What? Nothing from Viking in today's mailbox???

[Ukalady]

It was an unusual day today--there was absolutely *nothing* from Viking (river or ocean division) in our mailbox today. What could have happened? ;)

 

(Seriously, is everyone else getting bombarded with Viking mailings since December? I don't mind 'em--the photos are fun reminders of a great trip past and more to come--but it's become an *unusual* day when we don't get a Viking something in the mail.)

 

P.S. I'm speaking physical, "snail mail" type of marketing.

Edited February 10, 2015 by Ukalady

[vinodoc]

Yup. I also don't mind. We are booked for Legends of the Rhine in April, however, I only see this on their website, and not on their mailings. Looking forward to our first river cruise.

[Got2Cruise]

Viking is also advertising every morning on a NYC news radio station. Every single morning the same commercial. [emoji1]

[jklc123]

We get them, too, but have never sailed with them. Same for Oceania, but they are a sister company of a line we have sailed, which sends almost as many brochures as Viking.

[sunsetme]

tons, gobs everyday, they spend too much on advertising material.

[ural guy]

I posted this on another thread:

 

"What I hate about VIKING is all the mailings you will get from them. At least several items a week, some of them the full size catalogs on glossy, higher quality paper. The same brochures, over and over. Notices of this deal and that deal.

 

VIKING, I know you read these boards- here's a deal, I will sail with you again, I had a good time.

Just give me a $500 credit, and you never have to mail me any more literature. I'm sure you'll save that much in paper and postage.

You know where I live, just drop me one last line!"

 

I cruised with them, it was fun, but man that's a lotta trees you're killing! All that marketing goes into the bottom line somehow.

 

Maybe they're having a hard time filling up all the new longboats?

[jpalbny]

Don't worry, Ukalady. They made up for missing you, by sending us a 130 page glossy catalog of all their 2015-2016 sailings. Right into the recycling bin. Such a waste...

[Ozjohnno]

It's times like this that I'm glad I live "Down Under". Never had any Viking mailings and I've never seen or heard them on radio or TV. Maybe they don't have a marketing team in Australia?

[vinodoc]

They are on PBS station now. Have to watch their commercials before Downton Abbey. lol

[Peggy Tuten]

I've just sailed Viking this past year and probably won't do another river cruise for another 2 years. I too am tired of getting mail from Viking several times a week. I wish they spend less on advertising and lower prices instead. Would prefer getting something several times a year and emails for super deals.

[orchestrapal]

We also get their stuff almost daily and have never considered going anywhere with them.

[Barrheadlass]

Today I received brochures from Holland America and Oceania, both of which I've sailed with. Also got stuff from Viking and Collette Tours, neither of which I'm interested in. It kills me how many trees die for this!😉

[remydiva]

for those who are still getting snail mail brochures, have you tried phoning viking customer service..lord knows the number is plastered all over the brochures...and asked to have your name taken OFF the mailing list?

 

If you really want to save trees, try this and make you and your mail man happy.

 

By comparison, i have been getting DAILY emails with news, sales and last minute deals from Princess who i sail with a lot and i don't mind as they know...and i know...I will pick up the phone at least once or twice a year when something catches my eye.

Edited February 11, 2015 by remydiva

[marchmom]

I am booked for my first Viking cruise in May. Thankfully, I have only gotten two brochures in the mail so far. I hope it doesn't increase after my trip.

[Queen of DaNile]

This week I ONLY got 4 pieces on one day and 3 pieces the next...all thanks to one cruise to China in 2013. Mercifully Oceania's have slowed since the NCL purchase.

[franski]

I have sailed with Viking - and am going with them again in May.

 

My mail from Viking is less than that from Oceania - who I have *NEVER* cruised with - and likely won't.

 

Fran

[cole]

It was an unusual day today--there was absolutely *nothing* from Viking (river or ocean division) in our mailbox today. What could have happened? ;)

 

(Seriously, is everyone else getting bombarded with Viking mailings since December? I don't mind 'em--the photos are fun reminders of a great trip past and more to come--but it's become an *unusual* day when we don't get a Viking something in the mail.)

 

P.S. I'm speaking physical, "snail mail" type of marketing.

 

One person commented that due to the amount they spend on advertising, they then require that you prepay your cruise (even if it is 1 1/2 years away) so they can continue sending those daily mailings. We have never cruised with them and don't intend to cruise with them, but still are inundated with their stuff. :eek:

Cole

[remydiva]

For everyone who does NOT want snail mail, try this approach from another CC thread.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1944249&page=2

 

I was also getting tired of their mailings, so I sent an e-mail to TellUs@vikingrivercruises.com

 

and said I would never sail on Viking and their mailings were annoying me. I got a very nice polite e-mail from them apologizing and saying the mailings would stop in a couple of weeks.

 

For those that don't want emails, unsubscribe option at bottom of email will work after a few days.

Make sure you receive all emails from Viking Cruises,

add Viking_River_Cruises@emails.vikingrivercruises.com to your address book.

 

Unsubscribe - Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions

 

5700 Canoga Avenue, Suite 200, Woodland Hills, California 91367

1-855-707-4837

Advertisement CST:2052644-40

 

For those that just want to complain, do nothing :rolleyes:

[ural guy]

Remydiva- Thanks for link and good advice.

 

Too bad they don't have an option to just get a cataloug w/ the nice pictures 2 or 3 times a year...:D esp during an upstate NY winter. 54" of snow in 48 hours a bit ago.

[snookie1]

We have sailed on Viking a couple of years ago, and are going again in November. We loved our cruise. That being said, we are getting very upset with number of mailings we get from them. We have gotten 3 in one day, up to 6 or more a week sometimes! We mentioned that to our travel agent, who said that that strategy is extremely successful for Viking; their bookings have gone up markedly. I resent that part of my cruise cost is financing their outrageous marketing practices. You know that the vast majority of the mailings go in the trash. Those of us who book with them would do so if we only got one mailing a quarter or so. Every catalog we get has the same trips, the same prices, just a different cut-off date. So irritating!! I suppose the only way to combat the waste is to refuse to book their cruises and tell them why; maybe they would get the picture then. But probably not.

Edited February 13, 2015 by snookie1

[Host Jazzbeau]

Someone mentioned the cost in trees of all these unwanted brochures. Viking should also feel sorry about the added costs to our real estate taxes to dispose of all this unwanted material (even with recycling).

[Familygoboston]

I'm astounded by the level of marketing they do! It's so ubiquitous that every human being I told "we went on a river cruise" said "oh, Viking?" (Um...no we actually went with AMA) I get something; an email or snail mailing at least 2-3 times a week. But here's the thing- I have NEVER sailed with them!

 

Anyway, I check out the brochures to get a sense of the itineraries, but truly don't need to see it every week!

[Talisker92]

I am not a tree hugger, but when a week goes by when I get mailings from Vantage, Oceania, Regent, Cunard,etc. I want to scream "How many trees are you killing with this crap that goes directly to the landfill"!!

[remydiva]

I suppose the only way to combat the waste is to refus[/b]e to book their cruises and tell them why; maybe they would get the picture then. But probably not.

 

 

At risk of repeating myself...no' date=' "refusing to book their cruise and tell them why" is NOT the " only way to combat the waste"...you have lots of options..

 

1.Pick up the phone and call them and ask to be taken off the mailing list

2. Email them at [email']TellUs@vikingrivercruises.com[/email] and ask to be taken off the mailing list and tell them why

3. Click UNSUBSCRIBE at the bottom of their email offerings

 

If you have done any or all of these and viking still sends the snail mail and emails, THEN come here and talk about saving trees, marketing, they should reduce prices, refuse to sail with them ...whatever but no one here on THIS particular thread has indicated they did any of these options.

 

If you have and viking has chosen to ignore you, I Apologize and stand corrected.

 

i just know that I did contact them and have not had the avalanche of snail mail. I continue to get emails and when i am not interested, i click on the email and send to TRASH.

 

When interested, like i was in the fall, i pick up the phone and book a cruise.

 

It works.

[jklc123]

Thanks, Remydiva. I will email Viking asking to be removed from their mailing list.