Respected sir/madam,
On July 2010 us and another couple booked a cruise to China with Viking River Cruises that was fully paid by July 30th, 2010. The trip was scheduled for October 2011. At the time of booking we were told several times that all charges less $100.00 per paseenger were fully refundable as long as the trip was cancelled prior to 121 days before the cruise. Due to the economic conditions of the company I and the the other person work for, our vacations were not approved and on March 1, 2011 we were forced to cancel the trip. We submitted proof that this was beyond our control. Viking has elected to NOT refund us the $1, 198.00 each of us paid for the Trip Mate Insurance. I have, in the notes I took that all the moneys would be refunded, less the $100.00 per person, if cancelled 121 days or more prior to the departure date. I took this at face value.\r\n\r\nWe cancelled our trip with seven (7) months notice!. It is sad that a company of the caliber and reputation of Viking to impose a penalty of $2, 796.00 {($1, 198 + $200) x 2)}. Had we not taken the insurance, the only costs to us would have been the $100.00 per person since we were well within the 121 day window.\r\n\r\nWe are extremely disappointed as we believe this is quite unjust and unfair. It absolutely makes no sense to withhold and not refund the insurance money for a trip cancelled so many months prior to the cruise. This is supposed to be trip protection, not trip rip-off.