mostly closed. Speaking of lighting, the bathroom lighting was spectacular. I have to correct this mistake. Up front they say they want their $$ 1+ years ahead, but they somewhat readily move final payments up. Theres a 24 month window to apply it to any river, ocean or expedition cruise. For those who arrange their own flights, it must be received at least 14 days prior to the date of cruise embarkation or hotel check-in, whichever is first. Poseidon Expeditions is the latest addition, canceling seven itineraries. So some of the rooms are unavailable for these reasons.. As I said earlier this came into play as to the decisionwhether to request a refund or a FCC. Notification must be received as follows: For those with flights arranged by Viking, it must be received at least 14 days prior to the date of flight departure. Dreaming of and Planning for Future Travels with the Ultimate Flexibility and Value, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, After 24 months, if you are unable to use your. https://www.euronews.com/2021/11/24/slovakia-becomes-the-second-european-country-to-go-into-lockdown-as-covid-cases-surge, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. I chatted with a Viking agent yesterday to see if they might consider an approach like this for our Oct cruise. When more than one cruise is booked, deposit and payment policies apply per Cruise Fare. endstream endobj startxref Cruise Critic. Low Water Levels Cancel Cruise. The cruise turned into a very expensive and deceptive bus trip through Europe. "Poseidon Expeditions Cancels 2022 Russia, North Pole Programs." Any time there's a heat wave in Europe, especially if coupled with lighter-than-average spring snow melt or rainfall, you can end up with low water in certain parts of . Viking is still trying to figure out what they will do about rescheduling cruises for that year. The ships will sail everywhere from Antarctica to the Great Lakes to Ireland and Norway. What common spaces are there on the Viking Mississippi? Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Edited November 19, 2020 by Heidi13. I feel a TA may have more influence speaking to Viking, in that they represent MANY customers, while an individual calling for themselves represents a single customer. When you are covered by the Risk-Free Guarantee you may change your cruise reservation with notification to Viking. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! | 1 Just wanted to add the Cruise Critic editorial team is working hard to try to get answers from all the major river cruise operators now that Austria has gone into lockdown and Germany may follow. Asking for our understanding, loyalty and continued support. She clarified that we did indeed get that as FCC also. After all, this too shall eventually pass. Weagreed to it before the world turned upside down. @garlinnin view of the fact that the Rhine River and the Danube River are lowandthe situation on the Rhine and Main are uncertain as regards Christmas markets, it would be more sensible for Viking to call off the Grand European. I even took a picture at night showing the lighting from the ceiling. Learn what to expect if you decide to cancel your booked sailing, rather than waiting to see if your cruise line cancels it. Passengers have called the latter easier said than done as trips fill up years in advance. Catherine Frohnert and her husband, both in their 80s, booked their Viking trip on the Mississippi River in 2019 and paid for it in early 2020, only to learn this month that their reservation from New Orleans to St. Paul had been canceled. Last year they tried to hold the line on this and got so much pushback that they backed off. They would fly to Italy and take an 8-day Viking River Cruise called "Italian Sojourn," which would travel around Italy's . Viking, which operates both ocean and river cruises, has canceled all 2022 departures from its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary. Talked to Viking and they insist they were done. In 2023, celebrating the companys 25th anniversary, Viking EXPEDITIONS offers Longitudinal World Cruise I. Fortunately for us we booked last November and can cancel up to 24 hours before the cruise and get 100% FCC. Viking Elbe River Cruise Canceled. I could see tying your full payment to receiving a scaled amount of OBC or FCC, but to hold my money with nothing back in return is akin to using the inside of your mattress as a savings account. Even after appeasing the U.S. Maritime Administration by leasing a charter from Louisiana-based Edison Chouest, Viking had to deal with federal appeals filed by competing cruise companies. oIK=?d4E_%sn_R)=&[h@1'{[']q[0G/PIAG| D0Y1 0S.fv G2 L "Updates on Current Sailings." I read all the books of Mark Twain, said Frohnert, a former St. Paul resident who now lives in Rochester, Minn. Over the 56 years weve lived in America, mostly Minnesota, we have traveled to over 85 countries., The only thing left that we wanted to do was to sail up the Mississippi, she continued. "Update: Cruise Lines Cancel Ukraine and Russia Calls." TripSavvy uses only high-quality, trusted sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. The interest or growth potential of them requiring full payment that far in advance is financiallyimmoral. You will receive a 3.3% discount and there is no fee for this service. The cruise lines should step up and just cancel the season. So I already received credit back for my deposit. (Dave Kettering/Telegraph Herald via AP) A Viking river cruise ship heading . A booming business -- for now. Regent Seven Seas had particularly significant plans for Russia this year, with several stacked itineraries, including the Solovetsky Islands, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk, St. Petersburg, and Odessa, Ukraine. Given recent events and the developing conflict in Ukraine, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all 2022 departures of our Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary. I understand what the written policy is stating, however this was the offer to us. On 11/19/2021 at 4:29 PM, Funky Fusion FoodsJ said: 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Special Event: Q&A with Rudi Schreiner, President, Co-Founder & Co-Owner - AmaWaterways River Cruises, Q&A with Avoya Travel: Learn How to Turn Your Passion into Success by Becoming an Independent Travel Advisor. My angle was that I gave Viking $12000 in Sept of 19, for a cruise in Oct 20, that I might not be able to take until 21 or 22. February 25, 2022. There was worse news to come. March 15, 2022. What really makes me angry about this is if I had just purchased the excursions they would show up on the credit card immediately. Forgot to use it? It is best for everyone. Best New Cruise Ships and Itineraries for Alaskan Cruise! The health and safety of all guests and crew at The Scenic Group continues to be at the forefront of all decisions, a spokesperson said. Here you can compare all Viking cruise ships and their itineraries, destinations, and departures dates. 10 Best Alaska Cruises for 2022! Please Note: 1) Terms & Conditions for Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers can be found here. At anchor off Falmouth, I almost could have sworn I was in Bermuda due to the blue skies, calm waters, and sail boats bobbing in the bay. The Oberammergau play is being rescheduled for 2022. ", "Norwegian Cruise Cancels Sailings to Russia, Ukraine Ports. I realize it's too late if one already agreed to pay over a year in advance, but when booking future cruises with Viking, insist on a different final payment due date. Viking Neptune itinerary program was announced by VIKING OCEAN in late-December 2020. Question is, will we (Germany) be next? This guarantee is combinable with all other Viking offers available. That $300 was not given as FCC but simply lost. Are they giving you the option of a refund if you cancelled due to the itinerary change? I did end my post by wondering if it made a difference that we had a TA dealing with Viking for us. Our vaccine requirement for all guests and crew remains in placeand for the time being, our crew will keep testing as needed and will wear masks at all times. "The terrible situation in Ukraine makes planned operations in Russian waters untenable, and we cannot support promoting these trips in any way for the 2022 season," said Angelica Vorea, founder and CEO of parent company Poseidon Arctic Voyages, Ltd. Carnival Cruise Line, Windstar, and Atlas Ocean Voyageswere some of the first big names to announce that they scrapped all stops in St. Petersburg. To start the list, here are my favorite things about sailing with Viking which will be followed by top things my friends, family, and fellow travel writers love about a Viking Cruise. While Austria is locked down, ships will sail through the country and skip port calls there. The Carnival Sunshine, part of Carnival Cruise Lines' Caribbean fleet. I hope you can enjoy the remaining stops and Christmas markets to the full, as well as the great service on the ship. Great to hear Viking allowed you to cancel via telephone; the booking contract stated they required it to be in writing. Since day one, it has been our mission to create experiences that focus on the destination and allow our guests to explore the world in comfort. Rivers; Oceans; Expeditions; Complimentary Brochures; Call Viking at 1-800-304-9616 or Contact Your Travel Advisor. Powered by Invision Community. We were all set to fly to Prague in a few days to begin our trip from there to Berlin then London. I believe the 125% FCC is for bookings through the end of April. Closer to home, Viking plans to build and launch their first ship to cruise the Mississippi river, Viking Mississippi. I hope not. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. A friend is leaving to go on a Viking Rhine this weekend. Airfares vary on other gateways & departures. And do some shopping in small towns. This and the fact that the Christmas Markets have been cancelled for all 5 stops in Bavaria has made us decide to cancel the cruise. Just waiting to see what Germany does as well. I had the same experience as you, and personally, I don't feel like playing "agent roulette". Its unclear how many reservations have been terminated with days to spare, but a Facebook community page created by a ticket-holder on July 1 Viking Mississippi Cruise has drawn dozens of comments, many of them from worried or unhappy reservation-holders. The ship has now begun sailing with her first guests, but we are still putting the finishing touches on the overall experience and refining the itinerary, the letter continues. The voyage starts from Port Everglades on December 24, 2021, and ends in London City England. Today, 1/22/22 I contacted Viking Cruise lines about canceling a river cruise to France for this June, plenty of days before the cancellation date, and was told that I could not get ALL my money back. Cancellation conditions 1. And Hungary? Local News | My second cruise to China was a bit more complicated. Claire and Stanley Keyles planned a dream vacation for June 2020. And our award-winning bathrooms feature large glass-enclosed showers with easy-to-see controls, premium Freyja toiletries, anti-fog mirrors and heated floors. But they did keep $300 total unrefunded - $100 each cancellation penalty plus $50 each air penalty. The luxury river cruise line, Scenic, scrapped all of its 2022 Russia cruises. Wasserman originally wanted to transfer the cruise to his step-daughter, but the company would not allow it, he said. Just my humble opinion. ), Minnesota Senate passes bill to legalize recreational marijuana, 'Forever chemicals' exacerbate water issues in Lake Elmo, development still on pause, Charley Walters: Way too early to judge Vikings' pick of Jordan Addison, NFL draft: Vikings swap down, then up, to nab pair of LSU defenders, 'Smiley-face killer' theorist accused of St. Paul sex assault at time of Zamlen search, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. If you have any questions regarding these Terms or the Passenger Ticket Contract, please advise us in writing at Viking River Cruises, Inc., 5700 Canoga Avenue, Suite 200, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. With Russias invasion of Ukraine creating an active war zone in the Baltic, Viking River Cruises, Atlas Ocean Voyages, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Oceania Cruises all canceled port stops or full itineraries in the region. This is what they sent for our cruise that leaves 11/25. As of June 10, 2022, select ocean voyages on the Viking Orion and expedition voyages on the Viking Octantis in the United States and Canada will continue to require a pre-departure COVID-19 test. Have not cancelled the Cruise yet. Reuters. I am glad to have a wide choice of operators in Europe other than Viking and I hope it stays that way. Rescheduling a trip three years from now sounds unlikely to her. Future Cruise Vouchers valued at 125% are available exclusively for those guests whose cruise was cancelled due to, or associated with, our suspended operations. TA's have no problem getting better terms. As they're a private company details of things like their financing and debtaren't all that visible, but it seems they didn't useall their own money to pay for at least one of their ocean fleet - it's not a coincidence that Viking Sun was namedin Shanghai. Boarding the Atla in Regensburg on November 28. as I mentioned, the earliest we would be able to cruise if we don't end up doing our Oct '20 one is fall of '21, if there are any left, and at that point, Viking will have held my whole full payment for over 2 years. He Tweets with manic intensity at @FrederickMelo. Where Are Norwegian Cruise Ships Registered, When Is The Best Month To Cruise To Alaska, How Much Are Drinks On Viking River Cruises, Do Mississippi River Cruises Have Casinos, Where Do Cruise Ships Dock In Reykjavik Iceland, What Cruise Line Goes Around Hawaiian Islands, announcements from other cruise operators, banned UK airlines from its airspace in response to the UK doing the same for Russian carriers, Crystal Cruises is reportedly shutting down US operations, Where Does Norwegian Cruise Lines Sail Out Of, Kings Bay Scenic Cruise From Crystal River, Are Gratuities Included On Viking River Cruises. Applies primarily to bookings containing 1-30 persons and bookings with conference made online and where none. No preferential treatment regarding paymentis shown depending on who you are or who you know. Generous closets, plentiful USB ports and US/EU outlets, plush robes and slippers add to your comfort. Departing on December 22, 2022, from Port Everglades , Viking World Voyage 2022 visits ports in Central America, follows Panama Canal transit and sailing up North Americas West Coast. Vikings expedition ships will have everything from zodiacs to two six person submarines . Every dollar paid for cruise, air, taxes, fees or surcharges can be paid by echeck, including regular-priced itineraries and airfare, any special offers or Viking Air Plus services.