Viking Cruises

Had a river cruise - Rhine River. End of July. They cancelled for covid 4 months early and now offering same cruise. This was 2nd cancel and now it's open. So now I really wanted to go there and I had to make other arrangements then they open up the same exact cruise same dates everything. So upsetting. I understand COVID but did it need to get cancelled that far in advance and this is an example of no. That's too early now I'm out of a trip. Not happy

On October 31, 2019 we booked the Rhine river cruise booking numbers 5802671 and 5802674. We were concerned about Covid and on Friday March 8 called Parker Chiranian and he told us to rebook which we did. Three days later, on Monday March 11, Viking cancelled the cruise. At no time during this conversation did he tell us we could not get a refund. Found out later that when Viking cancels, which they did, they give you a platinum voucher, which after 2 years you can get a refund of all monies. We rebooked for April7-14, 2021 which Viking cancelled again. In a letter from Viking it stated we could get 125% voucher or a refund if I called before February 26, 2021. On February 17, the same day I received the email I called Viking and talked with Alipio and asked for a refund. He stated we had vouchers so no refund. He also stated that if we didn't use the vouchers within 2 years I would lose 18, 668 dollars. Viking has had my money for over 2 years with no service provided. The only way I found out about the platinum vouchers was chatting online with Teagen on May 26, 2021. I was in retail for 45 years and our company's motto was the customer is always right. Apparently, not so with Viking. Please refund all monies paid to Viking on my Capital One credit card. Thank you in advance for your swift resolution to this problem.

My wife and I are long time Viking customers having taken 9-11 cruises, river and ocean.

In 2019 we booked the Viking Homelands ocean cruise for August 2020. Viking canceled the cruise due COVID. Fair enough. So we rebooked for August 2021. Recently they canceled on us again. So we are in the process of rebooking again for 2022. Fingers crossed they don't cancel one more time.

When we rebooked the first time we were provided a $400 each "past client discount". Now in the process of booking the third time the discount offered suddenly dropped to $200 each passenger. Thus the cost to us is proposed to increase at no fault of our own. As a result I have not completed the proposed booking 6385750.

I might also point out that Viking has had use of the $14, 000 I paid years ago while all this is going on. Also continuing to cancel is much more complicated, stressful and costly for us than it may appear. In conjunction with changing the cruise we have to change multiple air flights, hotel reservations, train reservations and a land tour of Iceland on the way to Bergen, Norway.

My husband and I booked our first cruise to depart April 2020. We purchased travel insurance and according to Viking Cruises, travel with no risk policy. Then the pandemic occurred and Viking cancelled all cruises. We were told that we had to reschedule and that we would could not get a cash refund. I sent a email requesting a refund and I never received a reply. I rescheduled for 4/2021. In December my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimers and per his doctor he can not travel. I spoke with Viking Cruises Customer Relations and I was told to cancel my booking and submit a claim with Trip Mate with only my husbands medical issues not mine. I trusted this person and submitted a claim as suggested. During that time I was diagnosed with breast cancer and due to ongoing treatments for 5 years not to travel. Then my claim was denied and we received vouchers good for one year. 4/21-4/22. Which we can use. (Booking 5809426 and 5982895)
Your help is greatly appreciated.
That you!

I am so very angry with Viking. I made a reservation with a group for Rhine river in 2020. That trip got cancelled for obvious reasons and that's fine. I rescheduled with the 125% for the same trip at the end of July 2021. Around 4 months prior I get an email that the trip is cancelled. That was so pre-mature. This should have been handled one month at a time. But, no, they cancelled 4 months out. Then, I was so angry that I wanted my money back. It was as if they were keeping our money hostage and I had to fight for my own money on something viking cancelled. Now to make matters worse, Viking is now selling the rhine river cruise for the exact dates I had originally scheduled. I cannot tell you how very very angry I am over the poor decisions of Viking. Covid is one thing, poor decisions is another. I cannot tell you how many hours i wasted in back and forth changes over two trips planned and nothing to show for it. Not a fan of Viking and I have never been on a Viking cruise. Thanks for all the fun!

Booking 5652826 - Viking Cruise Cancelled (Paris to Swiss Alps)

Paid for trip in full September of 2019 ($14, 134). Canceled February 24, 2020 due to COVID-19. Had "Cancel for Any Reason Insurance". Viking canceled cruise 16 days after we did. Received vouchers from Viking for $2, 519.20 which have expired 3/20/21. Viking issued us voucher for insurance in the amount of $1, 438. Total vouchers in hand $3, 957.20.
Insurance should be refunded as there was no trip to insure due to their cancellation. Numerous discussions with Viking and Trip Mate to no avail. Others have received full refunds. Some because of no action on their part and some by going to the media. Feel totally defrauded.

Richard Marnell!
I am not happy with my refund and also with my grandsons-booking #5754182 and later#6000551. for 2019 and 2020. Both cruises were cancelle due to covid19. I have paid $3738.90 and received back to me $3255.40 leaving me short of $483.50. which was my deposit. My grandson, Kevin Airel paid in $3758.30 and received back $2475.80 leaving him shot of $1282.50 [$799 + $483.50] which is deposit and airfare. Isee we each have vouchers for $669.60 but feel these vouchers should be after ALL money is retuned back to us for possible cruises which i may NOT able to do because of my medical condition. Getting a FULL refund would help me greatly. Joseph Kraska & Kevin

In 2020, I paid $10, 600 for a Viking River cruise that was first postponed by Viking then cancelled in April 2021. Viking issued a voucher but will not refund until the voucher expires in April 2022. Viking has been unjustly enriched at my expense by holding my money for almost two years. I have received no benefit while Viking insists on using a voucher plan designed to confuse and defraud consumers.

We booked a River Cruise on the Danube for July 2019 that was cancelled due to covid. We were offered to rebook for July 2020, which we did. We were told we could cancel up to 24 hours of departure. Now, Viking has cancelled the cruise again. We do not want to rebook, but Viking has said we can't get a refund, we can only rebook. We think this is not being handled fairly since we are not able to travel now, and this is the feeling of scored of other people.

Booking: 5990866 - Lyon to Provence June 2022 trip
Cheryl Carr and Michele Reese
April 2020 canceled covid - rebooked Apr 21. Decided to change to Oct 21 due to Covid still escalating. Again changed to June 2022 and upgraded our cabin paying more hoping Covid would just be done by then as it was still raging when we changed to June 22. When the change was made to October we had our cabin credits but when changed to June we lost our cabin credit of $500. The agent did not say it would be lost nor was this indicated in any printed documents or emails to me. I just saw the credits were not there upon reviewing the documents last week. I did call and email Viking but both just said you lost it and when I asked how this was relayed they could not respond because it was not. My cabin mate and I would like to respectfully ask you to please reinstate at least half of our cabin credit which would be $250. Thank you very much we greatly appreciate your consideration in reinstating a cabin credit. My email is [protected]@hotmail.com

I am a travel agent with AAA and my clients orignally reservered and paid in full for a cruise was scheduled to depart on October 17, 2020. They paid a total of $7821.00 for two. Viking cancelled the cruise due to COVID. Instead of getting a full refund they used Viking vouchers to rebook for October 31, 2021. Due to uncertaining of travel and also medical issues the clients are requestinbg a full refund. The normal cancellation penalty for this cruise is $100.00 per person. I spoke to reservation's supervisor and she said because they used vouchers on the booking Viking is refusing to refund. This vouhers are actually my client's money that they paid on the original cruise. Viking needs to refund my client's original cruise!

Rhine River Cruise April 2020
Original Booking #5654495

Viking offered Risk Free cancellation-Covid
Booked same cruise for April 2031-#5980530
Received vouchers for future cruise 2022-23.

Viking rep said we could Request REFUNDS because we are elderly and highly susceptible to Covid. Impossible to travel safely.
Requested Jan 14, 2021
Request denied Jan14, 2021

Being that there is little chance of going on any Viking cruise safely due to above we deserve full refunds:
Donna Lee Burtrem $4866.75
Christine Boardman Kebbel $4866.75

This lack of remuneration by Viking is clearly criminal since Covid makes traveling for us impossible.

Sincerely,
Donna Lee Burtrem
Christine Boardman Kebbel

Viking cruise cancelled by us due to unforeseen circumstances, and all was refunded minus $200 which they state they are authorized to keep. With their advertisement for their"new risk free guarantee", it was understood we could cancel under these terms. It was, however, hidden in the terms that this isn't actually true. It is no risk if you transfer it to a new booking at a later date. False advertising! Hidden clauses are a scam. Large companies that take advantage of customers will not see those customers ever again.

In 2019, we did the Province cruise and were pleased with the itinerary and service. Later that year, we booked a Viking Ocean cruise to Alaska for 2020. The cruise line cancelled this cruise due to the Virus pandemic. We fully understood. When we contacted Viking concerning our refund, she really encouraged us to accept the 125% voucher We were told we could cancel at anytime and receive a full refund.

In early 2020 we booked a river cruise for April 2021 along with two extensions in Italy and Amsterdam. Along with business class air, the total cost was in excess of $15, 000.

In February of this year, Viking again cancelled this cruise due to the virus. The Viking CEO even issued a letter guaranteeing full refunds. Shortly after the cancel we contacted Viking and were told that a full refund would be forthcoming in 21 days.

After nearly six weeks, I again telephoned Viking to determine the status of our refund. The cruise line agent told us the small credit card payments had been refunded, but the larger balance wouldn't be available until after February 2023 when our vouchers expired.

How does Viking justify holding someone's money for more than four years without ever delivering a service? This is nothing more than a financial scam by Viking and will not be tolerated.

Give me our money and I will be finished with your company forever.

Grand European Tour, first booked for April 2020. Canceled due to covid and rebooked for April 2021 that has now also been canceled for the same reason. A credit for 125% was offered. We have no problem with that and wish to reschedule for the fall of 2022. Here is the problem, because the 2nd cruise was booked using vouchers from the canceled first cruise, we don't get the full 125% credit. This just isn't right. You have had our money for several years now. I can't be the only one with this problem and it needs to be corrected.

Gary Bashor
[protected]@msn.com

We had booked a cruise to Iceland for August 2020. We called a few days before Viking canceled and decided to rebook for this July 2021. Last week Viking canceled the cruise due to a business deal with China. Viking will not refund the $8000 they refer to as vouchers. Although it's true we can use them on a future cruise, they are not currently sailing to Iceland. We have sailed twice before with Viking so we are repeat customers. Apparently they are within their legal rights to cancel a cruise and not refund the money since we had rolled over last year's cruise which also did not sail. However, given both COVID and the fact that Viking canceled, it seems rather immoral. Apparently this is the way they do business. We are out the money because there are no other cruises we would take and we are elderly.

Client was booked on a cruise for 2020, 3 days prior to Viking cancelling my clients decided to cancel and to be nice decided not to wait until last minute thinking Viking could possibly rebook the cabin. Took the Future Cruise Credit at the 100% of what they paid. 3 days later the cruise cancelled and we had requested the additional 25% but was told no because they cancelled prior. So clients rebooked for 2021, applied 100% future credits from the 2020 cruise. Now Viking cancels trip, clients asked for full refund of what they paid over on the 2021 cruise plus a refund for the Future Cruise Credits from 2020. Was told no even though the cruise line cancelled. So then clients ask for 25% on the future credits from 2020 since they didn't cancel and Viking did this time around. Was advised that they would only give the additional 25% on what they paid over the Future cruises on the 2021. Clients extremely upset and feel that this is total unfair since Viking cancelled and they had no control over this.
Have tried talking to Customer Service but can't ever get anyone to respond or call me back. Extremely frustrated with Viking.

Booking #5855385
Confirmed booking in Dec of 2019 for a cruise in June of 2020. All amounts paid on January 2020. Applied and received very expensive Russian visas. Then we were notified that Viking was canceling operations because of the pandemic. When I mentioned that we would lose funds spent in getting visas we were told that Viking was providing a 25% voucher for a future booking to cover any losses. Wonderful. Well, it's been a year and future European travel is unknown. After days and hours of trying to get to Viking Customer Service today at 6 AM, I was successful. Only informed that I could not receive a refund for the $13, 700 paid until the voucher has expired in April of 2022. Who could have imagined that Covid would continue to persist thru 2021? I believe that Viking can not look into the future and promise the ability to travel in 2022, even as they continue to book travel in 2021 to destinations that are currently restricting travel. I am requesting that Viking refund in full of the amount that was paid to them.

My wife and i along with another couple were on a Viking cruise in may of 2019 when we stopped to talk with one of their agents and decided to book another cruise for September 2021. Today we received an email that that cruise was being cancelled due to a partnership Viking had entered into with a China Merchants Group. Viking said that this partnership required the ship we were scheduled to sail on be used exclusively by Chinese who had an interest in culture and exploration. Viking said they understood this created an inconvenience and offered to refund all money that had been paid or to offer a voucher for money paid plus an additional 25% should we choose to rebook at a later date. This might sound good, however when we booked our venture we were only required to put down $500.00 each which they were actually only offering us a $125.00 for cancelling our once in a lifetime trip. We spent over a year and a half dreaming and planning for this excursion and to be offered a mere $125.00 is a slap in the face. It seems to to me that Viking should have honored it's current booking prior to entering into this new partnership. I believe should offer us a 25% voucher based on the original cost of our cruise. We have always traveled exclusively with Viking and given them glowing reviews. I sincerely hope that their offer as an oversight that can be corrected.

Booking number 6011386 is requesting a full refund for the trip of April 27 thru May 11, 2021 due to the pandemic which was canceled for the second time by Viking cruises. We will not be able to use another voucher for another date. Thank you for your cooperation. Please reimburse the full amount to my checking account. My Cell number is [protected] for any further information and please leave a message and phone number so I can return the call as soon as I am available. This trip was paid for in June 2019 and excursions added and paid for by March 2020 to that trip through Viking River cruise line online website. The trip was for Lissette and Demi LeBron for Paris to Swiss Alps from April 27, 2021 till May 11, 2021.