1. We chose a Viking cruise for the lines reputation, but were convinced by the route, ports and and visual presentation of the ship and amenities. The even occurred in February of 2023. Two special restaurants on board, The Chef's Table and Manfredi's, require advance reservations. We are cancelling our river cruise due to viking's heavy handed covid vaccine requirement. As I now need to cruise close to home, no options with Viking although I would love to cruise with them. We would like to stay witth Viking but Silversea is a good alternative and goes to those places in very nice small ships. Powered by Invision Community. I want Viking to honour its Guest Cancellation Schedule and reimburse the $15,640.19 (Canadian) my husband and I paid for the We appreciate you sharing your experience, Marie, although we regret to hear of your disappointment. I wonder if it too covers trip interruption and bus diversion--I'm going to guess that it does not. Excursions were excellent and informative. I took a Viking Ocean cruise Viking Homelands and Fjords in April 2022. Booking 6819824. Viking has lost four loyal customers with 10 past cruises between us. Viking travel arrangements were superb -- they chartered jets to bring you back from Manaus to Miami. 2-5 Cruises Age 60s. We could not get a negative covid test in time for that trip and so we had to cancel again. Nice small bubble. We especially, We chose this cruise because we wanted to see the Amazon River, the Brazilian rain forest and less-traveled portions of the Caribbean. The cruise canceled the excursion and refunded $279 to my card saying the additional $50 would be available as a " shipboard credit". Secondly, we had a problem with vouchers for which we received conflicting information. The Osso Bucco is fabulous. Malta is high on my list, but I was not able to take advantage of the Welcome Back cruises. Happy Happy Joy Joy. The elevators were bright orange which was, at first cute but were not very nautical or warm. We paid for trip insurance assuming that it would cover this situation but buying trip insurance through Viking seems to cover much less than most trip insurance policies. The Caribbean comments remind me of a Yogi Berra line:That place? Submit a complaint and get your issue resolved. We were given tracking devices which we were instructed to wear at all times when not in our rooms. I have always enjoyed our Viking trips and the people who make the shipboard experience a good one. This will surely increase the credibility of your complaint. The company left an official comment to this complaint. We had 5 or 6 restaurant staff around our table by the end of the night, telling jokes and laughing. View deals, rates and port information. The pools were well maintained and temps were comfortable. A van tour of Rio plus a not so good helo ride for free. We have taken note of your feedback. All I got was 'you must pay in full for your trip before booking extras'. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Well decorated in an understated manner. The hotel they put us up at was, We have sail on 3 Viking rivers cruises and wanted to try their ocean cruises. Ive been to Oz twice and New Zealand three times, all on my own. The alternative would have been to fly Manaus to Rio to Miami -- probably an extra 24 hours in airports. Viking River Cruises Reviews, Complaints & Contacts | Complaints Board, Page 2. My wife was then persuaded by Viking representative to take vouchers in place of a cash refund. The crowds in the major cities were unexpected. Viking Ocean evolved from Viking River, with the Viking' Star's maiden voyage only back in 2015, or 7 years ago, with the past 2-yrs decimated by COVID issues. The food was just so-so, and eating in the main dining room was way too long, 2 1/2 to 3 hours each night. Featured review. In 2021 Viking cancelled the cruise (understandable), so delayed trip to this year. Folks buy medical insurance not recognizing that pre-existing conditions and medication changes within a defined "Stable" period can prevent a payout. Review of Viking Ocean Cruises and TripMate. ComplaintsBoard.com is a leading complaint resolution website on the Internet. The veranda rooms were well laid out with lots of, We wanted to cruise Iceland and Norway as my wife is Icelandic. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. We booked the Iceland and Norway cruise in 2020, but were unable to go. Strolling through the ship to our suite, we remembered that comfortable feeling that you get from a Viking cruise ship. However, the cruise line has no control over sightings. New is hard! We ate at all of the restaurant locations which gave you some, We chose the cruise because it went to Thessaloniki and Crete. I am not talking expedition cruises (I like those too) but just a bit off the beaten track "regular" cruises. The ship was beautiful, clean and the staff tremendous. By The food was fabulous, the wine-pairing was delicious, but again, the staff made us feel at home and befriended us all very quickly. Posted 6 hours ago. How often does a port get skipped on the British Isles Explorer? So we had to cancel that trip. The problem started as soon as we arrived at the airport in Istanbul. Menu. First of all, we had the opportunity to see the lights 4 times. It would seem to be a reasonable and simple request. However, four out of the seven nights of our cruise, we were to be found dining in Manfredis Italian Restaurant. The Viking ship and personnel are among the best if not the best. We indeed used the vouchers to cover the cost of insurance for the second trip. However, we had a terrific, though not perfect, time and I would definitely, This cruise was by far the best I have ever been on. Viking does things right ! Perhaps if they had been larger with more extensive destinations prior to the pandemic that they might not have survived. We cancelled prior to the 120 day window both times, and received a full refund for the trip cost less the cost of the travel insurance plan. Reviewed January 24, 2022 via mobile . Viking, please give an explanation. Should you have any lingering questions ahead of your voyage, we welcome you to call our Service Specialists at [protected] where we would be happy to assist where possible. Once you are within 120 days prior to departure - you can search for new flight options, add a stopover . The stress and travail this has caused my family is beyond measure. The food was delicious and there were so many options to choose from with regards to the restaurants. The ocean ship itineraries were promoted as being port intensive, which is easy to achieve in the Meddy, UK, Baltic & Norway. It's been years since my husband & I have cruised in the Caribbean. Thanks for the recommendation! Overall, we had a, We chose this cruise because we wanted to see the Amazon River, the Brazilian rain forest and less-traveled portions of the Caribbean. I also note that calling at new ports takes considerable administration, ensuring they have a port agent, shore-ex vendors and advance teams conducting safety risk assessments. The ship was delayed for 2 days because of bad weather. The Ship: Superb! Yazmin Hope and Libby Gallagher We found this itinerary that checked both boxes! To break up the long Jan/Feb months we decided to see some new islands. airfare $2198 (Sorry, this is totally off topic, but had to add it.). This all takes time and resources, which for the past couple of years were limited. The ship was impeccably clean with a comforting decor. I look forward to feedback from the Great Lakes ExpeditionCruises through the summer. We loved the small ship with only 900 people. Oh the problems of the first world. provides only land-based alternative accommodations; Now that I've read section G again, it sounds like they cover the entire cruise if they are unable to sail; this. A place on the excursion I tried to book. We are partial to the Mediterranean, and there are plenty of ports that would appeal to me that would add some newness for those of us who have been sailing with Viking for a while. We chose the Viking Sea because of the low passenger number - 900, no children under 18 and we didn't want the big ship experience. To travelers that may be as unfamiliar with the coverage as we were, we would advise the following: For entertainment, we enjoyed a guitarist in the two-story Explorers Lounge in the front of the ship before dinner each night. There were small groups of musicians placed around gathering areas all over the ship, and the evening entertainment in The Theater each night was quite good. Weve taken note of your feedback and while we understand you have already been in contact with our team, if you'd like discuss this matter further we welcome you to email TellUs@vikingcruises.com with your booking information. This complaint was posted by a verified customer. They are highly rated on this forum, which is why I contacted them, after getting numerous quotes online. For gratuities, Viking automatically adds a discretionary hotel and dining charge of $15 per guest per day to your shipboard account, which appears on your final invoice at the end of your. My husband and I booked with Viking in December 2019 for the Rhine Getaway Cruise for December 2020. Review for Viking Mars to . River and small ship ocean cruises. For the most part we were very pleased with our cruise. Good luck!. It's medical coverage is totally inadequate, so we use other providers who offer appropriate medical and improved cancellation / interruption terms. 2. Viking never bothered to get us seat assignments for our return flight . Viking Alaska Ship Excursions Booking by Cabin Type Question. Due to snowy condition, we were delayed departing from the Vancouver International Airport in Canada. Wish they would bring back their cruise through the Kiel Canal. Expand. Desired outcome: I was told Viking doesnt own the hotel and the hotel will not let me make a change since Viking handled the booking. Viking Cruises Customer Reviews Overall Rating 4.4 Accommodations 4.6 Itinerary 4.3 Professional Staff 4.6 Repeat with Operator 4.3 Value for Money 4.2 We Are Committed To: Award-winning Service Low Prices Client Satisfaction Call Us For a Free Quote at 1-800-627-3753 Guaranteed Low Prices on Viking Cruises Sicily and Sardinia were also a problem because of the weather with too many calls cancelled because of timing issues -- liking being stuck in a port because of high winds and throwing off the whole itinerary. Apart from World cruises, they do not even cover the South Pacific Islands. Then again, in the Viking Ocean start up years, it was a good "bread and butter" cruise that they could sell out week after week, giving people a taste of the new cruise line and keeping the coffers filled. The food in the buffet was underwhelming, and. The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customers satisfaction. The Jupiter was beautiful and spotlessly clean. 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. I cant imagine relying on a cruise ship to get me around. They all liked Manfredi's more, but that meant more room for us at The Chef's Table. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. We had been wanting to go back to the Caribbean and also do a Viking Ocean Cruise. For more than 15 years we have helped nearly 50000 customers resolve their issues and will never stop striving to ensure further improvements on our platform for a better communication between companies and customers. The only issue we had were the specialty dining rooms. Date of experience: February 18, 2023 Three cheers for Viking. We did not see ANY of Spain. Read real customer reviews of the Italian Sojourn to find out about our award-winning ocean cruises and review your own Viking cruise. Each room on each level was both visually exciting and at the same time, relaxing. We brought friends along with us on our latest cruise, and the first thing we immediately noticed was the friendliness and professionalism of the staff and crew. The systems in place for dining, entertainment, excursions were easy and smooth. Viking had an amazing looking Machu Picchu/Galapagos itinerary all set up. Because I keep seeing reports of skipped ports, I've been looking at trip interruption coverage, have found a policy that looks decent. Experience all Viking Ocean has to offer with the help of past, present and future Viking Ocean cruisers. The reason given by Viking is that these are vouchers from a previously booked trip (during the COVID pandemic). A drinks package at the original cost, when I first tried to book it. Lots of food variety to choose from and food was always well presented and tasted great. In the World Cafe, signs did not always match the food. I think the title of this thread is misleading. Vikings Health & Safety Protocols are simply above and beyond what most cruise lines are currently doing. 3. Our cabin included 2 reservations in each restaurant. Honestly, this sounds like a "comment". We chose this cruise for a few reasons. (I doubt theyll get that right). Insurance companies are slick. The food was amazing. I had a nice time and met some wonderful people on board. Viking Ocean states that they are the "thinking person's cruise ." Viking states that they offer onboard enrichment--such as historians, lecturers, local cultural performances, port talks, TED talks, Met performances, and so forth. The food, cabin staff, waiters, cooks, and facilities were first class. 2. An apology is not good enough. The food was tastefully presented and did not disappoint. They even arranged busses to take us to the airport at 3:00 A.M so we didn't have to worry about trying to find a cab that early in the morning. I was surprised by the decor. . Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Cruise Critic Feature: These Cruise Deals Always Offer Good Value Without an Expiration Date, Cruise Critic Feature: Top 10 Ways to Take Your Cruise to the Next Level, Cruise Critic Feature: Can Americans Travel to Cuba on a Cruise? Started August 27, 2021, By It is time for Viking to do the same and act like a cruise line instead of a medical facility. 2-5 Cruises Age 60s. In one the service was, Viking is the best run cruise lines and is always a 1st class experience. The only way to adjust the bathroom temperature was to adjust the temperature in the room. First impressions are critical, and the Viking team performed admirably. This started when we booked an ocean cruise with Viking to South America I believe in Dec of 2021. Read More. Not everyone can take 4-5 months away and spend $120K per couple (and up) in order to see those places on a WC. Itineraries! We found this itinerary that checked both boxes! The crew were so friendly and helpful (of course, it did help that there were only 640+, Iceland was rated a Stage 3 country right before we left for the cruise. Viking River Cruises - Our displeasure in the recent viking river cruise frances finest, booking number: 6244229. Click here to get notifications about new complaints of Viking River Cruises. 2-5 Cruises Age 70s. We hear of staffing issues on Octanis on the west coast. With the fleet expansion, I have noted a gradual expansion of cruise areas - North Atlantic cruises calling at Greenland & Iceland, Panama Canal, Mexico, Bermuda, S/America. Viking's World Cruises hit lots of those places.. . LauraS Viking offered us to support the company and not get a refund if we accepted a voucher of 125% Viking Ocean Cruises appeal to active and intellectual adults who are interested in learning about the history and culture of the destinations they visit. 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