stlrod

Thanks again to all for your advice.  We went with the Douro May 2025.  Not a bad deal, a $28k value for under $8k ($5k if you include the $3k we were refunded for giving up our cabin.)  And to top it off, we got the Italian vacation in 2023 we wanted (land Rome-Venice-Milan.) 

Thanks to everyone for the very helpful comments.  The pictures and videos have been great.  We are limited to 10 day cruises so our only Rhine option is the Rhine Getaway.  From a value perspective (meaning the one that would be the most expensive), Douro easily wins. We are leaning towards Douro simply for the immersive uniqueness.  When I watched the Rhine videos, it seemed a bit “been there done that” after the Danube and visiting other parts of Germany (villages and towns with cathedrals, etc.) with the exception of the Black Forest so it was helpful to hear people have not enjoyed that excursion.  It did seem like the Douro reviews mention as negatives the bus rides and being moored to other ships at night smelling their exhaust.  Is either of those factors really that bad?

We are 64 and 63 and have been on Tauck on the Danube and loved it.  We had been set to go on the Douro at the beginning of the pandemic but had to cancel it.  Now, we have a free trip on Viking for giving up a cabin and have narrowed our choices to the Douro or the Rhine.  We have heard good things about the Rhine and it looks interesting, especially the Black Forest.  We would love to visit Lisbon/Porto but are afraid we would be bored on the cruise portion.  It would be a Verandah Suite on the Douro and an Explorer Suite on the Rhine.  Anybody care to compare both or offer any suggestions to help us make a decision?

Campo dei Gesuiti 

2 hours ago, May B said:

@stlrod @zalusky 

 

If I might ask yet another question, did you have to select your new cruise, at the very same phone call when you accepted the offer?

My agent told me I would have to by email but 10 minutes afterwards as I was finding something to select, the Viking rep who sent the intial offer contacted me in return to the message I left and said I did not have to and that he's heard agents sometimes tell clients that when it isn't true.  He said I would deal only with him for the rebooking.  He was very nice.

We got the same offer Thursday for the 6/16 Italian Sojourn and jumped on it!

• 100% refund of your paid cruisefare
• Complimentary cruisefare for your new sailing
• USD$3,000.00 refund to assist with canceling your independent travel arrangements
• Complimentary Viking Economy Air for your new sailing
• Complimentary Silver Spirits Beverage Package on your new sailing
• Stateroom Category Upgrade (Up to a Penthouse Jr. Suite on Ocean sailings; up to an Explorer Suite on River sailings)

We only paid $7700 for our cruise and the best part is we called a month ago and practically begged to cancel with a reduced penalty because we wanted to spend time in Venice.

I am so unhappy with the unavailability of excursions on an Italian Sojourn cruise in 67 days, I'm very likely going to cancel and incur a significant penalty and travel from Rome to Venice on my own.  I very much regret booking on Viking.

On 6/27/2022 at 10:33 AM, marieps said:

Sadly my last reservation not paid in full is with a big box TA that doesn't take AMEX.  I am getting a huge shopping card, so there's that.  I did use a similar offer on Oceania.  Different TA. 

I booked through Celebrity and used it for the $500 deposit and then moved it over to big box.  We'll see if that works.

2 hours ago, grandgeezer said:

Why didn’t you just book with the agency to begin with? I can’t believe you would be looking for a lower price the next day, especially so close to final payment.

Never sailed Celebrity before so I called to check on cabin types and prices.  The agent told me there was a concierge class guaranty which I wasn't finding online.  I asked if I could put it on hold and transfer it to a certain big box agency to receive an amenity from them. She said yes, took my $200 and said to wait a day or two before trying to transfer.  When I called to transfer is when I learned that I had to fill out a form and was told it would take up to two weeks to process.  Fortunately, it sounds like it will be a quicker process.  Sorry if trying to save a few hundred under these specific circumstances offends you for some reason.

Thanks all.  I got the online transfer system to recognize me so now I just need to wait to see if mine transfers as quickly as others.  Thanks.  

Unfortunately, my TA (big box) said they cant access it.

I'm trying to transfer a reservation I made yesterday quickly to an agency quickly because final payment is due in 4 days.  I called X last night and was put on hold 6 times as the steps to transfer were explained.  Now the form just tells me that they don't have my reservation in their system when I can see it.  Any one have any ideas?

I have found Uniworld to be very poor when it comes to handling money.  Getting refunds for our Douro cruise in April 2020 was a nightmare.  Nevertheless, I decided to book another trip (Milan/Venice) in July.  We decided to switch to a less expensive date in June and I'm still waiting for a refund of the overpayment 6 weeks after we made the switch.  I'm trying to temper my expectations after only being on Tauck.

We have narrowed our choices for February 2023 to Seabourn Venture and Viking Octantis.  Seabourn has the price advantage by six thousand dollars (plus larger suite) but Viking includes kayak and submarine experiences and is one day longer, cruising Cape Horn.  I have no experience with either.  Leaning towards Seabourn due to price and number of passengers (Viking is high 300s).  Any strong reason to continue to consider Viking?

11 hours ago, May B said:

Have you looked at Crystal Endeavor? 

We did but we are hoping to stay in the 30k range and Crystal starts at about 10k more.  

This has been a great thread.  My spouse and I are trying to decide between Seabourn and Viking for Antarctica 2023.  We like new ships and generally book a lower level category.  Unfortunately though, the discussion about priority dining booking is pointing me towards Seabourn.  I'm curious if anyone else considered Seabourn and chose Viking instead and if so why.  Thanks for posting the thread.

On 4/27/2020 at 11:29 AM, Nursecruisers couple said:

Even if they agree to give me my money back,  I am unwilling to wait 6 to 8 weeks while they hold onto my $8000. I am seriously considering disputing it with Citibank.

STLROD- any insight?   Did you get your money back?  Any word from Uniworld?  What- will they blackball us?

I've received a temporary credit from Chase and am waiting to see if it becomes permanent.  Our agent reached out to Uniworld Monday.  They are now saying another 4-6 weeks.  As for being blackballed, I don't care--I've already blackballed Uniworld.  The company's handling of this situation has been and remains beyond deplorable.  It was a huge mistake to stray from Tauck.

Thanks TikiIslandGirl.

 I've decided to issue a chargeback through Chase. Uniworld's non-responsiveness has been disgraceful.

Has anyone actually seen any money back?  We haven not.

I have a group of 10 in the same boat as you radioman.   I view this new policy as "if the guest cancels."  I did cancel our 4/30 trip for our group of 10 back when it was 1/2 and 1/2, but seeing how they have not yet issued any  refund, I'm going to argue for being able to take advantage of the original terms.  I have to admit I'm very put off with Uniworld.

Would love to rebook for the Fall, but will probably wait until Spring or next Fall.  How long are others waiting before taking another chance?

New policy posted.

29 minutes ago, radioman said:

Uniworld posted this on March 18.  I notice they did not offer a cash refund.

 

All Egypt itineraries have been suspended through April 25th. If you have a booking on one of these suspended voyages, please know that you may rebook your travel dates to any 2020 or 2021 cruise or receive a Future Cruise Credit eligible to be used during the next 24 months.

 

When I expressed my frustration over not being told about the price protection in 2020, I was told, "No we told you that you could rebook."  If rebook means you can do so at the same price, then by their logic it would apply to the above and all other cruises.  My guess is they are purposefully vague.

Kent9xxx1, please email customer service and let them know your thoughts. 
 

Tikiislandgirl, I was told yesterday about the 1/2 refund that it wouldn’t be processed until next week.  

I'm pretty disappointed (perhaps even angry) over Uniworld's handling of this. 

We were a group of 10 booked 4/30 for the Douro cruisetour.  When we asked about options for canceling, we were never told we could rebook in 2020 for the same price. After we canceled for 1/2 refund and 1/2 credit, we learned  that we could have and every Fall cruise is now booked (except the last one in November.)   I was told to go at the same time next year, we would have to pay the not inconsequential price difference because  "the VP" has said no price protection for 2021 cruises.  We would have to go in early March to get the same price. 

At this point, I have only taken a river cruise on Tauck and very much regret ever suggesting to my friends that we try a different line.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed the cruise gets canceled by Uniworld since they have said we would get a complete refund if that happens.   So many other cruise lines seems to be offering a 125% credit which if Uniworld did would take care of the price difference.  I hope when all is said and done, "the VP" learns a lesson or two. 

36 minutes ago, stlrod said:

Yes they have updated it.  Suspended operations through 4/23.  Re-bookings only.  After 4/23, 14 days cancellations are re-bookings through 2021, no longer 1/2 refund and 1/2 future credit.

I was wrong.  I was told by Uniworld it is still 1/2 and 1/2 at the 14 day mark.