Bentwaters

Steve,

If we buy Trip Insurance before final payment and cruise line cancels cruise after final payment, will I get insurance premium back if I don't take any offer from cruise line except full refund and end up doing no travel at all relative to that trip? Please provide answer for both cruise line insurance policy and for Allianz.

Doug

Just disembarked the Viking Alruna three hours ago.  We made it all the way and on time ... B to A.  Yesterday the river in the Netherlands almost looked like the ocean with the winds causing some moderate sized waves.  Our stop at the windmills of Kinderdijk was basically a disaster because of the weather ... moderate to heavy rain at times with wind gusts up to 40 mph.  Some brave souls did venture out on the scheduled walking tour to and amid the windmills.  They got drenched.

I did notice river traffic seemed to be picking up quite a bit yesterday ... Friday.  That may have an impact on riverboat itineraries ... I don't know who has priority at the locks.  I asked an Alruna staff member how long it would take to sail from B to A without stops ... he said no more than three days.  Based on that, I would expect that the operators could make it all the way now but could have to exercise the option of skipping a stop or two if river traffic did slow them down.

Doug

21 minutes ago, peasmith said:

Miracles do happen! A friend was in Strasbourg last week whilst visiting family in Mannheim and I asked her to do a rain dance whilst she was there and looks like it worked!

Yes ... her rain dance worked.  We stayed on board the boat while other passengers went in to see the Christmas Market in Strasbourg  ... they came back drenched ... soaked to the skin.  But some good news and libations raised everyone's spirits.

Doug

Just received word less than an hour ago that the Viking Alruna is going all the way from Basel to Amsterdam.  We left Basel on Dec 1st.  It rained heavily while we were at Strasbourg.  Our cruise director called it a "Christmas miracle" and it does seem to be one.  The day before we left we were told there was an 80% chance we would change boats.  Now we can completely unpack our suitcases.

Doug

13 minutes ago, kimshoes said:

We are scheduled to depart December 14 on Viking Eir from Basel to Amsterdam. 

I haven’t read much on this thread regarding Viking and how they are managing their cruises with the river levels being so low. When I looked at the Eir on cruisemapper a few days ago it appeared to be in Amsterdam and that is where it is now. 

This will be our 3rd Christmas market cruise and that is our only reason to be going so we will be very disappointed if markets are cut out of the trip (especially Colmar and Strasbourg) 

Anyone here on Viking on the Rhine now, or just returning?

Thanks to all who have provided such excellent information. 

We are booked on the Viking Alruna which is scheduled to leave Basel on Dec 1st.  We have not heard anything lately from Viking except the usual welcoming type emails and excursion booking reminder ones.  We did, though, receive one email a couple weeks ago advising us of low water levels and we might have to experience some deviations from the planned itinerary ... no specifics ... just a heads-up that we may encounter some itinerary changes.

Bentwaters