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. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. The UK government actually does have travel advisories for its citizens to the Ukraine as well (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ukraine). Viking will resume its operations on May 1. Yes, we know you'll likely be giving up a lot of bonus credit if you choose the cash refund option. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. The FCV terms & conditions changed a number of times since the onset of COVID, so I can't remember when this option was removed. Israel is closed, and we didnt want to take the chance that Viking would just substitute something else since Israel was the main draw for us. Our TA told us we will not get a refund if we dont use our voucher. In a conference call with TPG and several other news outlets last month, Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald said itineraries might need to change, at least in the short term, due to both port closures in some destinations and limitations on air travel. Viking has indicated that because they chose to keep their booking they are no longer entitled to a refund. 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 at tellus@vikingcruises.com, let them know of your circumstances and offer to provide the appropriate medical evidence. Passengers who request the credit will receive it by email on April 13. CC Help Jenn Norwegian is offering passengers a full refund for cruises during the 30-day shutdownor a future cruise credit of as much as150% of the value of the canceled cruisethat can be used through Dec. 31, 2022. Be careful that it is not tied to any pre-existing conditions. You'll want to be able to pounce at the very best offers. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Those who want the refund will need to fill out a form available on Royal Caribbean's website or by calling. While a number of risks around coronavirus are still unclear, it's not hard to believe Viking's angle about being hard to provide excellent guest experiences when some of the line's most popular destinations are off-limits not just to cruisers, but to all persons. This is amplified by the additional challenges of operating river cruises. What about other regulations that cruise lines have had to follow? Royal Caribbean said it would conclude its sailings as scheduled. 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? Refunds are made based on the cancellation conditions. As a private company with strong finances, we do not have to worry about quarterly profit expectations and that flexibility allows us the ability to do what is best for our guests and our employees, as we have always done. 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. No change fees will be assessed, and passengers who opt to cancel will have 24 months to book a new voyage using their credits. 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. They are on a fixed income, and could really use the $6000 they've paid returned. 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. Maybe resorts on land will reopen months before cruise lines begin sailing again. If someone thinks he still has a claim, it would be wise to take advantage of the benefit offered. 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. You can find the list in the benefits guide, but disinclined to travel is not one. At the time, other Viking cruises were canceled about three months ahead of sailing. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. 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. We just canceled, so I havent seen our voucher contract yet. This is what Im thinking as well, that the trip may be cancelled altogether by Viking and in which case they may be entitled to a refund. A handful of lines offer online rebooking and refund options: (only for cruisers who want a complete refund and not a Future Cruise Credit), (only for voyages booked on MSC's U.S. website). (Updated 1:26 p.m. EDT) Hundreds of thousands of travelers have been affected by the global travel restrictions that began back in March, imposed as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, as countries around the world continue to place restrictions on leisure and business travel in an effort to curb the effects of the virus. On my recent cruise on Anthem of the Seas in Norway, the ship left at 3 pm. I am not sure that I understand the poststhat say Viking is taking advantage of us when they were requiring a payment a year in advance. 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. Find the right card for you. "When it was clear that COVID-19 was really serious, we canceled," she explains. 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. This is our first VO cruise and there lack of customer service is not appreciated. While cruise deposits historically were refundable, more cruise lines have begun to offer nonrefundable deposit options. Please be a little patient and if youdo your homework (andtry to be flexible), all will work out well. 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. And they're making the offers enticing. Just a matter of time before official announcement. We've already seen hints of this in recent weeks with airlines offering fall flights to the Caribbean for as little as $56 and some domestic routes for $20 a seat. Plus Ups are excluded. If Viking cancels a pre- or post- cruise experience, a refund of monies paid will be available. What are the pros and cons of a refundable cruise deposit? Then again, they might not. 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 continuing battle against the coronavirus pandemic. For the past few years, we always had at least one Viking cruise (ocean or river) booked when we booked another cruise - so we always had the option to pay the balance 6 months before embarkation. True, but we should look into all possibilities and let them tell us "no.". By Why you might want to wait to change or cancel your flight or cruise. Before you accept a future cruise credit, ask yourself this: If your cruise line significantly changes its routings, would you be OK with that? As a guest whose cruise falls within this window of suspended operations, we are offering a Future Cruise Voucher valued at 125% of all monies paid to Viking. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. 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? Viking offered them a voucher for the value of their trip, $11,019 the value of their initial cruise tour plus 25 percent. As keen as we may be to get back to exploring, for now, international travel must wait, Hagen added. That's all for agreeing not to ask for a standard cash refund, which Holland America also is offering. For all air-inclusive packages cancelled after issuance of an airline ticket, the air portion of the refund, if any, will be subject . Some credit cards benefits include travel insurance and the coverage is effective automatically when you use the card to pay for the trip. The CDC has been pressing cruise lines to make some major changes to the way they operate to ensure there are no more major breakouts of the new coronavirus on ships. Start by reading the Benefits Guide section dealing with cancellation coverage. Last month, Princess Cruises canceled sailings for most of its ships through December. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. 1) Viking like every other cruise line is in business to make money. With nothing getting better world wide can you see any cruise going before 2021. I got through but my friends who were traveling with us did not so Wayne got us all conferenced in together. 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. 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. 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. Since we started Viking nearly 23 years ago, we have always cared first and foremost about our guests and our employees. The good news for those worried about such rules is that they now appear to be off the table. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. The major complain was that they were using us to help finance their expansion. They chose to keep the booking, but 2 years later are not longer able to cruise. U.S. ships currently at sea will continue on schedule. 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. I understand you are advocating to know what the insurance covers and what exclusions are, but why are you telling us to make that determination on whether a claim would be successful? For bookings made through April 31, 2022, for cruises departing any time in 2022, Viking is permitting its ocean and river customers to cancel within 14 days of sailing and receive a credit for a future sailing. Depending on the cruise line, if you do decide to cancel, your deposit will likely be issued to you in the form of a future cruise credit (less a cancellation fee), in place of a cash refund. In 2019, airlines canceled nearly 135,000 flights. Future cruise voucher at 125% or 100% cash refund. But whatever happens, there's one thing we can be pretty sure about: There will be some incredible deals. 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. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"5YFK4ZwVWpG_2z6rDcSdiRVz3lCn4ORteBcFe43K3J4-1800-0"}; What should you do if your cruise line cancels your sailing due to the coronavirus pandemic? This is a decision we made with a heavy heart, but with present circumstances what they are, we are unable to deliver the high-quality Viking experience for which we are known. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. That's $1,500 in extra value -- a 37.5% return on the original payment of $4,000 -- just for letting the cruise company hold onto the original payment for another year or two. Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles. 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