All Viking Cruises operations temporarily suspended until the end of April 2020.
Viking Cruises has just confirmed the temporary suspension of all of its river and ocean cruises, for embarkations taking place from today until 30 April 2020.
CEO Torstein Hagen said “the situation has now become such that operating as a travel company involves significant risks of quarantines or medical detentions, which could diminish the travel experiences for which our guests have been planning.
“As a private company with strong finances, we do not have to worry about quarterly profit expectations, and that flexibility allows us the ability to do what is best for our guests and our employees,” he said.
Hagen said that after the end of April “we believe Viking will be in a better place to provide the experiences our guests expect and deserve”.
Guests impacted are being offered a full refund, or a future cruise voucher valued at 125% of all monies paid to Viking. The credit voucher will be valid for 24 months and can be used on any new Viking river, ocean or expedition cruise booking.
If vouchers cannot be used, Viking will automatically refund the original amount paid after the voucher expires.
“We will stand by our guests, employees and partners in these challenging times and hope that they will in turn stand by us,” Hagen said.
More information in tomorrow’s issues of Travel Daily and Cruise Weekly.