Don't cancel, he says -- you may be penalized. If you have any questions or need further information please contact Reservations at 1-877-523-0579 or email customerrelations@vikingcruises.com, Monday - Friday, 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, PT. Olsen, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas,. Recommended Reading: Where Do Cruise Ships Dock In Crete. Passengers from across the country say theyve received letters from the cruise company informing them their reservation, paid for more than two years in advance, had been canceled just days ahead of departure. He came to the Pioneer Press in 2005 and brings a testy East Coast attitude to St. Paul beat reporting. VIKING RIVER restarted in July 2021 , VIKINGs Egypt boat in August. A spokesperson for Viking Cruises confirmed to Insider on Monday that all 2022 departures on its Kyiv, Black Sea, and Bucharest itinerary have been canceled. At the moment I don't see any cruise for P & O, Cunard has been cancelled, I also think that AIDA has been cancelled. The 2023-2024 Viking World Cruise will sail aboard two different ships, both setting sail on identical itineraries from Fort Lauderdale and leaving within days of each other. Frohnert, a world traveler who is Irish by birth but has lived in the U.S. most of her life, had planned to fly to New Orleans and travel back to Minnesota by water for what she assumed would be her final voyage. Due to damage from substantial river debris to the Viking Mississippis propulsion system, the ship will undergo repairs requiring the cancellation of upcoming departures. Prochilo says that they floated past another cruise line offloading their passengers onto buses. Viking traditionally operates voyages on a single itinerary between Moscow and St. 'If it's like this next year, I'll retire'. A Viking spokesperson said: The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority. What you also need are medical experts to manage your situation especially if your tour company had abandoned you. So what will happen this year? All bookings made by April 30, 2020, received Risk-Free Guarantee that allows penalty-free cruise cancellation up to 24 hours prior departure. Usually it's navigable year-round. Viking Mississippi - As of January 23, 2023 Due to damage from substantial river debris to the Viking Mississippi 's propulsion system, the ship will undergo repairs requiring the cancellation of upcoming departures. Viking River Cruises The line is canceling all 2022 departures of its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary. It's also a classic cruise itinerary. In 2023, celebrating the companys 25th anniversary, Viking EXPEDITIONS offers Longitudinal World Cruise I. I only got my money back that I paid extra on the cruise I canceled. Viking Cruises has ceased all operations in Russia this year in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Where any changes are planned, operators are working hard to minimize any disruption.". Local News | A new ship will be assigned from the Carnival fleet to Jacksonville for the Ecstasy itineraries, effective April 23, 2022. Royal Caribbean noted that cancelations were a result of the ongoing COVID-related circumstances around the world, and in an abundance of caution.. If in difficulty, those with swimming pools on board can empty them. Vikings expedition ships will have everything from zodiacs to two six person submarines . The ships will sail everywhere from Antarctica to the Great Lakes to Ireland and Norway. Issues with ports on the first leg A 121-day segment allows travellers to join the cruise ship in Los Angeles CA, from where the itinerary continues to Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, Asia and the Middle East, Europe ending in London-Greenwich, England UK. We did the Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam, Netherlands route with stops in Breisach, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Cologne , Strasbourg and Kinderdijk . The sailings. Please DO NOT add attachments that contain your or other peoples personal information, if you dont want it to be visible to the public. It's not just rivers. They wouldnt even monitor cancellations and put us first in line to consider whether we could fill the vacancy.. "If it's the same next year, I'll retire," he says. And then there's Italy, where the Po River is at historic lows, and has close to disappeared in places. Viking continues to reinvent cruises and next year will be no different. 2. In this Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, photo, the Viking Mississippi cruise ship docks at the Port of Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa. For now, it's the locals who can tell the difference. Those who cancel will get a voucher valued at 110% of what they've paid to Viking for use on a future cruise. It will cross the Panama Canal and sail up the West Coast of North America. The Viking cruise ship, which was supposed to launch from New Orleans, has canceled its two-week trip on the Mississippi River due to low water levels south of St. Louis.. Very disappointed with Viking. Then in 2022, they expect the debut of two new expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris. Despite the canceled 2020 cruise season, Viking has high hopes for 2021 and beyond. But now? Fleetwide operations were planned to resume on October 1, 2020. Local News | This year, she says, has shown us that "climate change isn't just about heat, but also about water. Without consulting us for our preferences, Viking moved us to a date and room location that did not work for us.I called on 11/19 to discuss options and was told we could cancel and receive a full refund or take a future cruise voucher for the amount we paid or select a different sailing date. Everyone was compliant and uncomplaining. You May Like: Where Does Norwegian Cruise Lines Sail Out Of. On both the Hamburg-to-Kiel itinerary, departing August 26, and the Kiel-roundtrip sailing, departing September 7, World Navigator will call at Kotka and Mariehamn, Finland instead. Our team is actively monitoring the situation and is in close contact with our field offices in the region. 2 Viking River Cruises canceled all Russian river cruises and its planned Kyiv, Black Sea & Bucharest routes this year due to the events. Los Angeles (May 19, 2021) - Viking (www.viking.com) announced today that it will restart its European river operations in July 2021 with select itineraries in Portugal, France and along the Rhine. Both packages are priced from USD 50000 per person . The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customers satisfaction. But drought and climate change has coincided with the increase in river cruising. ", This year, he says, "It started very early -- there was no rain and everything dried up.". still. Last week, the cruise line cancelled all 2022 departures on its Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary and said it was evaluating 2022 sailing that call in Russia. The cruises will continue through the Mediterranean and end their voyages in London. Left Injured on the Dock as My Boat Sailed Away. At 104 days out before final payment was due, we had to either lose our entire deposit of $2K+ or get a voucher. There was worse news to come. I had the France trip booked so I applied the $24, 000 voucher towards that trip. Europe's Drought: Will It End River Cruises? Nothing but bait & switch tactics here. Unfortunately, there are still cruises being cancelled in 2022 due to Covid-19 and the uncertainty surrounding it. Calls to Viking for comment were not returned this week. Current cruise: N/A Viking Ocean Tracker Itineraries Deck plans Viking Polaris Current cruise: 13 days, one-way from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso-Santiago Viking Expeditions Tracker Itineraries Deck plans Accidents Viking Neptune Current cruise: 137 days, one-way from Fort Lauderdale to London-Tilbury Viking Ocean Tracker Itineraries Deck plans The Pletchers arent the only couple who have been bumped from Vikings new Mississippi River cruises at the last minute. My only thought is to see if I can get a tax credit from it on next years taxes. Despite the canceled 2020 cruise season, Viking has high hopes for 2021 and beyond. There will be another and eighth ocean ship, Viking Mars. Viking continues to reinvent cruises and next year will be no different. Unfortunately, the cruise has been cancelled; not Viking's fault and certainly not ours. Emergency dredgingis currently taking place on the lower river, in Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. Despite the new Covid restrictions, this was a dream trip and an opportunity to see a part of France that was completely new to me. In April 2020, the Eagan couple paid $18,800 to reserve a luxury cruise from St. Paul to New Orleans, which would have been their sixth voyage with Viking, an international cruise giant based in Switzerland. I had that same happy feeling till the last day of my cruise. Details of cruise restart dates are below, along with each line's current regulations regarding vaccination, Covid-19 testing and the wearing of face masks. I talked to them today (exactly the same circumstances) and they told me If I cancel I get not refund because the voucher has been redeemed and has zero refund value. We all had a great time! Frederick Melo was once sued by a reader for $2 million but kept on writing. All three companies said they are working to confirm replacement ports and will advise impacted guests and travel advisers as soon as possible.. The start of this story began in April 2021 when Viking CANCELED my July cruise to Norway and Iceland. Local Springsteen fans bemoan spiraling ticket prices to see the Boss, State wrestling: Simley ties program-record mark with fifth straight Class 2A crown, Gophers gain commitment from in-state point guard prospect Isaac Asuma, Wild say goodbye to Jordan Greenway to jump start busy day of trades, Transgender woman violently assaulted at Minneapolis light rail station; 2 suspects charged, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Departing on December 22, 2022, from Port Everglades , Viking World Voyage 2022 visits ports in Central America, follows Panama Canal transit and sailing up North Americas West Coast. We look forward to reconnecting with you soon, Anna, and thank you for your patience. Anyone know a good lawyer? "In Abadki [a popular rental spot] the water level is 50 centimeters [20 inches] lower than the minimum required," she says. I noticed Viking no longer lists the above cruises on their website. And she's not taking any chances -- watching the water levels drop on the Rhine over the past month has made her advise would-be bookers to wait till next year. Generous closets, plentiful USB ports and US/EU outlets, plush robes and slippers add to your comfort. ", But she warns that, with the climate crisis, Europe's traditional river cruising is "definitely going to suffer" and predicts "the industry is likely to reset as a result. Viking, which had once planned to debut its new cruise ship in 2017, delayed the launch five years while it worked through federal regulatory challenges under the Jones Act, otherwise known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. View all of our Luxury Cruise sailings and offers. Simply click on the name of your cruise line below to get the details. Note: For the itinerarys all call ports see at the ships Wiki section here. Signature destinations include Central America, Panama Canal transit, USA West Coast, Hawaii, Transpacific crossing to New Zealand and Australia, Asia, Middle East, Suez Canal transit to Europe and the UK. For information about your specific voyage, please log onto MyVikingJourney.com. My sister and I took the Nov. 6 - 13, 2021 Garonne River cruise and had a delightful time. The very first cruise that Arleen and I did together was through the Panama Canal, Wasserman said. "Margaret Island looks bigger, because all the rocks at the bottom of the river are visible now. To start the list, here are my favorite things about sailing with Viking which will be followed by top things my friends, family, and fellow travel writers love about a Viking Cruise. We hear your concerns and have arranged for a Customer Relations Agent to connect with you directly to discuss available options for your upcoming voyage. On September 12, 2023, departs Longitudinal World Cruise II . Railings, furniture and even the captain's bridge are designed to be lowered, while passing under bridges in high water, adds Rob Clabbers, president ofQ Cruise + Travel, a Virtuoso member agency in Chicago. Have traveled with them before and would give it a 5 star rating. Shorter itinerary segments are also available for booking, including the 119-day Viking World Horizons 2022 that visits 49 ports in 22 countries. The river still "looks large and majestic -- it doesn't really give the image of a dried-up river," she says. Today, 1/22/22 I contacted Viking Cruise lines about canceling a river cruise to France for this June, plenty of days before the cancellation date, and was told that I could not get ALL my money back. All affected bookings received a 125% refund in FCC with rebooking or 100% monetary refund. The Tisza lake cross-swimming event scheduled for the 13th of August was canceled.". "Travelers flew to Budapest, from where they were taken to Komarno by bus, and they were bussed back to Budapest the next day for their city tour, only to return to the ship by bus after the tour.". Forgot to use it? And of course there's the Danube. Water levels on the Rhine River are set to fall close to the point where the river cannot hold ships anymore. 48 cases confirmed from a sailing Dec. 11 on. Anyone using a boat in the Po needs to be extremely experienced right now -- even professional fishermen are not able to navigate, he says. Due to my cancellations, Viking held onto $8,000 of my Funds for about two years. And parts of Lake Tisza, Hungary's largest artificial lake, are no longer accessible by boat, according to Kravianszky. Whether Russia river cruises restart in 2024 will depend on how the situation in Ukraine unfolds over the coming months. We booked a river cruise (Danube) for March 2022. The drought is already devastating for trade -- an average 1,600-tonne vessel can now only navigate the river without any cargo, according to the Hungary Tourist Board. Thank you for taking the time to provide us with a review of your experience, Maggie, although we regret to hear of your lingering disappointment with our service. "The Danube is visibly lower at the moment, it's been really low for two or three weeks now," says Kravianszky. Schiphol and KLM both issue requirements that passengers arrive 3 to 4 hours before flight time. River cruise alterations tend to be very last-minute, because they depend on water levels and rain. My third cruise was with my mom, Penny and we sailed on the 11 -day Passage to Eastern Europe Viking Danube Cruise. Due to the Coronavirus crisis, Viking Cruises suspended passenger shipping operations fleetwide by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 12, 2020, through July 2021. Viking's move follows announcements from other cruise operators saying they are . Also Check: How Much Is The Alaskan Cruise. Michael is Viking's Global Top produc. They also invited their good friends Deborah and Alvi Blankenship. How did you get your money back on the voucher? It's much quieter [than mass cruising]. Local News | For 25 years, we have always had the highest standards for health and cleanliness, and our protocol enhancements make Viking even safer. This would mean that river cruise lines could face severe disruptions . By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use. In recent weeks,. I do see Holland America, Princess, Oceania and Viking (?) to halt operationsSerenade of the SeasSymphony of the SeasJewel of the Seas Vision of the Seaslater added its Independence of the Seas, We regret having to cancel our guests long-awaited vacations and appreciate their loyalty and understanding. Viking, which operates both ocean and river cruises, has canceled all 2022 departures from its Kyiv, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary . Update: Windstar Cruises cancelled all sailings and cruise-tours in the Black Sea and will replace St. Petersburg on its five Baltic cruises with a non-Russian port. Ive done Viking cruises on the Danube, the Rhine, and this was my last wish for travel. On Saturday, the water level at the German town of Kaub -- a critical juncture -- slipped to just 36 centimeters, or 14 inches, according toofficial figures. Also Check: How Cold Is Alaska Cruise In July. The good news is that there are not the mass cancellations we saw in 2020. Even after appeasing the U.S. Maritime Administration by leasing a charter from Louisiana-based Edison Chouest, Viking had to deal with federal appeals filed by competing cruise companies. Viking OCEANs product was introduced in May 2015 with the launch of its first vessel MV Viking Star. VIKING OCEAN restarted operations on May 22, 2021, with Viking Venus . Worse, experts say that this is a worrying sign of things to come. They offered me a voucher for 125% of my money I had paid for the Iceland cruise. Submit a complaint and get your issue resolved. This cruise began in Budapest, Hungary and ended in Bucharest, Romania with visits to Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi, Vidin , Golubac, and Belgrade , Osijek , and Kalocsa . Guests and travel advisors with affected departures have been notified. "We are delighted to once again offer explorers the opportunity to circumnavigate the world in comfort," Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking, said in a statement. Thanks! They didn't want to hear that changes in the world's COVID environment was NOT in the paperwork! On June 10, 2022, the U.S. announced it is eliminating the COVID testing requirement for air travelers to enter the country. He normally rents boats to fishermen but, he asks, "Where would they go to fish?" It took days to realize that water, toilet paper, diapers, medicine for my bed sore, wipe-ups and probably sheets (as they were not changed in the 10 days I was there) all had to be brought from outside the hospital. "I've been on the Po for 40 years, and this has never happened before," he says. But, if youd rather have a refund for your canceled cruise, you need to request it from Viking before August 24, 2020. The 386-passenger ship, custom-built for the river, departed St. Pauls Lamberts Landing as planned, but the Pletchers were not aboard it. However, we will continue to provide testing if a guest reports symptoms, requests a test, or if our Medical Team deems necessary. Rejuvenate in a king-size bed with a soft duvet and goose-down pillows. Dont Miss: Do You Need Passport For Alaskan Cruise. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. The large voucher money is gone. Thanks guys. Please feel encouraged to email us at tellus@vikingcruises.com with your booking number so we may follow up with you directly for added support. I used to tell friends that Viking takes care of its passengers, they have proven me wrong. We rebooked for 2022 on 11/30/2020. Entire boat trips planned from St. Paul in July and August were canceled this summer, and interior work aboard the ship has apparently continued right through the first departure from St. Paul toward St. Louis, Mo., on Sept. 3. The included perks were a $1,000 price discount, the Silver Spirits drink package and prepaid tips. So when they got a brochure to take a 15-day Viking cruise through the Panama Canal and Central America, Wasserman said his wife couldnt resist. You can read the original investigation below. Just return your expired voucher to Viking. Additionally, Viking highly recommends, but no longer requires, a pre-departure COVID-19 testunless one is required by the destination. "If low (or high) water prevents passage at a certain point, the line simply moves the downstream sailing passengers (and their luggage) to the upstream ship and vice versa. Travel Agent Michael Consoli joins us to answer these and other questions live. As the leading small ship travel company, Viking takes you closer to the heart of the places you want to visit. In the UK, the source of the Thames hasmoved five miles downriverfor the first time in history. Our vaccine requirement for all guests and crew remains in placeand for the time being, our crew will keep testing as needed and will wear masks at all times. Published: Aug. 08, 2022, 9:30 a.m. Richard Andersen booked a fully-paid Viking cruise with his partner but it was canceled because of COVID. Viking is bringing back river cruises to Europe in July. Rescheduling a trip three years from now sounds unlikely to her. When Viking River Cruises canceled my cruise in 2021 for Covid, they gave me a cruise voucher for 125% and some optional packages as an incentive to rebook.