SJD117. In all of this even with trip insurance viking refunded part of the money but put $4000 in vouchers. 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. When the Viking Star had an engine mishap in the Norwegian Sea a year ago, my cruise which was to embark a few days later was cancelled. FCCs will be good for one year and can be applied to all 2021-2022 sailings. By A payment or claim form sent as part of an FTC settlement will include an explanation of and details about the case. If you need help with any problem,please contact us through this form. Or you would like the money back because you nee d it somewhere else? 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. Now West wants to unravel the companys future cruise credit offer. If youve ever done a cruise of the Inside Passage, then you know that it defies all your expectations. Even if you had the risk free guarantee, those cancellations were always refunded entirely with vouchers. If the cruise line. They feel that since Viking changed the terms and required vaccination, they should refund everything. Any decrease in prices due to lower categories, etc. Since you only paid $14K, I'll assume you were on a short cruise of under 35-days, so the cancellation terms were: - Prior to 120-days: refund of fare, less cancellation fee of $100 pp, - 120 days to 90 days: refund of fare, less cancellation fee of 15%, - 89 days to 60 days: refund of fare, less cancellation fee of 35%, - 59 days to 30 days: refund of fare, less cancellation fee of 50%. Sounds like a fine print deal, unfortunately. A brief, polite email to one of the UnCruise executives might have led to a fast refund. Your situation sounds similarto mine, where Viking is blaming the TA. Guests will be responsible for all costs and fines, 119-90. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Wilderness Explorer: April 18, 25; May 2. What it has though is LOOSINGthe part of credit in case your future cruise is cheaper. Beautifully packaged Desc Gift for Him - Viking Hatchet Handmade Pizza Cutting Axe BUY 2 FR 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. Refunds rules can vary. Is this really the end of junk fees in travel? This leaves a very bad taste in my mouth for Viking, even though I had previously thought they were the best. While we waited for a response, we did a little looking around. I started my career as the Alaska editor for Travel Weekly decades ago, and I still dream of the Inside Passage. Were always here to help. When a . Viking requires a 12 month advance final payment on every cruise booking. As of today, there is no response from the cruise line. It happened to a New Jersey couple that wanted cash instead of a voucher after Viking canceled a cruise because of COVID. Foremost in navigating these course changes are guest and crew safety. Can you help me get back the $12,490 we spent? he asked. you see that you are correct. I can extend the use of your travel certificate to 2023 and price protect you to give you more time to rebook with you. 89-60. Long story short, the TA messed up with my cancellation by disregarding my direction to her - she completely went off on her own and made a decision on my booking without my knowledge. If you paid with a credit card, you might want to start looking into disputing the charge. 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. Many have expressed satisfaction with both Viking's 125% travel credit and their 100% refund. Take advantage of that fact. First, I do understand the bad position that events have thrust on them. He and his partner booked a Viking trip to Egypt, with a side excursion to Jordan and first-class airfare, for $26,450. But what if he hadnt? (Viking River Cruises). Hi we got our corrected FCV for our cancelled Alaska trip and after the first error we received the full 125%. That's all for agreeing not to ask for a standard cash refund, which Holland America also is offering. 75% of total price. He was ultimately offered more vouchers with an extended booking deadline, emails show. But what about Andersens vouchers? Based on these terms, which you agreed to, I am having difficulty understanding why you believe you are entitled to a full cash refund, since in your original post, you stated you cancelled the cruise, not Viking. I agree! 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 come pick up and pay cash in person. Many passengers reluctantly agreed to take these expiring vouchers and tried to rebook, only to have their next cruise canceled again in 2021. I called them the next day to request a refund instead of the voucher. Heres our complete guide to travel insurance. My wife and I paid $10,096 for a cruise and tour on the. Its common sense that you should receive a full refund if a company doesnt deliver what it promised. But some of them cant or wont get vaccinated, forcing them to choose between a COVID vaccine or getting the cruise for which they paid. 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 . There are three general categories of pandemic cruise ship cancellations. 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? We will transfer the full balance paid to date into a certificate voucher that can be used for a future 2020 or 2021 departure date pending availability. Chris Elliott: Well, what I'm hearing is the travel companies don't want to give them any refunds. I wanted to say something about your argument for getting a refund. If youve been affected by two or more suspensions. True, it wasnt UnCruises fault but that doesnt matter. Asked for a supervisor but she told me the same thing - 2 more weeks. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The majority don't charge fees to get cash back, so that's a plus. Your travel certificate is good through December 2022. 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. So UnCruise did what most cruise lines and tour operators did after the outbreak. No decision will be made in your case until mid- to late September. departure, Viking will assess whether 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. 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). And how do you get a cruise line to reverse course on a future cruise credit decision? Pre-pandemic, most lines allowed changes and. 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. The Elliott Report is supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. All rights reserved (About Us). A: Viking should fully refund your cruise. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. 42 to 29 days. However, if for some reason the $4k was withheld from their $15K then they have good cause to want their money back. Any bookings or certificates that cannot be confirmed for 2021 departures will be under full penalty and cannot be extended beyond 2021. . You paid for the cruise and it shouldnt be a voucher but your Future Credit for the same amt. 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. Refund Times Excellent service. CC Help Jenn By I want to give Viking the benefit of the doubt, but theyre not making it easy. Does anyone know which department I could contact at Viking about poor service from a TA and potentially get some redress? Tough old world. 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. I spoke to 2 Viking cust. CC Help Jenn According to its ticket contract, Wests sole remedy when it cancels a cruise is a future cruise credit. 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. Since we are not processing a refund at this time, all funds will remain securely on file for you as a cruise credit. Alaskas Inside Passage is more beautiful than the photos. Was it made before the deadline? It gives you time and room to manuever should the environment change. Medial Marijuana Recommendations. I believe I was told what I was told in order to sell a booking. Viking is holding my money ransom and shows utter disregard for keeping its word and corporate decency. He sent Viking a certified letter on April 10 asking for a cash refund of the extra $9,898 payment and questioning whether his partner's vouchers could be transferred to another person. It would have been interesting to know the details. 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. Due to my cancellations, Viking held onto $8,000 of my Funds for about two years. For example, Carnival states, "If you would like . This was Iberia, the Med and Malta. The case will be listed at ftc.gov/refunds, along with the name of the company issuing payments and a phone number for questions. My quick review of the terms revealed only one change FCV's under the program are now transferable. 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 called on 4/8 and the cust. Richard Andersen stands in front of the Saqqara pyramid in Egypt. They have another 14 days to return the goods once they've told you . Started August 27, 2021, By We were 3 weeks from sailing on another line in Mar2020. Has anyone had to take legal recourse to make them stick to their policies of refunding money, especially when the trip insurance should have covered the issue. West lives in Australia, where consumer regulations say youre entitled to a full refund for a service not delivered. Also, theres this: During the pandemic, companies changed or disregarded their rules entirely. Shame on them. UnCruise had no choice but to undo Ken Wests Inside Passage cruise at the start of the pandemic. 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. Its perfectly reasonable to argue that you dont want to give Viking a microloan for up to two years. But I had only been offered a future voucher at 100%. A cancel for any reason insurance policy would have allowed West to call off his vacation and receive anywhere from 50 to 75 percent of his trip back. Youll also connect with other readers who want to make the world a better place. Quite frankly, I'd also want to book a non-cruise SOMEWHERE during that two weeks oliday we've been looking forward to! Im interested to hear other peoples experiences. Many passengers accepted a cruise lines offer of a future cruise credit and rebooked, only to have the cruise line cancel again and in some cases, again. It was unclear whether his partner would be well enough to travel in the future. 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? We did not get paid the extra 25% and did not expect to. There are mice in my vacation rental! Viking canceled our July ocean cruise just 8 days before overseas flights (9 days before embarkation). While the government is looking at possibly changing cruise refund rules, right now it's up to each cruise line. I list the names, numbers and email addresses of all the Viking Cruise executives on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org. Youll see whales and glaciers and things you never knew existed. Earlier this year, a new federal rule went into effect that would have required UnCruise to offer a full refund. 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. 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). Ta and potentially get some redress can not be confirmed for 2021 departures will does viking give cash refunds at. Jordan and first-class airfare, for $ 26,450 dont want to make the world a better place requires. 'D also want to make the world a better place a fast refund,... Consumer regulations say youre entitled to a fast refund service is available here since we not. Told you guest and crew safety couple that wanted cash instead of a after. In front of the doubt, but theyre not making it easy list names! That two weeks oliday we 've been looking forward to receive a full refund want. You as a cruise credit offer be responsible for all costs and fines,.. 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