OP's issue is they are entitled to this $4,000 as a cash refund because they can't cruise with Viking as they refuse to be vaccinated. On 4/8 I receive emails to me and my husband that a credit, not a refund, was issued for a future cruise. CC Help Jenn You can also go here on the Viking site for that and any future updates. All rights reserved (About Us). My wife and I paid $10,096 for a cruise and tour on the Viking Idi for April. Theirs or yours? You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By That cost was non-refundable. Fosse found a new cruise in November, but Viking wanted another $1,652 for it in addition to the vouchers. The cost of a stopover is usually between $100 and $300. For the couple in the article it was resolved, but I am sure there are others, not just Viking customers, who may run into a problem. (I would love to go, but at the advise of my pulmonologist I should seriously reconsider cruises-at all.) UnCruise had no choice but to undo Ken Wests Inside Passage cruise at the start of the pandemic. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. He paid Vantage $18,536. If you don't have the required documentation, the cruise line has the right to refuse boarding, as per the Terms & Conditions. And NO, I do not work for Viking, as I have been snarkily accused of in the past---just a VERY satisfied customer who thinks Viking is doing the right thing, credit/refund-wise. Guests will have to pay full rate for new hotel/land tours. 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. They were offered vouchers, but when the wife died, Viking wouldnt allow for a refund. I called on 4/8 and the cust. And now they are mad because they are not going to use those vouchers. 89-60. We do look forward to welcoming you on board, when the time is right. Im sitting on more than a dozen Viking cases where the company just refuses to bend its policy, even though it would make sense in these cases. Under its terms, UnCruise doesnt have to give West a refund. Plus our TA was not copied.Later that day another email explains that some mistakes were made in voucher values and new replacement vouchers will be sent within 5 days.The very next day two more emails arrive and this time they are each for the same amount and this is 102.5% of the original cruise instead of 125%.At least we know they are working on the voucher!!! Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Then they rescheduled and then when the 2 nd cruise was canceled they opted for a refund. 3 or 4 days after e-filing a tax year 2021 or 2020 return. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. 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. For a cruise two months or more from now, you may lose your deposit. Started June 21, 2021, By 60% of Full Fare. Its been eight months. Asked for a supervisor but she told me the same thing - 2 more weeks. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. When you cancelled, you had a choice of the cancellation terms or the RFG. I spoke to 2 Viking cust. The OP . Europe's Danube River is a frequent route for Viking River Cruises. There are three general categories of pandemic cruise ship cancellations. (Courtesy Richard Andersen). Does Viking? But the fact that youre retired has no bearing on this case. Tough old world. I would check this out as Viking agents themselves may not be aware of policy changes when they speak with us. Wests tale of a scuttled cruise is all too common. That's right. 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. Any canceled hotel/land tours are under full penalty and cannot be refunded or rebooked on an alternate date. If you book a future cruise with FCV and the cruise cost is less than you have on the FCV, you loose the difference. If you have a consumer problem,please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. Further on aforementioned terms will also be referred to as "Services". 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. Follow her on Twitter at @KPMueller. Richard Andersen booked a fully-paid Viking cruise with his partner but it was canceled because of COVID. UnCruise refused, citing its Terms and Conditions. Dear Viking Guests, However, they are now claiming that my travel agent did not properly request a refund. But a named perils policy wouldnt have covered him. The hotel must refund the money to the consumer's credit card. Viking River Cruises review: Unable to get refund of $37,000 due to covid and operation shut down. That didn't seem. Europe's Danube River is a frequent route for Viking River Cruises. But whats this $452 bill? You canceled via NCLs Peace of Mind policy and then were affected by at least one additional suspension. So the company is giving itself a license to keep their money and reschedule over and over, while consumers dont have a right to a refund. Wish we could have accumulated credit and just draw it down until it was used up! That's the letter I couldn't find. It just seems unfair even though technically Viking is allowed to do it. Arent there consumer laws that protect you if a company cant offer the service it promised? Its common sense that you should receive a full refund if a company doesnt deliver what it promised. It later came to an undisclosed agreement with the husband. 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. I would then present that to your TA and ask for proof that Viking is wrong. When Andersen asked repeatedly why he was charged the $9,898 in the first place, the representative ignored the question, emails show. You should receive a full refund if a cruise line cancels, regardless of the reason. Op said clearly they paid 14000$ for the cruise fare plus insurance. As of today, there is no response from the cruise line. The 125% Future Cruise Voucher will also be fully transferable. Viking requires a 12 month advance final payment on every cruise booking. Thats true for most travel companies except tour operators, which often have fine print in their contracts that allows them to keep your money. I tried with Viking chat about 3 weeks ago when I first discovered the issue with no luck. Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers resolve their problems. Covid broke out and was raging in the area and around the world. Now our vouchers are supposed to expire in a few days. It is one of the few places on Earth that is more beautiful than the pictures. By A stopover is defined by Viking as, "air flights with a stop between the gateway city and the destination. He was asked to pay more for a Viking cruise because his traveling partner needed to cancel. . Can I get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards points refunded? Viking is holding my money ransom and shows utter disregard for keeping its word and corporate decency. Then they rescheduled and then when the 2 nd cruise was canceled they opted for a refund. 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. 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. 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. At Collette, for instance, executive vice president Jeff Roy said that while the company encourages customers to rebook instead of canceling by offering a 105% credit, when a customer wants a. I called on 4/8 and the cust. These consumer protections supersede any contract he may have signed with UnCruise or a travel agent. Since a number of areas of the World still require mandatory or recommended vaccinations, perhaps those that have issues with vaccinations should think twice about international travel. On March 11, we were the first cruise line to announce a temporary suspension of operations through April 30, 2020. The Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. Finland-Suomeksi . We asked Viking to point out the language that required the additional charge, but it didnt respond to multiple requests for comment. Our teammates are making their way through the backlog more quickly now and have completed nearly 60% of refunds so far. West was heartbroken. I sincerely hope I can believe what they have told me this time, but the track record isn't too good. If you paid with a credit card, you might want to start looking into disputing the charge. So we canceled the trip and we got a full refund for all the money that we had paid. cruise April 2020 cancelled, money and trip moved to April 2021, only to be cancelled again. This was Iberia, the Med and Malta. If Viking cancels a pre- or post- cruise experience, a refund of monies paid will be . You pulled off a minor miracle, he says. In cases like this, you can always reach out to an executive at Viking. I have to agree with Viking here as you had 1 cruise canceled and getting credit for 1 new cruise - with extra $$$ that can cover increased cost, upgrades, extensions, excursions, tips, etc. If available, send the item to the manufacturer for repair. I had a cruise booked just before everything blew up for May 2021 with Avalon. If you want to use your refund without waiting for us to process your return, you can select the Instant Refund option, if it's available. The insurance fee is not refunded, when you cancel a cruise; however, you can submit a claim to recover the cancellation fees. Viking gave us 100% vouchers that had to be booked within 3 years, which, if we waited until say month 34 could go out beyond 48 months. They canceled my flight. 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. 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. If you have an existing voyage and will not be vaccinated. First, why is there an arbitrary deadline? Even if you had the risk free guarantee, those cancellations were always refunded entirely with vouchers. & # x27 ; s credit card too common get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards points refunded the. Just draw it down until it was used up, when the 2 nd cruise canceled! 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