Jump to content

Does Viking offer incentives for booking onboard?


AllisonJames
 Share

Recommended Posts

Looked around the website and this board but cannot find the answer. Appreciate feedback from the experts. Sailing on Viking Star over New Year's. Thank you!

 

 

As I recall when we were on the Grand European Tour when the launch of Viking Ocean was announced, they offered a pretty big discount to those who chose to book while they were onboard. But thinking back on Viking Homelands last year, I don't recall any offer/sales pitch during the last Port Talk about booking future cruises.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Far from an expert, as we have taken only one river cruise and one ocean, but I remember hearing during the river cruise about the sale of future cruise vouchers, where for $100 you could buy $200 vouchers (at least I think that was the deal). I believe there was a limit on the number you could purchase. I don't recall hearing that same offer during the ocean cruise, but perhaps someone else will know for sure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Far from an expert, as we have taken only one river cruise and one ocean, but I remember hearing during the river cruise about the sale of future cruise vouchers, where for $100 you could buy $200 vouchers (at least I think that was the deal). I believe there was a limit on the number you could purchase. I don't recall hearing that same offer during the ocean cruise, but perhaps someone else will know for sure.

Yep, that was the deal we had on our river cruise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the OC may each be different . We received an additional $500/pp, only $1000 downpayment and final payment delayed until 6 months before the cruise. Also some OBC for the cruise we were on depending on HOW MANY new cruises you book.

 

The cruise specialist was VERY helpful because we wanted a cruise that was NOT available yet and he booked us one that we could cancel without problem and transfer our booking when the one we wanted opened up. He was very busy on SEA days!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the OC may each be different . We received an additional $500/pp, only $1000 downpayment and final payment delayed until 6 months before the cruise. Also some OBC for the cruise we were on depending on HOW MANY new cruises you book.

 

The cruise specialist was VERY helpful because we wanted a cruise that was NOT available yet and he booked us one that we could cancel without problem and transfer our booking when the one we wanted opened up. He was very busy on SEA days!!!

 

We got the same deal onboard.

Only now I noticed that the cruise list price is LOWER by our on board credit amount. :confused:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We were not wise enough when on Rivers to take advantage of their offers for Oceans......really wish that Viking would make booking while on board Oceans more attractive so as not to run up against Phillw1776 situation. That is a bit of a deal breaker in making that commitment up front IMHO.....maybe Viking will re-examine their policy here???? Totally agree with Deec post.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The river cruise seems like a better deal to me. While on the Viking Sea we talked with the person on board and did not like the offer. I dont remember the offer for onboard credit or any discount except for not having to pay until 6 months before and being able to transfer from the booked cruise to another. I was hoping for a discount since we knew we wanted to take another cruise this year. Seems that there are too many people that want to book Viking and no need to discount further (as seen by the removal of travel agent discounts). Its nice to enjoy Viking Ocean and River cruises and past guests should receive discounts/benefits (besides the past traveler discount and welcome back gifts) since we are Vikings free advertising by posting on Cruise Critic, Trip Advisor and Facebook about our great experiences. But with such high praises and great reviews from past travelers, it seems new travelers are flocking without the need for discounts. One last personal observation, while on Viking River Cruises I think you have a better experience at the Explorer Society get together then on the Ocean Cruises. With the smaller group that you can interact with and talk about which cruise to take next (plus a free gift(not that I am keeping track). On the Viking Sea it seemed everyone just came for free caviar and champagne but no one at the get together was friendly (with about 80 or more people I thought it would be fun).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We booked on our next Viking ocean cruise (Alaska 2019) while on board our previous cruise in April just past and received the discount that was being offered in their brochure together with a discount for booking on board and also a frequent cruiser discount (Alaska will be number 4). Cant exactly remember how much it all came too. Paid our of deposit $500 each and final payment to be made 90 days prior to departure. We were very pleased.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm going to look at the info I brought home from our cruise but I just looked at my invoice and we got $900 per person off in addition to the early booking discount, etc. There was a certain amount off depending on the length of the cruise plus the reduced deposit. We booked 2 back to back cruises. I remember him telling me that we would still get the money off even if we switched dates but that the money off depended on the length of the cruise. Sorry, I work full time (more than)..but I will look when I get a chance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK I found the flyer.

 

Receive an onboard credit for THIS voyage up to $500 per stateroom

 

Receive all current promotions and Explorer Society Discount

 

Plus, a bonus discount from $200-$500 per person based on cruise length.

 

Deposit onboard $500 per person, and move the final payment to 6 months prior to departure

 

Flexibility to change to any itinerary or date up to 4 months prior to departure

 

You can even reserve through your travel agent onboard

 

 

If I remember correctly we got $250 onboard credit for the cruise we were on, and I bought amber:). If we didn't use it we lost it. We also got, according to my Viking invoice, $900 off per person for the cruise that we booked (which is actually a back to back 32 day Auckland to Bali). 17 day plus 15 day. Our TA gave us her discount (15%) on top of that (which ended a few weeks after we got back). So we did pretty well. The agent onboard did tell us that if we changed to another itinerary that the bonus discount could change (it depended on the length of the cruise). I can look more and see if I wrote down how much the discounts were per length of cruise but not tonight!

 

We did ask him if we cancelled the cruise would we owe Viking any money for the onboard credit that we had used and he said no...that since they had the cancellation penalty that Viking had our money. So I came home from the cruise with amber jewelry that I never would have bought but I love...and also a pretty good discount.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, the same deal parameters we were offered on Viking Sea. Since our new cruise booked was shorter we "only" got $400 per person discount and $100 on board credit plus of course our Explorer discount and the same payment & flexibility terms. We accepted Viking's offer to reserve through our TA onboard but to this date our TA says they know nothing about this cruise.

I'd be satisfied with this deal if the listed cruise price for our cabin didn't immediately drop to $400 per person less than when we booked.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...
4 hours ago, azdrydock said:

Anyone know what the current incentives are? I know they changed last fall (2018). There was also some mention of actually being able to book Ocean while on River instead of the half price vouchers. 

 

Just did France's Finest. Bought vouchers, no on-board cruise consultant but it may be different on other itineraries..  May use only one voucher pp per cruise. Net savings $100pp. Additional bennies if you book within two weeks of end of cruise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

26 minutes ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

Just did France's Finest. Bought vouchers, no on-board cruise consultant but it may be different on other itineraries..  May use only one voucher pp per cruise. Net savings $100pp. Additional bennies if you book within two weeks of end of cruise.

Same as before.... "Additional bennies if you book within two weeks of end of cruise." .... Last year we got $100 OBC on the current cruise for purchasing the certificates at least 2 days before disembarkation; is this what you meant?

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

48 minutes ago, azdrydock said:

Same as before.... "Additional bennies if you book within two weeks of end of cruise." .... Last year we got $100 OBC on the current cruise for purchasing the certificates at least 2 days before disembarkation; is this what you meant?

 

 

I didn't see the offer in writing and I am not clear on all the details so I didn't enumerate them. I don't want to pass on the wrong information. I just know that we had two weeks to book after we disembarked to receive certain bennies and I don't know whether we had to buy vouchers to get those bennies. In fact, I just assumed that vouchers and the booking bennies were not connected.

Edited by Peregrina651
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We were on Auckland to Bali in March, we booked a future cruise Rome to Miami, actually 2 back to backs. Got $400 shipboard credit for the cruise we were on and I think $800 off the future cruise but I'd have to look. Plus final payment 6 months prior to cruise. I know my TA gave me $1600 shipboard credit...$500 for one cruise, $300 for the next per person, which is the maximum Viking allows TAs to give (not quite the 15% we used to get, but $1,600 is nothing to sneeze at).

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

26 minutes ago, stretchcruz said:

We were on Auckland to Bali in March, we booked a future cruise Rome to Miami, actually 2 back to backs. Got $400 shipboard credit for the.....

 

We have a river in a few weeks and an ocean in November. We are also planning on Sydney to Bali next March with possibly adding Bali to Singapore. Since they advertise a Sydney to Singapore I am not sure the will allow me to book as a B2B. If so I could use multiple river certificates and get a similar deal you got. Only problem is I am worried about cabin availability in November for a March cruise. How did you rate the Sydney to Bali leg?

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

50 minutes ago, stretchcruz said:

We were on Auckland to Bali in March, we booked a future cruise Rome to Miami, actually 2 back to backs. Got $400 shipboard credit for the cruise we were on and I think $800 off the future cruise but I'd have to look. Plus final payment 6 months prior to cruise. I know my TA gave me $1600 shipboard credit...$500 for one cruise, $300 for the next per person, which is the maximum Viking allows TAs to give (not quite the 15% we used to get, but $1,600 is nothing to sneeze at).

 

Hi Stretchcruz - we also booked the same Rome to Miami cruise (Oct 2020) on our Viking Sea Cruise last February.  Quite a nice deal with your credits.  Our travel agent, in Scottsdale, says the Viking limits the OBC's that can be given to just a few hundred max -so this is new news to us.  For the back to back cruises Viking did give us $200 pp credits on our Viking Sea Cruise itself and that was it.  Perhaps we should look into your TA for the future.  :)

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
On 5/19/2019 at 7:58 PM, CCWineLover said:

Hi Stretchcruz - we also booked the same Rome to Miami cruise (Oct 2020) on our Viking Sea Cruise last February.  Quite a nice deal with your credits.  Our travel agent, in Scottsdale, says the Viking limits the OBC's that can be given to just a few hundred max -so this is new news to us.  For the back to back cruises Viking did give us $200 pp credits on our Viking Sea Cruise itself and that was it.  Perhaps we should look into your TA for the future.  🙂

 

Yes, Viking does limit the credits. It depends on the length of the cruise.  So, for our back to back we got $500 for the longer one and $300 for the shorter...per person. $1,600 total. That is the maximum Viking allows. I'd have to look at which one is longer and which shorter, but our TA plays by the rules. She also gives us the maximum Viking allows. I'll see if I can find a link to the Viking allowed shipboard credits and you can show your TA that you know!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, stretchcruz said:

Yes, Viking does limit the credits. It depends on the length of the cruise.  So, for our back to back we got $500 for the longer one and $300 for the shorter...per person. $1,600 total. That is the maximum Viking allows. I'd have to look at which one is longer and which shorter, but our TA plays by the rules. She also gives us the maximum Viking allows. I'll see if I can find a link to the Viking allowed shipboard credits and you can show your TA that you know!

I think Viking may have just changed  what they allow the TA's to give. I've been tracking a 17 day cruise for next March and the OBC's were running between $300 to $500. About a week or so ago they all jumped up to $1000. 

Multiple TA's so it is probably Viking sanctioned.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...