Don't cancel, he says -- you may be penalized. Thanks! 2022 will be an exciting year for the cruise line as they launch two new ventures with voyages on the Mississippi . Viking Cruises' websitestates that "low water levels will affect select river itineraries." Very disappointed with Viking. "You dock early, spend all day enjoying a city, then go back to the boat at the end of the day and sail on. River cruise alterations tend to be very last-minute, because they depend on water levels and rain. The cruise line said it was evaluating 2022 itineraries that visit Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. Very disappointed in Viking.In October 2019, while on our second Viking World Cruise, Viking announced and gave first opportunity to those on our cruise to be the first to travel to Antarctica on their brand new expedition ship. Scenic. Today, 1/22/22 I contacted Viking Cruise lines about canceling a river cruise to France for this June, plenty of days before the cancellation date, and was told that I could not get ALL my money back. Unfortunately, this means that some staterooms need to be cancelled, and we are contacting you today because yours is among them.. That would be fine if you were using insurance to help replace losses of tens of thousands but it isn't fair if you haven't even gone on the cruise! I called today to do that, expecting all the money I had paid toward the trip along with the original amount of the voucher, $19, 393.50, not the 125% ($24, 241.88) of it back. Somecanals have also been closed. 3. ", But she warns that, with the climate crisis, Europe's traditional river cruising is "definitely going to suffer" and predicts "the industry is likely to reset as a result. Even then, it could be difficult to load and unload passengers, as they'll have to navigate steep walks on and off the boat. Also Check: Do Alaskan Cruises Have Pools. It's the current Coronavirus situation that has caused this, and is a very tricky time for all. Fleetwide operations were planned to resume on October 1, 2020. Please note that Viking is in the process of notifying guests about these changes to the Viking Health & Safety Program, as well as updating specific requirements for all voyages across documents channels, including on MyVikingJourney.com. Other lines have cancelled but Viking get to keep our $10,000 because we don't want to run the risk of a breakthrough infection or of passing on the virus! Passengers from across the country say theyve received letters from the cruise company informing them their reservation, paid for more than two years in advance, had been canceled just days ahead of departure. Our team is actively monitoring the situation and is in close contact with our field offices in the region. Walking to my stateroom the first day, the corridor was so peaceful with the soft lighting and easy and attractive decor. Details of cruise restart dates are below, along with each line's current regulations regarding vaccination, Covid-19 testing and the wearing of face masks. We saw all of the major sites, including the Great Wall, the Terra Cotta Warriors and a sail on the Yangtze to the Three Gorges Dam. We did the Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam, Netherlands route with stops in Breisach, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Cologne , Strasbourg and Kinderdijk . We could not get a negative covid test in time for that trip and so we had to . 2 Viking River Cruises canceled all Russian river cruises and its planned Kyiv, Black Sea & Bucharest routes this year due to the events. At this time, we expect the ship will resume its scheduled operations on February 18, 2023. If I read it correctly, he didnt get the voucher money back. "If low (or high) water prevents passage at a certain point, the line simply moves the downstream sailing passengers (and their luggage) to the upstream ship and vice versa. 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Bookings made by September 30, 2020, receive USD 2000 pp in shore excursion credit plus USD 1000 pp in OBC . Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. It may not be as romantic, but it's effective. In 2021, the cruise line plans to launch their seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus. Viking Cruises has cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Three major cruise lines have canceled sailings on a combined 18 ships as COVID-19 continues to. Chef Nicholas served delicious meals daily, and the local wine flowed freely. Further details can be found here. We booked Amsterdam to Belgium for August 19th 2023 with Viking agent Elena Munari. (Dave Kettering/Telegraph Herald via AP) A Viking river cruise ship heading . Guests may choose to sail the Viking Sky from Dec. 20, 2023, or Viking Neptune, leaving Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 23, 2023. We booked a river cruise (Danube) for March 2022. For anyone who has China on their bucket list, Viking offers a great way to see many of the major sites in one trip. ", "Travel has a front row seat as climate change unfolds in the destinations we visit and, if this becomes a standard summer, it will massively impact our industry. That's the opinion of Susanne Etti, environmental impact manager atIntrepid Travel, who calls this summer "a wake-up call for the entire sector." My second Viking Cruise was with my husband, Todd and we sailed on the 8-day Danube Waltz Cruise with stops in Passau , Linz, Melk, Vienna , Bratislava , and Budapest . Impacted travelers will be contacted by the cruise line. Last week, the cruise line cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary and said it was evaluating 2022 sailing that call in Russia. St. Louis Park man killed cousin, local chef outside St. Paul funeral reception, charges say So what will happen this year? Jan. 17, 2022 Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises have canceled several trips as the Omicron variant continues to wreak havoc with the cruise industry. Atlas Ocean Voyages, a luxe expedition cruise line based in Florida, is adjusting two of its late-summer Baltic itineraries. If you have any questions or need further information please contact Reservations at 1-877-523-0579 or email customerrelations@vikingcruises.com, Monday Friday, 6:00 AM 6:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 AM 4:00 PM, PT. "Travelers flew to Budapest, from where they were taken to Komarno by bus, and they were bussed back to Budapest the next day for their city tour, only to return to the ship by bus after the tour.". The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that such a measure is no longer necessary, citing that the pandemic has shifted to a new phase because of the effectiveness of vaccines, therapeutics and high rates of immunity at the population level in the U.S. All bookings made by April 30, 2020, received Risk-Free Guarantee that allows penalty-free cruise cancellation up to 24 hours prior departure. All crew members as well as passengers were tested for Covid daily, and we all wore our masks except for eating or drinking. Now, this all takes up to 21 days to process. "I think canals are a no-go," says Weeden, about the future. The cruise line is offering a 125% future cruise credit, which can be used on any future . The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customers satisfaction. I even took a picture at night showing the lighting from the ceiling. Our Danube River cruises deliver you to culture-rich banks, from scenic vineyards to spectacular monasteries and elegant cities . Water levels on the Rhine River are set to fall close to the point where the river cannot hold ships anymore. Signature destinations include Central America, Panama Canal transit, USA West Coast, Hawaii, Transpacific crossing to New Zealand and Australia, Asia, Middle East, Suez Canal transit to Europe and the UK. The numbers of COVID-19 cases reported on cruise ships are stacking up again: At least 50 cases of COVID -19 on Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas. And our award-winning bathrooms feature large glass-enclosed showers with easy-to-see controls, premium Freyja toiletries, anti-fog mirrors and heated floors. The letters offered limited explanation except to say that the company wants to ensure its voyages are top quality, and challenging circumstances mean that the Viking Mississippi must sail at reduced capacity. For the past 20 years,Stefano Barborinihas rented boats and taken visitors out on his stretch of the Po, near Parma. The health and safety of all guests and crew at The Scenic Group continues to be at the forefront of all decisions, a spokesperson said. Viking Cruises has cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In many cases, you can cancel on your own and get most, if not all, of your money back but with caveats. WhatsApp. In Italy, the Po is unnavigable in parts. Viking River CruisesOf the lines that have so far made changes, Vikings have been the most extensive, canceling its entire season of Kyiv, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary. The travel insurance was purchased with Tripmate through Viking, Wasserman said. "The distances traveled by river cruise are not very long, so sometimes passengers will even get to see more as buses travel faster," says Clabbers, from personal experience. The voyage starts from Port Everglades on December 24, 2021, and ends in London City England. The price includes business class international air travel, transfers to and from the ship, all shipboard gratuities and services fees, visa services, luggage shipping, and a beverage package. The picture is bleak for all Europe's rivers. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. ", This year, he says, "It started very early -- there was no rain and everything dried up.". Our cruise director, Christine, was especially cheerful and helpful when we had questions. "Our previous World Cruises sold out in a matter of weeks, and we are now seeing more interest in these extended voyages than ever before.". Viking took care of all the details. And of course there's the Danube. WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BOOKINGS? The 2023-2024 Viking World Cruise will sail aboard two different ships, both setting sail on identical itineraries from Fort Lauderdale and leaving within days of each other. Los Angeles (May 19, 2021) - Viking . The line said it was also evaluating 2022 itineraries that call in Russia with the view to modifying them where necessary. Uefa moved footballs Champions League final from St Petersburg to Paris and Formula One cancelled the Russian grand prix, which is reportedly potentially set to move to Turkey. In this Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, photo, the Viking Mississippi cruise ship docks at the Port of Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa. Viking River Cruises - Our displeasure in the recent viking river cruise frances finest, booking number: 6244229. Although there are "no problems" on the Austrian stretch, authorities told CNN last Friday, the situation in Hungary -- perhaps the most famous part of the Danube -- is more concerning. 48 cases confirmed from a sailing Dec. 11 on. Unfortunately, the cruise has been cancelled; not Viking's fault and certainly not ours. Weeden thinks that as Rhine tourism dries up, river cruising companies will look elsewhere.