If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile. You will, however, still get a vacation in Europe, even if its not the one you expected. We booked a cruise, paid the full booking amount. 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. You can see why people are worried. The trip was for September 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic. In fact, how a business responds to customer complaints is one of the most significant components of the BBB Business Rating. We could not get a negative covid test in time for Just returned from Classis Panama Canal Cruise (11-21 February 2023) on the last day, running water for the shower, hand basins and toilets had been turned off from 5am to when we left the ship at 10.30am. However, I believe the policy is rather onerous. River cruise lines do have contingency plans for dealing with river flow problems. This is due to the cruise line planning on new summer UK domestic cruises for UK vaccinated residents only. Just return on our river cruise . That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. Call us at 800-454-0927 to speak to a Cruise Concierge today. I specifically mentioned this scenario when I used the voucher and we were told as long as it was 120 days before departure we could rebook using our voucher. Read full review of Viking River Cruises I contacted Viking and was told the vouchers were not refundable because we had not cancelled at least 2 weeks prior to departure. Many passengers were distressed by the lack of fresh water. "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,. Only in very rare circumstances are the sailings canceled outright. 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. We never sign or agree to sail with vaccines passport as requirement.No one respond our emails or our attorney except a woman name ******************************* that behaves like an iron wall to talk to anyone else. Subscribe to Apple News. All other passages from ******* for the same Antarctica cruise with Viking Octantis got their boarding passes with no problem. We look forward to exploring the world with you, whenever and wherever you choose to sail with us. We also paid Port Tax for Honduras even though they chose not to book and pay to use the pier there. Bad cruise experience, shore excursions, bad weather bad handling, cold food, etc. For the cabin on the cruise, we indicated separate beds for their cabin. We later booked a future cruise and then learned of the medical requirement which we are advised may be harmful to us because of pre-existing heart conditions. Thank you. A place on the excursion I tried to book. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. 2022. Viking's treatment of it's customers makes no sense.they combined two of my trips (without asking) into one "butterfly trip" which meant when I had to cancel the first, it cancelled the 2nd. 2022 is now cancelled and will be replaced with new roundtrip voyages from Southampton to the Caribbean via the Canary Islands and New York. (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business. Passengers wait to board the luxury cruise ship Viking Mississippi, berthed at Lambert's Landing in St. Paul, on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Submitting a response indicates a willingness to work with customers to make things right. No one expects to have to cancel a cruise. On 11/22 we received an email from Trip Mate regarding the resolution of our claim. 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 Ocean cruise ships usually have at least 25 feet or more or more of draft which would preclude them from river cruising. 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. 4. Cannot recommend whatsoever - there are better cruise lines who deliver & care about providing a decent level of customer experience - avoid them if you can. Coach would have been better. 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. This was our second cruise, I would have to say our first one was wonderful, this one was not bad. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. We feel we should get the $3,494 dollars refunded to us. This was told to me by two separate employees. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. We are unable to meet their requirements and therefore want our funds returned to us. We paid for the trip and had trip insurance. Only Viking can make the appropriate reservation. 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. Over in Southeast Asia, a new river ship, Viking Saigon, will cruise the Mekong. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. 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. The confirmation email said cancellation for any reason loss of deposit. On April 7, Virgin Voyages updated its advisory that all regular Scarlet Lady cruises are canceled through September 17, 2021. 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. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. over night stay we got back to Cincinnati the next day. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). They have no intentions of giving my money back .Do I not have any rights? For information about your specific voyage, please log onto MyVikingJourney.com. Because we were given a voucher, we can not get out money back. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. We booked a Viking River Cruise with AAA travel in August of 2019 for $14,497 for two people which excludes the insurance cost. Enrollment required. In 2021, the cruise line plans to launch their seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus. We were given misinformation by their employee, to which their supervisor stated that verbal statements do not count. Thank you. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. By March 2020 Viking announced cancellations due to covid, with an additional 25% for a future booking. All I got was 'you must pay in full for your trip before booking extras'. 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. Scheduled and rescheduled elder family care and pet sitting services. 1. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. Maximum capacities of 164 passengers and 47 crew. It turns out that for the most part, if the ship sank, we would be high and dry standing on the sun deck. On the other end, river boats are built with a shallow draft of about six feet deep to avoid hitting the river bottom. Special fares plus Free airfare valid on select 2023 departures of Eastern Seaboard Explorer and Canada & New England Scenic Shores. When I called to cancel they said we did not purchase the insurance. What? During our Antarctica cruise, as suggested by the on board customer services, we submitted our request for the reimbursement with receipts. Withholding of monies and shore excursion booking system failure. 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. We booked a river cruise from Istanbul to Venice. We have spent $25,000.00 including air far which we are also going to lose if not used by 12/31/2023. By. 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. 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. 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. Not impressed and wi never book another trip with this company. Learn to how to find the cheapest awards. AMA Waterways | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. I purchased a cruise for my wife and myself then Covid hit. On 12/20/20 Viking cancelled this cruise. Don't sail Viking unless you are guaranteed of going on the trip. We only wanted our money to be applied to another cruise in 2023. Desired outcome: The drought category in England has reached the most severe designation of severe drought. We would much rather be able to post how considerate Viking has been (as well as how much we enjoyed the cruise!) The Po River flows 400 miles across the top of Italy from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea. I used my airline mile and hotel points to travel well and cheap. Learn more. By Alyssa Lukpat and Ceylan Yeginsu. Not for the voucher amount. It would seem to be a reasonable and simple request. At best, youll do a ship swap mid-cruise, a slight inconvenience that will allow you to follow your planned itinerary. An apology is not good enough. At the other end of the Po, ocean water has flooded the last 12 miles of the river damaging crops and contaminating drinking water. Viking Polaris Current cruise: 13 days, one-way from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso-Santiago Viking Expeditions Tracker Itineraries Deck plans Accidents Viking Neptune Current cruise: 137 days, one-way from Fort Lauderdale to London-Tilbury Viking Ocean Tracker Itineraries Deck plans Viking Mars Current cruise: 14 days, one-way from Sydney to Auckland Is it cheaper to stay out in the bay and use your own tender? The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. Find the right card for you. This meant I was unable to book any excursions or drinks package, despite trying as soon as they were released. . If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. We could not wash, shower, not wash our hands and NOT able to flush toilets! Mind you, my cruise cost over $27,000. Our ships have a very low draftabout five feet, he explained. Share. Really, what is a big deal here? They are just taking the thousands of dollars we gave them from us and we are getting nothing in return. Karin Price Mueller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. There is rock on the bottom; theres also this little house in the middle of the river. Not at all, according to Rudi Schreiner, president and co-founder AmaWaterways as long as youre willing to be a little bit flexible. Europe has many rivers where cruise lines operate. Crystal River Cruises has canceled its four remaining Crystal Ravel sailings this December. The flight from Amman Jordan to Due to Covid, we rebooked our original March 1, 2021 cruise to March 5, 2022 and then again to May 15, 2023. Want all money refunded. Or, you might have a few port stops changed out for new ones, or spend more time than you prefer in busses or hotels, possibly with shorter visits to destinations that now require longer bus rides. We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. We will never try Viking again! We accepted the vouchers in good faith. *In Canada, trademark(s) of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, used under License. We rebooked our trip but Viking canceled it again and another voucher was issued. Then before the departure, Viking cancelled operations and offered us vouchers for future cruises. Recent updates have been made to cancellation schedules and refund guidelines for various cruise lines. We were treated like animals. Unlike ocean cruising, river cruising has a lot of fluctuations in water levels. It will take of the expiring vouchers and the booking can be changed with no problem whatsoever once a schedule for 2024 becomes available. airfare $2198 The dream vacation I have waited for 8 years has gone down the drain. passengers asked if ports on the new itinerary may close and if there's a chance the cruise could be canceled while underway. Cailey Rizzo. 1. "The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority," a Viking representative told Travel Market Report. Breeze through security with CLEAR lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. 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. The Rhine River in general is not that deep. Before you decide to. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Why does Viking assume every 2 people traveling together desire to sleep together? This reimbursement is NOT a refund; but, a correction due to failure of the excursion booking system. 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. See details. We paid 529+40 USD purchasing fees each for the tickets. 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. The reason given by Viking is that these are vouchers from a previously booked trip (during the COVID pandemic). Thanks for reaching out, Itom, although we regret to learn of your experience with booking excursions. 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. They said they did. A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. Four excursions that I wanted are already sold out. Heres what you need to know. This matter has not been properly escalated to the legal department.Our time is running off to recover our money and we can not travel due the vaccines requirements and the only absurd respond that we get is to transfer our vouchers.We are extremely disappointed of Viking Cruises after we decided to support the company. After checking cancellation conditions online which indicates $200 up to a certain date I booked a river cruise for 2024 the deposit was $2000pp. 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. The Viking Ocean Cruises 2022 Grand Polynesia Voyage has come to a triumphant completion in Los Angeles. Vikings' policy allows no refund under the circumstances (i.e. 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. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. 2023-2025 OCEAN CRUISE AND AIR SAVINGS: Offer applies to bookings made from March 1-31, 2023. Now I see all this advertisement that waives ar fares , deposits and other things we paid for Horrible company in terms of customer service. 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. This started when we booked an ocean cruise with Viking to South America I believe in Dec of 2021. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Viking suggested that I should talk to my travel insurance company to reimburse the cost of additional airfare cost. An insult! Look at the Mekong you dont cruise in May, June, July and August because its too hot. Most river cruise lines do not allow guests to cancel pre-cruise without penalty except for in the most extreme circumstances. is a travel editor for TPG, with a focus on cruise travel. Enrollment required. Viking collects 3 fares for a 2 person room. Anybody got any idea what do I do? Originally booked in 2020, paid in full. Guests and travel agents on impacted departures are in the process of being notified. Do your homework and always make informed decisions. Sheila Davies is a retired gas industry professional based in Northumberland, England. . My husband and I were excited about our long awaited cruise next May. We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. 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. 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. Please DO NOT add attachments that contain your or other peoples personal information, if you dont want it to be visible to the public. 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. Posted September 18, 2021. She really needs this positive experience to look forward to. I hope this is something you can help with. Story Update (September 5, 2022) Viking river cruises have posted an advisory from Danube River cruises that ship swapping may occur. The plane returned to the gate and he was transported to the local hospital. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Review for Viking Osiris to Middle East Swirling Kilt 2-5 Cruises Age 60s Read More Sail Date: December 2022 Cabin Type: Suite with Veranda Helpful Christmas on the Mississippi Review for. This was not the case. View all of our Luxury Cruise sailings and offers. At no point when we rebooked using our vouchers, were we told the vouchers were not covered under the insurance plan. She is scheduled to start ************ this week. A river level that is too high or too low can affect an otherwise great cruising experience. I am writing about booking number 7045921 sailed Jan.12 2023. Booked a trip just before covid hit which had to be canceled for obvious reasons. Check with your cruise line on current cruising conditions and what you can expect from them. Like most cruise lines, Viking canceled all of its sailings during the pandemic. The other typical plan is to put the passengers on buses to get around the affected areas. Not one thing but some flowers in the rain and unsafe steps and more Booking number 7141933 The Rhine River is the main artery for German and Swiss transportation and also French, said Schreiner. Viking River Cruises Viking Rolf (Photo: Viking River Cruises) Cruise delayed because of COVID. 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. But due to a serious health issue we along with our Drs said that it was not feasible for us to go. Disappointed with Viking Cruises cancellation policy. After contacting viking to inform the situation, Viking booked another flight for us. The difference between what they gave us as a credit for a 2023 cruise (which we booked so we didn't lose all of our money) and what we originally paid is $3,494 dollars. I explain ship swapping in the section: . 2) Risk-Free Guarantee for guests who made a reservation between March 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021; 3) Risk-Free Guarantee for guests who made a reservation between May 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021; 4) Risk-Free Guarantee for guests who made a reservation prior to April 30, 2020. 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." Articles are of a general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances. Scenic. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. There are critical points, like the one on the Rhine River, right in the Rhine Gorge, Schreiner explained. 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. I'm now wondering what the cozy deal is between Viking and Trip Mate, considering the vast number of Trip Mate complaints from Viking Cruise customers. We appreciate you sharing your experience, Marie, although we regret to hear of your disappointment. Customers should not be treated this way. He was assertive and very confident, pushy and eager to make the booking. At 104 days out before final payment was due, we had to either lose our entire deposit of $2K+ or get a voucher. They offered us a 150 dollar non refundable credit to be used onboard. On the next British Airways flight from London to Philadelphia, The 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. Any help to resolve this matter will be greatly appreciated. This content has not been approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Viking Cruise recommends that their customers insure their travel & trip with Trip Mate Travel Insurance. My bag is still missing and I will request (!) My impression of Viking Cruise Line has plummeted far below any other cruise line. Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. If the whole itinerary is changed, youll get to sail the new itinerary and receive a 100% future cruise credit to book another cruise. Dozens of cruises have been cancelled and some ports in the Caribbean and South America are turning ships away from making . From now through March 31, 2022, Viking is offering special rates starting at $599 (not including airfare) on all 2022 and 2023 departures.