Latest news with #RosemaryKaasa
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Atlanta couple says $22K ‘trip of a lifetime' river cruise turned into a disaster — now they're warning others
Spending $22,000 on a European river cruise was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime for Atlanta couple John and Rosemary Kaasa. After a major health scare, the 15-day voyage was meant to be a celebratory return to travel. But from the start, the journey was riddled with problems. Sweltering cabins, equipment failures and other frustrations piled up, leaving the Kaasas and many fellow passengers sick and miserable instead of rested. 'There was no escaping it. It was miserable,' John Kaasa said told Channel 2 consumer investigator Justin Gray. What they thought would be a luxury escape turned into weeks of disappointment — and now the couple is warning others to be cautious before booking their own 'dream' cruise. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it A $22K cruise plagued with failures From the start, problems mounted. Their first ship's air conditioning failed during a European heat wave, leaving passengers in stifling cabins for days. When low river levels forced a transfer to a second vessel, the Kaasas hoped for relief, but that ship's cooling system also broke down, and a leaking ceiling made conditions worse. Then, sickness began spreading through the ship. 'I'd walk up and down the hall, and all you could hear was people coughing one room after another,' John Kaasa said. By the time the trip ended, both John and Rosemary were diagnosed with bronchitis. Frustrated, Rosemary took her complaint to the top, writing directly to Viking's CEO. The company's initial response was a $1,000 credit toward another cruise. She decided to escalate further reaching out to Channel 2 Action News. Channel 2 consumer adviser Clark Howard said it's a familiar story: while cruise lines are quick to take passengers' money, they're far less eager to return it when trips don't live up to the promises. Only after she escalated to Channel 2 did Viking revisit the case and reach an amicable settlement. The couple believes they wouldn't have seen a refund without media pressure. 'We were beyond angry — just very, very disappointed,' John said. It seems to be part of a broader pattern when it comes to travel. In 2024, U.S. airline customers filed a record 66,675 complaints with the Department of Transportation, according to a report from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. Refunds and service issues made up the bulk of those grievances. Read more: Nervous about the stock market? Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you're not a millionaire. How to protect yourself before you set sail The Kaasas' ordeal highlights a common problem: getting refunds or compensation from travel companies can be a long, uphill battle. That's why protecting yourself before you book is so important. Here are some things you can do. Know who to call: If you booked directly with the cruise line, start there. If you use a travel agent, lean on them to navigate the best course of action. Review cancellation rules: They're not exactly glamorous reading, but they'll tell you how much money you'd lose if you back out close to departure. Refundable deposits offer flexibility if plans change. Consider travel insurance: While it may feel like an extra expense, but it can save you thousands of dollars if illness, delays or emergencies strike. Escalate any issues: If you do encounter an issue that the company won't resolve, agencies like the Department of Transportation or consumer watchdogs can step in. The Kaasa's story serves as a reminder that even a carefully planned dream vacation can go off course, and why travelers should protect themselves before setting sail. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 simple ways to grow rich with real estate if you don't want to play landlord. And you can even start with as little as $10 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Atlanta couple says $22K ‘trip of a lifetime' river cruise turned into a disaster — now they're warning others
Spending $22,000 on a European river cruise was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime for Atlanta couple John and Rosemary Kaasa. After a major health scare, the 15-day voyage was meant to be a celebratory return to travel. But from the start, the journey was riddled with problems. Sweltering cabins, equipment failures and other frustrations piled up, leaving the Kaasas and many fellow passengers sick and miserable instead of rested. 'There was no escaping it. It was miserable,' John Kaasa said told Channel 2 consumer investigator Justin Gray. What they thought would be a luxury escape turned into weeks of disappointment — and now the couple is warning others to be cautious before booking their own 'dream' cruise. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it A $22K cruise plagued with failures From the start, problems mounted. Their first ship's air conditioning failed during a European heat wave, leaving passengers in stifling cabins for days. When low river levels forced a transfer to a second vessel, the Kaasas hoped for relief, but that ship's cooling system also broke down, and a leaking ceiling made conditions worse. Then, sickness began spreading through the ship. 'I'd walk up and down the hall, and all you could hear was people coughing one room after another,' John Kaasa said. By the time the trip ended, both John and Rosemary were diagnosed with bronchitis. Frustrated, Rosemary took her complaint to the top, writing directly to Viking's CEO. The company's initial response was a $1,000 credit toward another cruise. She decided to escalate further reaching out to Channel 2 Action News. Channel 2 consumer adviser Clark Howard said it's a familiar story: while cruise lines are quick to take passengers' money, they're far less eager to return it when trips don't live up to the promises. Only after she escalated to Channel 2 did Viking revisit the case and reach an amicable settlement. The couple believes they wouldn't have seen a refund without media pressure. 'We were beyond angry — just very, very disappointed,' John said. It seems to be part of a broader pattern when it comes to travel. In 2024, U.S. airline customers filed a record 66,675 complaints with the Department of Transportation, according to a report from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. Refunds and service issues made up the bulk of those grievances. Read more: Nervous about the stock market? Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you're not a millionaire. How to protect yourself before you set sail The Kaasas' ordeal highlights a common problem: getting refunds or compensation from travel companies can be a long, uphill battle. That's why protecting yourself before you book is so important. Here are some things you can do. Know who to call: If you booked directly with the cruise line, start there. If you use a travel agent, lean on them to navigate the best course of action. Review cancellation rules: They're not exactly glamorous reading, but they'll tell you how much money you'd lose if you back out close to departure. Refundable deposits offer flexibility if plans change. Consider travel insurance: While it may feel like an extra expense, but it can save you thousands of dollars if illness, delays or emergencies strike. Escalate any issues: If you do encounter an issue that the company won't resolve, agencies like the Department of Transportation or consumer watchdogs can step in. The Kaasa's story serves as a reminder that even a carefully planned dream vacation can go off course, and why travelers should protect themselves before setting sail. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 simple ways to grow rich with real estate if you don't want to play landlord. And you can even start with as little as $10 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Elderly couple's $22k Viking cruise of a lifetime plagued by gnats, disease and broken air conditioning
An elderly couple who spent $22,000 on a Viking River Cruise were left devastated after their 'trip of a lifetime' was plagued by disease, gnats and broken air conditioning. John and Rosemary Kaasa were looking forward to their 15-day voyage across Europe, especially after he recently recovered from a serious health scare. But after paying more than $11,000 each, the couple from Roswell - about 40 minutes outside of Atlanta, Georgia - went through a hellish experience. In the midst of a European heat wave, the much-needed air conditioning system stopped working on their boat. That major issue then led to another one - gnats swarming the area. 'They said, "don't open your door, your sliding door, because you'll get gnats in,"' Rosemary, 77, told WSB-TV. After spending five grueling days in a hot boat, the couple and other passengers were frantically evacuated to another ship because of low water levels on the river. But the air conditioning did not work on the new boat either, leaving them to sit in a room that reached approximately 90F, the couple recalled. 'It was 87 degrees in our cabin when we got there,' John, 78, said. While dealing with the faulty air conditioning, the couple soon realized their cabin ceiling was leaking, prompting them and others to speak up. 'I had to hold Rosemary down,' John said of his wife. 'He did. At one point, he's like, "Sit down",' she said. 'I had more to say. I was not happy.' Soon after complaining to the captain, the Kaasas were hit with a horrible sickness that left bedridden for the rest of their trip. John even recalled hearing other passengers coughing all throughout the ship. 'There was no escaping it. It was miserable,' he said. 'I'd walk up and down the hall, and all you could hear was people coughing one room after another.' To make matters worse, the husband and wife were both diagnosed with bronchitis when they got back home, Rosemary said. After the horrid experience, she decided she wasn't just going to let the cruise company get away with what happened. Rosemary, a volunteer with the local station's Consumer Action Center, quickly remembered advice Clark Howard, a local advisor, gave her. 'From Clark, I've learned that you go to the CEO. So I sent him a letter,' she explained. Initially, they were offered only $1,000 toward a future cruise, but Howard's advice proved valuable as Rosemary persisted. 'You complain everywhere you can, hope that at some point they decide it's better just to get this person to go away,' Howard told the outlet. Viking River Cruises only agreed to resolve the issue with the couple after WSB-TV reached out, per the outlet. It remains unclear what the resolution was as they signed a non-disclosure agreement with the company. Still, the Kaasas feel very upset about what they endured. 'I'm terribly… No, I'm beyond being angry. I'm just very, very disappointed,' John said.
