Viking Ocean Cruises Cancellation Policy

You think you’ve got it all lined up. Cruise dates, flights, maybe even a few excursions bookmarked. And then something shifts. Could be a work thing. Could be personal. Doesn’t really matter—what matters is you’re now staring at your booking and wondering what it’ll cost to cancel.  

Here’s the thing—Viking Ocean Cruises Cancellation Policy isn’t buried in legalese. It’s pretty clear once you go through it. But it’s easy to miss until you need it. So before you cancel, change dates, or even swap itineraries, take a minute. This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s just what happens when plans don’t stick. No fluff. No cruise brochure language. Just the part that affects your wallet.

What You Need to Know About Canceling a Viking Ocean Cruise

If you cancel your Viking Ocean Cruises booking or even just tweak it a bit then you are going to face some fees. That includes changing your departure date, switching itineraries, handing your booking off to someone else, or messing with a promotional fare. Once the cruise starts? No refunds. It doesn’t matter if you leave early or change your mind mid-trip. Unless your Passenger Ticket Contract or local laws say otherwise, you’re locked in.

Also, Viking doesn’t do phone cancellations. You’ve got to send it in writing. Like, actual paper. Mail it to:

VRC – 5700 Canoga Avenue, Suite 200, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

If your booking includes flights and the airline ticket’s already been issued, there’s an extra $350 per passenger fee. That’s on top of whatever cancellation charge applies.

Additionally, Viking makes it clear: cancellations mess with their ability to resell your spot. So the fees? They’re not just random—they’re considered fair compensation.

Viking Ocean Cruises Cancellation Policy: Fee Breakdown

Here’s how it plays out depending on when you cancel. This applies to standard cruise tours (not Grand or World Voyages) booked on or after August 1, 2018:

Days Before Departure	Cancellation Fee
120+ days	$100 per passenger
119–90 days	20% of the total fare
89–70 days	35% of the total fare
69–50 days	50% of the total fare
49–30 days	75% of the total fare
29 days or less than that	100% of the total fare

Therefore, the closer you get to your departure date, the steeper the penalty.

Grand & World Cruise Voyages (35+ Days)

Here is the cancellation structure for Grand & World Voyage Cruises of 35 days or more than that for all journeys booked on the 1st of August 2018 or after that.

Days Before Departure	Cancellation Fee
180+ days	$100 per passenger
179-150 days	20% of the total fare
149 – 120 days	35% of the total fare
119-90 days	50% of the total fare
89-60 days	75% of the total fare
59 days or less than that	100% of the total fare

For optional shore excursions you will receive a complete refund if you notify your cancellation around 48 hours before your excursion’s departure date. 

Viking Ocean Cruises Cancellation Policy If the Passenger Is Denied Boarding or Terminates the Cruise Early

This part’s pretty straightforward. If you’re refused passage or have to leave the cruise early for any reason, Viking won’t refund anything. They also won’t cover meals, hotels, transport, medical costs, or anything else you might need. It’s all spelled out in your Passenger Ticket Contract, but the short version? You’re on your own.

What Happens When Viking Ocean Cruises Initiate A Cancellation?

Viking reserves the right to cancel, delay, or change your cruise if something major happens—weather issues, mechanical problems, strikes, government restrictions, pandemics, or anything else beyond their control.

They might swap out your ship or change the itinerary. They’re not required to offer compensation unless your contract or local law says so. So if things go sideways, don’t expect Viking to cover your hotel or flight home unless it’s spelled out in writing.

Viking Ocean Cruises Shore Excursion Cancellation Policy: What You Need to Know

Booked a few excursions and now thinking about canceling? Here’s how Viking handles it—and it’s worth knowing before you make any changes.

To make sure local guides and transportation are lined up properly, Viking locks in guest counts two days before each tour. That means if you cancel within 48 hours of the excursion, you won’t get a refund. No exceptions.

Also, tours need a minimum number of guests to run. So if you’re interested, don’t wait—sign up early. And yes, they operate rain or shine. Umbrellas, not excuses.

Now, about timing:

• You can book or cancel excursions online up until seven days before your cruise departs.
• After that, online changes close. But you can still cancel by calling Viking directly during that pre-sail week.
• Once you’re on board, you’ll be able to manage your excursions again—except for one catch: any excursion scheduled during the first two days of sailing is non-refundable.

Whether you book through the My Viking Journey portal or onboard, refunds are only processed while you’re on the ship. They’ll show up as a credit on your shipboard account. If you end your cruise with a negative balance, Viking will refund the difference to your credit card. Just give it about 14 business days to show up on your statement.

In short, The Viking Ocean Cruises Cancellation Policy for shore excursions is pretty straightforward—but the timing matters. If you miss the window, and you’re locked in.

Viking Ocean Cruises Cancellation Policy: Risk-Free Guarantee

Between March 1 and October 31, 2021, Viking offered a temporary cancellation option called the Risk-Free Guarantee. If you booked during that window, you had a bit more flexibility than usual—and that’s worth understanding if you’re still holding a voucher or considering a change.

Here’s how it worked:

• The Risk-Free Guarantee applied to any reservation made between March 1, 2021 and October 31, 2021.
• It could be combined with other Viking offers—no need to choose one or the other.
• If you needed to change your cruise plans, you had to notify Viking at least 14 days in advance:
  • If Viking booked your flights, the deadline was 14 days before your flight.
  • If you booked your own flights, it was 14 days before your cruise or hotel check-in—whichever came first.

Once you made the change, you had two options:

• Stick with Viking’s standard cancellation policy, which meant published fees would apply.
• Choose the Risk-Free Guarantee, which gives you a Future Cruise Voucher worth 100% of what you paid.

That voucher came with a few rules:

• You had 24 months to use it on any Viking river, ocean, or expedition cruise.
• It was transferable, so you could pass it to someone else.
• You had to redeem it before final payment on your new booking.
• Once used, it couldn’t be reissued or split across multiple cruises. Any leftover balance? Gone.

If you bought Viking’s Travel Protection Plan and filed a claim under that coverage, the voucher would be voided. Also, while the voucher wasn’t covered by the ATOL Financial Protection scheme, ATOL would still cover repatriation if needed.

In simple terms, If your booking fell within that March–October 2021 window, the Viking Ocean Cruises Cancellation Policy gave you a rare chance to cancel without losing your investment. Just make sure you understand the fine print before using that voucher.

This version of the Viking Ocean Cruises Cancellation Policy was all about flexibility. Viking knew guests were hesitant to commit, so they made it easy to change plans without losing money. And while the offer expired on April 30, 2020, it set a precedent for how cruise lines could respond when travelers needed a little extra peace of mind.

Travel Protection & Cancel For Any Reason Coverage

Life’s unpredictable and that’s why they offer a Travel Protection Plan that helps safeguard your trip investment; whether it is a sudden illness, bad weather or something else. If your cruise gets interrupted or canceled due to a covered emergency, you may be reimbursed for any unused, non-refundable prepaid costs. The protection plan also covers any loss, delay or damage caused to your baggage in the course of the trip. 

Now, if you just want to cancel for personal reasons- no emergency required then Viking”s “Cancel For Any Reason” waiver steps in. You’ll get the non-refundable portion of your trip cost back in the form of Viking travel vouchers. 

Here’s how it works: 

• You report your cancellation within 30 days
• Viking processes your reimbursement as travel vouchers
• You’ve got 12 months to redeem those vouchers toward a new booking

The full Travel Protection Plan is administered by Trip Mate (a Generali Global Assistance brand) and included three parts:

1. The cancel “For Any Reason Waiver” (non-insurance, provided by Viking) 
2. Trave; Insurance Benefits (underwritten by Generali U.S. Branch) 
3. Assistance Services (Also provided by Generali Global Assistance) 

This plan may also cover unexpected medical costs including COVID-19, which Viking Ocean Cruises treats like any other illness, as long as you’ve been examined and tested by a physician. 

Important Note: Pre-existing conditions might be excluded, and coverage varies by state or jurisdiction. 

Conclusion 

The Viking Ocean Cruises Cancellation Policy is all about timing. The earlier you act, the more flexibility you have and the less you’ll lose. Whether you’re canceling a cruise, tweaking your itinerary, or backing out of a shore excursion, Viking lays out the rules clearly. But don’t wait until the last minute. Fees climb fast, and some parts like the first two days of sailing or air-inclusive packages come with extra conditions. If you booked during one of Viking’s Risk-Free Guarantee windows, you’ve got even more breathing room. Just read the fine print, act early, and know what to expect.

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