In practical terms, what that means is that a couple who paid $4,000 for a canceled Holland America cruise can get a credit of $5,000 to apply to a future sailing plus $500 in onboard spending credits. Thats fine if youre on an ocean cruise, but for river cruises, make sure youre taking advantage of the local culture. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Prices vary depending on the length of the cruise, but for around $19.95 per night per guest, youll never have to worry about what youre spending. `)Y As with all other aspects of your cruise, the trick is to plan ahead. The remaining $5000 I can either ask to have refunded to my credit card immediately or I can accept a voucher from Viking worth $6250 (125%). When youre sitting in the Explorers Lounge perusing vintage maps or enjoying a thermal bath on the spa deck, youll know why Viking Cruises are held in such high regard. But, Viking will continue to have a cash crunch into 2021 and 2022, as will the other lines. Besides, the ship was operating at reduced capacity, with only 341 passengers on a ship built to accommodate 930 guests, which made the social distancing a lot easier on board. Should you cancel or wait for Viking to cancel? But by then, the price increase had claimed the voucher plus an extra $628. I think this also depends on when your reservation was made. Traveling in the era of omicron wasn't easy but it certainly was a return to the simple joys of seeing something new every morning. 0000019071 00000 n This intimate club environment also offers a selection of rare vintage Armagnacs from 1935 through 1965., Dont miss the opportunity to sample these extraordinary, limited-quantity brandies from Frances Armagnac region in Gascony during your sailing.. As for the other items of value, it may depend on your negotiating skills. Cruises that have been started does not provide a refund. Two months from now I get the magic e-mail telling me they are canceling my cruise. With ocean cruise, timing is less of an issue, but youll still want to plan as far in advance as is possible. Long story short, I prevailed. 59 or less. We had a final payment on a river cruise due in March. Another essential download is the Viking Voyager app, which lets you see daily events, plan your cruise program, and book shore excursions, spa appointments, and dinner reservations. I spent a good deal of time arguing my case that I should either be granted OBC for the disputed amount or be refunded in full for the original expenditures despite the deadline having passed. Aboard the Viking Venus, the line's newest ocean-going ship, Clancy was giving an orientation on Santorini, the Greek island that seems to be one of the most Instagrammed places in the world. As a private resort destination for Carnival, Amber Cove is crammed with watersports activities, dining opportunities, shopping, shore excursions, and fun attractions. 0000550485 00000 n My grounds were that I had been deceived and straight out lied to by Viking agents in their zeal to obtain a new booking, basically that they would, and did, say anything in order to make a sale. The details depend on the country where you booked the cruise. But, this whole game is heavily leveraged, and dependent on a resumption of cruising in early to mid-2021. 0000001296 00000 n You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By We have a river cruise, Tulips and Windmills, on Viking in April. By mid-2021, the cash collected and rolled forward in 2020 will be gone. You can try but it is a long shot. Implied, I think. On 5/7/2021 at 11:15 PM, Peregrina651 said: On 5/9/2021 at 8:00 PM, CCWineLover said: 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. He (actually they) did not "mislead" me, "mislead" is Viking corporatespeak. Given the luxurious nature of the Viking vessels, its easy to understand why a traveler would want to stay on the boat. Make a list of planned expenditures, then do the math to see whether you can justify the Silver Spirits package. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. If you have booked a bus connection to your trip, the departure time is when the bus departs. Cancellation matrix, page 3: https://docs.vikingcruises.com/pdf/2-191004_BookingAndSaleTermsAndConditions_wMSP_v4.pdf. Second, other markets --AU, NZ, UK, etc-- have different rules. OBC over and above the 125% voucher, I can't say. So we paid, and in less than a month, got the 125% and thenbooked the Med Odyssey for 9/28/22. 0000008306 00000 n During our visit to Santorini which was as uncrowded as cruise director Clancy had predicted activities were naturally outdoors. We cancelled the 2022WC in December 2020 after PIF in November 2020 and booked the 2023WC. 0000018937 00000 n In 2019, he visited Japan and Mexico, and hes become passionate about spreading a simple message: Traveling isn't necessarily expensive, and it's one of the best paths to self-improvement. 1 to explore the world fair. These . The choice for this ship might be disappointing to some, Heald said in one of his Facebook posts: I had looked at Galveston but the Carnival Jubilee is so popular that there were few open cabins, not enough for our group anyway. Final payment comes up in August and given how bad things appear in South America I am not sure what to do. 5.By scheduling our ride to the airport for 5:30am for an 8:05am flight, Viking put us at risk for missing that reservation even if a driver had arrived on time to take us to Schiphol. The latest version of the confirmation is valid. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! We are thinking of cancelling the trip. The companys ships employ a unique modernist aesthetic that simply feels different from what youd get from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or any of the other industry leaders, and their approach has paid dividends. I'm not predicting anything, and I don't have any inside info. 62 50 Many people took their vouchers for 2020 cruises, and applied them to 2021 and 2022 cruises. Note that special cruises, charter departures and trips with theatre tickets, opera, concerts and other event tickets may have different terms of cancellation and repayment. The extra 25% is only available to pay for a cruise -- or, in other words, you are not going to get back more than you actually paid to Viking. It is a good deal for Viking but only time will tell if will be a good deal for the guests. Madam M's from NYC has a store in Dubai. 0144983-8, PB 166, AX-22101 Mariehamn, land, Finland, 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, 10% the price of the trip, minimum SEK 200 / Euro 20, 25% the price of the trip, minimum SEK 200 / Euro 20, 95% the price of the trip, minimum SEK 200 / Euro 20. We were able to change our flights with no issue. I agree with Roz, if you don't have a TA, contact Viking and request that they extend the date for your final payment due to the situation. The vouchers that you used to pay for the 2021 cruise should go back into your account at the same face value as they were issued for and with the same voucher numbers; once a voucher, always a voucher. At least once during your sailing, the ship will offer behind-the-scenes tours of the bridge, where the captain and crew manage the direction and speed of the ship, and the galley, the kitchen, a Viking representative says. Our original Viking cruise was booked for July 2020. The additional 25% is incentive for guests to leave their money with Viking. Viking is likely using that money to finance operations, keep the ships afloat, pay for the new ship, etc. 0000001981 00000 n CC Help Jenn Now they told me I could sell my original voucher to anyone i wanted to if i could not make a reservation before June 2022. If you had waited until they cancelled and took the 125% future cruise voucher the trip insurance would have been included. The hotel staff was amazing and took extreme pride in their role and work. I'd boarded the Viking Venus just two days before, in Athens, as headlines about the omicron variant dominated the news and case counts in my hometown of New York City climbed rapidly. 0000562743 00000 n We had tickets for a Nov. 2020cruise. I can only speak to what just occurred for us the past days. 0000658714 00000 n It has been a great cruise company with a first-class product. I booked two excursions before they cancelled the cruise. Please note that the sum expires in six/twelve months if not used. We are thinking of cancelling the trip. With all shore excursions canceled and many of those margaritas polished off we left Malta early that afternoon for Messina, Sicily, our next scheduled port of call. Guests looking for serenity will find it in the Wintergarden, our Viking representative says. Drawing its name from the capital of the Faroe Islands, Torshavn is a lively music venue inspired by the romantic jazz lounges of 1940s Hollywood, and its an ideal spot for pre-dinner drinks and after-dinner entertainment, a Viking representative tells us. I want to be there for 2 weeks. By means of several inquiries to Viking Social (Tellus@VikingCruises.com) - and a few phone calls from Viking - I was told that the unused voucher value could be used on another cruise which I plan to apply to our 2022 re-scheduled GE. The realities of cruising amid sudden COVID-19 surges. The final port of call is Amber Cove. If the outbound journey has not been used or cancelled, Viking Line has the right to cancel the return trip. Each stateroom on Viking Longships and Vikings ocean ships have a refrigerator, and a corkscrew is also available onboard.. On a Viking cruise, diners can visit any restaurant without incurring any additional charge. Will I be back to just the $$$ I had already paid for the first cruise and be required to "start over" as it were? True, Viking requires all passengers and crew to be fully vaccinated, and masks were to be required in all indoor areas on the ship except while eating and drinking. Sailing down rivers puts you in the heart of many of the cities you visit, our source tells us. Each airline has a different policy. If the outbound journey has not been used or cancelled, Viking Line has the right to cancel the return trip. Here is how it works for US pax. Your fare includes a shore excursion in each port of call (including all port charges and government taxes), onboard meals with beer and wine, Wi-Fi access, self-service laundry, spa access, and 24-hour room service. So another voucher only, or the monies we paid for the original cruise? Just curious - on what aspects did the agent mislead you? Plus, the ships sail smoothly down Europes waterways, meaning, no waves for those who get seasick., This is where a carefully planned travel itinerary can really elevate your trip. Viking pocketed that . (Viking River Cruises) Viking River Cruises is refusing to issue a total refund after canceling . I don't know if Viking is included it in their shore excursions. And not to hammer home the point, but Viking cruises are truly luxurious. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. 0000618755 00000 n We "lost" the first time and "won" the second time. Luckily, that bet payed offand we will be cruising for free,in suites, forthe rest of our days . 0000010527 00000 n I see it all around in the world these days - COVID certainly brings out the worst in everyone. Still, simply going on the trip was something of a leap of faith. If your voyage with Viking Line is part of a larger travel package or arranged by one of our partners or associates, please contact the responsible part directly regarding their payment and refund policies. Started June 21, 2021, By A significant number of occupied cabins won't produce any new revenue. Upon arrival, the crew announced that Italian health authorities requested everyone aboard take a rapid antigen test before anyone could go ashore, according to the Viking crew. Twitchly, May 7, 2021 in Viking Ocean. Three things stand out: 1) Forbes reported on 9/24/2020 that Torstein Hagan's net worth had reportedly dropped 66%. Viking has been extending the offer and it is now for bookings through the end of this month. Hes traveled extensively during that time, frequently touring the American Southwest as both a musician and a tourist. what happens with your (non-Viking) plane tickets? When booking your cruise, youll have an easier time finding staterooms during certain months of the year. 0000585278 00000 n Our goal, to share the worlds unique, hidden and once in a lifetime locations with you to create unforgettable memories. We applied the credit for a Nov. 2021 cruise, fingers are crossed about this one. The following cancellation charges will be assessed for all written cancellations received prior to . I, and my TA, asked the question every which way and the answer was always the same. Viking is not in the habit of negotiating pay in full dates once the initial deposit has been made. Eventually, we were released, but only if we were on Viking-organized shore excursions; Italy had once again closed its door to independent exploration for cruise passengers. That came on top of the PCR test I'd taken a few days prior in order to enter Greece at all. Hindsight is 20/20, but I was more worried about the return OF my principal than about the return ON my principal, as the saying goes. In fact, it was originally issued as a 125% voucher; if I don't spend it on another cruise, I will only get $4000 cash back from Viking when I apply for a refund. They want to put on a grand show for the world. Thanks for your help-. That might not interest every traveler, but if youre interested in the inner workings of a major cruise vessel, its well worth the time. Guests will sail aboard the Carnival Horizon, a 133,500 gross tons Vista-class cruise ship. You can also buy local wine and bring it onboard, a Viking Cruises representative tells TravelAwaits via email. With John Heald at the helm, the voyage promises a week full of laughter, entertainment, and unforgettable experiences. It was the night before we arrived on one of Greece's most iconic islands, and cruise . That which would have been kept by Viking as your cancellation penalty will be issued as a voucher; the balance will be refunded in cash -- credit card charges back to your credit card, e-check payments back to your bank. We got a flight (economy class) eventually, but we had to do it ourselves. They can only borrow and eventually even with the offer of double-digit interest, speculators will pass. We had international tickets on Deltathat we canceled for a Vikingcanceled Feb 2021 cruise and we were able to just get an e-credit for it. hb```b``g`c`da@ $A& h35f}a=b3)q!@&C[n$\NlM5KHr`pLQ`wCD;\4d*LhIJj :} qLqh aVHiRBJP]ru,4#i%`@Q&!zHbE"1EL`O0%W{baI=P\zR%LEO]EM@9gI``";(QSNE dPAD4c3804bQ4yFA Z% lXY!cDSR6H4o 0eW," tEA ZL Photo: Courtesy of Paul Brady. Good for us, though, was that the 2022 cruise was on sale, with specials, and discounts, so we were able to get all those! It may have been the day before Christmas, Clancy said, but our timing was impeccable. They are as scared as we are of covid. Odyssey trip in Sept. 2022! Under the terms of the voucher, you can't get your cash back until 2022, when the voucher expires. It's like they plucked out of every city the best regional chain and plopped it down in Dubai. Given the circumstances, using a knowledgeableagent is essential. We've already got tickets with Delta for our cruise next January. Powered by Invision Community. We considered re-booking for April 2021, but decided tobookfor April 2022. When you are covered by the Risk-Free Guarantee you may change your cruise reservation with notification to Viking. 0000003926 00000 n John Heald, Brand Ambassador of Carnival Cruise Line, has announced the details for the next For Funs Sake (FFS) Cruise. Viking offered them a voucher for the value of their trip, $11,019 the value of their initial cruise tour plus 25 percent. While wedon't know the facts of his financial situation, we do know there is a sizable burn-rate. 0000006223 00000 n The bedroom and walk-in closet of an Explorer Suite aboard the 'Viking Venus.'. We canceled a summer Alaska cruise in Jan, I think, figuring (correctly) it wouldnt happen. Also, any related transportation expenses due to a life-threatening situation may be covered. Each morning on the ship began with a rather visceral ritual, which sorry, probably TMI involved spitting into a test tube, which was promptly collected for testing. Wish to cancel a cruise booked with a voucher? "Well, my mother told me to grab limes and tequila and make margaritas.". 0000005059 00000 n (Exceptions may apply depending on the content of your booking, see cancellation terms 2 below). Weve been to. Of course, if you miss a stop, you can still enjoy the cities: Vikings Culture Curriculum program provides onboard performances and lectures from artists, musicians, and historians, along with authentic culinary demonstrations.. We previously always booked our own air but having to deal with 3 different cancelations last year was a lesson in perserverance and patience. When changing the content of your booking, the terms and conditions may change. An easy approach is to sign up for the Viking Weekly, an online newsletter with recommendations, itinerary spotlights, videos, and more. The Viking Living Room aboard the 'Viking Venus,' decorated for Christmas 2021. I started the rebooking process almost immediately and was told the vouchers could be used for "anything." By Ocean cruises have similar options, though exact room sizes and features will vary. Maybe I try to always put myself in the other guy's shoes, but I try to find ways to not feel mad and angry. Viking Cruises has canceled all sailings until at least 2021, the company announced on Wednesday, becoming the latest cruise line to push sailings amid the . We held off canceling, paid off all three cruises as well as booked shore excursions and Silver Spirits in anticipation of Viking cancelling. Hard to bail if all you have is vouchers. A trip on the HelsinkiTallinn route can be changed or cancelled without additional fee up to 24 hours before departure time. No. The following day the ship will call to Aruba, a beautiful island home to some of the Caribbeans most beautiful beaches, including Eagle Beach and Palm Beach. A simple place to start: Mamsens, a chic deli located on every Viking ocean cruise ship. When Viking came through with the 125% voucher we moved to much larger cabins and added other items (air, pre/post extensions, etc.). Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. The 125% voucher is available only if Viking cancels. If thats not to your interests, you could always relax with a nice afternoon tea. We figured it might be cancelled - and we had another one ready if that should happen. Exceptions to this payment policy apply for cruise tours more than 35 days, including Viking's World & Grand Cruises which require a 20% deposit of the Full Fare at time of booking the cruise tour. We had an ocean cruise and got everything back but Viking did the cancelling. While there is still the possibility of a cancellation due to Covid, book your flights through Viking. Stu, I noticed on my Viking invoice that it included a date specific link for my booking. 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Cheney, who lost seat to Trump-backed, GOP Speaker McCarthy defends giving Tucker, Millions of people will have to repay student, If you invested your tax return every year, Eli Lilly slashes insulin prices amid federal, Do you know who's logging into your Netflix, Neo-Nazis came to protest our 'Parade.' Photo: Courtesy of Viking Cruises. And even if youre extremely particular about your shampoo, you dont need to bring any onboard. AmaWaterways does include it [along, of course, with Keukenhof]. Guests will sail aboard the Carnival Horizon, a 133,500 gross tons Vista-class cruise ship. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By In Dubai, shopping was so experiential. 2) In 2018it was reported that Viking Cruises had raised $975 million dollars in 5% senior secured notes, and 275 million at 5.875%. The cruise will start in Miami, Florida, where guests will embark on February 17, 2024. %PDF-1.4 % Office have also issued, and will continue to issue, advice which applies to cruises. Jun 03, 2020 at 4:02 pm. Surely. As we mentioned earlier, Viking cruises arent cheap, but that doesnt mean that you cant travel frugally. It is helpful to check online to see if the cruise line has an automated rebooking or . Squakman - we'll hope to see you April 7 in Barcelona then! 'There was panic': Stationmaster arrested after fiery Greek train collision kills 43. 0000585952 00000 n The cancellation insurance is not valid if you cancel your trip less than 24h to departure. Given the world situation, we just cancelled that cruise and rebooked for summer 2022 same itinerary. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By 0000018268 00000 n He flat out lied to me. What about re-booking for April 2022? 0000585547 00000 n Upon cancellation of the original cruise we opted for the 125% voucher and immediately rebooked for a year hence. CANCELLING JUNE CRUISE: That which is already a voucher will be returned to your account as a voucher. For the non-maths out there, to figure out what your cash refund will be multiply the voucher amount by 0.8. We have now deferred our 65th birthday celebration and will hopefully get to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary. 0000003319 00000 n Route trips outbound and homebound. Now they have a voucher for me, my , 13,408 plus 25 percent I bullied them into. But, Viking will continue to have a cash crunch into 2021 and 2022, as will the other lines. Both myself and my TA were straight out lied to, repeatedly, in the course of the rebooking. if you have any 125% vouchers, they will be refunded less the 25% bonus. I expect that it will continue to be extended month by month for the next few months at least: 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. (Blame COVID-19 not the guy from "Footloose."). My fear is the re-booked cruises will take up space that Viking could use for new sales, new cash in the door. To get that value, youll have to use as many of the onboard services as possible, but it beats constantly taking out your wallet for things like internet access and port fees. All other passengers and crew members have continued to Update on July 16: Viking Sky was forced to cancel . My MVJ showed the voucher credit as "shipboard credit" (I have a screen shot). When the 23 WC was posted, we again moved from the B2B to the WC. Viking will issue full refunds to affected passengers or a 125% future cruise voucher that must be used within 24 months. 0000658448 00000 n There are certainly enough COVID crazed angry people out there who are mad at anything that is perceived unfair or wrong. Service or handling fee and cancellation insurance are not refunded. Photo Courtesy: Nassau Cruise Port. You can do this online at. For river cruises, tipping recommendations vary depending on your location. OxnPPYeC% This offer covers all Viking reservations that are made between May 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020. IF if is Viking doing the canceling and if you accept the 125% FCC voucher. I booked several excursions when my window opened and the cruise was cancelled the following day. To make sure I understand: if Viking has already cancelled a cruise and given 125% FCC and then cancels the re-booked cruise, the original 125% goes back to your account plus 125% of any further payments you have made to the second cruise? 0000670737 00000 n In case you have purchased your ticket with a credit card issued in Russia or Belarus, payments of refunds are stopped by the credit card schemes, until further notice. Best case is that Viking cancels all those SA cruises, but likely well after finalpayment. That said, I still want to believe, with the help of a good insurance policy, that Viking will pull through. Started August 27, 2021, By Hence our Med. 0000018293 00000 n Right now we are on the Buenos Aires to Barcelona cruise March 17-Apr 7, but with what's going on in South America, I am having doubts that the entire SA portion (Nov to March) for the Jupiter will happen. LauraS So we took that policy into consideration when deciding whether to wait or not on the other two cruises we had in the queue. Powered by Invision Community. Viking refund policy is the same for Oceans, River and Expeditions. After the voucher amount is removed. But as I tucked into a dinner of Norwegian salmon and we sailed onward to our final port of Civitavecchia, near Rome, I worried about whether our whole ship was destined to spend the next few weeks in quarantine. If you cant travel as planned you must cancel or change your reservation as soon as possible. 119-90. this does not apply when changing within 24 hours before departure. (I saw less mask slipping in my whole week on the ship than I do during a typical subway ride in New York.) What is described above reflects that Viking and other cruise lines, especially the privately owned ones, arein a fight for their survival. Also, included in the Viking invoice is the cancellation matrix with dates specific to the booking. But that's their problem and I was not about to allow them to turn it into my problem. (confession: I did not know what to expect - would I be kidnapped?).