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3.2 615 Reviews

Viking River Cruises Complaints Summary

326 Resolved
288 Unresolved
Our verdict: While Viking River Cruises has an above-average resolution rate, there’s room for improvement. Investigate common issues reported by customers and understand how they were resolved. Be prepared to follow up on your queries if needed, and keep detailed records of all interactions.
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3:37 pm EDT
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Viking River Cruises No response from viking's customer relations

Background: This was our first river cruise. My wife and I have been on most major ocean cruises (45) to nearly all continents. Point being is that we are no novice at cruising. We have been on excellent to bad cruises and have rolled with the punches.

We selected three day pre-cruise in Prague. The hotel Corinthia was not the newest but the accommodations were nice and Prague was one of the best cities I have ever been in. Highly recommend.

Got an email from Viking that the river was low and we had to go to Passau to board the boat. I got this email only because the Corinthia Hotel had outstanding Wifi. I even made a face book call back to the USA in the bar which was a treat. Point being here was the email from Viking was the only warning that the trip was going south.

Got bused to Passau. Viking should advertised this "cruise" as a sit in port then bus. We spend hours on various buses trying to "make the best of it". I came to hate the phrase as the Viking entertainment director seem to like it a lot. We sat in Passau next to an industrial site with a view of the dumpster for three days. My balcony view was a concrete wall. I requested to leave the ship and get credit. Was told by ship's personnel that they could not make that decision. Only "corporate" could make that decision and corporate would contact us 5 business days after the cruise. This meant the very distinct and as it turned out likely possibility of paying twice. Go back to Prague or stay on the ship was the choice. Did not have the guts to take a $7000 hit so stayed on the ship.

After three days of a seven day cruise, we were not in the best of moods so that may have colored our judgement somewhat. Here are some other observations:

Food : Poor to mediocre. Served hot dogs for lunch. Now that is real luxury dining for you. Viking gives the impression of gourmet dining. I have been on cheap ocean cruise ships serving 2, 000 people that did a better job. I was served as an appetizer at dinner a half of a breaded chicken wing on a very large plate. Must be the large plate made it special. Could go on but you get the idea. Think the gourmet chef was on holiday.

Room: Cabin was nice so no complaints. The cabin was even wired with 110 volt American style outlets.

Entertainment: Small ship so did not expect much in the way of entertainment. Had a piano player that was good.

Bar: Spend a lot of time at the bar as we were not cruising. Made a pretty good margarita.

Main complaint is we lost three days of the cruise and have hear absolutely nothing from Viking. Seems this low river has been going on for six weeks prior to our arrival. If I had know that this was going on, I would have cancelled before I got there. Viking informed us the day after we arrived and we were told we "had to make the best of it". Very poor customer relations. Based on the food, lack of cruising, over priced for what you get, and poor customer relations, I recommend that you stay far away from Viking as you can.

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11:01 am EDT

Viking River Cruises Non-delivery and no further discussion

Viking's two low-draft ships have been grounded in the Elbe for months due to low water. Viking Cruise Lines is playing a deceptive game by not informing its clients. The 1-10 August "cruise" consisted of busing us about 300 miles total between the modified destinations. Some original destinations were eliminated. This is not what I paid for! They continue even into mid-August to subject passengers to this "bus cruise". I sent final payment in May, but was not informed until 2 days before we left for the trip on 27 July that the itinerary was now a bus tour. After talking to 3 customer relations people, it was learned that we could cancel for a full refund. But by then it was too late since all travel had been paid for. A "compensation" voucher, that amounts to enticement to spend more money with Viking, was offered. A letter to Torstein Hagen, CEO, rejecting the "good faith offer" and expressing our general satisfaction with the treatment rendered went unanswered. This shabby and deceitful behavior by Viking Cruise Lines should be condemned by travel agencies, and can be an alert for prospective Viking customers.

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3:19 pm EDT

Viking River Cruises Changes at last minute

Francine and I cruised on Viking River Cruises this summer. We arrived in Paris on June 28th and were to meet our ship the Rinda at Ponte de Grenelle. This is almost under the Eifel Tower and walking distance to the city of Paris. Days before we were to arrive Viking contacted us to inform us they were not able to get dock assignment at the last minute and we were to arrive at our ship at the dock in Le Pecq 11 miles from the city of Paris. As we were leaving our ship, the next group informed us they had the same bad luck. At the last minute the ship had to dock outside of Paris. This is an inconvenience to the passengers hoping to visit the city. We also had a cabin room 237 which had a view of the underside of the dock for the two days before we left Paris on our cruise. When we returned for the last two nights, we had the same view of the underside of the wooden dock. If there are future cruises, we will get cabins above ground level. We paid a lot for this 8 day cruise and were disappointed that Viking docked outside of Paris at our cost. They docked blocking any view for those of us on our side of the ship below the 3rd floor. These are things to consider when booking a river cruise.

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7:52 pm EDT
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Viking River Cruises Unsatisfactory accommodations and customer service

If I could provide 0 stars I would, based on Viking’s lack of customer service alone.

We were on the 15-Day Grand European Tour on Viking (Eisla ship) in March, 2015 from Budapest to Amsterdam. The staff in general was good, and the tours and food were definitely above average.
My extremely negative review centers around the consistent problems we had with our room, the double stacking of ships at docks (which left no view from our upgraded room and balcony), and the Hotel Manager’s personal problem.
We booked this trip with my parents 14 months in advance (with the paid cancellation policy), as my husband is in the military and never knows what his upcoming schedule will be. This was a “bucket list” trip with my 75 year old parents. We paid a lot of money (nearly $20, 000) for one of the suites with a nice balcony.
Unfortunately our room either had no air or no heat, depending upon the weather. Maintenance came in at least four times to fix it and nothing was ever settled. Our TV was completely non-functional in the bedroom for most of the trip. Our power outlets in the bathroom were not consistent with the hairdryers provided by Viking or any adapters we purchased (based upon what Viking suggested), so we had to get ready in our living room. Our bathroom smelled like stale urine the entire trip, even after it was cleaned each day. For approximately 40% of our trip, we had no view from our suite or balcony since other Viking ships were double stacked against us. I want to mention that we were told by several Viking staff that Viking saves money by double stacking so that they do not have to pay for extra docks. American Airlines did tell us that they have never been informed of this and was not aware that Viking was “double stacking”. Thus, if I wanted to enjoy our balcony or open our blinds, I was looking straight into someone else’s room. This completely ruined our trip to Budapest, Koblenz, Cologne, Bratislava, etc.
In addition, the Hotel Manager, who one would normally complain to, was unapproachable the entire cruise. All of the staff were complaining about him. My husband contacted Viking about this and their “executive team” contacted him for further information. They appeared to take this very seriously… at the time….
Boy, were we wrong. So, when we returned home, we contacted American Airline Cruises about our complaints, as this is who we booked the vacation through. American, as always, was very apologetic and willing to offer what they could as compensation (some miles). American has contacted Viking several times over the past two months and they have finally offered a discount on future cruises, even though we specifically requested for cash because my husband cannot plan months or years ahead for another cruise. And, after the horrible experience we had, why would we want to do another cruise with them? Again, my husband is in the military and can deploy or be transferred at any time. We were told Viking would not honor our request and indicated that military or not, we could easily book a future trip. It is very disturbing how uncaring they are about their military customers.
My husband has requested that American continue to deal with Viking cruises about this matter, but we have not heard a word in over four weeks from them. This is totally unacceptable and just shows how little they value their customers, especially those who are in the military.
Please, I urge everyone to not use Viking Cruises for the simple reasons that you will be overpaying for what you receive and that they have no customer service or concern for their customers. Please review them on BBB.org. They currently have an F from the Better Business Bureau due to their customer service.

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11:49 am EDT
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Viking River Cruises Non delivery of 'promised' services

Our 'Romantic Danube' cruise in May '15 was anything but! The last third was a cramped noisy coach trip due to high water. This evidently happens numerous times a year - so why build the barges so high? The advertized WiFi was non-existent, the advertized air conditioned cabins was non-existent, their staff internal communications was non-existent, their barges are constructed too high - resulting in abhorrent coach trips to scheduled ports-of-call due to barges being unable to pass under Danube bridges several times a year, communication between Viking staff on-board and shore staff is non-existent (hotel staff in Nuremberg had no clue cruise stopped several days earlier, incorrect information given resulting in cruise headsets being left behind,

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9:39 pm EDT

Viking River Cruises Cruise on rhone and saone

This is not a complaint, I am amazed that friends of ours are getting a complete refund and 2K credit towards their next cruise. Their cruise was cancelled at the last minute, due to the ship being unable to leave dry dock. Way to take care of people Viking!

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5:46 pm EDT

Viking River Cruises Substandard in every way

My husband and I traveled aboard the Idi on a recent Viking River cruise/May 1, 2015. I have already submitted a formal complaint. Please see below. Our travel agent is working with us hoping to recover some of the thousands of dollars we lost on this so called "cruise." However, the more I think about it even if Viking had delivered a cruise on the Rhine with amenities, etc. it would have fallen short. We have been on two other cruises and both were to Alaska. Our first experience was with the Celebrity cruise line. Now this is what I would call a superior experience. Every single detail was taken into full consideration. For example, on Viking a guest must fill his/her own ice bucket! Absolutely, absurd by my standards. I can do this at home. On Celebrity, I did not even carry my own tray when
dining at a lunch buffet. White gloved waiters were everywhere. Meals were lavish to say the least. One could choose a sit down meal at both lunch and dinner. Choices were extravagant to say the least. I particularly enjoyed the low calorie menu. In turn, I managed to complete the entire cruise without gaining a pound. And I might say, the entrees, desserts, etc. were excellent even without the extra calories. Also, our stateroom was spotless. If we ventured about, our room was given a spruce up before we returned. Such cruises carry hundreds of guests, but they are much better by far. In short, even if for free, I would have to think twice about vacationing with Viking! I truly do not understand why Viking has such a top of the line reputation! Although our travel experiences with cruising have been limited, I am vividly aware of what is acceptable vs. what is not. Last, but not least, I have always yearned to travel with Viking...and so I have. Our vacation was anything but a vacation. In addition, Viking does not care one bit about its guests and what they might think one way or the other. Rethink traveling with Viking!

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Homer23
Toronto, CA
Jul 06, 2015 1:03 pm EDT

typical American I am an American bend over and kiss my ###. Just finished a 15 day cruise and there was nothing to complain about food was great, service was amazing, and well organized city tours with very knowledgeable guides. The only whinning we heard were from a few Americans, there was a seed in the grapes, why did they serve grapes with seeds. Please stay home

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3:06 pm EDT

Viking River Cruises Sub-standard bus tour for the price of luxury river cruise

I recently took my mother on a Viking river cruise from Basel to Amsterdam. This cruise was the 70th Birthday gift to my mother and was supposed to be very special. I did a lot of research before purchasing from Viking to ensure that the surroundings, program, activities and entertainment were superb, and certainly Viking US commercials did support this notion. My mother also was looking very much to this special occasion as she does not get out much and at her age the opportunities are becoming more and more limited.

Unfortunately this cruise was a complete failure. We only sailed two out of 8 days, missed at least a third of the planned attractions, and also had to switch ships after 5 days. While Viking on-board personnel did blame the weather and the rains, it is my strong opinion that the company should have been better prepared with the backup plans to avoid or minimize the disruptions. Viking has been in business for a long time and has beautiful commercials so anybody would expect that the company was well prepared for dealing with regular nature occurrences such as low water or high water. That proved not to be the case, however.

We were bussed to and from attractions most of the days always returning to the ship, spending very long hours on a bus “enjoying” highways views. While this did offer some sightseeing opportunities, it cannot compare to cruising on the river that we paid for. In fact there is a huge, several fold difference in price between cruise cost and analogous bus tour cost - it feels extremely unfair that we paid for the former one and got the latter one in return. In fact on a bus tour we would actually stay in different places, thus spending less time on the bus than we did on this so-called cruise.

The first three days the ship did not move from its updated location at Breisach where we were bussed on day 1. It was basically used as a floating hotel, far from attractions and requiring long bus rides. At least half of the time my balcony and big windows that I paid extra for were blocked by another ship. While we were on a bus on day 4, the ship moved from Breisach to Kehl.

On day 4 of the cruise the ship finally sailed with passengers from Kehl at midnight and moved for about 2-2.5 hours, stopping by the lock in the middle of nowhere.

Day 5 of the cruise we spent the entire day and night on the ship by the lock without any sightseeing. The Viking personnel kept talking about us coming through the lock “any hour” and continuing our journey but it never materialized. In the end the ship (Idi) went back to our original dock in Kehl where we spent the night and then were bussed to the second ship (Qvasir). We should have done this at least a day earlier to avoid skipping attractions but instead the time was wasted.

On day 7 we skipped more attractions because now the ship had to cruise non-stop to make it in time to Amsterdam – thus we “enjoyed” the industrial views with stacks and plants that were supposed to be cruised during the night. That was our second cruising day.

I would also like to comment on the attitude of on-board Viking personnel. Understandably the passengers had a lot of questions about backup plans so that they could manage their disappointment and expectations better. The personnel did not handle the inquiries well, in my opinion. I witnessed one passenger trying (very politely) to ask her question twice with no answer from Viking and having her microphone taken from her in the end. Apparently the captain was eager to talk about ship specifications and engine power but was not prepared to talk about when and how we would be sailing.

I can go on and on about our cruise but I think the points above describe the situation reasonably well. In summary this was a very disappointing experience for me and my mother who had such high hopes, and many other passengers of Idi. Viking did offer 25% discount toward FUTURE cruise with Viking but in my opinion this is not an adequate compensation for our already occurred and failed cruise. It presumes that we would actually chose another cruise with Viking which is highly questionable considering the very poor experience. Perhaps the company counts on that?

My advise to anybody thinking of going on a Viking river cruise - read more reviews before making a non-refundable payment and do not think that this is a rare occurrence that would never happen to you. It is not that rare and does happen regularly. I am hoping that this information will help my fellow travelers to make informed decisions not clouded by colorful commercials of Viking and manage their expectations well.

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4:00 pm EDT
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Viking River Cruises Not a "cruise!" our rhine getaway was a bus trip!

My husband & I looked forward towards the Rhine Getaway aboard Viking...May 1, 2015. Their advertisements, etc. portrayed their vacations as not to be surpassed. We have been on many vacations, but consider this so called vacation a nightmare. After a long & tiring trip from our home in northeast pa., we were greeted by Viking in Basel. We were immediately hustled on a tour bus & told we would miss our first port because the Rhine was too high for cruising. We boarded the Idi in Breisach and soon learned we would be stuck there and I do mean stuck. In order to visit any of ports outlined in our itinerary, we were subjected to endless hours on tour buses. Of course, this meant that we had very little time to visit Strasbourg, for example. Most of our photos have been taken through the windows of buses. In addition, we were subjected to repeated briefings which left us all in the dark. We were urged to ask questions, but those asking were either ridiculed or ignored. To add insult to injury, we actually had to pack up and board another ship. I was injured during the move! Overall, I have never experienced such incompetency. From what I have learned, Viking calls such instances a rarity, but they are common. Towards the end of our "cruise, " we were told we would be called individually. As yet, we have heard from no one. I have tried to call Viking without any success. I would not recommend Viking to my worst enemy. We have been on two other cruises...both to Alaska. We have traveled with Celebrity and Princess. They were each exceptional down to every last detail. Most likely, I would not have believed any of these negative reviews before we vacationed with Viking, but I urge you to reconsider. All of these complaints are valid. Their cruises, management, etc. is substandard...wi fi is complimentary, but just try using it!i can go on and on, but you get the picture. Please, beware. Stay clear of Viking!

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6:35 pm EDT
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Viking River Cruises Horrible customer service

My husband surprised me in 2013 by booking the "France's Finest" river cruise, departing in September of 2014, to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. He used funds we had been saving for a special trip for years. When we booked our trip they tried to sell us travel insurance, which we declined because the cost was ridiculous - $5, 000.00. We did not foresee anything that would prohibit us from travelling.

In July, 2014 our 39 year old son suffered a stroke. He was in the neuro intensive care unit for three months. As it became apparent my son was too ill for us to leave town, we contacted them on several occasions asking what we could do to cancel our trip. They continued to send us to a customer service rep and refused to escalate to anyone higher. My son's neuro team wrote a summary of his illness and advised that because he was on a respirator there was no way we could leave town. In following up with them, they said they were sorry about my circumstances but there was nothing they could do. I never requested a refund, but merely wanted to be able to rebook the trip we had paid for
($22, 000+) at a discount. They told us that would not be possible. My son died of complications from a brain tumor in October of 2014 and we were, and are, devastated.

Viking collected $22, 000+, never spent a dime on us and refused to let us rebook at any discount. We recently sold our business and plan to do extensive cruising. Needless to say, it will not be with Viking. Several of our friends have cancelled their cruises as well in light of this company's total lack of compassion or empathy. Who tells a mother who is about to lose their son - sorry, nothing we can do? I think it's deplorable.

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jayemm
Penarth, GB
Apr 11, 2015 5:43 am EDT

Insurance is priced against risk. Sounds like a pre-existing condition. Your family took on the risk. The suffering of your loss is truly saddening, but corporations are are not in the sympathy business,

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Viking River Cruises Cities of light tour

My husband and I are still in recovery mode from a November 2013 Viking River Cities of Light Tour. We arrived in Paris after a red-eye flight out of Newark with our tour group on Friday morning. Per arrangements made by Viking, exhausted, we proceeded to our seedy hotel room replete with stained rugs and chair. In addition, our room was directly across from an after hours club that opened at 3 AM. The loud noise was incredibly disruptive to our ability to sleep. The hotel staff were rude and unattentive. Oh boy, what next! We left early Sunday morning by bus and traveled to Luxembourg where we spent a few hours. We got back on the bus for a very long, exhausting bus ride to the Viking Prestige. When we arrived at our room, we were shocked to open our suitcases and find wet clothes. Our stewardess was wonderful and laundered our clothes the following day. She was one of the few positives we encountered throughout the trip. Due to high water, we sat in Bernkastel from Sunday to Wednesday. Passengers boarded busses during the day and the boat traveled through the night to ply catch up. So much for sitting on the boat while viewing the scenery. If you enjoy looking out a bus window, you will love this trip. It was a BUS TOUR! We arrived in Prague, the final destination to stay at the Hilton Hotel. The hotel was quite nice but was in a tenderloin area that was not near anything of interest. Why did we not stay at the Hilton in Old Town where we would have been able to walk around and take in the sights! I can honestly say that this was the worst trip of my entire life. It was my husband's first trip to Europe and his disappointment was palpable. I spent time trying to contact Viking reps and was finally told we would be given a 15 percent discount on our next Viking cruise. Are you kidding me! This trip was not worth the cost, the money demanded and tied up for the trip many months in advance, our time, and on and on.

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2:08 pm EST

Viking River Cruises Switch hotels to lower standard hotel

We booked a cruise with Viking Criuses the expensive European Criuise a year in advance paid in full. We also paid to extend our trip to Amsterdam at the beginning and Prague at the end in first class 5 star hotels . 11, Months before our trip I get an email with no phone numbers to call from someone in Viking saying that our Hilton 5 star hotel reservation in the center of the city of Prague is canceled and they are moving us to a 4 star hotel 5 km outside the city which only a train can be used to reach the city center. When I called they refused to put us back in the Hilton where are contract says we are to stay.
I am shocked that almost a year out I am getting these surprises. I am canceling my reservations and trip this company writes one thing in your contract then switches it
Steer clear of Viking this trip was costing me over 20.0000.00 dollars USD for customer service that is sorely lacking.
I think they just hit cheaper rates in the Corinthian hotel whic is 30, minutes outside the city so they figured why pay the Hilton rates in the center of the city. This whole thing sucks I was really looking forward to this trip of a lifetime but Viking has proven itself not reliable and I will never ever ever pay that much money to any company ever again. They want to break my contract for a hotel listed in the contract to send me to a cheaper hotel and this is happening 11 months before the trip.
I do not trust this Viking cruise line now who knows what other surprises they would have in store for clients that book with them if they are moving us to hotels of inferior quality which are not listed on my contract. Buyer beware

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jayemm
Penarth, GB
Apr 11, 2015 5:53 am EDT

Interesting. Many people (having stayed in both) would consider the Corinthian an upgrade and (check their websites) more expensive! Shuttle bus to town.

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12:34 pm EDT
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Viking River Cruises Flight scheduling

On Friday September 5, 2014 I made a reservation for the "Romantic Danube Cruise" with Viking River Cruises. Air
fare between Tampa, Fl and Budapest, Hungary was to be provided by Viking.

On Saturday September 6, 2014 I received the flight itinerary. When I called for seat assignments I was advised by the airlines, and then confirmed by Viking, that in order to guarantee that my wife and I could sit together we would have an additional charge of approximately $30-$50 per person for each of the 5 legs of the flight. I requested cancellation of the reservations I made the day before and was told that I would be charged $1, 710.88 cancellation fee even though the airline tickets had not been issued.

We have saved for this trip and are unable to absorb a loss of $1, 700 +. We only hope that when we get to the ship that we will not have to pay a fee to be in the same cabin!

While Viking has done nothing illegal, we should have been told that it was possible that the tickets they provided might not be together.

This will be my last tour with Viking and I would advise others considering Viking Cruises to not be influenced with their offers of
inexpensive airfares. On my previous cruise with Viking I found out that when you use their air services you do not get frequent flyer miles or the miles are greatly reduced from actual miles flown.

When you remove the "special" airfares offered by Viking you will find that other higher rated River Cruise Lines offer better
deals on their river tours.

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10:39 am EDT
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Viking River Cruises Deceptive offers

Viking River Cruises

On Friday September 5, 2014 I made a reservation for the "Romantic Danube Cruise" with Viking River Cruises. Air fare between Tampa, Fl and Budapest, Hungary was to be provided by Viking.

On Saturday September 6, 2014 I received the flight itinerary. When I called for seat assignments I was advised by the airlines, and then confirmed by Viking, that in order to guarantee that my wife and I could sit together we would have an additional charge of
approximately $30-$50 per person for each of the 5 legs of the flight. I requested cancellation of the reservations I made the day before and was told that I would be charged $1, 710.88 cancellation fee even though the airline tickets had not been issued.

We have saved for this trip and are unable to absorb a loss of $1, 700 +. We only hope that when we get to the ship that we will not have to pay a fee to be in the same cabin!

While Viking has done nothing illegal, we should have been told that it was possible that the tickets they provided might not be together.

This will be my last tour with Viking and I would advise others considering Viking Cruises to not be influenced with their offers of
inexpensive airfares. On my previous cruise with Viking I found out that when you use their air services you do not get frequent flyer miles or the miles are greatly reduced from actual miles flown.

When you remove the "special" airfares offered by Viking you will find that other higher rated River Cruise Lines offer better deals on their river tours.

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Viking River Cruises Customer services

I Have like many of your complainants been less than impressed by Viking River Cruises customer services. Last Autumn I booked a Danube cruise starting 31 August 2014. This is a long period of advance booking and things happen . It appeared that we might have to cancel and when the time came for final payment it was clear that my wife and I could not proceed so we wrote to terminate asking if we could in fact move the booking to 26 October this year. However they claimed I fell outside the 70 days required(52). and were unwilling to change the dates even though they admitted availability. Instead of trying to facilitate a customer all persons approached were only concerned with confiscating my deposit claiming they would lose money on flights, tours etc. many of which would not even have been booked yet.
I find this behaviour incomprehensible and speaks volumes for their customer services. We can be sure that they will sell this on through booking agents but as far as their customer services are concerned this deserves a zero.

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jayemm
Penarth, GB
Apr 11, 2015 5:56 am EDT

If you had a valid reason, claim on your insurance. If not, you don't want customer service, you want to breach your contract with Viking.

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11:27 am EDT
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Viking River Cruises Non-service

Our experience was tainted by the absolute lack of problem
solving by Viking, caused by their limited customer service agents.

Viking accepts NO responsibility for their mistakes, even
when called, asked a question and their people give wrong or non-answers.

DO NOT book directly with Viking. They get the discounted airfares but will not
help with any travel problems, like a travel agent will. Even knowing where lost baggage is can be a
problem for them. There are NO refunds
for any cancelled travel. There are NO
refunds for delayed travel due to airline mechanical problems. Miss your boat? Too bad.

DO NOT buy their travel insurance. Not only were we overcharged for the
insurance, which they received a commission for selling, but it is a limited
policy which protects the cruiseline, not you the customer.

If there are any problems or disputes, they consult their
employees and will not permit you, the customer, to see what was said so their
employees may alter the facts to protect their jobs.

And they are very good at non-apologies. Mr. Hagen and his daughter have no idea since
letters sent directly to them are never read by them and other people intercept
them. If they do read them, then it does
not say much for the Hagens.

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Brian Coldwells
, CA
Nov 30, 2014 12:59 am EST
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I am appalled if everything here and in other complaints is factual. My comments are based on the other complaints as well as this. Most events complained of should never happen to anyone, it is evident that the office is administered by a hard-headed mean-minded administrator or team. Once is too many times. There is no excuse for the kind of matters related, a travel company of any sort worth its salt should bend over backwards so that its reputation is top drawer and unassailable. They should in point bend over backwards to accommodate customers and not kick a person when they are down by confiscating deposits unless carelessness is demonstrated. They also seem to be unapproachable or fail to listen when concerns are raised. Far too many large companies exhibit this tendency and should not be in business if they cannot see their customers as deserving of courtesy and satisfaction.
I will look elsewhere to make arrangements.

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Viking River Cruises Not a river cruise

Viking River Cruise, Chateaux, Rivers and Wine, May 31, 2014 departure from Bordeaux, France. 7 day River Cruise turned out to be almost 6 days in dock in Bordeaux, with bus trips each day to the nearby wine regions, all just a few hours away. The trip included only two wine tasting, and two days at similar farmer's markets, as well as 4 trips in Bordeaux itself. They had the nerve to charge us $100 per person for an optional wine tasting and lunch. We were unfortunate in that our standard room with a high window was below the water line, and when docked, all we could see was the cement wall and the garbage going by on the river. We were not told by Avoya Travel that the cabin wad below the water line. The food was the only really positive, as it was quite good. We complained half way in the cruise and were told that this was a new cruise, first season, and they had bugs to work out, and that they would get back to us which they DID NOT. Upon returning home, we filed a claim with Viking and was offered a $500 CREDIT each, then upped it to $650 each. Since we spent almost $9000 for the air and cruise, as well as hotels, trains from Paris, etc. we felt they were not treating us right. We certainly would not spend the total amount again with $650 credit! BTW, we have taken 23 cruises and feel we know when we are being taken. We would not have travelled on Viking if we knew it was not going to be a "River Cruise", but a hotel on the water in Bordeaux. We could have stayed at the Grand Hotel in Bordeaux and taken bus trips daily without a Viking Cruise ship. Beware of the Viking Itinerary for Bordeaux trips!

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Viking River Cruises Saone - rhone may 2014

Viking Buri River Cruise Saone-Rhone May 25th 2014.EvaluationExcellent1. All staff on board. Mainly eastern European. Captain Swiss. All spoke excellent English and nothing was too much trouble.2. Programme Director Mark Poisson, a Channel Islander. Worked very hard intellectually and physically for us.3. Tour guides to Beaune (+ wine tasting), Lyon, Vienne, Tain L'Hermitage ( + wine tasting + chocolate tasting at Valrhona's boutique), Viviers, Arles and Avignon, also paid 49 euros per person for Pont du Gard. We love history, architecture and French wine. It was our 3rd visit to the Pont du Gard in 45 years, and apart from the the tourist infrastructure thankfully it has not changed.Good1. Quantity, quality and variety of food and complimentary drinks.2. On board activities, talks about cheese and life in France, musical evening, visit to the Bridge etc.AdequateCabin cramped, I am only 5 feet 7 inches (1.7 metres) and my wife 5 feet (1.52 metres) and neither ofus over weight. My head would switch on the room lights if I moved it, unless my feet stuck out below the quilt. The safe was useful but standard in most decent hotels. Internet worked well in the lobby, erratic in the cabins. Bathroom modern and functional.Poor1. Balcony which was not cheap.We spent 3 days and 3 nights moored up in Lyons alongside and level with a noisy, crowded public quay below the main hospital. No privacy or security so we couldn't leave window open.We spent 2 days and 1 night parked against another ship in Avignon. Dark, we thought initially we were in a lock, no privacy, terrible smell of raw sewage. Couldn't use balcony or open window.2. Sun decks closed for 2 or 3 days because of low bridges, when the weather was sunny with refreshing breeze. Closure probably inevitable on this route. Be aware.3. Much cruising was replaced by bus trips.Chalon-sur-Saone to Lyon (whole of Saone Cruise and one third of total cruise) was omitted.1st Sunday. Chalon-sur-Saone to Lyon by bus. 1 hour and 40 minutes including stop to pick up another group.Monday. Lyon to Beaune 1 hour and 40 minutes each way instead of Chalon-sur-Saone to Beaune 20 minutes each way.This loss of cruising was attributed to high water levels preventing the ship from getting under the Saone Bridges. But many other ships seemed to be functioning normally, and the 2 rivers were obviously level at the Confluence.This was the first season of a new larger ship which was not in active service when we booked. It will probably get under the bridges in late summer and early Autumn when river levels are lower, as well as before the thawing of the Alpine snow.Friday morning. Avignon to Arles, (40 minutes by bus) instead of Tarascon to Arles (20 minutes by bus). We were given no explanation for this change.Terrible.Lack of communication from head office.We had driven to Chalons sur Saone and stayed the night prior to the cruise at a hotel overlooking the docking site for the ships as indicated by the Viking Web site at the time of our booking. When our final paper work arrived 2 weeks before we left home, it indicated a docking site about 700 metres from the hotel, across the river, a short taxi ride with baggage, but no problem. The lady owner of the hotel also told us the night before of this new arrangement, caused by the new ship being too large to use the dock in front.By chance on the Sunday morning we met at breakfast at about 9.30 a.m. an Australian couple staying at the hotel for the same reason as us. They had received an Email on the Friday evening saying that the cruise would start in Lyon. They were given a phone number functioning officehours Monday to Friday.We received no such Email during or after our travels, but continued to receive advertising EMails.I was in due course able with my French cell phone to contact a +49 (Swiss) phone number and was told that a bus would collect us in less than an hour with our bags about 500 metres away across a busy dual carriageway from the hotel.We did not have long to check out of the hotel, find somewhere secure to park our car for 8 days and get ourselves and our bags to the rendezvous, and take a sequence of auto route (motorway) bus drives rather than "Enjoy the scenery along the Saone River as you cruise. Enjoy cruising through lovely Burgundy and Beaujolais landscapes, passing lush vineyards, farms and quaint villages" as spelled out in the brochure.Conclusions1. Be careful about reserving and paying for a balcony on this trip.2. Don't book this trip between mid April and mid June.3. Phone the Swiss company number at least every 24 hours 3 or 4 days before embarkation.Viking must have known by the Thursday night that this ship was not going to get under the bridges, yet a number of independent, international travellers were not notified in time.Passengers appeared approximately 48% US, 40% UK, 5% Canadian, 5% Australian, 2% Dutch.Age 40 to 80, average late 60s. All good English speakers. Upper-middle income and education.

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Extremely Disappointed in Viking
Islamorada, US
Aug 14, 2014 10:00 pm EDT

If you are planning on enjoying your cruise...Do Not choose Viking !
We had the same experience in July, others complained of the same
Unacceptable Treatment in May and June.we spent more time on their
New Fleet of Motor Coaches than we did Cruising ?

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Viking River Cruises Viking river cruise

Viking River Cruise Sept. 4 - Sept. 14 including Prague transfer. Romantic Danube cruise Budapest to Nuremberg via the Viking Freya, with three night extension to Prague. I was told at booking the extension I would be allowed Hilton Honors Credit which I have come to find out I can not get now. Hotel in Prague - Room was horrible, dirty and smelled of smoke. I paid for a better room at the desk which cost an additional $700.
The Cruise - I got a piece of Glass in my salad at the start of the cruise, stuff happens I know but glass? I understand that there is a cultural difference between Americans and most Europeans but on a cruise that is designed to be marketed to American I would think that the crew would be trained in our expectations. Some of the crew where very rude or harsh, again I know a cultural thing but at this price point I expect to be treated warmly at all times. I will give a A++ to their bar staff and the hotel manager Roy he was wonderful. Also Great hot water on demand I am always amazed in Europe how they have hot water so quickly yet in America we have to wait for it to get hot. The locks went on strike and we had to be moved around on buses for two days which was a royal pain, also because of this we had to eat in port two times and we had no choice in what we had to eat. There should have been at least a choice, no vegetarian dish given just meat dish. Again at this price point and all meals included with choices according to the marketing for this cruise this was not what I paid over $10, 000. for. A lot of small things just did not go well on this cruise which just made it a semi okay cruise but most definitely not one that you would expect at this price. I don't mind spending money when I am getting a value equal to the dollar amount, and Viking failed at delivering that Value to me.

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Viking River Cruises Inadequate compensation

Viking Skadi Grand River Cruise July 2013 - a lock strike in Germany caused problems during the Budapest to Amsterdam portion of the trip.

Viking was aware & had knowledge of the strike well before the ship even left Budapest and did not announce it until the day we arrived in Nuremberg.

We docked in Nuremberg for 4 days by a bus terminal construction site with large & very visible waste bins. (Photos are available). We experienced this view, dust & noise for a 4-day period. The upper deck was also unavailable for at least 50% of our time here.

Unfortunately, Nuremberg (a beautiful city) could only be reached by a 20-30 minute ride. We took longer & longer bus rides (up to 3 hours for our last tour) on each of the successive days.

The bus rides were uncomfortable for us with long waits at gas stations for bathroom breaks.

Lunch was often hastily delivered en masse in over-crowded & over-heated restaurants. The quality of the food & dining experience was unimaginably sub-standard compared to our first 7 days, which was world-class.

Upon returning from these long bus rides, we were overly exhausted from our day trips to fully enjoy our evening meal. In fact, on some days we arrived back onto the ship only 30 minutes before dinner.

On the fourth evening, the captain announced that we would travel non-stop for the next day on the Rhine-Main-Danube canal to get past the lock strikers. We covered the RMD Canal during the day with only a small & overcrowded outdoor lounge available to us. The area that we cruised is considered non-scenic as Viking normally covers this portion at night.

To add insult to injury, we were forced to disembark two days early and bused to Cologne and then on to Amsterdam only to find out that Skadi was docked in Holland at Kinderdijk on Saturday. Many passengers wanted to stay on the Skadi instead of facing two very difficult and long days on prolonged bus trips.

After long bus trips on these two days, we were offered a sub-standard buffet-style meal. On the last night, the hotel staff was closing down the buffet shortly after we arrived after approximately 8 hours on an uncomfortable bus ride.

We paid for a 14-day luxury river cruise and wound up with a 7-day river cruise and a 7-day bus ordeal. We did not pay thousands of dollars to take a bus trip.

We received an email (dated July 31) upon our return home offering a 25% voucher for future travel.

It took a long time to be able to take this trip and we felt their offer was very inadequate considering that our experience was quite different than what Viking depicts in their marketing materials. In fact, we believed the pamphlets and slick commercials that said that Viking would “take care of us”.

It was clear that we were not making progress with their customer relations staff so we asked for the name of their VP, Customer Relations to escalate this matter with Viking’s management.

We were shocked when Viking stated that they would not share this information with us. After receiving this surprising response to our request, it took a couple of minutes via Google to find out that the executive for Customer Relations is Joost Ouendag and to get his contact details.

We emailed Joost Ouendag 3 times in the course of the next 14 days without any acknowledgement of receipt from him.

Ultimately, one of Viking's customer service reps finally reached us via email and then phone and said that nothing could be done except for the 25% future credit.

It would seem that we would be throwing away good money after bad. Also, Viking’s offer looks very stingy considering another post on this site that claimed “the June cruise received FULL refund of their cost even though they had been on the ship more than a week and a 75% voucher for future travel”.

In my email to Joost Ouendag back on August 14th, we stated that our satisfaction and future business seemed unimportant to Viking. Sadly, we still feel that way.
W&B Bernabe

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Update by 81mg
Sep 09, 2013 6:37 pm EDT

As promised, Joost Ouendag did contact us this morning.

Our matter has been amicably resolved.

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Viking River Cruises In-depth Review

Header 1: Overview of Viking River Cruises

Viking River Cruises is a renowned cruise line that offers unforgettable journeys along some of the world's most iconic rivers. With a focus on cultural immersion and personalized experiences, Viking River Cruises is a top choice for travelers seeking a unique and enriching vacation.

Header 2: Destinations and Itineraries

Viking River Cruises offers a wide range of destinations and itineraries, allowing travelers to explore Europe, Asia, Egypt, and Russia. From the romantic Rhine River to the majestic Mekong River, each itinerary is carefully crafted to showcase the best of the region, with expertly guided shore excursions and immersive cultural experiences.

Header 3: Onboard Experience

The onboard experience with Viking River Cruises is nothing short of exceptional. The ships are elegantly designed, with spacious and comfortable cabins that offer stunning views of the surrounding landscapes. The atmosphere is relaxed and intimate, creating a sense of community among fellow travelers.

Header 4: Accommodations and Amenities

Viking River Cruises provides luxurious accommodations that are thoughtfully designed to ensure comfort and relaxation. From cozy staterooms to spacious suites, each cabin is equipped with modern amenities and offers a serene retreat after a day of exploration. The ships also feature a range of amenities, including lounges, libraries, and sun decks, providing ample space for relaxation and socializing.

Header 5: Dining Options

The dining options on Viking River Cruises are a highlight of the journey. Guests can indulge in delicious cuisine inspired by the destinations visited, with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. From gourmet multi-course meals to casual al fresco dining, there is something to satisfy every palate.

Header 6: Entertainment and Activities

Viking River Cruises offers a variety of entertainment and activities to enhance the onboard experience. From informative lectures and cultural performances to cooking demonstrations and wine tastings, there is always something engaging and enriching to participate in.

Header 7: Service and Staff

The service and staff on Viking River Cruises are consistently praised for their professionalism, attentiveness, and friendliness. From the moment guests step onboard, they are greeted with warm smiles and a genuine desire to ensure a memorable and enjoyable experience.

Header 8: Pricing and Value for Money

Viking River Cruises offers excellent value for money, with transparent pricing and inclusions that make budgeting for a cruise vacation hassle-free. The all-inclusive nature of the cruises, including meals, shore excursions, and Wi-Fi, ensures that guests can relax and enjoy their journey without worrying about additional costs.

Header 9: Customer Reviews and Satisfaction

Customer reviews of Viking River Cruises are overwhelmingly positive, with many guests praising the exceptional service, immersive itineraries, and luxurious accommodations. The high level of customer satisfaction is a testament to the cruise line's commitment to providing unforgettable experiences.

Header 10: Safety and Security Measures

Viking River Cruises prioritizes the safety and security of its guests. The ships are equipped with state-of-the-art navigation systems and safety features, and the crew undergoes rigorous training to ensure the well-being of passengers. Additionally, the cruise line closely monitors travel advisories and takes necessary precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey.

Header 11: Environmental Responsibility

Viking River Cruises is dedicated to environmental responsibility and sustainability. The cruise line has implemented various initiatives to minimize its environmental impact, including energy-efficient technologies, waste reduction programs, and partnerships with local communities to support conservation efforts.

Header 12: Booking Process and Customer Support

The booking process with Viking River Cruises is seamless and user-friendly. The cruise line's website provides detailed information about itineraries, accommodations, and pricing, making it easy for travelers to find the perfect cruise. Additionally, the customer support team is readily available to assist with any inquiries or concerns.

Header 13: Additional Services and Packages

Viking River Cruises offers a range of additional services and packages to enhance the cruise experience. From pre and post-cruise extensions to special celebrations and themed cruises, guests can customize their journey to suit their preferences and interests.

Header 14: Accessibility and Special Needs

Viking River Cruises strives to accommodate guests with special needs and disabilities. The ships are designed to be accessible, with wheelchair-friendly cabins and public areas. The crew is trained to provide assistance and support to guests with mobility challenges, ensuring a comfortable and inclusive experience for all.

Header 15: Pros and Cons of Viking River Cruises

Pros: Immersive itineraries, luxurious accommodations, exceptional service, all-inclusive pricing, cultural enrichment activities.

Cons: Limited onboard entertainment options, potential for crowded shore excursions.

Header 16: Comparison with Competitors

Viking River Cruises stands out from its competitors with its focus on cultural immersion, personalized experiences, and exceptional service. While other cruise lines may offer similar itineraries, Viking River Cruises sets itself apart with its attention to detail and commitment to creating unforgettable journeys.

Header 17: Recommendations and Conclusion

Viking River Cruises is highly recommended for travelers seeking a unique and enriching cruise experience. With its immersive itineraries, luxurious accommodations, and exceptional service, Viking River Cruises offers a truly unforgettable journey along some of the world's most iconic rivers. Whether exploring Europe, Asia, Egypt, or Russia, guests are guaranteed to create lifelong memories and return home with a deeper appreciation for the destinations visited.

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