In 2021, the cruise line plans to launch their seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus. 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 . %%EOF If you have any questions or need further information please contact Reservations at 1-877-523-0579 or email customerrelations@vikingcruises.com, Monday - Friday, 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, PT. This guarantee is combinable with all other Viking offers available. We are booked on Viking Vali beginning in 2 days with extension in Amsterdam and at the end in Budapest. If, or rather when, we cancel that one, if we take the FCC that the offer at that time to rebook something later, it's not inconceivable that they would have held our money for up to 3 years! Im hoping they cancel rather than making us make the call. No mention of any waiting period, let alone a 21 day waiting period. I chatted with a Viking agent yesterday to see if they might consider an approach like this for our Oct cruise. Viking River Cruises canceled all Russian river cruises and its planned Kyiv, Black Sea & Bucharest routes this year due to the events. If you push back they provide better final payment dates. Poseidon Expeditions Cancels 2022 Russia, North Pole Programs. Then in 2022, they expect the debut of two new expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris. The Travel Protection Plan includes a non-insurance . As they're a private company details of things like their financing and debtaren't all that visible, but it seems they didn't useall their own money to pay for at least one of their ocean fleet - it's not a coincidence that Viking Sun was namedin Shanghai. But, again, this policy of full payment due with a very short time frame is costing us money we should have. Speaking of lighting, the bathroom lighting was spectacular. Just a day before they cancelled the cruise because of the COVID-19 Pandemic I called to cancel and asked for a refund. 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." ), Minnesota Senate passes bill to legalize recreational marijuana, 'Forever chemicals' exacerbate water issues in Lake Elmo, development still on pause, Charley Walters: Way too early to judge Vikings' pick of Jordan Addison, NFL draft: Vikings swap down, then up, to nab pair of LSU defenders, 'Smiley-face killer' theorist accused of St. Paul sex assault at time of Zamlen search, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Then in 2022, they expect the debut of two new expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris. Historic Wittenberg, home to Martin Luther. This has always been Vikings ambition and will remain so. Thank you for this. Fortunately I have many choices for river cruises and can speak with my wallet. I was looking forward to it. Therefore, Viking has discontinued all on board COVID testing fleetwide. I read all the books of Mark Twain, said Frohnert, a former St. Paul resident who now lives in Rochester, Minn. Over the 56 years weve lived in America, mostly Minnesota, we have traveled to over 85 countries., The only thing left that we wanted to do was to sail up the Mississippi, she continued. 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. Let us help you navigate your way to what you're looking for - using the search bar or helpful links. When I transferred it to a TA the agency movedthe payment up 2 weeks not a big deal. I would prefer a refund but can live with the FCC. Closer to home, Viking plans to build and launch their first ship to cruise the Mississippi river, Viking Mississippi. Rejuvenate in a king-size bed with a soft duvet and goose-down pillows. "Cruise Lines Alter Russia Itineraries, Cancel Ports Due to Ukraine Conflict." Viking River CruisesOf the lines that have so far made changes, Vikings have been the most extensive, canceling its entire season of Kyiv, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary. country, 12 days Being a retired infection control nurse I would be very surprised to see European river cruises happening at all this summer. On both the Hamburg-to-Kiel itinerary, departing August 26, and the Kiel-roundtrip sailing, departing September 7, World Navigator will call at Kotka and Mariehamn, Finland instead. I think that Crystal canceled all remaining cruises - smart move as there isn't "enough" to see with VIE out of the game. Viking, which had once planned to debut its new cruise ship in 2017, delayed the launch five years while it worked through federal regulatory challenges under the Jones Act, otherwise known as the . "It's disappointing because St. Petersburg is one of the crown jewels of the Scandinavian itineraries," said Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, during the company's earnings call last Thursday. 125% Future Cruise Vouchers: The Ultimate in Flexibility and Value. Viking took care of all the details. By endstream endobj 734 0 obj <. Local News | Award-winning Viking Longships. Passengers have called the latter easier said than done as trips fill up years in advance. Future Cruise Vouchers valued at 125% are available exclusively for those guests whose cruise was cancelled due to, or associated with, our suspended operations. Following the naming ceremony, the 930-passenger ship will spend her inaugural summer sailing two new sailings: Iconic Iceland, Greenland & Canada, between New York and Reykjavik, and Iceland & Norway's Arctic Explorer, between Reykjavik and Bergen. He came to the Pioneer Press in 2005 and brings a testy East Coast attitude to St. Paul beat reporting. Needless to say, my response did not include any of these qualities.. YMMV. Viking, which had once planned to debut its new cruise ship in 2017, delayed the launch five years while it worked through federal regulatory challenges under the Jones Act, otherwise known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. I am glad to have a wide choice of operators in Europe other than Viking and I hope it stays that way. I see that the Viking Vali left Amsterdam, probably as scheduled, and has passed through the Rhine Gorge today. Culinary delights in Lyon, France. Viking has had OUR money for over a year, and still hanging on to it. When you are covered by the Risk-Free Guarantee you may change your cruise reservation with notification to Viking. Edited November 19, 2020 by Heidi13. @Glammee if you are on board, have a splendid time. Now we worry Viking will not be solvent enough to refund us if we wait too long to request it. Contact your Sales Agent or our Customer Service department online, via email, or by phone at 1-800-427-8473 and ask about potential opportunities for flexible cancellation policies . We canceled our Viking Oberammergau cruise for September the week that our final payment was due. When you look up the UK website you will notice the difference in setup but also in the small print. I am sorry that I see their demise and re-organization with lots of travelers left with only memories of the cruise that did not happen. With today's news of Slovakia being in lockdown for the next two weeks, one has to wonder if the lines that haven't already cancelled the season should cancel the season. I had that same happy feeling till the last day of my cruise. Germany is locking down for unvaccinated but stores etc. 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. The price has shot up quite a bit from what we paid. I understand what the written policy is stating, however this was the offer to us. Ive done Viking cruises on the Danube, the Rhine, and this was my last wish for travel. 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. He Tweets with manic intensity at @FrederickMelo. You will receive a 3.3% discount and there is no fee for this service. Uefa moved footballs Champions League final from St Petersburg to Paris and Formula One cancelled the Russian grand prix, which is reportedly potentially set to move to Turkey. 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. I did end my post by wondering if it made a difference that we had a TA dealing with Viking for us. Sober home operators oppose regulations in MN House bill, state officials say changes necessary Despite the canceled 2020 cruise season, Viking has high hopes for 2021 and beyond. There are numerous ship repair/maintenance people onboard and they are taking up rooms. Orient Express Is Launching the World's Largest Luxury Superyacht, Hurtigruten's 'Northern Lights Promise' Ensures Every Cruiser Sees Auroras, What It's Like to Cruise Around French Polynesia on Windstar's Star Breeze, These Cruise Lines Will Require COVID-19 Vaccines To Sail, Despite What Cruise Lines Say, You Wont Be Setting Sail in May, My Favorite Luxury Cruise Line Is Setting Sail Again. We too were very unhappy with Vikings pay in full policywe paid in full 18 months before the cruise is scheduled to run. And our award-winning bathrooms feature large glass-enclosed showers with easy-to-see controls, premium Freyja toiletries, anti-fog mirrors and heated floors. The company is also allowing him the option to transfer the cruise to someone else, according to Wasserman. Posted November 19, 2020 (edited) Update now posted on Viking's website - all cancelled until end Jan 21 + other in later months due to regional issues. Guests and their travel agents on impacted departures have been notified directly by Viking Guest Services. Our money was refunded by Tuesday. Three weeks ago, we did request refunds on all our extra excursions and these refunds have yet to show up on the credit card. The health and safety of all guests and crew at The Scenic Group continues to be at the forefront of all decisions, a spokesperson said. $25 Deposit offer available on all 2023-2025 Viking River Cruises. A resident of Hamline-Midway, he is married to a Frogtown woman. Generous closets, plentiful USB ports and US/EU outlets, plush robes and slippers add to your comfort. The prospect of waiting until 2025 to board a Viking cruise strikes some elderly passengers as iffy if not unlikely given their age. MSC Cruises, which had four ships scheduled to call in St. Petersburg beginning this May, announced it had suspended all Russian stops and was in negotiations for possible alternative options, including Stockholm, Helsinki, and Tallinn. All except $100 future cruise credit each. Most cruise lines have enacted extremely fair and lenient refund policies for the time being. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! I wouldn't think so. Viking Cruises has launched several new river and ocean cruise ships that join their impressive fleet, taking passengers on incredible journeys across the world. The FCC is valid for 24 months , for any Viking cruise itinerary and fully transferable. Entire boat trips planned from St. Paul in July and August were canceled this summer, and interior work aboard the ship has apparently continued right through the first departure from St. Paul toward St. Louis, Mo., on Sept. 3. The line said it was also evaluating 2022 itineraries that call in Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. I believe the 125% FCC is for bookings through the end of April. 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. It's been observed again and again, despite what Viking initially tells you. My post referred to us using a travel agent. We, along with 188 other passengers anticipated our Viking River Cruise on the Idun departing Nuremberg on June 1. A booming business -- for now. Whether the company is primarily struggling with the national labor shortage, delayed staff trainings or physical considerations such as supply chain issues impacting particular staterooms remains unclear. It would be real interesting to see a movement by their customers against refusing to make full payment 1 and 2 years in advance. The ship has now begun sailing with her first guests, but we are still putting the finishing touches on the overall experience and refining the itinerary, the letter continues. February 25, 2022. "Update: Cruise Lines Cancel Ukraine and Russia Calls. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. Our cruise was Sept 4. On September 12, 2023, departs Longitudinal World Cruise II . TripSavvy uses only high-quality, trusted sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. 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. They would fly to Italy and take an 8-day Viking River Cruise called "Italian Sojourn," which would travel around Italy's . A few days ago we received a cryptic email from Viking that our itinerary might have changed and so here was a voucher for $499 for a future cruise . Forgot to use it? Booking a cruise should not be like buying a car where your negotiating skills determine when you pay in full. 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 luxury river cruise line, Scenic, scrapped all of its 2022 Russia cruises. For us that was a year prior to sailing. Fully refunded were also all prepurchased through Viking packages and services. How long did they tell you it would be before you actually received your refund? Reporter who fled Taliban now writes for fellow refugees in St. Paul If you have any questions regarding these Terms or the Passenger Ticket Contract, please advise us in writing at Viking River Cruises, Inc., 5700 Canoga Avenue, Suite 200, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. Better to cancel what you have and do it next year. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! countries, 11 days But, if youd rather have a refund for your canceled cruise, you need to request it from Viking before August 24, 2020. The scenic route was a gentle way to ease back into cruising. TA's have no problem getting better terms. Deadlines for requesting a refund can be found in guests original communication. And Hungary? Best New Cruise Ships and Itineraries for Alaskan Cruise! Just waiting to see what Germany does as well. On your scheduled departure, we must operate at a reduced capacity as we continue to ramp up service. 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. The 386-passenger ship, custom-built for the river, departed St. Pauls Lamberts Landing as planned, but the Pletchers were not aboard it. 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Signature destinations include Central America, Panama Canal transit, USA West Coast, Hawaii, Transpacific crossing to New Zealand and Australia, Asia, Middle East, Suez Canal transit to Europe and the UK. CruiseMapper provides you with free of charge schedules with listed cheapest ticket prices per person per itinerary. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. Guests will enjoy these unique and rarely visited destinations and immersive shore excursions to take in the rich cultures and breathtaking vistas of the Baltic.. I was angry last Wednesday.Related Articles And, more likely than not, our cruise is goingto cost more. My third cruise was with my mom, Penny and we sailed on the 11 -day Passage to Eastern Europe Viking Danube Cruise. The sailing, a . Viking has made an official announcement on there Web Site Itineraries Affected by Temporary Suspension of OperationsUpdated April 6, 2021 On March 11, 2020, Viking was the first cruise line to suspend operations of our river and ocean cruises. Viking Ocean Cruises Is NOT All I Thought It Was, Viking 360 Ship Tours: Explore our Ocean & River Vessels, Virtually. Claire and Stanley Keyles planned a dream vacation for June 2020. It's been mentioned on these boards that there was a period that Viking tried to hold the line on payment within 30 days of booking but the pushback was fierce. In 2019 the parent company created the brand Viking Expeditions, with a newbuild fleet of two small-sized expedition vessels Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris , plus 2 more same-designed units. Atlas Ocean Voyages, a luxe expedition cruise line based in Florida, is adjusting two of its late-summer Baltic itineraries. Cruise Industry News.

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