It sounds great, doesn't it? Refunds are made upon receipt and depend on the working times of banks. Just got off the phone with my Viking rep..we're taking the 100% refund but we will be back. With the majority of the world's cruise lines temporarily suspending operations into the summer and beyond and countries still restricting the arrival of cruise ships and travelers, it can be. Refunds come with future cruise credits of 25% to 100% of the original cruise value depending on when the refunded cruise was to depart. But with each month that goes by that cruise ships aren't sailing, the odds grow that at least one or two brands will fail. "Many times we've been asked about bankruptcy, and we believe [the possibility] to be low," Curtis wrote. Until the order is lifted, cruisers only can travel home from U.S. ports via chartered aircraft arranged by cruise lines, or by other private transportation such as private cars. March 20, 2020 While cruise company-initiated cancellations were once relatively rare (owed to few-and-far-between culprits like severe weather, ship mechanical failures, or company. And, at the beginning of April 2020, we will announce our newest river voyages closer to home, in America's heartland. None, except that 15 minutes not spent browsing Cruise Critic. Viking owes you nothing. Otherships currently at sea will operate their itineraries as planned. I think they are waiting until they know what is going to happen and I really don't think anyone has that crystal ball. (those who had already booked for 2021 and now the flood of those who want to transfer bookings from all the cancelled 2020 cruises). Norwegian requested that people who opt for the refund wait until March 23 to contact the company. 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. Check here before booking an award fare. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. Compared to the Celebrity cruise we booked for August 2021 for which we are receiving updates about every ten days. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. What to Expect on a Cruise: Booking a Cruise, Cruise Line Cancellation Policies: A Closer Look, Mega-Chart: Compare Hurricane Sandy Cruise Line Compensation, Booking a Cruise Onboard: How to Score Extras and Discounts, Can I Cruise While Pregnant? Very very happy with their response. Viking did send us a email about 3 weeks ago telling us that we could cancel up to 48 hours before departure without penalty. LauraS When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Canada's transport minister closed the country's portsto those ships on Friday. Future cruise credits can be used on any sailing through May 1, 2022. Enrollment required. To check what makes the most sense for you, and if your cruise deposit is refundable, read the following information compiled by Cruise Critic. Woodland hills, CA 91367. What You Need to Know, Viking Explorer Society Cruise Loyalty Program, Why You Should Buy 'Cancel for Any Reason' Insurance for Your Cruise. This Royal Caribbean Announcement Will Make You Cry - And We're Going to Get Up Close to Bring You More. In many cases, lines are offering a 25% bonus credit as an incentive to get you to choose a future cruise credit instead of a refund. An increasing number of ports, including Venice, Monte Carlo and Bergen, have temporarily closed to cruise ships; major attractions such as the Vatican and other museums have been closed; and some countries are imposing restrictions on public gatherings and visitors. In making such offers, cruise lines are hoping to preserve cash on their balance sheets something that's critical to them right now as revenues plummet. has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. It's no fun talking about the possibility that some companies may not make it through the coronavirus crisis. Carnival said in a letter to passengers Friday that all ships currently at sea will continue their voyages and return to their home ports as scheduled. In trying times like these, there's nothing like having cash in the bank. What's Next Now that the CDC Is Out of the Cruise Regulation Game? Have more questions? Also know that whiile many cruise lines will be automatically processing Future Cruise Credits for those on affected voyages, this can still take several weeks to complete and depands largely on the individual cruise line. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. Be careful that it is not tied to any pre-existing conditions. Recent updates have been made to cancellation schedules and refund guidelines for various cruise lines. 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 and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Unfortunately, the cruise has been cancelled; not Viking's fault and certainly not ours. Future cruise credits must be used by Dec. 31, 2021. We are not interested in finding out how things go on those huge ships. I am writing today because the situation has now become such that operating as a travel company involves significant risks of quarantines or medical detentions, which could diminish the travel experiences for which our guests have been planning. 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. Disney Cruises suspended its operations Friday. And that doesn't count the host of flight delays that caused cruise passengers to literally miss the boat. Eight Diamond Princess passengers have died. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Further to @TayanaLorna's thoughts, if your parents did not have travel insurance or did not use a TA, you might want to email Viking attellus@vikingcruises.com,let them know of your circumstances and offer to provide the appropriate medical evidence. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Help requested: Cancelling a Viking Cruise. Who wouldn't want the chance to pick up free money? This offer covers all Viking reservations made between Dec. 1, 2021 and Dec. 31, 2021, on any 2021 or 2022 voyage. For those guests whose cruise falls within this window of suspended operations, we are offering the choice of a Future Cruise Voucher valued at 125% of all monies paid to Viking or a refund equal to the amount paid. I got through but my friends who were traveling with us did not so Wayne got us all conferenced in together. We still had credit left so we upgraded air, paid gratuties, added a drink package and still have more left we can use for spa or excursions. But please dont take my word for it. Maybe your contract is different from ours? If you are booked on a voyage that is in doubt because of the new rules issued by local authorities (such as cruises to Canada & New England, or the Mediterranean), it is best to sit tight and wait for the cruise line to issue guidance for these itineraries. We'll make an effort to keep this current, but if you learn something we don't yet have posted please leave a comment below and let us know so we can keep things current. No hard feelings, and I truly hope you have a great cruise. Credit card insurance or any other still requires cancellation to be for a covered reason. CC Help Jenn In the time since that announcement, many of you have expressed concern for our crew, and I want to reassure you that we are taking good care of them. Related: Some cruise ships could be laid up for months. Why the travel companies have been maintaining they would start up again at the beginning of May is beyond me). Major cruise lines including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegianand Celebrity suspended sailing operations to and from U.S. ports for 30 days because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cruise Lines International Association, a trade group, announced Friday. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. Hang in there! Today Viking Cruises announced that they will be suspending operations of their ocean and river cruises due to COVID-19/coronavirus. At least thats the way it worked for us when Sky did not stop at Heimaey. Powered by Invision Community. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By While this guest is not exhibiting symptoms, she has been placed in quarantine. Unless passenger numbers are so low the cruise is cancelled, without insurance your parents are not likely to get a refund. We are confident you can weather this storm! Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Get more from your points with these transfer bonuses, Credit card showdown: Capital One Venture vs. Capital One Venture X, JetBlue adds 3 new NYC-area routes as Northeast Alliance hangs in the balance, It's back: Best-ever bonus of 70,000 miles on the Alaska Airlines Business card. Change fees can be incurred if you decide to change ship or sail date with a nonrefundable deposit option. It has for me 4 times over the past few years. Carnival Corp. is the parent company of Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America and six other major lines. Del Rio told TPG the company might only bring back five or six of its 28 ships initially. For those with flights arranged by Viking, it must be received at least 14 days prior to the date of flight departure. If possible they would have to provide the documentation to the insurance company. Then again, they might not. That said, the discussions between the CDC and cruise lines are ongoing. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. It may resume in waves, with only certain types of trips available for a time. Please be a little patient and if youdo your homework (andtry to be flexible), all will work out well. Our original Viking cruise was booked for July 2020. Viking announced similar measures Wednesday. You'll want to be able to pounce at the very best offers. Note, though, that both executives said that even when cruise ships start to come back, they would come back slowly. The company first paused operations on March 11. Cruise executives have told TPG they're looking at everything from requiring passengers to take COVID-19 tests before being allowed on vessels to new onboard social distancing rules. Viking has everyone's full payment 6 to 12 months out and they do not want to refund any of the cash they have from it's customers. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ukraine, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. 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. 1) Viking like every other cruise line is in business to make money. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Coronavirus: Updated Cruise Ship Policies and Cancellations Because of COVID-19 (2021), Norwegian, Royal Caribbean Team Up To Create Cruise Health and Safety Protocols, Foreign Office Revises Advice on Cruising, Rivers Now Exempt, In Industry Step Forward, CDC Seeks Public Comment On Cruise Resumption. Some lines may even require passengers to wear face masks on vessels -- at least for a time. . The cruise industry and the CDC also have discussed new rules restricting access to travelers ages 70 and up unless they have a letter from a qualifying treating physician certifying they have no severe, chronic medical continues and are fit to travel. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. If you take the cash, you'll have access to a world of opportunity. (Video), Royal Caribbean Cancels 4 Sailings Amid Omicron Spread What to Know, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises Cancel Cruises What to Know If You're Scheduled to Sail, Norwegian Cruise Line Cancels Sailings Amid Omicron Spread What to Know If You've Booked One, I Took a Cruise Around the Mediterranean Over the Holidays Here's What It's Like to Be on a Ship Right Now, Here's One of the Only Ways to Cruise Alaska This Summer, Cruising Won't Resume in the U.S. Until at Least November, Cruise Association Confirms, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Will Require Passengers to Wear Masks Indoors Due to Rising Onboard Cases, Royal Caribbean Temporarily Suspends New Cruise Bookings Until Jan. 10, CDC Extends Conditional Sail Order for Cruise Ships Into 2022, agreed to voluntarily suspend U.S. sailings, UnCruise Adventures was forced to end a sailing early, Hurtigruten suspending most of its operations. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. In recent years though, some lines have changed this up and chose individuals representing more noble causes. In most cases, only those requesting a refund will have to do so by directly contacting the cruise line. 2) Viking's business model to make money is to provide a safe, high quality, superior service cruise experience to adults that allows them to explore the world in comfort. 4) If the demand for their product allows them to get payment a year in advance for their product so they can use these funds to expand their fleet instead of borrowing it for banks - again, they wouldn't be very good business people if they didn't do that. I am writing to you today from my home, rather than the Viking office. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is the parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 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. Carnival Corp. recently raised more than $6 billion in debt and equity sales. If you used a travel adviser, have them handle the details on your behalf -- though be aware that many agents are as overwhelmed as the cruise lines are at this moment, and rebooking, refunds or future cruise credits may take some time to be issued. 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. Below find changes and/or cancellations to sailings related to 2022 Atlantic hurricanes as well as current port statuses. Same terms for cruises cancelled in window. $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. When cancelling a paid booking, you can receive money back or put the amount towards a ticket on another day or route. The doctor would have to declare one or both unfit to travel. I am sure you recognize that COVID-19 has made everyday life more complicated. Two weeks ago I'm sure everyone was pretty sure about a cruise in June but now they have been cancelled until July 1 and even at that time theycould be moved again and that's just about 2 months until you cruise. As long as this continues they will continue to earn my business. If you are comfortable taking the risk, these rewards can pay off once onboard. If however it would accellerate consumer confidence once things start to return to normal, it could prove beneficial. That means access to cash, not credits. 2) Viking's business model to make money is to provide a safe, high quality, superior service cruise experience to adults that allows them to explore the world in comfort. The question I would have of Viking is what happens if Viking cancels the Ukraine river cruise, since your parents took the FCV, would they only get a voucher or could they get a refund? The UK government actually does have travel advisories for its citizens to the Ukraine as well (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ukraine). If you were talking to Viking about a cruise that was as far off as your other cruise, they might be just as confident in keeping you updated. Idiots was probably the wrong word. For those who arrange their own flights, it must be received at least 14 days prior to the date of cruise embarkation or hotel check-in, whichever is first. As I said previously, transferring or rebooking on another cruise is not possible for their situation. Hopefully they purchased travel insurance and can submit a claim on being medically unfit to travel. That's the new plan at Carnival. Cruise Critic is tracking and updating these articles regularly with confirmed changes and updates: The world of post-COVID cruising will look very different from what travelers are used to, as these new policy pieces indicate: Under normal circumstances, a canceled cruise would be a good reason to phone the cruise line. Celebrity Cruise ships that left U.S. ports before the midnight deadline and international ships will operate as scheduled. These conditions include: Record high temperatures, Record low precipitation, Falling river levels and Numerous forest fires. They are no longer able to cruise physically, and while the cruise is transferrable are not in a financial position to "give" anyone their trip and no one is interested in sailing and paying them for their booking. The price for next year is a little lower. Happy campers. 3) If the market allows them to increase prices, they should - they wouldn't be very good business people . With the majority of the world's cruise lines .css-hghiur{transition-property:var(--chakra-transition-property-common);transition-duration:var(--chakra-transition-duration-fast);transition-timing-function:var(--chakra-transition-easing-ease-out);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;font-weight:var(--chakra-fontWeights-medium);border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;cursor:pointer;color:var(--chakra-colors-blue-base);border-color:var(--chakra-colors-blue-base);}.css-hghiur:focus-visible,.css-hghiur[data-focus-visible]{box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);}.css-hghiur:hover,.css-hghiur[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;}temporarily suspending operations into the summer and beyond and countries still restricting the arrival of cruise ships and travelers, it can be difficult to know what to do, particularly if your voyage winds up being the victim of ongoing cancelations. Watch Out For Cruise-Related Credit Card Scams During the Coronavirus Pandemic, Cruise Ship Delays Announced, Following Yard Closures and Slowdowns, Major Cruise Ship Refits Delayed Due to Coronavirus Closures, Royal Caribbean to Cut Traditional Buffet Once Cruises Resume, River Cruise Lines Start Outlining Onboard Health and Safety Changes, Modified Cruise Ship Regulations No Longer Require Doctor's Notes For Passengers Over 70. Learn more. For most cruise lines, as long as you cancel before your final payment date, there is no penalty. Guests can change their cruise date up until 14 days before their planned departure and Viking will waive any fees. Your contract incorporates these Booking Conditions and by making a booking with us you confirm your acceptance of these Booking Conditions. jtslattery, August 30, 2021 in Viking Ocean. I imaginethat Viking will announce the May cancellations very soon. Maybe flights will resume to Asia before Europe, or vice versa. It has for me 4 times over the past few years. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Viking Ocean Cruises provide Freyja shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body-wash, replenished daily; frequent cruisers say that the high-quality products are one of the best perks of every trip. Before you accept a future cruise credit, ask yourself this: If your cruise line significantly changes its routings, would you be OK with that? Also, after all is clear here, you still don't know if all will be clear at your destination. After final payment, you will lose your deposit or the deposit and a portion of your cruise fare, depending on when you cancel in relation to your sail date. Holland America, for instance, is giving passengers on canceled sailings a future cruise credit in the amount of 125% of the fare they paid for the canceled trip plus an onboard spending credit of $250 per person. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. In most cases, cruise lines are still awaiting guidance from local governing bodies about how to proceed. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Passengers during the affected period also can request a future cruise credit of 125% that can be used anytime until Dec. 31, 2021. We'll make an effort to keep this current, but if you learn something we don't yet have posted please leave a comment below and let us know so we can keep things current. Guests on affected departures . Separately, the remaining 28 guests will also be quarantined. Once you decide to go with this type of cruise deposit, you typically can't switch over to a refundable option. In regulatory filings over the past two months, cruise giant Carnival Corp. has said it was burning through $1 billion a month. (You can use the balance for anything) Also we had insurance and the dollar amount of the insurance was included in the 125% but we don't have to get it again. 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. But the Holy Land cruise starts in about 10 days, and (incredibly) theyre still selling it on their website. Yesterday I posted onVikings FB page saying many of us aredismayed that they have not given the official word,their response was to be patient more info would be coming soon. Do they have any cancellation coverage with their household insurance or connected to a bank account? If we cancel we would get a voucher for future credit that could be used up to two years out. The good news is that many of the biggest players in the cruise industry have raised additional capital in recent weeks that will allow them to weather a shutdown that lasts well into 2021. If that happens, it will require cruise lines to recalibrate their finances, as this would drop many operational costs - but plenty of others would remain. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Assuming that was the original means of payment. However, if you would prefer the alternative please call Viking at 1-833-900-0951 or contact your Travel Agent by March 25, 2020. But we don't know what other new rules for cruising could soon be in place. read more, Will vaccine and testing requirements go away? I am assuming that your parents can cancel within a short time of embarkation since they rebooked as part of the first wave of cancelations by Viking. Started June 21, 2021, By Email ctate@usatoday.com. This claim would have nothing to do with Viking. Started June 21, 2021, By I think Viking is trying to wait until we are beyond the 120 days out date to cancel so that they do not have to refund us in cash and only FCC. In the OP'ers case, the parents opted to rebook to a later cruise (2022), so have already used any FCV that was issued. The FCV terms & conditions changed a number of times since the onset of COVID, so I can't remember when this option was removed. Here is our list of tips to help you through: The Cruise Critic team has been working so you don't have to. Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. We just got done re-booking for our cancelled mid June cruise. Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen said, for example,the Carnival Fantasy left on Friday and will return to Mobile, Alabama, on Monday. In recent days we have had an experience where a river cruise guest in Southeast Asia was exposed to COVID-19 while in transit on an international airline. If Viking cancels a pre- or post- cruise experience, a refund of monies paid will be available. 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. SpaceX and NASA have called off an astronaut launch to the International Space Station after an issue with the rocket's ground system was detected. I feel we have become one large Viking family of 500,000 guests each year and 10,000 employees. 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? Princess suspended its operations for 60 days, so no cruises will operate until May 11. Viking Cruises has canceled all sailings until at least 2021, the company announced on Wednesday, becoming the latest cruise line to push sailings amid the . CruiseHabit.com was created by Billy Hirsch. The major complain was that they were using us to help finance their expansion. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. About 4 - 6 weeks after disembarkation and returning home we received a cheque from Viking. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. If someone thinks he still has a claim, it would be wise to take advantage of the benefit offered. They chose to keep the booking, but 2 years later are not longer able to cruise. Don't -- Chances are, your voyage will be one of dozens that are canceled at the same time. Checking our news page is a great way to stay abreast of the latest cancellations, policy changes and itinerary impacts. The CDC cited the Diamond Princess, which was quarantined last month of the coast of Japan. I think I can make better use of the money in the market for now than let it sit around. Royal Caribbeanand Celebrity Cruises will resume sailing on April 11. In the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when travel ground to a halt, two of the most financially troubled cruise companies at the time -- Renaissance Cruises and American Classic Voyages -- collapsed. 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? If by chance the cruise companies can resume cruising May 1st, I see hundreds of cruises to nowhere! Passengers have until Dec. 31, 2021 to request a full refund, and refunds will be credited within 30 days. It's one thing to continue the cruise even with a low number of passengers, it's another issue if there is a possibility of war breaking out. We booked a river cruise with Viking which we cancelled due to Covid and received travel vouchers from Viking for the amount of the trip. CC Help Jenn Plus Ups are excluded. Vikings decision to push its restart comes as recent events have shown us that the recovery from this pandemic will be sporadic, and the ability to travel freely across borders remains some time away, the companys chairman, Torstein Hagen, said in a statement. Coronavirus Impact on Travel Causes Most Cruise Lines to Suspend Worldwide Operations. 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. Future cruises must be taken before Dec. 31, 2022. You can read more about how this all got started here. Passengers who request the credit will receive it by email on April 13. When Are Cruise Lines Around the World Expected To Resume Service? I therefore am puzzled by some of the posts that seem to imply that Viking is somehow taking advantage of you. We are very pleased. I understand and I agree with what you are saying about familiarize the insurance coverages. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. Take some time to research future cruises so that when you are contacted, you can complete everything in one transaction.
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