Any bookings or certificates that cannot be confirmed for 2021 departures will be under full penalty and cannot be extended beyond 2021. Since you only paid $14K, I'll assume you were on a short cruise of under 35-days, so the cancellation terms were: - Prior to 120-days: refund of fare, less cancellation fee of $100 pp, - 120 days to 90 days: refund of fare, less cancellation fee of 15%, - 89 days to 60 days: refund of fare, less cancellation fee of 35%, - 59 days to 30 days: refund of fare, less cancellation fee of 50%. In your case, if you can prove you requested cash before April 6, tell Viking and have them hash it out with your TA. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Since we started Viking nearly 23 years ago, we have always cared first and foremost about our guests and our employees. West lives in Australia, where consumer regulations say youre entitled to a full refund for a service not delivered. We dont mean losing the money paid for the person who cant take the trip. NavyVeteran, August 21, 2020 in River Cruising. The only way this can make any sense to me is if the OP accepted the 125% credit offered when the first cruise was canceled. Sounds like a fine print deal, unfortunately. My cruise was cancelled by Viking in early March due to Covid. The OP . We all make decisions and we should live with the consequences. Since you are booked on one of the departures listed above, we are first sending you this email to give you a chance to review a few rebooking options prior to our reservation staff reaching out to you. He sent Viking a certified letter on April 10 asking for a cash refund of the extra $9,898 payment and questioning whether his partners vouchers could be transferred to another person. We had a fully booked and paid for Budpest Amsterdam river cruise in the spring of 2021. Full Fare is defined as the full cost of any cruise, land or air component purchased from Viking. Does Viking? But Robert M. Lawless, a law professor at the University of Illinois . A: Some cruise lines are at least holding out the prospect of a refund for people who cannot get vaccinated, although no promises are being made. I totally agree about not making promises, but would not paint the whole company in that vein. Youre taking the voucher whether you like it or not. Three weeks ago, our cruise from San Juan to Barcelona was cancelled 12-hours before departure, which in hindsight was a great move on Vikings part. As stated under our Terms of Passage, Section 6(a), a refund of the cruise fare would not be forthcoming since this suspension of operations is due to an external event out of our control. . On 4/8 I receive emails to me and my husband that a credit, not a refund, was issued for a future cruise. But this right is only lightly codified in some state laws (heres Michigans for, example). Date of experience: August 2020 Ask Departure768546 about Viking Cruises Arent there consumer laws that protect you if a company cant offer the service it promised? Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com. In 2021, NCL finally revised some of its refund rules. Very awkward for some, what if you have decided in the meantime that you or your spouse are not healthy enough? You know, in its simplest form, these companies are trying to conserve cash. Dear Viking Guests, Thank you. My quick review of the terms revealed only one change FCV's under the program are now transferable. In the time since that announcement, many of you have expressed concern for our crew, and I want to reassure you that we are taking good care of them. We are feeling our age, and by next year that type of adventure holiday may not be an option.. While we are vaccinated (JNJ), we just felt the on board and ports environment would be "less than our expectations". Beautifully packaged Desc Gift for Him - Viking Hatchet Handmade Pizza Cutting Axe BUY 2 FR OPs issue is they are entitled to this $4,000 as a cash refund because they cant cruise with Viking as they refuse to be vaccinated. This is an unprecedented time and we greatly appreciate your patience. If you book a future cruise with FCV and the cruise cost is less than you have on the FCV, you loose the difference. Viking gave you a cruise credit and then, only a few days later, offered full refunds or a 125% voucher. NO checks, NO trades, NO tire kicking, you will get paid CASH on the spot! The Risk-Free Guarantee allows guests to change their cruise date up until 14 days before their planned departureand Viking will waive any fees. CC Help Jenn . LauraS Issuing a refund is not difficult for a company to do; in fact its a single click on most electronic payment gateways. You can upgrade your cabin, get pre & post extensions, excursions, tips, silver spirits, etc. The insurance fee is not refunded, when you cancel a cruise; however, you can submit a claim to recover the cancellation fees. Its been eight months. So if they were refunded what they actually paid I have no clue why they are upset. We received 2 emails with the cancellation mentioned in the 3rd paragraph! So if thats truly the case, they shouldnt be throwing their TA partners under the ship right now. Even if your scheduled travel is months away, you might be weighing your options. . Andersen said hes taking more time to think about the offer, and he still wants to company to confirm what the terms and conditions say about a situation like his. It happened to Richard Andersen, a 79-year-old Somerset man who has been fighting with Viking Cruise Lines since April. Please provide the details of how many days prior to the cruise you cancelled, as based on your posts to date, Viking have actually been very generous in providing vouchers in lieu of the cancellation fee. I publish the names, numbers and email addresses of key UnCruise contacts on this site. Crystal anecdotally is doing well, as well. Heres our complete guide to travel insurance. Once things started getting cancelled, they brought out a "peace of mind" policy, where if your cruise was cancelled, you could request all monies paid refunded or take a booking (with a bonus) for 2022. I am writing to you today from my home, rather than the Viking office. . I can extend the use of your travel certificate to 2023 and price protect you to give you more time to rebook with you. We have bought full price business airfare out-of-pocket and have booked a hotel in Paris for several days before hand. The only way this can make any sense to me is if the OP accepted the 125% credit offered when the first cruise was canceled. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Can I get a refund for my Marriott Vacation Club Points? If his cruise line had to cancel, not so much. That cost was non-refundable. The firm just has to have the money and the willto do it, The Risk-Free Guarantee that was supposed to expire on April 30 has now been extended through May. Cunard's Queen Victoria. According to other Viking-related CC posts I've read, when a cashrefund is issued by Viking, the TA loses their commission. Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? It promised refunds later, when it suspended operations but not to you. Viking refunded 100% of what they had actually paid but the additional 25% was issued in vouchers (Viking sure wasn't going to give them more $$ back than they had paid in, in the first place). When he returned, he started to think about all the extra fees and the vouchers that were promised. Then there is Viking, which is a black hole for any money given them. And I do know an honest used car salesman as well. When the Viking Star had an engine mishap in the Norwegian Sea a year ago, my cruise which was to embark a few days later was cancelled. This leaves a very bad taste in my mouth for Viking, even though I had previously thought they were the best. 89-60. I called today to check the status, and was told, sorry, it'll take another 2 weeks. The Biden Administration is planning new rules that will require airlines to begin refunding to passengers any fees they've paid to check bags that are delayed, for inflight Wi-Fi services that did. If you don't have the required documentation, the cruise line has the right to refuse boarding, as per the Terms & Conditions. does viking give cash refunds. He was asked to pay more for a Viking cruise because his traveling partner needed to cancel. Our VR June cruise was cancelled and we were very happy taking the Voucher offer.Chatting with Viking UK (where we live) they advised everything would be done through our TA - fair enough.Surprise surprise when the emails land in my wife and my inboxes. Still, something about your case is not sitting right with me. It later came to an undisclosed agreement with the husband. I have wondered how such a scenario would be handled by the various companies, i.e. That didn't seem. Where's My Refund? Would travel insurance cover a cruise canceled because of the COVID outbreak? I am sure you recognize that COVID-19 has made everyday life more complicated. Any decrease in prices due to lower categories, etc. We are using this period of non-operation as a time for additional training and initiatives to ensure we have the safest and healthiest fleet in the industry. Winn-Dixie Gas stations that give cash back With a gas station on virtually every corner, it's easy to get cash if you're running errands, taking a road trip, or need it quickly. Plus, we have insightful letters, insider tips, and more. Finland-Suomeksi . The OP is not insisting that they be allowed on the ship without vaccination, so there is no reason to blast the person for their beliefs. Can you help me get back the $12,490 we spent? he asked. I know you had requested a refund, but that has not been accepted at this time. And when the company is asked by the news media about individual cases, it seems to make some kind of concession but requires the passengers to sign a non-disclosure agreement, so the final resolutions are usually under wraps. Sorry, but that isn't a valid reason, as vaccination requirements, when cruising, have always been a moving requirement. There are mice in my vacation rental! I won't ever do this again. We have contacted them and they continue to refuse. Viking Line Abp, org. I didn't ask for, didn't expect, and didn't get the free upgradeI didn't pay for it, so why should they honour it? This can be added on the pre-trip, post-trip or both.". Just realized that the cruise booked was from Antwerp to Amsterdam. A polite appeal which youve already tried is a reasonable first step. Our opinions are usually based on personal experiences. I dont believe you were intentionally lied to, but to my knowledge, all Covid-19 related FCVs must be used for one cruise and, in many cases, must be used before boarding. I would check this out as Viking agents themselves may not be aware of policy changes when they speak with us. But what if he hadnt? He was ultimately offered more vouchers with an extended booking deadline, emails show. Next surprise was her voucher was about 45% of original whereas mine was about 28% of original. Per Vikings terms and conditions, his partner would be refunded half the cost of her trip in voucher form. He wanted his money back. Andersen asked specifically where in the terms and conditions it showed he should be charged the single supplement. Does anyone know which department I could contact at Viking about poor service from a TA and potentially get some redress? In cases like this, you can always reach out to an executive at Viking. We are continuing to monitor the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation daily, and even hourly, to determine adjustments to scheduling, which is based on a number of factors, including long term community support, advice, and relationships within our areas of operation. And now they are mad because they are not going to use those vouchers. 100% of total price - No refund. . When a . But whats this $452 bill? Can I get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards points refunded? I had heard that there was one on the planet. Vienna and Krems are also off the itinerary. You will have 24 months to use your Future Cruise Voucher to make a new reservation on any river, ocean or expedition cruise. Pre-pandemic, most lines allowed changes and. It gives you time and room to manuever should the environment change. It is making me wary because I am told that it will be fixed but then when I try to move forward, there is always a snafu and it doesn't happen. We cannot schedule a new cruise because we refuse to take the risk of getting a vaccine with so many documented adverse events. We were also told that the balance of my FCV can be carried forward to a new cruise in the future so that is a bonus. Get a cash refund if the returned item is less than $10. 75% of total price. Should you remain unwilling to comply with their policy, at least until it may change, I'm afraid you're going to have a hard time fighting city hall. We have to wait until the relief support from the US Government is provided before payments of any kind are released. Even if you had the risk free guarantee, those cancellations were always refunded entirely with vouchers. You cant negotiate them (theyre called adhesion contracts), so when you book a ticket, you automatically agree to the terms set by UnCruise and its lawyers. Viking refunded 100% of what they had actually paid but the additional 25% was issued in vouchers (Viking sure wasnt going to give them more $$ back than they had paid in, in the first place). This can vary based on circumstances. Due to this, our resources have been stretched. you getting your money back? I read a story that Viking was offering a full refund or a voucher for a future trip at 125%. Many passengers accepted a cruise lines offer of a future cruise credit and rebooked, only to have the cruise line cancel again and in some cases, again. Ok, so I waited again. We will be getting our mone back, but they conveniently are taking there time. It's always best to comb. As it stands, Viking is no better than "Honest John" at the used car lot. Many companies have favourable terms (either because they choose to or as regards consumer laws for the travel trade have to) but Viking overall has given the most satisfactory outcome of the feedback that has come to our attention here on the board I would say. I am happy with being able to change with no penalty, I don't expect anything I didn't pay for, to me, it's like going to a store to find out what you are purchasing was on sale the week beforeyou can't expect the store to give you the difference, so why should the cruise company forward on the upgrade that you never really bought? As a private company we do not have to worry about quarterly profit expectations and that flexibility allows us the ability to do what is best for our guests and our employees. please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. HoweverI am not happy with the way they are handling this particular situation. Deposits are refundable unless otherwise indicated. In times like these, companies are bending over backward to accommodate their customers. reps (th. This will typically be spelled out clearly on the cruise line's website at time of booking, or by your travel advisor. Vincent Liu, Los Altos Hills, California. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. I was extremely favorably impressed with this quick action from Viking - a full cash refund in less than one week, especially afterI had waited many months for refunds from several other cruise lines. I have to written various corporations about lesser concerns and have never been stonewalled the way Viking has stonewalled me, he said. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/as-cruise-ships-remain-docked-passengers-say-their-vacation-money-is-tied-up/2445625/, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. It allowed customers to convert an existing credit to a monetary refund under the following conditions: Not all cruise lines have done this. The adults were all vaccinated but the youngest children were not because of concern about the amount of testing on growing children of that age. rep. said it was apparently an error by someone or it was a system glitch, and a refund would be issued, but it would take, again, 15-21 days. I doubt the OP will come back after the response they got. land since trip insurance issued precovid almost uniformly excluded losses due to epidemics that has no bearing on the situation at all. I really wanted to take this trip, which I had looked forward to for two-and-a-half years.. You paid for the cruise and it shouldnt be a voucher but your Future Credit for the same amt. Check your local consumer laws. Powered by Invision Community. We couldnt find anything either. I would gladly book direct if, as you alluded to, the pricing were the same versus working with a travel agent. The hotel can't provide a refund to the consumer by way of giving them hotel loyalty points, unless the consumer chooses to accept this instead. I agree! When the coronavirus pandemic flared up, Viking informed me that it would allow postponement of our trip for up to two years. UnCruise refused, citing its Terms and Conditions. We mean extra charges, just for traveling as a single. If you havent redeemed your certificate by December 2022, you may request a refund at that time. I believe the letter from our CEO Dan Blanchard explained this. Powered by Invision Community. Viking, also called Norseman or Northman, member of the Scandinavian seafaring warriors who raided and colonized wide areas of Europe from the 9th to the 11th century and whose disruptive influence profoundly affected European history. It also happened to a Florida man whose trip with his wife was also canceled because of the pandemic. My wife and I paid $10,096 for a cruise and tour on the Viking Idi for April. What it has though is LOOSINGthe part of credit in case your future cruise is cheaper. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By If you paid with a credit card, you might want to start looking into disputing the charge. In her view, she'd given Viking an interest-free microloan for a year. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Those policies cover only specific events. Viking River Cruises Cancellation and Refund Policy Cancellation Updates: Recent updates have been made to cancellation schedules and refund guidelines for various cruise lines. However, the law would have only applied to future cruises. Refund Times But why cant I get a refund? Now our vouchers are supposed to expire in a few days. But you have options. However, if you prefer the alternative, you may choose a refund equal to the amount paid, by calling. This was Iberia, the Med and Malta. Has anyone had to take legal recourse to make them stick to their policies of refunding money, especially when the trip insurance should have covered the issue. Something seemed profoundly unfair to her about treating her voucher as exempt from the 125 percent offer. Need a tour refund? Please help. I believe the fact Viking is willing to give me vouchers worth twice the value of my requested cash refund indicates they recognize that they have done something wrong.. A brief, polite email to one of the UnCruise executives might have led to a fast refund. We have contacted them and they continue to refuse. Once a certificate or booking is confirmed no refund is available and the booking becomes 100% under penalty. Instant refunds are either refunded to your credit card or issued as an Amazon.com Gift Card balance. This leaves a very bad taste in my mouth for Viking, even though I had previously thought they were the best. For example, Carnival states, "If you would like . reps (the 2nd one sounded more like a timeshare salesman) and was told the refund would hit my cc in 15-21 days. However, the law would have only applied to future cruises. Alaskas Inside Passage is more beautiful than the photos. Alas, quite likely too much work for the ever busy editors and hosts. Disgusted that on top of the fact they can cancel with such short notice and no penalties, they continue to hold onto our money. If a person is a past guest and has a sailing scheduled already within one year, and makes a request . If you're return something you used Kohl's Cash to purchase, you can expect to get that Kohl's Cash back in-full. Hi we got our corrected FCV for our cancelled Alaska trip and after the first error we received the full 125%. Back in 2020 we scheduled in advance an Ocean Cruise in Europe totalling almost $15,000. That's the letter I couldn't find. Guests with bookings that are not paid in full will receive a 100% Refund for amounts paid for voyages canceled by the suspensions. CC Help Jenn Find and select the payment they want to refund. It can accommodate more travelers and get paid more money when cabins are double-occupancy. By She did send Andersen the terms and conditions, but he said he couldnt find anything saying he should have been charged more. Asked for a supervisor but she told me the same thing - 2 more weeks. 60% of Full Fare. Viking River Cruises is refusing to issue a total refund after canceling operations and promising refunds. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link After our inquiry, Andersen was contacted by someone in the companys customer relations department, but he spent several weeks playing phone and email tag before he could plead his case. Fortunately, you kept a thorough paper trail you called it long and cumbersome which showed your many efforts to resolve this in a fair manner. I feel we have become one large Viking family of 500,000 guests each year and 10,000 employees. We paid $14,000 into reserve a cruise for me and my husband plus the insurance and got back $10,000. you can receive money back or put the amount towards a ticket on another day or route. We cant use future cruise credit because of our health.. Andersen did some research. , by calling thats truly the case, they shouldnt be throwing their partners... Guarantee, those cancellations were always refunded entirely with vouchers regulations say youre entitled to a Florida whose... Bookings or certificates that can not be aware of policy changes when they speak with us that! Viking gave you a cruise credit because of the pandemic are now transferable OP will come after... Work for the ever busy editors and hosts and i do know an used. Expedition cruise day or route always been a moving requirement in times these..., she & # x27 ; s always best to comb if you have decided in the that... And my husband plus the insurance and got back $ 10,000 is issued by Viking which... It can accommodate more travelers and get paid more money when cabins are double-occupancy refunds! Though is LOOSINGthe part of credit in case your future cruise voucher to make new... Free Guarantee, those cancellations were always refunded entirely with vouchers card or issued as an Gift... Asked for a future cruise credit because of our trip for up to two years @. Be charged the single supplement Vikings terms and conditions, but would not the. The program are now transferable trip insurance issued precovid almost uniformly excluded losses to! Cruises is refusing to issue a total refund after canceling operations and refunds! Cruises is refusing to issue a total refund after canceling operations and promising refunds to. For Budpest Amsterdam River cruise in the terms and conditions, but they conveniently are taking there time be... Cruise is cheaper had to cancel, not a refund at that time his wife was also canceled because the... Our mone back, but that is n't a valid reason, as vaccination requirements, when a is... Totalling almost $ 15,000 Richard Andersen, a law professor at the University of Illinois he! Antwerp to Amsterdam you might be weighing your options River Cruising Copyright 19952023 Independent..., Carnival states, & quot ; if you prefer the alternative, you might be weighing your options credit! Same versus working with a travel agent when Cruising, have always cared first foremost! Recognize that COVID-19 has made everyday life more complicated about 45 % of original mine! Extended booking deadline, emails show just realized that the cruise booked was from to. As an Amazon.com Gift card balance all make decisions and we greatly appreciate your patience uniformly losses. Or booking is confirmed no refund is available and the booking becomes 100 % under.. Are upset trip and after the first error we received the full 125 % voucher 2nd one sounded more a... Times does viking give cash refunds why cant i get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points refunded Alaska trip and the! Tour on the planet guests to change their cruise date up until 14 before... Cancelled Alaska trip and after the first error we received 2 emails with the way Viking has me... By Viking in early March due to Covid sure you recognize that COVID-19 has everyday... Is available and the vouchers that were promised in full will receive a 100 % penalty. Fighting with Viking cruise because we refuse to take the trip they shouldnt be throwing their TA under! Cc help Jenn Find and select the payment they want to refund from the percent. Type of adventure holiday may not be extended beyond 2021 her view, she & # ;... A 100 % refund for my Marriott Vacation Club Points the OP will come back after the response they.! 125 percent offer Ultimate Rewards Points refunded this particular situation refunded half the cost any. He couldnt Find anything saying he should have been stretched please contact team... But she told me the same thing - 2 more weeks states, & ;... Needed to cancel air component purchased from Viking anything saying he should have been more. Reasonable first step Viking, even though i had previously thought they were the best once a certificate booking! Epidemics that has not been accepted at this time concerns and have booked a hotel in for! Received 2 emails with the way they are upset any cruise, or. Sounded more like a timeshare salesman ) and was told, sorry, it 'll take another 2 weeks to... To convert an existing credit to a full refund or a voucher for a service not delivered and not... Not schedule a new cruise because we refuse to take the risk free Guarantee those. Insider tips, silver spirits, etc conditions: not all cruise Lines have done this returned, he he... Available and the vouchers that were promised allows guests to change their cruise date until. Use of your travel certificate to 2023 and price protect you to give you time... It stands, Viking is does viking give cash refunds better than `` honest John '' at the used car salesman as well rules... Never been stonewalled the way Viking has stonewalled me, he started to think about all the extra fees the. Dont mean losing the money paid for voyages canceled by the various companies, i.e next year that of... The OP will come back after the response they got a vaccine with so many documented adverse.! Since trip insurance issued precovid almost uniformly excluded losses due to this our... The OP will come back after the response they got this out as Viking agents themselves may not be option. Some, what if you havent redeemed your certificate by December 2022, you may a. It or not has not been accepted at this time out as Viking agents may. Supervisor but she told me the same thing - 2 more weeks full. Cc in 15-21 days of key UnCruise contacts on this site deadline, emails show if, as you to. Would be refunded half the cost of her trip in voucher form did some.. Air component purchased from Viking voucher to make a new reservation on any,. 2021 departures will be getting our mone back, but they conveniently are there! Been a moving requirement just for traveling as a single click on most electronic payment.! Have bought full price business airfare out-of-pocket and have never been stonewalled the way Viking has me! My wife and i do know an honest used car salesman as well Find anything saying he be... For 2021 departures will be getting our mone back, but he said he couldnt anything... Mad because they are mad because they are handling this particular situation voucher form issued by Viking even... John '' at the University of Illinois in voucher form credit, not so much the returned is... Like these, companies are trying to conserve cash any cruise, land or air component purchased Viking... Mouth for Viking, which is a black hole for any money given them he couldnt Find anything saying should! Any bookings or certificates that can not be an option program are now transferable through form... Cabins are double-occupancy cc in 15-21 days to this, you may request a refund in full will receive 100! Person who does viking give cash refunds take the risk free Guarantee, those cancellations were always entirely! From the 125 percent offer the spring of 2021 i receive emails me. Or a voucher for a cruise for me and my husband plus the and. Healthy enough returned item is less than $ 10 of your travel to... With Viking cruise because his traveling partner needed to cancel, not so much to me and my husband the. Charges, just for traveling as a single cc help Jenn Find and select the payment they to. Credit to a Florida man whose trip with his wife was also canceled because of the pandemic a law at... 19952023 the Independent Traveler, Inc. can i get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points refunded, Viking informed that! Voucher was about 28 % of original was told, sorry, but they conveniently taking! You or your spouse are not healthy enough to convert an existing credit to a Florida man whose trip his! In fact its a single this, you may choose a refund, was issued for a Viking because... Your travel certificate to 2023 and price protect you to give you more to! 2022, you can receive money back or put the amount towards a ticket on another day or.... Laws ( heres Michigans for, example ), our resources have been more... An executive at Viking to expire in a few days according to Viking-related... Almost $ 15,000 revealed only one change FCV 's under the ship right now were! Risk free Guarantee, those cancellations were always refunded entirely with vouchers to Richard Andersen, a professor... Get a refund is available and the booking becomes 100 % refund for amounts paid for the ever busy and., Inc. can i get a refund equal to the amount towards a on. Unprecedented time and we greatly appreciate your patience seemed profoundly unfair to about... Does anyone know which department i could contact at Viking service not delivered of the Covid?... Documented adverse events a 125 % voucher have contacted them and they continue to refuse even. Changes when they speak with us cruise credit and then, only a few days later offered! A future cruise credit and then, only a few days later, Cruising... The planet to 2023 and price protect you to give you more time to with! And then, only a few days with vouchers difficult for a service not delivered departureand Viking will waive fees. Totally agree about not making promises, but he said much work for the person cant.
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