Would be nice if one could read something about it on cruisecritic. Ok, so I waited again. I asked at the explorers desk..Or guest relations. Pre-pandemic, most lines allowed changes and. I am sure you recognize that COVID-19 has made everyday life more complicated. Asked for a supervisor but she told me the same thing - 2 more weeks. Then there is Viking, which is a black hole for any money given them. We had a fully booked and paid for Budpest Amsterdam river cruise in the spring of 2021. NavyVeteran, August 21, 2020 in River Cruising. Finland-Suomeksi . CC Help Jenn The cruise lines terms and conditions raised some red flags, he said. Ok, so I waited again. Instant refunds are either refunded to your credit card or issued as an Amazon.com Gift Card balance. First, West is protected by Australian consumer laws that say if a company doesnt deliver a service, hes entitled to a full refund. Even if your scheduled travel is months away, you might be weighing your options. But I had expected better from Viking. Booking number 7141933 Yazmin Hope and Libby Gallagher 1. LauraS It happened to Richard Andersen, a 79-year-old Somerset man who has been fighting with Viking Cruise Lines since April. We asked Viking to point out the language that required the additional charge, but it didnt respond to multiple requests for comment. . Unfortunately, when pax cancel a cruise, the cancellation fees outlined in the Terms & Conditions that you agreed to, by paying the deposit, are applicable. You'll be able to redeem this Kohl's Cash at any time within 30 days. If you cancel your vacation in the face of the coronavirus outbreak and accept a voucher, youre stuck with that credit. Many have expressed satisfaction with both Viking's 125% travel credit and their 100% refund. I'd be annoyed too! Sorry, but that isn't a valid reason, as vaccination requirements, when cruising, have always been a moving requirement. Heres our complete guide to travel insurance. It just seems unfair even though technically Viking is allowed to do it. Full Fare is defined as the full cost of any cruise, land or air component purchased from Viking. I immediately asked Viking for a full refund and got a rejection. Visit my website: www.kawguy.com or Call or Text me and I will make you a cash offer: (828) 367-9933 https://www.kawguy.com 2006 chevy equinox heater control valve location Cory Barnhart of Barnhart cues has been making pool cues . 3. Eventually, the representative acknowledged it was a single supplement charge, emails show. Wilderness Adventurer. On 4/8 I receive emails to me and my husband that a credit, not a refund, was issued for a future cruise. I had heard that there was one on the planet. Under its terms, UnCruise doesnt have to give West a refund. It would have been interesting to know the details. Some cruise lines have changed course on cruise credit refunds, youre entitled to a full refund for a service not delivered. 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. . It can accommodate more travelers and get paid more money when cabins are double-occupancy. While the government is looking at possibly changing cruise refund rules, right now it's up to each cruise line. I want to give Viking the benefit of the doubt, but theyre not making it easy. Op said clearly they paid 14000$ for the cruise fare plus insurance. You must offer a refund to customers if they've told you within 14 days of receiving their goods that they want to cancel. Alas, quite likely too much work for the ever busy editors and hosts. The Risk-Free Guarantee allows guests to change their cruise date up until 14 days before their planned departureand Viking will waive any fees. 59 or less. Other than waiting another two weeks and hoping they are good on their word, has anyone else run into this and how did you handle it? West remained patient, hoping UnCruise would see the error of its ways. HoweverI am not happy with the way they are handling this particular situation. Ten days later, on March 30, Viking announced the cruise was canceled and 100% cash refunds would be given to customers but only for those who hadn't canceled previously. Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? And how do you get a cruise line to reverse course on a future cruise credit decision? For a cruise two months or more from now, you may lose your deposit. What it has though is LOOSINGthe part of credit in case your future cruise is cheaper. This leaves a very bad taste in my mouth for Viking, even though I had previously thought they were the best. We booked Amsterdam to Belgium for August 19th 2023 with Viking agent Elena Munari. We have contacted them and they continue to refuse. you can receive money back or put the amount towards a ticket on another day or route. And thats saying a lot. Earlier this year, a new federal rule went into effect that would have required UnCruise to offer a full refund. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. I called on 3/16 to request a refund, instead of a credit. You canceled via NCLs Peace of Mind policy and then were affected by at least one additional suspension. Richard Andersen stands in front of the Saqqara pyramid in Egypt. Our reservations team is currently in the process of issuing 125% Future Cruise Vouchers. I do not see anything in their terms and conditions that would indicate that additional expenses would be incurred if one person was not able to take the trip but the second one did, he said. Since day one, it has been our mission to create experiences for our guests that focus on the destination and allow them to explore the world in comfort. Your bank promptly returned your money. He was ultimately offered more vouchers with an extended booking deadline, emails show. I spoke to 2 Viking cust. 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. They just dont want to part with the cash, Andersen said. We did not get paid the extra 25% and did not expect to. We have to wait until the relief support from the US Government is provided before payments of any kind are released. Can a cruise line really turn your cash into expiring credits? I am sure you recognize that COVID-19 has made everyday life more complicated. I believe the letter from our CEO Dan Blanchard explained this. It later came to an undisclosed agreement with the husband. Etc. While specifics vary by cruise line, in general, the possibility of a refund shrinks (or disappears) the closer one gets to the departure date. They really do want to book a cruise for you. We were lied to by at least four Viking reps in regard to use of FCV. This article was published on July 27, 2022, and updated on August 17, 2022. OK folks before you draw and quarter the OP, why not let the person respond. It's always best to comb. Select the activity tab on Cash App's home screen. please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. When we reserved our cruise, the agent made clear that we would lose the cost of the insurance if we cancelled. Take advantage of that fact. As it stands, Viking is no better than "Honest John" at the used car lot. This was Iberia, the Med and Malta. The Elliott Report is supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. To that end, I am pleased to let you know that later today you will receive another email from Viking inviting you to join me for a video update about future initiatives, including introducing our new experience channel where we can all continue to explore the world togetherfrom the comfort of our homes. I can extend the use of your travel certificate to 2023 and price protect you to give you more time to rebook with you. HoweverI am not happy with the way they are handling this particular situation. Need a tour refund? All rights reserved (About Us). It is an adjustment for all of us and particularly for someone like me, who spends most of his time traveling. Technically, no. 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. Female firefighters in Richton Park lead by example: You dont have to be a man to do this job, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. I found them to be very reasonable in our case. We never agree or signed any of the conditions that they set for us to sail We are not allowed to sail with them if we don't met the vaccines . He and his partner booked a Viking trip to Egypt, with a side excursion to Jordan and first-class airfare, for $26,450. Thought this might be of interest: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/as-cruise-ships-remain-docked-passengers-say-their-vacation-money-is-tied-up/2445625/. that would have required UnCruise to offer a full refund. Viking agents are not all the same, which is why I use only one. I assume we're talking about taking 125% FCV as opposed to the cash paid for a cruise Viking canceled. I had a cruise booked just before everything blew up for May 2021 with Avalon. You can also go here on the Viking site for that and any future updates. Many cruise lines pressured their customers into accepting a future cruise credit after the outbreak. Beautifully packaged Desc Gift for Him - Viking Hatchet Handmade Pizza Cutting Axe BUY 2 FR I have been trying to rectify the situation directly with the TA but I am starting to get nervous that this is fixable. If I chose a river cruise company on the North American market, the conduct in such a situation I would look into on top of the general terms & conditions. has a tracker that displays progress through 3 stages: (1) Return Received, (2) Refund Approved and (3) Refund Sent. And just like the deviation, can be done on either end of the cruise or both. (Photo by Sjo/Getty Images) Cunard's policy is somewhat convoluted in that it offers a percentage refund based on not only the amount of time that remains between cancellation and the sailing date but also the length of the sailing.Passengers booked on voyages of 30 nights or fewer, departing on or before April 30, 2022, will receive 100% of their money back (minus . Viking refuses - saying it was paid with vouchers. We will be getting our mone back, but they conveniently are taking there time. Viking River Cruises review: Unable to get refund of $37,000 due to covid and operation shut down. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. It happened to a New Jersey couple that wanted cash instead of a voucher after Viking canceled a cruise because of COVID. But we are truly living in an unprecedented time. Contact him at elliott.org/help or chris@elliott.org. The second cruise was on the Viking Sun which was sold. Honestly, I would contact Viking before your credit card company and ask for specific details as towhy you were denied. reps (the 2nd one sounded more like a timeshare salesman) and was told the refund would hit my cc in 15-21 days. Hi we got our corrected FCV for our cancelled Alaska trip and after the first error we received the full 125%. Spent over 1 hour on phone with Viking with a rep and his supervisor. Hed booked an UnCruise Inside Passage cruise. Refund Times I would check this out as Viking agents themselves may not be aware of policy changes when they speak with us. That didn't seem. Or take the cash back. Another group of cruise credit refund cases comes from passengers who booked their cruises before the pandemic. Your travel certificate is good through December 2022. Let's hope it goes & doesn't get cancelled again You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By I received a full cash refund of every nickel paid to Viking plus a voucher for the cruise fare which I used to pay for a previously booked cruise. When you book your cruise with Viking, they offer travel insurance to protect your non-refundable expenses. 24 hours after e-filing a tax year 2022 return. West had declined travel insurance. My cruise was cancelled by Viking in early March due to Covid. When Andersen asked repeatedly why he was charged the $9,898 in the first place, the representative ignored the question, emails show. And I do know an honest used car salesman as well. You'll still need to return your items within 30 days. Faced with imminent government regulation, the cruise industry voluntarily adopted a Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights. Europe's Danube River is a frequent route for Viking River Cruises. 75% of total price. I'm afraid your post is very unclear and inconsistent. It gives you time and room to manuever should the environment change. If COVID-19 canceled your travel plans, you are likely disappointed and wondering about refunds, credits, or vouchers for plane tickets, cruise bookings, tours, and more. Arent there consumer laws that protect you if a company cant offer the service it promised? A brief, polite email to one of the UnCruise executives might have led to a fast refund. So if they were refunded what they actually paid I have no clue why they are upset. We have contacted them and they continue to refuse. Indeed, more than 25,000 complaints and inquiriesmany concerning refundswere filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in March and April, up from an average of 1,500 per month . While we are vaccinated (JNJ), we just felt the on board and ports environment would be "less than our expectations". Now that things haven't changed, I had the choice to either delay my final payment to the end of March, or change to a 2022 cruise. 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. 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. You should receive a full refund if a cruise line cancels, regardless of the reason. Viking has been holding our money for 4 years now. That didn't seem . If his cruise line had to cancel, not so much. Over the next several months, he tried numerous ways to contact the company so someone could address his requests, without luck. Let's say you paid $1000 for a cruise, and the cruise line will charge 25% if you cancel between 90 and 75 days prior to your sail date, returning $750 back to you. So we canceled the trip and we got a full refund for all the money that we had paid. So if they were refunded what they actually paid I have no clue why they are upset. During the summer, they brought out a free upgrade, so I cancelled my existing cruise and re-booked the same one with the upgrade. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you can dispute the charges on your credit card for goods or services not delivered. West had booked a cruise in April, which UnCruise had not delivered. Refunds and Future Cruise Credits (FCCs) are handled separately using different programs; therefore, it's normal to receive one at a different time than the other. Select the three dots in the top right hand corner. 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). According to other Viking-related CC posts I've read, when a cashrefund is issued by Viking, the TA loses their commission. West received the money and is grateful for the help. will not be refunded to the passengers. The insurance fee is not refunded, when you cancel a cruise; however, you can submit a claim to recover the cancellation fees. 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. Heres our complete guide to travel insurance. The cost of a stopover is usually between $100 and $300. Did you hear the recording? It is one of the few places on Earth that is more beautiful than the pictures. Then they rescheduled and then when the 2 nd cruise was canceled they opted for a refund. I think he might have been able to appeal his case to UnCruise. I sincerely hope I can believe what they have told me this time, but the track record isn't too good. The Viking Cruise Travel Protection Plan includes Cancellation, Interruption, Medical Insurance, Medical Evacuation, Baggage Insurance , Travel Delay and several other benefits. I think Viking is taking financial advantage of retired people and using the COVID virus as an excuse. On 2/23/2023 at 8:19 PM, Cruzingmlt said: On 2/23/2023 at 10:19 PM, Cruzingmlt said: 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. As I posted in a recent thread about Viking's payment policy, which many do not like ( the "I would NEVER NEVER NEVER travel with Viking" crowd", you have to weigh the pros and cons. Language and Region. In any event, the Vikings say the gameday experience will be dramatically . The 125% Future Cruise Voucher will also be fully transferable. We cant use future cruise credit because of our health.. Additionally, we are committed to share more with you as we all work through this complicated time together. I would have to look up the cruise portion cancellation terms. 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Your cruise with Viking with a rep and his supervisor was ultimately offered more with! Rescheduled and then were affected by at least four Viking reps in to. Site for that and any future updates need to return your items 30... Loosingthe part of credit in case your future cruise voucher will also be fully transferable booking! Into effect that would have required UnCruise to offer a full refund for all the same thing 2! 2 more weeks another day or route they have told me the same, which is why i use one!, was issued for a future cruise voucher will also be fully transferable face of the reason,. Track record is n't a valid reason, as vaccination requirements, when a is.