Were mediating these problems on a case-by-case basis. Youre in control. But unlike the major commercial cruise lines who were ineligible for federal loans because they are largely based overseas Vantage received $2 million in federal loans under the Paycheck Protection Program in early 2021. Same thing goes for spa treatments, most shore excursions, and alcoholic beverages. You raise an important point. There are a variety of ocean cruises, from budget to luxury. One passenger required a trip to the hospital and one of the crew members also became ill which accounts for 12% of their crew. If you do not wish us to contact them, please let us know right away, as it will affect our ability to work on your case. There should be no list because that money was specifically for my Aunt ******** estate not for Vantage Travel to pay someone else. After we returned we were able to reach Nancy on September 18. Bernice, New York. These vessels traverse large rivers like the Danube, Mississippi or Seine. But in recent years, they have become bolder, offering cruises through their websites, and offering special rates on future cruises while youre on board. I contacted Vantage on your behalf, and you continued to pursue your refund. In Illinois, the Travel Promotion Consumer Protection Act was created in the 1980s to safeguard against travel scams that promise too-good-to-be-true deals. Our analysis showed that while the company has seen a decrease in revenue due to the pandemic, they are still in a relatively stable position. Its with a heavy heart that weve made the difficult decision to extend the postponement of all journeys through December 31, 2020. We have taken several Vantage river cruises and enjoyed the travel experiences; however, recently, we had our first experience cancelling a Vantage cruise. Vantage needs the trip insurance! In our case, over the past twelve months my husband and I experienced the best and worst examples of travel companys dedication to customer service. My point being, a luxury yacht it was not. Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers resolve their problems. Thank you for being part of the Vantage family. Finally, on Aug. 14 -- five months after promising it -- Vantage fully refunded your $12,959. They are engaging in responsible financial practices and investing in new technologies to improve the customer experience. Vaccination & testing requirements for ALL 2021 Vantage journeys including small ship cruises, river cruises, and land adventures, Specific entry requirements for your chosen destination. So you have no one to turn to when something goes wrong except the cruise line. Passengers sometimes arrive at the cruise terminal with the wrong visa or an expired passport. We are a deluxe travel company trying to navigate a world in which we cannot travel right now. Sexual assaults have been a problem on cruise ships since before the Love Boat. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. Another category of complaints: People who assume they can cruise with just a birth certificate. Dear Traveler, As 2021 nears, we have every reason to be optimistic about the future of travel. Be sure to buy a travel protection plan from a reliable third party. Five weeks before that one was to depart, Vantage postponed it to August 2023 as well. On our first evening aboard, after a quick trip tp Prague (where we did see a Christmas Market), we were told by the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? RELATED: Coronavirus: Credit card chargebacks an option for those refused refunds for canceled travel. But I was really happy when that happened," she exclaimed. 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. My aunt *************** is the other **-executor. Whats the international cruise line passenger bill of rights? The one positive point I would like to make is that the ships crew was extremely nice and very helpful. Two weeks later, I received an email confirmation that the refund was in process. I have made numerous calls and three written requests since then. The Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. Expert shares tips on how to navigate pandemic travel. That agency said that it has received about 275 consumer complaints so far about canceled O.A.T. Both Vantage and Viking Tours offer a ten day cruise. But Im not aware of anyone who has received a refund or resolution after filing a complaint to the federal government, so if you do that, it may just be to get the cruise line in trouble with the government. Again, these offers come by way of the relationships cruise agents have through their company or by being friends with their regional sales representative. If you became ill or had an accidental injury prior to your departure date, you may have to cancel your travel arrangements, A competent agent will make sure the cruise matches your personality type. Youre out of luck. Anyone get a refund from Vantage Travel for cancelled trip. Sarah Firshein is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. Its not like its a week later, its a year later.. The right to have available, on board ships operating beyond rivers or coastal waters, full-time, professional emergency medical attention, as needed until shoreside medical care becomes available. Please provide this promotion code to your Vantage call center agent. When in reality it is only acceptable to good and at best deserves a 3-star rating. Cruise lines are sometimes creative with their offers. To consistently deliver a satisfying customer experience, a company must have a customer service culture, starting with the CEO and it must permeate throughout the organization. Really, on a luxury yacht? The high seas can be dangerous, and not just in the movies. Do they distribute it among the staff? (Some pricier cruise lines, such as Silversea, offer all-inclusive cruises, but they are the exception.). Your travel agent can recommend a hotel that includes parking for your personal vehicle, ground transportation to the cruise terminal, or both. Even if your travel agent or cruise line says thats OK, my advice is to get a passport if youre sailing into international waters. We are currently notifying impacted travelers. Simply sign into your account. That is exactly what we are doing. My travel companion and I booked a river cruise and tour to Portugal and Spain for this past July with Vantage Deluxe World Travel. (Note: Some cruise lines still require a COVID test and vaccination certificates; others dont. 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. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc. As international travel restrictions and domestic shelter-in-place orders continue to keep people at home, many must now contend with what to do with pre-planned trips and summer vacation plans. In the end, there may be no correct answer for everyone. 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. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 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.. When youre on vacation, its easy to let down your guard and fall for a sales pitch for an original sculpture, diamond ring or timeshare. When the customers asked for a refund, the cruise lines said they couldnt get one future cruise credits were nonrefundable. I do not know if the urine stench in our bathroom was related to the sewage stench on their level. Boston, MA 02114-2031. Thank you again for your ongoing loyalty to Vantage. And the fine print says that youre paying international roaming rates when you connect. But Massachusetts happens to be one of only a handful of states with specific laws that guarantee consumers protection against travel sellers, including requiring that tour operators offer the option of cash refunds (in addition to vouchers or credits for rebooking) when they fail to provide agreed-upon, paid-for services. Robbery, assault and homicide happen on cruise ships. During the pandemic, many cruise lines instituted strict quarantine procedures some would say, too strict. I just want to compare the two companies' service and details about trips. 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. Wheres my airline ticket refund from GotoGate? Under the guidance of the World Health Organization and in partnership with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, River Advice the leading independent global manager of ships on inland waterways as well as local governments, weve implemented Ship to Shore: The Vantage Safe Travels Initiative. In the last 2 years we have had 3 trips canceled at the The staff/crew were abxolutely delightful, and the food was top notch. The right to transportation to the ships scheduled port of disembarkation, or the passengers home city, in the event a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures. 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. WebLack of income/job loss. | You probably need travel insurance for your cruise. Also, weve just extended our Book with Confidence policy to cover all journeys reserved through February 24, 2021. 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. To its credit, Vantage didnt. Click the link above to find out more. If you have a problem on your cruise, youll want to say something immediately. O.A.T. Please make no mistake the travel industry will bounce back, as it has numerous times before. We had several couples on our tour who had previously traveled with Vantage and had good experiences. After more than 12 months, there are new signs of hope. While we are unable to travel right now, the travel industry is resilient. A human travel agent who can take the time to sit down with you and talk about your cruise options is a tried-and-true way to buy a cruise. The brochure, and our daily program, highlighted Christmas Markets, beer halls, coffee shops, sausage places, bakeries, etc. How BBB Processes Complaints and Reviews. He paid Vantage $18,536. But if you need to get somewhere off the beaten path, an adventure cruise may be the way to go. 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. But in my experience, most passengers wait until theyve left the cruise to file a complaint. But that takes time. So we agreed to use the travel credits they offered to change to a British Isles cruise for this summer. Lunch in one of our specialty restaurants? 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. 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