There are generally two types of cruise deposits: refundable and nonrefundable. Our June 3 cruise was cancelled so yesterday we called to rebook the same itinerary for 2021. Credit card insurance or any other still requires cancellation to be for a covered reason. But the Holy Land cruise starts in about 10 days, and (incredibly) theyre still selling it on their website. Additional resources for cruisers during the coronavirus outbreak: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Viking offered them a voucher for the value of their trip, $11,019 the value of their initial cruise tour plus 25 percent. I am writing to you today from my home, rather than the Viking office. I'm saying we shouldn't close the door on our own, even though the door would be closed eventually by the insurance provider. 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%. That said, the discussions between the CDC and cruise lines are ongoing. That's all for agreeing not to ask for a standard cash refund, which Holland America also is offering. I realize that to this point Viking has. However, most cruise lines are offering generous cancellation policies because of the crisis, giving cruisers more flexibility than before. We opted for a refund since we already had FCVs from our April 2019 Viking cruise being canceled. At least thats the way it worked for us when Sky did not stop at Heimaey. Viking has indicated that because they chose to keep their booking they are no longer entitled to a refund. "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). B. These Future Cruise Vouchers will also be fully transferable. //. SpaceX and NASA have called off an astronaut launch to the International Space Station after an issue with the rocket's ground system was detected. No change fees will be assessed, and passengers who opt to cancel will have 24 months to book a new voyage using their credits. Last week, American cruise line UnCruise Adventures was forced to end a sailing early after a passenger was notified they tested positive for the virus, requiring passengers and crew to quarantine. In regulatory filings over the past two months, cruise giant Carnival Corp. has said it was burning through $1 billion a month. I too am anxious but I know I have to wait. 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. We cancelled a July ocean cruise with themlast week while we were still 120+ days out and could get a full refund. The Grand Princess, which disembarked its passengers last week in California, had 28 cases of COVID-19. Future Cruise Sales on Celebrity Solstice. Very very happy with their response. Deposits are refundable unless otherwise indicated. Breeze through security with CLEAR lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. MVJ is displaying an error message. Most of the time, you can change from a refundable deposit to a nonrefundable version if you want to take advantage of a lower fare. Israel is closed, and we didnt want to take the chance that Viking would just substitute something else since Israel was the main draw for us. We rebooked the trip for 10/12-10/23/22. 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. LauraS What about other regulations that cruise lines have had to follow? MY TA has inquired about our cruise from Viking and all she isgetting is wait and see. 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. Author: bill March 11, 2020, Updated: May 2, 2020. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. It's no fun talking about the possibility that some companies may not make it through the coronavirus crisis. Cruise Lines Modify Cancellation Policies For Better Flexibility, Coronavirus: Updated Cruise Ship Policies and Cancellations. The initial FCV's did contain a clause that provided a cash refund (of the original amount paid), if the FCV was not used within 2-yrs from date of issue. We rebooked for July 2021. We too got the note about cancel anytime up to 24 hrs. 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. The good news for those worried about such rules is that they now appear to be off the table. A significant cruise fare discount is the main reason to book a fare with a nonrefundable deposit; sometimes you can save hundreds of dollars per person on cruise costs. Passengers have until Dec. 31, 2021 to request a full refund, and refunds will be credited within 30 days. $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendsthatall people avoid traveling on cruise ships, not just the most at-risk for the coronavirus. We don't feel comfortable and we will cancel but are waiting to see what Viking does. 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. 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. Enrollment required. What was great? Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. In order to reserve a room onboard, cruise lines will accept a deposit, or portion of the full cruise fare to secure your place. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. 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. 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. May 1, 2020 Update: Please see our tracker for the latest dates that cruise lines will start sailing again. "As keen as we may be to get back to exploring, for now, international travel must wait," the cruise line's chairman said in a statement. Cancellation Policy Due to COVID-19 The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. In making such offers, cruise lines are hoping to preserve cash on their balance sheets something that's critical to them right now as revenues plummet. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. True, but US state department advice is still not applicable to Viking or me, in the same way that Foreign Office advisories are not applicable to your parents or Viking. We decided just to opt for the refund & forgo the additional 25%. Learn more. wasn't worth 3 months interest. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. We are confident you can weather this storm! This will typically be spelled out clearly on the cruise line's website at time of booking, or by your travel advisor. Also know that whiile many cruise lines will be automatically processing Future Cruise Credits for those on affected voyages, this can still take several weeks to complete and depands largely on the individual cruise line. Vouchers will be fully transferable, the company said. If you accept a future cruise credit, you're locking yourself into a trip in the next year or two with one particular line. However, if you prefer the alternative, you may choose a refund equal to the amount paid, by contacting your Travel Agent by April 6, 2020. Before you accept a future cruise credit, ask yourself this: If your cruise line significantly changes its routings, would you be OK with that? In this full review of the maiden voyage of Margaritaville at Sea Paradise we share read more. Same terms for cruises cancelled in window. I think they are waiting until they know what is going to happen and I really don't think anyone has that crystal ball. Photo: Courtesy of Viking Cruises. However, if you would prefer the alternative please call Viking at 1-833-900-0951 or contact your Travel Agent by March 25, 2020. We upgraded our stateroom DV1 to PS2 and air from economy to comfort. Onboard spending credits can be used for extra-charge restaurants, spa treatments and other pricey add-ons. They already have us figured for idiots. LauraS In that spirit, we have made the decision to extend our temporary suspension of operations through June 30, 2020. We and two other couples travelling with us cancelled last Friday. Maybe after a 2-year period? After final payment, you will lose your deposit or the deposit and a portion of your cruise fare, depending on when you cancel in relation to your sail date. Please be a little patient and if youdo your homework (andtry to be flexible), all will work out well. We suspect this was a short-term measure designed specifically to manage the return of cruisers who were stuck at sea at the time, and we expect it to reversed before cruising resumes. Our cruise is May 2 out of London. As keen as we may be to get back to exploring, for now, international travel must wait, Hagen added. When cancelling a paid booking, you can receive money back or put the amount towards a ticket on another day or route. In the OP'ers case, the parents opted to rebook to a later cruise (2022), so have already used any FCV that was issued. The doctor would have to declare one or both unfit to travel. It is a risk because you will not know if insurance will pay until after the cruise is cancelled and a claim is filed. On March 11, we were the first cruise line to announce a temporary suspension of operations through April 30, 2020. 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. 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. Email ctate@usatoday.com. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By It then would put a few more ships into service every month. Visit TPGs guide to all coronavirus news and updates. Eight Diamond Princess passengers have died. Our cruise in June was cancelled, of course. You'll want to be able to pounce at the very best offers. 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. Refunds are made based on the cancellation conditions. 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. 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. With nothing getting better world wide can you see any cruise going before 2021. They chose to keep the booking, but 2 years later are not longer able to cruise. Coronavirus: Which Cruise Ports Are Closed? I think Viking has been quite firm on their policy rules. It's always best to comb . Related: Some cruise ships could be laid up for months. Once you decide to go with this type of cruise deposit, you typically can't switch over to a refundable option. Until the order is lifted, cruisers only can travel home from U.S. ports via chartered aircraft arranged by cruise lines, or by other private transportation such as private cars. In addition to our many award-winning river and ocean cruises, in early 2022 we will launch our expedition journeys to the Arctic and Antarctica, as well as North America's Great Lakes. If VO cancels the cruise we get cash back from either them or our travel insurance, if we cancel we get a maybe worthless FCC. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Carnival Corp. recently raised more than $6 billion in debt and equity sales. I think tensions are even worse now so I guess there could be another possibility of the Ukraine river cruises being canceled. 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. The US state department is not relevant to any of us. 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. Sounds like everyonehad a different experience. Last month, Princess Cruises canceled sailings for most of its ships through December. 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 just canceled, so I havent seen our voucher contract yet. 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. 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. As a side note after reading the Viking Cruise Critic boards and the challenges many have experienced with regards to FCVs and the continued challenges with traveling internationally, we have not used our FCVs from the April 2019 canceled Viking cruise which are due to expire this April 2022. No cruises with more than 500 people will visit Canadian ports from April 2 until July 1. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). They did not purchase travel insurance. By My parents booked a Viking cruise in 2018 for a 2020 sailing. Hoping third time is a charm and we go in January! 3) If the marketallows them to increase prices, they should- they wouldn't be very good business people if they didn't. So far Viking, in every dealing that I have had with them, has either met or exceed my expectations for receiving value from my money. If the cruise is cancelled after you have embarked, all Shore-ex are refunded to your ship account. Maybe other places as well, I'm not sure. Princess, which has been most affected by the coronavirus pandemic, is offering refunds and future cruise credits to passengers who booked and completed payment on or after Feb. 4. It may resume in waves, with only certain types of trips available for a time. It sounds great, doesn't it? Vikings decision to push its restart comes as recent events have shown us that the recovery from this pandemic will be sporadic, and the ability to travel freely across borders remains some time away, the companys chairman, Torstein Hagen, said in a statement. Thanks Viking! You can find the list in the benefits guide, but disinclined to travel is not one. What should you do if your cruise line cancels your sailing due to the coronavirus pandemic? Do you want a future cruise credit, or are you interested in rebooking immediately on a new voyage? Viking Mississippi - As of January 23, 2023. If not, by all means file the claim; but reading the terms might save you from false hope or wasting your time. The nickel and diming, screaming kids, rudeness of 3,500 cruisers, etc. Our original Viking cruise was booked for July 2020. Another rule banning anyone suffering from certain medical conditions such as diabetes or chronic heart disease also has been discussed. Same friends on Princess booked for the first time with Viking for a March 2021 cruise and won't pay until September. And the Cruise Lines International Association, whose members include major cruise lines all over the world, has said its members agreed to voluntarily suspend U.S. sailings through at least Oct. 31. Related: Could cruising resume in August? All programs will be modified to . Lately, Europe has seen temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Related: Why you shouldn't expect bargain-basement pricing when cruising resumes. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. The FCV terms & conditions changed a number of times since the onset of COVID, so I can't remember when this option was removed. As of now, the 30-day moratorium on cruises ends on April 10. Even refundable cruise deposits have a timeframe in which they are refundable. Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. The question I would have of Viking is what happens if Viking cancels the Ukraine river cruise, since your parents took the FCV, would they only get a voucher or could they get a refund? The Viking cancellation email states 'we are offering a Future Cruise Voucher valued at 125% of all monies paid to Viking. Glad everything worked out well for you -especially since you trashed Vikingin another thread yesterday: They already have us figured for idiots. read more, Will vaccine and testing requirements go away? Powered by Invision Community. These Future Cruise Vouchers will also be fully transferable. For most cruise lines, as long as you cancel before your final payment date, there is no penalty. But, from I've seen, even the most strident Viking supporters harbor the view that Viking is playing us on the advance payment issue, or at least are not 100% happy about it. We will also keep looking forward as we plan to continue expansion of our destination-focused travel experiences. You would think the cancellations will be for a long time to come. Woodland hills, CA 91367. Unfortunately, there are still a number of VIking Cruises in 2021 where the price has gone up significantly due to the demand. Why you might want to wait to change or cancel your flight or cruise. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. But we are truly living in an unprecedented time. While this guest is not exhibiting symptoms, she has been placed in quarantine. That means access to cash, not credits. Get a No-Obligation Quote from a Great Agent. 1) Viking like every other cruise line is in business to make money. I feel we have become one large Viking family of 500,000 guests each year and 10,000 employees. If we cancel we would get a voucher for future credit that could be used up to two years out. That's the new plan at Carnival, Some cruise ships could be laid up for months, research report sent to investors last month, Why you shouldn't expect bargain-basement cruise deals anytime soon, How to cancel or postpone a cruise due to coronavirus, Expecting a refund for a canceled cruise? 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. The 125% Future Cruise Voucher will also be fully transferable. How Reassuring are New Cruise Cancellation Policies Really? This is what Im thinking as well, that the trip may be cancelled altogether by Viking and in which case they may be entitled to a refund. Since you seem to be skeptical, that's cash in hand. Refunded to your credit card. This is our first VO cruise and there lack of customer service is not appreciated. will respond. We would also lose our non-refundable air cost if we cancel. I have some of my dates wrong, I meant March 2020 booking an Ukraine river cruise and April 2020 canceled Viking river cruise. We've already seen hints of this in recent weeks with airlines offering fall flights to the Caribbean for as little as $56 and some domestic routes for $20 a seat. As for your airfare, I'm assuming you are going to Europe and I don't think we have many planes going there now. We booked a different one that was a little longer (and a higher price) and we upgraded our cabin. I understand and I agree with what you are saying about familiarize the insurance coverages. Still, in an environment such as the current one, with the length of the travel shutdown still unknown, you may want to think twice before allowing your money to be tied up unnecessarily with a travel company.

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