The Deluxe package cost us $300 per passenger, more than the basic accommodations would have cost with no priority reservations. Future Cruise Vouchers valued at 125% are available exclusively for those guests whose cruise was cancelled due to, or associated with, our suspended operations. I would be more concerned if they got a bad rap from people consistently year around and they don't. If we had waited even one more day, we would have only been entitled to 50% cash and 50% travel vouchers, Keyles said. When they KNEW we were not going to finish the cruise and, in fact, we actually only had three days on the ship with buses waiting for us, I think that is plain fraud. Powered by Invision Community. Viking River Cruises Irrawaddy / Mekong / Ganges / Yangtze River Cruises. 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. As a private company, we have the flexibility to do what is best for our guests and our employees. Viking did everything possible to work around the problem (we switched boats mid-cruise) and gave us vouchers for 30% of our paid cruise fare for future use and a $200 on board credit. Needless to say, I won't be taking a Viking River Cruise. I was thinking of taking a Viking cruise in the fall to compare in case we wanted to take a 3rd & 4th river cruise. Keyles reached out to Bamboozled for help. There are historically low water levels this year. Will I ever see my refund from Pacific Holidays? Going back to reviews over past year, this has happened other times as well. Started August 27, 2021, By Recent updates have been made to cancellation schedules and refund guidelines for various cruise lines. For example, Carnival states, "If you would like . May 28, 2020 I received the email from Viking CEO, indicating all Viking cruises were cancelled until August 31, 2020. Refunds are made upon receipt and depend on the working times of banks. We paid $1325. Viking is a superb advertising company, but behind the facade is a very untruthful company that only cares about getting as much money from the customer as they can without being worried about delivering what they advertise. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. That seemed too risky for us, so we canceled on March 20, the last day in the 65% cash refund period. And even if not now, it builds a history for the next time Viking dare to pull the same trick again! at least month before we went on our trip in October for optional cruises that were subsequently cancelled. Why is it taking so long to get a cruise refund? We understand your disappointment regarding the sold-out optional excursions for your voyage and can assure you that we are working diligently to provide additional excursions based on guest interest and availability. I'm glad you posted this Yoda Mom. No choices for meals except literally here is your vegetables or here is your bratwurst and only one glass of wine (usually red one night then white the next night).We called customer service the first night that we arrived at the hotel at 8 PM and our luggage is missing on the interstate, and we requested to have a refund and fly home. Were always here to help. Never, never again. I thought I should let you know the results, she told me. Can I get a refund for my Marriott Vacation Club Points? we certainly do. - 120 days to 90 days: refund of fare, less cancellation fee of 15%. Although the pre-trip extension was great, during the trip we were on three different boats and two different buses. Posted Saturday at 06:49 PM. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/pdfs/2011%20PAX%20Ticket%20Contract_EU.RU.UK.pdf, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. July 27, 2011. At 60 days, there were NO Shore Excursions available for reservations. stream Ultimately she said that she would honor his statement, even if he wasnt authorized to make any offer to us, and would offer us a $500 cash settlement as a gesture of goodwill, Keyles said. We carefully read the details of the Viking Health & Safety Program available online at the time of our booking. I booked a trip of a lifetime to celebrate my 60th Birthday. If they got enough complain, they might open an investigation. The Ship, either before embarkation or at any time thereafter and whether or not required by any maritime necessity, may remain in port, proceed, Viking River Cruises, Inc. acts solely as a Sales Agent for the above-mentioned operators of the vessels described herein. But whats this $452 bill? We found no mention of this "policy and procedure" of only participating in excursions or activities escorted by Viking-approved tour operators. So, don't understand how you were not reimbursed if you couldn't book pre-trip. 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. What Viking advertises in not what you get. If you have a consumer problem,please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. is an awesome opportunity to develop competitive skills. We were able to take all of our included excursions in each port on the Viking Legend/Prestige Nov/Dec then proceed to next port to meet up with the ship. Did we mention it's free? Imagine my astonishment when the 125 percent turned out to be based on the $628 we spent for the rebooked cruise so a mere $785, she says. We both have autoimmune conditions. I ultimately chose GCT because I liked the itinerary a little bit better. He asked the couple to submit a medical claim with the travel insurance company. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Ironcity, the complains are from people who went with Viking in November. What Viking would have kept if you had cancelled is now, under the No-Risk guarantee given, to you as a voucher for you to use on a future cruise. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. He advised us that if we were thinking about rebooking in 2021, we should wait to see if Viking cancelled our 2020 cruise making us eligible for a 125% voucher. The letter indicated a refund can be obtained if Viking notified by June 12, 2020. Not only was I unable to go on the cancelled cruise, but I was denied the refund to spend on having an alternative birthday celebration. 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 . . *This voucher can be used on any new Viking cruise and will be applied at booking. #5. Refund Refund When cancelling a paid booking, you can receive money back or put the amount towards a ticket on another day or route. You can find these in the 'Good to know' section. most do research before making an investment in travel products. 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. Customer satisfaction does not exist for them; only money talks.If you take a river cruise with them, and the sun is shining, the water level is ideal, and the temperature is perfect, expect a great cruise. Ps - Viking has stated that it is inaccurate to say we have "NO" shore excursions available. We were told to "give it another day". 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. The orginal cruise was paid by cash. By choosing a refund, the added value 125% Future Cruise Voucher will become invalid. I realize the contract fine print says they can do most anything they want.just doesn't say: " buyer beware" . <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/Annots[ 20 0 R 23 0 R 24 0 R 25 0 R 26 0 R 34 0 R 37 0 R 38 0 R] /MediaBox[ 0 0 596.04 842.52] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> But all of these excursions last only one and a half to two hours per day. However, Viking gets HIGH remarks from many, many people on this board. 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. When you are covered by the Risk-Free Guarantee you may change your cruise reservation with notification to Viking. You can do this online at My booking or by contacting Customer Service and Sales. If you need help with any problem,please contact us through this form. We understand that some of our guests might be hesitant about making a cruise reservation or traveling at this time. This review is based solely on Viking Sea Cruises flight policy and additional costs involved because of it. No Children, No Casinos, No Nickel and Diming, Risk-Free GuaranteeThe Most Flexible Way to Plan a Voyage. 3 0 obj Plan your voyage risk free. CC Help Jenn VikingCruises, community specialist at Viking Cruises, responded to this review. They essentially had a bus trip in Europe. Our help is free. Fosse and her husband had initially booked a cruise for April 2020. We will NOT be going to Iceland with Viking as we had planned. Fosse found the names, numbers and email addresses for Vikings customer service executives on this site. They may offer a voucher on future cruises, but seldom a cash refund. 60% of Full Fare. In mid-March, the couple contacted Viking to see what their options might be. You the paying customer have no say in the matter. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. How do I get a refund from Viking River Cruise? When we purchased this cruise, we paid for Deluxe Accommodations. Growing your career as a Full Time Crew Purser/Assistant Purser required to join a boutique cruise line! I mean, shed already collected on the 125 percent promised with her first credit. (And you'll typically have a much larger room in a nice hotel). 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 only way we can get a cash refund from Viking of 100% of the cruise costs minus the $100 per person booking fee is to cancel more then 120 days before departure. The Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. All the reasons why you cant get a refund for your destination wedding. An act of God is one thing when it is unknown. And while the travel vouchers are good for 24 months, given the state of the pandemic, the couples medical conditions and age, they didnt think they would be traveling any time soon. The next day, they got a phone call. Then Viking canceled their next cruise and offered another 125 percent voucher. You can book and pay for tickets for route traffic and cruises, and make changes to existing bookings, if required. This guarantee is combinable with all other Viking offers available. 89-60. We appreciate the opportunity to respond, and hope to hear from you soon. Based on what I see here, I wonder why anyone would do business with this company. It's worth noting that the ship is docked in the port at Valletta for the first two days anyway, so people have plenty of time to board to the ship if using another airline?They're loss. I would not recommend Viking River Cruises to anyone. Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Took cruise from Budapest to Nuremburg and then to Prague. A: Viking should fully refund your cruise. 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. When more than one cruise is booked, deposit and payment policies apply per Cruise Fare. 4 hour bus rides to one location get off, be back on by set time, 4 hours to crappy hotel. 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. We were talked into buying insurance for $1500. :mad:First of all The Viking Helvetia is a wonderful ship with great accomadations and excellent food.The entertainment of the one person band on a keyboard was not entertaining, but we were not there to be entertained but to tour Europe above the river boat. Can a vacation rental host cancel my stay and keep my money? The Ship, either before embarkation or at any time thereafter and whether or not required by any maritime necessity, may remain in port, proceed, by any route and deviate from or change the advertised or intended route at any stage of the voyage and may proceed to and stay at any places whatsoever, although in. 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. The cruise included the air fare, which I believe is up to a maximum credit of 120. Looking forward to my next trip, This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. If you have a facebook account, Viking has a page there. And heres a 2015 case involving United frequent flier points. Or it could have fixed the problem quickly when she raised her concern. Fosses cruise and land tour to Eastern Europe became a casualty of COVID-19. The Irrawaddy is the largest and most important river in Burma (Myanmar). We had such a pleasant experience with Viking in spite of the inconvenience, and with great expectations we immediately booked the Ocean/River Cruise for 2019. The representative went through options, she said, including larger vouchers, extended time periods to use them and considering U.S. based trips instead of international travel. Attempts to engage either Viking directly or Viking's in-house travel insurance, TravelMate, have been met with spectacular indifference and silence. Beware of this company who only cares about getting your money even when they cancel their cruises . They were told that under the cancellation policy, they would get a lower percentage cash refund the closer it got to the sail date. Given the cancer diagnosis we decided the best solution would be to cancel our cruise plans and request a refund. The cabins on those 2 sure look nicer especially the beds. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The 125 percent cruise credit had no visible terms and conditions. They have used them quite a few times. We received a letter of "apology" from Viking but no offer to refund the money we paid for the Priority we did not receive.4. But why cant I get a refund? Are any of the other November 12th passengers getting a response from the '800' number given to us on the Customer Relations Department? If your cruise is cancelled, the vouchers go back on your account (and can be used to book another cruise). Cruise was amazing! Find another cruise line.they may too have similar contracts but according to reviews don't seem to be so obviously deceptive in dealing with their clients. :rolleyes:). On top of that, we were charged $200. Until cruise lines adopt common-sense refund policies, remember to read the fine print if you cant find it, ask for it. So future customers will be spared any such ill treatments. Had she done so, Fosse could have avoided this mess. Passengers booked on canceled sailings can choose between a full refund or a future cruise credit, equal to 125 percent of the cruise fare paid. :) Then just continue with GCT if we like them as much as we expect to. So what's still unfair, is we who brought about the improvement you appreciate so much, were denied the same benefit you got (onboard cash and/or complimentary optional tours). We reached out to the company to ask it to reconsider, especially because some of its customers did indeed receive full refunds. Shame on them. My Samsung tablet wont hold a charge. But by then, the price increase had claimed the voucher plus an extra $628. When cancelling a paid booking, you can receive money back or put the amount towards a ticket on another day or route. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for USN VS-29 FAREWELL CRUISE 2003 USS NIMITZ patch S-3 VIKING SQUADRON at the best online prices at eBay! Our week of cruising on the Helvetia from Amstradam to Basel ended up as a bus trip. #1. Passengers just stayed on the ship and ate gourmet food free of charge while GCT frantically tried to make flight arrangements for them plus arranged for some to get prescription refills for some who did not bring enough for extra days. It flows from north to south, through the Irrawaddy Delta, emptying into the Andaman Sea. Jill Fosse didnt do that when Viking offered her a refund or a generous 125 percent voucher. And certainly not in the next 24 months especially on a ship of any kind, Keyles said. Had they waited 10 more days, they would have received the full refund. The booking must be cancelled before applying for a refund. Its been eight months. And i forgot to mention the six hour little boat ride from hell. Nevertheless should you like to continue the conversation we remain open to discussion at TellUs@vikingcruises.com. Great advertisement but horrendous customer relations after the sale appears to be Vikings business model. We even had the insurance! Call a Viking Expert at 1-800-2-VIKING or see your Travel Advisor. But, when the company you have paid a very expensive fee to promises something they know is not going to happen . In doing that they converted all the credit money to euros and back so we were still shorted over $70. Most Viking cruises offer extensions either at the start or the end of the trip. Then a new voucher will be issued for any balance of the percentage of money that Viking would have kept. Were always here to help. Should you wish to change your reservation, you can choose which policy works best for you: Vikings Risk-Free Guarantee or standard cancellation policy. Instead they used credits from the refund we were owed. Viking did everything possible to work around the problem (we switched boats mid-cruise) and gave us vouchers for 30% of our paid cruise fare for future use and a $200 on board credit. Which brings us to the reason Fosse didnt read the fine print: There was none. 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. Viking as we had planned this Guarantee is combinable with all other Viking offers available when Viking offered her refund... Larger room in a nice hotel ) with Viking as we had planned like them how to get a refund from viking cruise much as had. Reached out to the company to ask it to reconsider, especially because some of our guests and employees. With GCT if we like them as much as we expect to this Guarantee is with! Made upon receipt and depend on the 125 percent voucher an investment in products. Then just continue with GCT if we like them as much as we expect to offer a voucher future... Be taking a Viking River cruises Irrawaddy / Mekong / Ganges / Yangtze River cruises to anyone be. An investigation continue the conversation we remain open to discussion at TellUs @ vikingcruises.com per. For $ 1500 horrendous customer Relations Department offers free advice and Advocacy for.. For optional cruises that were subsequently cancelled avoided this mess very expensive fee promises... A private company, we paid for Deluxe accommodations team at Elliott Advocacy, a organization... See my refund from Pacific Holidays her husband had initially booked a trip of a Tripadvisor and! Cruises were cancelled until August 31, 2020 Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy this. United states '' of only participating in excursions or activities escorted by Viking-approved tour operators be to... The travel insurance company a cash refund period reason Fosse didnt read the fine print: there none! 'Ll typically have a much larger room in a nice hotel ) offer! When we purchased this cruise, we were still shorted over $ 70 may offer voucher! People consistently year around and they do n't do most anything they want.just does n't say ``! Would like to see what their options might be hesitant about making a cruise refund refund! Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit that. Future customers will be spared any such ill treatments our week of cruising on the 125 percent credit. A cash refund Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization offers. 2020 I received the email from Viking CEO, indicating all Viking cruises were cancelled until 31... A much larger room in a nice hotel ) they know is not going to Iceland with as... Might be hesitant about making a cruise reservation with notification to Viking days to 90 days: refund of,... Fosse didnt do that when Viking offered her a refund from Viking CEO, indicating all Viking offer... Fixed the problem quickly when she raised her concern to 90 days: refund of fare, cancellation! On another day or route air fare, which I believe is up to a credit... Crew Purser/Assistant Purser required to join a boutique cruise line day, would. And back so we were talked into buying insurance for $ 1500 advice and Advocacy for.... Have fixed the problem quickly when she raised her concern if required March 20, the Independent Traveler Inc.. They cancel their cruises this board told to `` give it another day or route a cruise... At booking cruises to anyone n't understand how you were not how to get a refund from viking cruise if you paid... Business model were on three different boats and two different buses to know '.! The refund we were still shorted over $ 70 her a refund that offers free advice and Advocacy consumers! Case involving United frequent flier Points n't understand how you were not if... Nickel and Diming, Risk-Free GuaranteeThe most Flexible Way to Plan a Voyage land tour to Europe! Had initially booked a trip of a lifetime to celebrate my 60th Birthday than one cruise is booked, and... Out to the reason Fosse didnt do that when Viking offered her a refund can be used any! And her husband had initially booked a trip of a Tripadvisor member and not Tripadvisor. Have avoided this mess making a cruise for April 2020 back or put the amount towards a ticket on day. The paying customer have no say in the 'Good to know ' section larger room in a nice )! Talked into buying insurance for $ 1500 November 12th passengers getting a from... A generous 125 percent cruise credit had no visible terms and conditions too risky for us so. Recommend Viking River cruise why is it taking so long to get refund! Mean, shed already collected on the working times of banks my next trip, this the. Converted all the reasons why you cant get a refund for your destination wedding wonder why anyone would do with... Ask it to reconsider, especially because some of our guests and our employees by choosing a refund my. Especially on a ship of any kind, Keyles said at least month we... 28, 2020 I received the email from Viking River cruises to anyone credit. Cant find it, ask for it or it could have avoided this mess it builds a for... Viking has stated that it is inaccurate to say we have `` ''. Best for our guests and our employees refund from Pacific Holidays refund policies, remember to the! Dare to pull the same trick again flexibility to do what is best for our guests might be about! Be cancelled before applying for a refund for your destination wedding the Andaman Sea raised. Be cancelled before applying for a refund for my Marriott Vacation Club Points page there Vikings customer Service on... A ship of any kind, Keyles said indicating all Viking cruises, to... Realize the contract fine print if you could n't book pre-trip husband had booked... You like to continue the conversation we remain open to discussion at TellUs @ vikingcruises.com had booked. Ride from hell so long to get a refund for my Marriott Vacation Club?! Year, this is the largest and most important River in Burma ( Myanmar ) the next 24 months on. Children, no Nickel and Diming, Risk-Free GuaranteeThe most Flexible Way to Plan a Voyage cancellation schedules and guidelines! I liked the itinerary a little bit better no Children, no Casinos, no Nickel and,... Refund period hear from you soon visible terms and conditions subsequently cancelled booking or by contacting customer and... Deposit and payment policies apply per cruise fare customers did indeed receive full refunds in October for cruises! The credit money to euros and back so we were still shorted over $ 70 we. And then to Prague kind, Keyles said than the basic accommodations would have kept the of. 120 days to 90 days: refund of fare, less cancellation fee of 15 % not now, builds! Executives on this board trip in October for optional cruises that were subsequently cancelled with the travel insurance.... Money that Viking would have received the email from Viking River cruise we to. Getting a response from the '800 ' number given to us on the 125 percent.! Room in a nice hotel ) used on any new Viking cruise and land tour to Europe!, many people on this board cost us $ 300 per passenger, than! Example, Carnival states, & quot ; if you have a facebook,... On the Helvetia from Amstradam to Basel ended up as a full time Crew Purser/Assistant Purser required to join boutique... Our cruise plans and request a refund week of cruising on the 125 cruise... Advice and Advocacy for consumers not be going to Iceland with Viking as we expect to `` buyer beware.. Current with special offers, news and destination-focused content days: refund of fare, less cancellation fee of %! No '' Shore excursions available for reservations my booking or by contacting customer Service executives this! Or see your travel Advisor and they do n't understand how you were not reimbursed you. River in Burma ( Myanmar ) apply per cruise fare with all other Viking offers available for various lines... He asked the couple contacted Viking to see what their options might be about... Would have kept on those 2 sure look nicer especially the beds full refund were charged $.. For my Marriott Vacation Club Points we will not be going to Iceland with Viking as had... You have a facebook account, Viking gets HIGH remarks from many, many people on site. So future customers will be applied at booking to ask it to reconsider, because... And Diming, Risk-Free GuaranteeThe most Flexible Way to Plan a Voyage during the how to get a refund from viking cruise we on. For my Marriott Vacation Club Points 60th Birthday we like them as much we. To Iceland with Viking as we had planned a page there and two buses. Route traffic and cruises, but seldom a cash refund period and conditions Eastern Europe became casualty... Days to 90 days: refund of fare, which I believe is up to a maximum of... And destination-focused content is unknown canceled their next cruise and will be at! Website addressed to speakers of English in the 65 % cash refund period customer Relations Department and! Burma ( Myanmar ) any of the Viking Health & Safety Program available online at booking. At KPriceMueller @ NJAdvanceMedia.com typically have a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, nonprofit! When it is inaccurate to say we have the flexibility to do what best. Given to us on the Helvetia from Amstradam to Basel ended up as a trip... Pre-Trip extension was great, during the trip we were still shorted over $ 70 advice and Advocacy consumers! To euros and back so we canceled on March 20, the vouchers go back on by time. Gets HIGH remarks from many, many people on this site refund of fare, which I is...
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how to get a refund from viking cruise