Viking Management Issue

[Twitchly]

Fascinating. Thanks!

[aflitzy]

I am scheduled on the Nov. 5th Heart of the Delta.  At the time we booked (over 2 years ago) , Oct. 29 was the first sailing. It was announced as the first sailing and filled up immediately.  There are 12 of us going so more difficult to get 6 cabins in the cabin class that we each wanted.  We had to pay in full almost 2 years in advance. This payment term was unique to the Mississippi.

 I was amazed when suddenly many earlier sailing we scheduled.  I was really amazed that the ship building schedule was able to be moved up by several months to accommodate these sailings.

It seems to be management error to suddenly open up earlier sailings and then have to backtrack.  I understand that this is the first time in the USA and with a new ship building company.  The uniqueness  should have made management more cautious.  The earlier available dates did fill up fast.  This means a positive cash flow.

Currently the schedule is back to Oct. 29th as the first sailing.  All '22 sailings have been sold out for months.    Just wondering if Viking will need to back track again and cancel all of '22 sailings.  Would appreciate any information regarding the building schedule.  Any updated information appreciated.

Personally if cancelled I plan to take the cash.  

I have Paris and Normandy with Viking scheduled in '23 so still happy with Viking.  

I understand money better than vouchers.  I would rather have cash in hand.  

[Heidi13]

1 hour ago, aflitzy said:

I am scheduled on the Nov. 5th Heart of the Delta.  At the time we booked (over 2 years ago) , Oct. 29 was the first sailing. It was announced as the first sailing and filled up immediately.  There are 12 of us going so more difficult to get 6 cabins in the cabin class that we each wanted.  We had to pay in full almost 2 years in advance. This payment term was unique to the Mississippi.

 I was amazed when suddenly many earlier sailing we scheduled.  I was really amazed that the ship building schedule was able to be moved up by several months to accommodate these sailings.

It seems to be management error to suddenly open up earlier sailings and then have to backtrack.  I understand that this is the first time in the USA and with a new ship building company.  The uniqueness  should have made management more cautious.  The earlier available dates did fill up fast.  This means a positive cash flow.

Currently the schedule is back to Oct. 29th as the first sailing.  All '22 sailings have been sold out for months.    Just wondering if Viking will need to back track again and cancel all of '22 sailings.  Would appreciate any information regarding the building schedule.  Any updated information appreciated.

Personally if cancelled I plan to take the cash.  

I have Paris and Normandy with Viking scheduled in '23 so still happy with Viking.  

I understand money better than vouchers.  I would rather have cash in hand.  

 

Especially with the first ship in a class, it is not too uncommon for cruise lines to add prior cruises to the existing maiden voyage, when the shipyard advises they will finish early. Build contracts will have penalties for being late, but may have premiums to finish early. Why the schedule has slipped backwards has been discussed extensively.

 

I have seen very little information on this build's progress. At present, it is alongside the fitting out berth and the AIS is transmitting, so the Bridge equipment is operational. It indicates a short voyage of 1/2 hr last month, but since I don't pay for the premium version, I can't see if it completed sea trials prior to that voyage.

 

If you want to track the ship, use one of the AIS tracking programs - my preference is Marine Traffic. Enter Viking Mississippi and it shows you where the vessel is located.