A sales representative ******. "The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority," a Viking representative told Travel Market Report. *In Canada, trademark(s) of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, used under License. The 766-mile Rhine is one of Europe's most important trade routes, with container ships plying their way around its looping bends. This was not the case. Find out how we combat fake reviews. 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. After 5 Viking This site is for entertainment purposes only. #6339759. Will the drought in Europe affect your river cruise vacation? 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. If you book a river cruise, you acknowledge that you might not get the exact itinerary you signed up for. I was aware that cruise lines' cash flow issues and accepted the voucher. 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. We are told now that change is not possible at all because vouchers have expired. Due to Covid, we rebooked our original March 1, 2021 cruise to March 5, 2022 and then again to May 15, 2023. 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. Any comments Viking? We booked a river cruise with Viking which we cancelled due to Covid and received travel vouchers from Viking for the amount of the trip. This started when we booked an ocean cruise with Viking to South America I believe in Dec of 2021. Each time I received a pro forma answer saying "it is company policy that future cruise credits have no cash value and cannot be refunded or exchanged once booked." The line said it was also evaluating 2022 itineraries that call in Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. Viking Cruises, and Other Lines, Changes Plans Because of Ukraine News Viking is probably the most unsympathetic/unprofessional company I have ever experienced. See details. Having trip insurance may pay you in full depending on your coverage. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. Viking Cruises. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Viking has cancelled all 2022 departures of its Russian river cruise itineraries and ceased all operations in the country for the remainder of the year. Pharaohs & Pyramids. Very disappointed with Viking River Cruises - Fodor's There is rock on the bottom; theres also this little house in the middle of the river. Check here before booking an award fare. 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. Crystal River Cruises has canceled its four remaining Crystal Ravel sailings this December. It's also a classic cruise itinerary. Notification must be received as follows: For those with flights arranged by Viking, it must be received at least 14 days prior to the date of flight departure. The first five miles of headwaters have completely dried up. Well guide you through the process. Enrollment required. Instead, in the most extreme cases, AmaWaterways will create a new itinerary. She is scheduled to start ************ this week. That' our policy,. However, I believe the policy is rather onerous. They will charge you a lot of money but would not care for you at the end of the day.The places I saw needed much to be desiredI was told that at the airport someone will help us until we boarded our plane. 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. Seems the generous cancellation risk free ended 30 June and despite booking direct with Viking no mention of the changes was made. Find the right card for you. Booking number: *******. Unlike ocean cruising, river cruising has a lot of fluctuations in water levels. Rather than focusing on the number of complaints, BBB considers how frequently and effectively those complaints are resolved. 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. Special fares plus Free airfare valid on select 2023 departures of Eastern Seaboard Explorer and Canada & New England Scenic Shores. Desired outcome: Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. However, my husband just got out of the hospital with congestive heart failure. we went to our connecting American Airlines flight with our Boarding Photos: Major Cruise Lines Are Postponing Sailings Amid Covid Other ships were docked at the pier. I booked the flight through Viking to a Christmas market river cruise. They said they did not think we could get a refund as our money had been converted to a voucher and vouchers were not refundable with our insurance. Viking Cruises is a cruise line providing river and ocean cruises, with operations based in Basel, Switzerland. Call to book now: 1-800-207-7286. The cruise was cancelled due the pandemic ($11,367.50) Unfortunately, my husband unexpectedly passed away last month. Which cruises have been cancelled in 2022? | Cruise.Blog On 11/22 we received an email from Trip Mate regarding the resolution of our claim. The area is protected and thats where you have the low water issues. Schreiners advice is simple: Just go. 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. It will take a lot for us to travel with you again. 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. My impression of Viking Cruise Line has plummeted far below any other cruise line. Viking Cruises' New Safety Protocols Include Daily COVID-19 Testing Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Its infuriating and disrespectful. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Jan. 17, 2022. Maximum capacities of 164 passengers and 47 crew. 488 total complaints in the last 3 years. Viking Plans A Robust 2021 2022 Cruise Season Despite the canceled 2020 cruise season, Viking has high hopes for 2021 and beyond. 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. This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. We were running between the airlines at ***** to find out what was going on, very frustrating. I have always liked Viking cruises and have been on 13, counting the one I am currently on. For information about your specific voyage, please log onto MyVikingJourney.com. River cruise cancellation fears loom as Rhine threatens closure Check with your cruise line on current cruising conditions and what you can expect from them. My Trip - Updates on Current Sailings - Viking Cruises While we may have to make changes to some of our itineraries and have had to cancel a few voyages, impacted guests and travel partners have and will receive transparent updates and the opportunity to re-book onto another sailing, shared Ellen Bettridge, president and CEO of Uniworld, in an email to TPG. We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. Poulsbo, Washington. 140 complaints closed in the last 12 months. coach. This 'placeholder booking' means nothing he assured us. Viking has responded to his passing by cancelling the nearly $9,000 I paid for my husbands share of the trip. Really, what is a big deal here? 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 has refused. I have had the cruise booked for probably a year but only now would the allow me the opportunity to purchase the spoils. The plane returned to the gate and he was transported to the local hospital. This offer covers all Viking reservations that are made between November 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 on any 2022 voyage. We used these to book on cruise OJUXXXXXX Booking Number XXXXXXX. Risk-Free Guarantee - Viking River Cruises On top of that, they are asking for me to pay additional same $ 9,000. amount for me to go on this journey alone! Cannot go on a cruise if not jabbed even to countries which have no covid requirements any more. It is a basic human right to be able to have access to flushing toilets and handwasting facilities. SPRING SALE Special Fares Reduced Airfare Dates: Availability: The trip was more expensive so we paid with our vouchers as well as cash. We have been waiting patiently for two years for a refund, relying on the We had planned a trip in 2021 and when Viking changed their requirements we chose to cancel our trip. Viking Cruises | Cruise Ship List - Cruises Only All Mekong River cruises through Vietnam and Cambodia have been suspended until November 30. . Please Note: 1) Terms & Conditions for Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers can be found here. Airfares vary on other gateways & departures. 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. Oceania officials said Russian and Ukrainian ports would be removed from 2022 itineraries, while Viking River Cruises canceled . 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. They offered us a 150 dollar non refundable credit to be used onboard. After an 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. This cruise has been sold out for weeks so if Viking reinstates the voucher, the cabin could be resold. They are just taking the thousands of dollars we gave them from us and we are getting nothing in return. It goes against our guidelines to offer incentives for reviews. Editor in Chief Jan 26, 2023 01:33pm. This is insulting and is clearly bait and switch type behavior. Regent Seven Seas Cruises was the cruise line forced to change the most stops planned for Russia, which included visits to the Solovetsky Islands, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk and St. Petersburg, as well as Odessa, Ukraine. Customers should not be treated this way. 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. My experience with Viking River Cruises is that if they cancel, they will either refund your money or . Since the ships are nearly identical, if you do transfer to another ship, you should be in a similar stateroom as the original ship. 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. The good news is that there are not the mass cancellations we saw in 2020. We were treated like animals. Fraud and deception! 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. 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. No partial refund was given and I lost the total deposit of $1000.I understand that the T&Cs outline the refund policy. You will be cruising, you will be enjoying," he said. 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. Not for the voucher amount. Just realized that the cruise booked was from Antwerp to Amsterdam. Story Update (September 5, 2022) Viking river cruises have posted an advisory from Danube River cruises that ship swapping may occur. In November 2020, we rebooked, the Cities of Antiquity and Holy Land Cruise, scheduled for Nov-Dec 2022, paying the additional fare. We paid for the trip and had trip insurance. With this terrible Cailey Rizzo. Jim. Viking River Cruises 548 complaints 314 resolved 234 unresolved File a complaint to Viking River Cruises Viking River Cruises contacts (added by reviewer) Phone number +1 800 304 9616 Address 5700 Canoga Ave, California United States Website www.vikingrivercruises.com Category Cruise Lines View full information Most discussed complaints BBB is here to help. A Vaccinated Passenger Tested Positive for COVID-19 on My Icelandic I thought that Viking was reputable, so I put too much faith in them. Viking Cruise recommends that their customers insure their travel & trip with Trip Mate Travel Insurance. The dream vacation I have waited for 8 years has gone down the drain. Heres what you need to know. I ask if I could have the number to her managers boss she said no. Learn more. 2023, International Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc., separately incorporated Better Business Bureau organizations in the US, Canada and Mexico and BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, Inc. All rights reserved. Viking Cruise Offers But there is nothing we can do, your vouchers have expired'. Viking, which operates both ocean and river cruises, has canceled all 2022 departures from its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary . Claim your profile to access Trustpilots free business tools and connect with customers. I contacted Viking and was told the vouchers were not refundable because we had not cancelled at least 2 weeks prior to departure. We again purchased Vikings trip insurance through Trip Mate to cover the cost of the trip. From now through March 31, 2022, Viking is offering special rates starting at $599 (not including airfare) on all 2022 and 2023 departures. 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 Ocean and River is currently operating all upcoming scheduled itineraries. One of the most popular rivers, the Rhine has river levels falling fast. In Europe, we dont cruise in January, February and into early March because its too cold, he explained. Four excursions that I wanted are already sold out. Does anyone know if Trip Mate customers have or are considering a class action suit against the company for fraud? (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business. 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. Also lost out on the cruise vouchers. Because of COVID, we had to cancel the cruise, and received a voucher from Viking. I am going to seek legal advice to, but this ridiculous policy has added hugely to my grieving. We booked a Viking River Cruise with AAA travel in August of 2019 for $14,497 for two people which excludes the insurance cost. Viking Cruises cancels 2022 Black Sea and Kiev (Ukraine) sailings Had a planned eastern European river cruise starting mid-October for over a year. Cannot recommend whatsoever - there are better cruise lines who deliver & care about providing a decent level of customer experience - avoid them if you can. 2. After contacting viking to inform the situation, Viking booked another flight for us. We called Viking and there is nothing that they will do to be able to use the over $7,000 paid for the trip. This was a question that I asked myself before booking my Rhine River cruise. I appreciate the time. 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. ST PAUL, Minn. There's been a lot of fanfare surrounding America's Great River cruise operated by Viking Cruises. Note that complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. 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 Mississippi cruise passengers hit by cancellations In some cases, an itinerary may be adjusted with certain destinations dropped and new ones added. Withholding of monies and shore excursion booking system failure. I complained initially that I was not given a direct flight. 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 may involve the cruise line putting you up in one or more hotels and paying for restaurant meals. Winston Folkers. Cruise lines scrap Russian, Ukrainian ports from 2022 itineraries We didn't get to see Honduras as Viking tried to use their own tender to get to shore. This was our second cruise, I would have to say our first one was wonderful, this one was not bad. If ships have to lighten their loads to cross shallow water, fewer goods can be transported at once. Europe has many rivers where cruise lines operate. Viking allows those who book the most expensive rooms to book first. Viking already runs a number of river cruises. The cruise lines plan their itineraries to mitigate this risk. Thanks for reaching out, M Mulmech., although we regret to learn of your disappointment with your hotel arrangements. 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. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. Guests have the option to transfer their reservation to 2022; receive a 100% future cruise credit . I also booked this trip years ago when there was . Viking changed their policy after they took all our money, lured us into taking now worthless vouchers. The other typical plan is to put the passengers on buses to get around the affected areas. 2023 Trustpilot, Inc. All rights reserved. We appreciate you sharing your experience, Trevor, although we regret to hear of your disappointment. Viking refusing to refund given COVID risks! - Review of Viking Cruises 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 have since then tried to book a trip two times, and the required medical of a vaccine status made us cancel again. RHINE GETAWAY. Any help to resolve this matter will be greatly appreciated.