. We also ensure all reviews are published without moderation. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. We have spent $25,000.00 including air far which we are also going to lose if not used by 12/31/2023. Thank you. Four excursions that I wanted are already sold out. This allowed Viking to retain the majority of our payment since We booked a cruise in 2019 to sail early in 2020. We also carry about 500 tons of water, that is ballast and fresh water for the guests.. However, the most important part of any cruise, for me is the excursion choice. 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. This requirement was enacted after we booked this trip . If the region has had an excess of rain, raising the river greatly, the river ship may have problems clearing bridges and other obstacles. Simply make the simple changes to the hotel reservations so that one of the rooms includes two beds. No one expects to have to cancel a cruise. Only in very rare circumstances are the sailings canceled outright. They have no intentions of giving my money back .Do I not have any rights? 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. Call us at 800-454-0927 to speak to a Cruise Concierge today. Not every river cruise line takes the same stance. Viking has responded to his passing by cancelling the nearly $9,000 I paid for my husbands share of the trip. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. For the cabin on the cruise, we indicated separate beds for their cabin. I was never informed that the vaccine would be required to sail and that our money would not be eligible for a refund. "The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority," a Viking representative told Travel Market Report. But our plea was denied. After many failed conversations with Viking Cruise customer service reps to obtain reassurance that we will automatically receive Booking number 7141933 Information provided by various external sources. 05 Aug 2022. Many passengers were distressed by the lack of fresh water. The Viking Ocean Cruises 2022 Grand Polynesia Voyage has come to a triumphant completion in Los Angeles. Well guide you through the process. My husband and I were excited about our long awaited cruise next May. We only wanted our money to be applied to another cruise in 2023. #1. The whole experience was a disaster. At this point we feel it's discrimination and want our money refunded. This guarantee is combinable with all other Viking offers available. In order to catch the next flight from ************ to ******* to get to the cruise on time we had to pay the tickets ourselves. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. At best, youll do a ship swap mid-cruise, a slight inconvenience that will allow you to follow your planned itinerary. Cancellation conditions 2.