Low Water Levels Cancel Cruise. He came to the Pioneer Press in 2005 and brings a testy East Coast attitude to St. Paul beat reporting. And do some shopping in small towns. Claire and Stanley Keyles planned a dream vacation for June 2020. Award-winning Viking Longships. Wasserman originally wanted to transfer the cruise to his step-daughter, but the company would not allow it, he said. air is received. Viking is monitoring the situation and evaluating other itineraries that call in Russia this year, which the line says will require modifications. Just return your expired voucher to Viking. Germany is locking down for unvaccinated but stores etc. Also Check: How Much Is The Alaskan Cruise. Much like borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. Powered by Invision Community. My third cruise was with my mom, Penny and we sailed on the 11 -day Passage to Eastern Europe Viking Danube Cruise. Viking River Cruises review: - ComplaintsBoard.com Cancellation conditions 1. For the Danube, I fully agree with you purrlinda. Richard and Jean Pletcher hoped to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in style. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. My post referred to us using a travel agent. When I called just to inquire about this, I was told the first available trip was actually in 2025, because everything earlier was fully booked., In other words, Viking wanted to keep our money for three more years, after already having it for almost two years, said Pletcher, who instead demanded a full refund. Fortunately for us we booked last November and can cancel up to 24 hours before the cruise and get 100% FCC. With Russia's 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 . My angle was that I gave Viking $12000 in Sept of 19, for a cruise in Oct 20, that I might not be able to take until 21 or 22. New Viking Ocean Cruise Ships: Viking Venus - Launched in 2021, the Viking Venus accommodates 930 passengers and features a variety of staterooms, including suites with balconies. I can't see why they are putting profits above well being of their crew and passengers. Viking River Cruises Cancellation and Refund Policy. countries, Click this link to navigate to the Find A Cruise page, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Im just not sure what will happen to Viking if this hold on river cruises is prolonged. Unfortunately, this means that some staterooms need to be cancelled, and we are contacting you today because yours is among them.. There are numerous ship repair/maintenance people onboard and they are taking up rooms. Earlier in March, travel expert and television personality Rick Steves announced he would be canceling all Russian tours that his company, Rick Steves' Europe, had planned this year. ), Minnesota Senate passes bill to legalize recreational marijuana, 'Forever chemicals' exacerbate water issues in Lake Elmo, development still on pause, Charley Walters: Way too early to judge Vikings' pick of Jordan Addison, NFL draft: Vikings swap down, then up, to nab pair of LSU defenders, 'Smiley-face killer' theorist accused of St. Paul sex assault at time of Zamlen search, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Our hearts go out to all those impacted by the devastating tornadoes across Mississippi and Alabama. Frohnert, a world traveler who is Irish by birth but has lived in the U.S. most of her life, had planned to fly to New Orleans and travel back to Minnesota by water for what she assumed would be her final voyage. Every other line we have cruisedhas a printed policy that is adhered to by anyone booking a cruise. Menu. The Oberammergau play is being rescheduled for 2022. hbbd```b``"WH R,>!"A$}&MP*%&H@q';bW2;?MLL9 n? Viking, which operates both ocean and river cruises, has canceled all 2022 departures from its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary. Calls to Viking for comment were not returned this week. Just waiting to see what Germany does as well. Rivers; Oceans; Expeditions; Complimentary Brochures; Call Viking at 1-800-304-9616 or Contact Your Travel Advisor. So my TA will probably want it Mid May but I will hold out as long as possible. Due to the current virus the company Viking River . Viking, which had once planned to debut its new cruise ship in 2017, delayed the launch five years while it worked through federal regulatory challenges under the Jones Act, otherwise known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. | 1 Cruise lines want happy TA's as they can refer to them a lot of business. Are there computers, or should I bring my laptop? I believe the 125% FCC is for bookings through the end of April. There are also some Viking people here to do staff training, and some other Viking people with unknown functions that are not crew. He Tweets with manic intensity at @FrederickMelo. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. The language barriers are real and the country is vast. 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. So some of the rooms are unavailable for these reasons.. So when they got a brochure to take a 15-day Viking cruise through the Panama Canal and Central America, Wasserman said his wife couldnt resist. 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. On September 12, 2023, departs Longitudinal World Cruise II . My second cruise to China was a bit more complicated. BOOKING AND SALE TERMS AND CONDITIONS - Viking Cruises Tried again a couples days ago and got it pushed back 2 weeks. Are you just speculating, or have you read something? Viking River & Ocean Cruises | Cruise Ship & Fleet Overview . Three weeks ago, we did request refunds on all our extra excursions and these refunds have yet to show up on the credit card. Brutal but true, as much as it hurts me to say that. The 450-foot-long Viking Mississippi, the largest of Viking's global fleet of river ships, departed on its current sailing on Saturday, October 1. Talked to Viking and they insist they were done. Russia has banned UK airlines from its airspace in response to the UK doing the same for Russian carriers as part of a raft of sanctions slapped on Russia in response to its aggression in Ukraine. Needless to say, my response did not include any of these qualities.. (Per the woman I spoke to when cancelling the cruise.) The luxury river cruise line, Scenic, scrapped all of its 2022 Russia cruises. Viking River CruisesOf the lines that have so far made changes, Vikings have been the most extensive, canceling its entire season of Kyiv, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary. What really makes me angry about this is if I had just purchased the excursions they would show up on the credit card immediately. WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BOOKINGS? "Update: Cruise Lines Cancel Ukraine and Russia Calls. For sale: A green thumbs house on Summit Avenue (with a conservatory!). Guests and their travel advisors on impacted departures have been notified directly by Viking customer relations. 2 Viking River Cruises canceled all Russian river cruises and its planned Kyiv, Black Sea & Bucharest routes this year due to the events. Bumped customers have been offered full refunds or vouchers equivalent to 110 percent of what theyve already paid so they can book at later dates. Will Viking River Cruises Be Cancelled? - River Cruising - Cruise Not a big deal but it felt like a win on my part. Read Also: What Does The Average Cruise Cost, Norwegian Cruise Line is removing planned stops in St. Petersburg from its 2022 sailings due to the escalated situation between Russia and Ukraine.. No mention of any waiting period, let alone a 21 day waiting period. Any positive case adds to our count, anyone who needs medical attention takes the personnel away from the locals, be it river cruiser or mountaineer. Our team is actively monitoring the situation and is in close contact with our field offices in the region. Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers are transferable, so that you have the flexibility to gift them to a loved one. February 28, 2022. They then said it is 21 Business days. I would say that for yourselves you have made the right decision. The travel insurance was purchased with Tripmate through Viking, Wasserman said. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! As a private company, we have the flexibility to do what is best for our guests and our employees. Now we will wait and see. The very first cruise that Arleen and I did together was through the Panama Canal, Wasserman said. Local News | Just a day before they cancelled the cruise because of the COVID-19 Pandemic I called to cancel and asked for a refund. Additionally, the August 26 voyage will include a transit of the Kiel Canal, while the September 7 sailing will add a stop in Saaremaa, Estonia. It may be that you folks unfortunately booked during that period. Terms & Conditions - Viking Cruises - My Viking Journey Yesterday was 22 days so I called. SwissMrs, March 25, 2020 in River Cruising. With a fully paid trip,Id rather have my money refunded and all their CM trips for 2022 are booked except the week of Christmas. We did the Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam, Netherlands route with stops in Breisach, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Cologne , Strasbourg and Kinderdijk . In that country they more or less stick to European wide industry standards. Little more than a week ago, just four days before the first trip of the Viking Mississippi from the Mississippi Rivers headwaters to its mouth, the company informed them by mail that their reservation had been canceled. Viking acts more like a bank taking FULL deposit as much as 2 years out. Viking, which had once planned to debut its new cruise ship in 2017, delayed the launch five years while it worked through federal regulatory challenges under the Jones Act, otherwise known as the . We were three couples booking at once and they held firm to the payment in full 30 days past initial deposit. We are still waiting for Viking to "refund" OUR money to our credit card. Viking Cruises, and Other Lines, Changes Plans Because of Ukraine News Calls to St. Petersburg will be replaced by destinations in Finland and Estonia. March 15, 2022. Then in 2022, they expect the debut of two new expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris. Meanwhile, sporting events were moved from Russia. The Pletchers arent the only couple who have been bumped from Vikings new Mississippi River cruises at the last minute. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Culinary delights in Lyon, France. 125% Future Cruise Vouchers: The Ultimate in Flexibility and Value. Bathrooms are superb, even at the lowest category, with glassed-in showers, sleek styling, plenty of storage, Freyja toiletries andthe biggest indulgence of allheated tile floors and towel racks.- Cruise Critic, You May Like: What Cruise Line Goes Around Hawaiian Islands. On your scheduled departure, we must operate at a reduced capacity as we continue to ramp up service. I would not bet on any river cruise line giving up that business "just" because the Covid infection rate is high. Even more so I hope for North America that the choice of several operators with - for you - favourable terms and conditions will remain after this crisis is over. TA's have no problem getting better terms. The itinerary was called Scenic British Isles. Sober home operators oppose regulations in MN House bill, state officials say changes necessary How long did they tell you it would be before you actually received your refund? After six decades of arts education, founder of St. Paul-based ArtStart to retire Jillian Dara is a freelance journalist and fact-checker. And Hungary? But to be honest, at this point in time, I would prefer it if tourists from outside of Europe did not come at all. At Viking, your experience means the world to us. The cruise company said they had already notified passengers and travel partners with affected departures. With today's news of Slovakia being in lockdown for the next two weeks, one has to wonder if the lines that haven't already cancelled the season should cancel the season.