Feb 1, 2023. Please view our privacy policy for details about the information we share with our partners. My bag is still missing and I will request (!)
European Cruise River Levels Are Falling To Critical Levels - Travel Codex For the cabin on the cruise, we indicated separate beds for their cabin. I never come across a big bunch of ignorant, geriatric, moronic a$$holes as this group I had came across today! BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period. (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business. 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.
Cruise Line Travel Requirements - Cruises.com scott@travelcodex.com, For updates: I had to cancel due to ill health and provided over five months notice. In a statement issued to the Star Tribune, Viking confirmed that some of the ship's first scheduled departures were canceled this summer, and that the luxury vessel is temporarily operating.
Will the drought in Europe affect your river cruise vacation? Last week, the cruise line cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary and said it was evaluating 2022 sailing that call in Russia. Multiple tests were run, including a Covid test, which came back positive. 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. 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. International Association of Better Business Bureaus. Mind you, my cruise cost over $27,000. The cruise was cancelled due the pandemic ($11,367.50) Viking offered us to support the company and not get a refund if we accepted a voucher of 125% We said yes. They offered us a voucher for 125% or a cash refund. There is rock on the bottom; theres also this little house in the middle of the river. AMA Waterways | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. This is due to the cruise line planning on new summer UK domestic cruises for UK vaccinated residents only. He he tried to take the trip solo, he was charged. Obviously a 2 week notice was impossible in our situation.
Which cruises have been cancelled in 2022? | Cruise.Blog This allowed Viking to retain the majority of our payment since We booked a cruise in 2019 to sail early in 2020. Not every river cruise line takes the same stance. Story Update (September 5, 2022) Viking river cruises have posted an advisory from Danube River cruises that ship swapping may occur. Viking is not a good company to work with. was 4 units wide .
Cruise Canceled Due to Low Water Levels The dream vacation I have waited for 8 years has gone down the drain. "We will not cancel any cruises," said Shreiner.
My Trip - Updates on Current Sailings - Viking River Cruises We will never try Viking again! Call us at 800-454-0927 to speak to a Cruise Concierge today. Why all other passages under the same situation had no such problem were not explained by Viking. The drought category in England has reached the most severe designation of severe drought.
There are critical points, like the one on the Rhine River, right in the Rhine Gorge, Schreiner explained. 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. In November ******************************************* She had major surgery December 12th. 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. ***. Because these problem spots are well known, river cruise lines can find ways to mitigate the issues with savvy itinerary planning. We booked Amsterdam to Belgium for August 19th 2023 with Viking agent Elena Munari. In May, Viking canceled that cruise. On the next British Airways flight from London to Philadelphia, The 1. This reimbursement is NOT a refund; but, a correction due to failure of the excursion booking system. The US gov has basically declared the "plandemic" over and all other mandates have been drop but Viking still won't change their policy. 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. 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. We were never verbally informed when booking that the actual voucher would expire even if we rebooked again. Desired outcome: About 20 poeple's bag on the flight didn't make it. Do your homework and always make informed decisions. It turns out that during the second half of the cruise, we were in a heat wave, experiencing very hot temperatures. Water levels are unpredictable and can vary day by day, depending on what the weather brings. Originally booked in 2020, paid in full. The line said it was also evaluating 2022 itineraries that call in Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. Because there was no time for a further delay, we paid the tickets to the airline. 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. 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! It would seem to be a reasonable and simple request. I even requested they review the phone call and they refused. Unlike other river cruise lines, however, were very fortunate that we also operate numerous land tours throughout the region, so we have a fantastic network of local supplier-partners that we can leverage as necessary should alternate arrangements become necessary.. We are not asking for anything other than our money back. Crystal River Cruises has canceled its four remaining Crystal Ravel sailings this December. Sandi. Vikings inability to resolve an issue with their on line booking.
Viking Cruises, and Other Lines, Changes Plans Because of Ukraine News 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. This account has been claimed by Viking River Cruises customer service / representatives through our verification process. We also carry about 500 tons of water, that is ballast and fresh water for the guests.. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. **** called finally, apologized and said that he 'misread the rules', misunderstood the rules and this isn't a big deal (his attitude).
Viking River Cruises Cancellation and Refund Policy I was told I would have to pay full retail fare in addition to what had already Viking made an error and owes me reimbursement for charges made on February 1. We were told that since we used vouchers we were not eligible for a refund per policy. 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. 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 . We look forward to exploring the world with you, whenever and wherever you choose to sail with us. On the last day, all running water was turned off until we left the ship. Schreiners advice is simple: Just go. We rebooked yet again and we're told that we had to have the vaccine before we would be able to take our trip. NEW! 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. We then Our Viking cruise embarkation was delayed by 2 days, shortening our trip from 12 to 10 days. Then in Philadelphia That trip was cancelled do to covid, and we were assured by Viking that everything was fine and we rebooked for Jan 2022. One thing Amawaterways and many other river lines do is run two ships simultaneously on the same one-way itinerary, with one ship starting at one end and the other on the opposite end. Obviously, we cannot go on the trip. Seems the generous cancellation risk free ended 30 June and despite booking direct with Viking no mention of the changes was made. Risk-Free Guarantee: How it Works The Rhine River in general is not that deep. In this case, you will receive a full refund of your cruise fare. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile.
My Trip - Updates on Current Sailings - Viking River Cruises But it is for us. Other than the hassle of packing up in the middle of the cruise, travelers still get the full Rhine experience they paid for. We booked the *********** cruise with Viking prior to COVID *****************. The area is protected and thats where you have the low water issues. 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. Contact your Sales Agent or our Customer Service department online, via email, or by phone at 1-800-427-8473 and ask about potential opportunities for flexible cancellation policies, rebooking opportunities and other options. This is why most lines are not offering flexible cancellation policies or waiving penalties for canceling a river cruise because theyre worried their itinerary will get disrupted due to low water levels. The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customers satisfaction. Viking Cruises will test all guests and crew for COVID-19 with daily PCR testing when sailings resume, as part of the company's new Viking Health & Safety Program, the cruise line recently announced. It, along with the Viking Sky, is classified as a small ship, with 465 staterooms, capable of carrying 930 guests. Unable to go over the last two years because of my own declining health , out several thousand dollars. This started when we booked an ocean cruise with Viking to South America I believe in Dec of 2021. This was told to me by two separate employees. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. However, I believe the policy is rather onerous. . After checking cancellation conditions online which indicates $200 up to a certain date I booked a river cruise for 2024 the deposit was $2000pp. 23. 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. She is scheduled to start ************ this week. 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. We rebooked our trip but Viking canceled it again and another voucher was issued. 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. 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. Not enough for the money hungry cruise line. coach.
Viking cruise voucher problem: Don't forget to read the fine print! Then when operations started again, we decided to book a cruise to sail November 2021 At the time we booked, vaccines were not a requirement. I have had the cruise booked for probably a year but only now would the allow me the opportunity to purchase the spoils. 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. Another section of river that can be negatively affected by low water levels is the Danube, past the last lock in Slovakia heading downriver toward Hungary. 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. Desired outcome: The Risk-Free Guarantee allows guests to change their cruise date up until 14 days before their planned departureand Viking will waive any fees.
River Cruises Respond to Austrian Lockdown, Impact on Sailings Just got order from Doctor to cancel due to sudden onset of autoimmune kidney disease.
Floriade River Cruise Guide 2022 | Cruise Critic Poulsbo, Washington. Viking's river cruises are aboard Viking Longships and have a maximum of 190 guests. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. You will be cruising, you will be enjoying," he said. By the time I could ring Viking, the excursion was sold out and the drinks package price had increased. Courtesy Sheila Davies. This offer covers all Viking reservations that are made between November 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 on any 2022 voyage. The draft is the amount of vessel that is below the water line. Viking, please give an explanation. After contacting viking to inform the situation, Viking booked another flight for us. Heres what you need to know. Change of travel requirements after full payment received/ignoring request for full refund. Most river cruise lines do not allow guests to cancel pre-cruise without penalty except for in the most extreme circumstances. Thank you. We feel we should get the $3,494 dollars refunded to us. The booking # is *******. We had not received any response from Viking about 10 days. Check with your cruise line on current cruising conditions and what you can expect from them. The line confirmed the steps to TTG on Wednesday (2 March) and said it was "deeply opposed" to the . The flight from Amman Jordan to Share. It will take a lot for us to travel with you again. The problem with river cruises is that they are affected by both high and low water levels. We were being reimbursed for the cash amount paid but not the amount of the vouchers. Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. Desired outcome: ST PAUL, Minn. There's been a lot of fanfare surrounding America's Great River cruise operated by Viking Cruises. This guarantee is combinable with all other Viking offers available. He was assertive and very confident, pushy and eager to make the booking. Many passengers were still on board at this time and were unable to flush toilets or wash their hands. Only Viking can make the appropriate reservation. Viking Ocean and River is currently operating all upcoming scheduled itineraries. After many failed conversations with Viking Cruise customer service reps to obtain reassurance that we will automatically receive Booking number 7141933 Disassembling the shades on the sun deck. Maximum capacities of 164 passengers and 47 crew. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. London was on an older plane with 3 seats on the left and right. Do not book with Viking Cruises ,they turned my cancelled trip into vouchers with expiration dates that I never knew about. We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. 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. River boats are unique because they can float in just five to six feet of water. In fact, we specifically asked their travel consultant if the vouchers would be reissued if we had to cancel again and we were told they would. He replied "absolutely no way both medically and because ************ weakens her immune system!" People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and theyll be displayed as long as an account is active. We used our voucher prior to the expiration of the voucher, to book a cruise for March of 2023. When you are covered by the Risk-Free Guarantee you may change your cruise reservation with notification to Viking. The first five miles of headwaters have completely dried up. Refund or partial credit. 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 am writing about booking number 7045921 sailed Jan.12 2023. I have contacted Watcdog BBC who are interested. In fact, everything we have come to expect from Viking exceptthere were apparently a few cases of a GI infection . With this terrible Airfares vary on other gateways & departures. We didn't get to see Honduras as Viking tried to use their own tender to get to shore. We were given misinformation by their employee, to which their supervisor stated that verbal statements do not count. ), We booked a cruise in 2019 to sail early in 2020. We paid for the trip and had trip insurance. Viking River Cruises is probably the best known European river cruising company, and has a wide range of river cruise options in Europe. We accepted the vouchers in good faith. After an 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. Why didn't Viking pay to dock? The vaccinations mean nothing anyway. On the other end, river boats are built with a shallow draft of about six feet deep to avoid hitting the river bottom. My bag didn't make it. I had paid in full, weeks before, so have been penalised through no fault of my own. 2022.
Several Cruise Lines Cancel Scheduled Stops in Russia, 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. Viking changed our flight schedule at very short notice. They offered us a 150 dollar non refundable credit to be used onboard. them to clean my clothes again and every night I am on the cruise, Read full review of Viking River Cruises and 1 comment, 16 years' experience in successful complaint resolution, Each complaint is handled individually by highly qualified experts, Last but not least, all our services are absolutely free. An insult! These two rivers are the most popular routes in European river cruising. We were routed to resolution manager who was extremely obnoxious, rude, disrespectful, wasn't listening to the issue, saying 'yes, ok, sales rep make a mistake, mistakes do happen. Virgin Voyages.
Viking Mississippi cancels Oct. 15 cruise due to low river levels Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. My husband and I booked with Viking in December 2019 for the Rhine Getaway Cruise for December 2020. We were treated like animals. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis.
Photos: Major Cruise Lines Are Postponing Sailings Amid Covid Viking is bringing back river cruises to Europe in July. We paid for Travel Protection
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.
Viking Mississippi cruise passengers hit by cancellations Yazmin Hope and Libby Gallagher It is the standard architecture that gives the river boat some leeway with rising and falling river levels. If you are concerned about the water level on your upcoming river cruise, do your due diligence before you take any action. Viking Cruises cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev (Kyiv, Ukraine), Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary in response to Russia's conflict with Ukraine. River cruise lines do have contingency plans for dealing with river flow problems. is a travel editor for TPG, with a focus on cruise travel. 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. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. At no point when we rebooked using our vouchers, were we told the vouchers were not covered under the insurance plan. They said they did. At 104 days out before final payment was due, we had to either lose our entire deposit of $2K+ or get a voucher. The Risk-Free Guarantee allows guests to change their cruise date up until 14 days before their planned departureand Viking will waive any fees. We opted for the voucher. In Europe, we dont cruise in January, February and into early March because its too cold, he explained. We are unable to meet their requirements and therefore want our funds returned to us.
Viking River Cruises, Inc. | Complaints | Better Business Bureau Profile Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. 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. Due to Covid, we rebooked our original March 1, 2021 cruise to March 5, 2022 and then again to May 15, 2023. Viking will not honor this request. Viking Ocean Ships Currently Sailing: Viking Jupiter Viking Orion Viking Mars Viking Neptune Viking Saturn Viking Sea Viking Sky Viking Star Viking Venus Vikings entire river fleet of over 75 ships is also actively sailing. Europe is now seeing the same kind of climate change conditions that are affecting the Western United States. The typical characteristics of river boats regardless of cruise line are about the same. The dire news youre reading about low water levels in Europe now, especially along the Rhine River, mostly concerns the cargo shipping industry in Europe. passengers asked if ports on the new itinerary may close and if there's a chance the cruise could be canceled while underway. Enrollment required. Since the ships are nearly identical, if you do transfer to another ship, you should be in a similar stateroom as the original ship. We rebooked for 2022 on 11/30/2020.
Viking Cruises | Cruise Ship List - Cruises Only More Cruises Canceled as Omicron Spreads - The New York Times Viking Cruises' New Safety Protocols Include Daily COVID-19 Testing In some cases, an itinerary may be adjusted with certain destinations dropped and new ones added. Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. It is time for Viking to do the same and act like a cruise line instead of a medical facility. Most all other cruise lines have dropped this mandate. The cruise line announced the return of select itineraries in Portugal, France and . Very disappointing. Unfortunately, there are still cruises being cancelled in 2022 due to Covid-19 and the uncertainty surrounding it. No materials from this website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way. 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. Learn to how to find the cheapest awards. Their luggage has been moved over automatically so by the time they arrive on the ship they have their luggage, and then they sail on the other ship back to the destination.. Water levels on the Rhine River are set to fall close to the point where the river cannot hold ships anymore. by Steve CaseLast updated September 6, 2022. If you want to cancel a cruise right now in October because of low water, I will tell you, Sorry, we dont know if theres low water in October, said Schreiner. A sales representative ******. A weighted-down ship sinks lower in the water and therefore needs more distance from the water line to the river bottom to sail safely without scraping the riverbed. Expires March 31, 2023. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card.
With many Christmas markets closed, river cruise lines cancel sailings After 5 minutes she came back and said the manager said nothing they could do but charge a 50 percent fee for canceling. 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. Schreiner says that the last time Europe experienced extremely low water levels, in 2018, the economic impact was around 5.4 million euros ($5.4 million). Disappointed with Viking Cruises cancellation policy. 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. Coach would have been better. We also ensure all reviews are published without moderation. I asked the captain how deep the ship would be if it sank. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. (I doubt theyll get that right). return trip Munich to EWR 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 only problem was it WAS VERY NOISY, couldnt get a full night sleep due the engine and the bed shaking.We will go back to the other suites.The staff was great! #VikingVictims. Its infuriating and disrespectful. Schreiner gives an example of two identical sister ships, AmaLucia and AmaSiena, that both sail the Rhine.
Risk-Free Guarantee - Viking River Cruises 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. Viking Venus : cruise round Med and on to Israel.This was a wonderful itinerary , a beautiful ship , excellent food and service. You dont cruise in Egypt in June/July because its too hot. Then when operations started again, we decided to book a cruise to sail November 2021 At the time we booked, vaccines were not a requirement.