Experts are saying that the current drought in Europe could be the worst in 500 years, with water levels dropping, especially along the Rhine River. She really needs this positive experience to look forward to. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. . However, the same problems do not affect river cruise ships. Cruises - Very disappointed with Viking River Cruises - Reservation # 2672768 We were supposed to do a river cruise and ended up doing a motor coach tour due to low river levels. Any comments Viking? We are not asking for a refund for the vouchers but to simply have them reissued to be used toward another cruise. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. They can go up, they can go down, rain can come in.. Many passengers were distressed by the lack of fresh water. 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. Its infuriating and disrespectful. Thank you. After many failed conversations with Viking Cruise customer service reps to obtain reassurance that we will automatically receive Booking number 7141933 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. 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. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. "But this is not a problem at all" - he said, because all we need is to make a booking for any date, just as a placeholder. , I am out the $3500 no matter what) and a friend who will take my place must pay her full share of the room as well! Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. 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. Heres what you need to know about water levels on Europe rivers and what to expect if youre booked on a river cruise or considering booking one. The departure flight from ******* was delayed due to the storm. We have had to cancel our river cruise because of their ludicrous covid policy. Booking number: *******. Europe is now seeing the same kind of climate change conditions that are affecting the Western United States. I won't be booking any future cruise with them. Call a Viking Expert at 0800 319 66 60 or see your Travel Advisor. Here's our experience with the Viking cancellation policy. But due to a serious health issue we along with our Drs said that it was not feasible for us to go. More details in attachment. In fact, how a business responds to customer complaints is one of the most significant components of the BBB Business Rating. I purchased two of each of the following through ACH: Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. 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. Thu 13 Jan 2022 01.00 EST Last modified on Thu 13 Jan 2022 18.22 EST. I asked to speak to a manager and was told by the person I talked to I could not but she would speak with one. Wouldnt that booking choice make it clear to Viking that pre and post excursion bookings would also require separate beds? Heres what you need to know. Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews. But there is nothing we can do, your vouchers have expired'. No materials from this website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way. ***. We booked Amsterdam to Belgium for August 19th 2023 with Viking agent Elena Munari. 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. I was told Viking doesnt own the hotel and the hotel will not let me make a change since Viking handled the booking. What does Viking do Nothing. "We will not cancel any cruises," said Shreiner. Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers are transferable, so that you have the flexibility to gift them to a loved one. . I had insurance and filed a claim. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity mentioned herein. 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. 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. Their ad is wonderful but after all is said and done it is all crap. This is due to the cruise line planning on new summer UK domestic cruises for UK vaccinated residents only. Viking's river cruises are aboard Viking Longships and have a maximum of 190 guests. This is an awful company to deal with. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. We would never do a river cruise again, Paid for a cruise in Nov 2021 for an Oct 2022 cruise, 2 days before departure I broke both wrists, contacted Viking about a credit for for a future cruise - a very rude man said Viking would do nothing- they had my money for almost a year and basically told me "to bad". **** called finally, apologized and said that he 'misread the rules', misunderstood the rules and this isn't a big deal (his attitude). 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. My bag is still missing and I will request (!) Fraud and deception! This met the 11/30 deadline for a "risk free guarantee" enabling change of plans up to 24 hours before sailing. I purchased a cruise for my wife and myself then Covid hit. This 'placeholder booking' means nothing he assured us. AMA Waterways | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols. Cannot go on a cruise if not jabbed even to countries which have no covid requirements any more. Jan 26, 2023 01:33pm. For the cabin on the cruise, we indicated separate beds for their cabin. Passes which had been canceled since BA flight had been late. When you are covered by the Risk-Free Guarantee you may change your cruise reservation with notification to Viking. Booking XXXXXXX. During our Antarctica cruise, as suggested by the on board customer services, we submitted our request for the reimbursement with receipts. Not every river cruise line takes the same stance. 2023 Trustpilot, Inc. All rights reserved. We booked a river cruise (Danube) for March 2022. Disappointed with Viking Cruises cancellation policy. If ships have to lighten their loads to cross shallow water, fewer goods can be transported at once. The line said it was also evaluating 2022 itineraries that call in Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. 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.. We are not asking for anything other than our money back. 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. Cancellation conditions 2. Thanks for reaching out, Itom, although we regret to learn of your experience with booking excursions. There is rock on the bottom; theres also this little house in the middle of the river. passengers asked if ports on the new itinerary may close and if there's a chance the cruise could be canceled while underway. It is the standard architecture that gives the river boat some leeway with rising and falling river levels. 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. 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. We paid some #10,000 for premium air. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, The best places to see cherry blossoms around the US this spring, Looking back: How my points and miles strategy has changed over the years, The best increased card offers to sign up for this March. By. Voyages offering the excursion to Floriade 2022 operate between July 16 and August 27, 2022 aboard River Empress. 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. 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." Viking Cruises is a cruise line providing river and ocean cruises, with operations based in Basel, Switzerland. Recent updates have been made to cancellation schedules and refund guidelines for various cruise lines. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Please Note: 1) Terms & Conditions for Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers can be found here. For that reason, the Rhine River is feeling greater effects of river flow and sooner than compared with the Danube. Just as with ocean sailings, theres always a risk that weather and river/sea conditions can impact that itinerary, and cruisers must accept that itineraries cannot be set in stone. 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. 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. Having trip insurance may pay you in full depending on your coverage. The drought category in England has reached the most severe designation of severe drought. The flight from Amman Jordan to The cruise line said it was evaluating 2022 itineraries that visit Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. In November ******************************************* She had major surgery December 12th. We promise not to send you any unrelated messages, Click here if youd like to unsubscribe from notifications about new complaints of Viking River Cruises. Submit a complaint and get your issue resolved. A longtime editor at Cruise Critic, Erica has also written for The Washington Post, Fodors and Lets Go travel guides, and numerous print and online cruise publications. 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. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. Viking Cruise recommends that their customers insure their travel & trip with Trip Mate Travel Insurance. Do your homework and always make informed decisions. We hope that the flexibility provided by this guarantee truly puts your mind at ease when it comes to the decision of whether or not to travel. You will, however, still get a vacation in Europe, even if its not the one you expected. Schreiners advice is simple: Just go. 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. We have taken note of your feedback. Posted September 18, 2021. The first five miles of headwaters have completely dried up. 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. We appreciate you sharing your experience, Marie, although we regret to hear of your disappointment. 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 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 . A place on the excursion I tried to book. Why all other passages under the same situation had no such problem were not explained by Viking. 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 river flows are falling so if you are booked for a cruise this year, check with your cruise line and obtain their current assessment of operating conditions. Taking over the Hilton in Taupo NZ, they were obnoxious. We called our AAA travel agent and she notified Viking on September 17,2022, we were scheduled to leave on September 22,2022. - Refusal to honor its cancellation policy, Viking trip shortened due to weather, no refund. At the time we did we also asked that trip insurance be added. 1. This is known as ship swapping. Published on May 21, 2021. For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs cruise newsletter. If the level is too low, the vessel may run aground or need an alternative docking arrangement. Here is a message that appears on the Viking River Cruise webpage: The cruise line may elect to cancel your cruise. ************************************* Cruises that was set to sail in April 2020. 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 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. Booking your first river cruise? I paid my travel agent in full for my cruise well before the due date, but was unable to access online booking as Viking claim the payment wasn't made. This river begins in the Alps near the Italy-French border and is fed by snowmelt. Viking Venus : cruise round Med and on to Israel.This was a wonderful itinerary , a beautiful ship , excellent food and service. One of the most popular rivers, the Rhine has river levels falling fast. We look forward to exploring the world with you, whenever and wherever you choose to sail with us. View all of our Luxury Cruise sailings and offers. 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. The trip was for September 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic. As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. Viking Celebrates Start Of Inaugural Season In North America's Great Lakes Read More May 17, 2022 Newest Ocean Ship In Viking's Award-Winning Fleet Named By The Countess Of Carnarvon Of Highclere Castle Read More May 12, 2022 Viking Takes Delivery of Newest Ocean Ship Read More April 25, 2022 They are just taking the thousands of dollars we gave them from us and we are getting nothing in return. 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. "Given recent developments and the developing conflict in Ukraine,. 140 complaints closed in the last 12 months. 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. Booking 6819824. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The US gov has basically declared the "plandemic" over and all other mandates have been drop but Viking still won't change their policy. We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. The photo is from my first premium, international award flight in 2012. 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. They refuse. Poulsbo, Washington. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Viking is bringing back river cruises to Europe in July. Fosse's cruise and land tour to Eastern Europe became a casualty of COVID-19. Subscribe to Apple News. Guests and travel advisors with affected departures have been notified. Before you decide to. BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period. No one expects to have to cancel a cruise. Viking has lost four loyal customers with 10 past cruises between us. If you are concerned about the water level on your upcoming river cruise, do your due diligence before you take any action. Telling us that a voucher has no cash value is a shoddy business practice at best. . 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. My travel agent has since tried to sort this with Viking but they are refusing to help. Europe is experiencing unprecedented drought and heat conditions. I checked with many countries and all their restrictions have been dropped. Our longtime Cruise Specialists Voyage Host, Tom Mullen, shares his thoughts from the last few days of the voyage, which took place January 5 to February 6, 2022. When we got this schedule yesterday, we asked her ********** if she could rearrange things to take this cruise. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. return trip Munich to EWR Risk-Free Guarantee: How it Works By March 2020 Viking announced cancellations due to covid, with an additional 25% for a future booking. We rebooked for 2022 on 11/30/2020. We paid for the trip and had trip insurance. We have since then tried to book a trip two times, and the required medical of a vaccine status made us cancel again. We booked a January 2021 cruise. The Rhine River is more sensitive in terms of river flow because it lacks the dams that are on the Danube River. The ship can welcome up to 386 passengers, and. We were told that since we used vouchers we were not eligible for a refund per policy. Beware of Viking excursion policies. Spoke to several people today, including a supervisor My husband and I were scheduled to leave for our Viking cruise around Spain on Jan. 11. Do not book with Viking Cruises ,they turned my cancelled trip into vouchers with expiration dates that I never knew about. Only in very rare circumstances are the sailings canceled outright. We would appreciate any help you can provide in helping us to get the rest of our money back.