UPDATE: Harvey Wasserman tells News 6 he has acknowledged an offer you from Viking to refund his wife’s part of the cruise. The firm is also allowing him the choice to transfer the cruise to anyone else, in accordance to Wasserman. Wasserman at first required to transfer the cruise to his step-daughter, but the enterprise would not allow it, he explained.
The Blankenships have acknowledged an give that enables an prolonged sail by date.
You can study the unique investigation down below.
Harvey Wasserman and his wife Arleen have normally liked to journey.
“Since we have been jointly — final 37 decades — we have done an enormous amount of money of traveling,” Wasserman stated.
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The pair has pics in Paris, Vienna and areas around the earth. So when they received a brochure to consider a 15-day Viking cruise as a result of the Panama Canal and Central The united states, Wasserman explained his spouse couldn’t resist.
“The really first cruise that Arleen and I did alongside one another was through the Panama Canal,” Wasserman reported. “And we were being actually energized about going back again and viewing it yet again.”
In accordance to Wasserman, they paid out additional than $12,000 for the cruise, including income for travel insurance policy. The journey coverage was procured with Tripmate through Viking, Wasserman said.
They also invited their good mates Deborah and Alvi Blankenship.
“We were being form of enthusiastic about going with them due to the fact we’re close buddies,” Alvie Blankenship claimed.
The Blankenships compensated additional than $10,000, which provided vacation insurance policies. But then they had been notified that their cruise was cancelled owing to COVID-19. The couples chose to rebook on a potential cruise and recognized a voucher for Future Cruise Credits.
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However, right before they could just take the cruise — Arleen passed absent.
“At 75, its not a existence I prepared. I do not even know how to go forward,” Wasserman mentioned.
Wasserman retains his wife’s remains close by, but following the services, he resolved he could not acquire the cruise by yourself.
“The notion of likely to someplace new and experiencing myself, it’s upsetting to just assume about it,” Wasserman reported.
Wasserman reported he tried out to get a refund but was denied for the identical rationale as the Blankenships — here’s why:
When they agreed to be rebooked on the 2nd cruise, they approved a voucher for a long run cruise credit rating well worth 125% of what they at first paid — the caveat: vouchers never enable for cash refunds.
“It was never really explained appropriately,” Wasserman said.
Then the couples turned to their trip defense program, which said it covers vacation cancellation and 100% of the trip expense. A single of the lined reasons for cancellation is “death of you, your traveling companion or your family members member,” according to the defense prepare paperwork.
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Wasserman submitted a assert and bundled his wife’s death certificate but was notified “records from Viking cruises point out the reserving was paid out utilizing formerly issued travel vouchers and this kind of vouchers are non-refundable.”
So accepting that voucher not only forfeited their proper to a upcoming refund but also nullified their trip coverage.
“What the hell did I buy the insurance policies for?” Wasserman requested.
Information 6 tried using getting in touch with Viking on April 19, 20 and 21. We followed up with cell phone phone calls, extra e-mails and even messages to some of the company’s govt crew users — but however no reaction.
“I do not fully grasp why, specially beneath the circumstances, why it is so difficult for them to honor my needs,” Wasserman stated.
Because we started off investigating this, Viking did offer to refund his wife’s part of the cruise, but not his, according to Wasserman.
Wasserman has not accepted that present.
We spoke to a really experienced travel agent who claimed this does not come about frequently, but he reported the a person time he has observed it it was with Tripmate — the journey insurance policies supplier in this tale — and with Viking.
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We reached out to Tripmate as frequently as we did Viking. Tripmate prepared to have a assertion for News 6, in accordance to a company spokesperson. It did not occur by the time we aired this report.
If we listen to back from Viking or Tripmate, we will contain any comments they have with this story.
If you acquire vacation coverage, examine the coverage comprehensively. Also, if you want guidance on corporations and their coverage, get in touch with a travel agent they can get insurance plan for you, even on a excursion you booked your self.
And the last thing is: your travel coverage does not have to arrive from the corporation you booked your journey by — so shop all around.
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