Marykatesmom

I have to agree this was very unsatisfactory.  The specific detail ARE known and there is no way Viking is in any position to receive "special consideration".  

This is very reminiscent of the Vancouver embarkation fiasco, where they knew months out that they did not have a berth and they delayed letting the guest know  until shortly before the cruise that embarkation would be after 5PM.

I agree.  No Impressed Viking.

I've been warned away from consolidators.  Outside of looking at individual airlines.  What do you search for when looking for business class flight prices? 

Cruise ships are no longer allowed to travel to Cuba.  Viking now has an 8 day cruise out of Miami with all of the ports TBA.  We've done a few cruises to the Caribbean but I'm not really a beach person.  Viking is different from other cruise lines in that they are port intensive and their small ships can travel to smaller out of the way ports.

If you could send the ship somewhere interesting where would you send it and why?  What would you enjoy?

I would send it to San Juan because of the history and to help it economically and Bermuda because of the history and in the winter it their slow season and not too warm. Plus, I've only  been to both places once.

1 hour ago, molymoo said:

 

We originally considered this cruise as it is one of the few that we can work into a school year schedule.  We noticed that the Cuba stop would be on NY day and thought that was a waste ... have done a lot of cruises during the holidays and while some businesses may open when the "fleet's in" frankly (IMHO) it is still a wasted day ... shopping might be facilitated with the opening of some stores, most likely museums and other attractions will not.  We are fine with the changes and yes, five sea days is a lot but this might be a cruise where we have a little more "vacation" and just a little less "trip".  

I'm in a similar boat.  I can only travel during Jan. or Feb. and the only 8 day cruise is an Iberian Explorer with exactly ONE single sailing date.  I just wish there was a least an email acknowledging the situation.

12 hours ago, sleepybobo said:

If you are not happy with the alternative that Viking comes up with and decide to cancel. Wouldn’t travel insurance cover unexpected event like this?

If I Viking cancelled, yes.  If I cancel, no.  If I had purchased "cancel for any reason".  I would get 75% of all non-fundable costs minus the cost of insurance.  

Although I bought my insurance within the time frame and searched for "cancel for any reason" I failed to click that option.  My mistake.  First time for any cruise I did NOT have "cancel for any reason".  All that extra money for YEARS and the first time ever I might actually have a claim, I screwed myself.  Believe me, won't make that mistake again.  I always buy insurance.

8 minutes ago, Captain_Morgan said:

 

I think this is what separates the mass market brands from Viking in that the likes of RCI and NCL will no doubt absorb and redistribute those affected into other itineraries/ships of a similar nature due to their presence in the Caribbean.  Because Viking is swinging a double-edged sword in that they often sail completely full but have a much smaller presence in the area it means their options are limited in comparison.  I can see them simply offering a full refund or a transferable credit perhaps, but if recent communications are to be used as an example I wouldn't expect a prompt answer

I have my air booked already.  I paid for the air, Air Plus, a deviation fee AND an upgrade out of economy (all of that was still cheaper than just buying the seats directly) plus independent travel insurance.  A full refund of my cruise fare alone and we'd still take a loss. 

Both RCI and NCL are reaching out to their customers and making offers.  Has anyone heard from Viking?

So the Vancouver embarkation went better than expected?  Most importantly did you get a decent dinner?😄

24 minutes ago, KathyA said:

We are booked on Cultural Cuba in 2021. The entire itinerary is Cuba (from Miami). Our itinerary is also now showing TBD for all ports. Considering that the entire itinerary was Cuba, pretty hard to substitute other ports.

9 minutes ago, Cienfuegos said:

Viking's Cultural Cuba itinerary in 2018 was Miami, one at sea day, then to Cienfuegos for a day and a half, then overnight to Santiago de Cuba for a half day, and then a day back to Miami.

 

No other ports.

Can they just change the entire cruise since it is not a case of just dropping Cuba?  Imagine if you booked a Mediterranean Cruise and they changed it to a Baltic Cruise (extreme, I know) but a cruise to Cuba is not the same as Caribbean Cruise.  

8 minutes ago, Captain_Morgan said:

If recent events relating to the debacle that was informing guests about the embarkation in Vancouver on Orion is any indication, I wouldn't think Viking isnt going to say very much if anything about these recent changes.

 

For the likes of Carnival Corp, RCCI and NCLH they will no doubt be working behind the scenes to quickly put alternatives in place and then cascade the information down accordingly to those affected.  Because Viking has such a small presence in the area (Cuba), and as has been stated in different threads, their apparent corporate approach to their customers will no doubt mean they're not too concerned because they're still sitting on their lofty perch with their obvious dedicated base. 

 

That said, if they continue with this attitude of keeping people in the dark while they fumble along trying to figure things out instead of making timely decisions and informing of the same, they could find themselves slipping as nice ships and nice crew only go so far for so long.....

I'm not familiar with this incident.

We are booked on a Viking Cultural Cuba trip Feb. 2020.  It is strictly Miami-Cuba-Miami.  I know the contract of carriage permits changes in ports but there are no other ports involved.  Is it even possible to do a 8 day cruise without a single port?  It would be a PR nightmare without a doubt and a cruise to nowhere holds no appeal.  Can they completely change the itinerary and find whatever ports are available?

We have two cruises booked but because we booked on board we received a six month due date.  I think with so many return passengers booking on board, the cruises will continue to fill.

I was looking at a few summer 2020 cruises and most of what we are interested in are full.  I'll keep checking especially at the 1 year and six months marks to see if spots open up.  I don't think the 1 year policy hurt them at all rather gave them some financial security and helped with booking on board.

1 hour ago, Clay Clayton said:

I’m with your husband!  Good Luck with your upcoming flights.  Too bad it’s so far off, lots of relatively cheap (under$1,500rt)  business seats available for the summer. 

FWIW  Business seats are generally more inexpensive in August as businessmen are vacationing that month and less business gets done.  

Clay Clayton that is so awesome!!

32 minutes ago, DarcyWilloughby said:

For folks planning to visit Cuba: because our government is cracking down on "nonfamily" visits to Cuba, I'd keep double checking the possibility of Cuba being eliminated from Viking's itinerary or any other cruise ship from the US.

If Cuba were one stop in an itinerary then yes, I would expect it to be eliminated.  Cruises miss ports all the time, it is clearly written in the contract of carriage.  But on this cruise Cuba IS THE itinerary.  Are they going to have 7 out of 8 days at sea?  A cruise to no where? Are they going to completely change the “Cultural Cuba” cruise to  a “Western Caribbean” ?

Excellent point. 

Something similar happened to us.  As I was walking to the shop to purchase some Dale of Norway sweaters, I checked the account and our TA credit had not been applied.  Contacted TA they said it was a mistake and Viking would not let them add it so they would give us a credit and refund it to us.  Did not buy the sweaters which I wanted but did not need.  Sunday AM we left the ship early to overnight in Florence, returned early evening exhausted, ate dinner, packed and got up Tuesday early AM for a flight out of Rome and never checked the account.  Viking did apply the credit late Sunday night.  Only after a couple of weeks did I see we left behind a non-refundable credit.  Lesson learned.

Just hours before that post I booked our flights, through Viking, for our February 2020 trip to Cuba.  We have been to the Caribbean many times and weren't planning on returning but this was an 8 day Fri-Fri trip from Miami and that meant only 6 days off from work with no jet lag involved to a new destination.  Plus the overnight in Miami makes me comfortable enough to fly in the morning of departure.  Until we retire the longer cruises will have to wait and Viking has only a few 8 day cruises.  Even the 8 day Mediterranean cruises require more time off for travel and I haven't seen one yet with a Sat. or Sun. departure.

I was calling Viking yesterday for another reason and asked the rep about Cuba.  There is no information of any kind at the call center and he hadn't heard anything about Cuba at all.  The 2019 Cuba itineraries have been completed for the year. We've got a few months to go to see how things shape up.  

This is quite a bit different than missing a few ports and I'll be interested to see what happens.  If anyone hears about what other cruise lines are doing and handling this I would appreciate the information.  I do have insurance and maybe at some point I'll call and see what the insurance company says is covered and not covered.

FWIW my mother was horrified I was going to Cuba but I hadn't been born yet when the Bay of Pigs and the worst of the relationship with Cuba took place.  It isn't living memory to me.  I happened to be at the JFK Museum for a 50 anniversary exhibit of the Cuban Missile crisis.  https://www.jfklibrary.org/visit-museum/exhibits/past-exhibits/to-the-brink-jfk-and-the-cuban-missile-crisis which was quite interesting and I was planning on doing my homework before I left.

Thank you in advance for any information.  Thank you Jim Avery for your post.  We've been to Old San Juan and your right it is beautiful.  

13 minutes ago, Dauntless said:

 

Since you are paying the divination fee, why can't you come the night before?  Your schedule?

Yes.  The cruise is Friday to Friday and it is one less day to we need to take off from work.

But you do bring up a question.  Is it one deviation fee per ticket or per flight?

I booked my tickets this afternoon for my February 2020 trip to Cuba.  My cruise is paid in full and I purchased Air Plus.  I called them knowing what I exactly what I wanted before I got on the phone.  I never purchase airfare through the cruise line but  it was on sale at time of booking for $199 economy and now those tickets are $700.  I was able to get exactly what I wanted including a 2 day extension for $100 deviation fee per person.  I also was able to book a Comfort + upgrade for what looked like what Delta would have charged me.  I picked my seats and and he entered my Skymiles and Known Traveler numbers.  There was no fuss whatsoever.  I should be getting the itinerary within 48 hours in my inbox but I see the information on My Viking Journey with the ticket numbers.  We overnight in Miami otherwise I would have prefered to come in the night before the cruise and not the morning of the cruise.

Thank you for that post.  Very informative and I hope they have it on our next cruise.

Thank you to all.  I booked two nights at the Cadillac Hotel for $570 Oceanfront with a balcony.  We stayed there last month and really enjoyed it. 

Are you traveling from Barcelona to Rome or Rome to Barcelona? 

If this is your first time to Rome I would recommend an extra night or two in Rome. 

Good to know!

I've checked the prices and if I stay with Viking it would be much cheaper than paying directly.  I purchased Air Plus but have to wait until Wednesday to get my flights.  They did sound very helpful when I spoke to them.  
 

How do upgrades work?  I want to travel Comfort + on Delta not economy.  Do I just pay the difference in price that I see online?

Do I get to pick my seats?  I know I don't want to travel in the first row of Comfort + as there is no seat in front of you and all bags go overhead.  I need to be able to get to the granola bars in my purse.

If I stay two days past my cruise I am obligated to also pay a deviation fee on top of Air Plus? 

The outbound transfers only take you to the airport so we would lose those.  I wish they would take you downtown instead.  I would consider doing the Miami post cruise through Viking but they only do Pre-cruise.  My guess it that the post cruise is over the weekend (why we are staying) while pre-cruise is mid-week.

Any other tips?

9 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

As Jim mentioned, if you don't want to pay 1 year ahead, delay booking until the time you want to pay. However, it should be noted that many of the 2019 cruises are already sold out, which may restrict the options.

 

While I'm not overly happy paying for a cruise 1 yr in advance, if the option is returning to mega ships to get 90 day full payment, I'll stick with Viking. Also note that when I book flights 11 months in advance, I pay in full at time of booking, same with the hotel I just booked pre-cruise.

Quite a bit of the more popular 2020 cruises are also sold out.  I'm looking at taking my daughter on a Mediterranean cruise after she graduates from college next spring but she has no idea where she'll be that summer.  I'll be lucky if I get get a 3 months notice so there is no way I can pay one year out.  I'll keep looking but I'm resigned to just taking her to Rome and Venice for week.