Squawkman

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Yes. And don’t forget to buy $200 certificates for $100 which you can also apply. We did this in April which saved a net additional $100pp off cruise fare and $200pp SBC for an 8 day Iceland cruise.

Well, I don't know why I'm wasting my time when you call me names, but I looked at your first post - you didn't say how you got the voucher your insurance didn't cover in the first place. Most (if not all) of us assumed from the sketchy details you provided it was a voucher from a cruise Viking cancelled - most likely due to covid. When Heidi13 responded about cash vs. voucher and you responded (#8 and #9), you didn't state then that your only option was a voucher. You also make several other incorrect statements - one notably that Viking is a corporation. Times up. Take your marbles and go home.

Stop digging yourself deeper. Viking policies work both ways. The laws work both ways. There was no obfuscation, no moral theft, no predatory behavior. You took advantage of 125% credit rather than 100% cash back. Sure, I put myself in your place and would be just as angry if I lost that much money. Your experience made me realize even more that this situation may happen to me if I can’t follow through on a voucher-funded cruise booked for next year. On the other side of the coin, we came down with Covid at the beginning of a 2 week VO cruise last year. We were quarantined 12 of the 15 days - and were treated very well for something that was not directly Viking’s fault. And we’ve had a few other experiences where Viking bent over backwards to compensate us. Please chalk it up to experience and move on.

The “welcome back” discount now makes more sense than ever. If you book with a Viking agent within 14 days of disembarkation, you’ll get $200 pp SBC regardless of cruise length and other discounts. We just did this 2 weeks ago.

FWIW, the magic date is November 1, 2021. Any vouchers applied to bookings from that date on cannot be transferred to another booking. Prior to that date, it was easy to cancel and rebook using the same voucher. We were supposed to go to Iceland last August, but cancelled 36 hours before embarkation when my wife broke a toe. We had no penalty, and we’re able to apply that voucher to a cruise we’re doing next January. If for some reason we can’t do that cruise, we will be SOL as the booking was made after 10/31/21.

On our BIE, we had a second chance shortly after we left Dover.

One month ago on this itinerary we were booked for the 8:30 Bergen included excursion and had to wait in the Atrium over 20 minutes to leave the ship. Be careful.

I had the chicken parm exactly 4 weeks ago on the Venus. Excellent as it always has been.

We might have to get used to paying more for air. I checked a few Viking Ocean Europe itineraries and noticed that air was increased this month. Med Odyssey and British Isles went from $1,299 to $1,499; Iceland’s Natural Beauty increased from $999 to $1,299; and there are probably more.

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All DV6s are on Deck 3; DV1s can be facing he back or on Decks 7 and 8. Other DVs are on other decks. It’s only location.

We bought vouchers this past April and it was very clear that they can be used on new bookings only. The cruise director stated that plus - if I remember correctly - it was listed on the screen at the director’s presentation.

I’m with Sharkster. Earlier PIF alone is not a strong enough reason to blow off Viking. Plus those of us who like Viking usually have a cruise booked before booking another which entitles you to PIF 6 months before embarkation (if you ask for it). Viking flash sales and promo codes most often cover way more than lost bank interest. Everything about both Viking ocean and river cruises works for us. And anytime we had an issue, Viking customer relations has made good to provide credit. Friends of ours didn’t watch dates on a voucher and lost a lot of money - unfortunate, but the policy was clear - this was not arrogance. And I’m certainly glad we declined the invitation to join other friends on a Vantage river cruise.

Jim - Did you write about your HAL experience on CC?

CDN - when you applied vouchers to cruises booked but not paid, did you use a travel agent or Viking agent?

CDN - maybe ok for Canadians? Please let the us know what you find out.

Just got back from a 2 week cruise on the Venus. The internet was very limited. While we were able to text, email and use WiFi calling with no issues, sending images and accessing most web pages were at best slow and usually timed out. In some cases, I would text a picture and get a message it wasn’t sent - when in fact the person did receive it. This was our 10th Viking cruise, and while I had intermittent problems on the other 9, I didn’t experience this kind of limitation as I did on the Venus in every port and at sea. Anyone else experience this?

No and no since any cruise is more than $200pp.

Many important emails - including one from Viking a few months ago - have wound up in my junk box. Good chance that’s where they first landed.

I’m not quarreling - Baron B did not state the specifics which make sense - another reader here viewed this as a quarrel. I was only trying to let readers know Viking does in fact provide nonstop NY to LA.

Your original post said: You didn’t specify a time period or business class in your original post. you clearly stated Viking has no contracts for nonstops. We are flying nonstop EWR - LA economy outside your time window- which is our original assigned flight (no air+).

Point of information - Viking’s tulip cruise is 9 nights (not 7).

Viking does have direct flights between LAX and EWR (Newark) on United.

You didn’t mention that not requiring Covid vaccination becomes effective November 1. So if this upsets anyone to the point they don’t want to travel, there’s time to get your money back.