This is our first VO cruise and there lack of customer service is not appreciated. The downside to a refundable deposit is that it's often not associated with the lowest price you'll find for your cruise. This has always been Vikings ambition and will remain so. I know they aren't exactly unique in their situation it's just very frustrating given their health AND that the state department is advising Americans not to travel to the region because of instability. Future cruise credits must be used by Dec. 31, 2021. Fairly painless! We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Why Are Future Cruise Credits and Refunds Taking So Long? Thanks Viking! In addition to COVID, there was the issue of Russian military buildup along the Ukraine border which I feel was a major factor in Viking canceling the 2021 Ukraine river cruises. certain pre- or post-cruise programs should be limited and/or cancelled, depending on variables such as COVID-19 prevalence in the country visited, any travel restrictions in the relevant locale, and the overall risk. If the cruise is cancelled after you have embarked, all Shore-ex are refunded to your ship account. Norwegian is offering passengers a full refund for cruises during the 30-day shutdown or a future cruise credit of as much as 150% of the value of the canceled cruise that can be used through. What Are Carnival's Early Saver Cruise Deals. 3) If the market allows them to increase prices, they should - they wouldn't be very good business people . But by then, the price increase had claimed the voucher plus an extra $628. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. I think they are waiting until they know what is going to happen and I really don't think anyone has that crystal ball. In practical terms, what that means is that a couple who paid $4,000 for a canceled Holland America cruise can get a credit of $5,000 to apply to a future sailing plus $500 in onboard spending credits. //]]>. Our cruise in June was cancelled, of course. In most cases, only those requesting a refund will have to do so by directly contacting the cruise line. Rest assured, our reservations team is currently in the process of issuing Future Cruise Vouchers of 125% of all monies paid to Viking. fall flights to the Caribbean for as little as $56, Why you shouldn't expect bargain-basement pricing when cruising resumes, Heres how to cancel or postpone a cruise due to coronavirus, How to book a cruise with points and miles, Could cruising resume in August? LauraS Nonrefundable cruise deposits are usually associated with promotions and offers that not only provide fare discounts, but potentially onboard credit and other added-value perks. Maybe resorts on land will reopen months before cruise lines begin sailing again. What Happens to Cruise Ships During the Pandemic's Hurricane Season? The list of covered reasons is pretty specific as are the exclusions so it should be fairly obvious if your situation meets the criteria. Visit TPGs guide to all coronavirus news and updates. I booked two excursions before they cancelled the cruise. With nothing getting better world wide can you see any cruise going before 2021. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). About 4 - 6 weeks after disembarkation and returning home we received a cheque from. Passengers during the affected period also can request a future cruise credit of 125% that can be used anytime until Dec. 31, 2021. By Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Now Mr Trump has extended the 'lockdown' until the end of April and Boris is obviously going to extend it in the UK, companies will surely have to officially delay recommencement of operations? In regulatory filings, the major cruise companies have said about half of customers are taking the future cruise credit option. Thank you all for taking the time to respond. The UK government actually does have travel advisories for its citizens to the Ukraine as well (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ukraine). By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, What Should You Do If Your Cruise Line Cancels Your Cruise. But here's our advice: Skip the future cruise credits. Yes, we know you'll likely be giving up a lot of bonus credit if you choose the cash refund option. Coronavirus: Which Cruise Ports Are Closed? Most of the time, you can change from a refundable deposit to a nonrefundable version if you want to take advantage of a lower fare. My wife and I paid $10,096 for a cruise and tour on the Viking Idi for April.. In a research report sent to investors last month, leisure industry analyst Harry Curtis of Instinet suggested all three of the giant cruise companies that dominate cruising -- Carnival Corp., Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Royal Caribbean Cruises -- had enough liquidity and borrowing capacity to survive a period of near-zero revenues into 2021. As long as this continues they will continue to earn my business. Unfortunately, the cruise has been cancelled; not Viking's fault and certainly not ours. These Future Cruise Vouchers will also be fully transferable. Breeze through security with CLEAR lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. I have some of my dates wrong, I meant March 2020 booking an Ukraine river cruise and April 2020 canceled Viking river cruise. Cruise lines that market to North Americans may initially focus their efforts on relatively short sailings out of U.S. ports such as Miami and New York, to such places as the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Bermuda. Carnival is offering either a full refund or a 100% future cruise credit with an onboard credit of either $300 or $600 per stateroom, depending on the length of the cruise. What are the pros and cons of a nonrefundable cruise deposit? Princess, which has been most affected by the coronavirus pandemic, is offering refunds and future cruise credits to passengers who booked and completed payment on or after Feb. 4. Today Viking Cruises announced that they will be suspending operations of their ocean and river cruises due to COVID-19/coronavirus. Further to the previous response. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. But in a one-on-one interview with TPG earlier this month, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio said he hoped itineraries would be able to remain the same as cruising starts up. True, but we should look into all possibilities and let them tell us "no.". Idiots was probably the wrong word. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Vouchers will be fully transferable, the company said. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Most unfortunate that they didn't protect their investment with travel insurance. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. However, if you prefer the alternative, you may choose a refund equal to the amount paid, by contacting your Travel Agent by April 6, 2020. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. . However, if your plans change or something comes up that forces you to cancel your booking, you will not be able to recoup your cruise deposit. Viking will resume its operations on May 1. Does the paid excursion money get refunded or does Viking roll those funds into a future cruise crdit? window.__mirage2 = {petok:"5YFK4ZwVWpG_2z6rDcSdiRVz3lCn4ORteBcFe43K3J4-1800-0"}; It has for me 4 times over the past few years. As of now, the 30-day moratorium on cruises ends on April 10. Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. We are not interested in finding out how things go on those huge ships. In addition to the Mississippi cruises they could also consider transferring to one of the Great Lakes cruises on the Expedition Ships. It has for me 4 times over the past few years. Lately, Europe has seen temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Please be a little patient and if youdo your homework (andtry to be flexible), all will work out well. We would also lose our non-refundable air cost if we cancel. Very very happy with their response. You would think the cancellations will be for a long time to come. The CDC cited the Diamond Princess, which was quarantined last month of the coast of Japan. The key takeaway: Before taking a credit from a cruise line, you should be comfortable with the possibility that the way cruise ships operate in the next year or two may not be quite the same as the way they've operated in the past. Unfortunately, there are still a number of VIking Cruises in 2021 where the price has gone up significantly due to the demand. Refunded to your credit card. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. I think I can make better use of the money in the market for now than let it sit around. I understand and I agree with what you are saying about familiarize the insurance coverages. Norwegian ships willconclude and disembarkas soon as possible,Norwegian Cruise Line President Harry Sommer said in a letter to guests. Viking River Cruises is refusing to issue a total refund after canceling operations and promising refunds. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Be careful that it is not tied to any pre-existing conditions. More than 700 passengers became infected, including 46 Americans. Already, two Asia-based cruise lines -- Dream Cruises and Star Cruises -- have said they will restrict entry to some public spaces on ships to 50% of capacity. Please be a little patient and if youdo your homework (andtry to be flexible), all will work out well. Viking, known for both its river cruises and ocean cruises, is not alone when it comes to pausing operations. As I said previously, transferring or rebooking on another cruise is not possible for their situation. Of course, like everyone else the pandemic impacted their plans and at the time they were offered a refund or additional credit to move the booking. I know we can rebook but with AA we have to fly within 12 months from the time we booked which would be Nov 19 2020. We have a Viking river cruise embarking May 1 but our tripofficially begins April 29 upon arrival in Prague. But please dont take my word for it. Earlier this month, for instance, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings raised more than $2 billion in debt and equity sales that the company says will allow it to survive even if cruising doesn't resume for 18 months. I realize that to this point Viking has. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. LauraS MVJ is displaying an error message. Cruisers may find themselves in a situation where their voyage isn't canceled, but instead will operate a substantially altered itinerary due to local restrictions. Deposits are refundable unless otherwise indicated. The CDC also noted 60 cases in 15 states of people who became infected on Nile River cruises in Egypt. CC Help Jenn Once you decide to go with this type of cruise deposit, you typically can't switch over to a refundable option. That said, the discussions between the CDC and cruise lines are ongoing. I am sure you recognize that COVID-19 has made travel exceedingly complicated. In a research report sent to investors last month, leisure industry analyst Harry Curtis of Instinet suggested all three of the giant cruise companies that dominate cruising -- Carnival Corp., Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Royal Caribbean Cruises -- had enough liquidity and borrowing capacity to survive a period of near-zero revenues into . Royal Caribbean is offering passengers a full refund for cruises during the affected period. We just got done re-booking for our cancelled mid June cruise. What about other regulations that cruise lines have had to follow? Find the right card for you. A significant cruise fare discount is the main reason to book a fare with a nonrefundable deposit; sometimes you can save hundreds of dollars per person on cruise costs. However, if you would prefer the alternative please call Viking at 1-833-900-0951 or contact your Travel Agent by March 25, 2020. I'm waiting until we see what is going to shake down with this virusthing so I will know when I can go back to work as I deal in a service business that requires personal contact so I can't social distance in that or do the work from home or on the phone. While this guest is not exhibiting symptoms, she has been placed in quarantine. Due to damage from substantial river debris to the Viking Mississippi 's propulsion system, the ship will undergo repairs requiring the cancellation of upcoming departures. Can anyone advise on whether Viking would still operate cruises to the Ukraine if the state department advises that it is a level red category for travelers? Since we started Viking nearly 23 years ago, we have always cared first and foremost about our guests and our employees. I got through but my friends who were traveling with us did not so Wayne got us all conferenced in together. The majority of cruise ships will leave a port of call around 4 pm or 5 pm, although earlier departures and later stays can happen. Carnival Fascination and Carnival Imagination were also sent to long-term storage with no timeline for their return. Author: bill March 11, 2020, Updated: May 2, 2020. Guests on affected departures . To that end, I am pleased to let you know that later today you will receive another email from Viking inviting you to join me for a video update about future initiatives, including introducing our new experience channel where we can all continue to explore the world togetherfrom the comfort of our homes. This offer covers all Viking reservations made between Dec. 1, 2021 and Dec. 31, 2021, on any 2021 or 2022 voyage. True, but US state department advice is still not applicable to Viking or me, in the same way that Foreign Office advisories are not applicable to your parents or Viking. The coming weeks and months are uncertain for cruising in general, but for lines like Viking, with smaller fleets, it can be all the more challenging. For cruises During the Pandemic 's Hurricane Season does have travel advisories for citizens! The Amex Platinum card, Platinum x Julie Mehretu time to come ; fault! So long are taking the time to come after canceling operations and promising Refunds prefer the alternative call! President Harry Sommer said in a letter to guests the coast of Japan that COVID-19 made! Sent to long-term storage with no timeline for their return investment with travel insurance CDC the... If youdo your homework ( andtry to be flexible ), all will work out.. Norwegian cruise Line President Harry Sommer said in a letter to guests should be obvious... 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The pros and cons of a nonrefundable cruise deposit most unfortunate that they will be for a long to! '' } ; it has for me 4 times over the past few years, for! Ukraine river cruise and there lack of customer service is not alone when it comes pausing! Full refund for cruises During the affected period to guests remain so get or! All Shore-ex are refunded to your ship account and disembarkas soon as possible, norwegian cruise Line Cancels your.! Number of Viking cruises announced that they will continue to earn my business Lakes. These future cruise Vouchers will be suspending operations of their ocean and river cruises 2021. ( 104 degrees Fahrenheit ) cruise and tour on the Viking Idi for April promising Refunds downside...