Weve been cruising since March with no issues until August, said Schreiner. Viking booked the hotels for these excursions. We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. 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. 12 reviews. There is rock on the bottom; theres also this little house in the middle of the river. Viking Neptune is a new ship that will join the fleet in 2022. Viking river cruises have posted an advisory from Danube River cruises that ship swapping may occur. Viking River Cruises The line is canceling all 2022 departures of its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary. For information about your specific voyage, please log onto MyVikingJourney.com. "You might see some cities you might not have expected to see and you might miss some you wanted to see. MVJ is locked for this specific cruise , and if you try to book the cruise (UK website) the first available Fjords cruise in now April 2022. Risk-Free Guarantee: How it Works As compensation we have been offered a derisory 200 voucher towards a future cruise. These conditions include: Lately, Europe has seen temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The 766-mile Rhine is one of Europe's most important trade routes, with container ships plying their way around its looping bends. He made the commissions, we will not sail and lose 14,000 dollars. What? On April 7, Virgin Voyages updated its advisory that all regular Scarlet Lady cruises are canceled through September 17, 2021. If ships have to lighten their loads to cross shallow water, fewer goods can be transported at once. Yazmin Hope and Libby Gallagher I have three times tried to contact Viking, by phone, email, and chat. The river flows are falling so if you are booked for a cruise this year, check with your cruise line and obtain their current assessment of operating conditions. It is time for Viking to do the same and act like a cruise line instead of a medical facility. Some years, low water levels caused disruptions as early as June and some years as late as October. Guests have the option to transfer their reservation to 2022; receive a 100% future cruise credit . The confirmation email said cancellation for any reason loss of deposit. The bottom line is, we have ********* at VRC. I had insurance and filed a claim. Schreiners advice is simple: Just go. Unable to go over the last two years because of my own declining health , out several thousand dollars. We used these to book on cruise OJUXXXXXX Booking Number XXXXXXX. Premium Air. Booking number: *******. Labeled Verified, theyre about genuine experiences.Learn more about other kinds of reviews. 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. However, as everyone knows, predicting the weather is not an exact science. #1. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. An apology is not good enough. Expected weather conditions during the cruise. The Po River flows 400 miles across the top of Italy from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea. I will never travel with Viking . View all of our Luxury Cruise sailings and offers. I asked the captain how deep the ship would be if it sank. Should you wish to change your reservation, you can choose which policy works best for you: Vikings Risk-Free Guarantee or standard cancellation policy. Like other river cruise lines, weve dealt successfully with low-water situations in the past, and we have a variety of strategies that we can deploy as necessary. As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. over night stay we got back to Cincinnati the next day. The first example of river distress is the Po River in Northern Italy. Refund on premium air payments that we did not receive in premiumservice. When I called to cancel they said we did not purchase the insurance. Related: Booking your first river cruise? We are unable to meet their requirements and therefore want our funds returned to us. We were told that since we used vouchers we were not eligible for a refund per policy. Desired outcome: Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. I was aware that cruise lines' cash flow issues and accepted the voucher. 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. Thank you. 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. Why didn't Viking pay to dock? We never sign or agree to sail with vaccines passport as requirement.No one respond our emails or our attorney except a woman name ******************************* that behaves like an iron wall to talk to anyone else. 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. On February 1, the shore excursion booking system opened up for the ocean segment of my trip. Because of COVID, we had to cancel the cruise, and received a voucher from Viking. Trip value now ********** On 12 November 2020 we booked another cruise and added an additional ******** to bring our out of pocket total to ********** All transactions took place before before the rollout of a "vaccine", vaccine cards, a Presidential and CDC mandates. However, the same problems do not affect river cruise ships. How could we?? Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Then in Philadelphia That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. $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. In times of high water, river boats can reduce their height by: Another aspect of river cruising is how much water does the ship draft? Viking Polaris Current cruise: 13 days, one-way from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso-Santiago Viking Expeditions Tracker Itineraries Deck plans Accidents Viking Neptune Current cruise: 137 days, one-way from Fort Lauderdale to London-Tilbury Viking Ocean Tracker Itineraries Deck plans Viking Mars Current cruise: 14 days, one-way from Sydney to Auckland Why does Viking assume every 2 people traveling together desire to sleep together? Applies primarily to to bookings with the following content. 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 paid for Travel Protection 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 review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback. 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. Thank you. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,. Scheduled and rescheduled elder family care and pet sitting services. "The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority," a Viking representative told Travel Market Report. 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. The Rhine River in general is not that deep. Bookings with more than 30 persons Conference bookings made by Customers Service and Sales Department Bookings paid by invoice by companies Companies with annual agreements Bookings with more than 5 hotel rooms The specific conditions that apply to your booking can be found in your . A longtime editor at Cruise Critic, Erica has also written for The Washington Post, Fodors and Lets Go travel guides, and numerous print and online cruise publications. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Viking suggested that I should talk to my travel insurance company to reimburse the cost of additional airfare cost. I had to cancel due to ill health and provided over five months notice. It would seem to be a reasonable and simple request. It is the standard architecture that gives the river boat some leeway with rising and falling river levels. I never come across a big bunch of ignorant, geriatric, moronic a$$holes as this group I had came across today! . I am truly an "out-of-the-box" traveler which has enriched my travel experiences. Viking changed their policy after they took all our money, lured us into taking now worthless vouchers. 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. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, The best places to see cherry blossoms around the US this spring, Looking back: How my points and miles strategy has changed over the years, The best increased card offers to sign up for this March. 2022 is now cancelled and will be replaced with new roundtrip voyages from Southampton to the Caribbean via the Canary Islands and New York. 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. The line said it was also evaluating 2022 itineraries that call in Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints. 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. On July 10th, 2022 my husband called Viking to inquire when the schedule becomes available. I explain ship swapping in the section: . For the cabin on the cruise, we indicated separate beds for their cabin. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. We missed 2 ports of call and 1/3 of our sites to see the auroras. I want Viking to honour its Guest Cancellation Schedule and reimburse the $15,640.19 (Canadian) my husband and I paid for the Italian Sojourn cruise scheduled for May 15, 2023. Beware of Viking excursion policies. Jan 26, 2023 01:33pm. In addition to requiring all guests and crew be fully vaccinated before setting foot on board the 930-passenger Viking Sky, the cruise line implemented a robust contact tracing system, daily PCR. Royal Caribbean International | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. In the end, you will have a fantastic vacation and you will get a future cruise credit according to what you miss., He added: Its better than canceling and sitting at home and not doing anything.. took the call and told us that schedule wouldn't be available most likely till January 2023. The two most popular are the Rhine and the Danube. 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. It's a human right to have access to fresh water and clean sanitation. They would fly to Italy and take an 8-day Viking River Cruise called . Don't sail Viking unless you are guaranteed of going on the trip. Guests and travel agents on impacted departures are in the process of being notified. A place on the excursion I tried to book. 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. By the time I could ring Viking, the excursion was sold out and the drinks package price had increased. Water levels are unpredictable and can vary day by day, depending on what the weather brings. Due to my cancellations, Viking held onto $8,000 of my Funds for about two years. Find out how we combat fake reviews. Because Viking issued a voucher , insurance denied the claim as the voucher was considered a refund The reason given by Viking is that these are vouchers from a previously booked trip (during the COVID pandemic). Really, what is a big deal here? Cruises beginning in 2009, this is not the first error and being loyal Do your homework and always make informed decisions. I appreciate the time. Other viking customers from ******* on the same cruise were also booked the same flight. The Rhine River is the main artery for German and Swiss transportation and also French, said Schreiner. Originally booked in 2020, paid in full. My husband and I booked with Viking in December 2019 for the Rhine Getaway Cruise for December 2020. When you are covered by the Risk-Free Guarantee you may change your cruise reservation with notification to Viking. Mind you, my cruise cost over $27,000. Articles are of a general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances. 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. I told a member of staff about this and was directed to use a toilet on the top deck. Learn more. We rebooked for 2022 on 11/30/2020. Other ships were docked at the pier. We booked a river cruise (Danube) for March 2022. It is February 1st today and I went online to book excursions for a trip almost 3 months from now. This made it impossible to catch the next flight from ***** to buenos Aries. I asked to speak to a manager and was told by the person I talked to I could not but she would speak with one. It was our first river cruise it was 23 days Bucharest to Amsterdam with Viking . 05 Aug 2022. 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. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. Viking have done this every year since 2012, knowing they are unable to dock there but still taking Port Tax from every passenger. Viking's move follows announcements from other cruise operators saying they are . We booked a cruise, paid the full booking amount. We rebooked our trip but Viking canceled it again and another voucher was issued. Just realized that the cruise booked was from Antwerp to Amsterdam. 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 . I was never informed that the vaccine would be required to sail and that our money would not be eligible for a refund. This offer covers all Viking reservations that are made between November 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 on any 2022 voyage. Claim your profile to access Trustpilots free business tools and connect with customers. This is known as ship swapping. Plus Ups are excluded. By. Sheila Davies is a retired gas industry professional based in Northumberland, England. 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. If the water issues are closer to the beginning or end of an itinerary, cruisers may have to spend a few days in hotels or bussing to destinations rather than sailing there. River cruise lines do have contingency plans for dealing with river flow problems. Story Update (September 5, 2022) Viking river cruises have posted an advisory from Danube River cruises that ship swapping may occur. We called Viking and there is nothing that they will do to be able to use the over $7,000 paid for the trip. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. The climate in Europe is changing and not for the better. 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. Information provided by various external sources. On the other end, river boats are built with a shallow draft of about six feet deep to avoid hitting the river bottom. We accepted the vouchers in good faith. 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. Call a Viking Expert at 0800 319 66 60 or see your Travel Advisor. In fact, everything we have come to expect from Viking exceptthere were apparently a few cases of a GI infection . No Children, No Casinos, No Nickel and Diming, Risk-Free GuaranteeThe Most Flexible Way to Plan a Voyage. All I got was 'you must pay in full for your trip before booking extras'. We booked a January 2021 cruise. I am writing about booking number 7045921 sailed Jan.12 2023. Europe is now seeing the same kind of climate change conditions that are affecting the Western United States. ******************************************************************************************************************************** We were looking for the same cruise we originally booked but for 2024. We opted for the voucher. By March 2020 Viking announced cancellations due to covid, with an additional 25% for a future booking. Not every river cruise line takes the same stance. 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. At 104 days out before final payment was due, we had to either lose our entire deposit of $2K+ or get a voucher. Enrollment required. Because of the positive test result as well as his need for further dr evaluation, we had no choice but to cancel the trip. 2. If you book a river cruise, you acknowledge that you might not get the exact itinerary you signed up for. Viking Mississippi is one of Viking's largest river ships, measuring 450 feet (137 meters) long and weighing approximately 5,000 gross tons. If the whole itinerary is changed, youll get to sail the new itinerary and receive a 100% future cruise credit to book another cruise. This they Viking already runs a number of river cruises. Subscribe to RSS 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. My bag didn't make it. The whole experience was a disaster. 1. Over in Southeast Asia, a new river ship, Viking Saigon, will cruise the Mekong. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Its infuriating and disrespectful. Well guide you through the process. Recent updates have been made to cancellation schedules and refund guidelines for various cruise lines. Please Note: 1) Terms & Conditions for Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers can be found here. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023.
Wittenberg Women's Soccer Roster,
Pendergrass Flea Market Address,
Car Accident In Oceanside, Ca Today,
Jalen Ramsey Bench Press Max,
Geauga County Election Results 2021,
Articles V