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. 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. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 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. Our reservations team is currently in the process of issuing 125% Future Cruise Vouchers. Maybe after a 2-year period? While large ships set sail in Germany and Taiwan in July with more planned to hit the Mediterranean later this month, others have run into COVID-19 outbreaks onboard. 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. A refund request form will be made available on the company's website on March 23. For now, travel is about armchair exploration - and planning for better days ahead. 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. How Reassuring are New Cruise Cancellation Policies Really? Does anyone have any advice on how they might be able to be refunded? No change fees will be assessed, and passengers who opt to cancel will have 24 months to book a new voyage using their credits. And the Cruise Lines International Association, whose members include major cruise lines all over the world, has said its members agreed to voluntarily suspend U.S. sailings through at least Oct. 31. Separately, the remaining 28 guests will also be quarantined. The US state department is not relevant to any of us. We are fronting them interest free money ----- what part of that is OK with you? Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. My stance is that since the money is already paid for (either purchased insurance or through credit card benefits), file a claim and let the insurance company make the determination. MY TA has inquired about our cruise from Viking and all she isgetting is wait and see. I realize that to this point Viking has. jtslattery, August 30, 2021 in Viking Ocean. We have a Viking cruise departing in September and the lack of communication from Viking is surprising. What should you do if your cruise line cancels your sailing due to the coronavirus pandemic? //. Right now I feel fairly confident that the upcoming cruise from Denmark to Bergen will be cancelled . By The company said it would contact those passengers directly to provide details. CC Help Jenn Two of its ships, the Diamond Princess and the Grand Princess, have experienced outbreaks of coronavirus in recent weeks in Japan and California, respectively. We are very pleased. A significant cruise fare discount is the main reason to book a fare with a nonrefundable deposit; sometimes you can save hundreds of dollars per person on cruise costs. So who knows. The company will continue to . These conditions include: Record high temperatures, Record low precipitation, Falling river levels and Numerous forest fires. As of now, the 30-day moratorium on cruises ends on April 10. If possible they would have to provide the documentation to the insurance company. Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. Future Cruise Sales on Celebrity Solstice. But the Holy Land cruise starts in about 10 days, and (incredibly) theyre still selling it on their website. Related: Some cruise ships could be laid up for months. Take advantage of that. When Are Cruise Lines Around the World Expected To Resume Service? The difference of the discount can be used to purchase a travel insurance policy, which might cover you after final payment, if you are forced to cancel. I don't think it's false hope when we need an official confirmation. Unless passenger numbers are so low the cruise is cancelled, without insurance your parents are not likely to get a refund. But by then, the price increase had claimed the voucher plus an extra $628. Started June 21, 2021, By While you wait to be contacted, consider what you want, given what your cruise line is offering (see our handy guide, above). American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. I really don't think Viking is waiting until the deadline for you to get the refund. However, if you prefer the alternative, you may choose a refund equal to the amount paid, by contacting your Travel Agent by April 6, 2020. Powered by Invision Community. 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. That's the new plan at Carnival. 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. This Royal Caribbean Announcement Will Make You Cry - And We're Going to Get Up Close to Bring You More. As tempting as the future cruise credits that lines are offering may be, we recommend taking the cash refund if your cruise is canceled. And our TA has been wrong about other things. Get a No-Obligation Quote from a Great Agent. 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. Just know going into it what is covered, what is not, and under what conditions. CruiseHabit.com was created by Billy Hirsch. We had booked a September 2021 Ukraine river cruise in March 2019(right as the pandemic started thinking that it would be over by September 2021) that we had paid in full. And that doesn't count the host of flight delays that caused cruise passengers to literally miss the boat. Currently, there are no blanket cancellations for Carnival cruises. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. 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 not looking any better this summer, either, with staffing shortages and continuing COVID-19 outbreaks. My hope is to get our money back but FCC two years out is acceptable. Most unfortunate that they didn't protect their investment with travel insurance. Nonrefundable cruise deposits are usually associated with promotions and offers that not only provide fare discounts, but potentially onboard credit and other added-value perks. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. And you cant file on insurance since its not officially cancelled. Also, some cruise lines only offer nonrefundable deposits for suite-level cabin categories or .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;}guarantee rooms. A reasonably intelligent person can read the terms of a credit card benefit guide. Eight Diamond Princess passengers have died. On March 11, we were the first cruise line to announce a temporary suspension of operations through April 30, 2020. Otherships currently at sea will operate their itineraries as planned. If you have the time I would say hang onto the money until you know they are up and running and then book. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Have more questions? If not, by all means file the claim; but reading the terms might save you from false hope or wasting your time. 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. Our money was refunded by Tuesday. And in Norway, two different cruise lines experienced outbreaks of COVID-19 with expedition line Hurtigruten suspending most of its operations after dozens of crew members and several passengers became sick following two different sailings; and the SeaDream Yacht Club placing its passengers and crew under quarantine after a passenger from a previous sailing tested positive for the virus. 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. In the OP'ers case, the parents opted to rebook to a later cruise (2022), so have already used any FCV that was issued. 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. But here's our advice: Skip the future cruise credits. Viking owes you nothing. Also, after all is clear here, you still don't know if all will be clear at your destination. Everything else apples to apples. We are a private, closely-held company, which means we do not have to rush the decision to return to service.. We will stand by our guests, employees and partners in these challenging times and hope that they in turn will stand by us. will respond. Did your cruise just get canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak? $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. 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. In one sense, a Viking cruise is like any other vacation: It's what you make of it. 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. The booking must be cancelled before applying for a refund. Maybe Viking has some special deal with Israel. Don't -- Chances are, your voyage will be one of dozens that are canceled at the same time. Maximum flexibility in this situation is critical, as there's no way of knowing now what trips will be available when travel begins to resume and at what price. Checking our news page is a great way to stay abreast of the latest cancellations, policy changes and itinerary impacts. As long as this continues they will continue to earn my business. My problem is a FCC is only good if Viking is still in business for the next 2 years. We received no communication from them one way or the other, so we bailed and reluctantly took the voucher. They may operate fewer of their ships in Asia, Europe and South America -- or refocus vessels in those regions to local markets. If however it would accellerate consumer confidence once things start to return to normal, it could prove beneficial. Recent updates have been made to cancellation schedules and refund guidelines for various cruise lines. 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. (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. This is amplified by the additional challenges of operating river cruises. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Started August 27, 2021, By The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. There are generally two types of cruise deposits: refundable and nonrefundable. Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration have been permanently retired. Viking cruises have been canceled since March when it became the first major cruise line to cancel operations at the start of the coronavirus outbreak. In most cases, cruise lines are still awaiting guidance from local governing bodies about how to proceed. 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. 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? 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? 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. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. In regulatory filings over the past two months, cruise giant Carnival Corp. has said it was burning through $1 billion a month. Passengers who want refunds should call the company or fill out an online form. 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. Why you might want to wait to change or cancel your flight or cruise. To check what makes the most sense for you, and if your cruise deposit is refundable, read the following information compiled by Cruise Critic. What was a bust? This has always been Vikings ambition and will remain so. You may be getting an offer from the cruise line that seems almost too good to be true: If you agree not to ask for an immediate refund, the company will give you a "future cruise credit" worth significantly more than what you originally paid for the trip. To a refund request form will be made available on the company said it contact! Cruise deposit is like any other vacation: it & # x27 ; s not looking better... With Viking waiting until the deadline for you to get the refund, low. 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide most of its ships through December that are canceled at same... Could prove beneficial request form will be cancelled before applying for a.! Awaiting guidance from local governing bodies about how to proceed checking our news page is a FCC is worth. Clause to the coronavirus outbreak is a great way to stay abreast of the cruise is any. 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