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). We'll make an effort to keep this current, but if you learn something we don't yet have posted please leave a comment below and let us know so we can keep things current. It's the current Coronavirus situation that has caused this, and is a very tricky time for all. Now Mr Trump has extended the 'lockdown' until the end of April and Boris is obviously going to extend it in the UK, companies will surely have to officially delay recommencement of operations? In these circumstances I'm sure there is going to be some accommodations madethat are not the standard operation procedures. Once you decide to go with this type of cruise deposit, you typically can't switch over to a refundable option. Your contract is with Viking River Cruises UK Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (Co. No.01283655) whose registered office is at Nelsons House, 83 Wimbledon Park Side, London, SW19 5LP. Cruise lines havepausedtheir operations for at least 30 days. Like another poster mentioned, its not about low numbers so much as the risk of warat what point does Viking decide travel to a region is unsafe for its passengers? It isn't a given that cruise lines will offer the same itineraries when they resume service. In 2019, airlines canceled nearly 135,000 flights. Maybe resorts on land will reopen months before cruise lines begin sailing again. I think Viking has been quite firm on their policy rules. Started August 27, 2021, By 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. No real reason to plan a vacation if you can't get off the ship. The excursion money was added to our future cruise credit and the125% credit was calculated on thetotal amount spent. We kept hoping theyd offer a refund like they did for the Hawaii cruise that turned into a Mexican cruise, and they still might. What's Next Now that the CDC Is Out of the Cruise Regulation Game? If you accept a future cruise credit, you're locking yourself into a trip in the next year or two with one particular line. Unfortunately, eight passengers missed the memo about the early departure time and the ship left without them. Please be a little patient and if youdo your homework (andtry to be flexible), all will work out well. 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. 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. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. This week, that tradition continues with the announcement ofthe Godmother of Wonder of the Seas - and the reasons are moving ones. If it makes you feel any better, know that you won't be alone in choosing cash over credit. 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. Also, after all is clear here, you still don't know if all will be clear at your destination. The major complain was that they were using us to help finance their expansion. Already, two Asia-based cruise lines -- Dream Cruises and Star Cruises -- have said they will restrict entry to some public spaces on ships to 50% of capacity. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Viking owes you nothing. Norwegian is offering passengers a full refund for cruises during the 30-day shutdown or a future cruise credit of as much as 150% of the value of the canceled cruise that can be used through. Viking is our go to cruise line now. Some lines are offering even more. Yes, we know you'll likely be giving up a lot of bonus credit if you choose the cash refund option. Coronavirus: Which Cruise Ports Are Closed? will respond. While cruise deposits historically were refundable, more cruise lines have begun to offer nonrefundable deposit options. If someone thinks he still has a claim, it would be wise to take advantage of the benefit offered. Depending on the cruise line, if you do decide to cancel, your deposit will likely be issued to you in the form of a future cruise credit (less a cancellation fee), in place of a cash refund. LauraS (Updated 1:26 p.m. EDT) Hundreds of thousands of travelers have been affected by the global travel restrictions that began back in March, imposed as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, as countries around the world continue to place restrictions on leisure and business travel in an effort to curb the effects of the virus. Enrollment required. We still have $$$ "left over" for excursions. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. As for your airfare, I'm assuming you are going to Europe and I don't think we have many planes going there now. Of course, like everyone else the pandemic impacted their plans and at the time they were offered a refund or additional credit to move the booking. Refunds will be credited within 90 days, the company said. A few relevant articles that are updated regularly: The coronavirus pandemic is also having a knock-on effect on new ships under construction, and those slated to go through major refits in the coming months. 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. While this guest is not exhibiting symptoms, she has been placed in quarantine. Then again, they might not. Same terms for cruises cancelled in window. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. In many cases, lines are offering a 25% bonus credit as an incentive to get you to choose a future cruise credit instead of a refund. However, if you would prefer the alternative please call Viking at 1-833-900-0951 or contact your Travel Agent by March 25, 2020. When Viking does resume when international travel is less complicated, Hagen said the company has an epic 136-day world cruise on deck, visiting 56 ports in 27 different countries on six different continents. Future cruise voucher at 125% or 100% cash refund. We are very pleased. If the cruise is cancelled after you have embarked, all Shore-ex are refunded to your ship account. For those who arrange their own flights, it must be received at least 14 days prior to the date of cruise embarkation or hotel check-in, whichever is first. What's the downside to us? 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. That said, the discussions between the CDC and cruise lines are ongoing. Powered by Invision Community. That's all for agreeing not to ask for a standard cash refund, which Holland America also is offering. Carnival Corp. is the parent company of Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America and six other major lines. It may resume in waves, with only certain types of trips available for a time. If possible they would have to provide the documentation to the insurance company. How Soon Before Your Cruise Can You Cancel Due to COVID-19 and Omicron? The price for next year is a little lower. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Just a matter of time before official announcement. Passengers during the affected period also can request a future cruise credit of 125% that can be used anytime until Dec. 31, 2021. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Deposits are refundable unless otherwise indicated. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. We decided just to opt for the refund & forgo the additional 25%. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. I am writing today because the situation has now become such that operating as a travel company involves significant risks of quarantines or medical detentions, which could diminish the travel experiences for which our guests have been planning. The Viking Sea and Viking Star cruise ships in Santorini. By We will continue to stand by you, as well as our employees and partners, and hope that you will continue to stand by us. At least thats the way it worked for us when Sky did not stop at Heimaey. We will stand by our guests, employees and partners in these challenging times and hope that they in turn will stand by us. I would not anticipate getting a refund, but Viking might choose to make an exception in your case and offer something like a new future . The coming weeks and months are uncertain for cruising in general, but for lines like Viking, with smaller fleets, it can be all the more challenging. You will have 24 months to use your Future Cruise Voucher to make a new reservation on any river, ocean or expedition cruise. Learn more. (You can use the balance for anything) Also we had insurance and the dollar amount of the insurance was included in the 125% but we don't have to get it again. Just got the email cancelling our Jun 27 Majestic Fjords sailing. The company first paused operations on March 11. has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ukraine, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendsthatall people avoid traveling on cruise ships, not just the most at-risk for the coronavirus. Woodland hills, CA 91367. (those who had already booked for 2021 and now the flood of those who want to transfer bookings from all the cancelled 2020 cruises). 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. 10 to 15 minutes. Cruise Critic is tracking and updating these articles regularly with confirmed changes and updates: The world of post-COVID cruising will look very different from what travelers are used to, as these new policy pieces indicate: Under normal circumstances, a canceled cruise would be a good reason to phone the cruise line. 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. Who wouldn't want the chance to pick up free money? We booked a different one that was a little longer (and a higher price) and we upgraded our cabin. I would not anticipate getting a refund, but Viking might choose to make an exception in your case and offer something like a new future cruise voucher, which, if it was transferable, could be sold to recoup at least some of the costs. Viking sell cruises to people from several different countries, they are not generally cancelling for low numbers. At one stage there were risk free guarantees with some reebookings, get all your parents booking paperwork out and see if there's anything useful in the small print. The company said it would contact those passengers directly to provide details. Maybe other places as well, I'm not sure. 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. Will other lines follow? We've heard a range of possibilities when it comes to future itineraries from cruise executives in recent weeks. What was a bust? The key takeaway: Before taking a credit from a cruise line, you should be comfortable with the possibility that the way cruise ships operate in the next year or two may not be quite the same as the way they've operated in the past. 3) If the marketallows them to increase prices, they should- they wouldn't be very good business people if they didn't. Otherships currently at sea will operate their itineraries as planned. This is an unprecedented situation.". No. We are just not comfortable enough to travel internationally right now. fall flights to the Caribbean for as little as $56, Why you shouldn't expect bargain-basement pricing when cruising resumes, Heres how to cancel or postpone a cruise due to coronavirus, How to book a cruise with points and miles, Could cruising resume in August? Related: Could cruising resume in August? While large ships set sail in Germany and Taiwan in July with more planned to hit the Mediterranean later this month, others have run into COVID-19 outbreaks onboard. In the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when travel ground to a halt, two of the most financially troubled cruise companies at the time -- Renaissance Cruises and American Classic Voyages -- collapsed. That's the new plan at Carnival. Refunds are made based on the cancellation conditions. But whatever happens, there's one thing we can be pretty sure about: There will be some incredible deals. Passengers who want refunds should call the company or fill out an online form. If you don't mind risk: Nonrefundable deposits are a bit of a gamble, but typically come with a sizeable discount to the cruise fare. We have a Scandinavian cruise departing May 23rd on the Sky and this has not been cancelledyet. I am sure you recognize that COVID-19 has made travel exceedingly complicated. The company will continue to . But we don't know what other new rules for cruising could soon be in place. "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). The agent, Wayne Crabb, was working from home and he was fabulous! Your contract incorporates these Booking Conditions and by making a booking with us you confirm your acceptance of these Booking Conditions. Unfortunately, there are still a number of VIking Cruises in 2021 where the price has gone up significantly due to the demand. Maximum flexibility in this situation is critical, as there's no way of knowing now what trips will be available when travel begins to resume and at what price. Even refundable cruise deposits have a timeframe in which they are refundable. If you're looking to support CruiseHabit.com, check out the CruiseHabit.com shop for cruise accessories and shirts. On Sunday, the CDC warned everyone to avoid cruise ships, including river cruises, because of the risk of transmission of the coronavirus. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. What happens to paid excursions when Viking cancels a cruise. 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. They site the risk of quarantine, the spread of disease, as well as the challenges they're having providing excellent guest experiences as many ports and popular attractions are closed to visitors. Future cruise credits must be used by Dec. 31, 2021. The Grand Princess, which disembarked its passengers last week in California, had 28 cases of COVID-19. Very very happy with their response. Also, some cruise lines only offer nonrefundable deposits for suite-level cabin categories or .css-hghiur{transition-property:var(--chakra-transition-property-common);transition-duration:var(--chakra-transition-duration-fast);transition-timing-function:var(--chakra-transition-easing-ease-out);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;font-weight:var(--chakra-fontWeights-medium);border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;cursor:pointer;color:var(--chakra-colors-blue-base);border-color:var(--chakra-colors-blue-base);}.css-hghiur:focus-visible,.css-hghiur[data-focus-visible]{box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);}.css-hghiur:hover,.css-hghiur[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;}guarantee rooms. Disney Cruises suspended its operations Friday. Compared to the Celebrity cruise we booked for August 2021 for which we are receiving updates about every ten days. As tempting as the future cruise credits that lines are offering may be, we recommend taking the cash refund if your cruise is canceled. Viking Cruises has canceled all sailings until at least 2021, the company announced on Wednesday, becoming the latest cruise line to push sailings amid the continuing battle against the coronavirus pandemic. Passengers who are unable to use the voucher can receive a refund equal to the original cruise value after the voucher expires. Refundable cruise deposits mean that should you wish to cancel or switch your cruise, you can get your money back to the original form of payment, as long as you cancel before the final payment date. Norwegian requested that people who opt for the refund wait until March 23 to contact the company. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By The good news for those worried about such rules is that they now appear to be off the table. This claim would have nothing to do with Viking. I am assuming that your parents can cancel within a short time of embarkation since they rebooked as part of the first wave of cancelations by Viking. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, What Should You Do If Your Cruise Line Cancels Your Cruise. You can read more about how this all got started here. That means access to cash, not credits. An example, I'm from the UK, Viking River Cruises is registered on Switzerland, the cruise is in Ukraine. Below find changes and/or cancellations to sailings related to 2022 Atlantic hurricanes as well as current port statuses. Here's how long it will take, Good news for cruisers worried about strict new boarding rules, Some of the year's hottest new ships could be delayed, Stream these 13 movies and shows to get your cruise ship fix, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. They may operate fewer of their ships in Asia, Europe and South America -- or refocus vessels in those regions to local markets. I would say they are being more than fair. Refunded to your credit card. ( whichanybody with a grain of common sense could have predicted weeks ago. Bonus credit if you choose the cash refund, which disembarked its passengers last week in,... Know if all will be clear at your destination refund & forgo the additional 25 % Europe and America. Be clear at your destination the announcement ofthe Godmother of Wonder of the Seas - and reasons! For all certain types of trips available for a time pretty sure about: there will be able to a... 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In California, had 28 cases of COVID-19 Network, LLC are unable to use your future credit. Would contact those passengers directly to provide details case with the announcement ofthe Godmother Wonder. The Independent Traveler, Inc. what happens to paid excursions when Viking a... The original cruise value after the voucher expires check to find special offers but... Grain of common sense could have predicted weeks ago internationally right Now reason to what happens if viking cancels my cruise a vacation you... In those regions to local markets Regulation Game have $ $ $ $ `` left over '' for....