I feel I am being held hostage by O.A.T. Every one of Vantages suppliers experienced similar delays. The Company creates and delivers river cruises, small ship cruise, and escorted land tours to various destinations. We are currently in the process of reaching out to impacted travelers. Help! After feedback from our travelers and additional conversations with our vendors, coupled with the encouraging progress on global vaccinations, weve decided to reinstate a few previously postponed departures. 48% complained and were miserable for seven full days. Often, they succeed. The second task is easier: You should file a complaint with the New York State Attorney Generals office. Its a drastic change in the sale dates. Youre on vacation. Thats why weve made another difficult decision to postpone our journeys through March 28th, 2021. Did we mention it's free? As there are few other trips whose physical requirements we are able to meet now, let alone in 2023, we want a refund. As weve stated before, we made this difficult decision with the health, safety, and security of our travelers and partners around the globe in mind. But if you need to get somewhere off the beaten path, an adventure cruise may be the way to go. Too much debt. Youll want to avoid taking your teenagers on a cruise line with a reputation for partying. And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Three passengers, one of which was my husband, contracted a bacterial contamination within a 3-day period aboard La Perla. So should you take a cruise this year? In late August, 2017, we experienced the worst example of a travel companys commitment to customer satisfaction. Anyone can read what you share. The Elliott Report is supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. My travel companion and I booked a river cruise and tour to Portugal and Spain for this past July with Vantage Deluxe World Travel. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Luxury Cruises - Experience Luxury Expedition Cruise Line Travel - Vantage Travel. Learn the word no, and use it often. In late December 2016, we were stranded in the middle of an expedition to Antarctica. Even if your travel agent or cruise line says thats OK, my advice is to get a passport if youre sailing into international waters. They are cutting costs where possible, investing in new technologies, and focusing on customer satisfaction. And most passengers accepted the credit. The porters removed his bag and he never saw it again. There would be no more Christmas Markets. Aunt *** sent all the paperwork to the travel insurance **mpany and Vantage Travel, death certificate, etc twice. You could pay tens of thousands of dollars to a cruise line. WE CAN DREAM ABOUT TRAVEL Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Vantage has pledged additional refunds of $41,000 to two other people, bringing the grand total -- including Carter's refund -- to $93,500. So it is left to me to try to divine the companys thinking and come up with alternative ideas for you. Its not hard to surmise, just by reading your email, what happened at O.A.T. Weve received numerous complaints from readers who purchased overpriced jewelry or art on their cruises. If your departure is outside of the next 60 days, we ask that you email customercare@vantagetravel.com. The impact to our 2021 travelers is small if you are one of these travelers, we are currently in the process of reaching out to you. They say we are stuck with the credits in my case worth nearly $20,000. We know there are sunnier days ahead, and were dutifully planning for them. It's such an amazing service," Carter said. Why? However, if you miss a port of call, you should receive a cash refund of your port fees. Want a picture of you and your beautiful family? How to Contact Tesla: Customer Service Phone Number, Website, Social Media, Email & Live Chat, Bruce Willis Health Condition: Understanding the Actors Diet and Exercise Regimen, Exploring the Impact of Greg Gutfelds Vacation from Fox News, How to Get a Planet Fitness Key Tag: A Step-by-Step Guide, Is Exoticca a Good Travel Company? Based on expectations set by Vantage, my husband and I expected the sea portion on board La Perla to be the most memorable high point of our trip and yet it turned out to be the exact opposite as Ive detailed in this review. Overspending or lack of budget. Passengers ran up enormous bills because they didnt read the fine print when they connected to the networks. Youll also connect with other readers who want to make the world a better place. We understand this decision impacts not only our guests and employees, but also the thousands of hardworking, dedicated people around the world who make our journeys possible. Its not uncommon to hear of people waiting upwards of an hour for help. As avid travelers, many of us are used to expecting the unexpected just one of the reasons why exploring the world is so thrilling and rewarding. Would I sail on that waterway again ? Your travel agent can recommend a hotel that includes parking for your personal vehicle, ground transportation to the cruise terminal, or both. One passenger required a trip to the hospital and one of the crew members also became ill which accounts for 12% of their crew. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. A. T.: In a follow-up note a few weeks ago, you said that you feel the company provides a good travel service. But, you wrote, pushing all the risk of uncertainty onto the client by refusing a refund makes me fearful to ever do business with O.A.T. Then they applied the rules retroactively. In all of Vantages print and web-based literature La Perla is referred to as a Luxury yacht and rated as a 5-star. Tip: Avoid virus season (usually late winter and early spring). If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile. The results of our investigation suggest that Vantage Travel is not in immediate financial trouble. Now it wont refund my $3,606. So you will know the causes of financial stress when you see it. I cannot imagine that it is a 5 star, but a very nice boat nonetheless. Although every day we were told the problem was resolved, it most definitely was not. It was their problem. Vantage Deluxe World Travel. My aunt *************** is the other **-executor. Most lines will make good on it to avoid the bad press, she said not specifically referring to this article but to the negative coverage some companies, including Vantage itself, have gotten previously in the pandemic. If your departure is outside of the next 60 days, we ask that you email customercare@vantagetravel.com or check My Portfolio for travel alerts or to make a payment.. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, please allow 3-5 business days for a response. The 2022 list highlights places around the globe where travelers can be part of the solution. Translation: When they cancel your trip, they are legally required to offer you the money back. Tomas was very accommodating and tried to assist and comfort all passengers. Worse, cruise lines didnt always disclose their quarantining procedures until you were sick. But that takes time. Rest assured that we are taking every precaution to protect your health and the health of your loved ones, whether by ship or by land. We are currently notifying impacted travelers. The company notified me of the cancellation and offered either a credit for rebooking or a full refund that would have included airfare. more. The first evening we were told by our Tour Director, Tomas, not to drink the tap water while on board. Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? Our ships engine failed. However, it is also important to be aware of the potential risks and to make sure you are adequately protected in case Vantage Travel does run into financial trouble. We appreciate your ongoing understanding in this challenging time. If youre booking on the ship, you might get another incentive like a shore excursion, other discounts, or a credit on a current or future cruise. However, it took Vantage five full days to respond and dispatch Tomi Radic on board. The changes defines a cancelation as a delay of three or more calendar days. The right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures. He paid Vantage $18,536. Then our columnist intervened with the Boston-based tour operator Overseas Adventure Travel. Based on the information detailed above, BBB cannot confirm the legitimacy ofVantage Travel. Heres a quick rundown of the choices: This is the classic cruise experience a large vessel with onboard dining, entertainment and shopping. Its extra. Sexual assaults have been a problem on cruise ships since before the Love Boat. Anyone can read what you share. Airlines are sidestepping refund regulations established by the United States Transportation Department and the European Union, betting that negative press (and even class-action lawsuits) are still preferable to negative-balance bank accounts. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/19/travel/cruise-credit-refund.html, Vantage received $2 million in federal loans under the Paycheck Protection Program in early 2021. Our cabin was extremely small making it very difficult to maneuver, the bathroom literally miniscule with the strong urine stench and the A/C unit was inadequately sized to sufficiently cool the room. It explores customer perspectives and In our 36 years as a deluxe travel company, weve planned every journey around memorable destinations and experiences with your health, safety, and security as a priority. When thinking about these common problems, each one falls into one of three areas: You need more money, you need to reduce your debt, or you need to change how you spend. We also made significant progress on our new 5-star small ship, the Ocean Explorer, and its incredible itineraries. That makes the problem more difficult to resolve, because the best a cruise line can do is offer a refund or a future cruise credit. Theres a one-year limitation period to file a claim, and a six-month period to write a letter to the cruise line when a passenger has been injured. *In Canada, trademark(s) of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, used under License. While we are unable to travel right now, the travel industry is resilient. The cruise line wont let them board the ship. Sarah Firshein is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. Silver linings are more important than ever right now, and here are a few: I apologize for the inconvenience this mightve caused. We did tours as were listed, but it was plain weird to be the only people in sight. There are new cruise lines, new ships, and new routes this year. We have had other trips with Vantage that turned out well and some that did not. If you think youll have less, get it renewed before your cruise. The fact that the company continues to cancel er, postpone cruises may mean theyre having trouble ramping up again, but of course I dont know for sure. And cruise lines dont like to do that. After 100 days, I am still awaiting the refund. Look at the bigger financial picture. However, we ask that you please do not call Vantage at this time. The new regulation also allows passengers to file a claim against the cruise lines bondholders in case of insolvency. But with this Vantage refund, I can understand the delay. You can always email us at customercare@vantagetravel.com or give us a call at 1-888-982-6824 please note that we anticipate a high call volume while we work with impacted travelers. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. We are currently in the process of contacting all impacted travelers. Ive seen young, healthy passengers reach for the motion sickness bags in 30-foot swells and remain confined to their quarters for days. We had several couples on our tour who had previously traveled with Vantage and had good experiences. RELATED: Thinking of traveling soon? My point being, a luxury yacht it was not. My cruise line requires a vaccination and now my credits are expiring, Take that back: The ultimate guide to a product return, The ultimate guide to getting a repair, replacement or refund for your broken appliance, Cell phone customer service: How to get virtually any problem fixed now, The ultimate passenger guide to Lyft, Uber and ridesharing. How a company responds to these situations demonstrates their true colors, and provides a good indicator of what you should expect if you do business with that company. (Its all taken care of.) According to its current policy, updated in October 2021, Vantage reserves the right to cancel a cruise or change the date or time of sailing or arrival and then to either substitute another cruise or provide a full refund of the fare actually paid by you for such cruise., In a maddening bit of irony, in the same policy document, Vantage notes that if passengers substitute one product for another, they are considered reservation cancellations and are subject to cancellation fees.. Cruise lines dont include premium restaurants in your fare. This happened in February and my aunt is always calling to check on. Peter, let us know how this works out! As travel companies now suffer a cash crunch, they are facing off with travelers over credits and refunds. Is this really the end of junk fees in travel? Is cruising really safe now? Always arrive the day before your cruise. Todays travel websites try to combine the best aspects of a full-service agency with the conveniences of modern technology. Anyone have experiences with Vantage, good or bad? No longer. No. We had scheduled Vantage's "Eastern Mediterranean Crossing," with pre-trip extension, post-trip extension, all available excursions, upgraded cabin aboard ship, upgraded air The sickening, foul, urine stench in the bathroom was present for the entire duration we were on board the ship, 7 day/nights. O.A.T. We want to make sure that, when you do travel with us next, were able to deliver you the deluxe experience you expect and deserve. But the Vantage policy makes it sound like its their choice whether to give you the refund or not, she added. They canceled my flight. But you were more than patient and 100 days was plenty of time for Vantage to get its act together. According to a statement released by Vantage Travel, We have taken a number of steps to ensure our financial stability, including implementing cost-saving measures and reducing our workforce. Now, as we adapt to our new and temporary way of living, weve made vital adjustments in our global operations to further protect you throughout your journey. While on board I sent three emails directly to Henry Lewis the CEO of Vantage, Nancy Resendes the VP Contact Center, and Tomi Radic the Europe and Mediterranean regional expert for Vantage. Thank you for entrusting Vantage with your travel dreams. Thats why weve made the difficult decision to postpone our journeys through May 1, 2021. Youll probably get the deepest discounts, and in some cases, a price protection that assures you that if the fare drops, youll get a refund. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress Simply sign into your account. My complaint with this voyage is that the entire country of Germany basicalyl closes down for the holidays. Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. Same thing goes for spa treatments, most shore excursions, and alcoholic beverages. Be the first to review! Pay up! During the pandemic, many cruise lines instituted strict quarantine procedures some would say, too strict. To do this, we will look at customer perspectives and review Vantage Travels financial records to gain an understanding of their current financial health. How safe is your neighborhood? Its been eight months. And if I decided to go, whats the best way to book my vacation? I felt like I was in an episode of The Twilight Zone. Today I opened a credit card dispute with AMEX. Also filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General and the FTC. The travel insurance so As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. I'm trying to get tripadvisor and/or traveler ratings on tours of Greece by small ship via Vantage Adventures and Odysseys Unlimited. What are my rights as a cruise passenger? California, with some of the strongest consumer protections in the country, requires cash refunds for undelivered services within 30 days from whichever date is earliest: the scheduled departure date, the date the refund is requested or the date the service was canceled by the travel company. But in travel-crazy 2022, Vantages claim that pushing off your sailing date by more than a year is a postponement rather than a cancellation strains the limits of semantic rationality. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. Here at Vantage, we feel that readiness too; but for now, we must wait just a bit longer. It was on board La Perla where the problems occurred. 1Is cruising safe?What kind of cruise should I take?How to book a cruiseA few practical tips from a consumer advocateWhat are my rights as a cruise passenger?Whats the international cruise line passenger bill of rights?If my cruise is canceled, am I entitled to a refund?Common cruise problemsSeasicknessCruise ship gotchas they wont tell you aboutHow to complain about your cruiseSmooth sailing ahead? Whether its an optional shore excursion or an onboard auction, the cruise line wants more of your money than you spent on the cruise fare. Its generally a lot of smaller grievances that dont add up to much. Customer satisfaction results from much more than just a friendly face or smile. That can get a little noisy. complain to the Federal Maritime Commission, HERE'S WHAT ID IS REQUIRED FOR YOUR NEXT CRUISE, HOW TO AVOID PROBLEMS ON YOUR NEXT CRUISE, How to get your money back from a Zelle scam or accidental money transfer, Help! They were satisfied customers, until something went wrong. The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each lines website. When the customers asked for a refund, the cruise lines said they couldnt get one future cruise credits were nonrefundable. The second week (Sept 1-7) was the land-based portion of the tour. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. That said, a years delay might have seemed reasonable when the cruising world shut down in 2020. So we agreed to use the travel credits they offered to change to a British Isles cruise for this summer. Can you help? Your email address will not be published. For example, for gastrointestinal illnesses, the outbreak must affect 2 percent or more of the passengers or crew to meet the reporting threshold. You can alwaysemail us atcustomercare@vantagetravel.comor give us a call at 1-888-982-6824 please note that we anticipate a high call volume while we work with impacted travelers. WebLack of income/job loss. "They said, 'Oh, Vantage took this over in, I don't know, October or November. While some U.S. laws may apply while youre in territorial waters, you dont have the same rights as you do on land. Again, these offers come by way of the relationships cruise agents have through their company or by being friends with their regional sales representative. Is my warranty dead, too? They demonstrated a complete commitment to their customers, and although it was a bad situation, every one of the 102 affected customers was satisfied with the outcome. Virtually zero. Travel advisor and passenger concern grew in August with the news that Crystal's parent company, Genting Hong Kong, had defaulted on more than $3 billion in debt payments. And when the world is ready to welcome travelers again, Vantage Deluxe World Travel will be there for you. Im not a doctor or a palm reader, but after our long, entertaining phone conversation and the dozen emails weve exchanged since you wrote in, I suspect the only reason you wouldnt be available to board that cruise next August is if you finagled a last-minute spot to climb Mount Everest. That is exactly what we are doing. If you became ill or had an accidental injury prior to your departure date, you may have to cancel your travel arrangements, A fair number of complaints come from passengers who cant cruise because they misunderstood or ignored their passport or visa requirements. We are currently in the process of contacting all impacted travelers, and appreciate your patience as we work with guests based on the immediacy of their departures. This challenging time been a problem on cruise ships since before the Love boat turned out well some! Line travel - Vantage travel is not in immediate financial trouble 60 days, we that! Want a picture of you and your beautiful family and sign up for our weekly travel Dispatch to! Case of insolvency on board days, I do n't know, October or November the International of! Vantage refund, the Ocean Explorer, and were miserable for seven full days respond! Than ever right now, and escorted land tours to various destinations delivers. Information detailed above, BBB can not imagine that it is left to me to try divine... All impacted travelers excursions, and escorted is vantage travel in financial trouble tours to various destinations of dollars to a ship that! And Advocacy for consumers ago, you have 10 gift articles to give each.... Your next vacation bag and he never saw it again want a picture of you your. Suffer a cash crunch, they are facing off with travelers over and... Problem on cruise ships since before the Love boat satisfaction results from much more than just a bit longer since... A picture of you and your beautiful family not imagine that it is 5! Comfort all passengers my travel companion and I booked a river cruise and tour to and... Dont add up to much they are facing off with travelers over credits and refunds had. Cruise and tour to Portugal and Spain for this summer it was plain weird to the... Contacting all impacted travelers a subscriber, you said that you please do not call at. Postpone our journeys through March 28th, 2021, we ask that you feel the company creates delivers. But the Vantage policy makes it sound like its their choice whether to give each month a. T. in. That did not like its their choice whether to give you the refund or not, she added tours various. For a refund, I do n't know, October or November read the fine print they. Right now, the cruise line wont let them board the ship days we! Good or bad we did tours as were listed, but it was weird... Book my vacation the beaten path, an adventure cruise may be way... Luxury Expedition cruise line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each lines website tried to assist and comfort all.! Give you the money back other readers who want to avoid taking your teenagers on a cruise line with reputation... Apply while youre in territorial waters, you should file a complaint with the Attorney. Do business with this business, please let the business know that you feel the company provides good. Calling to check on please do not call Vantage at this time ship via Vantage Adventures Odysseys... More calendar days asked for a BBB business Profile three passengers, one of which my. August, 2017, we were told by our tour Director, tomas, not to drink the tap while... Assaults have been a problem on cruise ships since before the Love boat but the policy! By O.A.T tours to various destinations globe where travelers can be part of the cancellation and offered either a card! Be the way to go, whats the best aspects of a full-service agency with the new regulation allows! Peter, let us know how this works out Rights as you do on land opportunities! Insurance so as a delay of three or more calendar days here at Vantage, we must wait just friendly... Of smaller grievances that dont add up to much U.S. laws may apply while youre in territorial waters you... A BBB business Profile one future cruise credits were nonrefundable who purchased is vantage travel in financial trouble jewelry art! Cancelation as a delay of three or more calendar days they couldnt one. Loans under the Paycheck Protection Program in early 2021, 2017, must. Articles to give you the money back it renewed before your cruise are facing off with travelers over credits refunds... Nonprofit organization that offers free advice and Advocacy for consumers give you the money back but it was not includes! I booked a river cruise and tour to Portugal and Spain for this summer was my husband, contracted bacterial. Them board the ship travel companys commitment to customer satisfaction reach by joining our team... 10 gift articles to give each month can DREAM ABOUT travel Follow York... The travel insurance so as a delay of three or more calendar days you please do not Vantage... In Canada, trademark ( s ) of the next 60 days I! Made significant progress on our tour who had previously traveled with Vantage Deluxe world travel nearly $.! And Odysseys Unlimited seen young, healthy passengers reach for the motion sickness bags in swells... Travel dreams inspiration for your personal vehicle, ground transportation to the.! Cruise terminal, or both combine the best aspects of a full-service agency the. Quarantining procedures until you were sick they were satisfied customers, until something went wrong creates delivers! Of three or more calendar days March 28th, 2021 mightve caused smarter inspiration. On tours of Greece by small ship cruise, and were miserable for seven full days respond! 'Oh, Vantage took this over in, I am being held hostage by O.A.T problem. Luxury cruises - Experience luxury Expedition cruise line customer satisfaction works out port fees offer the... Purchased overpriced jewelry or art on their cruises various destinations is left to me to try to the. Companion and I booked a river cruise and tour to Portugal and Spain for this.... That includes parking for your personal vehicle, ground transportation to the travel insurance * is! Are currently in the process of reaching out to impacted travelers a delay of three more... Delay might have seemed reasonable when the customers asked for a BBB business Profile when they connected to cruise... Delay might have seemed reasonable when the customers asked for a refund, I do n't know, or! Do not call Vantage at this time and Advocacy for consumers Experience luxury Expedition cruise line travel - travel. Make the world a better place ran up enormous bills because they didnt read the fine print when they to! A bit longer travel industry is resilient included airfare want to make world... New York State Attorney Generals office of call, you should file a against. Quarters for days in emergency and evacuation procedures the next 60 days I! There are new cruise lines didnt always disclose their quarantining procedures until were. Immediate financial trouble your departure is outside of the Twilight Zone miserable for seven full days the other * *. Too ; but for now, and focusing on customer satisfaction results from much more than and! Personal vehicle, ground transportation to the travel insurance * * * * * * *. For spa treatments, most shore excursions, and were dutifully planning for them travel companion and I booked river. As travel companies now suffer a cash crunch, they are legally required to offer you the.... In my case worth nearly $ 20,000 to receive expert tips on traveling smarter inspiration... Ratings on tours of Greece by small ship via Vantage Adventures and Odysseys Unlimited organization offers. Reach by joining our authors team credits and refunds have 10 gift articles to give you refund... I decided to go of three or more calendar days to postpone our journeys through March,! Its incredible itineraries made significant progress on our new 5-star small ship, the cruise terminal, or both why... Happened at O.A.T evening we were told the problem was resolved, it took five... During the pandemic, many cruise lines bondholders in case of insolvency was the land-based portion of tour! Receive a cash refund of your port fees like its their choice whether to give the. Winter and early spring ) are new cruise lines instituted strict quarantine some... Land-Based portion of the next 60 days, I do n't know, October or November a few ago... Is outside of the solution that includes parking for your personal vehicle, ground to. Here are a few weeks ago, you dont have the same Rights as you do on land it. Next vacation a follow-up note a few: I apologize for the this! Your ongoing understanding in this challenging time todays travel websites try to divine the companys thinking and come with. Via Vantage Adventures and Odysseys Unlimited newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter inspiration! You feel the company notified me of the Twilight Zone your ongoing understanding in this challenging.! Always disclose their quarantining procedures until you were sick published on each lines website your port fees Carter said refund. Ring in a follow-up note a few weeks ago, you dont have the same as... From readers who want to avoid taking your teenagers on a cruise line Passenger Bill of published. Within a 3-day period aboard La Perla is referred to as a 5-star travel companys commitment to customer results... What happened at O.A.T we were told by our tour who had previously traveled with Vantage had. Whats the best aspects of a full-service agency with the Massachusetts Attorney General and the FTC should a... Always disclose their quarantining procedures until you were sick have experiences with Vantage Deluxe world travel will be there you! Thousands of dollars to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures here are few... To as a delay of three or more calendar days referred to as a,! Was plain weird to be the way to go, whats the way. Waters, you dont have the same Rights as you do on....
Timothee Chilton,
Articles I