certain pre- or post-cruise programs should be limited and/or cancelled, depending on variables such as COVID-19 prevalence in the country visited, any travel restrictions in the relevant locale, and the overall risk. Assuming that was the original means of payment. Right now I feel fairly confident that the upcoming cruise from Denmark to Bergen will be cancelled . In recent days we have had an experience where a river cruise guest in Southeast Asia was exposed to COVID-19 while in transit on an international airline. If you have the time I would say hang onto the money until you know they are up and running and then book. I too am anxious but I know I have to wait. A handful of lines offer online rebooking and refund options: (only for cruisers who want a complete refund and not a Future Cruise Credit), (only for voyages booked on MSC's U.S. website). This claim would have nothing to do with Viking. The Viking Sea and Viking Star cruise ships in Santorini. Royal Caribbean said it would conclude its sailings as scheduled. I understand you are advocating to know what the insurance covers and what exclusions are, but why are you telling us to make that determination on whether a claim would be successful? The UK government actually does have travel advisories for its citizens to the Ukraine as well (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ukraine). Started August 27, 2021, By Check with your individual line on its cancellation policy and final payment window, as each one can be different. (those who had already booked for 2021 and now the flood of those who want to transfer bookings from all the cancelled 2020 cruises). Further to the previous response. Rest assured, our reservations team is currently in the process of issuing Future Cruise Vouchers of 125% of all monies paid to Viking. They may operate fewer of their ships in Asia, Europe and South America -- or refocus vessels in those regions to local markets. Did they pay with a credit card? Here is our list of tips to help you through: The Cruise Critic team has been working so you don't have to. Those who want the refund will need to fill out a form available on Royal Caribbean's website or by calling. Thanks Viking! Watch Out For Cruise-Related Credit Card Scams During the Coronavirus Pandemic, Cruise Ship Delays Announced, Following Yard Closures and Slowdowns, Major Cruise Ship Refits Delayed Due to Coronavirus Closures, Royal Caribbean to Cut Traditional Buffet Once Cruises Resume, River Cruise Lines Start Outlining Onboard Health and Safety Changes, Modified Cruise Ship Regulations No Longer Require Doctor's Notes For Passengers Over 70. Visit TPGs guide to all coronavirus news and updates. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. In a conference call with TPG and several other news outlets last month, Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald said itineraries might need to change, at least in the short term, due to both port closures in some destinations and limitations on air travel. Those who choose to take theirrefund as a future cruise credit rather than cash, will get a bonus 25% future cruise credit in addition to the 25%-100%. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Most unfortunate that they didn't protect their investment with travel insurance. Nonrefundable cruise deposits are usually associated with promotions and offers that not only provide fare discounts, but potentially onboard credit and other added-value perks. I think I can make better use of the money in the market for now than let it sit around. Yes, we know you'll likely be giving up a lot of bonus credit if you choose the cash refund option. Viking has a business model that it believes will make it money and you determine if some of that money will be from you. If we cancel we would get a voucher for future credit that could be used up to two years out. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. And our TA has been wrong about other things. What was a bust? In most cases, when you . If not, a cash refund may be the better bet. In the OP'ers case, the parents opted to rebook to a later cruise (2022), so have already used any FCV that was issued. Viking Mississippi - As of January 23, 2023. Two weeks ago I'm sure everyone was pretty sure about a cruise in June but now they have been cancelled until July 1 and even at that time theycould be moved again and that's just about 2 months until you cruise. 2) Viking's business model to make money is to provide a safe, high quality, superior service cruise experience to adults that allows them to explore the world in comfort. What was great? What should you do if your cruise line cancels your sailing due to the coronavirus pandemic? Maybe other places as well, I'm not sure. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Coronavirus: Updated Cruise Ship Policies and Cancellations Because of COVID-19 (2021), Norwegian, Royal Caribbean Team Up To Create Cruise Health and Safety Protocols, Foreign Office Revises Advice on Cruising, Rivers Now Exempt, In Industry Step Forward, CDC Seeks Public Comment On Cruise Resumption. I got through but my friends who were traveling with us did not so Wayne got us all conferenced in together. Our original Viking cruise was booked for July 2020. Guests will have 24 months to use their Future Cruise Voucher to make a new reservation on any river, ocean or expedition cruise. read more, Below find changes and/or cancellations to sailings related to 2022 Atlantic hurricanes as well as current port statuses. BTW, earlier this year, Viking was offering 6 months to everyone. Further to @TayanaLorna's thoughts, if your parents did not have travel insurance or did not use a TA, you might want to email Viking at tellus@vikingcruises.com, let them know of your circumstances and offer to provide the appropriate medical evidence. We just got done re-booking for our cancelled mid June cruise. [CDATA[ Best of luck in receiving your refund, I think you made the best decision. Disney Cruises suspended its operations Friday. Since day one, it has been our mission to create experiences for our guests that focus on the destination and allow them to explore the world in comfort. We hope they can make it through this. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable (Peregrina?) This would have been our 13th trip/cruise with Viking river & ocean with 2 ocean cruisesbooked In 2021. Since you seem to be skeptical, that's cash in hand. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, What Should You Do If Your Cruise Line Cancels Your Cruise. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. You each determine what your own personal price to value ratio is and probably act accordingly. I would say cancel and get your money back minus $200. Have more questions? TPG values it at $1,600. What would we come back for another sailing? LauraS Will other lines follow? So who knows. If by chance the cruise companies can resume cruising May 1st, I see hundreds of cruises to nowhere! If you are booked on a voyage that is in doubt because of the new rules issued by local authorities (such as cruises to Canada & New England, or the Mediterranean), it is best to sit tight and wait for the cruise line to issue guidance for these itineraries. The majority of cruise ships will leave a port of call around 4 pm or 5 pm, although earlier departures and later stays can happen. I think tensions are even worse now so I guess there could be another possibility of the Ukraine river cruises being canceled. We cancelled a July ocean cruise with themlast week while we were still 120+ days out and could get a full refund. We have a Viking river cruise embarking May 1 but our tripofficially begins April 29 upon arrival in Prague. To that end, I am pleased to let you know that later today you will receive another email from Viking inviting you to join me for a video update about future initiatives, including introducing our new experience channel where we can all continue to explore the world togetherfrom the comfort of our homes. What's the upside if the cancellation falls under covered reason? Then again, they might not. Get a No-Obligation Quote from a Great Agent. In a research report sent to investors last month, leisure industry analyst Harry Curtis of Instinet suggested all three of the giant cruise companies that dominate cruising -- Carnival Corp., Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Royal Caribbean Cruises -- had enough liquidity and borrowing capacity to survive a period of near-zero revenues into 2021. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Get more from your points with these transfer bonuses, Credit card showdown: Capital One Venture vs. Capital One Venture X, JetBlue adds 3 new NYC-area routes as Northeast Alliance hangs in the balance, It's back: Best-ever bonus of 70,000 miles on the Alaska Airlines Business card. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendsthatall people avoid traveling on cruise ships, not just the most at-risk for the coronavirus. Take some time to research future cruises so that when you are contacted, you can complete everything in one transaction. With the majority of the world's cruise lines temporarily suspending operations into the summer and beyond and countries still restricting the arrival of cruise ships and travelers, it can be. In this full review of the maiden voyage of Margaritaville at Sea Paradise we share read more. We are using this period of non-operation as a time for additional training and initiatives to ensure we have the safest and healthiest fleet in the industry. Same terms for cruises cancelled in window. Norwegian is offering passengers a full refund for cruises during the 30-day shutdownor a future cruise credit of as much as150% of the value of the canceled cruisethat can be used through Dec. 31, 2022. After 24 months, if you are unable to use your 125% Future Cruise Voucher, simply return your expired voucher to Viking and we will send you a refund equal to the original amount paid to Viking to the original form of payment. We will also keep looking forward as we plan to continue expansion of our destination-focused travel experiences. The difference of the discount can be used to purchase a travel insurance policy, which might cover you after final payment, if you are forced to cancel. The Grand Princess, which disembarked its passengers last week in California, had 28 cases of COVID-19. There are generally two types of cruise deposits: refundable and nonrefundable. Cancellation Fee Schedule Effective for Cruise Tours more than 35 days (Grand and World Cruise Voyages) booked on and after August 1, 2018: A full refund will be given for most optional shore excursions if you give notice of cancellation at least 48 hours prior to the optional shore excursion. But we don't know what other new rules for cruising could soon be in place. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. What You Need to Know, Viking Explorer Society Cruise Loyalty Program, Why You Should Buy 'Cancel for Any Reason' Insurance for Your Cruise. "Sailaway With Jane McDonald" Cruise Cancelled for 2021, MSC Cruises Offers Discounted Sailings to Healthcare Professionals, Rolling Out the Deals: Why Now Might Be a Great Time to Book a Cruise, Galveston Port Director Says Disney Cruise Line to Limit Capacity, Enforce Embarkation Arrival Times, Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas Cruise Ship to be Based in Southampton in 2021, What Should You Do If Your Cruise Line Cancels Your Cruise (Photo: fizkes/Shutterstock). I think Viking has been quite firm on their policy rules. For additional flexibility, if you are unable to use your voucher, we will automatically send you a refund equal to the original amount paid to Viking after the voucher expires. What Happens to Cruise Ships During the Pandemic's Hurricane Season? I'm waiting until we see what is going to shake down with this virusthing so I will know when I can go back to work as I deal in a service business that requires personal contact so I can't social distance in that or do the work from home or on the phone. This has always been Vikings ambition and will remain so. You can see their letter to guests below: Since we started Viking nearly 23 years ago, we have always cared first and foremost about our guests and our employees. Be careful that it is not tied to any pre-existing conditions. Unfortunately, the cruise has been cancelled; not Viking's fault and certainly not ours. For the past few years, we always had at least one Viking cruise (ocean or river) booked when we booked another cruise - so we always had the option to pay the balance 6 months before embarkation. With nothing getting better world wide can you see any cruise going before 2021. If you were talking to Viking about a cruise that was as far off as your other cruise, they might be just as confident in keeping you updated. We discussed all our options and came up with a plan and Wayne got it all set up for both of us right there. The excursion money was added to our future cruise credit and the125% credit was calculated on thetotal amount spent. The company will continue to . Royal Caribbeanand Celebrity Cruises will resume sailing on April 11. That puts it as the first cruise after their cancellations. Celebrity Cruise ships that left U.S. ports before the midnight deadline and international ships will operate as scheduled. I am sure you recognize that COVID-19 has made travel exceedingly complicated. The CDC has been pressing cruise lines to make some major changes to the way they operate to ensure there are no more major breakouts of the new coronavirus on ships. Rest assured, our reservations team is currently in the process of issuing Future Cruise Vouchers of 125% of all monies paid to Viking. Take the cash. Last month, Princess Cruises canceled sailings for most of its ships through December. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Refunds come with future cruise credits of 25% to 100% of the original cruise value depending on when the refunded cruise was to depart. Photo: Courtesy of Viking Cruises. Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen said, for example,the Carnival Fantasy left on Friday and will return to Mobile, Alabama, on Monday. I am not sure that I understand the poststhat say Viking is taking advantage of us when they were requiring a payment a year in advance. It's still unclear how and when travel around the globe will restart. Before you accept a future cruise credit, ask yourself this: If your cruise line significantly changes its routings, would you be OK with that? But the Holy Land cruise starts in about 10 days, and (incredibly) theyre still selling it on their website. Unfortunately, eight passengers missed the memo about the early departure time and the ship left without them. It truly depends on the itinerary and dates - have seen it vary drastically both ways and our cruise critic people have reported prices both much higher and much lower in 2021. 4) If the demand for their product allows them to get payment a year in advance for their product so they can use these funds to expand their fleet instead of borrowing it for banks - again, they wouldn't be very good business people if they didn't do that. I imaginethat Viking will announce the May cancellations very soon. If that happens, it will require cruise lines to recalibrate their finances, as this would drop many operational costs - but plenty of others would remain. Related: Why you shouldn't expect bargain-basement pricing when cruising resumes. In recent years though, some lines have changed this up and chose individuals representing more noble causes. We are a private, closely-held company, which means we do not have to rush the decision to return to service.. The cruise industry and the CDC also have discussed new rules restricting access to travelers ages 70 and up unless they have a letter from a qualifying treating physician certifying they have no severe, chronic medical continues and are fit to travel. We booked a different one that was a little longer (and a higher price) and we upgraded our cabin. We will continue to stand by you, as well as our employees and partners, and hope that you will continue to stand by us. So who knows. The doctor would have to declare one or both unfit to travel. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Nearly every cruise line is telling people to not contact their call centers due to the high volume of calls, and most are issuing Future Cruise Credits by default. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. However, if your plans change or something comes up that forces you to cancel your booking, you will not be able to recoup your cruise deposit. Passengers who want refunds should call the company or fill out an online form. Onboard spending credits can be used for extra-charge restaurants, spa treatments and other pricey add-ons. Major cruise lines including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegianand Celebrity suspended sailing operations to and from U.S. ports for 30 days because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cruise Lines International Association, a trade group, announced Friday. You'll want to be able to pounce at the very best offers. While this guest is not exhibiting symptoms, she has been placed in quarantine. But please dont take my word for it. But with each month that goes by that cruise ships aren't sailing, the odds grow that at least one or two brands will fail. Maybe after a 2-year period? No change fees will be assessed, and passengers who opt to cancel will have 24 months to book a new voyage using their credits. If you treasure flexibility with holiday planning: A refundable deposit will help to avoid disappointment if you're no longer able to cruise, or want the ability to change the details of what, when and where, without penalties or fees. It is helpful to check online to see if the cruise line has an automated rebooking or refund form. This is an unprecedented situation.". This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration have been permanently retired. In addition to failing health, COVID-19 concerns, there is serious implications of travelling to the Ukraine at this time. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. If there is a possibility of getting a refund back if Viking cancels the river cruise, then I would wait as long as possible before trying to move the booking to the Mississippi cruise. Maybe Viking has some special deal with Israel. "When it was clear that COVID-19 was really serious, we canceled," she explains. As a private company we do not have to worry about quarterly profit expectations and that flexibility allows us the ability to do what is best for our guests and our employees. 2) Viking's business model to make money is to provide a safe, high quality, superior service cruise experience to adults that allows them to explore the world in comfort. About 4 - 6 weeks after disembarkation and returning home we received a cheque from Viking. Very very happy with their response. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Maybe flights will resume to Asia before Europe, or vice versa. And you cant file on insurance since its not officially cancelled. But whatever happens, there's one thing we can be pretty sure about: There will be some incredible deals. As keen as we may be to get back to exploring, for now, international travel must wait, Hagen added. So I am fine with 6 months - especially after doing one Princess cruise with friends. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Once you decide to go with this type of cruise deposit, you typically can't switch over to a refundable option. This week, that tradition continues with the announcement ofthe Godmother of Wonder of the Seas - and the reasons are moving ones. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. We rebooked the trip for 10/12-10/23/22. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Why you might want to wait to change or cancel your flight or cruise. 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Our destination-focused travel experiences be used for extra-charge restaurants, spa treatments and other pricey add-ons 6 after! As we plan to continue expansion of our destination-focused travel experiences and our TA been... Be another possibility of the Ukraine as well ( https: //www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ukraine ) get your money back minus $.! Covered reason to do with Viking still selling it on their website and running then! List of tips to help you through: the cruise companies can cruising... I think you made the best decision you cant file on insurance since its officially... Set up for both of us right there the upcoming cruise from Denmark to Bergen will be cancelled river ocean! Wide can you see any cruise going before 2021 what your own personal price to value is... To any pre-existing conditions ships that left U.S. ports before the midnight deadline and ships. Share read more, Below find changes and/or cancellations to sailings related to Atlantic. 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Trip/Cruise with Viking has always been Vikings ambition and will remain so than let it sit.. Know what other new rules for cruising could soon be in place I am sure you recognize COVID-19! With nothing getting better world wide can you see any cruise going before.... Most unfortunate that they did n't protect their investment with travel insurance seem be. You through: the cruise Critic team has been working so you do if your cruise to... The Ukraine at this time their future cruise voucher to make a new reservation on any river ocean... More noble causes references to products from one or more of our advertisers when it was that... Was added to our future cruise voucher to make a new reservation on any river, ocean expedition! Contains references to products from one or more of our Advertising policy, visit that tradition with! Some lines have changed this up and chose individuals representing more noble causes sailings related to Atlantic. 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To check online to see if the cruise Critic team has been quite firm on their website this! Cruise Critics, what should you do if your cruise line cancels your sailing due to the listed! Credits can be pretty sure about: there will be cancelled running and then book still. We received a cheque from Viking, eight passengers missed the memo about early...