Viking River Cruises’s earns a 3.2-star rating from 619 reviews, showing that the majority of travelers are somewhat satisfied with cruising experience.
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mekong river cruise
One of the excursions in Cambodia is to the Kampong Cham orphanage.
I question if this is a real orphanage at all.
They ask you to buy items the orphans had made themselves.
The paintings have the real artists name whitened out, then signed by a student. The purses and bags are made commercially.
The student who sells the item gets 30% of the sale. Where does the other 70% go?
I spoke with the Viking member who admitted that the items were bought and then resold to Viking customers.
This is a scam and should be avoided, and if there, do not buy any items.
Booking number 4558909
The experience with the Kampong Cham orphanage seemed to be a scam. There were only about 16 orphans there at the time. The guests were told that the orphans had made the pictures and embroidered items for sale. These items were not made by these orphans. The paintings had the artists names cover up, then signed by an orphan. The embroidered items were massed produced. This was confirmed to me by the Viking representative. The orphans got 30% of the items they sold. I wonder if the orphans were that at all, or just salespeople. Where did the other 70% of the money go? The items were fraudulently represented by the orphanage and at the time by the Viking representative.
I feel that Viking should look into this premise and practices. The travelers with Viking expect a higher standard for excursions.
Michael Walters
[protected]
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
Lack of customer service by any reasonable standard
We are very disappointed in the Viking customer service policy. We are booked on the upcoming “In the Wake of the Vikings” cruise (booking # 4474807). This will be our 4th cruise with Viking – 5th if you count the one we had to cancel on short notice in January.
When we booked this trip back on February 22, 2017 we added the two-day Oslo City Tour extension which starts on 7 September 2017. We could not arrange flights to arrive on 7 September, but we could arrange to arrive on 5 September. I asked the customer service rep if they could add 2 more nights on to our Oslo City extension and I’d pay for them. Answer: No, we can’t do that. I said I was certain the river cruise division often offered extra nights in some cities – answer: No, they can’t… Not happy with that answer, but figured I could work around it by booking our extra nights at the same hotel they used.
I asked what hotels they use in Oslo for this extension and was told they use Radisson Blu Scandinavia and the Thon Hotel Bristol. I made reservations at both hotels for the extra nights so we did not have to break up our vacation in Oslo by having to change hotels. I told the customer service rep my plans and I mentioned to her that the description of the two-day city tour extension says, “ on day one we pick you up at the airport.” I asked how that would work with us coming in two days early. She said they would not pick us up. They only pick up passengers that arrive on 7 September. I mentioned that it doesn’t say that in the extension description. Answer: Still no. Not happy about any this, but I figured I’ll deal with it…
We got our cruise info booklet last week and in it there was no hotel mentioned. It just says: Oslo City Stay September 7, 2017 2 nights Oslo Norway. I called the customer service center and the rep said we would be staying at the Thon Hotel Opera. I told him, and then a second rep, this is a problem and not of my making. I did everything I could to work around all the things Viking would not do for us and now they changed the hotel to a third hotel and did not notify us of the change. I checked with the Thon Opera while I was on the phone with Viking to see I we could switch to it -- no vacancy. So now we are stuck having to stay in one hotel the first two days, check-out and then check-in to the Viking sponsored hotel that they didn’t even list in our cruise information booklet – I had to call to get it!
I asked if they could work it out to get us moved over to the Thon Hotel Opera for the entire stay (surely a company as large a Viking has some connections for hold-back rooms) . Answer: No. One rep said the he didn’t they could do it because it “was so late in the game.” Again, I found there was a problem when I got my booklet last week with NO hotel information listed in it. I asked if they could arrange to have a Viking rep pick us up and transfer us from the Bristol hotel to the Opera hotel. Answer: No. I reminded them that this extension includes an airport transfer that we are not getting because we are coming in early. I remarked that if we arrived on 7 Sep they would drive all the way out to the airport to pick us up, but they have no one in Oslo that can pick us up at one hotel and drive us maybe 2 miles or less to their hotel? Answer: No
I’ve been a senior executive in retail, finance, credit, loss prevention and served as a diplomat. I retired a few years ago and I must say I really have never seen a more indifferent customer service policy than Viking’s. If you can’t or won’t handle a simple customer service issue such as this for a long-term customer it is very unlikely that you will perform well in an urgent customer matter. I’m taking the time to write all this because up until now we liked Viking and I know that strategies and policies regardless of how well thought out or preached at the top often fail at the line level. I’m hoping that is the case here… If it isn’t, you may want to re-think your customer service policy.
Not counting airfare we are spending well over $20K with you on this trip. Over our remaining travel lifetime we might likely spend at least another $100k with you. Your marketing people will tell you that you can’t afford to lose that kind of revenue. As I have told my folks countless times, it doesn’t matter what type of industry you are in, if you deal with customers, you are in the customer service business. If you can’t grasp that you are irrelevant, and irrelevancy usually precedes insolvency. I'm hoping you will fix this problem, you have about 24 days... Solve for Wow, not No!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
Same thing bad customer service experience even before i went on the cruise!
Mr. Mankowski:
We regret hearing that you were also disappointed with our service before your cruise. This is not the experience we want for our guests at any point in the booking process. As we advised Mr. Horrigan, should you wish to discuss your experience we would welcome you to contact us at TellUs@VikingCruises.com. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and look forward to hearing from you.
Best Regards,
Viking Cruises
We also took a Viking cruise from Norway to Russia in July 2017. We took the op trip to Iceland. We booked the trip with Viking Air. Got to Iceland about 6:30 am had to Waite for other guest to arrive. Left the airport at 8:00 am arrived at the hotel about 9:00. We were tired and wanted to check into our room for some rest and to shower./ Told to come back at 2pm. I told the guy we were tired and needed rest. He told me to sleep in the chair in the lobby and use the bathroom in the lobby. I was very upset and felt like a homeless person. The hotel they put me in was out side of town and cost $50.00 round trip. The next day we took the tour of Iceland, very average. We left Iceland on the 3rd day going to Bergen Norway to meet the ship. Too our surprise we went to Oslo the others went directly to Bergen. We had an hour layover in Oslo before we got our flight to Bergen, WELL we could not get through customs in such a short time and missed our flight. WELL 9 hours later we got to Bergen. We got to our room about midnight. NOTE the guest we were traveling with in Iceland got in about 1pm and got to see Bergen. The pre trip cost us about 3, 000 and was not worth the money. Because of Viking Air we lost a day in Bergen. WELL the trips starts and a few day later our room was flooded We are in our 70s and all the crap we had to go through for a cost of $20, 000. I complained and was told we would get 500 for a future trip. Well we will not use the 500 but we will tell everybody we know how bad Viking is.. John Horrigan jhorrigan347@hotmail.com
Customer loyalty consideration
I am posting this complaint as a result of Viking's uncompromising and insensitive response to a recent escalation to customer service. My husband, other family members and I have been on a total of FIVE Viking European River Cruises. Based on our past positive travel experiences, we decided to book the Viking Homelands ocean cruise with a sail date of August 12, 2017, again with family members we referred to Viking (Booking number 4318584). We were looking forward to enjoying another cruise with Viking this summer, however our world suddenly changed. My husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer. We had a consultation appointment with an oncologist and surgeon on July 24, 2017. The doctors advised us that chemotherapy treatment needed to begin immediately and we should cancel all travel plans as a result. The doctors were not willing to wait until we returned from the planned cruise on August 26, 2017. On Tuesday morning July 25, 2017, I called Vic, our Viking booking agent and he advised me to email my request for cancellation and consideration as soon as possible. I emailed him as instructed and received a response from Monica Jimenez, Lead Customer Service Support Specialist. Monica informed me that NO exception would be made in our case. On July 27, 2017, I emailed Monica a letter from the oncologist certifying my husband's treatment plan and his inability to travel. I also called Viking customer service and spoke to two "supervisors" who reiterated Monica's decision. I asked several times for my request to be referred upward, but was denied. To add insult to injury, one customer care representative within the same title actually said "you put yourself in this position". Finally, I received an email from Gina Nygren, another "Lead Customer Service Support Specialist", stating the same decision: absolutely NO consideration of my loyalty as a customer or compromise was offered. Of note, I booked non-refundable airfare for this trip with SAS Airlines, which was our first time traveling with SAS. I relayed the same scenario and presented the doctor's letter to SAS. They resolved my issue immediately and with one phone call. The customer care representative from SAS was efficient, polite, and very accommodating. Our airfares have already been refunded IN FULL based on my husband's medical condition. I understand the terms and conditions of the Viking cancellation policy; I am asking for some consideration or compromise in the form a credit for future travel based on our past loyalty to Viking cruises. At this point, I cannot continue to be a loyal customer or refer other friends, family members and acquaintances to Viking. Instead, I will be telling this story regarding my Viking experience during an exceptionally stressful and emotional time in our lives. It is very disappointing to say the least that Viking is treating their loyal customers with such a total lack of empathy and care.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
Lack of respect and follow up
we booked a river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest July 2017. Our cruise started with the ship Lif, very nice people and food Quiet ship no noise or vibration. Now after about 5 days the river is low and we must move via bus to the ship Aigers. Understandable BUT HERE is the kick in the groin we were bused for hours and when we arrived at the new ship the staff had the worst attitude and no respect. My room was extremely noisy from the engines and vibrated very bad. I brought this up with Klaus the hotel manager who came to my room and said he did not hear anything I told him of course not WE WERE DOCKED AND THE ENGINES WERE OFF, still very demeaning and intimidating behavior towards us. I told him I did not sleep the first 2 nights and was sleeping in the lounge any chance I get. The passenger across the hall also complained and they were moved to a quieter room also the folks a couple of doors down, NONE OF MY CONCERNS WERE ADDRESSED. I emailed Viking asked them to step in and help me out before the end of my cruise to this date 8 days later I have NOT heard a peep from them, I was the FIRST to bring this concern to the manager but he was so rude he should NOT be in the people business. Why does viking treat me like garbage I will do everything in my power to ensure no one else gets treated like we were. I will advocate a total anti viking. Oh and this is my third submission let us see how soon the will react.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
Three card monty exercize in trying to book a danube waltz river cruise
We received a travel brochure from Viking River Cruises on july7th and after looking it over we decided on a late April Danube Waltz river cruise.
The brochure, on page 21, listed for April 2018 a two for one price of $2849 for a veranda B suite .
We decided today on July 27th that we would reserve the veranda B suite for April 20th cruise.
We called the reservation number and we were told that there were only veranda A suite left so we went for it since the change was only $100. We went through the information exchange and we decided to add a 3 day stay in Prague for $703/person then the fun started the price we were given was not the brochure price but a new price of $3549. After the agent had us send him a picture of the brochure page so he could discuss it with his manager. He called us back and he informed us that the $2849 price listed was only for the cruise on April 3rd and that the rest of the month was was all booked up contrary to the fact that he already had given us a suite # for the April 20th cruise. The top of the price listing page states that the prices are by month.
This is not the type of service that we expected from the winner of the Traveler Award 2017 and five other award.
Are you telling me that the brochure was intended to bait an switch me ?
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
Travel docs
This is my second complaint for viking. After reaceiving our flight information close to 30 days late. I called to update our address the customer service rep assured me after 45 mins that it was update. They weren't. And our travel docs got delivered to our old address. I will have to say I am very unimpressed with Viking and how they have handled themselves. This may be the only Viking cruise we do!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
Did not have a flight when arriving at the airport.
My wife and I are currently on a bus shuttle from Paris airport - to another Paris (cdg). We were given our paper in our room with a flight which I do have with me still. We arrived at the airport to find out it was incorrect information. Now we are having to run around to make it home much later. We are a family of 10 traveling and 8 of us all got separated when we had payed extra to be all on same flight and sitting together. [protected]@yahoo.com [protected] is my contact information.
Good
Air services
All over Vikings website states that you will receive Your booked flights no later than 75 days out. The rest of my party that was true. We are now close to 50 days out and still have not received our flights. I have called weekly with still no resolution or explination. So I can only assume at this point that we will be plane hopping all the way to Europe if Viking can't get it together. Is this normal? I find it very disturbing that no one can even give me an explination as to why this has occurred. Booking # 4097569
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
Don't buy viking's travel insurance: trip mate
We paid for Viking's Amsterdam to Basel trip (Booking number 4227928), including travel insurance with their partner Trip Mate. We were to depart April 20th. In March our son was told he needed heart surgery, and that it is scheduled for April 20th. We had more than 30 days notice, so Viking quickly refunded 1/2 the fare. We filed a claim with Trip Mate online, and we received notice May 4th that they had received the surgeon's Attending Physician Statement. On June 23 rd we receive a letter from Trip Mate requiring another Attending Physician's Statement, this time from the doctor caring for our son on the date of the claim. And, a request that we tell them our relationship to the patient (I guess they couldn't find that on their own claim form). I can only assume that Viking condones Trip Mate's business practices, since they promote it use and collect payment for them. It was was enough we had to face our son having heart surgery, but now we have to deal with Trip Mate's seemingly endless requirements in order to be paid the amount we are due. And we have no recourse, but to continue to jump through their hoops and hope eventually we will be reimbursed what we are owed.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
Upcoming trip 4419896
We just received notice that the excursion we had REALLY been looking forward to has been cancelled..."Day in the Beaujolais". There was no explanation of why this was cancelled.
Is there a plan to replace this excursion with something similar? For now, we are booked into the included excursion but we really wanted the all day excursion.
Please consider restoring this tour! I know there were others who had booked it because several of our friends had also booked it.
Thanks for considering,
Louise Perry & Tom Bruno
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
Misinformation and poor customer service
We are booked on Passage to Eastern Europe in November and have been attempting to add the pre-tour extension to Transylvania. We have been told it is sold out, even though we were told first that it would not be bookable until last January, then never informed when it did open for booking. This morning at 9:40 we received a call from Viking that the booking was open and assured that there were two bookings as we are traveling with friends. We called our friends, then immediately called the agent back to reserve our booking. This within 10 minutes. Our call went to voice mail. We attempted five additional times over a period of the next 50 minutes to contact the agent, each time going to voice mail. Of course, when we were finally connected at 10:29 the booking was closed. Our friends were able to book their extension through their travel agent and not through Viking agents. This is the last of a series of missteps on Viking's part. The agent said she was "sorry, " but sorry does not get us on the trip.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
Flight arrangements for group
Booked 6 cabins - Prague to Paris July 2017
This is our 3rd Viking river Cruise, and our 1st using their flight service. Ten of us received our flight arrangements and they came through with Lufthansa. I spoke to our travel agent and explained that I had been reviewing flights and that there was one that we really liked (and it was less expensive) using Air France/Delta.
We were still waiting for the last 2 people to be assigned their flights. When he checked, he had their flight assignment and it was on that Very one that I had told him about. So now we have 10 people on 1 flight and 2 people on a different flight.
He called the flight department at Viking and was told that if the 10 of us wanted to be on that flight that we would all have to pay a fee, which would amount to $50 per person / $500 for the 10 of us.
With a group of us booking like this, I have a hard time understanding this. Viking always says they don't want to nickel & time people, that is why they price their cruises the way they do. Is there anyone out there that can help us please?
Update: Viking called me today and is working on a resolution. I have to commend the customer service for a job well done.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
Ignoring written request to delete from all mailings
Six months ago I requested to be removed from any and all mailings due to disability and reduction of refuse materials I have to deal with. I sent copies of shipping pages and all pertinent information. Since that time the deluge started and now the quantity doubled.
Stop mailings to:
Dorothy walkovits
2865 andrea drive
Allentown, pa 18103
Supposed customer#[protected] (never a customer)
(source code 23ctzr, 18azw3
Not sent by person listed
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
Changing cruise due to medical reason
My parents purchased a Viking river cruise to leave in April 2017 booking # 4408979. My mother had to have EMERGENCY surgery yesterday which lasted 7 1/2 hours. Her doctors informed her that she absolutely cannot travel, especially out of the country, and they would be happy to provide letters stating that fact for her. She is not going to be able to go on this trip in April. This is the very first time she has not purchased any type of insurance with her cruise. When I called Viking to ask them if there was anyway I could change, not cancel, but change their booking to another time I was told absolutely not. they are totally out of luck and will not receive any type of refund for the 4000+ dollars they spent nor can they pay a fee and change their booking. I do you understand that insurance was not purchased, but I am totally and completely baffled by the inability from Viking to take into consideration literally a life-threatening situation and not letting someone change their booking. I clearly I'm not happy about the situation and was not happy speaking with the agent on the phone. When I asked who I needed to go ahead and speak to above her I was just told a manager. She came back on the phone saying that she had spoke with the manager and there was nothing they could do because of the bike and cancellation policy. I totally lost my temper and just hung up because I am getting, and understand but I may still get nowhere. You can rest assured that my parents will not be traveling with Viking ever again if I cannot get a resolution, nor will anyone that I know or even talk to. As a dental hygienist you can be be sure I will share this story with everyone I come into contact with and the lack of customer service and compassion shown by this company. I am sure I will get a whole explaination about the cancellation policy and insurance, but warn you to not even respond if that is what you are coming back with. I would have truly appreciated talking with a manager, but was not given that opportunity. I am cautioning people like my parents who worked hard and saved so they could take these types of trips in their retirement to find another cruise line or option.
I have been contacted by Kory at Viking Cruises Corporate offices. Kory has gone above and beyond (excellant customer service) in my opinion and we are working towards a resolution, so I am going to mark this complaint as resolved for now.
Thank you so much for the message. I am currently awaiting a call back (unfortunately playing phone tag) from your representative. If I do not hear from her (although I am quite sure we will connect soon) I will be sure to send an e-mail as suggested. I appreciate your concern and look forward to speaking with somone.
Kory Robinson from Viking Cruises corporate office has been in contact with me by phone (1-877-668-4546), and we are working towards a resolution in regards to my parents cruise. I understand that they are under no obligation to do anything for my parents, but due to extenuating circumstances she is willing to discuss options once my parents are able to make some decisions in that regards. After my initial horrid experience with VRC customer service I was truly concerned, but Kory's excellant customer service & concern for my parents situation has renewed my hopes that we will come to some type of agreement.
My husband and I love cruising and a European river cruise is next on our list. After reading this review we will be looking into alternatives to Viking River Cruises. You would think they could at least let this poor couple reschedule their trip for a fee. Medical emergencies are stressful enough with out additional worries. After I read this review I looked online and saw that when AARP got involved other people without insurance had been allowed a refund for medical emergencies. I would say that sets a precedence.
I don't understand why this lady was treated so poorly. If I do business with a company I expect to be able to speak with a manager if that is my request. That's just good business
Viking River Cruises needs to spend less times making pretty commercials for PBS and more time on customer service.
Not disclosing age policy anywhere
My mother and mother in law have gone on two wonderful Viking River Cruises in Europe over the last several years. Last summer they took my 14 year old daughter on a river cruise in France. They are both in their 80s and planned to take my younger daughter (who will be 13) on a cruise next year. It took a lot of coordinating to figure out a cruise and date that will work. You can imagine their incredible disappointment when they were told they could not book the ocean cruise they wanted because Viking has a strict policy of 18 and over on ocean cruises. This information is not listed anywhere in their catalogues or website. In fact on the website it says minors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. This is discriminatory and an example of non-disclosure. Agents in the complaint department were not helpful - they could't even say why this is Viking's policy.
http://www.vikingcruises.com/terms-conditions/index.html
Look under the children and minors policy. Clear as day
viking insurance
I am the owner of a travel agency for over 30 years. We book with Viking Cruises often. These clients are loyal customers of Viking. They were booked on the Viking Star #4223057 sailing 11/7/16. They paid us a total of 7446.00 including cost of insurance by check (to save the 3%). We paid Viking the net amount of $6281.11 keeping our commission. The clients were forced to cancel for medical reasons on October 27, 2016 well within penalty. They filed a claim with Viking's insurance for the full amount they paid less the cost of insurance. They were refunded the amount they paid us minus the cost of the insurance minus our commission. When I spoke to "customer service" I was told that because it's " Viking's insurance" they will only refund the amount that was paid to Viking and not what the customer paid. I thought it was the customer's insurance, not Viking's. When the customer questioned the amount of the refund, I had to refund my commission directly to the customer because they paid for full coverage. I just spoke to inside sales Mia who confirmed that insurance will only refund what was paid to Viking and NOT what was paid to the travel agency for the cost of the trip. I was also told that if we would have paid the booking gross, then we would have received a check for the commission at a later date? Why would a travel agency EVER book Viking's insurance? The customer made the claim based on the cost of the trip which is how every ever insurance claim works. If our commission is protected, it should be protected and have nothing to do with whether or not the booking was paid net. Basically, I lost my commission because I chose to pay a booking net. I am very disappointed with the customer service that I received from reservations to sales rep Dianne Pearson (who never returned my call) to inside sales Mia. Very disappointing...If you are a travel agency BEWARE of Viking's warped policy!
UPDATE! Viking cruises has agreed to return my commission after I sent them proof that I refunded the client. Thank You Kory and Mia!
Viking has agreed to refund my commission after providing proof that I refunded the customer. Thanks Kory and Mia!
disappearing loyalty program
I just booked my 8th river cruise with Viking and was very disappointed to find out they have discontinued their "Past Guest Travel Credit". What incentives do their loyal repeat customers now have to continue booking with them other than the cocktail reception for Explorer Society members? We are planning to book additional cruises, including ocean cruises in the future with our travel companions but what incentives does Viking offer to continue to earn my loyalty and that of the other 10 travelers that I have referred? Please consider reinstating discounts for your repeat customers.
Thank you-
Kerry Sullivan
Viking member #[protected]
I was contacted by a Viking representative who explained how the January specials worked. She was very helpful and she addressed all my issues. I have always found Viking to be responsive and I will continue to be a loyal customer.
airline ticketing and more
I have been a fan of Viking River Cruises until now. Three friends (Nancy Stegon, Sue Sheppard, and Helen Glenn) and I are traveling to Portugal this April and our airline reservations are ridiculous! We are on three flights coming and going which means a loss of time in Portugal. We have plans on April 2, but we're not getting there until 4:00 p.m.! We've called you prior to this email and you keep referring us back to our travel agent. She has done what she can, but it's still a Viking problem since you are the ones who booked our flights. We don't want to incur fees, we just want better flights. Sue Sheppard and I are traveling together from Orlando; Nancy Stegon and Helen Glenn are traveling together from Dulles. No one contacted us to see if those flights were ok with us. They are absolutely not! We all have global entry so staying at one airport for 5 hours is not an option. Please provide us with better flights so that we can enjoy our time in Portugal.
The last time we took a Viking cruise, two of us received travel documents for four of us. We are requesting you send individual docs to each of us. Otherwise, we end up mailing the docs to our friends which makes no sense.
Claire Hirata
[protected]@aol.com
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
don't get sick on viking!
My husband and I were recently aboard the Viking Skirnir for the Grand European Tour beginning September 26 and ending October 10. This was our “Swan Song, ” because due to our age, we knew we couldn’t take another trip like this.
When we arrived in Vienna, my husband became suddenly and extremely ill with what we later learned was pneumonia. The doctor that Verona, the concierge, called came to our stateroom, observed my husband on the floor and said, “I’m a doctor. I don’t pick people up.” Then he charged me 100 Euros, leaving me with three Euros. I asked him to call an ambulance, which he did, because my husband was feverish and unable to rise from the floor. He is nearing 90, so of course, I was extremely worried about him, and I was sick, too. Verona did nothing to help us in any way. She told me I would have to find my own way back to the US. I asked her how I should do that, and she said to call my travel agent. Viking was my travel agent! She also said I would have to find a way to get to Budapest to pack up our things and get them back to Vienna. She told me that a taxi would be too expensive, and I should take a train, but didn’t tell me where I could find a train station. She made no suggestion where I might find a hotel in Vienna, or anyone I could call to get some advice as to how I might manage alone in Vienna. Nor did she call my emergency number to notify my daughter what had happened to us. Why do we give emergency contacts to Viking? Our children were terrified. Meanwhile, on the third day, Verona called me to say I could pick up my belongings when the ship made its return trip to Vienna. She knew all along that the ship was coming back, but she let me worry over how I was going to get to Budapest to get our things. My blood pressure was 228/110 and I had to make two trips to the emergency room for IVs to try to lower it. I’ve never been so alone and so worried in my life.
My husband was in the hospital for 10 days, when we were finally discharged to return home, but unfortunately I have only the memory of being an old woman completely helpless in Vienna without even a hint of concern or assistance and unable to speak the language. Would Verona have wanted her mother to have been put in this situation? My letter to Viking about this was sent a month ago, but it has has gone unanswered. No one takes a cruise thinking there would be an emergency, but Verona surely could have recommended a hotel in Vienna or had someone accompany us to translate.
We will never be able to take another cruise, and I will be insulted if I'm offered a coupon for dollars off another trip that we can't take.
It was those first three critical days when I heard from no one and had no one to turn to that created my problems in a foreign country with nowhere to go, no money, no knowledge of where I could find an ATM, and absolutely no one I could call to help me in any way. Those first days will remain a trauma for me forever.
Verona, your representative did nothing for three days. It was after that when she called me to tell me the ship would be coming back to Vienna. Wasn't she aware of that when she directed me to find my way to Budapest to pick up my belongings? For three days, I was left thinking that was something I was to take care of. It was only after I returned to the ship to get my things that she gave me a number to call for a return flight. I had made notes on my phone as each thing took place when and after I left the ship. Those first three days were critical, when I had nowhere to sleep, nowhere to eat and no one to ask how to make my way in Vienna, where I didn't speak the language. Someone should have advised me about what to do, or better yet, accompany me until I was settled. I've learned this is what other ships do, and the person rejoins his ship later. There's just no way to explain away those first three days of helplessness and fear.
First, one doesn't take a cruise thinking of sickness, especially since neither of us has ever been seriously ill before, and everything we had read and been told, said a member of the staff would accompany us off the ship to see we were settled, and they could get back to the ship at the next stop.
Secondly, at no time would I have had the effrontery to expect the cruise to pause for me. I certainly would have been annoyed if It had stopped for any one person.
Thirdly, I didn't ask anyone to pick up my husband, not even the doctor. All I wanted was to get him to the hospital. The doctor didn't even touch him or talk to him. I was the one who asked the doctor to call the ambulance. In my mind that was pretty arrogant.
Yes, I agree that no one on the ship should have tried to pick him up, and I didn't suggest that.
Our last cruise was about ten years ago. At that time, a gentleman had a heart attack. The crew was incredibly kind and thoughtful of him. In other words they treated him with the courtesy one would expect from another human being.
As for having a "plan of attack, " even if I had one, I sure wouldn't have had the name of a hotel near the hospital in Vienna in my arsenal. :-). As I left the ship in the ambulance, Verona said I'd have to find my way home; I'd have to find a way to get to Budapest to pick up my things ( when she knew that wasn't necessary), and I was to pay for the incidentals we had incurred on the trip. In other words, she couldn't wait one more day to call me and tell me those things. It had to be right then, when I was in a panic. She had my phone number and my credit card number, and the insurance did organize our flight home accompanied by a rescue nurse, so were any of her comments necessary?
Thanks for your comments, though.
Romantic danube disappointment!
We took this Viking Var Romantic Danube River Cruise for my husband's birthday and our 25th wedding anniversary, from Nuremberg (well actually Erlangen) to Budapest. Having seen the beautiful Viking commercials on television for years, we were enticed. It was our first ever cruise and we wanted an 8 day river cruise due to the fact that we are both easily sea sick. However, the ads do NOT show the whole picture and the experience was also spoiled by no air conditioning for 3 days on our side of the boat, because they could not get the right part. No A/c in August meant 2 sleepless nights, as they could not provide us with a fan. One night we left the balcony door open for cool air but ended up with a cabin ceiling covered in black gnats! We went to the front desk as we did not know what to do with them and they brought a vacuum to suck them up expertly-obviously they had done this before!
Our Romantic Danube cruise actually starts out on the Main Am Danube canal which is not very attractive (although interesting when you go through the 27 locks) -certainly not the vine-covered hills we were expecting to be looking at as we sat on our balcony. The first day we were tied up at an industrial dock opposite a recycling plant-see pics at Erlangen-half an hour from the pretty city of Nuremberg. We had paid extra for the balcony room, but did not use it that day as we did not want to sit looking at a corrugated iron fence for a whole day. It soon became apparent that the balcony was a waste of money as we could not use it 4/7days due to being tied up next to another boat which were exactly aligned so you could see into each other boat's cabins and no doubt touch hands on the balcony-hardly private and certainly not Romantic!
The cabin was cosy but well appointed, with plenty of storage so that we could get our things put away. The bathroom was very compact, but again had good storage and sufficed for us, though we are not sure how large or tall men got into the shower! Although it was described in the brochures that wifi was available-it really was only available when docked and pretty sketchy at other times, although we did find one corner of the lounge (beneath the captain's bridge!) with better reception. Other indoor areas of the ship were attractive, which was fortunate as we were unable to sit on the sun deck for most of the trip due to the high water and the inability to get under bridges, unless they laid everything flat, which took the crew 3-4 hours to do apparently. Again something not really described in the brochure.
Meals on board were indeed fine dining, but as big time foodies, we could not really classify the dinners as gourmet. For example, they never asked you how you liked your meat and at the first dinner they overcooked everyone's steak and fish. Moments of excellence however were the pastry chef's creations for tea and dinner and the breakfast and lunch buffets, with interesting salads, fresh fruit, and freshly prepared egg dishes or sandwiches and soups. The first day buffet lunch was a particularly nice welcome. Service was generally good and we quickly learned who were the best servers and most friendly. There were a few who were obviously in training (reaching across your plate when you were still eating etc) Meeting new people at dinner was one of the best aspects of the trip. We had thought at first, it would rather be like middle-school, trying to find someone to sit with in the dining room, but we found nearly every passenger to be open and friendly and we could easily find a topic to discuss.
The tours were generally well run and interesting and we only had one guide (on a rainy day in Vienna) that was tiresome and confusing with his spiel about the Hapsburg dynasty (even for a history major like myself). Everyone else seemed to balance out the history and interesting facts about the area and country. The expensive optional tours, we chose: Cruising the Danube Narrows, Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna and the Apricot Dumpling making at the Gottweig Abbey, were excellent. However, we felt the organization of the first days' tours were poor: we would have liked to have taken the optional tour of the Nuremberg WWII history but it was at the same time ( Saturday morning) as the included City tour, because we had to sail in the afternoon to get to the next dock. However, if, as we reported, we had spent the first day tied up in Nuremberg and started the whole cruise there, instead of Erlangen opposite the recycling plant, we could have Saturday afternoon to do the optional tour. We could have then sailed in the evening and night. We know this fact as we met a couple from California on the Sunday who had missed the first 2 days due to their plane from LA being cancelled and they had to try and get to the boat at Nuremburg, but the boat was not there and they had to be bussed on again to Regensburg-and they might have been able to join the boat on Saturday evening in Nuremberg. It should also be noted most of the tours left at 8-830 which did not invite a leisurely morning. In addition, since the boat was not docked in center of city (except for Budapest), it meant a bus ride of at least 30 minutes to get to the attraction. Due to the high water one day we were bussed 1 1/2 hours to the city of Regensburg- and then another 1/1/2 hours to rejoin the boat which finally was able to make its way down to the correct dock after sailing all day. My husband was so frustrated to have yet another long bus ride-he actually picked the option of staying on the boat, but of course missed his already- paid for tour. In fact, the commercial’s voice over "Spend more time being there and less time getting there..." kept going around in our heads through out the cruise!
Entertainment on the boat in the evening was low key, but enjoyable with talks about the EU, the Canal, and coffee houses of Vienna, music and trivia quizzes and delightful musical entertainment from an opera group and Bavarian band, as well as the resident Sonya, singer and piano player. Tatiana, our program director kept the up beat spirit going through out the trip.
Our last night in Budapest was probably the epitome of the commercial, when the captain took us for a "romantic" cruise around the illuminated sights of the city, narrated by Tatiana. The views were spectacular and we were glad that we ended with Budapest, rather than taking the cruise in the opposite direction, otherwise we would have felt we had gone from the "sublime to the ridiculous."
We have travelled to Europe for over 25 years, due to having family still there, so have experienced many aspects of traveling abroad and while this cruise was enjoyable, it was certainly not the once-in-a lifetime trip that was advertised in their commercial and that we had long awaited. We feel that Viking should elaborate more on the exact details of the trip and the inconveniences of being tied up, alongside other boats, in industrial areas requiring a bus trip to the attraction. When we contacted Viking customer service on our return, they only would give us a future credit of a $1000 off another trip for the lack of air-conditioning for 3 days-so really not compensation for the most expensive and disappointing trip we have ever taken. We are not sure we will repeat it for my decade birthday next year…..
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
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