Viking Cruises Temporarily Suspends Operations on All Ocean and River Cruises Through April 30, 2020, Due to COVID-19

Viking Cruises Chairman Torstein Hagen announced last night that they are temporarily suspending operations on all ocean and river cruises through April 30, 2020.

As Hagen shared in this video, it has become increasingly difficult to assure passenger and crew safety.

Furthermore, as a result of this COVID-19 worldwide pandemic, port closings are increasing, airline travel has become difficult, and providing an experience that allows guests to “explore the world in comfort” has become problematic for Viking.

Torstein shared in this letter:

“For those guests whose cruise falls within this window of suspended operations, we are offering the choice of a Future Cruise Voucher valued at 125% of all monies paid to Viking or a refund equal to the amount paid. Guests will have 24 months to use their Future Cruise Voucher to make a new reservation on any river, ocean or expedition cruise. For additional flexibility, if you are unable to use your voucher, we will automatically send you a refund equal to the original amount paid to Viking after the voucher expires. These Future Cruise Vouchers will also be fully transferable.”

I fully expect that other cruise lines will follow suit with similar announcements at or near the opening of the stock market this morning.

This is clearly a difficult decision, but we applaud Viking Cruises for making this decision.  Furthermore, their offer to extend an automatic 125% future cruise voucher to those affected by this shutdown is generous and commendable.

There Is No Need to Act Immediately

For those of you who are our clients affected by this temporary suspension of operations, you don’t need to do anything.  Viking is in the process of adding a 125% future cruise voucher to your account.  Further, as he shares in the letter, these vouchers will be usable within the next 24 months.

Carol and I are standing with you during these challenging times for the travel industry.  For now, let’s push the reset button on our ocean and river cruises for the next few months and poke our heads up on May 1, 2020, to see how this might all play out.

In the meantime, wash your hands frequently, and let’s start dreaming about travel plans beyond this current situation.

As we mentioned in our weekend newsletter, travel brands have attached these “cancel for any reason” vouchers to all future bookings.  Therefore, booking future travel is “risk-free”.

For more information, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.

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