For all air-inclusive packages cancelled after issuance of an airline ticket, the air portion of the refund, if any, will be . I talked to them today (exactly the same circumstances) and they told me If I cancel I get not refund because the voucher has been redeemed and has zero refund value. Because it took four days to realize Wi-Fi and internet service had to be purchased, I was unable to use my phone or computer to contact my family. Those who cancel will get a voucher valued at 110% of what they've paid to Viking for use on a future cruise. 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. "We are currently evaluating itineraries that call. Anyone know a good lawyer? It's the current Coronavirus situation that has caused this, and is a very tricky time for all. Those conditions are pretty devastating -- levels are "exceptionally low" in some areas, German officialstold CNNon Friday. Today, 1/22/22 I contacted Viking Cruise lines about canceling a river cruise to France for this June, plenty of days before the cancellation date, and was told that I could not get ALL my money back. Lack of rainfall in . Travel Agent Michael Consoli joins us to answer these and other questions live. The announcement comes after both Viking's 2021 and 2022 world cruises sold out in record time. 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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. Viking is bringing back river cruises to Europe in July. Due to my cancellations, Viking held onto $8,000 of my Funds for about two years. Azamara has canceled cruises in Turkey, Israel and Egypt, as well as the Mediterranean on its newest ship, Azamara Onward, from November 2022 through March 2023. Thank you for the opportunity to address your concerns as outlined here, DV. Unable to get refund after canceling a cruise. 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. The travel insurance was purchased with Tripmate through Viking, Wasserman said. "If low (or high) water prevents passage at a certain point, the line simply moves the downstream sailing passengers (and their luggage) to the upstream ship and vice versa. Viking continues to reinvent cruises and next year will be no different. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. If I read it correctly, he didnt get the voucher money back. The price has shot up quite a bit from what we paid. But, if youd rather have a refund for your canceled cruise, you need to request it from Viking before August 24, 2020. All affected bookings received a 125% refund in FCC with rebooking or 100% monetary refund. What I was not aware of was that trip insurance policies are designed to protect your wallet. To mitigate issues, Viking runs sister ships sailing the same itinerary, but in opposite directions. "We are delighted to once again offer explorers the opportunity to circumnavigate the world in comfort," Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking, said in a statement. He came to the Pioneer Press in 2005 and brings a testy East Coast attitude to St. Paul beat reporting. Our top priority is always the well-being of our guests, our crew and the communities we visit, the company wrote in a statement earlier this month. Jan. 17, 2022 Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises have canceled several trips as the Omicron variant continues to wreak havoc with the cruise industry. We were kind of excited about going with them because were close friends, Alvie Blankenship said. The Blankenships have accepted an offer that allows an extended sail by date. Guests and travel advisors with affected departures have been notified. Although there are "no problems" on the Austrian stretch, authorities told CNN last Friday, the situation in Hungary -- perhaps the most famous part of the Danube -- is more concerning. 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. Others weren't so lucky. The line confirmed the steps to TTG on Wednesday (2 March) and said it was "deeply opposed" to the . In 2021, the cruise line plans to launch their seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus. The cruise line said it was evaluating 2022 itineraries that visit Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. Around63 percent of the land across the EUand UK had either drought warnings or alerts, according to the EU's European Drought Observatory last week -- and that figure was issued before theUK declared a droughtin eight out of 14 areas. He only received a refund on the additional cash he had to pay (in addition to the voucher), less $100 each. The 2023-2024 Viking World Cruise will sail aboard two different ships, both setting sail on identical itineraries from Fort Lauderdale and leaving within days of each other. She's not alone. 2022 will be an exciting year for the cruise line as they launch two new ventures with voyages on the Mississippi . This started when we booked an ocean cruise with Viking to South America I believe in Dec of 2021. Guests and their travel advisors on impacted departures have been notified directly by Viking customer relations. His small boats usually dart all over the river, and up close to the beaches, to see things -- Barborini usually points out medieval remains, and has found things like buffalo bones and even mammoth teeth, he says, while out on excursions. Viking Cruises has cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "We never saw the captain after the first night. In the UK, the source of the Thames hasmoved five miles downriverfor the first time in history. What you also need are medical experts to manage your situation especially if your tour company had abandoned you. No materials from this website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way. ComplaintsBoard.com is a leading complaint resolution website on the Internet. The fact that I didnt speak Bulgarian left me at a huge disadvantage. Viking Neptune is a new ship that will join the fleet in 2022. Entire boat trips planned from St. Paul in July and August were canceled this summer, and interior work aboard the ship has apparently continued right through the first departure from St. Paul toward St. Louis, Mo., on Sept. 3. The Tisza lake cross-swimming event scheduled for the 13th of August was canceled.". The FCC is valid for 24 months , for any Viking cruise itinerary and fully transferable. 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. This time, it's not pandemic red tape, but what looks set to be the continent's worst drought in history. "I think canals are a no-go," says Weeden, about the future. Does anyone know if this is true and when the notifications from Viking were sent out, if any. All they kept saying was the clause of nonrefundable insurance was in the paperwork. There are also some Viking people here to do staff training, and some other Viking people with unknown functions that are not crew. Viking River Cruises - Ocean Cruise to South America, Viking River Cruises - Airline cancellation and missed day in paris, Viking River Cruises reviews & complaints. Scenic. We rebooked for 2022 on 11/30/2020. The last full year of pre-pandemic travel, 2019 was a record year for Viking, producing $3 billion in revenue. Viking Ocean Cruises Is NOT All I Thought It Was, Viking 360 Ship Tours: Explore our Ocean & River Vessels, Virtually. The pandemic has not ended, and some sailings have been cancelled due to too many Covid-19 cases onboard. Viking Orion's other itineraries including Asia and Alaska, Far East and Alaska, New Zealand and Indonesia, Southeast Asia and Hong Kong have also been cancelled and put on the back burner. Viking Cruises has ceased all operations in Russia this year in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. For those who've already booked, she makes regular calls to the river cruise lines checking the conditions. Animals have been brought here to graze for around 2,000 years. Therefore, Viking has discontinued all on board COVID testing fleetwide. With three Viking River Cruises under my belt, I thought it was high time to share why this is one of my favorite companies to travel with. It will cross the Panama Canal and sail up the West Coast of North America. 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. CLIA, which represents cruise operators, says: "River cruise operators are monitoring the situation and responding appropriately in liaison with the relevant authorities. "The ship build and experience of the captains is very important when the weather is like this," she says. (CNN) -- Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the pandemic-snarled water, Europe is having another cataclysmic summer. Four of us experienced the Viking "Chateaux, rivers and Wines" river cruise. WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BOOKINGS? It may not be as romantic, but it's effective. "They stopped renting out boats, and many owners were forced to remove their boats from the water. Not that that prevents problems. This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Other lines have cancelled but Viking get to keep our $10,000 because we don't want to run the risk of a breakthrough infection or of passing on the virus! Book your next cruise for great fares and valuable benefits! The ships will then move on to Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand before exploring Asia and the Middle East. In many cases, you can cancel on your own and get most, if not all, of your money back but with caveats. 2 Viking River Cruises canceled all Russian river cruises and its planned Kyiv, Black Sea & Bucharest routes this year due to the events. Have traveled with them before and would give it a 5 star rating. Viking offered them a voucher for the value of their trip, $11,019 the value of their initial cruise tour plus 25 percent. CruiseMapper provides you with free of charge schedules with listed cheapest ticket prices per person per itinerary. Nothing but bait & switch tactics here. After four days my son and his wife worked around the clock to help me get back to the U.S. while I felt helpless in the Bulgarian hospital for 10 days.I had trip insurance from a very reputable company. Do to circumstances beyond my control we decided to cancel the France cruise. "You dock early, spend all day enjoying a city, then go back to the boat at the end of the day and sail on. The couple has pictures in Paris, Vienna and places around the world. In France, some parts of the famous Loire river havedried up almost completely. Rivers and lakes are drying up -- and as well that having devastating effects on trade and industry, it's also hitting a sector that was already on its knees thanks to the pandemic: tourism. You May Like: Where Does Norwegian Cruise Lines Sail Out Of. Unfortunately, this means that some staterooms need to be cancelled, and we are contacting you today because yours is among them.. Prochilo says that they floated past another cruise line offloading their passengers onto buses. 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. How did you get your money back on the voucher? Even after appeasing the U.S. Maritime Administration by leasing a charter from Louisiana-based Edison Chouest, Viking had to deal with federal appeals filed by competing cruise companies. Learn what to expect if you decide to cancel your booked sailing, rather than waiting to see if your cruise line cancels it. Indulge in complimentary programming on a flat-screen LCD TV with an easy-to-use remote. I believe the company is the same one Viking uses. to halt operationsSerenade of the SeasSymphony of the SeasJewel of the Seas Vision of the Seaslater added its Independence of the Seas, We regret having to cancel our guests long-awaited vacations and appreciate their loyalty and understanding. Where any changes are planned, operators are working hard to minimize any disruption.". Which Viking ship was in trouble? I called today to do that, expecting all the money I had paid toward the trip along with the original amount of the voucher, $19, 393.50, not the 125% ($24, 241.88) of it back. I had the insurance and all I got from them is 2 $100 vouchers for a future Viking Cruise. Left Injured on the Dock as My Boat Sailed Away. These legendary waters flow through 10 countries, coursing through Germany, Austria and Hungary to the Black Sea. The ships will sail everywhere from Antarctica to the Great Lakes to Ireland and Norway. (Updated 1:37 p.m. EST) -- The omicron COVID-19 surge has caused several cruise lines, including Fred. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that such a measure is no longer necessary, citing that the pandemic has shifted to a new phase because of the effectiveness of vaccines, therapeutics and high rates of immunity at the population level in the U.S. Guests on affected departuresand their travel advisorshave been notified directly. Viking traditionally operates voyages on a single itinerary between Moscow and St. Whether Russia river cruises restart in 2024 will depend on how the situation in Ukraine unfolds over the coming months. 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. Guests who book before Sept. 30, 2021 will receive $2,000 per person in shore excursion credits and $1,000 per person in shipboard credits. Others said their trips were roughly half full, carrying about 200 passengers. Given recent events and the developing conflict in Ukraine, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all 2022 departures of our Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary. Carnival Cruise Line. Reports have circulated on social media of Viking canceling reservations on short notice (including . The situation on Europe's other prime tourism river is looking blue, too. Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all 2022 departures of our Kyiv, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary. But now? They wouldnt even monitor cancellations and put us first in line to consider whether we could fill the vacancy.. 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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The other side of drought is flash flooding -- something that has hit the US in the past few weeks, with Yellowstone suffering aonce-in-500-years incidentin June, andtwo people being killedin Las Vegas last week. He normally rents boats to fishermen but, he asks, "Where would they go to fish?" Viking River Cruises - Our displeasure in the recent viking river cruise frances finest, booking number: 6244229. Our cruise director, Christine, was especially cheerful and helpful when we had questions. They also invited their good friends Deborah and Alvi Blankenship. All in all, I highly recommend this trip! Loved it! An ambulance took me to the nearest hospital and my Viking boat sailed away. ", This year, he says, "It started very early -- there was no rain and everything dried up.". Bumped customers have been offered full refunds or vouchers equivalent to 110 percent of what theyve already paid so they can book at later dates. It's much quieter [than mass cruising]. None of this is news, says Clare Weeden, principal lecturer in tourism and marketing at the University of Brighton. The company is also allowing him the option to transfer the cruise to someone else, according to Wasserman. Jan 26, 2023 01:33pm. Please DO NOT add attachments that contain your or other peoples personal information, if you dont want it to be visible to the public. That's the opinion of Susanne Etti, environmental impact manager atIntrepid Travel, who calls this summer "a wake-up call for the entire sector." Viking refusing to allow us to change dates and won't refund our $10,000! VIKING OCEAN restarted operations on May 22, 2021, with Viking Venus . I had that same happy feeling till the last day of my cruise. Aug. 29, 2022; Mark Farmer's two-week river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest got off to a bad start. I was angry last Wednesday.Related Articles The insurance will give you vouchers toward, guess what, another Viking cruise. 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. Vikings expedition ships will have everything from zodiacs to two six person submarines . Shorter itinerary segments are also available for booking, including the 119-day Viking World Horizons 2022 that visits 49 ports in 22 countries. Three St. Paul teachers among 33 semifinalists for MN teacher of the year. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Viking Cruises has cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. The line said it was also evaluating 2022 itineraries that call in Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. He stayed on the bridge to ensure the ship was carefully handled.". The first Viking River Cruise I took was the Rhine Christmas Market Cruise with my sister. He Tweets with manic intensity at @FrederickMelo. Danube River Cruises. Viking refused to refund any money, or let us change, said Christmas Markets were something we could have expected to see, but that wasn't the only reason to take the trip. We hear your concerns and have arranged for a Customer Relations Agent to connect with you directly to discuss available options for your upcoming voyage. Viking Cruises has detailed options for guests who are impacted by further cancelations through May 2021. The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customers satisfaction. July 14, 2022 by Mark Bunting. Recent updates have been made to cancellation schedules and refund guidelines for various cruise lines. "The distances traveled by river cruise are not very long, so sometimes passengers will even get to see more as buses travel faster," says Clabbers, from personal experience. The sailings. Viking Ocean Cruises has itineraries customized a year before the actual cruise takes place so that the guests can have enough time to prepare themselves up for the cruise. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. Thanks guys. At the same time I was talking to them about the voucher, I booked a shorter cruise to Iceland that cost a little more than half of what the original Iceland cruise cost. For Further Assistance 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. But drought and climate change has coincided with the increase in river cruising. All crew members as well as passengers were tested for Covid daily, and we all wore our masks except for eating or drinking. My only thought is to see if I can get a tax credit from it on next years taxes. The included perks were a $1,000 price discount, the Silver Spirits drink package and prepaid tips. 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. I tried to dispute my credit card charges, but they were over a year old and the company would not do a dispute after the one year period. Unfortunately, there are still cruises being cancelled in 2022 due to Covid-19 and the uncertainty surrounding it. While we can see that you have since been in contact with our Customer Relations team for assistance with the third-party insurance vendor, please know we remain available to continue the discussion should you wish to share more at TellUs@vikingcruises.com. Speaking of lighting, the bathroom lighting was spectacular. The very first cruise that Arleen and I did together was through the Panama Canal, Wasserman said. Things are already looking different in Budapest, perhaps the most beautiful city along the river. For information about your specific voyage, please log onto MyVikingJourney.com. 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. As you may be aware, due to circumstances beyond our control, construction of the custom-built Viking Mississippi was delayed, impacting the ships delivery date and the preparations necessary to welcome guests on board, reads a Sept. 8 letter from Viking to a California-based passenger who opted for a full refund. It's also a classic cruise itinerary. The cruise line is offering a 125% future cruise credit, which can be used on any future . The logistics of booking a trip that included an extensive itinerary that Viking covers would have been impossible to do on my own. For the past 20 years,Stefano Barborinihas rented boats and taken visitors out on his stretch of the Po, near Parma. Viking continues to reinvent cruises and next year will be no different. Passengers have said their consolation letter or on-board experience seems to raise the possibility of all three. He he tried to take the trip solo, he was charged . Cailey Rizzo. Walking to my stateroom the first day, the corridor was so peaceful with the soft lighting and easy and attractive decor. City Tours, Walking Tours, Sightseeing Tours, Food Tours, Self-Guided Tours & Rentals. Local News | Forgot to use it? The language barriers are real and the country is vast. Ever! This in addition to nickel & diming you after they hook you. The letters offered limited explanation except to say that the company wants to ensure its voyages are top quality, and challenging circumstances mean that the Viking Mississippi must sail at reduced capacity. I was looking forward to it. Oceania Cruises, another Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings brand, said it too would remove Russian and Ukrainian ports from its 2022 sailings, according to an emailed statement. That trip was cancelled do to covid, and we were assured by Viking that everything was fine and we rebooked for Jan 2022. Everyone was compliant and uncomplaining. Ive done Viking cruises on the Danube, the Rhine, and this was my last wish for travel. On your scheduled departure, we must operate at a reduced capacity as we continue to ramp up service. For anyone who has China on their bucket list, Viking offers a great way to see many of the major sites in one trip. The 138-day journey will stop in 57 different ports. In America, two cruises have been nixed from Jacksonville, Florida as Carnival Spirit replaces Carnival Ecstasy from March 7 through April 9, 2022. Calls to Viking for comment were not returned this week. The health and safety of all guests and crew at The Scenic Group continues to be at the forefront of all decisions, a spokesperson said. US government now rates Hungary and Germany as Zone 4, " do not travel". My Viking Cruise is canceled Now What? The line said it was also evaluating 2022 itineraries that call in Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. 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. ", Helen Prochilo of cruise specialistPromal Vacationscalls European river cruising "the hottest thing we are selling this year.". In 2017, Prochilo booked a Rhine sailing herself with Emerald, only to find "very low levels" of water. USA and Australia cruises operated by Carnival Cruise Line have been cancelled. I was also told the perks we received with the initial booking would follow if we picked a different sailing date, that turned out to be false!Our initial inclination was to cancel and get a cash refund but after sleeping on it we thought wed push the booking to December 2022, (one of the options we were given). Generous closets, plentiful USB ports and US/EU outlets, plush robes and slippers add to your comfort. You get more when you book with us instead of booking directly with the cruise line. Clabbers says that "many lines" do this. Europe's Drought: Will It End River Cruises? Because of the mild sunny weather, we were able to use our river-side veranda almost every day. "The safety of guests and crew will be central to any decisions relating to itineraries. Unless urgent action is taken on climate change, the reality is that extreme weather is going to have an impact on the destinations and communities we visit.". That would be fine if you were using insurance to help replace losses of tens of thousands but it isn't fair if you haven't even gone on the cruise! This information is updated regularly; you can find all the latest cruise news here. They certainly want their money a year in advance of the trip. Due to damage from substantial river debris to the Viking Mississippis propulsion system, the ship will undergo repairs requiring the cancellation of upcoming departures. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Cailey Rizzo is a contributing writer for. But if you haven't yet booked, and want to travel this year, he suggests looking at alternatives like the Seine or the Douro. Oceania officials said Russian and Ukrainian ports would be removed from 2022 itineraries, while Viking River Cruises canceled . The 136-day itinerary visits 56 ports in 27 countries, with 11 port city overnights and 3x new for Viking cruise ports . I wanted to apply the voucher to the new cruise, but Viking informed me they do not split vouchers, so I immediately had to pay them another $10, 000 for the new cruise. My third cruise was with my mom, Penny and we sailed on the 11 -day Passage to Eastern Europe Viking Danube Cruise. A new ship will be assigned from the Carnival fleet to Jacksonville for the Ecstasy itineraries, effective April 23, 2022. Thu 13 Jan 2022 01.00 EST Last modified on Thu 13 Jan 2022 18.22 EST A surge in Covid infections on cruise ships is causing mayhem across the industry, leaving passengers stranded aboard.