Covid hit and we were unable to go in May 2021. Most Viking cruises offer extensions either at the start or the end of the trip. it sounds as if the plan b provided was not up to the standard paid for. We both have autoimmune conditions. As a private company, we have the flexibility to do what is best for our guests and our employees. But, when the company you have paid a very expensive fee to promises something they know is not going to happen . Viking REFUSED to give us a refund. When we purchased this cruise, we paid for Deluxe Accommodations. To be entitled to a refund, cancellation must be done according to the conditions below. 100% of Full Fare. 4 0 obj On top of all this, there are no refunds, only a paltry 25% discount (of the price you paid, not the price of the cruise you may want to take next, and by the way, this is close to the discount they give returning customers so in effect they are giving back essentially nothing for a lousy cruise) on your next trip if taken in the next 12 months. The bottom line here is that Viking sold a cruise package that it could not deliver. You the paying customer have no say in the matter. In other words, it just hiked prices to the point where even the 125 percent vouchers were inadequate. They pride themselves on being different to other cruise lines"no children under 18, no casinos, no umbrella drinks" They should add to that list no single travellers so we don't waste our time looking at their cruises. The Irrawaddy is the largest and most important river in Burma (Myanmar). Is my warranty dead, too? We opted to take the grand European cruise with Viking and visit as many communities in Europe as Any advance research before actually purchasing the cruise would have accurately informed the OP of the pros and cons of these cruises; and adverse water levels similarly affect all cruise lines, although each deals with the situation in different ways at . The booking must be cancelled before applying for a refund. VikingCruises, Community Specialist at Viking Cruises, responded to this review. With all Is this legal? Powered by Invision Community. Shame on them. If I tried to duplicate them it would take weeks of planning and organizing, not to mention to calculate the costs involved. <> If you have a facebook account, Viking has a page there. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. First picture shows our Viking cruise ship second photo is the fire from our French balcony - when we were on a boat and docked, we were between other ships so blinds had to be drawn. As you might imagine, the surge in traffic from everyone trying to complete their shore excursions at the same time caused Viking's system to shut down. How dare they sell shore excursions and get prepayment and then basically say, "ha ha, got cha" and not refund our money. All rights reserved (About Us). We carefully read the details of the Viking Health & Safety Program available online at the time of our booking. A full refund will be given for most optional shore excursions if you give notice of cancellation at least 48 hours prior to the optional shore excursion. They may sound sympathetic. (And you'll typically have a much larger room in a nice hotel). That seemed too risky for us, so we canceled on March 20, the last day in the 65% cash refund period. I received the refund 02/21/2023. READ CAREFULLY. We understand that some of our guests might be hesitant about making a cruise reservation or traveling at this time. Were sorry to hear of the miscommunication, polishtraveler32, and regret any disappointment that may have resulted. No, the representatives said. No Children, No Casinos, No Nickel and Diming, Risk-Free GuaranteeThe Most Flexible Way to Plan a Voyage. Again, no mention of being able to receive cash once you accept the voucher. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for SUPERSTAR GEMINI STAR CRUISES X CROWN JEWEL BROCHURE 1998 INCL DECK PLANS at the best online prices at eBay! with Covid 19 Policies and Procedures shall be grounds for a refusal to re-board after going ashore". This was my fourth rivet cruise with Viking. 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. If we had waited even one more day, we would have only been entitled to 50% cash and 50% travel vouchers, Keyles said. . The cruise line didnt say when it would return to the seas and waterways because it couldnt know. Guests who prefer to forgo the added value voucher and request a refund, can call Viking at 1-833-900-0951 or their Travel Advisor bythe deadline provided in the communication notifying them of the cancellation of their cruise. Front Desk gentleman needs a bit of coaching on customer relations!We were traveling with two other groups. Consumer Alert: Your Airbnb comes with heat during the winter, but Did airlines make a U-turn on family seat fees? Business Started Locally: 1/1/1997. 2015 case involving United frequent flier points, multiple cancellations and future cruise credits. If you would like to discuss your concerns in more detail, please email your contact information to us at TellUs@vikingrivercruises.com. When cancelling a paid booking, you can receive money back or put the amount towards a ticket on another day or route. However our travel agent recommended Viking & Avalon. And the result is that passengers like us were unable to schedule any of the shore excursions we were interested in and through no fault of our own. He asked the couple to submit a medical claim with the travel insurance company. Future Cruise Vouchers valued at 125% are available exclusively for those guests whose cruise was cancelled due to, or associated with, our suspended operations. When I questioned the consultant regarding this (as I'm not eating, drinking or doing shore excursions for 2) I was told that they fill their cruises so the don't need single travellers. 3. Ironcity, the complains are from people who went with Viking in November. We look forward to exploring the world with you, whenever and wherever you choose to sail with us. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. She said they went through the history of the case, and the representative said she did want to try to work something out with us.. If they got enough complain, they might open an investigation. I only wish the passengers on the 1st and 2nd week (YodaMon was) complain earlier and louder. Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. I'm hoping that doesn't happen to us. Water levels may be considered an act of God. I thought I should let you know the results, she told me. Nevertheless, we are pleased you have secured included excursions and encourage you to check your email regularly for sailing updates and My Viking Journey for changes in excursion allotments. The Risk-Free Guarantee allows guests to change their cruise date up until 14 days before their planned departureand Viking will waive any fees. Location of This Business. Business Incorporated: In July, the representative sent the couple an email that got them to agree to file a claim with the travel insurance policy. You can bet I'm writing to the Attorney General and thank you for the advice. Please Note: 1) Terms & Conditions for Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers can be found here. Viking refuses - saying it was paid with vouchers. Posted Saturday at 06:49 PM. by war, hostilities, blockage, ice, labor conflicts, weather, surf, shallow waters, insurrections, disturbances, on board or ashore, restraint of any Governmental Authority, breakdown of the Vessel, congestions, docking difficulties or any other cause whatsoever, or if we, as Carrier, or the Master of the Ship consider that for any reason, whatsoever, beyond the control of the Carrier, proceeding to, attempting to enter, or entering or remaining at any port may expose the Ship to risk of loss or damage, or be likely to delay the Ship, you and your baggage may be landed at any port or place at which the Ship may call, in which event our responsibility shall cease and this, Passenger Ticket Contract shall be deemed to have been fully performed, or if you have not embarked, we may cancel the proposed Cruise and refund your Cruise Fares. What Viking advertises in not what you get. Viking River Cruise Guide. Once we finally got access to the system, we spent a couple of hours going through the list of available shore excursions and placing them in our cart for purchase. Call a Viking Expert at 1-800-2-VIKING or see your Travel Advisor. Heres funny math on an airline refund in 2019. The cabins on those 2 sure look nicer especially the beds. Its been a month and they have not called. They may offer a voucher on future cruises, but seldom a cash refund. I will certainly take your advice and write the State of California. Customer service is great from all the staff and ships crew. I can't believe this is legal! Fosses case is a borderline one, when it comes to travel math. Had she done so, Fosse could have avoided this mess. The goodies you get, are because WE complained loudly here back in November! The manager never did say what happened other than the hotel is fully booked.The other couple got a room the had a strong septic smell. LauraS Called on 5/28/2020 notified Viking I wanted a refund not voucher for future travel. x}[S\G#aVef|tZ1YO~Y^5no?Gg~? Viking Cruise lines, horrible. If your cruise is cancelled, the vouchers go back on your account (and can be used to book another cruise). As there is no requirement for covid testing for flights to Malta and because you are tested anyway before the boarding the ship, why are they forcing guests to use only one airline. But their offers are clearly disingenuous. Should you wish to change your reservation, you can choose which policy works best for you: Vikings Risk-Free Guarantee or standard cancellation policy. The biggest problem with Viking is that they knew the water level in advance and never gave us the option to postpone, reschedule our trip or cancel. I wouldnt have. % 85% of Full Fare. Instead, Viking made the shore excursions available to all passengers on our sailing and several others simultaneously. yes water levels can be an issue but the consumers still need to get the product they paid for. This resulted in the cruise price jumping by 600! 2 0 obj Now it wont refund my $3,606. 89-60. is an awesome opportunity to develop competitive skills. Unfortunately, when we tried to check out, all the tours we picked were sold out, and they were dropped from our cart. In mid-March, the couple contacted Viking to see what their options might be. Started August 27, 2021, By When I didn't get my phone calls answered, I posted there and they reacted. My understanding is that when the vouchers expire, you cannot get your cash back on the 100% vouchers but that you can get your cash back from the 125% (at 100%, as they are not going to give you more money than you actually paid in). I recently wanted to book a very expensive 6 week cruise as a solo traveller. Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers are transferable, so that you have the flexibility to gift them to a loved one. The worst part has been their customer service following what they tout as romantic Danube. Onboard you'll be treated to an all-inclusive . AND watch carefully of the water level prior to departure! We were told all monies had been converted to vouchers and no dollar amounts could not or would not be refunded.Attempts to engage either Viking directly or Vikings in-house travel insurance, TravelMate, have been met with spectacular indifference and silence. Ten days later, on March 30, Viking announced the cruise was canceled and 100% cash refunds would be given to customers but only for those who hadnt canceled previously. Our position as an advocacy organization is that cruise lines should offer full refunds after a second cancellation, even if a passenger has accepted a future cruise credit. All the reasons why you cant get a refund for your destination wedding. endobj We all have sat in our hotel rooms during a torrential rain in the Carribean and shrugged it off while pulling out a deck of cards or a board game. She called the company twice, once in April and once in June, to see if Viking would honor the full refund. In all fairness, every other interaction for us at the Palace was great! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Guests with questions or difficulty locating this information, may call us at 1-833-900-0951 or contact their Travel Advisor. I can't believe this is legal! We just wanted to let you know that we are listening and should you ever want to contact us directly in the future, wed be happy to hear from you again at TellUs@vikingrivercruises.com or by calling your contact in Customer Relations. what has been described has been appalling and i feel for those concerned. Passenger tickets without cabin, Stockholm<>Turku, Information regarding the coronavirus situation, Breakfast at Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel, Gamla Stan Old Town has both grandeur and comfort in its streets, Norrmalm and stermalm shopping for pleasure, Sdermalm warmth and comfort in the heart of Stockholm, Delicious treat at Chokladfabriken caf-shop, Park Inn by Radisson Central Hotel Tallinn, StockholmHelsinki or vice versa, round trip, StockholmTurku or vice versa, round trip, HelsinkiTallinn or vice versa, round trip, Flavours from the Swedish Culinary Team's silver menu, Archipelago Spa & Wellness on Viking Glory, Family break is time for everyone to enjoy, Energy consumption and minimising emissions into the air, Data protection description: Feedback and Claims, Data protection description: Safety and Security, Conditions for the availability of vessels, Transport of weapons and ammunition on board, Key rights under Package Travel Directive EU 2015/2302. The Fosses rebooked their cruise for this April. Free shipping for many products! CC Help Jenn Heres how to spot it, Expert advice for booking the best hotel and finding the lowest rate, Here it is: The complete guide to holiday travel, Take that back: The ultimate guide to a product return, The ultimate guide to getting a repair, replacement or refund for your broken appliance, Cell phone customer service: How to get virtually any problem fixed now. VIKING RIVER CRUISES, INC.: Viking River Cruises, Inc. acts solely as a Sales Agent for the above-mentioned operators of the vessels described herein. Maintenance came and made adjustments above the ceiling and the smell did go away.It appears to me that Viking passengers get the leftover rooms.Again, the cruise was absolutely amazing and highly recommended. Something seemed profoundly unfair to her about treating her voucher as exempt from the 125 percent offer. Hertz billed her for eight extra days on her car. Then late in the day, 50 days before our departure, we received a notice that shore excursions would finally be available the following day, 49 days before sailing. Four days on a bus. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Were always here to help. Refunds are made upon receipt and depend on the working times of banks. Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? The "free" flight from Venice was arranged by a Viking booking agent. Jill Fosse didnt do that when Viking offered her a refund or a generous 125 percent voucher. The Viking sales agent dealing with us and her supervisor only respond by saying management can offer no refunds and additional vouchers have been offered (typical sales approach). The above-mentioned provisions, are not to be considered as restricted by any words of this Passenger Ticket Contract whether written, stamped or printed. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. The letter indicated a refund can be obtained if Viking notified by June 12, 2020. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. They dont particularly care what their image is other than great river and ocean cruises. Further to your attachment, I found a copy of the earlier RFG, for all cruises booked up to 30th April. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Viking River Cruises Irrawaddy / Mekong / Ganges / Yangtze River Cruises. They essentially had a bus trip in Europe. The amount towards a ticket on another day or route from the 125 percent offer Diming, Risk-Free GuaranteeThe Flexible! Please email your contact information to us at 1-833-900-0951 or contact their travel Advisor future cruises, responded to review. 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Costs involved locating this information, may call us at the time of our website to! Important river in Burma ( Myanmar ) levels can be an issue but the still... All cruises booked up to the point where even the 125 percent vouchers were inadequate Viking waive. Sure look nicer especially the beds to a refund or a generous 125 percent voucher - saying was. Much larger room in a nice hotel ) in mid-March, the complains are from who. 2 sure look nicer especially the beds, but Did airlines make a U-turn on family seat?... What is best for our guests and our employees a cruise package that it could not.! Viking Health & Safety Program available online at the Palace was great & # x27 ; ll be treated an. Standard paid for available to all passengers on our random acts of consumer advocacy carefully...