Avoid Viking River Cruises
Jul 27th, 2016, 01:46 PM
#23
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It looks as if the very best suites are that price, probably without airfare:
http://www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk/...?gridversion=0
http://www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk/...?gridversion=0
Jul 27th, 2016, 03:55 PM
#24
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First-time complainers on this board are rarely met with compassion. It's usually the same old people saying the same old thing.
When things go wrong, and it can happen to anyone, I understand the sinking feeling in one's gut and the need to vent.
When two or more people are involved in the planning of a trip, you have to ultimately decide who is going to take responsibility for any mistake that occurs. If you feel you have a legitimate complaint and you're prepared to stand your ground, I always recommend writing the CEO. The process has never failed me.
It gets a little more difficult when you're writing on behalf of your wife's actions. If she's not prepared to fight for a correction, then I'm afraid it may end up being your word against someone else. A tough negotiation to win.
The moral of this story: demand all verbal negotiations in writing. Good service is hard to find, and too many people make mistakes. The only way to clarify details of a phone conversation: the details need to be written again in a letter. It's the proper way to conduct serious business.
When things go wrong, and it can happen to anyone, I understand the sinking feeling in one's gut and the need to vent.
When two or more people are involved in the planning of a trip, you have to ultimately decide who is going to take responsibility for any mistake that occurs. If you feel you have a legitimate complaint and you're prepared to stand your ground, I always recommend writing the CEO. The process has never failed me.
It gets a little more difficult when you're writing on behalf of your wife's actions. If she's not prepared to fight for a correction, then I'm afraid it may end up being your word against someone else. A tough negotiation to win.
The moral of this story: demand all verbal negotiations in writing. Good service is hard to find, and too many people make mistakes. The only way to clarify details of a phone conversation: the details need to be written again in a letter. It's the proper way to conduct serious business.
Jul 27th, 2016, 09:23 PM
#26
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I don't think price paid is relevant.
I am a good communist but as long as those who have money don't steal it frome I don't see where it is shocking.
I find it however light from both OP and Viking to part with that money without it being clear what we get for this money.
And customer care seems to suck there too.
However I also find these one time posters boring.
And one year after ...
And a whole holiday ruined because you have to take several planes ?
Come on! There are worst thing in life than having long flights/connections. In business class.
I have no real sympathy here for these reasons.
But since OP can't check on what she buys I am not surprised he posts on the wrong forum.
Careless OP careless buyer ...
I am a good communist but as long as those who have money don't steal it frome I don't see where it is shocking.
I find it however light from both OP and Viking to part with that money without it being clear what we get for this money.
And customer care seems to suck there too.
However I also find these one time posters boring.
And one year after ...
And a whole holiday ruined because you have to take several planes ?
Come on! There are worst thing in life than having long flights/connections. In business class.
I have no real sympathy here for these reasons.
But since OP can't check on what she buys I am not surprised he posts on the wrong forum.
Careless OP careless buyer ...
Jul 27th, 2016, 11:14 PM
#28
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However Whathello made a good point, it is hard to sympathize when someone says their whole trip was ruined because of a less then great flight situation.
I think this is what some would say is real first world problem.
I think this is what some would say is real first world problem.
Jul 27th, 2016, 11:17 PM
#29
I remain having sympathy with the OP. I don't see why a company should not share recordings with a client, in fact I suggest that part of the recording is owned by the OP but I agree with Christine it will be tough to get it.
So, I wonder how the OP is getting on with his negotiations...
I think my other actions would have been
1) gone balistic with management earlier in the process (not the call centre minion but a manager
2) gone balistic with the Viking rep on arrival
3) elevated the issue on FB and twitter, Tripadvisor
but the real issue would be to raise the issue early with someone allowed to do make a decision.
not sure that my actions would have worked but maybe
What I do struggle with is why Vikiing would have gone out of their way to P@@s off a couple prepared to pay that much soldi. Why kill the golden g?
So, I wonder how the OP is getting on with his negotiations...
I think my other actions would have been
1) gone balistic with management earlier in the process (not the call centre minion but a manager
2) gone balistic with the Viking rep on arrival
3) elevated the issue on FB and twitter, Tripadvisor
but the real issue would be to raise the issue early with someone allowed to do make a decision.
not sure that my actions would have worked but maybe
What I do struggle with is why Vikiing would have gone out of their way to P@@s off a couple prepared to pay that much soldi. Why kill the golden g?
Jul 28th, 2016, 04:33 AM
#32
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>>I think this is what some would say is real first world problem.<<
Isn't every problem here a first-world problem?
I have no qualm with posts such as the OP's. The person, assuming sincerity, is warning us about a problem with Viking. After the fact, it's easy for the rest of us to sniff, "Oh, nothing in writing?" OK, that was a mistake. We all make them. But that's no reason to criticize the OP for alerting us to what I consider a problem any of us could encounter.
And those who focus on the "ruined vacation" aspect are missing the point, IMHO. It's not about how the OP felt or didn't feel. It's about a legitimate issue with Viking.
NYFood has a point that having more than one person deal with a vendor can cause problems and confusion, but that doesn't lessen the legitimacy of the complaint or even the reasonable expectation that the complaint should be addressed by the company.
Isn't every problem here a first-world problem?
I have no qualm with posts such as the OP's. The person, assuming sincerity, is warning us about a problem with Viking. After the fact, it's easy for the rest of us to sniff, "Oh, nothing in writing?" OK, that was a mistake. We all make them. But that's no reason to criticize the OP for alerting us to what I consider a problem any of us could encounter.
And those who focus on the "ruined vacation" aspect are missing the point, IMHO. It's not about how the OP felt or didn't feel. It's about a legitimate issue with Viking.
NYFood has a point that having more than one person deal with a vendor can cause problems and confusion, but that doesn't lessen the legitimacy of the complaint or even the reasonable expectation that the complaint should be addressed by the company.
Jul 28th, 2016, 06:47 AM
#33
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<i><font color=#555555>"I think this is what some would say is real first world problem."</font></i>
A disdainful, dismissive rebuke from someone who has issues with anyone who has more money than her.
<i><font color=#555555>"the amount of money you are talking about is huge to me"</font></i>
A disdainful, dismissive rebuke from someone who has issues with anyone who has more money than her.
<i><font color=#555555>"the amount of money you are talking about is huge to me"</font></i>
Jul 28th, 2016, 08:11 AM
#36
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The point is that this is the first posting by this person and it is a complaint. Somehow I guess, he trawled the Internet and found travel boards and cut and paste his complaint.
You feel itchy not because he wants to help anyone else but to air his $15,000 grievance to the widest audience possible.
And that is what makes it a first world problem.
You feel itchy not because he wants to help anyone else but to air his $15,000 grievance to the widest audience possible.
And that is what makes it a first world problem.
Jul 28th, 2016, 11:58 PM
#38
Ann,
"The History of every major Galactic Civilization tends to pass through three distinct and recognizable phases, those of Survival, Inquiry and Sophistication, otherwise known as the How, Why, and Where phases. For instance, the first phase is characterized by the question 'How can we eat?' the second by the question 'Why do we eat?' and the third by the question 'Where shall we have lunch?"
"The History of every major Galactic Civilization tends to pass through three distinct and recognizable phases, those of Survival, Inquiry and Sophistication, otherwise known as the How, Why, and Where phases. For instance, the first phase is characterized by the question 'How can we eat?' the second by the question 'Why do we eat?' and the third by the question 'Where shall we have lunch?"
Jul 29th, 2016, 08:32 AM
#39
Bilbo - that was one quote I'd forgotten.
Radio 4X is about to run it all again from the beginning. Even though we have it on cassette tapes that we bought our kids as Christmas presents [yes, even our kids are that old] I'll be listening again to every glorious word.
any other Zaphod Beeblebrox fans out there?
Radio 4X is about to run it all again from the beginning. Even though we have it on cassette tapes that we bought our kids as Christmas presents [yes, even our kids are that old] I'll be listening again to every glorious word.
any other Zaphod Beeblebrox fans out there?
Jul 29th, 2016, 08:45 AM
#40
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My retired parents have been on so many trips , they are thinking of setting up their own TV channel.
They travel at all levels : cruise, villas, cottages, 1* hotels, 6* hotels on Bora Bora, caravans .... The lot.
By far and away the most disappointing 5 days they have ever spent in 72 years of travel was a a trip on the Danube with Viking. This being three years ago.
I could write a book about the off hand attitude Viking adopted but the only part of the trip which matched the promises in the brochure was the fact that it was "a cruise" on a "river".
Major cities were skipped, suites double booked, staff hassled for tips when they had been assured that tips were included. It was an endless lists.
They travel at all levels : cruise, villas, cottages, 1* hotels, 6* hotels on Bora Bora, caravans .... The lot.
By far and away the most disappointing 5 days they have ever spent in 72 years of travel was a a trip on the Danube with Viking. This being three years ago.
I could write a book about the off hand attitude Viking adopted but the only part of the trip which matched the promises in the brochure was the fact that it was "a cruise" on a "river".
Major cities were skipped, suites double booked, staff hassled for tips when they had been assured that tips were included. It was an endless lists.
