So we canceled the trip and we got a full refund for all the money that we had paid. But it only requires a full refund if a cruise line cancels a sailing due to mechanical failures.. So they did not refund our money as agreed instead put in silly vouchers which now are expiring. Stay Safe Stay HealthySent from my iPad using Forums. We seek to provide the best adventure cruises and personalized service to each guest, that is one of the reasons we have so many repeat guests come onboard, a representative told me. Wests cruise credit refund case raises many questions that weve tried to answer here at Elliott Advocacy. Alaskas Inside Passage is more beautiful than the photos. It has turned into a nightmare for me - I booked a cruise 2 years in advance and went with a TA because I thought it would protect me and give me good tips on what to seek out on Viking. You'll be able to redeem this Kohl's Cash at any time within 30 days. 2. But I digress. I called on 3/16 to request a refund, instead of a credit. Viking has been holding our money for 4 years now. The Biden Administration is planning new rules that will require airlines to begin refunding to passengers any fees they've paid to check bags that are delayed, for inflight Wi-Fi services that did. OVER $39 Worldwide Free Shipping. When Andersen was finally ready to travel, his partner, because of deteriorating health, was unable to go. It allowed customers to convert an existing credit to a monetary refund under the following conditions: Not all cruise lines have done this. The review process will be expedited as soon as we are able. A stopover is defined by Viking as, "air flights with a stop between the gateway city and the destination. Heres our complete guide to travel insurance. The absurdity of having a cruise rescheduled over and over, or of adding new requirements like passenger vaccinations, or forcing people who are physically unable to cruise to surrender tens of thousands of dollars, is not lost on some cruise lines. HoweverI am not happy with the way they are handling this particular situation. Many thanks. However, if you prefer the alternative, you may choose a refund equal to the amount paid, by calling. It turns out its that way for many passengers. For additional flexibility, if you are unable to use your voucher, we will automatically send you a refund equal to the original amount paid to Viking after the voucher expires. OPs issue is they are entitled to this $4,000 as a cash refund because they cant cruise with Viking as they refuse to be vaccinated. LauraS When you book your cruise with Viking, they offer travel insurance to protect your non-refundable expenses. Or take the cash back. However, if for some reason the $4k was withheld from their $15K then they have good cause to want their money back. A full refund will be given for most optional shore excursions if you give notice of cancellation at least 48 hours prior to the optional shore excursion. We have to wait until the relief support from the US Government is provided before payments of any kind are released. Viking River Cruises Cancellation and Refund Policy Cancellation Updates: Recent updates have been made to cancellation schedules and refund guidelines for various cruise lines. And a peril like the one West faced wouldnt have been listed in 2020. Theirs or yours? But the fact that youre retired has no bearing on this case. I believe the fact Viking is willing to give me vouchers worth twice the value of my requested cash refund indicates they recognize that they have done something wrong.. (Courtesy Richard Andersen). Since you are booked on one of the departures listed above, we are first sending you this email to give you a chance to review a few rebooking options prior to our reservation staff reaching out to you. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. We have often had refunds for missed ports or at the very least, complimentary champagne at dinner, etc. Our reservations team is currently in the process of issuing 125% Future Cruise Vouchers. By adding 25% to the value of what you originally paid, you now have the opportunity to enhance your trip such as choosing a longer itinerary; adding a Pre/Post cruise extension; upgrading your stateroom category; or even upgrading to business class air. It also happened to a Florida man whose trip with his wife was also canceled because of the pandemic. Our opinions are usually based on personal experiences. What it has though is LOOSINGthe part of credit in case your future cruise is cheaper. #24 states a different situation than yours, so maybe your TA is at fault. Viking refused to refund any money, or let us change, said Christmas Markets were something we could have expected to see, but that wasn't the only reason to take the trip. Based on their risk assessment and concerns with Viking's financial health, they decided to cancel, cutting their financial risk. Andersen did some research. Guests will be responsible for all costs and fines, You know, in its simplest form, these companies are trying to conserve cash. During the summer, they brought out a free upgrade, so I cancelled my existing cruise and re-booked the same one with the upgrade. This is a large sum of money, which is much more useful for my living expenses than sitting idle. We want you to experience the UnCruise you have planned for, but understand the circumstances of the pandemic which are out of both our controls. But I had only been offered a future voucher at 100%. Theyd heard about the rugged mountains and glaciers of Alaskas Inside Passage and eagerly anticipated seeing them from the comfort of the Wilderness Discoverer, a small ship with just 34 cabins. This leaves a very bad taste in my mouth for Viking, even though I had previously thought they were the best. Now what?Here are your rebooking optionsPlease stand byYoure taking the voucher whether you like it or notEveryone wants a cruise credit refundDo I get a refund if a cruise line cancels my cruise?What about travel insurance?Some cruise lines have changed course on cruise credit refundsNext time, watch what you signWill UnCruise refund this cruise credit? The majority don't charge fees to get cash back, so that's a plus. Youre probably better off pursuing a credit card dispute. I mostly agree with duquephart. Heres our complete guide to travel insurance. Yes, this will be the best. Since we are not processing a refund at this time, all funds will remain securely on file for you as a cruise credit. Now it wont refund my $3,606. If a guest is denied boarding or disembarked due to failure to comply with Viking's COVID-19 Policies and Procedures, they will not be entitled to a refund, credit, or compensation of any kind. I will watch this summer to see what deals they have out.. same thing for an upgrade, air, or even if the 2023 cruises come out I will probably switch to them. D Dr. Linda Lewis of US Jun 25, 2020 5:02 pm EDT Review updated: Dec 23, 2021 Resolved Replied Featured review Delaying our trip even to next year isnt an option for us, he says. Youll see whales and glaciers and things you never knew existed. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/as-cruise-ships-remain-docked-passengers-say-their-vacation-money-is-tied-up/2445625/, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. 50% of total price. Or you would like the money back because you nee d it somewhere else? If you need help with any problem,please contact us through this form. They canceled my flight. I received an email from Viking on August 12th cancelling my November 2020 river cruise and providing me a voucher. I'm afraid your post is very unclear and inconsistent. While we waited for a response, we did a little looking around. Not only would he miss this long-awaited vacation, but because of his advanced age, a 2021 replacement cruise was unlikely. Other than waiting another two weeks and hoping they are good on their word, has anyone else run into this and how did you handle it? Sounds like a fine print deal, unfortunately. We have contacted them and they continue to refuse. Wests tale of a scuttled cruise is all too common. The only way this can make any sense to me is if the OP accepted the 125% credit offered when the first cruise was canceled. I didn't ask for, didn't expect, and didn't get the free upgradeI didn't pay for it, so why should they honour it? land since trip insurance issued precovid almost uniformly excluded losses due to epidemics that has no bearing on the situation at all. West appealed and a few months later received an update from a manager. Started June 21, 2021, By Youre taking the voucher whether you like it or not. Wests case falls into a gray area, where I believe UnCruise might want to consider undoing its decision to keep his money. He was ultimately offered more vouchers with an extended booking deadline, emails show. When you cancelled, you had a choice of the cancellation terms or the RFG. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. Then COVID hit. This is an unprecedented time and we greatly appreciate your patience. I won't ever do this again. On their itinerary, there were excursions to the San Juan Islands, Tongass National Forest, and Misty Fjords National Monument. @Host Jazzbeau I thought we had a thread where this fitted but I cannot find it, could you be of mighty assistance and place this? My point is that if I give Viking my money to use then I expect if not refund, credit to use at MY discretion.6. A. Read (or re-read) post #24 above. We are using this period of non-operation as a time for additional training and initiatives to ensure we have the safest and healthiest fleet in the industry. I want to give Viking the benefit of the doubt, but theyre not making it easy. please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. Has anyone had trouble getting a refund from Viking for a cancelled cruise? The second cruise was on the Viking Sun which was sold. Fortunately, you kept a thorough paper trail you called it long and cumbersome which showed your many efforts to resolve this in a fair manner. You must offer a refund to customers if they've told you within 14 days of receiving their goods that they want to cancel. Returns are refunded to your original method of payment. . Hope this helps. Select "ok" to confirm refund. The only way this can make any sense to me is if the OP accepted the 125% credit offered when the first cruise was canceled. Full Fare is defined as the full cost of any cruise, land or air component purchased from Viking. (Photo by Sjo/Getty Images) Cunard's policy is somewhat convoluted in that it offers a percentage refund based on not only the amount of time that remains between cancellation and the sailing date but also the length of the sailing.Passengers booked on voyages of 30 nights or fewer, departing on or before April 30, 2022, will receive 100% of their money back (minus . I told them I would give them 48-hours to figure it our before I just file a chargeback with Chase. I am sure you recognize that COVID-19 has made everyday life more complicated. Viking is holding my money ransom and shows utter disregard for keeping its word and corporate decency. Viking refunded 100% of what they had actually paid but the additional 25% was issued in vouchers (Viking sure wasnt going to give them more $$ back than they had paid in, in the first place). I sincerely hope I can believe what they have told me this time, but the track record isn't too good. UnCruise had no choice but to undo Ken Wests Inside Passage cruise at the start of the pandemic. The 125% Future Cruise Voucher will also be fully transferable. FCC for a future cruise is clear cut, but FCC used on a cruise that does not run, is that still the same FCC, or does the period start again? Viking River Cruises review: Unable to get refund of $37,000 due to covid and operation shut down. I would gladly book direct if, as you alluded to, the pricing were the same versus working with a travel agent. Additionally, we are committed to share more with you as we all work through this complicated time together. These ticket contracts are tricky. Review: Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle by Griffin Theatre asks, how do relationships happen? In early March, I asked Viking if the trip had been canceled, and it said no. But when a cruise has already been paid in full, if one traveler cant make the trip, should the person who is still going be charged more especially when it doesnt appear anywhere in the fine print? Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link Did your reservation agent lie about or mislead on the terms of cancellation? Shame on them. When I made arrangements last Friday, it was the 1st of the month, and some things changed. Obviously the entire cruiseindustryworldneeds cash right now, and is reluctant to give refunds as opposed to vouchers. I read a story that Viking was offering a full refund or a voucher for a future trip at 125%. The OP claims Viking agreed to pay in cash and is looking for someone here who was successful in a legal action. Should you remain unwilling to comply with their policy, at least until it may change, I'm afraid you're going to have a hard time fighting city hall. You pulled off a minor miracle, he says. But is a cruise credit refund even possible? VikingCash turns your Viking Card into a convenient, secure, and flexible way to make purchases at CSU. (Viking River Cruises). It happened to a New Jersey couple that wanted cash instead of a voucher after Viking canceled a cruise because of COVID. you see that you are correct. He was asked to pay more for a Viking cruise because his traveling partner needed to cancel. Does anyone know which department I could contact at Viking about poor service from a TA and potentially get some redress? I'd be annoyed too! This offer covers all Viking reservations that are made between November 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 on any 2022 voyage. Asked for a supervisor but she told me the same thing - 2 more weeks. Richard Andersen stands in front of the Saqqara pyramid in Egypt. Home Cruise Lines Viking River Cruises Unable to get refund of $37,000 due to covid and operation shut down. By adding value to your card, your card can be used instead of cash on campus. They have a right to require vaccinations . Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? 1A once-in-a-lifetime cruise canceledThey canceled his vacation. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. . I received a full refund on August 18th - my e-check payments were refunded to my checking account and my credit card payment was refunded to my credit card. I called on 3/16 to request a refund, instead of a credit. I believe the letter from our CEO Dan Blanchard explained this. Wheres the refund? I have to written various corporations about lesser concerns and have never been stonewalled the way Viking has stonewalled me, he said. Eventually, the representative acknowledged it was a single supplement charge, emails show. Andersen said hes taking more time to think about the offer, and he still wants to company to confirm what the terms and conditions say about a situation like his. Shortly before the couples expected departure in April 2020, they received a disappointing notification from UnCruise, which started Wests quest for a cruise credit refund. Consumer Alert: Your Airbnb comes with heat during the winter, but Did airlines make a U-turn on family seat fees? (I would love to go, but at the advise of my pulmonologist I should seriously reconsider cruises-at all.) 0144983-8, PB . Due to our terms and conditions, we moved your payment into a travel certificate for you to use on a future booking with UnCruise. Get a cash refund if the returned item is less than $10. A: Viking should fully refund your cruise. 42 to 29 days. Excellent service. Its common sense that you should receive a full refund if a company doesnt deliver what it promised. Now that things haven't changed, I had the choice to either delay my final payment to the end of March, or change to a 2022 cruise. It's also worth noting that if you're returning a purchase that earned you Kohl's Cash, the value of your . Check your local consumer laws. That cost was non-refundable. Many companies have favourable terms (either because they choose to or as regards consumer laws for the travel trade have to) but Viking overall has given the most satisfactory outcome of the feedback that has come to our attention here on the board I would say. If you're return something you used Kohl's Cash to purchase, you can expect to get that Kohl's Cash back in-full. This will typically be spelled out clearly on the cruise line's website at time of booking, or by your travel advisor. A: Some cruise lines are at least holding out the prospect of a refund for people who cannot get vaccinated, although no promises are being made. Also post #22 cites the procedure and due date tom request cash. Complaints about Vikings charges, vouchers and lack of cash refunds is not new, based on consumer complaints. I called on 4/8 and the cust. Any bookings or certificates that cannot be confirmed for 2021 departures will be under full penalty and cannot be extended beyond 2021. I am sure you recognize that COVID-19 has made everyday life more complicated. Why in the world would you rebook with them - giving them more time to fail? Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. Viking cancelled our 7 nights Cities of Lights cruise last yr, but we took the 125% FCC, applied to 14 nights Grand European cruise for late this year. There was little discussion about this, and I do not remember ever asking what would happen if I did not pay the extra. When you get your legal advice for free, you get what you paid for. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I agree! Viking requires a 12 month advance final payment on every cruise booking. It can accommodate more travelers and get paid more money when cabins are double-occupancy. If you want to use your refund without waiting for us to process your return, you can select the Instant Refund option, if it's available. So we cancelled our trip and rescheduled it for October that year which was recheduled for April 2021. I dont believe you were intentionally lied to, but to my knowledge, all Covid-19 related FCVs must be used for one cruise and, in many cases, must be used before boarding. If you cancel your vacation in the face of the coronavirus outbreak and accept a voucher, youre stuck with that credit. Powered by Invision Community. I totally agree about not making promises, but would not paint the whole company in that vein. For a cruise two months or more from now, you may lose your deposit. If I can't get any redress, I think that this TA should at least be penalized by Viking for her action. This has always been Vikings ambition and will remain so. If you or someone youre sailing with dies. I immediately asked Viking for a full refund and got a rejection. The company had failed to deliver it. But a few days later, Viking announced the suspension of operations for 60 days. Spent over 1 hour on phone with Viking with a rep and his supervisor. I wanted to say something about your argument for getting a refund. The hotel must refund the money to the consumer's credit card. The form of refund section of a Return Policy informs customers whether they receive store credit, a cash refund or some other method of refund when they return merchandise. I asked at the explorers desk..Or guest relations. Returns>> Fast refund 100% Money Back Guarantee. Due to temporary government mandates or entry/departure requirements restricting travel which would affect the start of our Alaska season, we have decided to cancel the following scheduled departures: Wilderness Discoverer: April 18; May 2 Im not sure what the delay of Cares Act funding would have to do with the refund. Then they should not be making promises in regard to policy. I know you had requested a refund, but that has not been accepted at this time. Fortunately the travel agent has a record of who she spoke to at Viking and a recording of the call; Im hoping Viking will have a change of heart and expeditiously issue the refund. I checked UnCruises terms. OK folks before you draw and quarter the OP, why not let the person respond. rep. said it was apparently an error by someone or it was a system glitch, and a refund would be issued, but it would take, again, 15-21 days. When a . As a guest whose cruise falls within this window of suspended operations, we are offering a Future Cruise Voucher valued at 125% of all monies paid to Viking. We rebooked the trip several times and a few months before we were actually going to go, the cruise line lowered the vaccination age to 5. I chose to go next year. 119-90. You paid for the cruise and it shouldnt be a voucher but your Future Credit for the same amt. Since day one, it has been our mission to create experiences for our guests that focus on the destination and allow them to explore the world in comfort. When asked what this was for, the reply was that I would get vouchers for future Viking cruises that were worth more than the extra payment, Andersen said. UnCruises Inside Passage cruise included a tour of Glacier Bay National Park, the scenic Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers and the famous LeConte Bay iceberg gardens. We cannot schedule a new cruise because we refuse to take the risk of getting a vaccine with so many documented adverse events. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Column: Creed III is right on time, says stars Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors. It would have been interesting to know the details.
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