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. The Pletchers arent the only couple who have been bumped from Vikings new Mississippi River cruises at the last minute. They applied the refund to my balance but said I would still get it back on my Credit Card in the 21 Business Days. Recently I have tried to get the final payment pushed back a month or so no luck. 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 . Atlas Ocean Voyages, a luxe expedition cruise line based in Florida, is adjusting two of its late-summer Baltic itineraries. Yesterday was 22 days so I called. Oceans; Expeditions; Viking Cruises has cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. We saw all of the major sites, including the Great Wall, the Terra Cotta Warriors and a sail on the Yangtze to the Three Gorges Dam. Of course there are unexpected circumstances that may necessitate setting aside policy. Also Check: How Much Is The Alaskan Cruise. Some media outlets along the river corridor have pointed to likely supply chain challenges. The luxury river cruise line, Scenic, scrapped all of its 2022 Russia cruises. But Baden-Wrttemberg may follow too. Then in 2022, they expect the debut of two new expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris. I'm afraid they won't cancel and we'll end up floating for days on end We are literally are in the same boat as you. But to be honest, at this point in time, I would prefer it if tourists from outside of Europe did not come at all. Is there Internet access on board the ship? Best New Cruise Ships and Itineraries for Alaskan Cruise! On September 12, 2023, departs Longitudinal World Cruise II . Much like borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. 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. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. When I transferred it to a TA the agency movedthe payment up 2 weeks not a big deal. 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. I have already cancelled my independent air reservations and hotel in Amsterdam. None of these would normally be on the ship. I have to correct this mistake. Should any significant itinerary modifications become necessary, guests and their Travel Advisors will be notified directly by Viking. Viking Elbe River Cruise Canceled. The testing requirement lifted on June 12, 2022. 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. Airfares vary on other gateways & departures. Will the drought in Europe affect your river cruise vacation? Fully refunded were also all prepurchased through Viking packages and services. The interest or growth potential of them requiring full payment that far in advance is financiallyimmoral. Our cruise is not until November 2020 and the current FCC/cancel for full refund policy does not apply to us. Walking to my stateroom the first day, the corridor was so peaceful with the soft lighting and easy and attractive decor. 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. Since weve been together last 37 years weve done an enormous amount of traveling, Wasserman said. Indulge in complimentary programming on a flat-screen LCD TV with an easy-to-use remote. Reviewed 15 August 2018 via mobile . By For the Danube, I fully agree with you purrlinda. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! But, when I contacted Viking yesterday, it was through their chatbot, and the agent was unbending. Frequently Asked Questions | Viking River Cruises I also explained that to move the same cruise to next year, or beyond, is going to cost me approx $2000 more than my current value. Local News | By 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. Over in Southeast Asia, a new river ship, Viking Saigon, will cruise the Mekong. You may also contact us by phone at 1-877-668-4546. Risk-Free Guarantee Future Cruise Vouchers are transferable, so that you have the flexibility to gift them to a loved one. "But when we bring travelers to another country, we also bring their dollarsdollars that would support Putin's aggression. Main downstream from Wrzburg, Rhine and especially Moselle are better places to be. 125% Future Cruise Vouchers - Viking Cruises Viking Mississippi will be a brand new ship that is designed specifically to sail on the Mississippi River offering all of the great features their Longships have in Europe. 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. Up front they say they want their $$ 1+ years ahead, but they somewhat readily move final payments up. Viking has had OUR money for over a year, and still hanging on to it. Cruise Critic. Guests and their travel agents on impacted departures have been notified directly by Viking Guest Services. country, 12 days
Jillian Dara is a freelance journalist and fact-checker. European River Cruises | Viking River Cruises In 2013, the company launched its new brand Viking Ocean Cruises. 2 Viking River Cruises canceled all Russian river cruises and its planned Kyiv, Black Sea & Bucharest routes this year due to the events. 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. In the same post, the cruise line's holding company, Carnival Corporation, stood by Ukraine in light of the attacks, declaring, "We stand for peace.". Travel Protection Plan | Viking River Cruises Others said their trips were roughly half full, carrying about 200 passengers. He came to the Pioneer Press in 2005 and brings a testy East Coast attitude to St. Paul beat reporting. | 4
Carnival announced via Twitter they will be swapping Russia out of all current cruise itineraries in the coming week "once alternative ports can be confirmed." No preferential treatment regarding paymentis shown depending on who you are or who you know. The prospect of waiting until 2025 to board a Viking cruise strikes some elderly passengers as iffy if not unlikely given their age. This offer covers all Viking reservations that are made between November 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 on any 2022 voyage. In March-April 2021, Viking OCEAN announced plans to restart operations with. Our money was refunded by Tuesday. Viking Saturn will officially be named in New York on June 6 by its godmother, philanthropist and chairman of the Metropolitan Opera Ann Ziff. River cruise lines cancel Russian Volga river cruises in support of I would prefer a refund but can live with the FCC. For now, travel is about armchair exploration and planning for better days ahead. 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 River Cruises review: - ComplaintsBoard.com Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. Curiously, in August 2021, Viking OCEAN announced a double world cruise 2023-2024 with two ships sailing on an identical itinerary from Florida to the UK. Fortunately for us we booked last November and can cancel up to 24 hours before the cruise and get 100% FCC. Rivers. We will see. They then said it is 21 Business days. With shutdown, 21 Cruise ship company's business days will go to the Summer We and two other couples travelling with us cancelled last Friday. Last year they tried to hold the line on this and got so much pushback that they backed off. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. You May Like: Where Does Norwegian Cruise Lines Sail Out Of. Viking acts more like a bank taking FULL deposit as much as 2 years out. They also invited their good friends Deborah and Alvi Blankenship.