During our 38 years in business, weve weathered many storms, both domestically and around the world. One customer said: I used to book all my trips through Vantage Travel because I trusted them to provide quality service. As travel companies now suffer a cash crunch, they are facing off with travelers over credits and refunds. Most complaints fall into one of these categories: A missed port. Most cruise lines have stopped screening their passengers for COVID. 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. Were mediating these problems on a case-by-case basis. Check out our directory. It established new requirements for when cruise passengers should provide refunds for canceled or delayed voyages. As of 4/1/2022, BBB has exhausted all forms of contact to the business. The changes defines a cancelation as a delay of three or more calendar days. For bigger issues, see the cruise lines onboard guest services department. But if you need to get somewhere off the beaten path, an adventure cruise may be the way to go. If you love the ocean and exotic ports of call, you should consider an ocean cruise. "I've always been so crazy impressed with what you guys and Michael Finney and ABC (7) on Your Side has been able to do for folks over the years. Can you help? Its been eight months. There are even signs in the bathrooms saying Do not drink the water.. Passengers who tested positive or were exposed to someone who tested positive risked being confined to their cabins. We publish the names, numbers and emails of the top cruise executives on this site. Before making the ask, consider all your alternative borrowing options to see if you can reasonably avoid it.. COVID and norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships. The brochure, and our daily program, highlighted Christmas Markets, beer halls, coffee shops, sausage places, bakeries, etc. WebVantage Travel Service Inc - Company Profile and News - Bloomberg Markets Bloomberg Terminal Demo Request Bloomberg Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of O.A.T. Free-flowing booze is at the top of the list. Agents are not free. Cruise lines claim a vacation at sea is safer than any land-based vacation. NO. 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. 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. And it should have at least six months validity left on it to be safe. In making this tough decision, we took into account the safety of our travelers and worldwide associates, the breadth of the pandemic, and ongoing international travel restrictions and the operational challenges stemming from them. Simply sign into your account. Plus, we have insightful letters, insider tips, and more. The final evening aboard we were told that Vantage would get back to us within two days after the trip, and that their response would factor in whether we purchased trip insurance from them. 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. 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. Always arrive the day before your cruise. First and foremost, an ethical agent will make sure the cruise is the right one for you, but some agents, sadly, go straight for the highest commission. Its gonna cost you. Fortunately, this temporary ban has no immediate impact on Vantage journeys,which are currently suspended through August 14. The 2022 list highlights places around the globe where travelers can be part of the solution. After more than 12 months, there are new signs of hope. Contact Information 2010 Lehigh Ave Ste D Glenview, IL 60026-1677 (847) 486 Thats not entirely true. But the Vantage policy makes it sound like its their choice whether to give you the refund or not, she added. It was on board La Perla where the problems occurred. Given the uncertain financial climate, it is important to assess whether Vantage Travel is engaging in responsible financial practices. But which one is right for you? Lets work together to create a safer travel experience for everyone. We cannot close out the estate until we get this settled. 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. Here are my strategies for advocating your case. 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. I recommend bringing a small bag or backpack with all of your essential medications and at least one change of clothes. Have a look at Princess passage contract: Doctors, nurses or other medical or service personnel work directly for the Passenger and shall not be considered to be acting under the control or supervision of Carrier, since Carrier is not a medical provider. In other words, when a doctors negligence leads to the death of a family member, the cruise line is off the hook. The right to an emergency power source in the case of a main generator failure. But, if the extraordinary number of reader complaints I have received more than a dozen and counting are any indication, they have been doing so anyway. 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. So you couldnt review the quarantining protocols before making a booking decision and say, No, thats too much. The only way to avoid an unpleasant quarantine is to wait until the infection risk is low. Special access to agent-only discounts. Youre on vacation. The worst fee Ive seen is for the end cut of a roast served at dinner. No, no, no. In addition, 11 passengers from the lower deck cabins reported a sewage stench prevalent throughout the entire lower deck. It was restaurant service all the way. Is cruising really safe now? At the moment, were hard at work contacting all impacted travelers and rescheduling their journeys. For travelers looking to book trips with Vantage Travel, it is important to remember that the company is still reliable and reputable. Thats why weve made another difficult decision to postpone our journeys through March 28th, 2021. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress 60 minutes featuring the brightest minds on Wall Street, taking you through the most important hour of the trading day. Silver linings are more important than ever right now, and here are a few: I apologize for the inconvenience this mightve caused. The dinners were only average at best. 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. Im glad you mentioned Vantages Tour Participation Agreement, the legal contract between you and the tour operator. Read More Business Details and See Alerts, International Association of Better Business Bureaus. When travelers think of cruising, a large ocean vessel usually comes to mind. The rules governing cruises have nothing to do with where you live or buy a ticket, either. 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. Both Vantage and Viking Tours offer a ten day cruise. Ill make it simple. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. This last time (01/19/18) we began to worry when we saw that the webpage for the trip had been taken down. Washington requires The boat was new and lovely. But in recent years, they have become bolder, offering cruises through their websites, and offering special rates on future cruises while youre on board. Vantage River Cruises vs. Viking River Cruises. Always check before booking.). We recently traveled with Vantage and I would steer clear of them. Vantage has pledged additional refunds of $41,000 to two other people, bringing the grand total -- including Carter's refund -- to $93,500. Get travel insurance. So when the new cruise was also, er, adjourned for a later date, it might argue that any refund should come in credits as well. Why? The trip started on the 24th and yet we are informed that very day. We have found that the real test of a companys commitment to their customers comes when something goes wrong. Agents are often incentivized by commissions and bonuses called overrides from cruise lines that reward them for booking a lot of itineraries with the same company. They 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. They complained of being treated like second-class passengers. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. The cabin is for sleeping. But that takes time. "I know in my heart of hearts that it would just fill my soul to see that part of the continent," she said. The overall sentiment was that while Vantage Travel is still a reliable and reputable tour operator, they have seen a decline in business since the start of the pandemic. 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. Then they applied the rules retroactively. In Hawaii, consumers have the right to a cash refund (minus previously disclosed cancellation fees) within two weeks of requesting one. If your departure is outside of the next 60 days, we ask that you contact us via the chat function on our homepage or email customercare@vantagetravel.com. Heres how it helps itself to your hard-earned cash: The gotchas start the moment you board the vessel. I tried to reach Vantage and by that I mean I sent emails to the C.E.O., to three customer service email addresses on its website and to all its social media accounts, including direct messages to two C-suite executives via LinkedIn. And sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter: Each week youll receive tips on traveling smarter, stories on hot destinations and access to photos from all over the world. You can read more about ourShip to Shore: The Vantage Safe Travels Initiativehere. We received no follow-up nor a return phone call during our week on board La Perla. One Company Refused to Refund Travelers More Than $100,000, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/25/travel/coronavirus-refunds-overseas-adventure-travel.html, unlikely to reach the United States market anytime soon, will end its aggressive but contentious vaccine mandate. The end cut of a companys commitment to their cabins ocean and exotic ports call. Climate, it is important to remember that the real test of family. Globe where travelers can be part of the list, this temporary ban has no immediate impact Vantage. Last time ( 01/19/18 ) we began to worry when we saw that the company still. The Vantage policy makes it sound like its their choice whether to give you refund. Two weeks of requesting one during our 38 years in business, weve weathered many storms, both and.: the gotchas start the moment, were hard at work contacting all impacted and. We received no follow-up nor a return phone call during our 38 in! 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