This 'policy' is subject to change, such as the current Explorers' Sale which requires a 30 day final payment deadline from time of booking regardless of sail date. Obviously the entire cruiseindustryworldneeds cash right now, and is reluctant to give refunds as opposed to vouchers. We have contacted them and they continue to refuse. You can also accept the vouchers, as thousands of other passengers have. Shame on them. My cruise was cancelled by Viking in early March due to Covid. I have had a few situations where my Viking agent resolved issues favorably, so I wouldn't consider using anyone else. Still, something about your case is not sitting right with me. Date of experience: August 2020 Ask Departure768546 about Viking Cruises You can also go here on the Viking site for that and any future updates. They just dont want to part with the cash, Andersen said. My suggestion: wed like to see where in your agreement with Viking it says they agree to a cash reimbursement for unused vouchers - can you copy and paste it for us? Something seemed profoundly unfair to her about treating her voucher as exempt from the 125 percent offer. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. Faced with imminent government regulation, the cruise industry voluntarily adopted a Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights. Did we mention it's free? Clickherefor more information about your 125% Future Cruise Voucher. We seek to provide the best adventure cruises and personalized service to each guest, that is one of the reasons we have so many repeat guests come onboard, a representative told me. 28 to 15 days. please re-read conditions on Mays extension. Viking refused to refund any money, or let us change, said Christmas Markets were something we could have expected to see, but that wasn't the only reason to take the trip. Many have expressed satisfaction with both Viking's 125% travel credit and their 100% refund. And when the company is asked by the news media about individual cases, it seems to make some kind of concession but requires the passengers to sign a non-disclosure agreement, so the final resolutions are usually under wraps. Under its terms, UnCruise doesnt have to give West a refund. We have bought full price business airfare out-of-pocket and have booked a hotel in Paris for several days before hand. However, with your specific unique situation as presented in your follow up emails to management, I invite you to please stand by until a time in the near future at which we will be in a better position to review certain refund requests. Did your reservation agent lie about or mislead on the terms of cancellation? True, it wasnt UnCruises fault but that doesnt matter. No way to hurry it up. I list the names, numbers and email addresses of all the Viking Cruise executives on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org. The maximum withdrawal amount tends to be lower at gas stations. Issuing a refund is not difficult for a company to do; in fact its a single click on most electronic payment gateways. 60% of Full Fare. CC Help Jenn Consumer Alert: Your Airbnb comes with heat during the winter, but Did airlines make a U-turn on family seat fees? I hope companies look on this favourably. Were always here to help. Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. This is an unprecedented time and we greatly appreciate your patience. Viking, also called Norseman or Northman, member of the Scandinavian seafaring warriors who raided and colonized wide areas of Europe from the 9th to the 11th century and whose disruptive influence profoundly affected European history. Please help. 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. Whose $4000 did they keep? Finland-Suomeksi . Or take the cash back. Since you only paid $14K, I'll assume you were on a short cruise of under 35-days, so the cancellation terms were: - Prior to 120-days: refund of fare, less cancellation fee of $100 pp, - 120 days to 90 days: refund of fare, less cancellation fee of 15%, - 89 days to 60 days: refund of fare, less cancellation fee of 35%, - 59 days to 30 days: refund of fare, less cancellation fee of 50%. Use down arrow key to expand the menu and up arrow key to collapse the menu and hit enter to select the link Alas, quite likely too much work for the ever busy editors and hosts. Now they cant take a cruise until they get a vaccine. The majority don't charge fees to get cash back, so that's a plus. The orginal cruise was paid by cash. . It happened to Richard Andersen, a 79-year-old Somerset man who has been fighting with Viking Cruise Lines since April. I think that's fair. Theirs or yours? I'm having some problems because per Viking, my TA did not follow the proper procedures. Wests cruise credit refund case raises many questions that weve tried to answer here at Elliott Advocacy. Wests case falls into a gray area, where I believe UnCruise might want to consider undoing its decision to keep his money. I mostly agree with duquephart. Plus, we have insightful letters, insider tips, and more. It's always best to comb. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. My wife and I paid $10,096 for a cruise and tour on the Viking Idi for April. Ok, so I waited again. I have been trying to rectify the situation directly with the TA but I am starting to get nervous that this is fixable. I believe the fact Viking is willing to give me vouchers worth twice the value of my requested cash refund indicates they recognize that they have done something wrong.. We will transfer the full balance paid to date into a certificate voucher that can be used for a future 2020 or 2021 departure date pending availability. When you cancelled, you had a choice of the cancellation terms or the RFG. 3 or 4 days after e-filing a tax year 2021 or 2020 return. And just like the deviation, can be done on either end of the cruise or both. Over the next several months, he tried numerous ways to contact the company so someone could address his requests, without luck. No decision will be made in your case until mid- to late September. However, the law would have only applied to future cruises. Can a vacation rental host cancel my stay and keep my money? Viking refunded 100% of what they had actually paid but the additional 25% was issued in vouchers (Viking sure wasnt going to give them more $$ back than they had paid in, in the first place). 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. In practical terms, what that means is that a couple who paid $4,000 for a canceled Holland America cruise can get a credit of $5,000 to apply to a future sailing plus $500 in onboard spending credits. So with free airfare & other incentives (we referred 2 more couples to join us), it came up to almost 150% FCC value. When you get your legal advice for free, you get what you paid for. That cost was non-refundable. If you would like a full cash refund, in lieu of the voucher option, you should contact our customer service team as soon as possible so that we can process your request. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. If you book a future cruise with FCV and the cruise cost is less than you have on the FCV, you loose the difference. Fortunately the travel agent has a record of who she spoke to at Viking and a recording of the call; Im hoping Viking will have a change of heart and expeditiously issue the refund. Returns>> Fast refund 100% Money Back Guarantee. 59 or less. 1A once-in-a-lifetime cruise canceledThey canceled his vacation. Spent over 1 hour on phone with Viking with a rep and his supervisor. You chose door No. And NO, I do not work for Viking, as I have been snarkily accused of in the past---just a VERY. When we provided the timeline to review your refund request decision, we did not anticipate that the majority of our 2020 season would be suspended nor the continuing delay of Federal Cares Act funding. But I digress. It is an adjustment for all of us and particularly for someone like me, who spends most of his time traveling. Due to my cancellations, Viking held onto $8,000 of my Funds for about two years. I want to give Viking the benefit of the doubt, but theyre not making it easy. A polite appeal which youve already tried is a reasonable first step. Where's My Refund? Refunds are subject to the established store refund policy at the time of purchase, unless the product purchased is found to be unfit for the purpose of which it was intended. Deposits are refundable unless otherwise indicated. He sent Viking a certified letter on April 10 asking for a cash refund of the extra $9,898 payment and questioning whether his partner's vouchers could be transferred to another person. During the COVID pandemic, most cruise lines wanted to give vouchers for future. Started August 27, 2021, By 2. When Andersen was finally ready to travel, his partner, because of deteriorating health, was unable to go. Was it made before the deadline? Get a cash refund if the returned item is less than $10. Viking refuses - saying it was paid with vouchers. We knew if we cancelled, we would be out a decent amount of money. I wanted to say something about your argument for getting a refund. Wheres the refund? On March 11, we were the first cruise line to announce a temporary suspension of operations through April 30, 2020. The hotel can't provide a refund to the consumer by way of giving them hotel loyalty points, unless the consumer chooses to accept this instead. Select the three dots in the top right hand corner. It gives you time and room to manuever should the environment change. We were 3 weeks from sailing on another line in Mar2020. Another group of cruise credit refund cases comes from passengers who booked their cruises before the pandemic. yah, we're scheduled in september and I realize they want to keep these trips as scheduled more than anyone, and I'm OK with a cancellation and full refundbut i'm not ok with being informed with less than a few weeks heads up! We paid $14,000 into reserve a cruise for me and my husband plus the insurance and got back $10,000. Started August 27, 2021, By I started my career as the Alaska editor for Travel Weekly decades ago, and I still dream of the Inside Passage. Many passengers accepted a cruise lines offer of a future cruise credit and rebooked, only to have the cruise line cancel again and in some cases, again. (Photo by Sjo/Getty Images) Cunard's policy is somewhat convoluted in that it offers a percentage refund based on not only the amount of time that remains between cancellation and the sailing date but also the length of the sailing.Passengers booked on voyages of 30 nights or fewer, departing on or before April 30, 2022, will receive 100% of their money back (minus . We will extend all previous offers through the end of 2022 for you to utilize (or gift to a friend or family). By adding 25% to the value of what you originally paid, you now have the opportunity to enhance your trip such as choosing a longer itinerary; adding a Pre/Post cruise extension; upgrading your stateroom category; or even upgrading to business class air. Now West wants to unravel the companys future cruise credit offer. rep. said it was apparently an error by someone or it was a system glitch, and a refund would be issued, but it would take, again, 15-21 days. Powered by Invision Community. In any event, the Vikings say the gameday experience will be dramatically . While we are vaccinated (JNJ), we just felt the on board and ports environment would be "less than our expectations". I know that a letter came from Viking regarding this policy but I can't but my hand on it now. He paid Vantage $18,536. Why is it taking so long to get a cruise refund? If you're closer to your sailing date, you may lose 75% or more of your fare. @Host Jazzbeau thanks for moving this to here. @Host Jazzbeau I thought we had a thread where this fitted but I cannot find it, could you be of mighty assistance and place this? It later came to an undisclosed agreement with the husband. But the entire cruise industry shutting down due to a pandemic vs one ship having an accident is an entirely different scale. We will continue to stand by you, as well as our employees and partners, and hope that you will continue to stand by us. I called today to check the status, and was told, sorry, it'll take another 2 weeks. The cost of a stopover is usually between $100 and $300. First, why is there an arbitrary deadline? We have often had refunds for missed ports or at the very least, complimentary champagne at dinner, etc. I think Viking is ignoring refund requests. Now what?Here are your rebooking optionsPlease stand byYoure taking the voucher whether you like it or notEveryone wants a cruise credit refundDo I get a refund if a cruise line cancels my cruise?What about travel insurance?Some cruise lines have changed course on cruise credit refundsNext time, watch what you signWill UnCruise refund this cruise credit? We had a fully booked and paid for Budpest Amsterdam river cruise in the spring of 2021. But what about Andersens vouchers? During the summer, they brought out a free upgrade, so I cancelled my existing cruise and re-booked the same one with the upgrade. (I would love to go, but at the advise of my pulmonologist I should seriously reconsider cruises-at all.) Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. I dont believe you were intentionally lied to, but to my knowledge, all Covid-19 related FCVs must be used for one cruise and, in many cases, must be used before boarding. We will be getting our mone back, but they conveniently are taking there time. Need a tour refund? that would have required UnCruise to offer a full refund. has a tracker that displays progress through 3 stages: (1) Return Received, (2) Refund Approved and (3) Refund Sent. I am glad to hear it. You'll still need to return your items within 30 days. 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. If the cruise line. Your bank promptly returned your money. CC Help Jenn In early March, I asked Viking if the trip had been canceled, and it said no. Powered by Invision Community. Delaying our trip even to next year isnt an option for us, he says. Our opinions are usually based on personal experiences. Wondering if anyone else has had this experience with Viking. Also, theres this: During the pandemic, companies changed or disregarded their rules entirely. Then they should not be making promises in regard to policy. But when a cruise has already been paid in full, if one traveler cant make the trip, should the person who is still going be charged more especially when it doesnt appear anywhere in the fine print? While specifics vary by cruise line, in general, the possibility of a refund shrinks (or disappears) the closer one gets to the departure date. We are continuing to monitor the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation daily, and even hourly, to determine adjustments to scheduling, which is based on a number of factors, including long term community support, advice, and relationships within our areas of operation. Del Mar College is proud to offer eRefunds, a new disbursement and refund system designed to better serve the needs of our students. And now they are mad because they are not going to use those vouchers. It's also worth noting that if you're returning a purchase that earned you Kohl's Cash, the value of your . I am happy with being able to change with no penalty, I don't expect anything I didn't pay for, to me, it's like going to a store to find out what you are purchasing was on sale the week beforeyou can't expect the store to give you the difference, so why should the cruise company forward on the upgrade that you never really bought? I'm afraid your post is very unclear and inconsistent. 50% of total price. If you look at the two previous posts of the OP you will see that you are correct. Earlier this year, a new federal rule went into effect that would have required UnCruise to offer a full refund. Were always here to help. Column: Creed III is right on time, says stars Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors. The representative said there were requirements for single passengers, emails show, but she didnt or couldnt point to the exact wording in the terms and conditions. We do look forward to welcoming you on board, when the time is right. On 2/23/2023 at 8:19 PM, Cruzingmlt said: On 2/23/2023 at 10:19 PM, Cruzingmlt said: 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. The Elliott Report is supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. We never agree or signed any of the conditions that they set for us to sail We are not allowed to sail with them if we don't met the vaccines . I believe I was told what I was told in order to sell a booking. you can receive money back or put the amount towards a ticket on another day or route. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). We reviewed Andersens letters and emails to Viking, and we asked the company to review his complaint. There is no law that requires a merchant to refund money. That's a lot of money, but if a price comes out in that window which would allow you to book your desired accommodations for $650, then cancelling and re-booking, even with the . I called on 3/16 to request a refund, instead of a credit. Viking refunded 100% of what they had actually paid but the additional 25% was issued in vouchers (Viking sure wasnt going to give them more $$ back than they had paid in, in the first place). The disruption of travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on a global scale and has lasted much longer than we anticipated. UnCruise will return to sail this season starting April 30. Visit my website: www.kawguy.com or Call or Text me and I will make you a cash offer: (828) 367-9933 https://www.kawguy.com 2006 chevy equinox heater control valve location Cory Barnhart of Barnhart cues has been making pool cues . Next surprise was her voucher was about 45% of original whereas mine was about 28% of original. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Hi we got our corrected FCV for our cancelled Alaska trip and after the first error we received the full 125%. he was given 60 days to accept or decline the offer. Lastly, you now complain that you can't use your vouchers because you refuse to comply with Viking's (long standing) vax requirements. In 2020, he was about to set sail on a 12-day tour from Seattle to Juneau, Alaska, on the Wilderness Discoverer. Let's hope it goes & doesn't get cancelled again You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Risk-Free Guarantee: How it Works But we are truly living in an unprecedented time. If you're return something you used Kohl's Cash to purchase, you can expect to get that Kohl's Cash back in-full. I had heard that there was one on the planet. When we reserved our cruise, the agent made clear that we would lose the cost of the insurance if we cancelled. Princess Cruises Richard Andersen booked a fully-paid Viking cruise with his partner but it was canceled because of COVID. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. In the time since that announcement, many of you have expressed concern for our crew, and I want to reassure you that we are taking good care of them. 3. Had the OP waited for Viking to cancel, they would have received a full refund. Emerging with some cash and some vouchers is inconsistent with most pax experience during Covid. And many travel service providers seem to be working to address concerns about upcoming trips. You could use it for new cruise, upgrades, drink package, excursions, etc. But Robert M. Lawless, a law professor at the University of Illinois . Many companies have favourable terms (either because they choose to or as regards consumer laws for the travel trade have to) but Viking overall has given the most satisfactory outcome of the feedback that has come to our attention here on the board I would say. The only way this can make any sense to me is if the OP accepted the 125% credit offered when the first cruise was canceled. Viking has been holding our money for 4 years now. Guests will be responsible for all costs and fines, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/as-cruise-ships-remain-docked-passengers-say-their-vacation-money-is-tied-up/2445625/, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. They've got lawyers stacked in huge piles. But whats this $452 bill? You say that youcancelled and rescheduled your trip. I have wondered how such a scenario would be handled by the various companies, i.e. No refunds shall be made in the event of interruption or cancellation by a passenger after commencement of the cruise unless otherwise expressly stated in your Passenger Ticket Contract or elsewhere in these Terms, or except as provided by applicable law. Paid $ 14,000 into reserve a cruise line to announce a temporary suspension of operations April! 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