Avid Travelers

I agree with your comment, but I also subscribe to the idea that you can't fix a problem if you don't know it exists, which is why I wrote the CEO of Viking and several members of his executive staff to inquire as to the rationale and to request an exception since we're going to Hawaii for 2 1/2 weeks in June and Viking wants full payment for a December cruise by the end of May. After 28 years of military service and four combat deployments, I've learned not to give up so easily and throw in the towel just because of a "policy". All you have to do is look at the United Airlines situation last week to see how outdated policies can cost you lots of business. If only someone had written the United CEO to ask about their involuntary removal policies, it might have saved them $250,000,000 in market value and a multi-million dollar lawsuit. ;)

Don't think Viking is losing lots of business due to its payment policy as its ships are always full.

Thank you very much! I've already started researching other cruise lines, but in the meantime, I wrote an email to the CEO of Viking, along with several of his executive staff and I got a phone call within an hour. They asked me to call the Sales Dept Director on Monday to resolve the issue, so we'll see what happens. After 28 years in the military, I'm not going to give in without a fight. We really enjoyed Viking, but just disagree with their payment terms. Thanks again!

Book it with another line, you'll be happier in the long run :)

AMA

Uniworld

Avalon

Scenic

Tauck

 

All excellent companies who want final payment 90 to 120 prior to sailing.

 

 

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Today is April 15, 2017 and I am trying to book three (3) cabins with Viking River Cruises for the Rhine Getaway from 16-23 Dec 2017. We have been on two previous Viking cruises (Nurnberg to Budapest 2013 and the Russian Czars trip from St Petersburg, Russia to Moscow 2016) and both cruises were booked within 2-3 months of travel. We are now trying to book three cabins for three couples for a cruise that is eight (8) months away and they are demanding full payment by May 23, 2017, nearly seven (7) months before the cruise. I pushed back and said that we would pay the $1,000 deposit immediately and we would like to pay in full no earlier than 90 days before our sailing date. The representative refused, so I asked if his manager could authorize it and he said no, that it was a Viking policy. It is a real shame that a company as good as Viking will shoot themselves in the foot by demanding full payment seven months in advance of a cruise. I can only guess that by holding their clients money for that long is partially what enables them to grow their fleet so fast. I would ask/hope that they would reconsider their policy and allow full payment at 90 days out, otherwise, they are losing lots of business and damaging their reputation.:(