Viking River Cruises is suspending both ocean and river cruises for departures from March 12th, 2020 through April 30th, 2020.
Shelly and I were booked on a Rhine River cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland departing on April 4th. We just received an email from Viking that cancels our river cruise. Viking is offering two refund options:
- A voucher for a future river or ocean cruise valued at 125% of the fare paid, good for 24 months or
- A refund of 100% of the fare paid.
Here is an excerpt of the email that we just received from Viking:
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. As a private company with strong finances, 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, as we have always done.
Therefore, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend operations of our river and ocean vessels embarking from March 12 to April 30, 2020 – at which time we believe Viking will be in a better place to provide the experiences our guests expect and deserve. This is a decision we made with a heavy heart, but with present circumstances what they are, we are unable to deliver the high-quality Viking experience for which we are known.
For those guests whose cruise falls within this window of suspended operations, we are offering the choice of a Future Cruise Voucher valued at 125% of all monies paid to Viking or a refund equal to the amount paid. Guests will have 24 months to use their Future Cruise Voucher to make a new reservation on any river, ocean or expedition cruise. 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. These Future Cruise Vouchers will also be fully transferable.
Rest assured, our reservations team is currently in the process of issuing Future Cruise Vouchers of 125% of all monies paid to Viking. However, if you would prefer the alternative please call Viking at 1-833-900-0951 or contact your Travel Agent by March 25, 2020.
What We’re Going To Do
This is easy for us, we want to go so we will take the 25% credit bump that Viking is offering. The next step is to call Alaska Airlines and cancel our first class award tickets on British Airways. We will book a cruise during better weather months for the same price using the extra 25% credit.
Update March 12th
I called my cruise agent who handled my Viking River Cruise booking. She contacted Viking River Cruises and I will have a 125% voucher by email no later than March 25, 2020. Kudos for Viking to take a bad situation and promptly give me more credit than I paid for. The refund process was quick and easy. Now, to look for new booking dates so I can use my refund voucher.
