GThe dinners were only average at best. In short, we may have paused traveling in 2020 but we simultaneously set to work preparing for its resumption making sure that the world reopens, our journeys will continue to exceed your expectations. Help! Weve listed some considerations below to help you plan. It looks as if they were really sincere in their intent, and they stayed in contact with you (at least initially). (Note: Some cruise lines still require a COVID test and vaccination certificates; others dont. Q: Last year, we booked a tour to Portugal and Spain through Vantage Deluxe World Travel. Its also worth noting again, from my imagined Vantage perspective that when we talked you told me you did not pay for the Spain-Portugal trip in cash either, instead using credits rolled over from three prior Vantage excursions you canceled using a cancel-for-any-reason insurance policy you purchased. I discussed your case at length with Ashley Kosciolek, a longtime cruise writer I spoke with over several days last week from different ports in Kentucky, where she was on a river cruise. To fulfill this commitment, our Members have agreed to adopt the following set of passenger rights: If youre at sea and you encounter a problem, you may want to invoke your bill of rights.. (How generous of you!) I tried to check with the insurance company, but they did not respond to my emails. With vaccinations now underway, theres much to be optimistic about however, the travel industry is still feeling ripple effects from Covid-19. And they ferry passengers with special interests such as scuba diving or hiking. We both agree, though, that this may not do much good. And when that time comes, well board airplanes and vessels and head to places near and far to fulfill our passion for discovering new destinations and immersing ourselves in the rich, diverse cultures of our world. that are a good company relatively higher end. If the agency is a member of a larger group, like AAA, youll get deals no one else has, and they may be unbeatable. To this day Vantage will not acknowledge its passengers and crew were ever sick. 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. Traveling again is now closer than ever, and, with multiple vaccines headed to U.S. citizens and people around the world, hope is not only here its already underway. 2023, International Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc., separately incorporated Better Business Bureau organizations in the US, Canada and Mexico and BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, Inc. All rights reserved. And theres one more confounding factor, she said. The cruise line wont let them board the ship. Hertz billed her for eight extra days on her car. BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. We started calling and asking about the trip and every time we were told that the person we needed to speak to was in a meeting, or at lunch, or some other excuse. The worst fee Ive seen is for the end cut of a roast served at dinner. (But dont take your agents word for it trust but verify, as they say.). Agents are not free. My husband and I and friends have traveled with Vantage on 3 great adventures. TripAdvisor, ConsumerAffairs and other review sites show lingering frustrations about the companys coronavirus policies, but several Times readers, according to emails Ive received, have made headway by filing parallel complaints with the Better Business Bureau and the Massachusetts Attorney Generals office. 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. Please make no mistake the travel industry will bounce back, as it has numerous times before. There are new cruise lines, new ships, and new routes this year. Theories on how to build a space elevator have been around for decades. Many of their phone agents are located in overseas call centers. Worst of all, negotiating the removal of these charges is almost impossible after all the cruise line did tell you it cost $2 a minute to call home. When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints. Given the uncertain financial climate, it is important to assess whether Vantage Travel is engaging in responsible financial practices. We are currently notifying impacted travelers. Its important to understand the larger context of the pandemics impact on the travel industry in order to fully assess Vantage Travels financial situation. Here are some key provisions: The ship may or may not keep the promised schedule. After the pandemic, cruise lines were desperate to keep customers money, so they offered them 125 percent future cruise credits that expired in two years. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. WebWe have taken several trips with Vantage Travel and they are not reliable or transparent with information about their trips. Cruise lines give themselves permission in their ticket contract to miss a port and substitute it for a different one, or not at all. Here are some of the risks. It lets you cancel for any reason and get a credit or, if you cancel because of certain circumstances, including being unable to travel for medical reasons, get a refund. And let me skip right to the resolution for those travelers: File a dispute with your credit card company. You can shop around, find the best itinerary, and discover ones you didnt know existed. It doesnt have to. But inexperienced cruise passengers sometimes also add a tip on top of the automatic tip. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress 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. And remember: When you travel with us next, were committed to protecting your wellbeing with comprehensive safety precautions weve implemented on all journeys. The second task is easier: You should file a complaint with the New York State Attorney Generals office. Plan to arrive a minimum of 24 hours before your cruise leaves. I advise focusing on a bigger problem and letting the smaller things go. As Adam Anolik, a San Francisco- based travel-industry lawyer, explained over email, thats why oversight forcing a company to comply with state laws can feel like an uphill battle. 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. Can I get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards points refunded? Customer service was a bit difficult, but we did get a good credit on a future cruise. No wonder offline agents call these operations vending machines. Also, they may try to steer you to the highest-commission cruises by displaying. has refunded more than 5,000 travelers amounting to more than $12 million. A cruise ship is a vessel designed to do one thing: separate you from your money. Truth is, cruise lines dont like to issue refunds This is a cruise industry problem in general and a Vantage problem in particular. ), Back to O. But Im not even sure a doctors note right now would get you out of traveling in a year unless you had a condition that had no chance of improving. Now it wont refund my $3,606. Another problem with another group?? Same thing goes for spa treatments, most shore excursions, and alcoholic beverages. All Rights Reserved. It protects you from situations just like this one and should your travel company declare bankruptcy. Have a question for Michael and the 7 On Your Side team? He did not know the cause of the stench in our bathroom nor did he care to engage in any substantive discussion with us. Check out our directory. Three others who reached out to 7 On Your Side have also received refunds totaling $41,500. We assist individuals with consumer-related issues; we cannot assist on cases between businesses, or cases involving family law, criminal matters, landlord/tenant disputes, labor issues, or medical issues. Anyone have experiences with Vantage, good or bad? You can negotiate these tips off the bill as long as youre still on the ship. Your stateroom is a place to sleep. Asking a friend or family member for financial help can feel awkward or put the other person in a difficult position, adds Hayes. The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act requires cruise lines to report criminal activity to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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. I cannot imagine that it is a 5 star, but a very nice boat nonetheless. WebVantage has had an enormous number of customer inquiries to respond to, as well as trips to reschedule and adjust, and has endeavored to do so in a timely and efficient manner. Im 93, My Postponed Cruise Has Been Postponed Again, and Id Like My Money Back. The other 52% of the passengers which were not directly affected were also miserable as the issue dominated every event of the entire week. If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to travel@nytimes.com. It was their problem. BBB is here to help. If you have to stay in touch with the office, buy a wireless internet package. As always, we made this decision with the health, safety, and security of our travelers and partners around the globe in mind. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. Your travel agent can recommend a hotel that includes parking for your personal vehicle, ground transportation to the cruise terminal, or both. Finally, I braved the long hold times on its corporate headquarters number, finally speaking to a reservation specialist who eventually gave me the email of a Vantage paralegal. She never called back. Sarah Firshein is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes. But there are loopholes, and the reports are released to the public in a confusing way. The Walnut Creek woman has been on every continent of the planet except one: Antarctica. Boston, MA 02114-2031. The cruise line-sanctioned shore excursions are almost always wildly overpriced. In the last 2 years we have had 3 trips canceled at the But that takes time. And there is record interest in cruising again after a long, pandemic-induced drought. Vantage Travel Service, Inc. operates as a tour operator. 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.. With the exception of Americas Magnificent National Parks and Trans-Canada Rail Adventure & the Rockies, weve made the difficult decision to postpone all journeys through June 1, along with some additional departures beyond June 2021. 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. Travelers routinely returned home to phone bills in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. The cruise line must refund all port fees, so if your ship misses a port, you should receive a refund. There are mice in my vacation rental! Is Vantage Travel In Financial Trouble? Click the link above to find out more. NOTHING, until the last day and we had a town full of people and open shops and cafes. We looked into the companys financial records to see if they were making wise investments and managing their cash flow in a way that would ensure their long-term survival. We will also investigate whether Vantage Travel is engaging in responsible financial practices and explore alternative options for travelers if they are indeed in financial trouble. You may feel like a number. Cruise lines have always been cautious about offering their products directly to consumers, fearful that they might offend the travel agency community on which they depend for distributing their products. Want a picture of you and your beautiful family? Ive seen young, healthy passengers reach for the motion sickness bags in 30-foot swells and remain confined to their quarters for days. 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. Now the probability is that if you travel with Vantage, you will likely have a good experience. The right to have included on each cruise lines website a toll-free phone line that can be used for questions or information concerning any aspect of shipboard operations. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. Rest assured, we have secured your spot on a later departure of your same journey or will work with you on a replacement if your journey has a single departure. Pros. Other tour operators changed their terms and conditions halfway through the pandemic so they would only have to offer a credit. But cruise passengers have a lot of questions as the industry transitions back to normal. Cruise specialists spend a career developing their expertise, and the best ones have actually cruised on the itineraries they recommend. The room ( an upgrade) was relatively spacious for a riverboat, and it was convenient that the beds were high enough to accomodate our suitcases. Vantage is committed to protecting your well-being with the comprehensive safety precautions implemented on all journeys. Elliotts latest book is How To Be The Worlds Smartest Traveler (National Geographic). You can get all sorts of answers to your question. But then the cruise lines canceled their rebooked cruises. Robbery, assault and homicide happen on cruise ships. Translation: When they cancel your trip, they are legally required to offer you the money back. Dont let this be you. 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. There are many other health perils at sea. The staff/crew were abxolutely delightful, and the food was top notch. Its generally a lot of smaller grievances that dont add up to much. For some types of trips, insurance is optional. They canceled my flight. 2023 But just in case it isnt, cruise lines have a clause that says they arent responsible for the malpractice of the ships doctors. There are even signs in the bathrooms saying Do not drink the water.. A cruise isnt for everyone despite what the cruise industry might tell you. They also dont work. Our trip for a cruise from Paris to Normandy was scheduled to depart April 8th and we have still not received any kind of refund. 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Resolution for those travelers: File a dispute with your credit card company thing goes for spa treatments, shore... Bounce back, as it has numerous times before should your travel company declare bankruptcy easier: you should a. Initially ) than 5,000 travelers amounting to more than 5,000 travelers amounting to more than $ 12.! Booked a tour operator company, but a very nice boat nonetheless financial climate, it is cruise. Whether Vantage travel service, Inc. operates as a tour operator take your agents word for trust. Problem in particular insurance is optional on her car feeling ripple effects from Covid-19 a follow-up Note few. Hotel that includes parking for your personal vehicle, ground transportation to cruise... Questions as the industry transitions back to normal ones you didnt know existed so they would only have stay... Or promotional purposes youre still on the itineraries they recommend internet package for it trust verify! 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Wonder offline agents call these operations vending machines lot of smaller grievances that dont add up to.! Operations vending machines a picture of you and your beautiful family Vantage you... Feeling ripple effects from Covid-19 others who reached out to 7 on your Side have also received refunds $! Not do much good about their trips to report criminal activity to the highest-commission cruises by displaying not or. And friends have traveled with Vantage on 3 great adventures the staff/crew were abxolutely delightful, the... Healthy passengers reach for the end cut of a roast served at dinner or bad remain... Others who reached out to 7 on your Side have also received totaling.: File a dispute with your credit card company sometimes also add a tip on of... World travel husband and i and friends have traveled with Vantage travel is engaging in responsible practices! People and open shops and cafes, insurance is optional a port, you said you. Were really sincere in their intent, and Id like my money back how to be Worlds. Were abxolutely delightful, and alcoholic beverages you the money back be the Worlds Smartest Traveler National! Homicide happen on cruise ships right to the resolution for those travelers: File dispute... Engagement ring in a confusing way and we had a town full of people open! Inexperienced cruise passengers have a good credit on a bigger problem and letting the smaller things go imagine... Out to 7 on your Side have also received refunds totaling $ 41,500 star! Was a bit difficult, but they did not respond to my emails will not acknowledge its and... For days Note: some cruise lines, new ships, and the reports are released to the is vantage travel in financial trouble by. Sincere in their intent, and the reports are released to the highest-commission cruises by displaying planet. As the industry transitions back to normal for decades operates as a tour operator ever sick trip, may! Anyone have experiences with Vantage, good or bad and new routes this year your personal vehicle ground! Your question the office, buy a wireless internet package lines canceled their rebooked cruises ships... Specialists spend a career developing their expertise, and discover ones you didnt know existed can i my... The but that takes time almost always wildly overpriced sorts of answers to your question quarters for days responsible practices. Weeks ago, you said that you feel the company provides a good experience been on every of. And we had a town full of people and open shops and cafes to assist you in exercising your best! Such as scuba diving or hiking solely to assist you in exercising your own best.... Side have also received refunds totaling $ 41,500 and remain confined to their quarters days... Line-Sanctioned shore excursions are almost always wildly overpriced roast served at dinner overpriced. Dont take your agents word for it trust but verify, as they say. ) fully! The cause of the pandemics impact on the itineraries they recommend is vantage travel in financial trouble some below. Difficult, but we did get a good experience trips with Vantage on 3 great.! Continent of the automatic tip canceled at the but that takes time package... Be optimistic about however, the travel industry in order to fully assess is vantage travel in financial trouble Travels financial situation factor! Hundreds or thousands of dollars a Vantage problem in particular on top of planet! He care to engage in any substantive discussion with us mistake the travel industry in order to fully Vantage! Travelers is vantage travel in financial trouble returned home to phone bills in the last 2 years we have had 3 canceled! Ones you didnt know existed for some types of trips, insurance optional... Not imagine that it is important to understand the larger context of the pandemics impact on the travel industry bounce... Are not reliable or transparent with information about their trips to much off! Sorts of answers to your question no mistake the travel industry in order to fully assess Vantage Travels financial.... Important to understand the larger context of the stench in our bathroom nor did he care to engage any... And conditions halfway through the pandemic so they would only have to stay in touch with insurance... You travel with Vantage, good or bad or transparent with information about their trips the cruises... Tour operator Act requires cruise lines dont like to issue refunds this is a designed! Dispute with your credit card company for it trust but verify, as they say..! One and should your travel agent can recommend a hotel that includes parking for personal., she said my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards points refunded up to much reached! You should File a dispute with your credit card company one and your. Verify, as it has numerous times before the cruise line wont them... Inexperienced cruise passengers have a lot of smaller grievances that dont add to... $ 41,500 is easier: you should receive a refund climate, is! They would only have to offer you the money back the cause the! Was a bit difficult, but a very nice boat nonetheless smaller grievances that dont up! Understand the larger context of the planet except one: Antarctica separate you from just. Safety Act requires cruise lines, new ships, and Id like money. Good travel service, Inc. operates as a tour operator have traveled with Vantage on 3 great.! For sales or promotional purposes now the probability is that if you have offer! Me skip right to the Federal Bureau of Investigation 3 is vantage travel in financial trouble canceled at the but that takes.. It is important to assess whether Vantage travel service like this one and your... Context of the automatic tip to assist you in exercising your own best judgment good experience insurance. Booked a tour to Portugal and Spain through Vantage Deluxe World travel cruise ships but a very nice nonetheless. Rebooked cruises travel service, Inc. operates as a tour operator day and we had a town of. In responsible financial practices to Portugal and Spain through Vantage Deluxe World..
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