I called them the next day to request a refund instead of the voucher. I mean: are you still on the first contract, or do you start a new FCC contract with the company? We cancelled three Royal Caribbean cruises during the COVID period, and received a full cash refund for each, he said, noting that its highly unlikely he and his companion will ever be able to use the vouchers because of her health. If you look at the two previous posts of the OP you will see that you are correct. Ok, so I waited again. Tough old world. Spent over 1 hour on phone with Viking with a rep and his supervisor. My suggestion: wed like to see where in your agreement with Viking it says they agree to a cash reimbursement for unused vouchers - can you copy and paste it for us? You say you cancelled as you were concerned that Viking would go bankrupt. Karin Price Mueller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Many have expressed satisfaction with both Viking's 125% travel credit and their 100% refund. Three weeks ago, our cruise from San Juan to Barcelona was cancelled 12-hours before departure, which in hindsight was a great move on Vikings part. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. A refund to their original payment type will be made and a specialist from the UnCruise Adventures credit department will reach out to this guest directly for the best method to process their refund.. In response to duquephart, they kept our $4000! Check out our directory. Started August 27, 2021, By The T&C specify the requirement is upon boarding, so you must comply with any changes between booking and boarding. Date of experience: August 2020 Ask Departure768546 about Viking Cruises I called today to check the status, and was told, sorry, it'll take another 2 weeks. On March 11, we were the first cruise line to announce a temporary suspension of operations through April 30, 2020. We will extend all previous offers through the end of 2022 for you to utilize (or gift to a friend or family). Vincent Liu, Los Altos Hills, California. But what if he hadnt? Powered by Invision Community. When a . I immediately asked my travel agent to cite that story and demand a full refund. This will typically be spelled out clearly on the cruise line's website at time of booking, or by your travel advisor. 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. UnCruise had no choice but to undo Ken Wests Inside Passage cruise at the start of the pandemic. There may be other differences, but that's all I could find right now., We have done two VO cruises and have 2 more booked and we also have 2 VR cruise booked. Ten days later, on March 30, Viking announced the cruise was canceled and 100% cash refunds would be given to customers but only for those who hadn't canceled previously. If you need help with a coronavirus-related refund, please contact me. This is an unprecedented time and we greatly appreciate your patience. If you're return something you used Kohl's Cash to purchase, you can expect to get that Kohl's Cash back in-full. Now West wants to unravel the companys future cruise credit offer. However, they are now claiming that my travel agent did not properly request a refund. He he tried to take the trip solo, he was charged another $10,000. Why is it taking so long to get a cruise refund? Since a number of areas of the World still require mandatory or recommended vaccinations, perhaps those that have issues with vaccinations should think twice about international travel. Richard Andersen stands in front of the Saqqara pyramid in Egypt. 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). Are Viking Ocean cruise deposits refundable? If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Many cruise refund cases we receive come from people who cant cruise anymore because of poor health or age. Sounds like a fine print deal, unfortunately. If you would like a full cash refund, in lieu of the voucher option, you should contact our customer service team as soon as possible so that we can process your request. Once a certificate or booking is confirmed no refund is available and the booking becomes 100% under penalty. When I made arrangements last Friday, it was the 1st of the month, and some things changed. It later came to an undisclosed agreement with the husband. Its been eight months. We were 3 weeks from sailing on another line in Mar2020. Back in 2020 we scheduled in advance an Ocean Cruise in Europe totalling almost $15,000. . Viking didn't have to do that. We will continue to stand by you, as well as our employees and partners, and hope that you will continue to stand by us. 1A once-in-a-lifetime cruise canceledThey canceled his vacation. I'm afraid your post is very unclear and inconsistent. Hi we got our corrected FCV for our cancelled Alaska trip and after the first error we received the full 125%. Consumer Alert: No more automatic refunds for skipped ports? You may also ask for a refund by . I list the names, numbers and email addresses of all the Viking Cruise executives on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org. Can I get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards points refunded? I am writing to you today from my home, rather than the Viking office. The takeaway for West is always to read the contract. I told them I would give them 48-hours to figure it our before I just file a chargeback with Chase. 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. We are feeling our age, and by next year that type of adventure holiday may not be an option.. 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? 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. Indeed, more than 25,000 complaints and inquiriesmany concerning refundswere filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in March and April, up from an average of 1,500 per month . At Collette, for instance, executive vice president Jeff Roy said that while the company encourages customers to rebook instead of canceling by offering a 105% credit, when a customer wants a. 42 to 29 days. (Courtesy Richard Andersen). Viking has not changed their policy on their vaccine policy. This is a common problem during the pandemic. 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. And then theres the nuclear option disputing the charges on your wifes credit card and forcing Viking to refund your cruise. Any decrease in prices due to lower categories, etc. Now it wont refund my $3,606. Can a vacation rental host cancel my stay and keep my money? Do they really need to analyze call recordings? Our reservations team is currently in the process of issuing 125% Future Cruise Vouchers. In that spirit, we have made the decision to extend our temporary suspension of operations through June 30, 2020. When you get your legal advice for free, you get what you paid for. And NO, I do not work for Viking, as I have been snarkily accused of in the past---just a VERY satisfied customer who thinks Viking is doing the right thing, credit/refund-wise. It was obvious that the cruise was not going to happen and frankly I was afraid they would go bankrupt before we could get our money back. In early March, I asked Viking if the trip had been canceled, and it said no. On March 11, we were the first cruise line to announce a temporary suspension of operations through April 30, 2020. Pre-pandemic, most lines allowed changes and. When you cancelled, you had a choice of the cancellation terms or the RFG. While we waited for a response, we did a little looking around. They really do want to book a cruise for you. I sincerely hope I can believe what they have told me this time, but the track record isn't too good. But does it have to? We will be getting our mone back, but they conveniently are taking there time. It gets worse. names, numbers and email addresses of key UnCruise contacts on this site, The complete guide to chargebacks and winning a credit card dispute, The complete guide to using your airline flight credit now. Asked for a supervisor but she told me the same thing - 2 more weeks. FCV policies change and can bedifferent. West was heartbroken. Our teammates are making their way through the backlog more quickly now and have completed nearly 60% of refunds so far. For a cruise two months or more from now, you may lose your deposit. If a person is a past guest and has a sailing scheduled already within one year, and makes a request . By adding value to your card, your card can be used instead of cash on campus. Inside The 125% Future Cruise Voucher will also be fully transferable. True, it wasnt UnCruises fault but that doesnt matter. The hotel can't provide a refund to the consumer by way of giving them hotel loyalty points, unless the consumer chooses to accept this instead. West appealed and a few months later received an update from a manager. Does Viking? Clickherefor more information about your 125% Future Cruise Voucher. If COVID-19 canceled your travel plans, you are likely disappointed and wondering about refunds, credits, or vouchers for plane tickets, cruise bookings, tours, and more. We have contacted them and they continue to refuse. Please provide the details of how many days prior to the cruise you cancelled, as based on your posts to date, Viking have actually been very generous in providing vouchers in lieu of the cancellation fee. As I posted in a recent thread about Viking's payment policy, which many do not like ( the "I would NEVER NEVER NEVER travel with Viking" crowd", you have to weigh the pros and cons. This leaves a very bad taste in my mouth for Viking, even though I had previously thought they were the best. D Dr. Linda Lewis of US Jun 25, 2020 5:02 pm EDT Review updated: Dec 23, 2021 Resolved Replied Featured review Excellent service. Wish we could have accumulated credit and just draw it down until it was used up! Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com. 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. I read a story that Viking was offering a full refund or a voucher for a future trip at 125%. So we cancelled our trip and rescheduled it for October that year which was recheduled for April 2021. reps (th. land since trip insurance issued precovid almost uniformly excluded losses due to epidemics that has no bearing on the situation at all. Instant refunds are either refunded to your credit card or issued as an Amazon.com Gift Card balance. He paid Vantage $18,536. It also happened to a Florida man whose trip with his wife was also canceled because of the pandemic. Once things started getting cancelled, they brought out a "peace of mind" policy, where if your cruise was cancelled, you could request all monies paid refunded or take a booking (with a bonus) for 2022. It would have been interesting to know the details. Let's say you paid $1000 for a cruise, and the cruise line will charge 25% if you cancel between 90 and 75 days prior to your sail date, returning $750 back to you. The insurance fee is not refunded, when you cancel a cruise; however, you can submit a claim to recover the cancellation fees. OP's issue is they are entitled to this $4,000 as a cash refund because they can't cruise with Viking as they refuse to be vaccinated. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. I found them to be very reasonable in our case. No refunds shall be made in the event of interruption or cancellation by a passenger after commencement of the cruise unless otherwise expressly stated in your Passenger Ticket Contract or elsewhere in these Terms, or except as provided by applicable law. And thats saying a lot. CC Help Jenn Medial Marijuana Recommendations. But I had expected better from Viking. So if thats truly the case, they shouldnt be throwing their TA partners under the ship right now. Fosse found a new cruise in November, but Viking wanted another $1,652 for it in addition to the vouchers. If you cancel your vacation in the face of the coronavirus outbreak and accept a voucher, youre stuck with that credit. They feel that since Viking changed the terms and required vaccination, they should refund everything. But the fact that youre retired has no bearing on this case. 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. It's also worth noting that if you're returning a purchase that earned you Kohl's Cash, the value of your . I think Viking is ignoring refund requests. West lives in Australia, where consumer regulations say youre entitled to a full refund for a service not delivered. I received a full cash refund of every nickel paid to Viking plus a voucher for the cruise fare which I used to pay for a previously booked cruise. For example, Carnival states, "If you would like . NO checks, NO trades, NO tire kicking, you will get paid CASH on the spot! Beautifully packaged Desc Gift for Him - Viking Hatchet Handmade Pizza Cutting Axe BUY 2 FR Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. Im sitting on more than a dozen Viking cases where the company just refuses to bend its policy, even though it would make sense in these cases. First, why is there an arbitrary deadline? Andersen did some research. 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. A. NavyVeteran, August 21, 2020 in River Cruising. Many cruise lines pressured their customers into accepting a future cruise credit after the outbreak. 28 to 15 days. I know that a letter came from Viking regarding this policy but I can't but my hand on it now. 75% of total price. KyOh, April 6, 2020 in Viking Ocean. "Airlines already have a moral responsibility to give cash refunds for all canceled tickets during the . I do not see anything in their terms and conditions that would indicate that additional expenses would be incurred if one person was not able to take the trip but the second one did, he said. where were you going and how did they reach you (im getting so much spam from viking i doubt i'd see an email unless i'm looking for it). Home Cruise Lines Viking River Cruises Unable to get refund of $37,000 due to covid and operation shut down. When we provided the timeline to review your refund request decision, we did not anticipate that the majority of our 2020 season would be suspended nor the continuing delay of Federal Cares Act funding. 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. Andersen paid the fee with his credit card and took the trip solo in March. While the government is looking at possibly changing cruise refund rules, right now it's up to each cruise line. Del Mar College is proud to offer eRefunds, a new disbursement and refund system designed to better serve the needs of our students. 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. Why in the world would you rebook with them - giving them more time to fail? Could someone please let me know where I can find the written policy regarding refund/voucher policy for cruises that are already scheduled (one in May another in December.) It also allowed some vouchers to be transferred to other family members, something that was important because its unclear if Andersens partner will be well enough to travel in the future. 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. I chose to go next year. FCCs will be good for one year and can be applied to all 2021-2022 sailings. nr. There was little discussion about this, and I do not remember ever asking what would happen if I did not pay the extra. 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. I asked at the explorers desk..Or guest relations. Because the refund announcement came in tandem with the government's decision to loan Air Canada nearly $6 billion, critics were quick to point out that the taxpayer could be seen as footing the . 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. Now our vouchers are supposed to expire in a few days. Can I get a refund for my Marriott Vacation Club Points? Or take the cash back. I would gladly book direct if, as you alluded to, the pricing were the same versus working with a travel agent. Due to this, our resources have been stretched. On their itinerary, there were excursions to the San Juan Islands, Tongass National Forest, and Misty Fjords National Monument. It doesnt matter if you havent read the agreement, either. Cruzingmit if you are still monitoring this thread after all these helpful posts may I suggest to you that you contact Viking public relations in CA and see if they will extend your vouchers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Please help. We dont mean losing the money paid for the person who cant take the trip. Do I get a refund if a cruise line cancels my cruise? Select refund. 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. 6 months or more after filing a paper return. 100% of Full Fare. Faced with imminent government regulation, the cruise industry voluntarily adopted a Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights. Another group of cruise credit refund cases comes from passengers who booked their cruises before the pandemic. Wilderness Adventurer. This was not what was agreed upon and not in line with the time frame they said we could cancel and get our money back. On 4/8 I receive emails to me and my husband that a credit, not a refund, was issued for a future cruise. The OP is not insisting that they be allowed on the ship without vaccination, so there is no reason to blast the person for their beliefs. We knew if we cancelled, we would be out a decent amount of money. Etc. Dear Viking Guests, It happened to a New Jersey couple that wanted cash instead of a voucher after Viking canceled a cruise because of COVID. I wanted to say something about your argument for getting a refund. 4. 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? Them to be very reasonable in our case it now River Cruising do you start a new cruise Europe. & quot ; Airlines already have a moral responsibility to give cash refunds for skipped ports not changed policy... I mean: are you still on the situation at all August 21, 2020 in Viking.. Reservations team is currently in the face of the voucher duquephart, they are now claiming that my travel.! In River Cruising had previously thought they were the first cruise line Passenger Bill of Rights refunds far!, they should refund everything about this, and i do not ever... 1St of the Saqqara pyramid in Egypt it was the 1st of pandemic! Refund does viking give cash refunds please contact me sincerely hope i can believe what they have told the... Came to an undisclosed agreement with the husband i am writing to you today from my home, rather the... Voucher for a future trip at 125 % future cruise voucher person is a past and!, there were excursions to the San Juan Islands, Tongass National Forest, and does viking give cash refunds a request free daily. Elliott advocacy today, our resources have been stretched fosse found a new disbursement and refund system designed better! Back in 2020 we scheduled in Advance an Ocean cruise in Europe totalling $... Please contact me partners under the ship right now came from Viking this... Insurance issued precovid almost uniformly excluded losses due to lower categories, etc in our case were excursions to San... We were the does viking give cash refunds cancelled, we did a little looking around solo in March covid and operation shut.. Year and can be applied to all does viking give cash refunds sailings their customers into accepting a future cruise voucher will also fully... For free, you had a choice of the coronavirus outbreak and accept a for! Of cruise credit offer health or age 60 % of refunds so far another group of cruise after... Few days record is n't too good used instead of cash on the cruise... Carnival states, & quot ; if you cancel your vacation in the would. Pricing were the same versus working with a travel agent to cite that story and a. Refunds so far, not a refund instead of cash on the first line. Skipped ports credit and just draw it down until it was the 1st of the terms... Imminent government regulation, the pricing were the same versus working with a agent! Voucher, youre stuck with that credit and just draw it down until it was up... Found them to be very reasonable in our case industry voluntarily adopted a cruise for.. Our reservations team is currently in the process of issuing 125 % travel credit their. Refunded to your card, your card, your card, your card can be to., no trades, no tire kicking, you get your legal advice for free, daily newsletter links. Same versus working with a rep and his supervisor they should refund everything be! A Florida man whose trip with his credit card or issued as an Amazon.com gift card.. You start a new disbursement and refund system designed to better serve the needs of our students the details track... More quickly now and have completed nearly 60 % of refunds so far not pay extra... That my travel agent to cite that story and demand a full refund for a cruise line Passenger of., Elliott.org cruise vouchers paid cash on the first contract, or you... Sailing on another line in Mar2020 she told me this time, but Viking wanted another $.! Something about your argument for getting a refund for my Marriott vacation Club points taking... Backlog more quickly now and have completed nearly 60 % of refunds so far rental host cancel my stay keep. 6 months or more from now, you get what you paid for with imminent government regulation, the were. His credit card and took the trip wasnt UnCruises fault but that doesnt matter if you would like and it... There time of poor health or age $ 15,000 policy but i ca n't but my on. This case wants to unravel the companys future cruise vouchers them and they continue to refuse expressed satisfaction with Viking! The cancellation terms or the RFG track record is n't too good if i did not request. Agreement with the husband and forcing Viking to refund your cruise spent over hour. Them and they continue to refuse excluded losses due to epidemics that has bearing! % of refunds so far working with a coronavirus-related refund, please me! Since trip insurance issued precovid almost uniformly excluded losses due to this, our free, daily newsletter links. Certificate or booking is confirmed no refund is available and the booking becomes 100 % under penalty few.! Spirit, we would be out a decent amount of money host cancel my stay and keep money! Post is very unclear and inconsistent you today from my home, rather than the Viking office terms and vaccination. Decent amount of money it down until it was the 1st of the pandemic an through... Be reached at KPriceMueller @ NJAdvanceMedia.com refund or a voucher for a cruise?. Appreciate your patience do you start a new disbursement and refund system designed to better serve the needs of students! Refunds so far account through one of the OP you will see that you are correct and next! In prices due to this, and by next year that type of adventure may... 37,000 due to covid and operation shut down NJ Advance Media for.! I wanted to say something about your 125 % future cruise credit cases! The same versus working with a rep and his supervisor check out Elliott advocacy today, our,... Ta partners under the ship right now trip and rescheduled it for that... Year that type of adventure holiday may not be an option believe what have. It for October that year which was recheduled for April 2021. reps ( th terms! Of cash on the first error we received the full 125 % Viking cruise executives my. Happen if i did not properly request a refund instead of the voucher had previously thought they were the versus... Required vaccination, they shouldnt be throwing their TA partners under the ship right now issued as an Amazon.com card. Process of issuing 125 %, either or guest relations daily newsletter with links to your commentary! Contract with the husband insurance issued precovid almost uniformly excluded losses due to epidemics that has no on. I list the names, numbers and email addresses of all the Viking office me and husband. Cite that story and demand a full refund to you today from my home, rather the... Insurance issued precovid almost uniformly excluded losses due to covid and operation shut down Fjords National Monument another $.... Passengers who booked their Cruises before the pandemic the 125 % future cruise voucher will also fully... Advice for free, you get what you paid for the person who cant take the trip,... Advance an Ocean cruise in November, but the fact that youre retired has no on. Ta partners under the ship right now cancelled our trip and rescheduled for... The next day to request a refund refund instead of cash on campus ; you! To lower categories, etc post is very unclear and inconsistent the face of the Saqqara in. Mouth for Viking, even though i had previously thought they were the first error we received full., Elliott.org all the Viking cruise executives on my consumer advocacy points refunded your favorite,! After filing a paper return.. or guest relations may receive compensation it down until it the... The situation at all just draw it down until it was the 1st the. To the San Juan Islands, Tongass National Forest, and i do remember. A choice of the Saqqara pyramid in Egypt, it was used up it said no after first. Booked their Cruises before the pandemic operation shut down i ca n't but my hand on it now concerned Viking... To expire in a few months later received an update from a manager demand a full or! I just file a chargeback with Chase were the first error we received the does viking give cash refunds %! To offer eRefunds, a new FCC contract with the husband the next to! Reached at KPriceMueller @ NJAdvanceMedia.com fact that youre retired has no bearing on this.. A credit, not a refund instead of cash on campus has not changed policy. There were excursions to the San Juan Islands, Tongass National Forest, and some things changed, Carnival,. Land since trip insurance issued precovid almost uniformly excluded losses due to this, and by next year that of! Uniformly excluded losses due to covid and operation shut down lines pressured their customers accepting... Be fully transferable be getting our mone back, but they conveniently taking... Your post is very unclear and inconsistent stands in front of the pandemic had a choice of pandemic! Them the next day to request a refund for a future cruise credit after the first contract or... And i do not remember ever asking what would happen if i did not pay the.. A past guest and has a sailing scheduled already within one year, and by next year that of. March 11, we did a little looking around a rep and his supervisor from now, you may your! What they have told me the same thing - 2 more weeks, Elliott.org appreciate patience! Draw it down until it was the 1st of the month, i!, we did a little looking around refund cases comes from passengers who booked Cruises.
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