Viking River Cruises
reviews and complaints

This was my first, and now last, Viking cruise. One of the excursions we took was completely misrepresented–fewer than half of the promised activities occurred, and those that did were sad excuses for the kinds of things one can reasonably expect. The highlight of the trip was a soggy piece of tasteless pancake with a line of whipped cream sprayed on it in front of us, which we received after waiting in the rain for 20 minutes.

It was not just a waste of $400, but of one entire day of the cruise. The trip was led by a 19-year-old who was pleasant enough, but did not know how to run an excursion. He mostly talked about himself and TV shows–on a trip focused on how 19th Century farmers lived!

I explained the problems in detail upon getting back on the ship and a few days later received a message from the excursion director–Sasha, I believe. She summarized my complaint with the least important details while leaving out the important ones, and offered 10% credit. So I would only be paying $360 for wasting an entire day on a misrepresented excursion run by a kid barely out of high school!

Viking obviously does not vet their excursions with care, and does not stand by their products. They saved themselves 90% of my payment–and lost 2 customers for life. There are many other cruise lines that do take care about whom they entrust their guests to and do care about their guests’ satisfaction–stick to them and avoid Viking.

Once we were able to book our air, we went on to myvikingjourney.com and booked our seats. The seats stayed on our site for a couple of days and then dropped off. We would go in and put our seats in and again they'd drop off. Called Viking customer services who said they had nothing to do with this it was the airline. When it happened a third time, Viking rep suggested we pay $150 each to speak with Airplus dept. We secured seats with Airplus but they dropped off again. We were then told to book the seats early and make them final. We did that and our chosen seats stayed. We received our final documents and our seats were still there. When we went in to get our boarding passes we were in the last row of the plane and had to pay $45 each to get seats near the front. Airplus did nothing for us and we believe it's a scam to get extra money out of us. They refuse to reimburse us.

I recently returned from the Paris/Normandy cruise. I specifically chose this cruise to see and learn about the Dday invasion of Normandy. It was touted as an 11 hour day to the Normandy site. What wasn’t disclosed that it was a 2 1/2 hour bus trip each way. This left 7 hours, which were taken up by our trip to the Peace Museum. I believe each guide interprets their own information. Our guide Ann Marie took us into the museum,making sure we remained as a tight group. The tour with our listening device consisted mostly information about the Holocaust. As a resident of the United States I have several more extensive museums to study the Holocaust, in NYC and Washington DC. We then had lunch at the museum, wasting precious time for viewing exhibits. We were given free time after lunch but was not provided with any kind of map to follow to explore what little leisure time

I am not done but have run out of space

RE: Rhine Getaway Booking Number: 6861780

As this was my husband's and my first time to Europe, we saved and planned and were so excited to enjoy our Viking Rhine River Cruise. We'd heard great things about this specific river cruise, so the anticipation to begin our long-awaited vacation was high.

First, our flight from Houston IAH to Chicago O'Hare went smooth. Then, our flight at O'Hare was scheduled to take off around 6:25 pm, arriving in Amsterdam the next morning, in time to spend the day in Amsterdam. We looked forward to seeing the Red Light District and other sites as we researched and planned what we would do after we arrived.

We checked our watches as the plane taxied down the runway. It was midnight. We were the very last ones to board the ship, and we'd missed our entire day in Amsterdam. What is worse is that Viking changed our flights from a nonstop out of Houston straight to Amsterdam to one with a layover on our way to Amsterdam and additional layovers on our way home to Houston. This change that was made to our flight proved to be a horrible, disappointing, frustrating start to our trip, cheating us out of our first day of our once-in-a-lifetime vacation.

I had purchased this trip originally to be taken during the summer of 2022, but because of passport problems, I had to reschedule the exact same trip for the summer of 2023. I spared no costs, purchasing travel insurance, Spirits package, and a room with a veranda. Well, I found out on the trip (summer of 2023) that I owed more money, and the Spirits package did not transfer over. I was quite surprised and disappointed about that.

The food was good, occasionally great. There was nothing I didn't like except the dried-out salmon on the first day and a salad I had on the third day. I ordered the Tuna Niçoise Salad and was greatly disappointed when the tuna was canned tuna. The taste is quite distinctive and unpleasant unless you like the taste of a metal can. Several times in the morning, we waited a very long time to get water and coffee. I was served the wrong wine that I ordered because the waiter said, "Well I have this one in my hand right now." I later ordered the wine I wanted after telling him that I did not like the taste of the wine he served.

The room was small but nice. I expected that. My shower leaked at the bottom into the bathroom, and the bed was hard as concrete. Getting a good night's sleep proved difficult, and it became more and more difficult night after night. The cleaning staff knocked on our door to begin cleaning before breakfast was "open" and being served several times. This was inconvenient as we were usually not dressed yet when we heard the knock on the door.

The entire staff was friendly and hospitable. The ship was clean from top to bottom. The engines were quiet, as we never heard a sound. The activities were enjoyable and well planned. Free time was adequate, as we understood the ship was on a schedule. So, there were many good things about our Viking cruise. However, the bad was so much so that it left a negative impression. We will never be able to afford another trip to Europe. The Viking cruise we took cost almost $10,000. I honestly do not feel that was a trip worth that much.

A jewelry pouch disappeared from my luggage on the Eastern European Cruise on July 5-6th. This seemed to happen between staying at hotel in Budapest transfer to the cruise boat. I had the jewelry in a pouch bright pink and blue with a zipper. Roughly 3" x 8" in my carry on bag which was transferred with my luggage from the Hilton in Budapest and embarking the cruise ship. I spent several days thinking I perhaps had lost the jewelry pouch but it was no where to be found.

If there is a lost and found on my ship the Illur please be so kind as to check on this. Or perhaps the Hilton Budapest.

I purchased the Tripmate Insurance but I am not sure if they cover losses like this. Can you please help me with this.

I would really appreciate it.

Thank you,

Robin King

[protected]

I am writing to complain about Viking Booking #6684806. Viking River cruise of the Rhone River in France. Viking Air made our flight itinerary and charged an extra $100 each as my friend and I decided to stay in Marseilles for 2 extra days and nights at the end of our river cruise. Viking Air made our flight schedule from MRS to the USA leaving on July 20, 2023, Several days into the trip, we discovered that Viking did NOT make our airport transfer from the ship in Avignon to the airport in MRS! We were told to call customer relations which I did. Joann told me that "airport transfers are products we sell. Your trip has begun so your booking is closed. There is nothing I can do." There is nothing you can do? You left two customers stranded in France because you failed to make arrangements to get them to the airport when you made the flight home arrangements. Viking knew the place of our flight from the cruise but made no arrangement for us to get to our Marseilles destination.

Guest Services aboard the ship did keep us from being stranded. Guesst services arranged for a taxi to take us to the Avignon train station (20 Euros), helped us to buy 2 train tickets from Avignon to Marseilles train station (48 euros), and then a bus from the train station to the airport (20 euros). So 88 euros extra not to mention the emotional distress and fear caused by Viking not making any effort to rectify their error and leaving us to "figure it out".

I believe Viking should at a minimun reimburse us for the extra money we had to spend to get us from the ship in Avignon to the airport in Marseilles.

Eight of us have booked a cruise on Viking and we used the Viking Air Services. My complaint relates to my return air flight. I originally booked a return flight for my wife and I of Zurich to JFK to Indianapolis on Viking Air code CXGBUJ or Delta GFFL3X. At some point in time Delta/Viking changed my flight to Zurich to Paris to Minneapolis to Indianapolis. I did not find out about this until I received my final papers from Viking. I am traveling with my brother and his wife on this trip. Their flights did not change, so they are still Zurich to JFK to Indy. I want to have my original flights booked. When I call Viking Air, they tell me they can't do this without rebooking the flight and costing my over $1000 per person. When I call Delta they tell me they can't do this either. My return flight is on Aug 14 and there are seats available. I expect that my flight be changed back to what I had originally booked without any cost. If there is extra cost, I expect Viking to pick up the cost, since this is their doing.

Cruise 4 July to 11 July, Amsterdam to Basel.

Cabin 100

Njord

We were tested for Covid before cruising, no one verified this on boarding, so we may have been exposed on ship. Returning home and testing, I am Covid positive and needing to take treatment. Covid is still active in the world. I expected doing testing meant we would be among other guests also Covid free. Apparently, not so. Several people wore masks and isolated in the dining room. Waiters attending to them wore masks.

Second: I arrived home to find my pill case containing silver earrings tightly closed but the earrings were gone. This incident has spoiled my trust of the housekeeping staff or whoever may have taken the earrings.

Mary Henning

Ann Arbor, MI

2020 Viking canceled our Romantic Danube Cruise. We had paid the full amount. Viking offered the choice of a refund or letting the money remain with Viking and using it for a future cruise. We let the money stay. AT NO TIME were we told if you let your money stay you could not get a refund later.

2021 We rescheduled the cruise. As the time got closer and after some research, we canceled because many things we wanted to see were still closed.

2022 Rescheduled again. Had to cancel because husband was in the hospital for over a month and then had to have a second operation.

2023 Rescheduled for September. We purchased travel insurance from Viking. Husband, who is a disabled veteran, can no longer walk any distance. His condition has gotten much worse in the last few months.

Talked to Viking and they said they really didn’t accommodate people who couldn’t walk. We canceled in April, more than 120 days before sail date and asked for a refund for medical reasons. The person we were talking to said the refund could take 4 to 6 weeks.

Called on July 5th to see why we had not received our refund. Given the no refund coming you had a voucher which has a cash value of $0. Again never told this in 2020,21, or 22. They said they might be able to give us another $0 voucher. If my disable veteran husband, can’t walk to do this cruise, how could he do another. Do they not understand the word disable?

Called the travel insurance. They don’t cover vouchers. Now Viking told us it was a good idea to buy the insurance knowing we had a voucher.

So along with many others we are out thousands of dollars.

I believe that this is fraud. They kept our money for 3 years. Did not tell us

that once we left our money with Viking we could not get a refund.

Sold us travel insurance when they knew it didn’t cover vouchers.

I will not give up the fight to get our money back.

I called to request to change dates 70 days before travel or change quests as I had a vitrectomy with gas bubble and was unable to fly

They would not accommodate me

and offered no compensation not even a discount toward a future trip

I had paid for upgraded veranda of which I am sure they sold someone else plus had I booked my airline tickets directly instead of through Viking they would have changed dates or offered travel credit

Very unfair and poor customer service

To whom it may concern:

I want to preface this letter by stating that I have never written a formal complaint to a company in the past, however due to my experience I felt I could not pass the opportunity to express my strong dissatisfaction and disappointment that I have experienced with your customer service representative Jan Canlas (ext 5293) at Viking Cruises.

Aside from the initial booking in May 2023 made by Mr. Canlas, we have been unsuccessful in making contact with Mr. Canlas despite various attempts through Voicemail and/or E-mails. He is never available (not even at the times on his recording) and never returns phone. The main organizer Mr. Jose Diaz finally got a hold of him and advised him that we (5 couples) would be all be available on Sunday, June 25, 2023 to discuss a change we wanted in itinerary as well as addressing some questions regarding pre & post excursions with Viking, he stated he would be available. However, after several attempts we were unable to reach him and continued to get his Voicemail. Finally. Mr. Canlas returned tcall on Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 12:45 pm but only to advise us that “he was unable to help us because there was a glitch in his system but to call back and have another customer service agent help us with our reservation.”

In this particular instance, Vikings policy of having an agent obtain credit just because he booked the initial reservation has been a tremendous disservice to your customer. I can honestly say that Mr. Jan Canlas is credited with a reservation without providing any quality customer service whatsoever. It has been a daunting and frustrating experience dealing with him. It is appalling to witness an employee of such a respected company to behave in such a manner. I was both shocked and disappointed to have been treated in this manner and I believe you should be made aware of your employee’s actions.

We currently have 5 reservations: (working on adding two more)

1) Mr & Mrs. Diaz #7481833

2) Mr & Mrs. Mijares #7494137

3) Mr. & Mrs. Gonzalez #7513413

4) Mr & Mrs. Cossio #7494138

5) Mr. Cossio & Mrs. Diaz #748183

I do want to advise that we did call back and spoke with a wonderful customer service agent by the name of Clerekia Charles (ext 18144) who was extremely helpful and assisted us with all our questions and bookings. She was very patient and helpful and went above and beyond to assist us and address all our questions.

Based on the information provided, our only request is that you please remove Mr. Jan Canlas off our booking as reservation agent

I have complained and called a dozen times. I suggest you read Randy and Margaret's complains on the complaint site here. Our cruise was the cruise from he'll and ruined our 50th anniversary. The first told us a partial refund. The food was cold and shore excursions were canceled. Weather was so bad couldn't walk and doors and drawers slammed all nite and that should be built in buffer gadgets am SURE it was a dead head cruse just to get from port to port cause they were doing repairs and NO POOL or Hot tub which we love one. So then called a guy Trever I think who said a voucher or $500 each which was something. Called him 7 times and finally asked for him and he was rude and said I NEVER SAID THAT! We saw None of Spain and the flights got there to ship 3 days late

If nothing is done now I will contact bbb and everywhere can do complaints! It ruined our whole 50th and wouldn't cost you that much if you had any customer service. We cried for weeks. And BTW we we weren't the only ones discussed. One old lady fell during the weather. I better get some help or will go to someone. Margaret and Randy Wahl. Was on Jan on the Iberian

My clients booked their first trip in 2019 for travel in May 2020. Due to Covid Viking cancelled. Client booked 2 more times each time were offered incentives which they accepted. As covid remained an issue again cruises canceled. The last time had to cancel due to Barbara becoming ill. She is still ill with heart problems for one and will never be able to travel again. She is just too fragile plus 80 yrs old. They called and ask for refund of monies they had paid. Incentives not included.

Viking will not refund cause claim vouchers non refundable. But they have the monies client paid them.

They refuse to address that. Clients would like their original monies refunded. They have a letter from loyola medical center saying Barbara can't travel.

I purchased a ring on May 30th, 2023 in the Perfume shop of the Ocean Venus

for $45.00. By the time I got home to Tucson ,AZ. USA the ring( size 8) missing 8 stones.

I realize that it is only costume jewerly , however I believe that it should last longer than two weeks.

I really enjoyed the ring and would like another one if possible.

Sincerely

Cheryl Gislason

1131N. Avenida Marlene

Tucson, AZ U.S.A.

Reporting that we are very unhappy with the flight schedule that were booked for our Romantic Danube River cruise (Booking Number: 7440895). We won't get to our first day of our cruise until 8 pm Sat Jun 16th, and will basically miss the first day of our 8 day cruise and then have to leave super early on Sat Jun 23, the last day of our 8 day cruise, so therefore cutting short our 8 day cruise to only 6 days. The Viking sales rep we spoke with, Arman Petrosyan, sold us on this great deal of what was supposed to be 2 full days in Budapest, Vienna, and Regensburg, and finding out after the flights were booked by Viking, that was not the case as we were told when we purchased the cruise. And upon calling Viking customer service back, we were told that they could not change the flight without a $300 per person penalty plus whatever additional charges by the airline. Given this information, we feel that we were sold short and request that we be compensated for the missed days that we were promised. Getting into the airport at 8 pm at night the first day and then sailing away on the Danube at around 12 pm the next day is not 2 full days in Budapest! Granted that we are novice river cruisers, we were counting on Viking to act in the best interest of their customers. But does not appear to be the case.

We were on the Viking Pharaohs and Pyramids in an Explorer Suite with Jordan extension trip May 24-June 8, 2023. On April 3, 2023 I submitted as directed by a Viking rep, the Transfer Request form with our arrival and departure information. I emailed twice seeking confirmation, including to the person we booked the trip with, with no reply. I called twice and was told the transfers were arranged, When we arrived at 1AM on My 24th at the Cairo airport, the Viking rep, Rauf, who was picking up people from a British Airways flight told us our transfers were not scheduled despite our arrival on the day that included airport to hotel transfers. He kindly helped us get a taxi which cost us $45 US. On concluding our trip in Jordan our guide told us the arrangements for our transfer to the Amman airport. He then came back and said Viking would not approve the arrangement despite it being within 10 hours of the last passenger leaving. We arranged transfer through the hotel which cost us $76.12 US.

1. Why despite filing a Transfer Request Form and numerous emails, including to the rep who handled our trip reservation, did we not receive any communication from Viking?

2. Why were we told by a Viking rep by phone the arrangements had been made?

3. We would like to be reimbursed for the transfers.

4. We'd like to know how transfers will be handled should we ever choose to take another Viking cruise. We will always arrange our own air travel for multiple reasons.

Thank you

I am submitting this compaint here because Viking did not answer my questions regarding problems we had on our recent trip.

My letter to their customer relations department:

Attention Viking Customer Relations:

Having cruised many times during my adult life on various cruise lines, I found a Viking cruise that was covering all the areas I wanted to visit in China so we booked the cruise in 2019 and I enjoyed that cruise so much that I told my wife I wanted to cruise with Viking again.

Going on a long cruise to the Mediterranean which was the next area on my bucket list so we booked the Mediterranean & Adriatic Sojourn Booking # 7311371

This cruise started out badly and just got worse as the days went by.

Our flight to Athens were delayed by 7 hours since the first leg of our flight from LAX to London was late and we missed our connection on the flight to Athens and had to wait in London airport for 7 hours for the next flight that got us to Athens so late, 4 AM on May 5th instead of May 4th.

Then to add to our disappointment we were taken to Venice on a boat from Chioggia to Venice that was not suited for a trip that took over 2 hours. The seating on the boat was far below what one would expect from a company claiming to be the best cruise company. The seats were hardwood and there were no cushions that one would expect for a trip of that duration.

After spending 5 hours on the boat to and from Venice I ended up with a back injury that limited my enjoyment for the rest of the cruise so I could not endure a trip to Venice on the second day and then Viking had to cancel the third day in Venice because of a pending storm.

Most of the people having to endure that punishing trip from Chioggia to Venice were seniors with an average age probably in the 70's (I am over 80 years old) and I had to stand up most of the way on the return trip to the ship to release the pain in my back.

Then to make our trip worse the tour we bought (Excursion Code ITCVV02A) for the Sistine Chapel in Rome was revoked by your tour group because they did not have enough tour guides or buses?

We even offered to pay more if Viking would arrange something for us as we don't feel comfortable going on our own. We feel that since Viking made a promise to us on confirming our tour they should have followed up with whatever it takes to get us the tour even if it is a private tour etc.

How can we trust booking with Viking again and trust that we can count on Viking to fullfill their promises?

The trip to the Sistine Chapel was to be the highlight of our cruise for my wife's birthday and now we will have to make another trip to Rome to visit the places that Viking refused to provide a tour for us.

The tour manager told us we would have to be on our own because they had no back up plan to accommodate all guests because Viking only used one tour company even though there are many tour companies in Rome - why don't they have the ability to use other companies? In addition, the tour manager was totally rude and unsympathetic.

We always book our tours through the ship we sail on in order to not be stranded someplace if we book on our own.

My wife is a travel agent and she will have to convey our experience on Viking as they plan their cruises.

Most of the Viking cruise people and services are excellent with the exception being the tour group, Viking management must do something to fix the problems with this group.

My questions to Viking management are:

1. Why didn't Viking provide for the comfort of their passengers on the transfer from Chioggia to Venice?

2. Why didn't Viking find a way to accomodate us instead of canceling our tour in Rome and leaving us on our own?

Also, why was Rome the only port that Viking did not arrange tours in advance of the sailing?

We were not informed of tours in Rome until the second week of the cruise?

3. Why doesn't Viking have a Plan B with other tour companies so that these kinds of problems don't occur again?

BTW The tour company was lacking in many other ways at many of the other ports by wasting a lot of time on some things

and not enough in giving people the ability to shop at all the ports etc.

4. What does Viking do to compensate people for their failure to deliver 1st class service so that we may consider sailing with Viking again?

In considering yourself the #1, how can you maintain that claim unless you walk the talk and correct areas that are deficient.

We would appreciate a serious follow up by Viking management on these issues.

Thank you

My clients, Paul and Barbara Oppenheim, were unable to use their vouchers worth over $20,000 due to Barbara's frail health. They paid original money in 2019, but Viking canceled them 3 times. They had to cancel the last time due to Barbara being ill. They called in May letting me know that Barbara who is 80 had been in ER 3 times in Mar each time having been admitted to hospital. Her health will not allow her to travel again. Her doctor at Loyola Medical Center

has written a note to that effect. They are asking Viking for a refund of monies they paid toward their trips. Some money is not due back as Viking gave them bonuses for rebooking each time they did. This is an unusual situation as they did very much want to take this cruise as kept rebooking, but fate intervened.

Viking says they can not refund any money as vouchers are non-refundable, but they do have their money and we feel under the circumstances consideration should be given to this very unfortunate situation. Last booking number with Viking was 6250532.

Best, Joyce Stockholm, travel agent

I was told Viking reads reviews and if any issues reaches out to consumers. Well mine has gone unanswered. Booked best room on boat but no one bothered to mention the extreme vibration which woke my wife and me almost every night of our cruise. It was the most horrible sleep I ever experienced. So far no one has even reached out to apologize for this issue. In fact I looked at every other river cruise we passed & none of them had a room in back of boat above engines. If I had known this would have occurred would never have booked the Explorer room. Why does Viking have the best rooms in worse spot! Can anyone ger back to me at [protected]@gmail.com.

Within 10 minutes of the opening time for booking excursions more than half of our group's choices were deleted due to being sold out. As you had to pay to be confirmed you had to go back and forth between picking and then paying. By time I went back in to just choose the 'free' excursions, they were all full. The only excursions left were not interesting and pricey . TEN minutes! And people that paid more for their rooms got first choice on an obvious limited number of excursions. Disgusting. We're a group of 6 travellers- our first time on Viking- never again. Oh yeah, no waiting list either and they tell you there are other tour guides in ports but won't give out names.