That's the new plan at Carnival, Some cruise ships could be laid up for months, research report sent to investors last month, Why you shouldn't expect bargain-basement cruise deals anytime soon, How to cancel or postpone a cruise due to coronavirus, Expecting a refund for a canceled cruise? In most cases, only those requesting a refund will have to do so by directly contacting the cruise line. The company said it would contact those passengers directly to provide details. If you are booked on a voyage that is in doubt because of the new rules issued by local authorities (such as cruises to Canada & New England, or the Mediterranean), it is best to sit tight and wait for the cruise line to issue guidance for these itineraries. We are very pleased. Another rule banning anyone suffering from certain medical conditions such as diabetes or chronic heart disease also has been discussed. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. Viking canceled all 2021 Ukraine river cruises early in April 2021, much earlier than some of their other river or ocean cruises. Check with your individual line on its cancellation policy and final payment window, as each one can be different. Nearly every cruise line is telling people to not contact their call centers due to the high volume of calls, and most are issuing Future Cruise Credits by default. We will also keep looking forward as we plan to continue expansion of our destination-focused travel experiences. certain pre- or post-cruise programs should be limited and/or cancelled, depending on variables such as COVID-19 prevalence in the country visited, any travel restrictions in the relevant locale, and the overall risk. "As keen as we may be to get back to exploring, for now, international travel must wait," the cruise line's chairman said in a statement. And our TA has been wrong about other things. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. In addition to our many award-winning river and ocean cruises, in early 2022 we will launch our expedition journeys to the Arctic and Antarctica, as well as North America's Great Lakes. Bookings with refundable deposits are often eligible for price adjustment -- before the final payment date -- as well as changing to a different sail date or ship without penalty. Same terms for cruises cancelled in window. You'll want to be able to pounce at the very best offers. As a guest whose cruise falls within this window of suspended operations, we are offering a Future Cruise Voucher valued at 125% of all monies paid to Viking. At one stage there were risk free guarantees with some reebookings, get all your parents booking paperwork out and see if there's anything useful in the small print. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. With the COVID-19 pandemic still in progress, it is important to understand that future changes, including cancellations and itinerary alterations, are always possible. What is the main difference between the two, and which one should you opt for? 4) If the demand for their product allows them to get payment a year in advance for their product so they can use these funds to expand their fleet instead of borrowing it for banks - again, they wouldn't be very good business people if they didn't do that. IMPORTANT NOTICE: THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS GOVERN THE BOOKING AND SALE OF YOUR CRUISE TOUR THROUGH VIKING RIVER CRUISES, INC., D/B/A VIKING CRUISES, VIKING OCEAN CRUISES AND . If not, a cash refund may be the better bet. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. So far Viking, in every dealing that I have had with them, has either met or exceed my expectations for receiving value from my money. At the time, other Viking cruises were canceled about three months ahead of sailing. Celebrity Cruise ships that left U.S. ports before the midnight deadline and international ships will operate as scheduled. These options are usually bundled as a promotion, offering cruisers a savings or bonus in return for the financial commitment of a nonrefundable deposit. Viking is our go to cruise line now. Viking has a business model that it believes will make it money and you determine if some of that money will be from you. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Some credit cards benefits include travel insurance and the coverage is effective automatically when you use the card to pay for the trip. LauraS I dont think it is unreasonable to familiarize oneself with them. has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. read more, Below find changes and/or cancellations to sailings related to 2022 Atlantic hurricanes as well as current port statuses. Some lines are offering even more. Like they were when you first booked this cruise, so long ago and no one knew about the virus. If you used a travel adviser, have them handle the details on your behalf -- though be aware that many agents are as overwhelmed as the cruise lines are at this moment, and rebooking, refunds or future cruise credits may take some time to be issued. Very very happy with their response. On my recent cruise on Anthem of the Seas in Norway, the ship left at 3 pm. Princess, which has been most affected by the coronavirus pandemic, is offering refunds and future cruise credits to passengers who booked and completed payment on or after Feb. 4. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Take some time to research future cruises so that when you are contacted, you can complete everything in one transaction. Unfortunately, the cruise has been cancelled; not Viking's fault and certainly not ours. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. For additional flexibility, if you are unable to use your voucher, we will automatically send you a refund equal to the original amount paid to Viking after the voucher expires. Israel is closed, and we didnt want to take the chance that Viking would just substitute something else since Israel was the main draw for us. I have said before that we will only sail again when it is safe to do so. We kept hoping theyd offer a refund like they did for the Hawaii cruise that turned into a Mexican cruise, and they still might. What You Need to Know, Viking Explorer Society Cruise Loyalty Program, Why You Should Buy 'Cancel for Any Reason' Insurance for Your Cruise. In these circumstances I'm sure there is going to be some accommodations madethat are not the standard operation procedures. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. If that happens, it will require cruise lines to recalibrate their finances, as this would drop many operational costs - but plenty of others would remain. For most cruise lines, as long as you cancel before your final payment date, there is no penalty. We've seen this before. That said, the discussions between the CDC and cruise lines are ongoing. At least thats the way it worked for us when Sky did not stop at Heimaey. Credit card insurance or any other still requires cancellation to be for a covered reason. Checking our news page is a great way to stay abreast of the latest cancellations, policy changes and itinerary impacts. Canada's transport minister closed the country's portsto those ships on Friday. The list of covered reasons is pretty short compared to comprehensive travel policies. I don't think it's false hope when we need an official confirmation. Your contract is with Viking River Cruises UK Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (Co. No.01283655) whose registered office is at Nelsons House, 83 Wimbledon Park Side, London, SW19 5LP. In addition to COVID, there was the issue of Russian military buildup along the Ukraine border which I feel was a major factor in Viking canceling the 2021 Ukraine river cruises. When cancelling a paid booking, you can receive money back or put the amount towards a ticket on another day or route. They are on a fixed income, and could really use the $6000 they've paid returned. Take the cash. 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 continuing battle against the coronavirus pandemic. In the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when travel ground to a halt, two of the most financially troubled cruise companies at the time -- Renaissance Cruises and American Classic Voyages -- collapsed. But here's our advice: Skip the future cruise credits. That's simply not sustainable long term. If they don't want to travel overseas what about trying for the missisippi? It's hard to say, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility that we'll see at least partial fleets laid up without passengers until the virus and public panic settle down, destinations open back up, and demand for cruising increases. Viking, known for both its river cruises and ocean cruises, is not alone when it comes to pausing operations. This is a decision we made with a heavy heart, but with present circumstances what they are, we are unable to deliver the high-quality Viking experience for which we are known. Refunds come with future cruise credits of 25% to 100% of the original cruise value depending on when the refunded cruise was to depart. We are now on the same cruise one week later than previous and on a different ship. 1) Viking like every other cruise line is in business to make money. So who knows. By adding 25% to the value of what you originally paid, you now have the opportunity to enhance your trip such as choosing a longer itinerary; adding a Pre/Post cruise extension; upgrading your stateroom category; or even upgrading to business class air. Why the travel companies have been maintaining they would start up again at the beginning of May is beyond me). Your contract incorporates these Booking Conditions and by making a booking with us you confirm your acceptance of these Booking Conditions. Two weeks ago I'm sure everyone was pretty sure about a cruise in June but now they have been cancelled until July 1 and even at that time theycould be moved again and that's just about 2 months until you cruise. Europe is now seeing the same kind of climate change conditions that are affecting the Western United States. 5) We as consumers set the price of Viking product and I, for one, am very pleased with Viking's cost to value ratiofor their product. Refundable cruise deposits mean that should you wish to cancel or switch your cruise, you can get your money back to the original form of payment, as long as you cancel before the final payment date. Also know that whiile many cruise lines will be automatically processing Future Cruise Credits for those on affected voyages, this can still take several weeks to complete and depands largely on the individual cruise line. I am writing to you today from my home, rather than the Viking office. Will other lines follow? Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen said, for example,the Carnival Fantasy left on Friday and will return to Mobile, Alabama, on Monday. I too am anxious but I know I have to wait. BTW, earlier this year, Viking was offering 6 months to everyone. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. CC Help Jenn In recent years though, some lines have changed this up and chose individuals representing more noble causes. In a research report sent to investors last month, leisure industry analyst Harry Curtis of Instinet suggested all three of the giant cruise companies that dominate cruising -- Carnival Corp., Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Royal Caribbean Cruises -- had enough liquidity and borrowing capacity to survive a period of near-zero revenues into 2021. I feel we have become one large Viking family of 500,000 guests each year and 10,000 employees. Maybe flights will resume to Asia before Europe, or vice versa. Separately, the remaining 28 guests will also be quarantined. Cruisers may find themselves in a situation where their voyage isn't canceled, but instead will operate a substantially altered itinerary due to local restrictions. Have more questions? But we don't know what other new rules for cruising could soon be in place. Further to the previous response. Since you seem to be skeptical, that's cash in hand. By Two of its ships, the Diamond Princess and the Grand Princess, have experienced outbreaks of coronavirus in recent weeks in Japan and California, respectively. Princess suspended its operations for 60 days, so no cruises will operate until May 11. Deposits are refundable unless otherwise indicated. What are the pros and cons of a refundable cruise deposit? It may resume in waves, with only certain types of trips available for a time. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ukraine, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. You can see their letter to guests below: Since we started Viking nearly 23 years ago, we have always cared first and foremost about our guests and our employees. In most cases, when you . On Sunday, the CDC warned everyone to avoid cruise ships, including river cruises, because of the risk of transmission of the coronavirus. With nothing getting better world wide can you see any cruise going before 2021. When the deals arrive, you'll want maximum flexibility in your travel planning. Therefore, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend operations of our river and ocean vessels embarking from March 12 to April 30, 2020 at which time we believe Viking will be in a better place to provide the experiences our guests expect and deserve. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. What happens to paid excursions when Viking cancels a cruise. Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration have been permanently retired. Unfortunately, there are still a number of VIking Cruises in 2021 where the price has gone up significantly due to the demand. We decided just to opt for the refund & forgo the additional 25%. That means access to cash, not credits. Refunds will be credited within 90 days, the company said. Future cruises must be taken before Dec. 31, 2022. How Soon Before Your Cruise Can You Cancel Due to COVID-19 and Omicron? Our cruise is May 2 out of London. What are the pros and cons of a nonrefundable cruise deposit? The company will continue to . This offer covers all Viking reservations made between Dec. 1, 2021 and Dec. 31, 2021, on any 2021 or 2022 voyage. . . Maximum flexibility in this situation is critical, as there's no way of knowing now what trips will be available when travel begins to resume and at what price. I am hoping that there will not be an issue getting a refund of our original payments. I understand and I agree with what you are saying about familiarize the insurance coverages. That's the new plan at Carnival. Norwegian plans to resume embarkations on April 12. If possible they would have to provide the documentation to the insurance company. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Help requested: Cancelling a Viking Cruise. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. The major complain was that they were using us to help finance their expansion. In recent days we have had an experience where a river cruise guest in Southeast Asia was exposed to COVID-19 while in transit on an international airline. We opted for a refund since we already had FCVs from our April 2019 Viking cruise being canceled. Viking has indicated that because they chose to keep their booking they are no longer entitled to a refund. But that might not be the case. "Sailaway With Jane McDonald" Cruise Cancelled for 2021, MSC Cruises Offers Discounted Sailings to Healthcare Professionals, Rolling Out the Deals: Why Now Might Be a Great Time to Book a Cruise, Galveston Port Director Says Disney Cruise Line to Limit Capacity, Enforce Embarkation Arrival Times, Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas Cruise Ship to be Based in Southampton in 2021, What Should You Do If Your Cruise Line Cancels Your Cruise (Photo: fizkes/Shutterstock). Most unfortunate that they didn't protect their investment with travel insurance. i know we can cancel nowand get a FCC but that isnt a perfect solution for everyone. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. You will have 24 months to use your Future Cruise Voucher to make a new reservation on any river, ocean or expedition cruise. Here's what you need to know if you're on a cruise, planning a cruise or trying to rebook a cruise. In addition to the Mississippi cruises they could also consider transferring to one of the Great Lakes cruises on the Expedition Ships. Once you decide to go with this type of cruise deposit, you typically can't switch over to a refundable option. All programs will be modified to . On March 11, we were the first cruise line to announce a temporary suspension of operations through April 30, 2020. Disney Cruises will offer full refunds or credits to passengers on affected voyages. Everything. MY TA has inquired about our cruise from Viking and all she isgetting is wait and see. Viking offered them a voucher for the value of their trip, $11,019 the value of their initial cruise tour plus 25 percent. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Our money was refunded by Tuesday. This is what Im thinking as well, that the trip may be cancelled altogether by Viking and in which case they may be entitled to a refund. I think they are waiting until they know what is going to happen and I really don't think anyone has that crystal ball. Maybe your contract is different from ours? I am sure you recognize that COVID-19 has made travel exceedingly complicated. Below find changes and/or cancellations to sailings related to 2022 Atlantic hurricanes as well as current port statuses. None, except that 15 minutes not spent browsing Cruise Critic. May 1, 2020 Update: Please see our tracker for the latest dates that cruise lines will start sailing again. CC Help Jenn Can anyone advise on whether Viking would still operate cruises to the Ukraine if the state department advises that it is a level red category for travelers? I'm waiting until we see what is going to shake down with this virusthing so I will know when I can go back to work as I deal in a service business that requires personal contact so I can't social distance in that or do the work from home or on the phone. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. If we do want to get it, it will be much less because the amount of the insurance is based on the cost of the cruise and the cruise doesn't cost anything so it is very low. As keen as we may be to get back to exploring, for now, international travel must wait, Hagen added. Future cruise voucher at 125% or 100% cash refund. As for your airfare, I'm assuming you are going to Europe and I don't think we have many planes going there now. Powered by Invision Community. LauraS Started June 21, 2021, By And, at the beginning of April 2020, we will announce our newest river voyages closer to home, in America's heartland. So who knows. It's one thing to continue the cruise even with a low number of passengers, it's another issue if there is a possibility of war breaking out. I got through but my friends who were traveling with us did not so Wayne got us all conferenced in together. Related: Heres how to cancel or postpone a cruise due to coronavirus. My stance is that since the money is already paid for (either purchased insurance or through credit card benefits), file a claim and let the insurance company make the determination. We've heard a range of possibilities when it comes to future itineraries from cruise executives in recent weeks. Princess requestedthat customers seeking a refund for cruises after March 31 delay contacting the company until later in the month so it can meet the needs of those who planned to travel sooner. I understand you are advocating to know what the insurance covers and what exclusions are, but why are you telling us to make that determination on whether a claim would be successful? More than 700 passengers became infected, including 46 Americans. Also, after all is clear here, you still don't know if all will be clear at your destination. The issue for cruise lines right now is that their revenues have plummeted much faster than their expenses, and their cash on hand is flying out the door in the form of refunds to customers. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Viking announced similar measures Wednesday. 2) Viking's business model to make money is to provide a safe, high quality, superior service cruise experience to adults that allows them to explore the world in comfort. Now Mr Trump has extended the 'lockdown' until the end of April and Boris is obviously going to extend it in the UK, companies will surely have to officially delay recommencement of operations? Eight Diamond Princess passengers have died. Carnival Corp. recently raised more than $6 billion in debt and equity sales. As a private company with strong finances, 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, as we have always done. Glad everything worked out well for you -especially since you trashed Vikingin another thread yesterday: They already have us figured for idiots. The booking must be cancelled before applying for a refund. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Guests will have 24 months to use their Future Cruise Voucher to make a new reservation on any river, ocean or expedition cruise. Viking Ocean Cruises provide Freyja shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body-wash, replenished daily; frequent cruisers say that the high-quality products are one of the best perks of every trip. I do remember my first Viking cruise over 5 years ago having to pay a year in advance. At Holland America, the credits must be used by Dec. 31, 2022. When I got in touch with Viking a few weeks back once they out out the new temporary policy I was told we did NOT fall under those guidelines since our ship embarkation date is May 1. For additional flexibility, if you are unable to use your voucher, we will automatically send you a refund equal to the original amount paid to Viking after the voucher expires. No. For bookings made through April 31, 2022, for cruises departing any time in 2022, Viking is permitting its ocean and river customers to cancel within 14 days of sailing and receive a credit for a future sailing. FAQ: What Are the Latest Cruising Rules From the CDC. We rebooked the trip for 10/12-10/23/22. All except $100 future cruise credit each. CC Help Jenn We have a Viking river cruise embarking May 1 but our tripofficially begins April 29 upon arrival in Prague. U.S. ships currently at sea will continue on schedule. //

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