Cancelled Ports

[MoBro713]

If a port is cancelled due to weather conditions, how does Viking reimburse you for the cancelled excursion?  Do you get any other type of compensation for a missed port?

 

Thanks

[CDNPolar]

I believe that you will find in the passenger ticket contract that if a port is missed due to weather there is no 'compensation' however you will be refunded if you paid for an optional excursion.

 

You may hear from others that have written Viking and claim that they were given vouchers to compensate for a weather related missed excursion.

[CDNPolar]

Think that this is where it is covered.

 

CARRIER’S RIGHTS AND DISCRETION. The Master of the Ship is authorized to take any action deemed necessary for the safety, security, comfort or well-being of any person or to prevent damage to or loss of the Ship. Carrier reserves the right at any time, without notice, to cancel any cruise, change or postpone the date or time of sailing or arrival, change your port of embarkation or disembarkation, provide a different Cabin than the one initially assigned, modify or omit any activity on or off the ship, shorten or lengthen the cruise; change, add or omit ports of call, substitute the Ship or provide for alternate transportation, render assistance to preserve life or property if conditions of any nature are deemed in good faith by the Carrier to require such action or prevent the Ship from maintaining its scheduled itinerary. The Ship, either before embarkation or at any time thereafter and whether or not required by any maritime necessity, may remain in port, proceed by any route and/ or deviate from or change the advertised or intended route at any stage of the voyage and may proceed to and stay at any place whatsoever, although in a contrary direction to, or outside of, or beyond the usual route, one or more times, in any order, for loading or discharging fuel, stores, laborers, stowaways, Passengers, or members of the Ship’s company, for this, or any prior or subsequent voyage and/or for any purpose whatsoever that we, as Carrier, or the Master may deem advisable. Any such procedure shall be considered not to be a deviation but within the voyage herein intended as fully as if specifically described herein, unless the applicable law provides otherwise. The above-mentioned provisions are not to be considered as restricted by any words of this Passenger Ticket Contract. The Ship may adjust compass, drydock or go on ways before or after commencement of the voyage and may sail without pilots, tow or be towed, and assist vessels in all situations. If the performance of the proposed voyage is hindered or prevented (or in the opinion of the Carrier or Master, is likely to be hindered or prevented) by war, hostilities, blockage, ice, labor conflicts, weather, surf, shallow or high waters, insurrections, disturbances on board or ashore, epidemics or pandemics of communicable diseases (including but not limited to COVID-19, influenza, norovirus), governmental restraints or declarations relating to epidemics or pandemics, other restraints of any governmental authority, health emergencies, acts of God, breakdown of the Ship, congestion, docking difficulties, or any other cause whatsoever, or if we, as Carrier, or the Master of the Ship consider that for any reason whatsoever beyond the control of the Carrier, proceeding to, attempting to enter, or entering or remaining at any port may expose the Ship or any person to risk of loss or damage, or be likely to delay the Ship, we may deviate from the scheduled cruise tour or may provide alternate transportation to some or all of the ports and destinations, and you and your baggage may be landed at any port or place at which the Ship may call, in which event our responsibility shall cease and this Passenger Ticket Contract shall be deemed to have been fully performed, or if you have not embarked, we may cancel the proposed cruise tour. If we are required to do any of these things, we will be responsible to you as follows without any further liability for refund, payment or compensation of any kind, unless otherwise required by applicable law:

[duquephart]

We missed Bornholm on our Homelands. A polite whine to Tellus netted $1000.

[millybess]

1 hour ago, MoBro713 said:

Do you get any other type of compensation for a missed port?

 

Thanks

We missed Funchal on our Trans Atlantic in March.  We missed ports before and expected nothing.  It's all part of cruising in our opinion.  We were very surprised that we each got a voucher shortly after returning home.  We applied them to a cruise that we had already booked, but hadn't made final payment.

[CDNPolar]

We have missed many ports over the years and never received anything.

[LindaS272]

45 minutes ago, millybess said:

We missed Funchal on our Trans Atlantic in March.  We missed ports before and expected nothing.  It's all part of cruising in our opinion.  We were very surprised that we each got a voucher shortly after returning home.  We applied them to a cruise that we had already booked, but hadn't made final payment.

Hmmmm…..We missed Funchal on that same TA in 2022 & got nada. 🤨

[Cienfuegos]

we missed Falmouth, England on the Trades Routes cruise in 2018. The Master said it was too windy to attempt a docking, and that was that.

 

No compensation sought or received.

[Mackdogmolly]

8 minutes ago, LindaS272 said:

Hmmmm…..We missed Funchal on that same TA in 2022 & got nada. 🤨

So, are you saying that if you pay for excursions and then miss ports, Viking does not compensate??

[Haqdeluxe]

The 1st rule of Fight Club is we don't talk about Fight Club! 🤫

[Haqdeluxe]

8 minutes ago, Mackdogmolly said:

So, are you saying that if you pay for excursions and then miss ports, Viking does not compensate??

No, you will receive on-board credit for any canceled/missed excursions. This of the type that if not used by the end of your cruise, will be credited back to your credit card. This assuming the original payment was via a credit card. 

Edited July 24, 2023 by Haqdeluxe

[Peregrina651]

Over the years we have missed a number of ports. In most cases, there was some sort of substitution.

 

The only times we received compensation were:

1) when propulsion systems issues caused our cruise to be cancelled on Day 3 (we returned to our embarkation port for repairs but were invited to stay on board for the remainder of the cruise with free excursions every day PLUS received a full refund and a bit more). Our best "worst cruise" ever.

 

And 2) when our supposed to be Hawaii but turned out to be Mexico cruise encountered further problems when one single case of Covid on board caused 3 of the ports to cancel our permission to visit their fair towns (they were not equipped to handle an outbreak on board); Viking gave vouchers for all, a percentage of the cash portion of the paid (not on any vouchers used).

 

Edited July 24, 2023 by Peregrina651

[LindaS272]

28 minutes ago, Mackdogmolly said:

So, are you saying that if you pay for excursions and then miss ports, Viking does not compensate??

No, not at all. @millybess was talking about a missed port—not addressing excursions. If you had an optional excursion through Viking at a missed port, you automatically get your $$$ back. Apparently, on her TA this year that missed Funchal, Viking gave them an unexpected voucher after the cruise. We missed Funchal on the same TA in 2022, did not request, nor received a voucher.

[Jim Avery]

One thing for sure you will miss a few ports.  Sometimes another port is available and substituted.  Any excursions bought through Viking are promptly refunded to your onboard account.  If you booked private tours that's between you and the provider.  The providers we have used all have refund policies if the ship misses the port. Have not lost anything so far.  As to compensation from Viking over missed ports I can tell you absolutely that it depends....  It has happened and quite a few times it has not.  

[KBs mum]

Viking used to be good at making some sort of apology, since covid they don't seem to be worried about missed ports. 

Last cruise we were on the itinerary changed from the as booked 5 ports in Norway to 3 + a brief stop in a container port near Amsterdam. 

Weather meant only two ports in Norway with Amsterdam cancelled. We were 2 days late into final port (London) 

Viking considered the two extra days on the ship compensation for the missed ports and hassle caused by the delayed arrival. 

Other than the Captain (who we thought was excellent) no Viking employee acknowledged that passengers might be disappointed or inconvenienced. 

You will likely have a enjoyable holiday but Viking is no longer about destination cruising 

 

Edited July 24, 2023 by KBs mum

[millybess]

1 hour ago, LindaS272 said:

Hmmmm…..We missed Funchal on that same TA in 2022 & got nada. 🤨

Yes, I remember that.  I followed your roll call and your trip.  It seems to me that many of the Trans Atlantic cruises don't make Funchal.  It was disappointing, but not unexpected.  We were pleasantly surprised when we received these vouchers and happily applied them -- ASAP I might add 😉 

[TayanaLorna]

1 hour ago, Mackdogmolly said:

So, are you saying that if you pay for excursions and then miss ports, Viking does not compensate??

Viking will reimburse you for optional excursions if port stop is cancelled usually to the means by which you paid.  Some excursions but not the port can be cancelled also.  We were docked in a port and all water based excursions were cancelled because it was too windy.  That time the reimbursement went to our on board account.  

[Mich3554]

We missed Lofoten, Norway as the weather was too rough to get into the narrow harbor (or something like that).  The captain said that there were reports of several pods of whales nearby, so we went whale watching instead.  We saw whales.

[FetaCheese]

On Sea, TA, Dec 2022.  Funchal missed, weather.  V substituted Gran Canaria.  Had optional tour, promptly refunded to onboard account (was paid with OBC).

 

Although this was 1st ship call to Gran Canaria, V quickly found shorex for Gran Canaria, 1 included, and some optional. Paid for an optional.  Later found out that it was nearly similar to included.  

 

No comp offered, most likely due to a port substitution.  Was disappointed with tour, mostly coach ride thru countryside to: 1. a hotel, with upscale shops on lane right before hotel,  but no free time given; essentially a restroom stop with a very long line.  2. A beach area with shops/restaurants, on your own. 3. A nice town Port Morgan, with plenty of shops/restaurants.  Enough time; had lunch, and it was very enjoyable.  3rd stop was best of 3. 

 

Guide was knowledgeable and talked history, culture, anecdotes, etc on coach, and was personable.  In my opinion, was not worth price paid.

 

Edited July 25, 2023 by FetaCheese
Addl info

[deec]

19 hours ago, duquephart said:

We missed Bornholm on our Homelands. A polite whine to Tellus netted $1000.

WOW....I must learn to your polite whine verbage!  maybe $100 but $1000 for one missed port is incredibly generous.

[OneSixtyToOne]

2 minutes ago, deec said:

WOW....I must learn to your polite whine verbage!  maybe $100 but $1000 for one missed port is incredibly generous.

$1000 is my favorite vintage of whine.

[Twitchly]

Sometimes Viking will substitute another port. For example, last fall we missed the Shetlands (waaah!) and were given a day in Stavanger, Norway, instead. On the same cruise we also missed Ullapool and were given … an extra sea day. 
 

One note about refunds for those optional excursions: they’re given in the form of onboard credit, which means you have to use them before the end of the cruise. That’s tough when your refunded excursion comes near the end of your cruise. We already had the Silver Spirits package and had pre-paid gratuities; the spa was booked up. So we ended up buying more stuff in the onboard shops than we normally would have. And keep in mind that the shops close for business a day or so before the end of the cruise. 

[Haqdeluxe]

From Viking's Ocean FYI:

 

What is the cancellation policy for my booked shore excursions?
 

• In order to ensure quality guides and sufficient transportation, we must provide the tour operator with guest counts at least two days in advance. Therefore, no refunds will be given within two days of any shore excursion.
• Tours require minimum participation levels to operate so please sign up as early as possible.
• Tours operate rain or shine.
• Online booking and cancellations will close seven days before your cruise sets sail.
• During this seven-day pre-sail period, you can cancel items by calling us.
• Once you arrive on board, you will have the ability to manage your shore excursions again, with one exception—all shore excursions that occur during the first two days of sailing will be non-refundable.
• Please note, whether an optional tour is booked through My Viking Journey or on board, refunds are only processed on board and will be applied as a credit toward your shipboard account balance. Should you have a negative balance at the end of your voyage, the refund toward your credit card will be processed on board. Please allow 14 business days for this to reflect on your statement.

[Mitina]

21 hours ago, duquephart said:

We missed Bornholm on our Homelands. A polite whine to Tellus netted $1000.

Assuming this is true, going public will pretty much end any chance Viking will be this generous again.

[duquephart]

2 hours ago, deec said:

WOW....I must learn to your polite whine verbage!  maybe $100 but $1000 for one missed port is incredibly generous.

 

Mariehamn having already been removed from the itinerary bolstered my whine - not to mention the whole Gulf of Finland. Maybe I just caught a sympathetic agent on a good day? Also got after them about a toilet issue one morning - another $1000.