seven1113

On 8/26/2022 at 1:09 AM, Hflors said:

Sitting here thinking about my upcoming cruise and looking around realizing that there is no one to share all the planning and selecting of tours, dinners, packages etc.  Before my husband passed, we always did this together.  I always printed the list of tours and then he would read it over and together we would decide on what tours we wanted to do and what places we would just do a diy day.   What nights we would do specialty dinners and what night we would go to the dining room or buffet after a long day.  Now it's just me and there is no more discussions and decisions shared.  It's just me trying to make all the decisions alone.  For me this is the hardest.  Since I have actually never been on a cruise yet by myself, I really don't know how being alone on the ship will be.  I am bringing my crocheting and a couple of good books just in case I get lonely.

 

So what do you find the hardest about cruising solo??

 

 

Hello. I am in the same position you are. I call it the Noah's arc syndrome. The 2x2....

Here i am now on the MSC Seascape. New line, very european, not happy with my choice that i made because it was cheap.

It is a west bound trNsatlantic. Seas days, and all.

So many people are foreign. I am isolated. This was not a good choice. Currently researching more for solo ideas. Also booked on vantage antarctica in late january 2023. 15 solo cabins onboard. Fingers are crossed....

On 11/24/2020 at 3:16 PM, Host Jazzbeau said:

My TA just called to say that Ponant has finally canceled our Le Bellot New Zealand Jan. 30, 2021 cruise.  This is the second cancellation, so we are demanding our money back.  Will update this thread with developments...

All good here. Refund through ponant on its way. when it arrives, i will be happy..... Carolyn

19 hours ago, Porcupine 52 said:

Thank you so much. She woke me up at 10 pm confused and with a headache. Not unusual because she has migraines in the passed. But I called 911. It took 10 minutes for paramedics to get to our house. They lost her on the way to hospital. Massive brain aneurism   She didn’t suffer 

I am so sorry for you for your loss. My husband had been ill for about three years with cancer.  It really makes no difference if the passing is sudden or not, at least to me. Your loss is so sad and I extend my sincerest condolences. You just do not know what is around the corner. Maybe this will all clear up soon, and although different, you will travel again. No one can tell you how or when to grieve, it is certainly a personal experience.  Be well and stay safe.

Carolyn

Thank you all for your comments. They are each appreciated.

This is  what I wrote to the better business bureau in california today. they have over 54 complaints about Viking. The rating of Viking is 1.45  !

If there was a zero, I would use that.
My anxiety and stress started with Viking last March. As the pandemic hit, Viking and all cruise lines were cancelling trips. Foolishly on my part, I took action and cancelled just a few days before they cancelled my trip. Thus, I received a 50% refund and a useless, voucher for $13,408.00. I consider that a lot of money.
Briefly as I can, here is what happened. I have sailed with Viking many times before, the last trip was with my beloved husband, a thirty day trip. After this, his cancer returned, and he passed away months after the trip. We had planned another Viking trip already, but he died before the trip. SO, I changed what we had planned to another trip to visit Russia and Ukraine.
 My family encouraged me to continue to travel, as I have always traveled. This is the trip they are holding my money for now. I have tried since April4 to retrieve my funds. Chats with Viking. Phone calls with Viking. Sending 42 pages of documentation to VISA. Contacting the Attorney General of California pleading for help. Posting on Cruise Critic. Thinking about starting or joining a class action suit against Viking.
Meanwhile Viking continues to build a ship, advertise on TV and take thousand of dollars from customer as they entice them to travel in the future. I receive slick, expensive brochures from them, people have their jobs in the executive offices, and they continue to collect our money.
Another company who had a deposit of mine returned the funds with one call, although it is not their policy, they are Ponant Cruises. Qantas airlines is sending a 100% refund, a they cancelled my air to Australia. Two gracious companies. NOT VIKING.
During these unprecedented times, they are, so far being very stubborn, and unprofessional. They will loose customers. I am in no position to give a free loan to any company, with no interest. Help,,, anyone,, they are being horrible. If they go bankrupt, then what?

Thank you both to responding. I need to let my voucher go at a discount. do you anyone to do this. Viking has given me permission to transfer it to anyone I want to. I have been fighting them since march. A class action suit would be a great idea NOW. they are building a new ship or more, taking more deposits on trips that may never go, making money all over, and we are giving them loans, interest free. E m a i l me if you wish, ....s e v e n 1 1 1 3 at g m a i l    dot .....    a great deal awaits !!

Hello,

I am interested in talking with others who hold viking cruise ship future cruise vouchers.

I am "booked" on the Bellot for January 30, 2021 to February 22nd or so, for two cruises. Ponant has said nothing as far as change, and cancellation for anyone in the US. My airline already cancelled, and obviously I will not be travelling to New Zealand... So, thank you for the information. The website for the US still has my cruises listed, it was never changed.

On 11/12/2020 at 10:26 PM, crazydoc42 said:

Hello jland,

I have just received notification that our Antarctic Ponant cruise has been cancelled , no surprises there as it is only 2 months away.! Now of course they want to offer us a future cruise credit. I am expecting a battle with them & honestly I feel a bit tired as Ive already battled several other companies... Could you please share with me how you managed to get a refund? Id love to think we will be travelling again soon but  realistically it may not be for 2-3 years minimum so Id like our money back . WE live in South Australia & booked this trip whilst on board a Kimberley Cruise with them  in 2019 - which was fantastic ! Any information you can share would be much appreciated. Cheers

Hello,

 I am going to be in the same boat,, no pun intended as you, fairly soon. I am booked on back to back January 30, 2021 on the Le Bellot, which I know is not sailing in New Zealand now and will not be, followed by the sub Antartica voyage. I am just waiting to see what happens, I know it will no be good....Good luck to you , keep posting

My goodness,

 You are so helpful. Ponant has done nothing to contact me or my travel agent. They are holding back on everyone. This is terrible of the company. You have been very helpful, I am printing the articles so I have them.

Thank you so much,, Wendy woo.

Hello wendy woo and all on here

Ponant has now delayed their "decision" on the sub antartica feb8, 2021 cruise until dec. 30, or maybe before.   Ponant has has my huge deposit for a really long time. I will accept nothing less then a full refund from the company. My airline, Qantas has already graciously canceled my flights and is giving me a full refund. No questions asked. I do not want to "LOAN" Ponant my deposit. I have already after originally, booking a back to back Antaritica exploration, leaving from South America, been told that the ship I was on was hired out as a private cruise, so I got bounced around  and ended up with a different cruise. I was supposed to travel nov, 2020. I wanted to see the eclipse in south America, and that would not have happened, because they changed my plans after months of planning. 

 At this point I cannot get to New Zealand or Australia, but as far as I know, they are keeping everyone's money,,,pay the people working there, build a ship?? Will I ever travel with them, I doubt it. This can go on for years and thy can go bankrupt like any company or change and puff, there goes our money.  So, nice Ne Zealand person, any ideas? Thank you for listening.

I am angry at viking as well. I canceled just before they did , and I received my 50 percent refund. Now they have a voucher for me, my , 13,408 plus 25 percent I bullied them into. Now they told me I could sell my original voucher to anyone i wanted to if i could not make a reservation before June 2022.  I will be 72 by then and while I was planning a trip since september, 2018, my husband passed away, I changed the trip. Now they have my money and I have a useless piece of paper. Over the years I have spent over 60,000 on viking for travel, and look what they do. Nothing. They are as scared as we are of covid. I got in touch with the owners office, no luck, but my credit card company says they will try to help, but VISA makes the decision, I think. Have to wait it out. NOT HAPPY.

Hello, Carolyn here, I am on that cruise with you. I also  got the dec. 30 2020, date. The only problem is,, I got a call and email from Qantas, my airline, and they have canceled my flights to New Zealand , I was starting in Australia as well, so I have no way of getting there. Qantas is graciously sending me a full refund because they canceled the flights. So, Ponant is on alert as far as I am concerned.

please keep up on here to let us know how refunds are being handled.

Please send me replies

Someone on here got in touch with the attorney general from New York State. Then the AG from NY called Catherine Brin, and was granted the refund. Ponant made my reservation through the AMERICAN office, so you  might try this.

My airline already canceled my flights and graciously is sending a full refund, so I cannot get there. NO US citizens allowed in australia or new zealand.

On 10/15/2020 at 7:52 PM, jpalbny said:

They did the same thing for our (no longer) upcoming November cruise, also on Le Bellot. When my TA called, she was told that Ponant had changed the final payment date from 90d prior, to 30d prior. Ultimately they canceled prior to the new final payment date.

Did you ask for a refund?

On 10/15/2020 at 12:26 PM, Host Jazzbeau said:

I'm booked on the Jan. 30, 2021 New Zealand cruise on Le Bellot – the cruise isn't going to happen, but I don't blame Ponant for holding onto hope because I really would prefer to go than to have it cancelled.  But I was unhappy that final payment is coming up on Nov. 1.

 

So I'm happy to report that my TA checked and was told that they have changed the final payment to Dec. 31.  I don't know if this is because she asked or if it is a new general policy.  But at least we know that you can get a 30-day final payment date!

Hello, Carolyn here, I am on that cruise with you. I also  got the dec. 30 2020, date. The only problem is,, I got a call and email from Qantas, my airline, and they have canceled my flights to New Zealand , I was starting in Australia as well, so I have no way of getting there. Qantas is graciously sending me a full refund because they canceled the flights. So, Ponant is on alert as far as I am concerned.

I have heard nothing and my travel agent has not told me anything. I was supposed to be on and Antarctica trip for 15 days in November 2020, which is not going, after Ponant booked me on b2b and cancelled one half of it because a Chinese group booked and wanted the whole ship,,, well that did not work either I did not get 20 percent of anything. I do not like the company policy, they refused to give me my money back, and a paper FCC is just that, a piece of paper. Useless. So, I signed up on the Bellot for b2b , the cruise we are both on and the new Zealand wild tour on the Bellot after this one. I do  not want to go on another ship. I do not want to go because it is too dangerous with all the infection around the world!! I want my money back, really, and when things calm down, maybe I will want to go somewhere again. What a mess, we are all in a horrible, tragically sad mess.

On ‎9‎/‎15‎/‎2020 at 8:26 PM, Host Jazzbeau said:

I'm continually amazed by the drastic differences in the way different countries are treating tourism.  My New Zealand cruise on Ponant at the end of January seems totally unlikely.  But I got an email from a land tour company yesterday telling me that Galapagos is completely open to US tourists for land tours!

Hello. I am also booked with Ponant on the Bellot, End of January to New Zealand on Back to back with the wild south of New Zealand trip. Do you think there is any way New Zealand is going to let in Americans to do these cruises?  I am holding QANTAS FLIGHTS AS WELL, , wonder when they will let me know I cannot fly with them. Any news would be very helpful. Thank you.

On ‎10‎/‎11‎/‎2019 at 6:28 AM, Nanna Fru said:

Seven 1113, we have just done both these cruises. The Ukraine one is a real eye opener, but some of the optional extras in Ukraine are a "bit dodgy" as the country is not set up for Tourism really, and I think that Viking must have had to book in a certain number of outings to get their licence. The country is quite poor, and the streets and buildings are not well maintained, but its a beautiful place. In Kiev, take a walk to the Friendship Arch - its easy to find then down the back way and across the suspension bridge to the beach. We also missed out on one of the museums in Odessa, took a map instead and did a 4 mile walk to find the beach on the Black Sea - well worth the walk.  I highly recommend the Opera House in Odessa - its worth it just to see the interior even if you are not a Ballet or Opera Fan. You will LOVE the activites coordinator, Oliver. Wonderful man. Also, don't miss the Cossack Horseback show - its brilliant.  In Russia make sure you go to the Folk Concert and the Cossack Music show, take the subway, and if you can, do the Moscow by night tour. Its a bit rushed but the views are amazing. Enjoy.

Thank you and everyone else for the great info. on this trip. I just found out some of my relatives are from the Ukraine, just do not know where yet. They were also from Lithuania, Latvia and Russia.

Carolyn

On 10/11/2019 at 6:22 AM, Nanna Fru said:

Those Moscow Subways are amazing. Its so easy to get around, and many of them have English names on the maps. Many russians spoke some English, but take Google Translate and its simple.  I found there were too many museums,  and too many churches - all stunning, but how many can you visit?  If I could go back, I would do more exploring on our own, there are some amazing places to see. 

Yes, both with Viking. Thank you for your positive comments.

5 hours ago, Horsedds said:

Seven1113, you will love this trip!!  Wish I were going back again!!

Thank you for the encouragement. Before this one I will be on St. Petersburg to Moscow. Then I will fly to Kiev. It is a plan.

Hello.

I just booked the 2020 june15 trip Kiev to bucharest. Looking forward to an interesting sail to a new country for me.

Carolyn

What a wonderful thread. Thank you all for organizing and sharing your information. We are scheduled to sail on frances finest, sept 17, 2019. Paris to Avignon.

Have not read the entire thread yet, but I will.

Larry and Carolyn