Cancelled Far East & Vancouver cruise April 18, 2022

[davidc42]

How have those who were booked on this cruise been handling the cancellation?

[godfreyb]

I was away last week when I received the notice.  I called Viking (I am actually disgusted that they did this so far ahead and demanded that we pay the full price for a 30 day cruise in April 2022 by December 31, 2020) and demanded my money back (not risking a voucher for the amount of money we paid) and they told me that I had to go through my travel agent.  I rousted my agent up on a Saturday and was told that the part paid on American Express would be paid back through them and the remainder paid by wire transfer 'in 21 days'.  Having spent an inordinate amount of time planning this once in a lifetime cruise I am disgusted that:

1. Viking did not offer any alternative suggestions for that month

2. My travel agent didn't either.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that I wouldn't book another Viking cruise, but I would NOT book and pay so far out.  If it was just the deposit that was being returned I would not have been so unhappy, but they had the complete payment so far ahead, which is their policy.  So, one unhappy customer who has not even been on a Viking ship!

 

[bbtondo]

10 minutes ago, godfreyb said:

I was away last week when I received the notice.  I called Viking (I am actually disgusted that they did this so far ahead and demanded that we pay the full price for a 30 day cruise in April 2022 by December 31, 2020) and demanded my money back (not risking a voucher for the amount of money we paid) and they told me that I had to go through my travel agent.  I rousted my agent up on a Saturday and was told that the part paid on American Express would be paid back through them and the remainder paid by wire transfer 'in 21 days'.  Having spent an inordinate amount of time planning this once in a lifetime cruise I am disgusted that:

1. Viking did not offer any alternative suggestions for that month

2. My travel agent didn't either.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that I wouldn't book another Viking cruise, but I would NOT book and pay so far out.  If it was just the deposit that was being returned I would not have been so unhappy, but they had the complete payment so far ahead, which is their policy.  So, one unhappy customer who has not even been on a Viking ship!

 

I appreciate your thoughts.  DH and I have decided not to give any cruise line full payment so far ahead of time.  If there is a cruise that we would like to take, we watch it and book it around 3 months out.  

[Heartgrove]

Full payment so far out being required - still - in this climate and market truly amazes me. Other cruise lines have not been this demanding, including the other Swiss based line even offering 48-hour cancellation policies, recognizing the state of flux in the world today.

[Barrhead2015]

I haver requested a refund (only paid 20% deposits) and they said I will receive it by the end of September. I am in UK. 

[godfreyb]

I did receive my refunds yesterday after cancelling on Saturday.  Whole thing still left a nasty taste in my mouth.

[MarkTapley]

On 8/23/2021 at 5:20 PM, davidc42 said:

How have those who were booked on this cruise been handling the cancellation?

We decided to take a refund from Viking.  We had been booked on the 2020 and 2021 cruises, so this is the third cancellation.  And we have a bunch of other travel booked over the next 2+ years, so this was the best option for us.

[Cienfuegos]

Limiting one's exposure to cruise line financial issues seems like a prudent decision.